Philippine Airlines and Airbus coordinate fourth humanitarian flight for typhoon Haiyan victims

By BA Staff

One month after Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded, struck the Philippines, thousands of people are still left homeless and without food or water.

Since the disaster happened in early November this year, Airbus’ Corporate Foundation has coordinated three relief and goodwill flights, with either Airbus Flight Test aircraft or newly delivered customer aircraft.

This week-end, a fourth flight to the Philippines was coordinated by the Airbus Corporate Foundation and its partners, Philippine Airlines (PAL), Action Contre la Faim, Aviation Sans Frontières and Humedica.

A PAL A330, with four doctors and one nurse on board, loaded with 5.6 tonnes of medical supplies, food and water sanitation equipment, took off on Friday 6th December from Toulouse and landed in Manila, Philippines on Saturday 7th December early morning. This is the third flight using a PAL aircraft since the typhoon struck the country.


Share your thoughts on the corporate social responsibility of these companies and organisations via a comment.

Read more »

Alaska Airlines dedicates ‘Spirit of Education' aircraft to nation's first college preparatory, Aviation-Themed high school

By BA Staff

Local business and government leaders joined students, educators and alumni from Raisbeck Aviation High School onboard a specially themed Alaska Airlines jet for the grand opening of the new facility for the nation's first public, college preparatory, aviation-themed high school.

The "Spirit of Education," a Boeing 737-900ER, is dedicated to the students and staff of Raisbeck Aviation High School and will fly for six months around the carrier's route network.

Among the passengers onboard Flight 9401 was senior Austin Spores of Redmond, Wash., who commutes two hours to school every day. Spores, who is getting his private pilot's license, plans to pursue a career as a commercial pilot.

Like all students who choose to attend RAHS instead of a traditional secondary school, Spores had a strong interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Last summer, he interned as a dispatcher for Seattle-based Kenmore Air and hopes to study aeronautics at the University of North Dakota or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University after graduating next June.

Spores said:

 "I've been surrounded by aviation my entire life, so being in an aviation-themed environment like Raisbeck Aviation High School is a dream come true."

Alaska Airlines employees have mentored and volunteered with students interested in commercial aviation since the school's inception in 2004. As a founding sponsor, the airline pledged $1.5 million in a public/private partnership to build the $44.5 million state-of-the-art school designed to educate the next generation of scientists, engineers, and other aviation and aerospace-focused professionals.

Brad Tilden, Alaska Airlines' president and CEO said:

"Investing in Raisbeck Aviation High School is an investment in the youth of our community. Students attending this STEM school are poised to bring much-needed innovation to our industry, which could further improve the safety, efficiency and environmental performance of commercial aviation. Raisbeck Aviation High School, part of Highline Public Schools, is located on the grounds of the Museum of Flight near Boeing Field to encourage partnerships with aviation and aerospace leaders and ensure relevance in the instructional program.

Reba Gilman, Raisbeck Aviation High School CEO and principal said:

"Having this school on the grounds of the Museum of Flight, so close to more than 200 aviation industry businesses like Boeing and Alaska Airlines, gives our students something truly special — an unparalleled chance to be simultaneously immersed in learning and industry."

Highlights of Raisbeck Aviation High School:

• 400 students from 27 school districts travel by car, train, boat/ferry or bus to attend the public school, located in Tukwila, Wash.
• Students of RAHS consistently rank in the top 5 percent in Washington state assessments. The school's performance ranks 252nd out of 22,000 nationwide high schools according to US News & World Report. About three-quarters of RAHS students intend to pursue STEM-related education at universities including Stanford, Harvard, Cornell and MIT.
• The school is designed for project-based instructional programs, with labs that enable students to build robots, rockets, model airplanes and even a real airplane.
• Rather than a traditional library, the school provides classroom libraries and access to the Museum of Flight's extensive archives and library. A computer is provided to each student.
• During the summer, the school will be used by the museum for science camps — assuring year-round utilization of the building as well as introducing younger children to Raisbeck Aviation High School.
• All RAHS students are connected with a mentor in an aviation/aerospace-related field. Students are also placed in internships in high-demand STEM workplaces such as Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port of Seattle.

Read more »

Qatar Airways takes Cambodian children on tour of its aircraft on International Children's Day.

Bangalore Aviation congratulates Qatar Airways on its humanitarian act. The airline recently partnered with Cambodia Airports offering 15 youngsters the opportunity to tour one of its Airbus A330 aircraft on International Children’s Day and celebrating the carrier’s 100th flight to the capital Phnom Penh.

The smiles on the two ladies embracing says it all

Aged between 9 and 12 years, the children were from Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (For a Child’s Smile), a non-government organisation which focuses on educating orphaned children.

From visiting the cockpit to meeting the crew, the youngsters were thrilled to see the aircraft up close and personal,. The smiles continued as Qatar Airways’ cabin crew gave away special gifts onboard. Through this initiative, Qatar Airways hopes to open up the wonderful world of aviation to these children inspiring them to become the aviators of tomorrow.

The event also coincided with the celebration of Qatar Airways’ 100th flight to Cambodia’s capital city. Qatar Airways has been operating daily flights from Doha to Phnom Penh International Airport since February.

Read more »