153 Killed in Madrid Airport Crash
Round-the-World Helicopter Pilots Break Record
Jumbo Jets Become Increasingly Rare
Fewer Americans Traveling to Canada, Eh?
Northwest Rejects Anti-Nuclear Ad as “Inappropriate”
Quake-Ravaged Chinese Province to Invest Billions to Restore Tourism
153 KILLED IN MADRID AIRPORT CRASH - MSNBC
A Spanish jet taking off from Madrid’s Barajas airport crashed Wednesday morning, killing 153 people. The Spanair plane, which was bound for the Canary Islands, reportedly began experiencing engine trouble during liftoff, then veered off the runway, crashed and caught fire. Nineteen of the 173 people on board were injured. Dozens of firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene of the crash, which was in a wooded area near the end of the Terminal 4 runway.
Link: MSNBC
ROUND-THE-WORLD HELICOPTER PILOTS BREAK RECORD – Aviation.com
Two American men have broken the world record for circumnavigation of the earth in a helicopter, accomplishing the feat in just under two weeks. The pair set out on August 7 from LaGuardia airport in New York and touched down again on Monday, and in the process shattered the previous record of 17 days. The journey was not all smooth sailing, however: The duo encountered engine trouble, landing clearance problems at one airport, and fuel-supply issues at another. They stopped their AugustaWestland 109 Grand chopper more than 80 times to refuel.
Link: Aviation.com
JUMBO JETS BECOME INCREASINGLY RARE – USA Today
With airlines cutting back air service due to the rising cost of jet fuel, wide-body jets such as 747s and 767s are the primary casualty. An analysis of domestic flight statistics reveals that use of the jumbo jets is down by almost one-third compared to a year ago, as airlines switch to narrower, more fuel-efficient aircraft. The jets, which are often preferred by passengers because they fly more smoothly and are easier to board, are increasingly being reserved for international long-haul flights.
Link: USA Today
FEWER AMERICANS TRAVELING TO CANADA, EH? – Canadian Press
Fewer Yanks are crossing the northern border this year, and it’s mainly because of the rising value of the Canadian dollar, according to a travel industry group. Though the rising price of gasoline is also a factor in the tourism slump, the Hotel Association of Canada said that border delays and confusion over what travel documents are needed are also causing Americans to stay away. Canada saw 13 percent fewer U.S. visitors in June 2008 than in June 2007.
Link: Canadian Press
NORTHWEST REJECTS ANTI-NUCLEAR AIRPORT AD AS ‘INAPPROPRIATE’ – MSN Money
Representatives from Northwest Airlines have asked ClearChannel Communications to remove an ad from the concourse at Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport after complaints from customers and employees. Northwest said that the ad, which was placed by the Union of Concerned Scientists in advance of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, was too political and scary, and added that the use of the word “bomb” was inappropriate for an airport. The ad depicts the city of Minneapolis with target crosshairs superimposed on it, and reads “When only one nuclear bomb could destroy a city like Minneapolis … We don’t need 6,000” and was intended as a plea to presidential candidates to reduce the American and Russian nuclear arsenals.
Link: MSN Money
QUAKE-RAVAGED CHINESE PROVINCE TO INVEST BILLIONS TO RESTORE TOURISM – Xinhua
Sichuan province in China, the scene of massive property damage and loss of life after the May 12 earthquake, plans to spend 80 billion yuan ($11.6 billion) to bring tourists back to the province. Some of the money will be used to rebuild roads, hotels and tourist attractions damaged by the quake, and some to restore the world’s confidence in the region, parts of which were left unscathed. There are more than 4,000 scenic and historic sites in Sichuan, but the quake affected 360 of them.
Link: Xinhua News Agency
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