The hottest Aviation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Why Is It So Hard to Build an Airport?

Construction Physics • 22131 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💼 Business Infrastructure Aviation Construction Economics Environmentalism
  1. Airports are crucial for global economy, with aviation contributing significantly to GDP.
  2. Building airports is notoriously difficult due to opposition from various interest groups, particularly related to noise concerns.
  3. Despite challenges in airport construction, the aviation industry has managed to adapt and accommodate increased air travel by adding runways, expanding infrastructure, and increasing passenger capacity per plane.

A Cycle of Misery: The Business of Building Commercial Aircraft

Construction Physics • 27768 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💼 Business Aviation Manufacturing Industry Competition Economics
  1. Developing a new commercial aircraft is incredibly expensive, with development costs exceeding billions and posing significant financial risks to companies.
  2. Aircraft manufacturers face challenges in predicting market demand and trends, with incorrect guesses leading to financial losses and potentially fatal setbacks.
  3. Given the high costs and risks involved in developing new aircraft, manufacturers often opt to revise existing models to mitigate costs, keep pilot training minimal, and maximize efficiency.

Dingus of the week: Boeing

Men Yell at Me • 322 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
📰 News Politics Aviation Safety
  1. Boeing has faced safety concerns, including incidents of plane debris, fatal crashes, and whistleblower allegations, raising doubts about their safety practices.
  2. Boeing's significant revenue from government contracts raises questions about accountability and oversight in the aviation industry.
  3. The aviation industry's duopoly of Boeing and Airbus, self-regulation by Boeing, and underfunding of the FAA highlight systemic issues impacting airplane safety.

The Culture of Aviation Safety

Breaking the News • 397 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Aviation Safety Air Travel Investigations
  1. An analysis of aviation safety includes three new case studies, illustrating the complexity of keeping commercial aviation safe.
  2. A business jet in Naples, Florida had a tragic incident due to engine failures, sparking discussions in the aviation world on potential causes like the Idle-Cutoff possibility.
  3. A Pakistan International Airlines crash in Karachi revealed a chaotic situation in the cockpit, with the crew neglecting crucial flight protocols, ultimately leading to a disastrous outcome.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Aeroplanes, Airships and Beta Bias

Pessimists Archive Newsletter • 530 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Innovations Comparisons Bias Aviation History
  1. In 1908, some dismissed the idea of flying machines heavier than air, underestimating their potential usefulness.
  2. The 'Beta Bias' is the tendency to underestimate the potential of new technologies by comparing them to established alternatives.
  3. Every nascent innovation has the potential for growth and improvement, often underestimated in early comparisons.

The ‘Cultural’ Questions that Follow the Alaska Airlines Blowout.

Breaking the News • 795 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
📰 News Aviation Safety Investigation
  1. The incident with Alaska Airlines did not likely contribute to the recent string of aviation close calls, but it could reveal systemic issues.
  2. The plane experienced a panel blowout at 16,000 feet, with no passengers seated next to the gaping hole, showcasing the clean structural break.
  3. In a scenario like this, with a hole in the airplane at high speed and altitude, it would be both terrifying and extremely dangerous.

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day • 235 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💾 History World War II American history Aviation
  1. Charles Lindbergh's fame led him to live in Europe and gather intelligence on Germany's military air power.
  2. Lindbergh faced criticism for accepting an award from Herman Goring in light of increasing antisemitism and Nazi actions in Germany.
  3. Some believed Lindbergh had Nazi sympathies due to his speeches and writings upon returning to the US.

United Airlines Flight 2007 GUA-ORD from Guatemala to Chicago diverted on March.11, 2023 due to "incapacitated pilot" who had chest pains - now 3rd pilot incident this month

COVID Intel - by Dr.William Makis • 3184 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
📰 News Aviation
  1. United Airlines Flight 2007 from Guatemala to Chicago was diverted due to an incapacitated pilot with chest pains.
  2. This incident marks the 3rd pilot issue for United Airlines this month.
  3. The plane diverted to Houston's George Bush International Airport for the emergency.

Boeing Reading List

Construction Physics • 208 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Aviation
  1. The aircraft industry has many enthusiasts interested in commercial aircraft aspects for fun.
  2. This post is for paid subscribers only.
  3. There are extremely accurate flight and air traffic control simulators available.

Growing Energy Concerns

Vietnam Weekly • 255 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Energy Aviation Vietnam Economic Implications
  1. Energy worries are mounting in Vietnam due to a possible electricity shortage from May through July.
  2. Vietnam is considering importing power from Laos and coal from neighboring countries to address energy challenges.
  3. Airlines in Vietnam are facing struggles with reduced routes, low demand, high airfares, and operational issues as the Lunar New Year approaches.

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day • 176 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
💾 History Aviation World War I Heroes
  1. A team of aviators defied the odds by flying across the Atlantic from east to west in 1928
  2. They faced challenges like broken instruments and a blizzard during the 36-hour flight
  3. Despite not flying again, the crew of the Bremen were celebrated as aviation pioneers

How much does aviation contribute to climate change? How will this change in the future?

Sustainability by numbers • 208 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Aviation Global Emissions Energy Efficiency Future Trends
  1. Aviation contributes around 3% of global emissions and is a challenging sector to decarbonize.
  2. Global passenger demand for flying has quadrupled since 1990.
  3. Future aviation emissions will depend on changes in demand, energy efficiency improvements, and adoption of low-carbon technologies.

Short story of how the first flights were made possible

First principles trivia • 19 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
💾 History Inventions Aviation Entrepreneurship Technology Business
  1. The Wright brothers funded their aviation experiments largely out of their own pocket, showing dedication and perseverance.
  2. Despite receiving offers for funding, the Wright brothers chose to maintain full control over their research, emphasizing the importance of independence and vision.
  3. Through meticulous work, including building their own wind tunnel and conducting extensive test flights, the Wright brothers achieved their goal of creating a successful airplane, highlighting the value of thoroughness and persistence.

16 Jan 2024 – Libyan Sands, germ warfare on the subway, and Boeing

Outsider Art • 19 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
💾 History Warfare Experiments Aviation
  1. The book 'Libyan Sands' by Ralph Bagnold paints a poetic picture of the Libyan Desert and mentions the skeletons of camels marking certain routes.
  2. A study conducted by the US Army in 1968 on the vulnerability of subway passengers in New York City to biological agents showed how pathogens could be disseminated widely without detection.
  3. An unsettling quote from 'White Noise' by Don DeLillo offers a glimpse into the fear and chaos within an aircraft's cockpit during a crisis.

West Africa Weekly Aviation Special [Part 1]

westafricaweekly • 10 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
📰 News Aviation Corruption Safety Regulations Whistleblower
  1. Antigua Airways was involved in exploiting Cameroonian refugees for financial gain, showcasing a shocking abuse within the airline industry.
  2. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Airports Authority faced accusations of mismanagement, fraud, and negligence, posing serious risks to aviation safety in Nigeria.
  3. Whistleblowers highlighted concerning malpractices within the NCAA and FAAN, including ethnic bias, unqualified hires, and bribery, raising alarms about safety standards in the industry.

Revisiting, A new FAA safety standard?

Beyond Harm • 0 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation Safety Aviation
  1. The National Transportation Safety Board points out that air travel is generally safer than automobile travel, highlighting the importance of evaluating safety standards in the aviation industry.
  2. Regulators in the aviation sector need to focus on proactive risk management and conducting thorough root cause analyses to prevent fatal accidents in the future.
  3. It's crucial for regulators to not overlook warning signs or design deviations in aircraft safety, emphasizing the need for a more cautious approach to maintaining safety standards.

Tim Cook says AI is the key to fighting climate change, Stability AI CEO resigns and more

aiproinsights • 0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Climate Aviation
  1. Tim Cook highlights AI as crucial in addressing climate change by aiding companies to lower emissions and become carbon neutral.
  2. Stability AI CEO resigns amidst investor pressure and internal strife, now focusing on addressing power concentration in AI.
  3. Boom Supersonic, a startup pursuing the world's fastest airliner, completes its first flight, called "Baby Boom".

Messiness and automation

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 13 Oct 16
🕹 Technology Automation AI Aviation Risk management Ethics
  1. Messiness and disorganization can sometimes lead to innovation and better outcomes, challenging the belief that perfection is always necessary.
  2. There is a trade-off between automation for efficiency and the risk of losing skills and expertise, as highlighted in the context of pilot automation systems.
  3. Balancing the level of 'mess' or disorganization in our lives is essential, as too much or too little can both have detrimental consequences.

Turning Airplanes into Air-busses

Splitting Infinity • 0 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Innovation Transportation Aviation Automation Regulation
  1. Consider redesigning airports to focus on passengers and not luggage, which can lead to faster, more efficient travel experiences.
  2. Building a network of small airports with small planes can save time and offer convenient regional travel options for passengers.
  3. Encourage innovation and competition in the airline industry to lower prices, enhance quality, and make air travel more accessible for consumers.