Ian Petchenik

I actually wrote a whole history of the airport (through about 2015) but it has been disappeared off the internet. Time to republish I think.

I don’t think I’ve ever received a better compliment.

Gentlemen my time has come! Here’s Burke’s original diagram for O’Hare’s runways. The initial runways were set to match MDW and keep traffic separated. Older aircraft didn’t handle crosswinds as well. The advent of jet engines and more advanced tech made it easier to operate with crosswinds.

You're lucky it’s warmed up!

Misbehaving pax.

It’s really an all or nothing thing. Sit for hours or arrive in time to walk from security to the plane without stopping.

NTSB graphic depicting the flight path of the PSA CRJ and US Army Blackhawk helicopter near DCA.

On this week’s AvTalk podcast: recapping the NTSB’s probable cause meeting on the mid-air collision in Washington last January. UPS retires its MD-11 fleet. And one airline in particular is still digging out from last week’s massive winter storm. www.flightradar24.com/blog/avtalk-...

Homendy asks the $1 million question: how is it that no one at FAA could tell there was a min of 75 ft separation between these two routes?

Here's a handy graphic from @theaircurrent.com on this critical issue:

Airlines have been making their safety videos more entertaining, but do they work? Over the last decade, more airlines have made goofy safety videos to keep passengers' attention. But do they really work?

Nice to hear @abfabskylife.bsky.social on NPR this morning talking about safety videos. www.npr.org/2026/01/27/n...

Put another way, American Airlines will have better headways to ORD tomorrow than the CTA Blue Line.

747SP VP-BLK, currently for sale.

On this week’s AvTalk podcast: how you can take home your very own 747SP and a large basket of apples. We also discuss the NTSB’s recent update on the UPS MD-11 crash and the rash of NOTAMs from the US on North Pacific airspace.
www.flightradar24.com/blog/avtalk-...

Updated interim final rule for helicopter ops around DCA just dropped. Would only allow "essential operations" and would restrict 4/22 and 15/33 if vertical ops are in play.

#avgeek

public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-01226.pdf

But how did a bullfrog get all that wine in the first place?

Star Wars "Right?" meme in four panels questioning the basic "100" sticker on the back of an A321neo spotted yesterday. 1. "We've unveiled our United 100 livery" 2. This is just a sticker you're putting on all the planes, you have a proper special livery coming, right?" 3. Blank stare. 4. Right?

Right?

China Airlines 787 at the Boeing factory in Charleston

Emirates A350 departing Toulouse on delivery

On this episode of AvTalk, we run up the final tallies for orders and deliveries from Boeing and Airbus in 2025. Plus, an ultra low-cost acquisition that is either a natural fit or makes no sense—depending on who you ask. www.flightradar24.com/blog/avtalk-...

On this week’s AvTalk, how snow in Amsterdam led to a massive operational meltdown leading to thousands of canceled flights and quite a few unintentional airfield tours. www.flightradar24.com/blog/avtalk-...

Live from Seattle, where Alaska has joined the [big] jet age

Eliska Hill

Katherine Moloney

This week on our AvTalk podcast, we revisit a pair of our favorite conversations from 2025. Eliska Hill talks about the changing nature of the cargo business. Katherine Moloney is working to increase the percentage of women working in aviation careers. www.flightradar24.com/blog/avtalk-...

Thanks, updated now. Should show up correctly as soon as the cache has cleared.

It's in the middle of the sign on the photo you shared...

nighttime photo of milwaukee, chicago, and lake michigan from the air just now

hello milwaukee and chicago

One-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, up to 5, depending on the skill of the quarterback. Better quarterback = lower number. 1 Blitz per 4 downs. And as we got older, kick off returns moved to two-hand touch.

We had a photo on JetPhotos on 14 Dec. But interestingly, none since. www.jetphotos.com/photo/keywor...

JetBlue flight stopping its climb to avoid conflict with a military aircraft

Falcon 900EX adjusting course to avoid conflict with a military aircraft

Lufthansa 747-8I

Another Lufthansa 747-8I

On this week’s AvTalk, a pair of incidents involving civilian aircraft altering course to avoid military aircraft without active transponders. And Lufthansa will part with two 747-8Is after getting an offer it couldn't refuse from the US Air Force. www.flightradar24.com/blog/avtalk-...

NEW: Spirit Airlines reached an agreement with creditors to amend the critical 3rd draw from its DIP financing and will receive $50mn on Monday.

$50mn is still subject to the airline presenting creditors with an "acceptable" standalone or merger reorg plan.

More: theaircurrent.com/airlines/spi...

Spirit Airlines’ competitors think it may go bust this weekend At issue is Spirit’s ability to draw $100 million from its financing in bankruptcy by a Dec. 13 deadline

Spirit Airlines’ competitors think it may go bust this weekend theaircurrent.com/airlines/spi... (via @jonostrower.com & @byerussell.com) #staycurrent