Taiwanese citizens were once again left red-faced after the BBC used a picture of Taiwan’s national carrier “China Airlines” to illustrate a news report about Chinese cabin crew being advised to wear diapers during flights as an epidemic prevention measure. At the same time, it was acknowledged that the fault did not lay with the BBC. The BBC reported that the Civil Aviation Administration of the People’s Republic of China had issued advice that cabin crew flying to and from
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Helicopter owner-pilot arrested for illegal flight and landing in New Taipei City
The owner-pilot of a Robinson R22 helicopter that was spotted landing and taking off in Tamsui District, New Taipei City last month was arrested today, October 9, and the helicopter has been seized. See Previous story: CAA investigating illegal helicopter landing in residential district of New Taipei City. Chen Yao-ting (陳耀庭), the 59-year-old owner of a freight company, was arrested in Guishan District, Taoyuan City, and transferred to the Shilin District Prosecutor’s Office, after an investigation involving the Civil Aviation
Read moreSix new Black Hawk helicopters delivered for search, rescue, disaster relief operations
The National Airborne Service Corps of the Ministry of the Interior took delivery of six new Black Hawk helicopters at the Port of Kaohsiung yesterday, October 7, and towed the aircraft by road to Kaohsiung International Airport during the night. The aircraft are part of a batch of 60 that were ordered by the Ministry of National Defense in 2009, 15 of which were allocated to the Airborne Service corps for search and rescue, and disaster relief operations. The first
Read moreHelicopter crashes during training exercise in Kaohsiung City
Five people walked away from a helicopter crash unharmed at Kaohsiung City’s Xiaogang International Airport this afternoon, April 7. At 3:35 pm, the National Airborne Service Corps AS-365 Dauphin helicopter suddenly fell onto the tarmac from an altitude of around 30 feet, according to reports in Liberty Times and United Daily News. The aircraft and crew were taking part in emergency response training at the time, and practicing vertical take-off and landing. The aircraft hit the tarmac then landed on
Read moreMOTC proposes NT$30 billion bailout fund, China Airlines issues NT$10 billion in bonds as aviation industry faces virus crisis
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has proposed an NT$30 billion bailout loan package for Taiwan’s six airlines, but the plan has not yet been approved by the premier, according to Executive Yuan Spokesperson Kolas Yotaka. A previous bailout package was approved to the tune of NT$4.8 billion, but MOTC Minister Lin Chia-lung indicated recently that the figure may be raised to NT$30 billion because the aviation industry requires capital turnover. Today’s announcement comes on the same day that
Read moreUnidentified foreigner who tried to stowaway on outbound flight appears in court
An man who remains unidentified four months after being caught attempting to stowaway on a flight from Taiwan to Palau appeared in court today, but had only one thing to say to the judge. “Dear friend, Jesus is God,” the long-haired, bearded man declared to the judge in fluent Chinese. Other than that statement, and a “thank you,” also spoken in Chinese, “Man A,” as he was referred to during the hearing at the Taoyuan District Court, remained cooperative, but
Read moreAirline warns employees of contingency plans as viral panic causes financial avalanche
Taiwan’s national carrier China Airlines appealed to its 10,000 employees to be considerate and cooperative as the company faces an “economic avalanche” worse than SARS or the 2009 financial crisis. China Airlines issued the statement in an open letter to employees yesterday, March 2, warning that if the company’s operating conditions continue to deteriorate due to the epidemic situation, further contingency plans will have to be made. The airline announced that 49% of flights in March have been cancelled, after
Read moreStarlux takes delivery of second airliner: CEO flies it home
Starlux Airlines took delivery of its second Airbus A321neo in Hamburg, Germany, December 19, and Chairman Chang Kuo-wei personally took the helm and flew it back to Taiwan, arriving at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport this morning, December 23. The aircraft, registered as B-58202, is the second of three A321s expected to start flying on three routes from January 23. Hands-on chairman Chang led a team to inspect the aircraft, seeing it through a test flight December 18 before taking delivery
Read moreKinmen Airport: two cases in 5 days of passengers opening aircraft emergency doors
Two flights experienced delays at Kinmen Airport in the last week, due to passengers opening the emergency doors, one before take-off, and one after landing. On October 31, a flight about to depart for Taichung International Airport had to abort after a 63-year-old woman named Chen opened the emergency door. Flight attendants had just given the pre-flight safety demonstration, including instructions on opening the emergency exits, when Ms Chen apparently decided to put the instructions to the test. Chen, who
Read moreFlight at Taoyuan Airport aborted after man spotted clinging to landing gear
A China Airlines flight was aborted on the runway after a man ran out of long grass and jumped onto the landing gear as the plane was about to take off this afternoon, November 2. At 1:35pm, flight CI028 from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport to Palau was preparing to take off when the pilot of an Asiana Airlines plane spotted a man running out of the grass and mounting the landing gear of the plane. The Asiana Airlines pilot immediately
Read moreTaipei to Hong Kong flight delayed after passenger shouts “bomb”
A flight from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport was delayed for four hours today after a passenger shouted that there was a bomb on the plane shortly before take off. The Hong Kong Airlines plane had taxied to the runway, and was scheduled to take off at 12:25pm when a woman suddenly stood up and shouted in Cantonese, “there’s a bomb on the plane…it’s not safe.” Cabin crew contacted the flight captain, who immediately informed the control tower that he was
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