Flight path shake-up promises quicker flights and fewer delays
Ministers say the plans could allow planes to climb quicker during take off and descend more smoothly.The plans are also aiming at helping reduce aviation's climate change impacts and pave the way for new technologies like flying taxis. "Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying and will set the industry up for a long-term, sustainable future," aviation minister, Mike Kane, said.The changes would allow the largest re-design of UK airspace since it was first formed in the 1950s.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Phillipson: Teachers cannot insist on gender-neutral Mx title
Teachers can ask to be addressed as Mx instead of Mr or Mrs but they cannot insist on people using the gender-neutral title, the Education Secretary has said. Bridget Phillipson said schools have a responsibility to make sure teachers are treated with respect, but also that people 'with a range of viewpoints' on transgender issues are also treated with respect. Ms Phillipson was pressed further on Thursday on comments she made earlier this week about the right of teachers to make such a request. The Telegraph reported recently that a primary school in the south-east of England had listed a new teacher, who the newspaper said was male according to their biological sex, as Mx in a list of staff members. Mx is described as a gender-neutral title for those who do not identify as being of a particular gender or do not wish to be identified by gender. Speaking on Times Radio, Ms Phillipson said: 'A teacher can, of course, make that request, but you can't insist that it's followed.' Asked whether she would call someone Mx, Ms Phillipson said: 'I think that's a hypothetical situation. I've never been asked to do that. 'As a matter of principle, on a wider point, I would usually seek to respond to someone in a way that they would prefer, but there is no obligation for people to do that.' Asked by Nick Ferrari on LBC whether the issue will cause confusion, she said: ' Schools, as employers, have responsibilities for managing this, in that they have a responsibility to ensure that staff are treated with respect, but also that people with a range of viewpoints are also able to express their views and are treated with respect as well.' Ms Phillipson also said she 'can't put a timescale' on when long-awaited guidance for schools on gender-questioning children will be published. The Government has previously said it will not be hurried into publishing guidance for schools, amid calls which came after the Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman in April. Draft guidance for schools and colleges on how best to support pupils has been on hold since Labour entered Government. It was published by the Conservative government in December 2023, and a consultation ended in March last year. On Thursday Ms Phillipson, who has previously said guidance would be issued later this year, said the priority is getting the guidance right. She told LBC: 'I think it's more important that we get it right than we rush it, because these are serious and quite sensitive issues about children and young people and their wellbeing. 'I do know that schools are asking for guidance. 'We want to make sure they've got that guidance, but what matters most is that the guidance they get is workable and they find it practical and helpful in responding to what can be quite challenging issues for schools, when they're supporting young people who might be experiencing questions around distress or their wellbeing.'
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Buzz flight en route to London escorted by fighter jets after potential security issue
A Buzz flight en route to London was escorted by two German fighter jets after a potential security threat was reported to the crew. The plane was flying from Sofia, Bulgaria, to London Stansted on Monday, 11 August. Flight FR9962 took off from the Bulgarian capital at 9.30pm for a three-hour flight to London. However, around halfway into the journey, the Boeing 737 swerved from its flight path. Data from Flightradar shows that the plane made a sharp turn and skirted the border of the Czech Republic, before flying through Austria into Germany. Previous flight paths for the same route show that the plane usually flies over Austria and into the Czech Republic, then into Germany. It has been reported by Ryanair Group. After the aircraft entered Germany, it was escorted by two of the country's Eurofighter jets. In a statement to The Independent, Ryanair said: 'Buzz, the Polish charter airline, was advised of a possible security issue on a Buzz flight FR9962 from Sofia to London Stansted on Monday, 11 August last. 'This issue was quickly resolved and de-escalated, which allowed the flight [to] continue on to London Stansted, where it landed on time, and passengers disembarked normally.' The details of the resolved issue are unclear. The flight landed on time at Stansted, arriving at the airport at 10.28pm. The incident comes after a separate issue back in May, when at least 11 flights were diverted and others delayed after an apparent bomb threat was made against a Ryanair flight. The flight departed Faro, Portugal and landed at Brussels-Charleroi airport in Belgium, which closed shortly after the plane had landed. The US Embassy in Brussels posted on X (formerly Twitter): 'The US Embassy is aware of reports of a bomb alert on board a plane at Brussels South Charleroi Airport. Monitor local news and inform your friends and family of your status.' Ryanair said that the aircraft landed normally and passengers disembarked, but apologised to any of the affected passengers.
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Starmer welcomes Zelensky to Downing Street ahead of Putin-Trump meeting
Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street as Europe braces for Donald Trump's face-to-face discussions with Vladimir Putin on Friday. The Ukrainian president and Prime Minister embraced and posed for the cameras in front of Number 10 with a handshake as he arrived in Westminster on Thursday morning while gathered media in Downing Street shouted questions. A red carpet had been rolled out for his arrival. The Prime Minister's meeting with Mr Zelensky comes after he said Britain stands ready to 'increase pressure' on Russia if necessary. During a call with the US president and European allies on Wednesday, Sir Keir praised Mr Trump for his work to bring forward a 'viable' chance of an end to the war ahead of his scheduled meeting with the Russian leader. Concerns have been raised over Mr Zelensky's exclusion from the discussions between Mr Trump and Mr Putin, which are set to take place in Alaska on Friday. Speaking on Wednesday, Sir Keir said: 'This meeting on Friday that President Trump is attending is hugely important. 'As I've said personally to President Trump for the three-and-a-bit years this conflict has been going on, we haven't got anywhere near a prospect of actually a viable solution, a viable way of bringing it to a ceasefire. 'And now we do have that chance, because of the work of that the president has put in.' Further sanctions could be imposed on Russia should the Kremlin fail to engage and the UK is already working on its next package of measures targeting Moscow, he said. 'We're ready to support this, including from the plans we've already drawn up to deploy a reassurance force once hostilities have ceased,' he told allies. 'It is important to remind colleagues that we do stand ready also to increase pressure on Russia, particularly the economy, with sanctions and wider measures as may be necessary.' Sir Keir and European leaders have repeatedly said discussions about Ukraine should not happen without it amid concerns the country is being sidelined in negotiations about its own future.
