logo
Controlling The Skies - Hidden Heroes of the Air

Controlling The Skies - Hidden Heroes of the Air

CNA2 days ago

About the show:
Every day more than ninety thousand commercial flights take off around the world. Ninety thousand flights that need to be safely flown and guided from take-off to landing through every kind of weather. We all know the role of the pilots in air travel, but how many of us know anything about air traffic control?
And yet, their job is one of the most stressful in the world, their responsibility is huge. Every minute of every day air controllers hold the lives of thousands in their hands. They work in places that the public never visits.
At the heart of major control centres, this documentary will follow an Air France flight from take-off at New York's JFK - the world's busiest airspace - to its landing in Paris' Roissy Charles de Gaulle - Europe's second busiest airport. An exclusive in-depth investigation into the wild and secret world of the heroes of the air.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

India accelerates privatisation of more public airports to meet soaring air travel demand
India accelerates privatisation of more public airports to meet soaring air travel demand

CNA

time2 hours ago

  • CNA

India accelerates privatisation of more public airports to meet soaring air travel demand

MUMBAI: India is forging ahead with the privatisation of more public airports, as the country anticipates a surge in demand for air travel. The move is expected to bring more infrastructure upgrades, reduce congestion and boost government revenue, said observers. India has already emerged as the world's third-largest aviation market, propelled by major investments in airport facilities and the rise of airlines with expansive flight networks. DEMAND FOR MODERN, EFFICIENT AIRPORTS Analysts said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government hopes to monetise loss-making assets by packaging them with profitable ones to attract private investors. For instance, Bhubaneswar International Airport, situated in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, is one of 11 airports that India wants to privatise in less than a year. Maulesh Desai, director of credit rating agency CareEdge Ratings said: 'Private players can bring operational efficiency (to) the airports and good technologies, (which) can reduce the turnaround time and provide a better passenger experience as well as airline experience.' The push comes as India's aviation sector gains momentum in its post-pandemic recovery, fuelling the demand for more modern and efficient airports. CareEdge has projected a compound annual growth rate of 9 per cent in passenger traffic over the next two years, with numbers expected to reach about 485 million by 2027 as international travel expands at a faster pace. Investment in the sector is also projected to grow, with an estimated US$12 billion in capital expenditure expected over the next five years, according to ratings agency ICRA. Airport privatisation in India began over two decades ago under a previous administration, aimed at bringing in investment and saving public funds for other uses. The country's busiest airports — Delhi and Mumbai — were among the first to go private in 2006. Six other Indian airports were privatised in 2019. These were done under a public-private partnership model, with the Airports Authority of India owning a 26 per cent stake and private firms holding the majority 74 per cent. HIGHER OPERATING EXPENSES Now, the government plans to sell off its stake in some of these ventures while also expanding the privatisation initiative to more airports. 'I think this strategy of airport privatisation and now bringing in more airports for the private-public partnership model is based out of the government's initiative to totally develop India,' said Milanka Chaudhury, partner at law firm Trilegal. Other airports in cities such as Amritsar, Varanasi, Raipur, and Trichy are also expected to go private by March next year. Industry giants like the Adani Group and GMR Airports, which already operate several privatised airports, are expected to be among the bidders. Observers said the big draw for private investors is the promise of potential profits that come not just from the aviation industry, but other sectors that contribute to a world-class airport experience such as retail and food and beverages. 'There will be these non-aeronautical businesses like duty-free kiosks, there will be restaurants, and it's more like a shopping experience within the airport,' said Trilegal's Chaudhury. 'It also has a lot of commercial aspects to it. So the passengers spend a lot of time and money there, and the government gets a revenue share of that.' But this transformation could come at a cost. Higher operating expenses could eventually be passed on to both airlines and passengers, particularly as demand grows, incomes rise, and environmental concerns around aviation intensify. CareEdge Ratings' Desai said: 'That leads to the higher burden on the airlines as well as the passengers, so that is one challenge we need to (observe).'

Musetti swings past Rune into French Open quarter-finals
Musetti swings past Rune into French Open quarter-finals

CNA

time10 hours ago

  • CNA

Musetti swings past Rune into French Open quarter-finals

PARIS :Lorenzo Musetti's impressive claycourt season rolled on in style on Sunday when the Italian craftsman downed the talented yet erratic Holger Rune 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-2 to reach the French Open quarter-finals for the first time. World number seven Musetti, who will take on American 15th seed Frances Tiafoe for a place in the last four, adjusted to the Dane's shift to a swashbuckling approach to keep his title hopes alive in a year that has seen him steady his game. For the 10th-seeded Rune, it was yet another failure against a member of the top 10 at a Grand Slam as he was denied a third quarter-final appearance at Roland Garros. "Last night I was dreaming of this match against Holger and I was playing at that level. I need to be very good, and I am really proud of myself tonight," said Musetti. Musetti, who said he has put some order in his game, arrived in Paris having reached at least the semi-finals in all three Masters events this season on clay. He did not disappoint on the Philippe Chatrier court, delighting the crowd with a handful of exquisite shots, notably from his impressive single-handed backhand. "I complain less now, I'm more steady," he said. The 23-year-old made a fast start, breaking in the opening game with a forehand winner before consolidating for a 2-0 lead. The Italian, who came into the match boasting an 11-0 Grand Slam record against players ranked outside the top five, looked sharp early, forcing a break point in the third game before netting a forehand that allowed Rune to steady himself and hold. COMPOSED The opening set remained scrappy, with both players trading breaks as unforced errors piled up on Rune's side of the court. Musetti kept his nose in front, capitalising on Rune's inconsistency to take the first set, with the momentum hinging on whether the Dane could tighten his game. Rune responded well in the second set, adopting a more aggressive approach by charging the net to disrupt Musetti's rhythm. The tactic paid off as the 22-year-old secured a vital break and maintained his composure, sealing the set with a powerful smash to level the match. Errors crept back into Rune's game in the fourth set, allowing Musetti to surge ahead 2-0 as the Italian kept his game tight and composed. Having adjusted to Rune's frequent forays to the net, Musetti began to find his range with a series of precise backhand passing shots. He carved out two break points in the opening game of the third set and converted with a blistering forehand winner, seizing full control of the contest. It was virtually game over when Rune dropped serve again in the fifth game, sending a forehand wide when he had an open court. Musetti wrapped it up on serve with an ace for his first win against Rune in three encounters. Addressing his army of fans in Italian, he said: "To all the Italians who are here in Paris, obviously you've stayed deep into the night, your support was fundamental, it helped me push my limits."

Paris cheers its 'sublime' champions PSG
Paris cheers its 'sublime' champions PSG

CNA

time11 hours ago

  • CNA

Paris cheers its 'sublime' champions PSG

PARIS :Paris St Germain held victory celebrations on the Champs Elysees and at their Parc des Princes for thousands of cheering supporters on Sunday after crushing Inter Milan 5-0 to win their first Champions League title. Dressed in the club's blue-and-red colours, fans gathered in the French capital's most famous avenue to welcome their Parisian heroes, just landed from Munich. The players showed off the coveted trophy from their open top bus and joined in the crowd's singing. "We are the champions!", "Ici c'est Paris!" (Paris is here) and other chants reverberated throughout the avenue. The squad then headed for the nearby Elysee palace where they were greeted by President Emmanuel Macron. "You won this Champions League, and you did it in a sublime, phenomenal way. You are the champions, and you put Paris at the top of Europe. And it was magnificent," Macron said. "We all felt the excitement. There were 11 of you on the pitch, but there was clearly a 12th man - the French public ... regardless of traditional allegiances." PSG's young team achieved what the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe could not do in their colours, becoming only the second French side to win the trophy after Olympique de Marseille in 1993. "It's unbelievable," said one fan Leo Rogue, 22, standing in the middle of the packed crowd in a vintage PSG top. "I don't have the words ... We've been waiting for this for a long time." SECURITY LIMIT Police capped numbers at 100,000 for security reasons. Some youngsters climbed on scaffolding or news stands to better take in the moment. Jamel, 55, was disappointed to be stopped near an entrance to the parade as numbers had reached a maximum, but was not letting that spoil his celebration. "Yesterday I partied and today I'm partying," he said. Wild celebrations erupted across the French capital and beyond on Saturday night, although skirmishes with police later threatened to spoil the party. The club condemned violence on X. "Paris St Germain calls on everyone to show responsibility and respect, for that historic win to remain a moment of pride shared by all," it said. At the Parc des Princes stadium, police deployed tear gas when dozens of ticketless fans sought to enter the security perimeter. Inside the arena, after a show that featured DJ Snake, the players came to greet the crowd with man-of-the-final Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and coach Luis Enrique the most cheered, before club president Nasser al Khelaifi and captain Mqrauinhos showed the trophy to the fans.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store