Seth Miller

@wandrme.paxex.aero

8685 Followers 920 Following

Aviation journalist specializing in #IFEC, #Loyalty, #PaxEx: paxex.aero Some #woodworking, too: millerworks.net NH State Rep serving Dover: miller4nh.com

Crowd on a balcony overlooking a fair.
Hi Seth, A quick update to let you know that we're updating our Terms and Conditions to better protect Amtrak Guest Rewards® members from fraud and unauthorized redemptions. These changes will go into effect on August 6, 2026. Here's what you need to know: • Members may redeem up to two (2) gift cards in a 24-hour period, and up to $300 of aggregate value in gift cards in a 7-day period, regardless of gift card brand or denomination. • If a member tries to redeem more than the limit set within the stated timeframes, the redemption will be automatically blocked.
The regulatory approval caps a multi-year certification effort in which Boeing demonstrated through comprehensive testing and analysis that the airplane meets all commercial aviation regulations. The test program, which began in 2018, included: More than 1,000 hours of flight and ground testing Extensive system safety analysis and human factors reviews An updated engine anti-ice system to address a potential condition that was discovered during flight testing Our Boeing team held regular and detailed discussions with the FAA to ensure Boeing understood the requirements and provided transparency of our progress," said Mike Sinnett, senior vice president of Product Strategy, Product Development and Development Programs. "With this certification program, Boeing has developed a clearer understanding of the latest regulatory requirements, which is expected to accelerate future airplane development with a renewed emphasis on human factors, safety and quality." Boeing and Southwest Airlines, the 737-7 launch customer, are preparing for delivery of the first airplane. A team is readying the first airplanes, including implementing updates to the airplane's final configuration. The FAA also updated Boeing Production Certificate No. 700 (PC 700) to include the 737-7.
FAA Statement on Certification of the Boeing 737 MAX-7 Following almost a decade of extensive review, the FAA has issued an amended type certificate and updated Production Limitation Record for the Boeing 737 MAX-7. The approval reflects years of sustained work to resolve complex technical issues and complete a thorough review of the airplane’s design and supporting safety analyses. Throughout the process, the FAA performed or directly reviewed significant work involving flight controls, system safety assessments, human factors, flightcrew alerting, and other novel, complex, or safety-critical areas, while also requiring testing, design changes, and additional analysis where necessary. Before granting approval, the FAA required the MAX-7 to incorporate key improvements that address requirements in the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act and NTSB recommendations, including updates to the flight-control software, flightcrew alerting system, and a redesigned engine anti-ice system. These changes provide pilots clearer information and warnings and prevent the engine inlet from overheating and potentially weakening the surrounding structure.
Nearly 1,300 pilots represented by the Allegiant Pilots Association, Teamsters Local 2118, have voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement by an 80 percent margin, with 99 percent of eligible pilots participating in the ratification vote. The agreement provides an immediate average hourly wage increase of approximately 40 percent, and its ratification triggers the payment of approximately $300 million in accrued retention bonuses to Allegiant pilots. "This agreement represents a major leap forward for our pilots. It delivers approximately 54 percent in wage increases by January 2027 and meaningful improvements to retirement, benefits, work rules, and quality of life over our previous contract,” said Ryan Joseph, President of Local 2118. “Just as importantly, it positions our pilot group from a place of strength as we enter joint collective bargaining and seniority list integration. That's exactly what this agreement was designed to accomplish." Other provisions include a company-funded 15 percent direct 401(k) contribution, company-paid long-term disability through age 65, a five-hour minimum pay credit for each flight duty period, expanded leave protections, and increased premium pay for open time, voluntary flying, and junior assignments. The agreement also includes scheduling-system protections, minimum days-off guarantees, displacement and fleet-transition protections, and furlough protections tied to scheduling efficiencies.
Airline seat map with pricing for all the seats and the A window is $30 but the other side window is $28.
Screenshot of the Bsky settinga Content & Media tab where video auto play can be disabled.
Taken together, the evidence suggests that AI has already reshaped how firms talk about productivity, even if its effects are not yet clearly visible in aggregate productivity statistics. Executives increasingly connect productivity improvements to AI, and they do so in overwhelmingly positive terms. But these discussions remain largely forward-looking. For now, earnings calls point less to broad realized productivity gains than to a corporate sector actively investing in, experimenting with and expecting future gains from AI. We will continue to monitor whether AI-related productivity discussion in upcoming earnings calls shifts from future-tense expectations to realized gains.
"Executives predominantly described AI-related productivity effects in positive terms. (See the final figure.) Among non-AI-related sentences, for all quarters from 2000 through 2025, 75% described productivity as increasing, about 20% described no change, and only a small share described a decrease. AI-related sentences are even more one-sided: 95% described productivity as increasing, and the share describing a decrease was negligible. The picture that emerges is one of strong executive optimism: Firms that discuss AI and productivity in the same breath usually describe AI as a force that will make them more productive."
Additionally, the way firms talk about AI has evolved. To illustrate this change, we calculated the frequency of certain bigrams (two-word phrases) in our collection of identified sentences. (See the following figure.) In 2023, shortly after LLMs first came out, the most frequently used AI-related bigram was “generative AI.” Starting in 2025, the phrases “using AI” and “AI tools” grew in usage, while the passive and vague “generative AI” fell out of fashion. Mentions of Generative AI peaked around 25/1000 sentences in late 2023. AI Tools is now at 15/1000 and rising.
Another hockey stick-esque chart, showing that 15% of "productivity" discussions include AI.
Dramatic looking line chart, but the Y axis only ranges of 0.34% to 0.39%, so the growth in mentions of "productivity" in earnings calls is not all that substantial.
WestJet recognizes the decision for Cabin Crew to strike is not an easy one. Given this, it's important to be clear about what was offered, what was not accepted, and what is leading to 250,000 guests whose August long weekend travel is cancelled, with further flights to follow, depending on the duration of the work stoppage. Details of the proposal include Wage increases across the board: Effective October 1, 2026 13.0% increase Effective January 1, 2027 2.5% increase Effective January 1, 2028 2.5% increase Effective January 1, 2029 2.5% increase Retroactive wage payment to January 1, 2026 NEW Duty pay premium – a payment for all duty hours (additional pay for all hours worked designed to solve the union's claim of unpaid work), equivalent to another 12% of salary increase
Mountain peak peeking through haze/smoke/clouds, as seen from a plane window.
"We are grateful for the strong cooperation we have had with IndiGo over the past eighteen months. It has been a valuable experience for Norse Atlantic. However, there is no doubt that the elevated fuel prices, airspace disruptions and longer flight routes resulting from the Middle East conflict have affected the commercial viability of the arrangement for both parties. We have therefore jointly concluded that alternative deployment of the aircraft will be more commercially beneficial to both parties,” says Eivind Roald, CEO of Norse Atlantic.
Red "remove before flight" tag hanging off a pin, stuck in an airplane door.
JetBlue plane with Mario characters on the side.
Decent legroom in the front row. And an older, but not the oldest, IFE screen.
Backs of heads on a bus.
Table showing the security footprint more than doubling in the construction.
Two distance measurements overlaid on airport terminal maps. They are not, despite the airport authority's claim, similar.
Sunset rendering of an airport with a bunch of terminals. The iconic facade is overwhelmed by a giant structure atop/behind it, ruining the sight lines and generally making it stupid to bother with the "preservation" they're positioning it as.
Management statement about potential strike/lockout: WestJet responds to union's 72-hour strike notification and issues lockout notification CALGARY, AB, July 30, 2026 /CNW/ -- WestJet today responded to a 72-hour strike notification from the union that represents WestJet Cabin Crew by issuing a lockout notice. These notices do not immediately impact operations or mean that a labour disruption will occur. WestJet and CUPE are still actively negotiating to reach an agreement, avoiding impact to our guests. WestJet responds to union’s 72-hour strike notification and issues lockout notification "The decision to issue a lockout notice, in response to the actions taken by the union, was not one that was made lightly. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests," said Alexis von Hoensbroech, Chief Executive Officer of the WestJet Group. "We greatly value the work and contributions of our Cabin Crew, and it is our responsibility to ensure the integrity of our network and to minimize the risk of stranding our guests, crew and aircraft. Our commitment remains at the bargaining table, where we will continue to work around the clock to come to an agreement that provides value and meaningful improvements for our Cabin Crew and is sustainable for our company."
Email pitch from a conference: Aviation's New Golden Era Starts Here Higher Revenue. Greater Returns. AI ROI.
Screenshot of call history including a nearly 3 hour session with Air Canada.
Pepperoni pizza before it gets cooked.
Bees flying among small yellow flowers.
Interior of an airport, looking up at skylights.
Absurd chart pretending to show that robots and chatbots are ready to deploy at airports to make boarding easier.
Instead of relying only on predefined boarding groups, static schedules, and staff observation, AI systems can predict passenger arrival patterns, monitor gate-area congestion, estimate boarding readiness, and flag issues like carry-on baggage pressure before they turn into visible bottlenecks. The commercial logic is this: reduce operational friction while supporting understaffed gate teams. The need is undeniable. According to OAG, the airline industry currently faces a shortfall of around 32,000 skilled workers, with thousands more retirements expected each year through 2042. In other words, the labor gap is becoming a structural constraint. At the gate, this is especially painful. Boarding looks simple from the outside. In reality, it is a fragile choreography of passengers arriving late, families needing more time, premium travelers expecting priority, overhead-bin pressure building up, and gate agents trying to keep the process moving while also answering 47 unrelated questions. This makes the category attractive from an innovation perspective, but not yet fully commercially mature.
Map of airports in the pacific with rings showing ~138 minute diversion overlaps.
“This agreement is a tremendous victory for our members and raises the bar for the entire Canadian aviation industry,” said David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice-President. “Our members stood together throughout this process and made it clear they expected an agreement that recognized their skill, professionalism, and critical role in Air Canada’s success. This contract delivers on that expectation.” Among the key achievements of the new collective agreement are: • Canadian industry-leading wages that recognize the highly skilled work performed by TMOS members. • Significant pension improvements, including pension indexing for retirees to help protect retirement income against inflation. • The complete elimination of the ‘B’ and part-time wage scale, ensuring fairer wages and greater equity for all members. • Increased premium pay that better reflects the specialized skills and responsibilities performed by IAM members. • Enhanced health and welfare benefits to provide greater support for members and their families. • A Sick Bank Payout program, allowing members to receive payment for unused sick leave or convert those accumulated days into additional time off. • A vacation purchase plan allowing members to purchase 2-weeks extra vacation.
side-by-side maps showing the impact of removing the airport from ETOPs.
Map showing airport locations across the western Pacific ocean.
SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting comments from the aviation industry and general public (including federal, state, tribal, and local agencies) regarding the importance of Midway Atoll Airport / Henderson Airfield (MDY) for trans-Pacific Ocean aviation operations. Specifically, MDY serves in a “flight planning” role for routes across the North-Central Pacific Ocean, as an Extended Range Operation with Two-Engine Airplanes (ETOPS) alternate airport under Federal Aviation Regulations. However, MDY’s infrastructure is deteriorating and will require significant financial investments and rehabilitation within the next three to five years to maintain its operational capability and compliance with the FAA’s airport certification requirements and ETOPS requirements. The FAA is requesting responses to questions contained in this notice in order to better understand the potential impacts if MDY were no longer available as an ETOPS alternate airport.
FR24 chart of a small plane turning circles over Dover, NH below 1000 feet.
Time lapse of flipping pieces of wood around to make an end grain basket weave look.
TEAMSTERS LAND INDUSTRY-LEADING DEAL AT UNITED AIRLINES Union Secures Agreement in Principle for 11,000 Mechanics and Related Employees Nationwide (WASHINGTON) – The Teamsters Union has reached an agreement in principle with United Airlines (UA) on a new contract for more than 11,000 mechanics and related employees nationwide, delivering a major victory after nearly two years of relentless bargaining and member-led contract action. The full bargaining committee, made up of UA business agents and rank-and-filers, voted 19-to-12 to recommend the agreement in principle to members for ratification. The victory secures industry-leading wage increases and clear job protections, accelerates progression to top pay from eight years to five, and delivers a $54 million signing bonus upon ratification, which will provide payments of $5,000 to each member. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters fully recommends ratification of this agreement. The contract breakthrough follows an aggressive campaign by the Teamsters Union. Throughout bargaining, Teamsters fought for an industry-leading agreement that reflects members’ critical work maintaining one of the largest airline fleets in the world and keeping millions of passengers safe.
Presentation slide showing planned production rates for Airbus: A220 - 13/month in 2028 A320 - 70-75 in 2027 A330 - 5 in 2029 A350 - 12 in 2028
Presentation slide showing ~60% of free cash flow being returned to shareholders via dividends and buybacks.
Flights from VPS to MHT on American.
Pan Am logo on aircraft wreckage underwater, including some anemone also growing nearby.
Rendering of Shohin Airlines' new Airbus planes. Generally bland "eurowhite" with a dark green tail and gold-ish highlights.
n accordance with local laws, regulations, and industry standards, Gambling creatives, e.g., • Online casinos and sport books • Bingo and slot machine sites or apps • Online lottery ticket and scratch card purchases • Online sports betting • Games using virtual currencies with real-world value will be able to serve beyond select US states only including in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Taiwan, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Korea (the Republic of), Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, and United Kingdom.
Successful Bidder JetBlue Airways Corporation Number of Transferred LGA Slots: 22 Total Consideration (USD): $58,500,000 Alternate Bidder Frontier Airlines, Inc. Number of Transferred LGA Slots: 22 Total Consideration (USD): $57,500,000 PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the form of the transfer agreement (the “Transfer Agreement”) in connection with the Successful Bid for the LGA Slots is attached hereto as Exhibit A. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the form of the transfer agreement (the “Alternate Transfer Agreement”) in connection with the Alternate Bid for the LGA Slots is attached hereto as Exhibit B. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a hearing to consider approval of the transfer of the LGA Slots to the Successful Bidder (the “Hearing”) is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on July 22, 2026 3 before the Honorable Sean H. Lane, United States Bankruptcy Judge, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
A giant pyramid of Wegmans tuna fish cans - eleven eight-packs - on my kitchen table.
Exterior of the US CBP building at Stewart Airport.
Orange-ish dot of sun obscured by hazy smokey skies along a river, with a large ship on the water. Some blue skies are visible, but the majority is smoke grey.
Parked cars observed close to intersections and residential and commercial driveways create safety problems by blocking sight lines.  Cars parked on the shoulder, particularly near Jenness State Beach and Pirates Cove, force high volumes of bicycle and pedestrian traffic into the travel lane creating safety conflicts.  Use of a private for-fee lot owned by a local motel suggests willingness by beach-goers to pay for convenient parking.  If the Town were to install parking kiosks along heavily used segments of Ocean Blvd. in order to recover some costs associated with summer tourism activity, a first cut financial analysis indicates this should provide net revenue for the town after accounting for capital and monitoring costs.
Screenshot of AlphaSSL's website, including a 2008 copyright statement in the footer.
Cherry tomatoes on a vine at varying stages of ripe and color progress from green to yellow to almost red.
Chunk of metal missing where it should be from the side of an airplane engine.
Two pint containers in the refrigerator, both of similar color, and very different sauces inside.
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d)(2), the injunction binds (if they receive actual notice of the injunction): “(a) the Revocable Trust’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active concert or participation with the Revocable Trust or with anyone described in (a).” Id. at 2. Second, the judgment imposes a $1,500,000 civil penalty against the Trust, payable to the SEC. Id. at 2–3.
Subject: Data Preservation for Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). Purpose: This SAFO provides safety information to operators that have CVRs installed on their aircraft. Background: On January 5, 2024, a B-737-9 operated by Alaska Airlines experienced an in-flight separation of the left mid exit door (MED) plug and rapid depressurization during climb after takeoff from Portland International Airport. One flight attendant and seven passengers received minor injuries; the captain, the first officer, three flight attendants, and 164 passengers were uninjured; and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Discussion: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident and, on July 10, 2025, proposed a number of safety recommendations (A-25-025) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The NTSB concluded that Alaska Airlines’ procedures at the time of the accident were ineffective in ensuring that the CVR data from the accident flight were preserved, resulting in the loss of critical information for the investigation
Email from Boom Supersonic advertising 250 models to be sold of its non-existent jet, painted in an America 250 livery.
Mostly green patch of lawn against the side of our house. Lots of wildflowers starting to bloom in it, too.
Three racks of raw ribs on a grill with a wisp of smoke rising up.
Old and new car air filter. The new one is pristine while the old one is rather dirty, plus shows signs of small animals trying to eat through it.
JetBlue plane getting a water cannon salute from fire trucks. The plane is blue with a giant yellow ribbon on it to honor veterans. They added "250" in stickers to double dip on the celebration.