The Santa Clara, California-based company has operated a corporate shuttle for decades, which moves employees through its various West Coast facilities. Commonly referred to as “Intel Air,” the aircraft fly on regular schedules with up to 24 flights per day before the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Cirium Fleet analyzer data, the Intel Air Shuttle has four active aircraft in its fleet, including two Embraer E145s plus two E175s. The company has hangars at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport (KIWA), Sacramento Mather Airport (KMHR) in California, and Hillsboro Airport (KHIO) in Oregon. It also operates flights to San Jose, California.

First reported by The Oregonian/Oregon Live, the shuttle’s permanent shutdown joins a long list of other scaled-back employee benefits.

“We really aren’t in a situation where we could continue to afford benefits and programs that are above market practice,” Intel human resources chief Christy Pambianchi told employees.

Intel just recently resumed operating the shuttle in April 2024 after a year-long pause. At the time, a company spokesperson said the shutdown was intended to “reduce employee travel as part of our ongoing cost-cutting efforts.”

The four aircraft are operated by GMJ Air Shuttle, which uses the call sign “High Tech.” GMJ is part of the Florida-based private aviation firm XOJet and operates under FAA Part 125 rules.

Intel did not immediately respond to AirlineGeeks’ request for comment on the shutdown.

Editor’s Note: This article first appears on AirlineGeeks.com.

The post Money-Losing Intel Grounds Corporate Air Shuttle Fleet appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to the Seattle Times, the FAA issued an alert on its Domestic Events Network, which is distributed to airlines, that a pilot passenger tried “to disable aircraft engines while at cruise altitude by deploying the engine fire suppression system.” To fully activate each system, a ceiling-mounted handle must be first pulled down. This cuts off fuel, electrical power and hydraulics to the engine. Twisting the handle then releases halon gas inside the engine to smother a fire.

It’s not clear at which point the pilots intervened, but there was no power loss according to the airline. “Fortunately some residual fuel remains in the line, and the quick reaction of our crew to reset the handles restored fuel flow and prevented fuel starvation,” Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Alexa Rudin told the Times. The FAA said the crew was then able to subdue the jumpseat passenger and get him out of the flight deck.

The story began making the rounds in social media late Sunday with a LiveATC clip (go to about 10:30) that captured a brief conversation between the captain and air traffic control after things had settled down. As the controller was directing the E175 to Portland for an emergency landing, he asked the crew about the “threat level” onboard. “I’ll just give you a heads-up. We’ve got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit,” a pilot told the controller. “It doesn’t seem like he’s causing any issue at the back. I think he’s subdued. Other than that, we want law enforcement as soon as we get on the ground and parked.”

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.com.

The post Deadheading Pilot Tries to Douse Engines in Flight appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to LiveATC.com, approximately 30 minutes into the flight, the pilot flying as first officer notified air traffic control: “Need to return, the captain is incapacitated.” The flight was cleared back to O’Hare.

Subsequent transmissions between ATC and O’Hare tower depict controllers giving the pilot flying clearance back to the aircraft and information as to where to taxi to so that medical personnel could get to the incapacitated pilot.

Audio via @liveatc of American Eagle (Envoy) flight 3556 on Nov. 19. This is the reason commercial jetliners have at a minimum two pilots. https://t.co/hanPLAWbYY pic.twitter.com/0OC0bhuCEC

— Ross Feinstein (@RossFeinstein) November 22, 2022

According to a story appearing on CNBC, Capt. Ric Wilson, vice president of Envoy’s flight operations, said in a note to staff that the incapacitated pilot was a captain in training, occupying the left seat.

Yesterday the airline released a statement on the event, noting “The flight landed safely and first responders met the aircraft upon arrival. Despite heroic efforts by those on board and first responders on the ground, our colleague passed away at the hospital. We’re deeply saddened and are doing all we can to support his family and our colleagues at this time.”

Why Two Pilots

In the United States it is mandatory to have two pilots aboard during Part 121 operations for safety. One is pilot flying, while the other pilot performs cross checks and non-flying duties. Another reason for two pilots is to manage workload, as pilots often work long hours. Both pilots are qualified to fly the aircraft, and they take turns acting as pilot flying, often switching off legs during a long duty day. The captain retains the position as pilot-in-command throughout.

The post Incident Proves Two-Pilot Operations Are Critical for Part 121 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.