Hijackings of aircraft usually follow a pattern of negotiations between the hijackers and the authorities, followed by some form of settlement. Sometimes the matter is ended by the storming of the aircraft to rescue the hostages.

Since the nineteen eighties, there has been an average of 25 skyjackings a year (very roughly). Source: Criminal Acts Against Civil Aviation 1988 and 1989, and other data.

Prior to 9/11, the policy of most airlines was for the pilot to comply with hijackers’ demands in the hope of a peaceful outcome. Since then, policies have reversed course, in favor of arming and armoring the cockpit.

Measures for preventing skyjacking include putting air marshalls on planes, screening all luggage and passengers for weapons, and greately fortifying the cockpit to keep hijackers out.

Many skyjacking incidents are, in fact, not caused by political terrorists in the conventional sense. Skyjackings are mostly caused by people out of criminal, personal or obscure motives. Some skyjackings have been known to arise from air rage incidents that get out of control.

The aircraft and passengers are of course put at serious risk whatever the reason and motivation of the skyjackers. This is so even if the cockpit is not overtaken during flight. While the hijackers are in control, the safety of passengers and crew is at risk whether or not the aircraft is in flight.

Here then are ten top tips of things that you can do if you are ever caught up in a skyjacking.

1. Always be aware of your surroundings. Whenever you are in an airport or on an aircraft, take notice of your surroundings. Pay particular attention to activities or situations that do not appear to be normal.

2. Report unusual activity to the authorities. Should you see anything in the airport or on an aircraft that looks out of place or otherwise inappropriate such as unusual behavior or potential security violations, inform someone in authority.

3. Make no assumptions about who may pose a threat. If someone is intent on violence or skyjacking, realize that person can be of any age, gender, or nationality. Do not assume that any particular type of person is likely to do harm simply because of outward appearances.

4. Be as invisible as possible. Once it is clear that a skyjacking or a violent act is in progress, do nothing to draw attention to yourself. Stay quiet and be low profile. However, remain observant in case there is an opportunity for escape, and work as a team if the need arises.

5. Keep your seat belt fastened while you are seated. This provides extra protection that you might need if the plane hits unexpected turbulence of if the aircraft is put through unusual maneuvers.

6. Listen to the flight attendants. The primary reason flight attendants are on an aircraft is for safety, so if there is any kind of emergency or potential emergency situation, look to the flight attendants for guidance.

7. Become familiar with your aircraft everytime you travel. When you are first seated, review the written safety instructions. Also count the number of rows to the nearest exits (toward the front or the back of the plane). Study the seatback telephone service if such telephones are available.

8. Use a telephone if safe to do so. In an emergency, such as a skyjacking, use your mobile or the seatback telephone to alert the emergency services on the ground. But only do this if you can make the call without being noticed by the skyjackers. In the European Union the emeregency telephone number is 112. In the USA it is 911.

9. Make use of a camouflage passport. If your nationality is ‘western’, if your religion, culture or country (or even the sound of your name) could be associated with some kind of war or conflict, then you need to consider having a camouflage passport. You would only use the camouflage passport in the event of a skyjacking, and of course you would destroy or hide your real passport. You also need to remember to get rid of other items that may reveal your real identity.

Skyjackers are likely to collect all passports. Possession of a camouflage passport is perfectly legal since it is not a false passport and has not been used to commit any crime. To get a camouflage passport do a search on internet.

10. Work as a team. If the situation on the airline has the potential for danger, it may be better to share information with crew members and the other passengers and cooperate together. Individual action in an emergency or during a skyjacking is usually much less effective than a coordinated group action.

Every year, several thousand people die or get injured in airline accidents. Traveling on a commercial airline is not as safe as you would like to believe. On average 1,000 to 2,000 people die, and roughly 2,000 to 5,000 are injured every year since the 1930′s, as regular as clockwork.

Airline accidents are now so common that they usually don’t make headline news, and many ‘minor’ incidents involving just one or two fatalities and injuries usually go unreported in the press. Unless you have personal experience of an airline accident, you can easily go through life thinking that they virtually never occur.

One surprising fact is that ninety four percent of plane accidents happen on take off and landing. This accounts for about 88 percent of fatalities (figures for injuries are usually not recorded). The other four percent of plane accidents happen while the plane is cruising, which accounts for about 12 percent of fatalities. Source: the ‘Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents, Boeing’.

But another even more astonishing fact is that pilot and flight crew error account for over 60% of all airline calamities. And remember that here we are talking about regular commercial airlines, without including private planes, military aircraft, etc. Source: information compiled by the website Air Crash Info.

Since the 1930′s, when air crash figures first started to be collected, the rate of airline accidents and fatalities has been surprisingly steady. In other words, the percentage of accidents and deaths (per 100 passengers or per 100 journeys) is on average about the same every year. Thus, in spite of modern technology, the percentage of fatalities and accidents in airline passengers continues unabated.

What then are the chances of an airline passenger becoming involved in a serious plane crash? Figures going back to 1988 (OAG Back Aviation Solutions & Plane Crash Info accident database, 1988 – 2007) show the following:

The odds of being on an airline flight which results in at least one fatality is about 1 in 3.3 million. This assumes that you travel on a mix of different airlines (not just the airlines with the safest records). Worse still is that many of these plane accidents (about 1 in 4) produces a mix of people who die and people who survive, albeit injured. Such injuries are often life-long (and life destroying).

Comparisons between air travel and car travel is difficult because statistics vary wildly from country to country. For example, in the USA there are on average 6 million car accidents every year, resulting in about 40,000 deaths a year.

Air travel statistics show that when you compare numbers of journeys taken (rather than mileage traveled) you are 12 times more likely to be involved in a fatal plane incident compared to a fatal car incident. In other words, air travel is much more dangerous than car travel (sources: ‘Air Travel Safety Secrets’ and ‘The Tombstone Imperative’).

You might well ask: is there anything one can do to avoid or minimize the risk of injury and death when you fly? Fortunately, the answer is a firm yes. There are some simple things that an airline passenger can do to greatly increase the chances of surviving an airline calamity without injury. Please see below for more information.

Here is a top notch list of tips on finding an ideal job in the aviation industry. The following is a mix of tips and information about finding a well paid job in aviation, wherever you live in the world.

In the aviation industry there is a wide spectrum of job opportunities ranging from mechanics, technicians, lawyers and engineers to cabin crew, pilots, ground clerical, medical and catering staff. Just about any kind of occupation you can think of is required by the aviation industry.

Pay varies from $20,000 to $200,000 (or the equivalent in your currency), depending on the type of work. Also, you need to distinguish between military and civil aviation, and decide which option to go for.

You can find great well-paid jobs in aviation covering all kinds of engineers, scientists and technicians. A good first step to finding a job in aviation is to do a search on internet using phrases such as “civil aviation jobs” and ‘aviation jobs’. For example, see ‘onlineaviationjobs.com’ among others.

Another strategy is to register your CV with recruitment agencies that specialize in aviation recruitment. You can do this online and receive email notifications of job vacancies and work opportunities. See aviation recruitment agencies such as Matchtech, Resource Group, Morson Group, and others.

It’s a good idea to tailor your CV towards the aviation industry as far as possible. If your qualifications and work experience are not related to aviation, then at least mention in your CV your special interest in aviation.

Start reading any magazines on aviation – some are full of useful information that will give you ideas for job hunting and developing a career in avionics. Do a search on internet for ‘avionics magazine’ to find magazines on avionics,

Also, check the magazines at a public library and at a large magazine retailer. Spend a few dollars buying a few relevant magazines as this will give you a good insight into avionics and the airline industry generally.

See “aviation blogs” on internet. Bookmark some of the blogs and visit them regularly to stay informed. Also, search “airport jobs” in google – you may be surprised at how many jobs are on offer.

Some job opportunities are not offered through agencies. So it’s a good idea to make a short list of about five large companies in aviation that you might want to work for. Then make direct contact with their human resource departments and enquire about jobs. For example, a shortlist of large aviation companies could include Airbus, Boeing, Atkins, and Altran.

If your interest is more related to the military side of avionics see the website for ‘Avionics and Missile Solutions’. This company, based in Alabama, USA, provides ‘high quality technical engineering solutions’ to the military.

If you want to find an aviation job in another country from where you are living, do a country-specific search in Google. This is how:

For instance, let’s assume you live in the USA but you want to find a job in Australia. Go to Google and enter ‘google Australia’. This will bring up the google search engine for Australia where you can do searches for aviation jobs in Australia.

You need to know how to buy an airplane when you have decided to buy rather than lease. This airplane decision is similar to that for a vehicle. How long will you own? How much will you use it? How much to put down?

A new airplane will include a warranty to save you from big repair expenses. You will enjoy the glass cockpit and the latest system for navigation. Your fuel consumption will be better than with an older plane. Having made the color decisions, you will have a plane that looks just like you want it to.

How old an airplane are you willing to buy? The older planes usually cost less to buy. However, they are going to use more fuel and will require more money to maintain and repair.

When you buy your airplane you will pay either your down payment or the purchase price. In addition, there will be closing costs. Your airplane will have to be registered. Repair money set aside now will be welcome later.

Your ongoing costs will include your finance charges. There also are annual insurance costs, both for your airplane and your liability. You will need to pay to store it. There will be the expenses of your fuel. Every year brings maintenance and an inspection. Property taxes will be due. You will need to hire a pilot if you are not licensed for the aircraft.

What are your intentions? Is it for business or pleasure? What range do you require? Do you feel the need for speed? Remember that speed costs.

You have several options when you buy an airplane. You can get a jet or single or twin engines. Do you want turbocharged or aspirated? What seating capacity do you need? How do those seats need to be arranged?

There are many airplane sources. You may buy direct from the manufacturer. There are aircraft dealers. Word of mouth is a great source for buying a used airplane. Newspapers have classified ads. Popular magazines and websites have ads and photos. There are airplane auctions.

Your purchase starts with phone screening to save time. Then do a buyer inspection. Check the condition, engine hours, and airworthiness directive (AD) compliance. If you like what you see, you can go on a test flight.

When you have selected your airplane you should have at least two things done before your closing. Be sure to have someone conduct an aircraft title search. Also have a mechanical inspection of the plane by a professional.

The levels of service and airline safety ratings vary tremendously according to Skytrax. The top six airlines in the world in 2008 (with 5 star ratings) are as follows:

1.Asiana Airlines (South Korea), 2.Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong), 3.Kingfisher Airlines (India), 4.Malaysia Airlines (Malaysia), 5.Qatar Airways (Qatar), 6.Singapore Airlines (Singapore).

The five-star ranking recognizes airlines that offer a top quality product and service according to Skytrax – airlines that set trends to be followed by other carriers.

Other airlines in the world are given ratings from zero stars to four stars, depending on a broad criteria that examines more than 800 different areas of product and service delivery for each airline, for both ground and onboard operations.

But what about airlines with the worst safety record in the world and their plane crash odds? Who are the worst airlines in the world? For this we have to go to other sources of information.

Deciding which airlines have the worst safety records is much more difficult than judging the level of service offered by major airlines. This is because airline safety ratings in some of the less well-known airlines are difficult to compare with major airlines, given the routes, the service, the number of flights, etc.

However, when airline safety ratings are checked and carefully analysed, it becomes clear that some airlines are considerable worse than others. Here are the top ten worst airlines in the world in terms of accident ratings, with number one listed as the worst:

1.Cubana Airline, accident rating 5.74. 2.China Airlines, accident rating 3.57. 3.Avianca Colombian Airline, accident rating 3.15 4.TAM Airline, accident rating 2.76. 5.Korean Air, accident rating 2.26. 6.Egypt Air, accident rating 2.06. 7.Indian Air Lines, accident rating 1.94. 8.Taesa Airlines, accident rating 1.83. 9.China Soutwest Airlines, accident rating 1.74. 10.Aeromexico, accident rating 1.55.

The above list was researched by ‘Airline Accident Ratings’ for the 20-year period from 1981 to 2000 (the latest data). The ratings are based on number of flights, number of fatal accidents, and the fatality rate of those accidents. Clearly, this information cannot and should not be used to provide an accurate assessment of an airline safety rating or future risk of an accident. Furthermore, the list does not endorse or condemn any particular airline, and a lot can change in the period 2000 – 2008.

However, it is clear that some airlines have a very poor safety record and it is only right to bring this to the attention of the public.

When you examine airline safety ratings, one thing springs out: most causes of fatal airline accidents are due to pilot error. According to figures compiled over a fifty year period by ?Plane Crash Info?, pilot error accounts for 53% of all fatal airline accidents!

The figures for airline pilot error have on average remained pretty constant since the 1950′s, showing that modern technology is not leading to a reduction in the incidence of pilot error.

One sure way of getting cheap airfare is by taking a plane from an airport close to your destination. If your destination by air is to Montral, then taking a plane to New York John F. Kennedy airport can help to cut back drastically on airfare. It’s really worth it to drive a couple of hours from where you stay to an airport close to your destination so that you can save on airfare.

A frequent flyer program is a program for people who fly often. If you fly often, joining a frequent flyers program can help you get cheap airfare.You can save airfare costs by buying two tickets. Purchasing two tickets for two interconnecting journeys can help you save costs. Generally, a return ticket is much cheaper than a one-way ticket.

You should bear in mind that cheap discounted airfares are non-refundable. You need to make the most of the first cheap airfare you find or else you will loose your money. Cheap airfare is non-transferable.You can search travel websites for last minute deals. You need to be consistent in your search for last minute deals online so that you wont miss out on them.

You can get a cheap airline ticket by booking on an already overbooked flight. Booking on an overbooked flight can guarantee you a refund of your ticket money if you choose not to board the flight. An overbooked flight maneuver can even fetch you a free flight.|A multi-stop flight may help you save a substantial amount of money on airfare. Multi-stop flights tend to charge less more than direct flights. You can save money on a multi-stop flight by booking the seat for the closest location to your destination and asking for a last minute deal when you get there.

There are certain days in a week that online tickets are sold cheaply such as Thursdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Save travel expenses by traveling on the days that the airfare is cheaper.|You can obtain several cheap airfare options on the internet. Mobissimo.com is a source of cheap airfare information. Kayak.com is a place for those who seek to spend less and gain more.

You can get cheap airfare if you book your ticket in advance. Late bookings may lead you to buy a ticket that is even costlier than usual.Some websites offer advice about the best way to get cheap airfare. You will find a myriad of websites on the Internet that redirect you straight to other websites where you can get cheap airfare information. On the Internet, cheap airfare websites are a network of useful sources for the economical traveler.

There are limitless cheap airfare possibilities that can make the search for one extremely daunting. To plough through the sea of cheap airfare choices, get a list that helps you narrow it down. You can narrow the search for cheap airfare by using your area of destination as a checkpoint.|To get the cheapest of the cheap airfare, you need to know where to look. Cheap airfare is a possibility contrary to what many people may think. With the cost of living increasing these days, cheap airfare is merely one way of saving for a rainy day.

Credible travel agencies or travel bodies should be recognized by one of the following bodies.You need to explore the Internet carefully to get cheap airfare options. Some people simply scratch the surface of the bulk of information regarding cheap airfare and come away whining about not getting what they want. To get the best cheap airfare options online, you will need to put your back into the search.Getting cheap airfare isn’t a walk in the park but it is worth it at the end of the day.

Every year, many Americans experience their first flying experience. It is thrilling to be a flyer for the first-time; several flyers are at inconvenience. That difficulty is not being aware of the details about the airline that they will be boarding or the airport that they will be passing through. Being a first-time flyer, you are recommended not in favor of venturing into this thrilling incident without your questions being answered. in its place, you are recommended to find out the answers to your queries.

First time flyers have a limitless amount of queries. Several tourists wish to experience accurately what an international airport is and many others would like to find out what are the finest international airports to take off from. When you have decided to board a flight and fly out of the state, it is recommended that you make yourself acquainted with local international airports as well as details of international airports. After doing so you will be expected discover that you will not only be sure of what you are doing, but you will also boast an improved pleasure for international journey.

United States have two chief categories of airports namely the international airports and the domestic airports. Possibly, the finest approach to study further regarding international airports, i.e. what they are comprised of, how they differ from domestic airports. In the United States compared to international airports, domestic airports are more frequently located. This happens for the reason that basically any airfield is regarded as a domestic airport only.

An international airport is an airport where flights come from other countries to US soil as well as flight from the US goes to another nation. Even though the advertisement shows the information that they focus on international air travel, but in reality most international airports not just have international flights, but also domestic airlines too. Therefore, international airports are frequently bigger in dimension, when measured up to the majority of domestic airports.

How you will manage to look around the airport will depend on the size of an airport. Most, if not all, national airports are comparatively smaller in size; in fact many barely have a few passenger terminals and moreover these terminals are expected to be interlinked or situated all in the same premises. On the other hand International airports are way different than domestic ones. Actually, several international airports are so big passengers have to be shuttled around from terminal to terminal.

From the above discussion it is simple to know about international airports, particularly when judged against domestic ones. Now as you came to know precisely about an international airport—what it does and what it is, you can easily start off looking for an international airport that is capable of providing you the facilities that you require.

If you have decided that having, a private jet is worthwhile you may now be looking into the price of having a private jet. There are a large number of planes on the market for sale both new and used and of course, the price tags vary depending on what you are looking for. The newest Supersonic jet, which will not be available on the market till 2014, has a price tag of around $80 million. Obviously, there are not many who are going to want a supersonic jet or want to spend that kind of money just to fly from New York to Paris in 4 hours. Most are looking for something to get them to and from their destination quickly, without a lot of hassles and in a relaxed atmosphere without worry.

The prices of the light Jet usually start from $ 3 Million whereas if you are looking for a Medium size Private Jet the prices would start somewhere around $ 9 Million and if you are looking for a larger Jet then the price would start from $ 17 Million Dollars.

Private jet costs begin under a million and climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars. But don’t let that fool you! You or your company can buy a private jet at a fraction of the purchase price of a whole brand new Boeing or Bombardier private jet with the help of what is known as the fractional jet ownership or private jet charter program.

There are a good number of planes that are currently on the market both used and new so there are plenty of options available so there is a good selection to choose from on the used market and the new market as companies are attempting to get rid of the current inventory to make room for newer models.

You can get some jets for as low as $1,500,000 used. The prices of course are dependent on what you want and how large the plane is and what additional options you want the cost of course also changes based on the age of the plane.

There are all kinds of jets available and each has their own layout and luxuries. You can do some research online to see what each has to offer and also to find out the speeds they travel at so you can calculate your flight costs. Yes we know you are still on a budget even if it’s a luxury one.

Business jets or private jets can be called a totally new addition to the panache and needs that big corporate giants feel and like to have. Fast moving jets specially designed in modest size to provide private aviation to the business sector. The word ?business jet? serves two fold purpose?some people buy or hire business jets to incorporate them in their business, and the second are the companies who offer business jet services to organizations, either through rentals or partnerships. These services offered by companies extend their expertise and equipments to evacuation of casualties, express parcel deliveries, governments or the armed forces, and sometimes for total private use. However, we will focus our discussion more on the specific versions of these business jets, which are popularly known as corporate jet, executive jet, or VIP transport.

It is not worth much to relate the advantages of business jets to the corporate sector, as almost all the excelling companies are aware of the need and necessity of private aviation in the present scenario that has opened many opportunities and have also imposed many limitations: open marketing has propelled the companies to send their personnel frequently to other cities for presentations, seminars, surveys, and other business related matters; however, in the wake of security threats, scheduled aviation has become very cumbersome and time-wasting. This is what business sector can never stand with?time is the most precious thing for any company, and they can?t afford to lose it.

There are many big companies that allow their CEO’s and top executives to use the company’s private business jets for personal travel. If done correctly it would be taxable income for the employee but instead companies are leaving the shareholders to foot the bill.

Contrast that with your typical air travel experience. Even if you’re fortunate enough to land yourself a seat in first class, you still have to get to the gate like everyone else. That typically means long lines, seemingly endless waiting, and of course the extra security. By the time you tack on the extra hour or so to your travels to account for all this, you usually end up arriving at your destination tired, cranky and sore from those tiny seats.

Not surprisingly, many organizations and companies still are doubtful about the idea of business jets; but it goes without saying that those who have used it and know its value, would never like to use scheduled aviation again, if circumstances permit them!

We as business people with our executive private jet status symbols are increasingly being squeezed with the rise of the middle and lower classes who also want to buy, charter, or rent executive private jet aircraft.

The costs involved in renting a private jet range from $1000 per hour to around $6000 per hour. The biggest difference in price is dependent on the size of the jet and the amenities. Today the costs of a first class ticket or business class ticket are fairly high, so it isn’t much of a bump up in price to rent a jet aircraft. If you are sending several people to one location then the hourly cost becomes very reasonable.

There are several advantages to having your own jet aircraft charter. There are fewer security issues when renting a private jet. Most terrorist are not going to try to board a private jet. Another advantage is that the jet will leave when you want it to versus being held captive by the commercial airlines and their schedules. You can arrive at a small airport five minutes before your flight when you use a private jet charter.

Another advantage is the ability to fly to smaller airports in more remote locations. When I travel commercial I normally have to get a rental car and then complete my travel on the road because I can’t fly into my destination city directly via commercial. The great thing about private jet charters is that you can go more places without the hassle.

The rates for private jet charters have gone down as competition and supply have gone up. You might be surprised at how low the rates are these days. There are many companies on the internet that broker the flights and there are even companies that allow private jet charter companies to bid on your business.