Aggregator

Home Office deals with Deloitte and PA Consulting raise questions over Cabinet Office spending controls

The presenter, 47, has long been known for presenting himself as the supportive family man, raising his two sons Bobby, 23, and Freddy, 21, as a single father.

The FAA plans to replace its 1973 ban on civilian supersonic flight over U.S. land with a noise-based standard, potentially allowing aircraft to exceed Mach 1 as long as they stay below certain sound limits. The agency aims to finalize the rules by mid-2027, opening the door for companies such as Boom Supersonic and Spike Aerospace to operate quieter next-generation passenger jets over land. Longtime Slashdot reader schwit1 shared the notice (PDF) published Tuesday by the FAA. Forbes reports: Technological advances "will eliminate the old sonic boom," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement. "This means we can ultimately repeal the ban from the 1970s on supersonic flight over U.S. territory while minimizing noise impacts to residents in communities along the route and near airports." The primary reason was public opposition to loud sonic booms. In the 1960s, a plane flying faster than the speed of sound -- about 660 mph at high altitudes -- created shock waves that traveled to the ground and reached human ears as a loud gunshot-like crack or thunder-like boom. Tests during that decade, including the Oklahoma City sonic boom experiments, found repeated booms broke windows, damaged property and generated thousands of public complaints. In its 1973 ruling, the FAA stated that due to the limits of technology at that time, "a prohibition was needed to protect the public from sonic boom .... by preventing operations of a civil aircraft at a true flight Mach number greater than 1." Several years later, Air France and British Airways introduced Concorde, and were allowed to serve New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport as long as flights remained subsonic over U.S. land. Notably, "the prestigious London-New York service was the only truly profitable [Concorde] route, supported by high-powered business and celebrity travel," wrote a former British Airways network planner for Forbes in 2021. Several U.S. companies are working on a new generation of luxurious supersonic passenger aircraft with much quieter sonic booms and improved fuel efficiency. In particular, Colorado-headquartered Boom Supersonic says it has pre-orders from United Airlines, American Airlines and Japan Airlines for its Overture jets, which will carry 60-80 passengers. Atlanta-based Spike Aerospace is developing smaller Diplomat jets for up to 18 passengers. Both companies' websites tout future transatlantic flights in under four hours.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Colchester Zoo has revealed the name of a recently-born cherry-crowned mangabey monkey.

Colchester Zoo has revealed the name of a recently-born cherry-crowned mangabey monkey.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct's (IOPC) said its investigation will examine whether the Hampshire Police officers potentially breached professional standards.

When he was first a Labour MP, Andy Burnham claimed more than £16,000 on his Parliamentary expenses for help buying and renovating a London flat.

Gemma, not her real name, was assaulted by the disgraced multi-millionaire fashion boss inside her home after he got into her taxi following work drinks in May 2022.

Kim Kardashian stripped down to pose in skimpy lingerie for her latest raunchy shoot to promote a new SKIMS drop.

Value-for-money Romanian carmaker Dacia has cut £4k off the price tag of its Spring EV, making it the cheapest new electric car in the UK. It undercuts the Leapmotor T03, igniting a price war.

Hello and welcome to Daily Mail Sport's World Cup Breakfast from day 20 at the tournament - your one-stop shop for everything you've missed overnight in North America.

A former Essex Police officer is due to face a misconduct hearing next week over allegations of using a police phone to take sexually explicit images.

Can't verify the publisher's identity? Maybe stick a fried egg on it?

A former Essex Police officer is due to face a misconduct hearing next week over allegations of using a police phone to take sexually explicit images.

A man who experienced housing instability during his teenage years has spoken about the positive impact a youth charity had on his journey to independence.

A man who experienced housing instability during his teenage years has spoken about the positive impact a youth charity had on his journey to independence.

The singer was one of the founding members of the legendary band, and provided one of the iconic voices of their hit YMCA.

The descent of millions of supporters to a TV screen is predicted to see 3.5 million gallons of beer, or 28 million pints, consumed from the 5pm kick-off.

Businessman Robert Stokes is the fourth generation of family decorating supplies firm Stokes Tiles in Sheffield, which he turned into a 'substantial company' through his hard work.

House prices edged down in June, according to the latest figures from Nationwide Building Society.