When "Northwest Nap" entered the lexicon it wasn't exactly with the highest source: it was on Urban Dictionary.

Now "crash blossoms" has entered the lexicon, this time with a more reputable, or at least pedantic, group: copy editors. But what are "crash blossoms"? To the copy editors, the phrase now refers to headlines with double meanings. Here's the back story, courtesy of the NY Times:

Mike O'Connell, an American editor based in Sapporo, Japan, spotted the headline "Violinist Linked to JAL Crash Blossoms" and wondered, "What's a crash blossom?" (The article, from the newspaper Japan Today, described the successful musical career of Diana Yukawa, whose father died in a 1985 Japan Airlines plane crash.) Another participant in the forum, Dan Bloom, suggested that "crash blossoms" could be used as a label for such infelicitous headlines that encourage alternate readings, and news of the neologism quickly spread.

Head over to our Image of the Day blog to check out a very unique Kulula B737. Here's a teaser photo:

There's more here.

Attention Facebook users: based on the popularity of our 787 group on Facebook with over 1,700 members, we have created two new groups.

First is the Boeing 747-8 group for all things related to the newest member of the 747 family.

Second is the Airbus 350 XWB for all things related to the newest commercial jet at Airbus.

At both groups you can share photos, read the latest news, or start a discussion. Affirm your interest to these aircraft and join these groups today.

The Webbies 09 is all about celebrating the great and the brilliant in online and social media activities from established industry leaders and striving newcomers and everyone in between, in the aviation sector. We asked you to enter the Flightglobal Webbies or nominate your favourites in the eight aviation-related categories.

Our expert judging panel said they had to make some tough choices while sifting through the hundreds of quality entries to find the top three in each category based on the judging criteria. (follow the link and click on "categories")  

The Webbies 2009 - Flightglobal Aviation Web Awards, follows on from the success of the Webbies 2008.

See below for the winners from 2009 plus the Flightglobal story - Webbies 2009 and judges comments.... 

Best Airline: Judged by Airline Business Editor Mark Pilling and Sergio Mello, Founder and CEO at SATISFLY

1. Meridiana Eurofly
2. United Airlines 
3. Hawaiian Airlines 

Best Airport: Judged by aviation and aerospace editor and consultant at Independent and former Executive Editor, Flightglobal, Kieran Daly and Director of Business Relations at EAA, Jeff Kaufman

1. Amsterdam Schiphol
2. DFW International
3. Manchester Airport

 Best Blog: Judged by Reed Business Information's head of Blogging, Adam Tinworth and Vice President Cabin Design Office at Airbus, Jonathan Norris

1. Things In The Sky
2. SimpliFlying 
3. AirPigz

Best Use of Social Media: Judged by online strategist and publishing industry executive Jim Muttram and Senior Consultant at Aerospace eBusiness, Ludo van Vooren

1. Northrop Grumman Facebook fan page
2. Manchester Airport
3. NYCAviation

Best Online Innvoation: Judged by Jon Ostrower, Flightglobal's FlightBlogger and Kevin O'Toole, Flightglobal's Director of Strategy

1. AirlineSim
2. EmptyLegMarket
3. SeatExpert  

Best Aerospace Manufacturer: Judged by Flight  International's Deputy Editor, Max Kingsley-Jones and Aerocomm Ltd CEO and President of the British Association of Communicators in Business, Alan Peaford

1. Eurofighter Typhoon
2. Boeing
3. Sikorsky

Best New Website: Judged by Flightglobal Editor Michael Targett and Founder of IAG's AviationPodcasts.com, Addison Schonland

1. BoardingArea
2. F135 engine
3. Spacevidcast

Best Enthusiast Site: Judged by Flightglobal's Deputy Editor, Stuart Clarke and author of Cranky Flier blog, Brett Snyder

1. NYCAviation
2. Global Aviation Resource
3. FlyerTalk

• Flightglobal story - Webbies 2009 and judges comments.... 

Following up from John Travolta's flight on a 707 delivering aid to Haiti, LAN Cargo has announced it will help Haiti.

From the carrier:

Florida based LAN CARGO has committed resources to assist aid efforts in Haiti.  Today, a LAN CARGO Boeing 767-300 freighter departed Miami International Airport for Port-au-Prince carrying approximately 48 tons of relief cargo, including medical supplies, portable toilets and water from local and national organizations including the Americas Relief Team, The Pan American Development Foundation the University of Miami's Project Medishare, and The Coca-Cola Company.

LAN CARGO team members accompanied the flight to assist with the unloading of cargo on the ground.   Additional relief supplies including clothes, water and canned goods collected by LAN Airlines and LAN CARGO in Miami were also onboard.

"As a Company, our hearts go out to the people of Haiti during this time of need," said Cristian Ureta, CEO of LAN CARGO.  "LAN CARGO is honored to make available its resources to transport the aid that is needed and to partner with these respected non-profit organizations and businesses to help make a difference".

On the ground in Miami, the airline has partnered with Boston based Partners In Health (PIH), a non-profit organization that works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in nine countries around the world and has a 20-year history in Haiti.  PIH will be using the LAN CARGO export warehouse at Miami International Airport as a staging point and hub for all of their relief supplies that will be transported to Haiti.

"Partners In Health is very thankful for companies like LAN CARGO that are providing  services and expertise to help us continue to transport hope and relief to the people of Haiti," said Kathryn Kempton, Director of Procurement, Partners In Health.

On January 16^th, the PIH team was designated by the World Health Organization to serve alongside Haitian Ministry of Health as coordinators of the public University Hospital in Port-au-Prince, supporting the administration and staff in restoring services at the city's central hospital. 
 
Organizations interested in donating specific items in large quantities including orthopedic supplies, surgical consumables (sutures, bandages, non-powdered sterile gloves, syringes, etc.), blankets, tents, satellite phones with minutes, and large unopened boxes of medications should visit www.pih.org.

Celebrity pilot John Travolta flew his own Boeing 707 to the Haiti capital, Port-au-Prince,  recently blighted by a devastating earthquake which has left as many as 200,000 people dead and some 2 million in need of aid.

He delivered including six tonnes of military rations and medical supplies.

According to the Guardian, there is a backlog of at least 800 aircraft awaiting permission to land at the overloaded airport, which can handle just 130 flights daily.

Travolta used his aircraft to help out during the the floods following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The Webbies 2009 - Flightglobal Aviation Web Awards, follows the success of last year's Webbies 2008, and for the second year in a row, the online aviation community entered and nominated their favourite websites.

We were looking for established industry leaders and striving newcomers, to celebrate and acknowledge the best and brightest aviation websites and online activities the Internet has to offer.

You entered and nominated your favourites in eight aviation-related categories, including two new categories and sifting through the hundreds of quality entries, here is the much anticipated shortlist.

Best Airline: Judged by Airline Business Editor Mark Pilling and Sergio Mello, Founder and CEO at SATISFLY

• United Airlines
• Edelweiss Air
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Meridiana Eurofly
• Mexicana Airlines
• Scandinavian Airlines

Best Airport: Judged by aviation and aerospace editor and consultant at Independent and former Executive Editor, Flightglobal, Kieran Daly and Director of Business Relations at EAA, Jeff Kaufman

• DFW International
• Reno-Tahoe International
• Manchester Airport
• Amsterdam Schiphol
• Frankfurt International

Best Blog: Judged by Reed Business Information's head of Blogging, Adam Tinworth and Vice President Cabin Design Office at Airbus, Jonathan Norris

• Things In The Sky
• Airboy
• AirPigz
• GreenAir Online
• Randy's Blog
• SimpliFlying

Best Use of Social Media: Judged by online strategist and publishing industry executive Jim Muttram and Senior Consultant at Aerospace eBusiness, Ludo van Vooren

• NYCAviation
• Aviation Training Directory
• Enviro Aero
• Manchester Airport
• Northrop Grumman's Facebook page

Best Online Innvoation: Judged by Jon Ostrower, Flightglobal's FlightBlogger and Kevin O'Toole, Flightglobal's Director of Strategy

• SeatExpert
• AirlineSim
• Aviation Training Directory
• Avsoft Systems Simulations
• EmptyLegMarket
• SatisFly

Best Aerospace Manufacturer: Judged by Flight International's Deputy Editor, Max Kingsley-Jones and Aerocomm Ltd CEO and President of the British Association of Communicators in Business, Alan Peaford

• F135Engine
• Eurofighter Typhoon
• Rockwell Collins
• Bombardier
• Boeing
• Sikorsky

Best New Website: Judged by Flightglobal Editor Michael Targett and Founder of IAG's AviationPodcasts.com, Addison Schonland

• AirlineSim
• BoardingArea
• F135 engine
• Leading Edge Aviation
• SimpliFlying
• Spacevidcast

Best Enthusiast Site: Judged by Flightglobal's Deputy Editor, Stuart Clarke and author of Cranky Flier blog, Brett Snyder

• NYCAviation
• AirlineSim
• CheckSix
• Flight Safety Foundation
• FlyerTalk
• Global Aviation Resource

The top three in each category will be announced during the first week of February. Good luck!

There's probably a sillier way of marking the 40th anniversary of the Boeing 747 than parking on a fog-shrouded runway and letting one land on the roof of your van, but I really can't think of one this minute.

iPhone has a clever new app using the latest Augmented Reality (AR) technology that can power the Parrot "Augmented Reality" Drone - a four-bladed 'quadricopter' with a range of 50m (165ft).

The drone has two small video cameras which record real-time pictures that are then sent to the phone's screen, so you see what it sees. Interactive 'enemy' fighter planes are then layered over your view.

 

Gizmodo's Kyle VanHemert. 'Tilting your iPhone, you control the mechanical bird in an AR game of airborne warfare - and it's wi-fi ready, so you can play a networked game with your friends.'

Parrot boss Henri Seydoux said: 'Video gaming and radio-controlled models are collaborating for the first time - and simultaneously evolving.'   

If you want an insight into the complexities of placing civil aircraft with Iranian carriers, there's a taster in this newly-released case document from London's High Court where m'learned friends have been trying to fathom who owns three ex-United Airlines 747-400s which were on their way to Mahan Air.

 

It's an intricate tale involving lessor GECAS' PK AirFinance division, various special purpose vehicles, a defunct Armenian operation and an influential Iranian family but, as far as the plot summary goes, you're on your own.

 

Even if you're struggling to follow the main story, there are some fascinating snippets about Mahan Air's efforts to circumvent the "serious impediment" of US sanctions, including details on Iran's connection to a mysterious A330 deal for Germany's low-key Blue Wings operation, and another strand featuring a cameo appearance by France's Eagle Aviation.

 

For more court-related axis-of-evil jiggery-pokery see the case of Gaddafi's Airbus.