{{short description|Aviation accident and incident news website}} {{Infobox website | name = The Aviation Herald | logo = | screenshot = | screenshot_size = | caption = | url = {{URL|https://avherald.com}} | commercial = | type = Aviation accident and incident reporting | registration = No | language = English | owner = NOMIS SOFT Datenverarbeitung GmbH<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avherald.com/h?impressum=|title=The Aviation Herald - Impressum|website=avherald.com|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> | author = Simon Hradecky | launch_date = 12 May 2008 | current_status = Active | revenue = }}
'''The Aviation Herald''' is an English-language website that publishes reports of accidents and incidents in commercial aviation. It was launched in 2008 by Austrian technical software developer Simon Hradecky.<ref name=":JN1">{{cite web |title=News: The human factor named "Simon Hradecky" and the team of man and machine |url=https://avherald.com/h?article=45483425 |website=The Aviation Herald |publisher=Simon Hradecky |access-date=7 January 2024}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In May 2018, the website had around 3.5 million visitors per month,<ref name=":0" /> and {{As of|2020|January|df=|lc=y}} over 25,000 individual news items had been published.<ref name=":2" /> It is sometimes referred to in international mainstream media reports on aviation incidents.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" />
== History == The site was launched on 12 May 2008 as a one-man project by Austrian technical software developer Simon Hradecky.<ref name=":JN1"></ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://avherald.com/h?article=4b87bfc1|title=News: 10 years The Aviation Herald - thoughts, a brief look into the history and a brief outlook|last=|first=|date=12 May 2018|website=avherald.com|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/suche-nach-flugzeug-simon-hradecky-ueber-das-schicksal-von-mh-370-a-961248.html|title=Suche nach Flugzeug: Simon Hradecky über das Schicksal von MH 370 |author=Rainer Leurs |date=28 March 2014|newspaper=Der Spiegel|language=de|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221064510/http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/suche-nach-flugzeug-simon-hradecky-ueber-das-schicksal-von-mh-370-a-961248.html|archive-date=2017-12-21|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> Hradecky's search for safety-related incidents in aviation began in 1995, so despite its launch in 2008, reports on events up to 19 June 1999 can be found on the website.<ref name=":0" /> The site garnered over 1,000 readers in the first month, and after eight months it had over 100,000. In May 2018, the website had around 3.5 million visitors per month.<ref name=":0" /> {{As of|2020|January|df=}}, over 25,000 individual news items had been published.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://avherald.com/|title=The Aviation Herald|last=|first=|date=|website=avherald.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118192530/http://avherald.com/|archive-date=2020-01-18|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>
== Website == The website records incidents that occur during commercial flights (aircraft with at least 19 seats).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviatorstation.com/author/the-aviation-herald/|title=Author Archives: The Aviation Herald|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=|website=The Aviator Station|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809190556/http://www.aviatorstation.com/author/the-aviation-herald/|archive-date=2014-08-09|access-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref> According to its own statements, the published news is based on its own research and is only included if there are reports from at least one official source or two unofficial, independent sources.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://avherald.com/h?faq=&opt=0|title=The Aviation Herald - FAQ|last=|first=|date=|website=avherald.com|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>
The website, which is visually designed in a no-frills style, lists the headlines of the latest events and news in aviation, all of which fall into one of the following categories:<ref name=":3" />
* Crash (C) – an accident that killed multiple people or caused catastrophic damage * Accident (A) – an incident that caused injury, death or extensive damage * Incident (I) – an incident that did not cause injury, death or extensive damage * News (N) – an article about an event other than a crash, accident or incident * Report (R) – an article about an accident or incident investigation report where the site did not report the original event.
The user can filter articles by category. The articles are kept up to date even years after an aircraft accident. For example, the final reports of the associated aircraft accident investigations are often incorporated into the original article. Accordingly, the website enables the sorting of articles by "Occurrence" or "Update".<ref name=":3" />
The website also allows comments on articles. These do not require registration; there is a provision for an optional email address and screen name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avherald.com/h?article=45483425|title=News: The human factor named "Simon Hradecky" and the team of man and machine|website=avherald.com|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref>
When an event report is launched by the user for display, the website reports the user's IP address. As a result, the site is capable of collecting personal information using the user's email address and IP address. The moderator/owner of the site has the ability to block submissions from a particular IP address for any reason, which may be done indiscriminately.
== Reception == The Aviation Herald was included in a 2012 CNN article on "aviation geeks".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/aviation-geeks/index.html|title=These people really love to fly|first=Katia |last=Hetter|date=10 June 2012|website=CNN |language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> In 2016, it was described by Reuters as "a respected independent website monitoring air accidents"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-emirates-airplane-crash-idUSKCN10E0Z7|title=Fire guts Emirates jet after hard landing; one firefighter dies|date=2016-08-04|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-01-24|language=en}}</ref> and by ''The New Zealand Herald'' as a "highly respected website".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11643203|title=EgyptAir crash: Pilot radioed about emergency descent|date=2016-05-22|work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=2020-01-24|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}</ref> It is sometimes referred to in international mainstream media reports on aviation incidents.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.focus.de/reisen/flug/air-berlin-drama-in-phuket-piloten-schafften-notlandung-ohne-computer-und-abs_aid_889467.html|title=Piloten schafften Notlandung ohne Computer und ABS|website=FOCUS Online|language=de|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/an-unprecedented-missing-aircraft-mystery/2014/03/10/6075a4ee-a8c2-11e3-8599-ce7295b6851c_graphic.html|title=An 'unprecedented missing aircraft mystery' - Washington Post|last=|first=|date=10 March 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/the-aviation-herald-wizzair-ukraine-flight-suffers-126799.html|title=The Aviation Herald: Wizzair Ukraine flight suffers tail strike on takeoff - Apr. 28, 2012|date=2012-04-28|website=KyivPost|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/world/asia/15thai.html|title=Thailand to Hold Crew That Was Transporting Weapons|last1=Fuller|first1=Thomas|date=2009-12-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-01-24|last2=Schwirtz|first2=Michael|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/egyptair-flight-missing-paris-cairo/aviation-website-cites/?version=meter+at+0&module=meter-Links&pgtype=Blogs&contentId=&|title=Signals From Plane Hint at Swift Catastrophe, Aviation Website Reports|author=|first=|date=20 May 2016|website=New York Times|language=English|access-date=2016-05-22}}</ref>
On 3 December 2012, The Aviation Herald reported on a risky landing made by a Ryanair plane at Allgäu Airport Memmingen, Germany, in September.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/spiegel-ryanair-maschine-entging-in-memmingen-nur-knapp-absturz-a-871784.html|title=SPIEGEL: Ryanair-Maschine entging in Memmingen nur knapp Absturz - DER SPIEGEL - Panorama|last=SPIEGEL|first=DER|newspaper=Der Spiegel|date=8 December 2012 |language=de|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bfu-web.de/EN/Publications/Interim_Reports/IR2012/I1_Report_12_EX002_B737_Memmingen.pdf%3F__blob%3DpublicationFile|title=Interim Report BFU EX002-12 (Serious incident dated September 23, 2012)|last=|first=|date=November 2012|website=Federal Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> A day later, Ryanair made a legal threat of defamation against the website in response to critical reader comments below the article.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://avherald.com/h?article=459fa8f6|title=Incident: Ryanair B738 at Memmingen on Sep 23rd 2012, descended below minimum safe height|last=|first=|date=3 December 2012|website=avherald.com|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/bayern/Schwere-Stoerung-Ryanair-Flieger-kam-Boden-gefaehrlich-nahe-id23070111.html|title=Allgäu-Airport: "Schwere Störung": Ryanair-Flieger kam Boden gefährlich nahe - Nachrichten Bayern - Augsburger Allgemeine|last=|first=|date=9 December 2012|website=Augsburger Allgemeine|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414160622/http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/bayern/Schwere-Stoerung-Ryanair-Flieger-kam-Boden-gefaehrlich-nahe-id23070111.html|archive-date=2014-04-14|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aero.de/news-16425/Billigflieger-setzt-Aviation-Herald-unter-Druck.html|title=Billigflieger setzt|date=2012-12-07|website=aero.de|language=de|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> The airline subsequently withdrew its threat six days later, according to the website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://avherald.com/h?article=45a1cb11|title=News: The Aviation Herald NO LONGER under legal threat by Ryanair|last=|first=|date=6 December 2012|website=avherald.com|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>
The portal came under criticism following the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, where even days later, the shooting down of the aircraft, which was considered safe, was dismissed as ‘anti-Russian agitation and anti-Russian propaganda’.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-27 |title=Abschuss der Azerbaijan Airlines: Expertenkritik an Berichterstattung des "Aviation Herald" |url=https://www.austrianwings.info/2024/12/abschuss-der-azerbaijan-airlines-expertenkritik-an-berichterstattung-des-aviation-herald/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Austrian Wings |language=de-AT}}</ref>
The portal also came under criticism when, around the 10th anniversary of the crash of Germanwings flight 9525, the operator published theories that most experts considered implausible or conspiracy theories. According to Simon Hradecky's theories, contrary to the fact-based findings of the air accident investigators, First Officer Andreas Lubitz may not have been to blame for the crash. Instead, a computer error automatically triggered the Airbus's descent, at the same moment the pilot in the cockpit lost consciousness and the other pilot was unable to return to the cockpit because the panel for entering the access code was defective. Hradecky also suggests that it may not have been Andreas Lubitz at all, but the captain who was alone in the cockpit at the time of the crash. Renowned experts and Düsseldorf public prosecutor Christoph Kumpa have dismissed such speculation as ‘conspiracy theories’ and reiterate that there is no doubt about Andreas Lubitz's actions. Austrian aviation expert and author Patrick Huber also refuted Hradecky's main argument that the altitude adjustment on the FCU from 38,000 to 100 feet could not have been made within a second, with a video showing exactly that. German aviation journalist David Haße, editor of the portal ‘Airliners.de’, demonstrated that Hradecky even contradicts himself in his argumentation and that it is therefore inconclusive.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-28 |title="Airliners.de" Warum sich so viele Verschwörungstheorien um den Germanwings-Absturz ranken |url=https://www.austrianwings.info/2025/03/airlinersde-warum-sich-so-viele-verschwoerungstheorien-um-den-germanwings-absturz-ranken/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Austrian Wings |language=de-AT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-15 |title=Germanwings-Absturz: Was bedeutet das fehlende Geräusch im Cockpit? |url=https://www.bild.de/news/inland/germanwings-absturz-was-bedeutet-das-fehlende-geraeusch-im-cockpit-67d035534c19eb7ef7d3e631 |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=bild.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-24 |title=10 Jahre Germanwings-Absturz: Das hat sich beim Fliegen geändert |url=https://www.bild.de/news/inland/10-jahre-germanwings-absturz-das-hat-sich-beim-fliegen-geaendert-67dd3915a7ec4b4b05318a12 |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=bild.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-04 |title=Germanwings-Absturz: Spektakuläre Wende um deutschen Piloten? Luftfahrtexperte ordnet neue Analyse ein |url=https://www.fr.de/panorama/germanwings-absturz-spektakulaere-wende-um-deutschen-piloten-luftfahrtexperte-ordnet-neue-analyse-ein-93613517.html |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=www.fr.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-29 |title=Zehn Jahre danach: Experte entlarvt Theorie um Germanwings-Absturz – "Völlig wirr" |url=https://www.kreisbote.de/welt/zehn-jahre-danach-experte-entlarvt-theorie-um-germanwings-absturz-voellig-wirr-zr-93643761.html |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=www.kreisbote.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-24 |title=Germanwings Flug 9525 - ein aufgeklärtes Unglück? Flugsicherheitsexperte im Interview |url=https://www.zdfheute.de/panorama/germanwings-absturz-flug-9525-ursachen-theorien-interview-100.html |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=ZDFheute |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-08 |title=Das große Interview - Staatsanwalt zu Germanwings-Absturz: "Kein Zweifel an Lubitz' Verantwortung" |url=https://www.austrianwings.info/2025/02/das-grosse-interview-staatsanwalt-zu-germanwings-absturz-kein-zweifel-an-lubitz-verantwortung/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Austrian Wings |language=de-AT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-19 |title=Videobeweis widerlegt Germanwings-Absturz-Spekulationen: Höhenverstellung auf 100 Fuß in einer Sekunde möglich |url=https://www.austrianwings.info/2025/03/videobeweis-widerlegt-germanwings-absturz-spekulationen-hoehenverstellung-auf-100-fuss-in-einer-sekunde-moeglich/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Austrian Wings |language=de-AT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haße |first=David |title=Gedankenflüge - Germanwings-Theoriegedanken |url=https://www.airliners.de/gedankenfluege-germanwingstheoriegedanken/79743 |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=airliners.de |language=de}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * {{cite web |url= http://www.austrianwings.info/2012/12/drohung-gegen-aviation-herald-billigflieger-gibt-auf/ |title= Drohung gegen "Aviation Herald": Billigflieger gibt auf |language= de |trans-title= Threat against "Aviation Herald": low-cost airliner gives up |publisher= Austrian Wings |date= 11 Dec 2012 }} * {{cite web |url= http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/suche-nach-flugzeug-simon-hradecky-ueber-das-schicksal-von-mh-370-a-961248.html |title= Suche nach Flugzeug: Simon Hradecky über das Schicksal von MH 370 |language= de |trans-title= Search for plane: Simon Hradecky on the fate of MH 370 |publisher= Der Spiegel |date= 23 Mar 2014 |first= Rainer |last= Leurs |display-authors= 0 }} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Aviation Herald}} Category:Aviation accidents and incidents Category:Aviation safety Category:2008 establishments in Austria Category:Internet properties established in 2008