The “Flying Doughnut” & 6 Other Stories You May Have Missed This Week

Though FlyerTalk attempts to cover a full range of stories, every week a few fall through the cracks. Here are 7 stories we didn’t get around to writing, but are still worth knowing.

Airbus Files for “Flying Doughnut” Patent

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has filed for patent protection of a concept airplane that looks remarkably similar to a flying saucer. The so called “flying doughnut” has a circular cabin, which was conceived as a possible means of eliminating design issues associated with pressurizing traditional cylindrical fuselages. Don’t expect to fly in a doughnut-shaped plane anytime soon though. An Airbus representative told Fortune magazine the flying doughnut is just one of hundreds of patents the company files each year. “It’s just one of many ideas, it doesn’t mean that we’re going to be working on making it a reality.”

Pilots Report a Slew of Close Encounters with Drones at JFK

Pilots landing at JFK Airport have reported three separate incidents of unmanned drones flying dangerously close to commercial aircraft this week. On Sunday, the pilot of a Delta flight en route from San Diego reported that a drone was flying close to the plane’s left wing. Moments earlier, the crew of a JFK-bound Virgin Atlantic flight en route from London reported seeing a small drone flying at roughly 3,000 feet as the plane prepared to land. Then, on Wednesday, a JetBlue pilot alerted air traffic controllers of a drone in his flight path shortly before landing, radioing, “About 2 miles out on the final, maybe 4 to 300 feet, looks like one of those unmanned drones is flying right on the final.” The FAA and the FBI have a launched an investigation into the spate of incidents.

Massive Mo’ at Southampton Airport

Takeoffs and landings are getting a little hairy at Southampton Airport (SOU). The airport has landscaped an 820-foot mustache at the airfield in support of Movember. Passengers flying to and from the airport located about 75 miles southwest of London have been tweeting aerial photographs of the giant mustache alongside the hashtag “#mightymo” since the beginning of the month, when SOU unveiled the “mighty mo.” Every November, millions of men grow mustaches to raise awareness and money to support the fight against prostate cancer and other men’s health issues.

Copa Airlines’ New Loyalty Program Will Spilt Airline From United’s MileagePlus

Panama-based Copa Airlines will offer its own loyalty rewards program beginning in July of next year. The carrier, which primarily serves destinations in Latin America, has historically piggybacked on United Airlines’ MileagePlus program. Once Copa launches its own frequent flyer program, though, its flights will no longer be treated as United flights when it comes to earning and redeeming MileagePlus miles and rewards. The two carriers are not ending their relationship completely. MileagePlus members with Gold and Platinum status will still be eligible for upgrades on Copa, and both airlines will remain Star Alliance partners.

Air Berlin to Outfit Entire Fleet With Wi-Fi

Air Berlin says it plans to equip its entire fleet with Wi-Fi. So far, the airline has outfitted two planes with Panasonic Wi-Fi systems, and it expects to have the rest of its fleet internet-equipped within three years. CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer says the move will put the carrier a step ahead of Germany’s largest airline, Lufthansa. “Air Berlin is the first German airline to offer in-flight internet access not only on long-haul flights, but also on short- and medium-haul flights,” Prock-Schauer explained.

FAA Issues Airworthiness Directive Requiring Inspection of Boeing 777

The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive requiring U.S. airlines to inspect Boeing 777 aircraft for potential dual pitch rate sensor (PRS) problems. Airlines will have five years to complete the inspections and replace any flawed sensors. The FAA directive explains that move comes after reports of the 777’s sensors failing, stating: “We are issuing this AD to prevent a dual PRS failure that could cause an automatic disengagement of the autopilot and autoland.” The complexity of the autopilot system came into question after the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 was attributed to the pilot misunderstanding how to operate the autopilot while attempting to land in San Francisco.

easyJet Begins Testing Invitation-Only Frequent Flyer Program

European low-cost carrier easyJet is experimenting with a new kind of frequent flyer program. Rather than free flights and upgrades, the easyJet loyalty program will focus on rewards that include a cashback low-price guarantee and greater rescheduling flexibility for members. The trial loyalty program is not based on earning qualifying miles or spending qualifying dollars; instead, flyers are invited to join the rewards program based on how much they fly in general, even if those flights are on a competing airline.

[Photos: Fortune; Southampton Airport Facebook; Boeing]