From 26 April 2012, Allegiant Air will open a new base at Oakland Airport, California.

It will see two MD-80 aircraft based there for scheduled operations to a number of airports. Routes include:

Billings, MO
Bozeman, MO
Kalispell, MO
Idaho Falls, ID
Medford, OR
Missoula, MO
Redmond, OR

These are in addition to the airline’s existing routes from Oakland to Bellingham, WA, Eugene, OR, and Phoenix-Mesa, AZ.

Sunderland Air Show takes place this year on Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 July, with flying from 10am-6pm.

Since Sunderland has no airfield these days, the visiting aircraft tend to stay at Durham Tees Valley and Newcastle Airports overnight, and quite often put on a little display at each as they depart/arrive for the seafront show at Sunderland.

Newcastle has announced there will be a small viewing area at Samsons on the south side, where the Wings bar used to be. This will give a good view of what’s in, since it all parks on the south side. Click here for a map.

If you’re at Durham Tees Valley, there’s usually ample places to watch the action. The best is probably from the layby at the end of Runway 23, on the A67 road. Click here for a map.

The Paris Air Salon 2009 will be held from 15-21 June at Le Bourget airport. This year marks 100 years of technological innovation in aeronautics and space.

The website for this year’s event is www.paris-air-show.com with regularly updated details.

For the general public, the show is open with flying displays over the weekend of 19, 20 and 21 June. Get your tickets here.

Expect to see a full complement of the latest Boeing and Airbus products, as well as many military aircraft.

From today (12 January 09) there are new rules about entering the US from places such as the UK. Whereas previously you filled out a green Visa Waiver (I-94) form before landing, you now have to register your details a minimum of 72 hours before flying to the US.

See this news story for more info.