The pilots' union president said Thursday that American Airlines is reducing its safety margin by "manipulating" flight plans with tactics that include faster speeds. The union official suggested that American is trying to avoid cancelling flights when crews push the limits of their legally allowed work shifts. American did not respond directly to the union leader's claims. A spokesman said the airline takes safety and regulations seriously. Dan Carey, who just started a 3-year term as president of the Allied Pilots Association, said in a note to members that pilots were reporting pressure to approve faster flight plans. Federal rules generally limit airline pilots to shifts of 9 to 14 hours, depending on when the pilot's work day started and the number of flights. <br/>
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A home flight simulator owned by the pilot of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was used to plot a course to the southern Indian Ocean where the aircraft is believed to have gone missing, the Australian agency in charge of the search said. But the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) said the presence of the simulator data did not prove that the pilot had intentionally crashed the Boeing 777. “The simulator information shows only the possibility of planning. It does not reveal what happened on the night of the aircraft’s disappearance, nor where the aircraft is located,” JACC said. It has long been believed that the plane crashed into the ocean in the remote region plotted on the simulator. <br/>
Qatar Airways will further raise its stake in IAG, adding to its holding after the shares plunged in the wake of the Brexit vote, according to people familiar with the matter. The carrier, already IAG’s largest investor, will boost its holding to about 20% from 15.7%, said the people. The increased stake could be announced in the coming days, the people said. Qatar Airways and IAG representatives declined to comment. Qatar Airways, which said earlier this month that it was considering increasing its stake in IAG, has demonstrated its global ambitions with a recent flurry of deals. Qatar Airways announced July 12 plans to buy as much as 10% of Latam Airlines Group. Two days later, Qatar Airways agreed to acquire 49% of Meridiana Fly. Still, the strategy is hemmed in by laws that restrict foreign ownership of airlines. <br/>