“Big Things Have Small Beginnings”

Set for November 6–8, 2025 at Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) in Lakeland, Florida, the first-ever Affordable Flying Expo (AFE) is tailor-made for aviation enthusiasts, home-builders, sport pilots and newcomers alike. This three-day gathering brings together indoor exhibits, flying demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and one of the first major public forums dedicated to the newly implemented MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) rule. What truly sets this expo apart is the dedication of the vendors — the aircraft designers, kit-builders, avionics specialists, flight-training schools and parts suppliers — who are rallying around the theme of affordable aviation in a MOSAIC world. Unlike larger shows where exhibitors may just display their latest gear, AFE invites vendors to engage actively: demo flights, close inspection of gear, one-on-one conversations, workshops and real-world

Jet Awarded Type Certification After a 1,000-Hour Test Campaign

Two and a half years and 1,000 flight hours after its unveiling captured the attention of business aviators across the world, Textron’s Cessna Citation Ascend has earned FAA type certification. The first few jets have already rolled off the production line and are expected to enter service later this year.

Kenai Aviation Abruptly Ceases Flights, Citing Mounting Debt

In a minorly tearjerking yet hopeful letter from Kenai Aviation owner Joel Caldwell, it was confirmed that the Alaskan regional airline had officially closed its doors. The carrier had been plagued with financial burdens since the 2020 COVID outbreak spurred debts that it has been unable to bounce back from.

$126M Cash Purchase Supports Air-Taxi Network and AI-Driven Operations

Archer Aviation has inked a deal for control of Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR), also known as Jack Northrop Field, in Los Angeles for $126 million in cash. This marks a major shift in its strategy to build a localized urban air-mobility network and test next-gen aviation tech.

Agency Says it Will Close Parts of the National Airspace to Mitigate Risks

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on November 4 that, if the government shutdown continues into this next week, “mass chaos” will hit US air travel… and the DOT will be forced to make changes. His remarks were the strongest warning yet from the administration as thousands of unpaid controllers continue working under mounting strain.

Also: Louisville UPS Crash Aftermath, Taiwan Boosts Pilot Pool, Spartan Acquires, DON’T MISS the MOSAIC Town Hall!

This three-day Affordable Flying Expo brings together indoor exhibits, flying demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and one of the first major public forums dedicated to the newly implemented MOSAIC rule. What truly sets this expo apart is the dedication of the vendors — the aircraft designers, kit-builders, avionics specialists, flight-training schools and parts suppliers — who are rallying around the theme of affordable aviation in a MOSAIC world. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on November 4 that, if the government shutdown continues into next week, “mass chaos” will hit US air travel… and the DOT will be forced to make changes. His remarks were the strongest warning yet from the administration as thousands of unpaid controllers continue working under mounting strain. President

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Elon Musk is once again promising the impossible…this time, in the form of a Tesla that flies. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, Musk said the company is “getting close” to demonstrating a prototype of what he dubbed “crazy, crazy technology.” The comment came during a discussion about the long-delayed Tesla Roadster: a model first unveiled in 2017 and postponed every year since its planned 2020 debut. Boeing announced the completion of the $10.55 billion sale of assets from its Digital Aviation Solutions business unit to private equity firm Thoma Bravo. The divestiture includes Jeppesen, ForeFlight, AerData, and OzRunways, and those businesses will operate as the standalone company Jeppesen ForeFlight. The A220, once marketed for its profitability and efficiency, seems to be spending a lot more time parked than planned

Maintaining Highest Safety Standards As Shutdown Drags On

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford laid out in detail the steps they are taking to proactively maintain the highest standards of safety in the National Airspace System as the government shutdown continues, now into its sixth week.

Demand Up, But Private Flights Use 8 Airports Affected By Limits

Commercial airlines are not the only ones affected by the flight reductions imposed by the FAA to relieve strain on the system due to the government shutdown, now in its sixth week. Eight of the 25 busiest airports used by private jet flights are included on the FAA’s list of 40 airports with limited flight operations.

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Even with parts of the federal government on pause, Yosemite National Park isn’t letting BASE jumpers off easy. Park officials announced that three people were recently convicted for illegal parachute jumps off Yosemite’s formations amid a legal push to lift the 40-year ban against them. BASE jumping has been prohibited in all national parks since the 1980s. One of the more intriguing features of the 2025 Affordable Flying Expo, scheduled for November 6-8 at the Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo campus is a Friday event we call the MOSAIC Town Hall. Scheduled for Friday, November 7th at 1800ET, the MOSAIC Town Hall will be presented in the nearby Prop 75 building and webcast LIVE via www.airborne-live.net and for the attending audience. Textron Aviation Defense announced production plans for the UJTS, or Undergraduate Jet Training System progra