Amentum Awarded Five-Year RPA Maintenance Support Contract

The US Air Force has agreed to invest nearly $1 billion into its MQ-9A Reaper fleet, recently awarding the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Maintenance Support IDIQ contract to Amentum. The five-year deal will fund modernization and sustainment efforts for the Reaper system, both domestically and abroad, to boost its combat readiness.

Also: Taiwan Cuts Age Limit, Denver To Pay ATC?, NBAA Calls Out False Claims, Another Regional Shuts Down

The longest federal government shutdown in history is finally coming to a close… but the aviation industry is taking its time to bounce back. Airlines are getting ready to shoulder thousands more flight delays and cancellations as the President himself takes to warning air traffic controllers with pay cuts. The FAA’s game plan involved an initial 4 percent flight reduction at 40 major airports, incrementally working its way up to 10 percent. Through years of first-hand experience, Adriana Barrigan has seen how damaging holes in the flight training industry can be on student pilots… and she created an app to fix it. FlyORKA, which recently made its way onto Apple and Android platforms, is designed to make training more efficient and promote student confidence. Spartan Education Group announced the acquisition of Aviator Air F

New Tactics, Techniques Use Existing Sensors, Weapons To Expand Capabilities

Embraer has revealed an innovative operational capacity for its A-29 Super Tucano turboprop light attack aircraft that transforms into a dedicated anti-drone platform to address the growing demand for an affordable means to defeat unmanned aerial systems.

Also: Embraer Nixes Next-Gen Turboprop, Boeing $1B Expansion, 12 Class B Airports Closed To GA, Relief Flight Downed

The CAF Gulf Coast Wing’s AC-47 “Spooky” gunship has taken to the air once again. The Vietnam-era aircraft made its return to flight to honor fallen veteran Lt. Col. Paul Mendes. The flyover was held during the Vietnam Veteran Parkway Dedication ceremony. Mendes, a decorated Green Beret and three-tour Vietnam veteran, was among the last American soldiers evacuated from Saigon in 1975 and later played a key role in recovering missing US personnel. Boeing offered a new contract to the more than 3,200 workers at its facilities in the St. Louis area, with increased bonuses and adjusted terms as the company tries to end the walkout that has now lasted more than three months. NBAA is bluntly shutting down any claims that business aviation has been exempted from the FAA’s new traffic reduction measures. The cuts come

Developing Hydrogen Aircraft Network In Norway

ZeroAvia, developer of hydrogen-powered aircraft, announced it has been awarded a €21.4 million grant by the Innovation Fund to develop a network of hydrogen-electric aircraft and the establishment of the supporting airport hydrogen fuel technologies in Norway. Operations are planned to begin in 2028.

Also: VerdeGo Contract, Medi-Carrier, Gambit 6 UCAV, Blade Urban Air Mobility Pilot

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. The 80-acre facility offers roughly 190,000 square feet of terminal, hangar, and office space in a dense urban setting. Joby Aviation announced the start of power-on testing of the first of its FAA-conforming aircraft built for TIA, or Type Inspection Authorization, that is the lead-up to “for credit” flight tests with FAA pilots operating the aircraft. Joby will now proceed to conduct thousands of hardware and software integration tests prior to the start of flight testing. Three Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station watched as their Shenzhou-20 return capsule wa

FAA Order Covers All MD-11 And MD-11F Aircraft

Four days after the fatal crash of UPS Flight 2976 in Louisville, Kentucky, the FAA has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive that grounds all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and MD-11F for structural inspections.

Also: Duffy Predicts ‘Mass Chaos’, Modern Skies Coalition, More Impacts,  Archer Buys Hawthorne

With only a few months of preparation—and minimal outside media support—the first-ever Affordable Flying Expo successfully unfolded over three energetic days this past week. According to exhibitors and attendees, (not us), it was a success. As with any first-time event, there were lessons learned. Thankfully, we had the expert team from the SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo by our side. 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. In a minorly tearjerking yet hopeful letter from Kenai Aviation owner Joel Caldwell, it was confirmed that the Alaskan regional airline

The Experienced Pilot Chose To Operate In Instrument Meteorological Conditions Without An Instrument Flight Rules Clearance

Analysis: The airplane was operated on a personal cross-country flight. Recorded data indicated that the airplane made an approach to an airport but did not land and the airplane apparently diverted due to the instrument meteorological weather conditions (IMC) present at that airport. The airplane then flew toward another airport about 60 nautical miles away. The airplane was aligned with the extended runway centerline but impacted trees and terrain about 2.5 miles from the diversion airport. The weather conditions at the diversion airport were night IMC with a 400-ft ceiling.

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): An Even Faster Rolling Extra!

Jim Campbell joined General Manager of Extra Aircraft Duncan Koerbel at AirVenture 2023 to talk about what’s up and coming from the classic aerobatic manufacturer. The Extra 330SX builds upon the excellent 330SE to offer pilots an even leaner, tighter dancing partner than before. The 330SX recipe includes a shorter wingspan (about a foot less, tip-to-tip), and the same full-length ailerons as its forebear, offering even better roll rate and performance than ever before. Top it off with lightweight, function-dense glass panel avionics and it’s a superb companion for pilots with the skill to make the most of the machine.