Solid Leadership Needed To Correct Safety Issues, Guide ATC Rebuild

The U.S. Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford on July 9 to become the next Administrator of the FAA, in a near party-line 53-43 vote. Bedford takes over the agency during a critical time when safety issues have become prominent and Congress has approved initial funding for the complete overhaul of the air traffic control system that is slated to be completed in the next 3-4 years.

“Let’s launch” Says Enthusiastic Secretary Of Transportation

President Donald Trump appointed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy to take the reins as interim administrator of NASA in a move Trump said reflects the rising priority of space in national interests.

Classic Aircraft Adds Another Line to Its Long-Running Resume

NASA’s old-school WB-57 got a workout this week with a novel mission for the classic aircraft: Emergency assessment of the devastated Texas Hill Country. NASA deployed two WB-57s, dispatched under the NASA Disasters Response Coordination System, to help obtain crystal-clear imagery of the affected region. Cloud cover in the area has rendered much of the satellite data useless, so the WB-57s began aerial surveys with their DyNAMITE sensor system. Imagery collected will be sent to NASA’s Disaster Response Coordination System, and will eventually be disbursed for public reference via the NASA DIsasters Mapping Portal once they are finished.

80% Throttle Gives Good Climb And Impressive Level Flight Speeds

Sonex Aircraft’s first venture into high-wing design aircraft performed its second test flight just after the 4th of July weekend and flying at various throttle settings – but limited to 80% per UL engine break-in instructions – yielded some solid performance during its 20-minute flight over Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH).

No Mention Of Environmental Progress Made By Industry

The National Business Aviation Association is pushing back in a big way on a recent report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) that it says provides an incomplete and inaccurate depiction of business jet emissions and private aviation in general.

Air Travel Just Got 2% Less Irritating

A longstanding rule of the Transportation Security Administration is done, after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the end to shoes-off screening. The new policy “will increase hospitality for travelers and streamline the TSA security checkpoint process, leading to lower wait times” according to the org. “Ending the ‘Shoes-Off’ policy is the latest effort DHS is implementing to modernize and enhance traveler experience across our nation’s airports,” said Secretary Noem.

Also: United Elite Sues, Newark ATC Transitions, Discovery Moves?, Textron @ KOSH

The Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona is taking its “Flying Legends of Victory Tour” to Boeing Field/King County International Airport (KBFI) in Seattle, Washington, where its prized B-17G Sentimental Journey will land on July 28, 2025 to coincide exactly with the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the B-17 prototype on July 28, 2035, from that very same airfield. Three board members of the Northeast Florida Regional Airport (UST) Authority, including board chair Reba Ludlow, are facing criminal charges ranging from a misdemeanor for violating public meeting laws to felony witness tampering. Chair Reba Ludlow and members Dennis Clarke and Len Tucker are facing criminal charges tied to long-running violations of Florida’s Sunshine Law, which mandates public access to governmental decision-making. The North American Aerospace Defense

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful

Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight against the air traffic controller shortage through its collegiate training initiative program, known as AT-CTI. It joins six other educational institutions from across the US. With the buzz of the 2025 competition settling down, the Air Race Classic (ARC) is ready to re-stir the pot by unveiling its 2026 route. The all-women’s cross-country will center around Illinois, taking pilots on a southern loop through 10 stops. The race is set to take place from June 23 to 26, 2026, kicking off in East Alton, Illinois, and winding through eight additional stops before finishing in Mount Vernon, Illinois. With an increasingly high rate of flying car customers proving to be non-pilots, manufacturer Samson Sky is introducing a new training program using its Switchblade ve

"OIQ"???—What The Heck Is That?

Pay attention, Oshkosh exhibitors... this is IMPORTANT. The OIQ is something essential for those of you doing any kind of business at AirVenture 2025— it's your OSHKOSH INNOVATION QUOTIENT, and it can be critially important to the success of your efforts. It determines your relevance, your ability to innovate, and your value to the aviation world.  And this year, we think there is no better way to display it than one of the most anticipated episodes of ANN's award-winning Airborne news program—dramatically scheduled for the Friday before AirVenture opens the gates. 

From 2021: The Inside Skinny On What Being An ANN Oshkosh Stringer Is All About

By ANN Senior Stringer Extraordinare, Gene Yarbrough The annual gathering at Oshkosh is a right of passage or a pilgrimage to Mecca for many. However the rank and file public rarely have the opportunity to experience the FULL Oshkosh experience. Oshkosh, like onions and ogres, is a multi-layered microcosm within the enigma of the greater Wisconsin county in which it transpires. The Aero-News Network stringer has opportunity, and if so inclined, the access to every aspect of general aviation including the "behind the scenes" view few even know exist.