Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Hide/Show Archive Navigation.

All News

September 18, 2025

Airborne-Flight Training 09.18.25: UAL v Spirit, IAA Approval, Piper M-Class

 Also: Mexico A/C Production, AI-Powered Smart NOTAMs, Drunk 787 Pilot, Renovating Runway Lighting

 
 
Spirit Airlines filed for its second bankruptcy in less than a year at the end of last month, and its competitors are now suggesting that this may be the beginning of the end. Speaking at an industry conference on Thursday, United CEO Scott Kirby called the ultra-low-cost carrier approach a “fundamentally broken business model” and argued that customers have already voted with their wallets. The Illinois Aviation Academy at DuPage County Airport (KDPA) in West Chicago, Illinois, announced it has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam to train Vietnamese pilots under internationally recognized standards. IAA

Man Who Landed On Navy Base Pleads Guilty To Fed Charges

Stole Navy Truck, Damaged Gates on San Clemente Island

Andrew Kyle White of San Diego, age 37, pled guilty to federal criminal charges after admitting he twice illegally landed a small aircraft on the U.S. Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island. The second time he landed there he stole a Navy truck and used it to damage gates on the island, causing thousands of dollars in damages.

Read More

Textron Tour Showcases Beech M-346N Navy Jet Trainer

New Solution For Undergrad Jet Training

Textron Aviation Defense has launched a tour to show off the Beechcraft M-346N jet trainer as a “ready-now” total integrated training system for the U.S. Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS).

Read More

XPeng AeroHT ‘Flying Cars’ Collide in Airshow Rehearsal

At Least One Injured in Mid-Air eVTOL Crash Ahead of Live Flight Demo in China

Just ahead of a live flight demonstration, two electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft built by the self-proclaimed ‘largest flying car company in Asia’ collided mid-air. While it is unknown exactly what went wrong, incidents like this draw attention from the already skeptical public, especially given the limited proof that this futuristic technology could be a functional reality.

Read More

Judge Tosses Lawsuit Challenging FAA Launch Approvals

SpaceX Can Expand Operations At Starbase

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols said in Washington, D.C. that the FAA had fulfilled its obligation “to take a hard look at the effects of light on nearby wildlife” in rejecting a suit brought by conservation groups opposing the FAA’s 2022 approval of expanded rocket launch operations by SpaceX at its Starbase facility in south Texas.

Read More

Airborne 09.15.25: Last Call For RV-3/4/6, Second B-21, Dubai Show Bars Israelis

Also: New NTSB Nom, Plan To Accelerate AAM, New GAMA Members, SC CAP Wing Honors Duke

Van’s Aircraft is giving potential buyers their final chance to pick up a kit for the RV-3, RV-4, and RV-6 aircraft before they move into retirement once and for all. The deadline for orders is September 30, 2025. After that, no more empennage, fuselage, wing, or finish kits will be offered for the three models. Northrop Grumman announced that the second B-21 Raider stealth bomber flew from Palmdale, California, to Edwards Air Force Base after conducting a strenuous test flight. At Edwards, the U.S. Air Force will move forward with integ

Read More

Advertisement

Airborne-NextGen 09.16.25: DOT's AAM Plan, Switchblade 600 AirLaunch, Jetson ONE

Also: Tidal Flight And DeltaHawk Collab, Russian Drone Strikes, Vertical Aerospace Transition, Power Bank Rules

The FAA aims to accelerate the deployment of AAM, or advanced air mobility vehicles. The new technologies are full of potential to transform aviation, expand connectivity in rural America, reduce road congestion in urban areas, and enhancing medical and emergency transport services. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and AeroVironment announced their collaboration successfully completed the first-ever air launch of a Switchblade 600 loitering munition system from a Block 5 MQ-9A Reaper UAS and marks the first time a Switchblade has bee

Read More

Airborne-Flight Training 09.18.25: UAL v Spirit, IAA Approval, Piper M-Class

Also: Mexico A/C Production, AI-Powered Smart NOTAMs, Drunk 787 Pilot, Renovating Runway Lighting

Spirit Airlines filed for its second bankruptcy in less than a year at the end of last month, and its competitors are now suggesting that this may be the beginning of the end. Speaking at an industry conference on Thursday, United CEO Scott Kirby called the ultra-low-cost carrier approach a “fundamentally broken business model” and argued that customers have already voted with their wallets. The Illinois Aviation Academy at DuPage County Airport (KDPA) in West Chicago, Illinois, announced it has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vi

Read More

Industry Bashes Dutch Lawmakers for Proposed Air Tax Markup

Long-Haul Travel Fees Could Cost Passengers Up to 70 Euros Per Ticket

The European aviation industry is urging the Dutch government to take a step back from its proposed air passenger tax increase, which could put travel fees at up to 70 Euros per ticket by 2027. Stakeholders argue that the price hikes would harm the economy more than help it, especially factoring in tourism and decarbonization initiatives.

Read More

Airborne 09.17.25: 787 Pilot Busted, 1st Production Ascend, Sling 4 Cocaine Haul

Also: Douglas Day Event, Tidal Flight And DeltaHawk, Runway Lighting Systems, Supersonic Regs

British Airways suspended one of its pilots who was drunk while traveling as a passenger and caused a disruption in the cabin, with the captain returning to the departure gate at Edinburgh Airport (EDI/EGPH) and delaying the flight to London Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) for more than 90 minutes. Textron Aviation announced the rollout of the first production unit of its new Citation Ascend business jet from its manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kansas. The FAA is expected to certify the aircraft later this year. The Citation Ascend is the newest member of the 560XL series of business jets, and employees held a special celebration to note the program m

Read More

Final Details For The Affordable Flying Expo Released

MOSAIC-Centric Event Set For November 6-8, 2025... DON'T Miss It!

After a master strategy meeting this last week on the grounds of the Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo campus, details have been completed for the first MOSAIC-dedicated, MOSAIC-centric Affordable Flying Expo (AFE25). With the rule officially announced, AFE25 stands to be the best opportunity for MOSAIC-interested folks to get their questions answered and for the industry to show the aviation community that they are ready to serve this expanding niche. 

Read More

Klyde Morris (09.15.25)

Klyde Is Starting To Dread The Next Lay-Over...

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Read More

Advertisement

The Weather Company Unveils AI-Powered Smart NOTAMs

Software Detects and Summarizes Weather Patterns for Dispatchers

In an intriguing technological development for pilots and dispatchers, the Weather Company (TWC) has debuted its Smart NOTAMs software. The system leverages artificial intelligence to track trends, summarize points, and spotlight priority information within airport notices, aiming to streamline preflight decision-making.

Read More

Lockheed Gets Contract To Upgrade Korean F-16 Sim Software

Training On Advanced Capabilities In High-Fi Sim Environments

Lockheed Martin announced a contract with the Republic of Korea to upgrade its Air Force’s F-16 Block 52 flight simulators with the new advanced capabilities of its upgraded F-16 aircraft. The upgrades include enhanced mission capabilities and provide high-fidelity sim environments for the Korean Air Force pilots to train like they fly.

Read More

Airborne Affordable Flyers 09.11.25: MWAE25, Tests-Flt Design F2, Vashon Ranger

Also: SUN ‘n FUN’s EarlyBird, Rotax Advanced Start, Girls in Aviation Day, Lockwood RV-916!

The recently concluded Midwest Aviation Expo, hosted by the Mt. Vernon Outland Airport is a modest but overtly positive event in the sport aviation scheme of things. Led by Airport Boss Chris Collins, one of the best in the business, the event has been going on for 17 years and emphasizes a close and personal opportunity for companies to display their wares and for potential customers to spend time looking them over... There are a LOT of SportPlanes out there and while ANN’s Chief Test Pilot, Jim Campbell, has flown well over a 1000 unique types,

Read More

Airborne 09.10.25: 1000 Hr B29 Pilot, Airplane Pile-Up, Haitian Restrictions

Also: Commercial A/C Certification, GMR Adds More Bell 429s, Helo Denial, John “Lucky” Luckadoo Flies West

CAF’s Col. Mark Novak has accumulated more than 1,000 flight hours in the two remaining airworthy B-29 Superfortress aircraft, Fifi and DOC, a feat that has not been accomplished in at least 65 years. Col. Novak has been a member of the CAF for more than 30 years and began flying Fifi in 2012 as the Second in Command. One year later he upgraded to Pilot in Command and flew the aircraft until 2022... On Friday, September 5, Texas pilots learned the hard way exactly how important it is to use tie-downs, with one plane being fl

Read More

Airborne 09.12.25: Bristell Cert, Jetson ONE Delivery, GAMA Sales Report

Also: Potential Mars Biosignature, Boeing August Deliveries, JetBlue Retires Final E190, Av Safety Awareness

Czech plane maker Bristell was awarded its first FAA Type Certification for the B23 two-seater, assisting its effort to get on the US flight training map. The bird totals more than 1,100 delivered since 2009. Nearly 100 B23s are already flying in the United States. Personal aviation company Jetson recently completed the first-ever delivery of its ONE electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and to none other than Oculus and Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey. This comes as Jetson works to shift its business overseas, es

Read More

IMPORTANT: eSportPlane Resource Guide Survey Data Sought

Easy Online Forms Available For Sport Plane Manufacturers And Suppliers To Be Listed In The Upcoming eSPRG

Work on the SportPlane Resource Guide is going well… Albeit a little bit behind schedule, because as we got into this process, things became a bit more complicated simply because we learned we could do an even better job at certain aspects of this project than we thought from the beginning. They say that the enemy of true quality is the phrase "good enough" and we want to be far more than “good enough.” FMI: www.sportplane.com, Read More

Advertisement

Airborne Programming Continues Serving SportAv With 'Airborne-Affordable Flyers'

With The eSPRG Only Weeks Away From Its Start Date, A-AF Will Help To Support Sport Flyers, Worldwide

With the all-new and all-digital SportPlane Resource Guide getting ready for publication early next year, the Aero-News Network is pleased to announce yet another addition to the Airborne video news programming roster… Airborne-Affordable Flyers. Dedicated to keeping people up-to-date on the most affordable aspects of sport and general aviation, Airborne-Affordable Flyers is one of our most exciting offerings yet. A-AF will delve into more than just the current LSA community, but look at all aspects of aviation to examine and ev

Read More

Classic Aero-TV: The Ultimate 'Solo' Trip -- Cameron Balloons' Sky Hopper

From 2011 (YouTube Edition): A Unique, Affordable and Isolated way to Enjoy Ballooning

Ballooning is both a unique as well as eclectic pursuit... and it attracts (naturally) a pretty unique brand of aviator to its ranks. But solo balloons are particularly rare... though an undeniably cost effective way to play in the sky. While there have been a number of single seat experimental and ultralight balloon systems offered over the years, Cameron says its Sky Hopper is a smaller, lighter and simpler concept.

Read More

NTSB Final Report: Farrington Twinstar

During Takeoff, The Gyroplane Pitched Up And When The Pilot Attempted To Arrest The Motion, The Backstick Forces On The Control Stick Were Greater Than Expected

Analysis: The pilot was performing a post inspection test flight of the gyroplane. Prior to the flight, the pilot noticed the control stick pressures were greater than he had experienced with other gyroplanes he had previously flown. The gyroplane’s owner and a mechanic explained the gyroplane’s trim system to the pilot who then adjusted the trim to a setting he assumed would be sufficient to maintain control when the gyroplane was airborne. During takeoff, the gyroplane pitched up and when the pilot attempted to arrest the motion, the backstick forces on the con

Read More

We're Accepting Resumes -- AND Hiring! ANN Puts Out 'Help Wanted' Sign

BIG Upgrades In The Works --- ANN Is Seeking EXCEPTIONAL New Staffers

The last few years have been about as challenging a time as we can recall... but we survive (yeah, we're kinda surprised, too) and look forward to 2025 and what we see as a very rewarding (and yes, still challenging) new generation of activities at ANN. After some truly weird times during the pandemic, ANN continues to expand slowly, but surely, and we have some truly intriguing upgrades coming up over the next few months. In other words, we're about to grow again -- REALLY/TRULY -- and in some novel directions. The much-appreciated expansion of  Read More

2024 SUN N FUN Innovation Preview Segments Published

Massive Aviation News Event Started 2024 Off With a Plethora of Exciting Info

Last year, we introduced the SnF Innovation Preview in which 25 companies introduced over 30 new planes, products, engines, accessories, and more… in other words… a LOT of news. Rotax previewed the powerful 916iS, CubCrafters showcased the Carbon Cub UL, Bose introduced the A30, Aerox revealed the Boomula… and so much more. This year, we went beyond that... way beyond all that, with a larger selection of news announcements that covered ALL aspects of sport, general and commercial aviation... all at the start of the

Read More

Expanding Our Vast Horizons... ANN Now Available on Roku and FireTV!

And That's But One Of Over A Dozen Major Developments Planned For The Next Year Or So

Aero-News Network is now available on Roku and Amazon FireTV! That’s right folks. You can now get your daily dose of aviation news… right on the ol' giggle box! This is an EPIC development for our network, one of many to come, and we’re thrilled to offer you this new way to watch our news programming. Whether you’re a traditional website reader, podcast listener, or YouTube subscriber, we’re dedicated to giving you quality, honest, aviation news that you can trust and broadening our reach and audience aggressively in the coming years, so that we may both Grow and Inform the aviatio

Read More

Advertisement

Aero-Biz Survival 101 (1120a): Expert Ideas To Help You Through Tough Times

Brand New! Avoid The Need For A Comeback... Get Your Marketing Right, Right Now!

Some time ago, the Aero-News Network, responding to numerous requests, established a marketing and communications sister company by the name of AEROPRENEUER... and it's been doing amazing work under these difficult circumstances -- and getting results! We're getting rave reviews from our clients, and working hard to earn the trust of a number of new marketing partners along the way. ANN's Amber Cedroni has come up with a few tips to help aero-businesses stay alive in these tough times, and

Read More

The SportPlane Resource Guide RETURNS!!!!

Emphasis On Growing The Future of Aviation Through Concentration on 'AFFORDABLE FLYERS'

It's been a number of years since the Latest Edition of Jim Campbell's HUGE SportPlane Resource Guide first saw the light of day. That massive 1100 page book last featured over 800 exciting sport aircraft from all over the SportPlane universe... at a time when the SportPlane industry was still a healthy, thriving enterprise (those were the days...). While there has been some consideration, off and on, toward updating the nearly 5 pound book, the near implosion of the SportPlane and kit industry over the last decade has made such a pursuit an unwieldy one... until now.

Read More

Read/Watch/Listen... ANN Does It All

There Are SO Many Ways To Get YOUR Aero-News!

It’s been a while since we have reminded everyone about all the ways we offer your daily dose of aviation news on-the-go...so here is a full list of ways you can subscribe to our channels and get notifications when there are new episodes or breaking news! 1) Subscribe To Our Newsletter When surveyed, almost half of our audience shared with us that they rely on our daily newsletter to get their aviation news for the day and stay up-to-date in their field or craft. Are you subscribed yet? If not, use the link below to receive our daily Propwash emails that always feature a feed of our latest stories and breaking news. SUBSCRIBE >&g

Read More

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (09.18.25)

Aero Linx: International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA) IFATCA is the recognised international organisation representing air traffic controller associations. The Federation has been representing air traffic controllers for more than 60 years, and has member associations in more than 130 countries.

Read More

ANN FAQ: Feel The Propwash (Updated)

New Form Makes Subscribing, Unsubscribing Even Easier

While we're very proud of our newly-redesigned website, we know that some folks really enjoy the convenience of having their Aero-News dropped into their e-mail boxes every day. Our new site makes that process even easier than before.

Read More

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (09.18.25): Downburst

Downburst A strong downdraft which induces an outburst of damaging winds on or near the ground. Damaging winds, either straight or curved, are highly divergent. The sizes of downbursts vary from 1/2 mile or less to more than 10 miles. An intense downburst often causes widespread damage. Damaging winds, lasting 5 to 30 minutes, could reach speeds as high as 120 knots. 

Read More

Advertisement

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (09.18.25)

“Whatever [White’s] intentions were, the military did not know them; they responded as one might expect the military to respond to an unknown threat: they assumed the worst. The island went on a complete lockdown. Personnel engaged in a highly dangerous mission to locate the unknown intruder(s) notwithstanding the dangers they were exposing themselves too, from the weather, the terrain, and the potential unexploded ordnances that could have been underfoot in that area.” Source: Federal prosecutors, In court documents, as Andrew Kyle White of San Diego, age 37, pled guilty to federal criminal charges after admitting he twice illegally landed a small aircraft on the U.S. Naval Auxiliary Landing Fi

Read More




Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

AeroTwitter

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC