UAS And Components Added To List Of ‘Unacceptable Risk’

The Federal Communications Commission, responding to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” as well as upcoming mass-gathering events in 2026 and 2028, has taken steps to safeguard the public by updating the list of unmanned aerial systems and components that pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”

JRBAF Smacks 50 More Horsepower on its Cessna 182A Raffle Aircraft

The Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation (JRBAF) decided its 2025/26 raffle airplane could use a bit more oomph, so it’s giving the Cessna 182A a power makeover before handing over the keys. The aircraft’s original 230-horsepower Continental O-470 is being swapped out for a factory-overhauled Continental O-520, bumping output to 280 horsepower.

NGCTR Technology Demonstrator Flies for the First Time After 10 Years in the Works

Leonardo has added another tiltrotor to its proven resume, checking off the first flight of its Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor - Technology Demonstrator (NGCTR-TD). The test took place on December 19, 2025, at Leonardo’s Cascina Costa di Samarate facility.

Just Two Onboard During Landing

A Beech B200 Super King Air, N479BR, made an Autoland emergency landing at Broomfield-Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, CO (BJC/KBJC) in what appears to be the first real-time use of the safety feature. The avionics manufacturer admitted that they could... "confirm that an emergency Autoland activation occurred in Broomfield, Colorado," the company said in a statement. "The Autoland took place on Sat., Dec. 20, resulting in a successful landing. We look forward to sharing additional details at the appropriate time." 

Reached A Woman on Fog-Covered Cruise Ship

The California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing on a high-risk night mission in fog rescued an unresponsive 79-year-old woman from the Ruby Princess cruise ship 100 miles off the California coast, according to the Air National Guard. "The mission was approved as a 'high-risk' mission going out the door, which is pretty rare for us," said Air Force Lt. Col. Ben Copley, a helicopter pilot with the 129th Rescue Wing. "This person was probably going to die today if they didn't get picked up."

Tranche 3 Award Grows the Company’s Role in US National Security Space

Rocket Lab has earned its largest single contract to date, receiving $816 million from the US Space Development Agency to build 18 missile-tracking satellites for the Space Force’s Tracking Layer Tranche 3 program. The award covers the design and production of spacecraft intended to detect and track advanced missile threats, including hypersonic weapons.

Also: Bombardier’s Mach 0.95 Jet, Bristell Upgrade, Leonardo M-346, Happy Holiday!

The effort to reunite a plane with its pilot has continued to rise through the ranks, reaching federal levels in a recent letter to the DoT and the Department of the Interior. The agencies are being asked to step in after a Stinson 108 was emergency-landed and held captive on the tribal land in northern Minnesota. The request centers on a 1946 Stinson 108 owned by Darrin Smedsmo which was flying over the Red Lake Indian Reservation toward Bemidji for training when his engine suffered a catastrophic failure, forcing a landing on Minnesota Highway 1. An early-morning aircraft theft at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) ended quickly, and surprisingly without leaving the ground, when a stolen LA Flight Academy Cessna 172 crashed into the side of a hangar. Authorities say the training aircraft struck the building while taxiing. Jared “Rook” Isaacman was sworn in on

Also: Bombardier’s Mach 0.95 Jet, Bristell Upgrade, Leonardo M-346, Happy Holiday!

The effort to reunite a plane with its pilot has continued to rise through the ranks, reaching federal levels in a recent letter to the DoT and the Department of the Interior. The agencies are being asked to step in after a Stinson 108 was emergency-landed and held captive on the tribal land in northern Minnesota. The request centers on a 1946 Stinson 108 owned by Darrin Smedsmo which was flying over the Red Lake Indian Reservation toward Bemidji for training when his engine suffered a catastrophic failure, forcing a landing on Minnesota Highway 1. An early-morning aircraft theft at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) ended quickly, and surprisingly without leaving the ground, when a stolen LA Flight Academy Cessna 172 crashed into the side of a hangar. Authorities say the training aircraft struck the building while taxiing. Jared “Rook” Isaacman was swor

Also: Archer Aviation, USDOT’s National AAM Strategy, Rocket Lab Win, Joby Prepares

Wisk Aero announced the successful completion of the first flight of its Generation 6 aircraft, a critical step forward in the company’s quest to deliver the first certified, autonomous passenger carrying eVTOL aircraft to market in the U.S. Wisk is the only developer that has designed, built, and flown six generations of eVTOL vehicles. The aircraft performed its initial vertical takeoff, hover, and stabilized flight maneuvers at the company’s flight test facility in Hollister, California. Eve Air Mobility’s uncrewed, full-scale eVTOL engineering prototype has successfully gone airborne, marking the transition from rigorous lab and component testing to an even more rigorous flight test campaign. The milestone reinforces Eve’s current schedule to get type certified, complete initial deliveries, and enter service in 2027. Jared “Ro

Also: Atlantic Aviation Expands, FedEx MD-11s To Fly By Spring?, DCA Crash Followup, ANN Holiday Sked

Bombardier’s Global 8000 has received type certification from US aviation regulators, opening a key market for what the manufacturer claims to be the fastest civilian aircraft since the Concorde. The approval follows Transport Canada type certification granted on November 5, with the aircraft entering service in December. Certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency remains pending. The US Parachute Association is celebrating an eventful year in the sport by noting the biggest stories and achievements from the year. Highlights include an 86-year-old skydiver achieving 1,000 jumps and earning her USPA Gold Wings, new world records set, and skydivers completing 26,718 jumps on World Skydiving Day. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Congress that if the agency continues operating as it currently does, air traffic control towers