Facility Will Be Constructed at Mountain Home Air Force Base for Pilot Training

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently announced plans to host the Qatari Emiri Air Force at Idaho’s Mountain Home Air Force Base, crediting the decision to Qatar’s role in hammering out the Gaza peace deal. The facility, which has already drawn some controversy, will be used to train pilots on Qatari F-15 fighter jets.

Towers Report an Increasing Number of Missing Controllers Amid Shutdown

As the government shutdown drags into the double digits, air traffic control facilities across the US are reporting growing staff shortages… and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is running out of patience. Eleven major airspace sectors were short on controllers to close out October 9, including Chicago O’Hare, Newark, Boston Center, and Orlando.

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ICAO has rejected the airline industry’s push to raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots from 65 to 67. The proposal was backed primarily by IATA, which argued that even a two-year rise to the cap could have a dramatic effect on the pilot shortage. IATA’s argument claimed that the change would ease workforce pressures without harming safety. Duncan Aviation announced that its testing facility co-located in the company’s Technical Education Center in Battle Creek, Michigan, has been officially approved as an FAA Testing Center, making Battle Creek the only Duncan Aviation location to gain that designation. The approval of the new testing center enables Duncan team members to take their tests onsite and avoid the hour or more drive to the nearest FAA facility. Just over three months after hitting the market, Piper Airc

Also: Pilot Age Cap, Skylar AI Flight Assistant, NS-36 Mission, ALPA v Shutdown

The federal government has officially gone into lockdown mode. The FAA will be laying off around a fourth of its staff, leaving 11,000 employees in limbo as another 13,000 air traffic controllers are forced to work on their own dime. Air traffic controllers are considered critical roles, meaning they are required to remain on the job but won’t receive pay until the shutdown ends. Side effects of the recent US government shutdown have made their way into the airshow side of things, with Pacific Airshow organizers confirming that some of its most iconic acts are no longer on the itinerary. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds and Royal Air Force Falcons will instead headline the event, standing in for the traditional USAF Thunderbirds performance. 55-year-old content creator Tang Feiji was killed on September 27, 2025, after losing control of his twin-rotor ultralight. He

Finished Ahead Of Schedule, Precision Mod Work Praised By Trainer

Yingling Aviation announced it has successfully completed its first winglet installation as Yingling on a Dassault Falcon 900. The project was finished ahead of schedule and according to trainer Harley Howell of Aviation Partners, who supervised the work, the execution was flawless and Yingling’s experienced sheet metal team delivered a precise structural modification.

Separate Electron Payloads Include Single Satellite And Rideshare

Rocket Lab Corp., based in Long Beach, California, announced it has secured a contract for two dedicated launches of its Electron rocket for JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The missions will deploy satellites for JAXA’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program.

$173M Deal Brings Total To 34 MH-139A Aircraft Under Contract

Boeing announced that the U.S. Air Force awarded the company a contract to build eight more MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters to include training and sustainment support services. Coming on the heels of a $178 million award for seven helicopters in April of this year, this contract increases the total number under contract to 34.

Also: NBAA-BACE Offering IA Renewal, TSA Weaponized?, New F-35 Engine Issues, Joby Stock Plummets

The first Affordable Flying Expo is shaping up well... as the promotion program hit high gear this week, we are pleased to announce that we are attracting a stunning number of sport aviation’s most exciting Sport, MOSAIC and LSA flying machines. The sleek Italian Porto Risen, which excited crowds at the last two Oshkosh appearances is on its way to Lakeland, where its efficient design is likely to get a LOT of attention. Another Oshkosh favorite, the Spirit SE-1 is flying in... Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has finally spoken out against claims of “dirty business” in the investigation of Air India flight 171, which left 260 people dead. The complaint was submitted by Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, whose son was one of the pilots in the cockpit when the tragic accident occurred. The vertical aviation community is urging the FA

Upgrades For Business And Regional Jet Models

True Blue Power and 101 Aviation are collaborating on the True Blue Power Gen5 TB50 and TB20 lithium-ion battery upgrades, and announced that the battery STCs for Gulfstream and Bombardier aircraft models will be available in Q1 2026. Further certifications will follow later.

Strategic Attack, Electronic Warfare, ISR As Air Or Ground Payload

Textron Systems announced the introduction of Damocles Launched Effect, its cutting-edge system designed to deliver a strategic advantage in warfare environments. Its GEN2 Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) can deliver top-attack, electronic warfare, and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance capabilities deployed as either a ground- or air-delivered payload.