Competition Awards $320k to Eight Prototype Winners Ahead of Final Fly-Off

The GoAERO Prize is getting ready to enter its home stretch, naming the eight new prototype winners that are now one step closer to flying their emergency-response aircraft at NASA Ames in 2027. The organization is handing out $320,000 across the teams, assisting the transition from early concepts to real, flying hardware.

Also: Airbus Acquisition, USCG Helo Sniper, Remember Pearl Harbor, New Thunderbird 1

Gulfstream’s newest addition to its next-gen lineup, the super-midsize G300, is officially airborne. The jet lifted off from Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), staying in the air for 2 hours and 25 minutes. The crew took the aircraft to 30,000 feet and cruised at Mach 0.75, checking off the major boxes needed to kick off the flight-test campaign. The Trump administration has officially locked in its pick to spearhead the biggest upgrade to America’s air traffic control system in decades. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced on December 4 that Virginia-based national security company Peraton has been selected as the program’s Prime Integrator. Aero-News friends over at Stop ADS-B Abuse have long profiled the infernal systems  where ADS-B data can track aircraft activity for fully-automated bill

Also: AirVenture Tkts, Pipistrel TC, Samson Patent, Kolb Aircraft Resumes Production

The FAA has released an updated set of advisory circulars to support the transition to the long-awaited Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule, offering new direction for pilots, instructors, and light-sport repairmen. The documents, published November 14, aim to align long-standing guidance with the performance-based system that will replace the outdated light-sport framework when MOSAIC takes effect in 2026. Dynon has released SkyView HDX software version 17.4, bringing a fresh round of upgrades and quality-of-life improvements to its flagship experimental avionics suite. The update centers on improving usability, expanding hardware compatibility, and ensuring the system remains current with global data models and evolving technology. Attendees and exhibitors of the Affordable Flying Expo were the first to hear about a powerful new ini

Manufacturer Learning Valuable Lessons from CCA Loss Against General Atomics & Co.

As the race for the “autonomous wingman” continues, Lockheed announced their latest entrant into the market as Project Talon, a modular UAS they hope hits the sweet spot between cost and performance. Events back East have really demonstrated the value of affordable uncrewed systems over fancy ones. Their recent loss against General Atomics and Anduril for the CCA contract further drove the lesson home: There’s no place for a 30 -million-dollar drone in 2026 and beyond. Talon takes that lesson to heart, with a 50% parts reduction, lower weight, and quicker manufacture, but there's still a long way to go, as they look to flight testing in 2026...

Immersive 3D Visualization Tool Accelerates Learning, Improves Decision-Making

CAE announced at Airspace Asia Pacific 2025 it is expanding the use of its proven, advanced 3D visualization technology, CAE Ridge, to its Air Traffic Services training program. CAE Ridge leverages immersive and collaborative scenarios that accelerate learning and improve operational decision-making to enhance the training of air traffic control professionals.

Provo MRO Transforms Owners’ Vision Into Distinctive, Elegant, And Personal Project

The Provo, Utah, full-service MRO facility of Duncan Aviation recently turned out a striking and distinctive paint scheme on a Pilatus PC-12 that helped the owners transform the aircraft into an elegant and patriotic display for its owners.

Options For P550 UAS Could Extend Deal To $42M

AeroVironment and its partner Parry Labs have been awarded a 3-year contract with a base value of $13.2 million plus options that could grow to $42 million to provide the U.S. Army with its newly developed P550 UAS for its Long Range Reconnaissance program.

Also: Cosmonaut Kicked Out, Airbus Scales Back, AF Silver Star, Russian A-60 Clobbered

A Samaritan’s Purse humanitarian flight was hijacked on Tuesday, December 2, while attempting to supply a mobile medical unit in South Sudan. Authorities were able to meet the aircraft on the ground and take the suspect into custody without further incident. The aircraft involved was one of the organization’s Cessna Grand Caravans that operates solely within Africa. The FAA has taken an unusually cooperative step towards pilot mental health reform, reducing the stabilization wait time for approved antidepressant medications from 6 months to just 3. Though this is, in itself, a basic change, it reflects years of industry efforts. Under the revised policy, airmen and air traffic control specialists may now submit Special Issuance medical packages after maintaining a stable dose of an approved antidepressant for at least three continuous months. The maid

Boeing-Spirit Merger May Take Some Time

A New York Stock Exchange Notice says trading of Spirit AeroSystems will be suspended on December 8th, adding a little angst to the market. Boeing needs to fulfill certain closing conditions before they can roll Spirit back into the fold, but some are saying the acquisition could be completed early this week.

Also: Electra Goes Military, Miami Air Taxi, Hypersonics Lab, MagniX HeliStrom

Amazon’s Prime Air drones are back in the spotlight after one of its newest MK30 delivery drones struck an overhead internet cable in Waco, Texas. The incident serves as an unnerving replay of safety concerns that surfaced just two months ago involving back-to-back collisions with a crane in Arizona. The more recent event occurred on November 18. The drone, registered  N139PA, had just wrapped up a delivery when it “clipped a thin, overhead internet cable,” according to Amazon. The maiden flight of LandSpace’s ZhuQue-3 rocket on December 3 was one for the books… for both its successes and failures. The rocket reached orbit before the first stage booster recovery attempt resulted in an explosion near the edge of the landing pad. A soldier with no aviation experience was trained how to create flight plans and flew unmanned Black Hawk hel