FAA and NPS Open New San Francisco Commercial Flight Agreement to Comments

The FAA has taken another swing at regulating commercial air tours over popular San Francisco Bay parks and, in partnership with the National Park Service, has officially opened comments on a voluntary agreement proposal that it believes will keep the skies safe without jeopardizing tourism.

Interactive Aircraft Cockpit Damaged Leaving the ICAS Convention

DreamBIG Entertainment’s iconic F/A-18 Hornet cockpit has been a family favorite at airshows and community events across the country for years, and in its own time of need, that’s why many have come running to help. Nearly $40,000 has been raised to cover repairs after the beloved cockpit was damaged on its way home from the 2025 ICAS Convention.

Supervisors Vote to End the Ultralight Aircraft Ban… With a Catch

After nearly four years of effectively banning ultralight aircraft, local officials have finally voted to allow the little birds to restart operations at Yuba County Airport (MYV). Though the decision ends a dispute that escalated to a formal FAA complaint, ultralight pilots argue that the victory remains in limbo with unnecessarily restrictive rules filling the ban’s shoes.

First of Two VC-25Bs Now Expected to Enter Service in Mid-2028

The long-running replacement of Air Force One has added another year to its official timeline, with the US Air Force expecting the first of two VC-25B presidential aircraft to enter service in mid-2028. This pushes delivery even further past the original December 2024 target.

Aviation Pioneer, Leader In Aerospace Ops And Safety

Maj. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, a trailblazer in aviation and a world leader in aerospace operations and safety, has been appointed Dean of the College of Aviation at the Prescott, Arizona, campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Also: Project Talon, McFarlane Acquisition, Sky-Tec Service, JPL Earth Helo Tests

Bombardier has earned a round of applause from the business aviation community, celebrating the formal entry into service of what it calls the “fastest civil aircraft since the Concorde.” Keys to the first Global 8000 were turned over to loyal customer and GFL Environmental CEO Patrick Dovigi on December 8. The Global 8000 comes with a headline-grabbing Mach 0.95 top speed, a certified 8,000-nautical-mile range, and a cabin altitude of just 2,691 feet at cruise. California Representative Darrell Issa (CA-48) announced the finalized 2026 National Defense Authorization Act includes his legislation that permits U.S. Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams (Ret.) to be eligible to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. The NDAA is expected to be approved by the House and Senate in the coming days before heading to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.

Man Claims He Has Felt Persistent Effects of Toxic Fumes For More Than a Year

A Delta passenger has filed a $40 million lawsuit against Boeing, claiming to have suffered neurological and respiratory harm after inhaling toxic fumes aboard a B737. The incident allegedly occurred in August 2024 on a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles.

Competition Prepares to Step In As Spirit Claims Business As Usual

Spirit Airlines can’t seem to stay out of the industry spotlight, this time after a report suggested the ultra-low-cost carrier could be just days away from closing its doors. Unnamed industry sources allegedly claimed that at least two competitors are quietly preparing contingency plans to absorb stranded passengers if Spirit is forced to shut down amid the holiday travel spike.

Also: Archer Takes On Hawthorne Airport, Saudi GACA, Soyuz Return, Push To Invest In SAF 

Electra is walking its EL9 hybrid-electric aircraft into the formal certification phase, filing its application with the FAA to begin the Part 23 process. Work with the FAA now shifts from compliance in development to acceptance of the certification plan and building out the test program. “This certification application signals that the EL9 is fast becoming a reality and reflects the progress our team and the FAA have made together,” said Electra CEO Marc Allen. EVIO has unveiled the product of more than eight years of rigorous development: the EVIO 810 hybrid-electric regional aircraft… and a lengthy list of customers to go with it. The Montreal-based company has secured conditional agreements and options for 450 airplanes, setting the stage for an entry into service in the early 2030s. The clean-sheet design is backed by investment fr

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