Air Transport
News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
Regulations and Government
Phil Washington Withdraws from FAA Administrator Consideration
Phil Washington, whose nomination as FAA administrator faced a barrage of Republican opposition, withdrew his name for consideration for the post.
Aircraft
Airbus’s Chinese Assembly Line Delivers its First A321neo
Shanghai-based Juneyao Air took delivery of the first A321neo produced at Airbus’s assembly line in Tianjin, China.
Aircraft
Boeing 737 Max AD Sheds Light on Factory Errors
Improper torquing of fasteners by Boeing factory mechanics in Max jets’ engine anti-ice exhaust ducts results in FAA airworthiness directive.
ATC
ICAO Adopts Multi-constellation Standards for GNSS
The International Civil Aviation Organization considers the rollout of new dual-frequency multi-constellation standards a ‘major milestone’.
Aircraft
United Airlines and Archer Reveal First Air Taxi Route in Chicago
Scheduled to launch in 2025, the first United eVTOL route will take passengers between O’Hare International Airport and Vertiport Chicago.
Airlines
Senators Reintroduce Bill To Raise Pilot Retirement Age to 67
Alphabet organizations such as the Regional Airline Association applaud a bill to allow airline pilots to fly until age 67 in the U.S.
Engines
Safran Boss Tells EU Commission SAF Mandates Are ‘Too Shy’
Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, warns that Europe will fall behind the U.S. if it does not heighten its SAF usage and production ambitions.
Airlines
Delta Air Lines To Open Flight Academy
The Delta Propel Flight Academy in Vero Beach, Florida, will open its doors to pilot recruits in June.
Airlines
ASQS Expands in Canada with Central Mountain Air Partnership
British Columbia-based regional airline Central Mountain Air has rolled out the iQSMS reporting module to further optimize its safety management.
Airlines
Ryanair Decries Continuing French ATC Strikes
Europe’s largest low-cost airline launched a petition calling for the European Commission to allow overflights when French controllers stage a strike.
Airlines
GPS Jamming of Qantas Jets Spotlights Long-standing Issues
GPS/GNSS signal interference has become more common in the aviation industry.
Regulations and Government
FAA To Require 25-hour Cockpit Voice Recorders
Following a rebuke from NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy, the FAA moves to establish rulemaking committee for 25-hour CVR capacity.
Aircraft
ARJ21 Export Customer Starts Flight Training Campaign
The first ARJ21 operator outside of China, Indonesian low-cost carrier TransNusa Aviation, prepares for service launch.
Airlines
RAA Head Black Breaks Ice during FAA Safety Summit Session
Industry leaders convened to explore reasons for a spate of runway incidents and consider other safety concerns.
Safety
Turbulence, Runway Incursions Headline Last Year’s Accidents
The Flight Safety Foundation Releases its 2022 Safety Report on the same day the FAA holds a special safety summit.
Aircraft
Boeing Lands Major Order Agreements from Saudi Airlines
Saudia and newly minted carrier Riyadh Air have agreed to place firm orders for a total of 78 Boeing 787s.
Aircraft
Saudi Arabia Launches New Flag Carrier, Riyadh Air
Principals expect Riyadh Air to fly to 100 destinations by 2030, create 200,000 jobs, and add $20 billion to Saudi Arabia's GDP.
Airlines
Trigana Air Boeing 737 Takes Gunfire from Papuan Rebels
Gunfire prompts local carriers to suspend operations to Nop Goliat Dekai Airport in Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua.
JAL Undergoes 'Sharkskin' Riblet Flight Trials
Japan Airlines is testing the durability of a "sharkskin" exterior coating on two Boeing 737-800s that reduces friction and thus increases fuel efficiency
ATC
Philippine Probe Rules Out Sabotage in New Year’s ATC Power Outage
An Philippine Senate investigation found no evidence of sabotage or a cybersecurity attack relating to Manila’s January 1 air traffic control power outage.
Engines
IAE Sees V2500 Engine Business Continuing for Decades
The IAE AG partnership, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, expects its V2500 engine family to remain in service beyond 2045.
Human Rights Groups Call To Suspend Aviation Fuel to Myanmar
Amnesty International, Global Witness, and Burma Campaign UK reiterate calls to suspend aviation fuel supply to Myanmar amidst unlawful air strikes.
Accidents
IATA Data Point to Turboprops as the Weak Link in 2022 Safety Performance
Turboprops accounted for four of five fatal accidents last year with loss of life to passengers and crew onboard, according to IATA's 2022 safety report.
Aircraft
Indian Lessor Forms JV for Locally-built Aircraft
Aircraft leasing company Vman Aviation Services has formed a joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics for leasing locally-built aircraft.
Maintenance and Modifications
Lufthansa Technik Sees Staffing, Supply-chain Bottlenecks through 2024
The aircraft and engine maintenance unit of Lufthansa has reported a record profit in the wake of air travel's recovery and an increase in flight hours.
Airlines
Airlines Fight New Flight Caps at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
A group of airlines and IATA are taking the Dutch government to court to prevent a limit on the number of flight movements at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Airlines
Lufthansa Eyes TAP Acquisition As Talks Continue Over ITA Deal
The German group achieved a financial turnaround in 2022 recording a €1.5 billion operating profit, even though most of its airlines remained loss-making.
Aircraft
Thai Operator Plans Grand Caravan Seaplane Service
Following a long pause due to Covid, Siam Seaplanes eyes the launch of Grand Caravan charter operations by mid-year.
Aircraft
AerCap Sees Aircraft Delivery Delays Lasting ‘Several’ Years
The world’s largest commercial aircraft lessor says traffic growth and a curtailed supply environment will drive lease transactions and higher rates.
Aircraft
Lufthansa Orders 22 More Widebodies from Boeing and Airbus
The supervisory board of Lufthansa Group on Tuesday approved $7.5 billion worth of deals covering Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s.
