Must read – Page 3
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AnalysisHow the Ukraine war has (and has not) changed the helicopter’s role in combat
Significant Russian helicopter losses in the early months of the Russia-Ukraine war have led many to proclaim the end of rotary-wing aviation in combat, but a former US Army general and Bell executive argues it was just bad tactics and poor planning.
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NewsNASA reveals details of X-59’s first flight, describes programme as ‘validation’
NASA has disclosed further details of its X-59 Quesst supersonic demonstrator’s maiden flight on 28 October, marking the first major piloted X-plane the agency has built and flown in over two decades.
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NewsAir Arabia A320 descended to just 41ft above sea after take-off from Catania
Italian investigators have disclosed that an Airbus A320 descended to just 41ft above the sea after take-off from Catania in September, as the captain made nose-down pitch inputs during the initial climb. The crew of the Air Arabia Maroc aircraft – which departed from runway 08, towards the sea, on ...
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NewsAir taxi ‘certification tourism’ draws industry criticism
Plans by some air taxi developers to launch operations in the Middle East before achieving US and European certifications has drawn criticism from industry executives, with Vertical Aerospace’s chair warning against ‘certification tourism’.
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In depthFormer Canadian military officers urge Ottawa to ignore Gripens and proceed with F-35 buy
Twelve retired senior Royal Canadian Air Force officers have written to Prime Minister Mark Carney warning against reducing Canada’s planned 88-aircraft F-35A purchase in favour of Swedish Saab Gripen fighters, as political tensions with the USA prompt Ottawa to reconsider its fighter modernisation programme.
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NewsFatal 747 excursion probe focuses on thrust-lever movement for engine with inoperative reverser
Preliminary investigation into the AirACT Boeing 747-400 freighter excursion at Hong Kong have found that, after touchdown, forward thrust increased on the outboard right-hand engine – the thrust-reverser for which had been declared inoperative prior to departure. Arriving from Dubai on 20 October, the crew had selected reverse thrust on ...
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NewsRostec refines Su-57 fighter using Ukraine war feedback
Russian state corporation Rostec is incorporating operational feedback from the Ukraine conflict to enhance the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter’s capabilities for potential international customers, chief executive Sergey Chemezov has revealed.
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NewsThe year Middle East carriers lined up to buy Boeing widebody jets
Boeing’s record-breaking Qatar Airways order reflects the manufacturer’s growing dependence on Middle East customers and the Trump administration’s aggressive use of trade diplomacy to secure aircraft sales worldwide.
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In depthGE Aerospace swears by GE9X’s resilience to dust, plans larger Dubai maintenance site
GE Aerospace will open a $50 million maintenance facility in Dubai South in 2027 to support its GE9X engines, as the company emphasises the powerplant’s dust-resistance capabilities ahead of Boeing 777X service entry.
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NewsUkraine signs deal with France to purchase up to 100 Rafale fighters
Ukraine has signed a procurement agreement with France covering the acquisition of 100 Dassault Rafale F4 fighters by 2035, along with air defence systems and joint drone production programmes.
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AnalysisStood down: which types departed national fleets during our World Air Forces review?
We detail some of the most notable national fleet retirements recorded in the 12 months since we published our last World Air Forces directory at the end of 2024.
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NewsUSA now has sufficient military assets in Caribbean to wage air campaign against Venezuela
According to recent analysis, the Pentagon has assembled sufficient military assets in the Caribbean to launch an air campaign against Venezuela, including the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group and F-35B stealth fighters, as tensions between Washington and Caracas smolder.
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NewsAbra Group seeks approval to acquire Chilean carrier SKY Airline
Latin American airline company Abra Group has requested approval to incorporate Chilean low-cost carrier SKY Airline, while also signalling intention to retain SKY’s brand identity.
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NewsWith ‘Boeing backs America’ message, US airframer embarks on Charleston expansion
Boeing will invest $1bn to build a second 787 assembly facility in North Charleston, potentially doubling production capacity to meet growing demand driven partly by Trump administration trade deals.
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NewsUPS MD-11F crash probe focuses on engine mounts
Investigators probing the fatal 4 November crash of a UPS Boeing MD-11F in Louisville are examining whether an engine mount failure contributed to the left engine separating from the wing during take-off, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
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In depthUPS MD-11F crash evokes spectre of American 191 but the depth of parallels is unclear
Confirmation that the UPS Boeing MD-11F which crashed in Louisville suffered a separation of its left-hand engine during take-off is likely to draw comparisons to the watershed McDonnell Douglas DC-10 accident in Chicago more than 45 years ago.
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NewsChina commissions Fujian electromagnetic CATOBAR super carrier
China has commissioned the CNS Fujian, making it the third nation with an in-service CATOBAR aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic aircraft launch systems.
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NewsWhy US judge dismissed Boeing 737 Max fraud case despite safety concerns
A US federal judge has dismissed the Department of Justice’s fraud case against Boeing over 737 Max certification, despite expressing doubt that the non-prosecution agreement serves the public interest and facing opposition from crash victims’ relatives.
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NewsAirbus nears completion of first Qantas A350-1000 for long-range Project Sunrise routes
Airbus has rolled out the first ultra-long-range A350-1000 for Australian carrier Qantas’s Project Sunrise initiative. Project Sunrise envisions nonstop services to Australia’s east coast from London and New York. Airbus secured an agreement to supply Qantas with a version of the A350-1000 modified to carry out these specific long-range flights. ...
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NewsRegional airlines likely facing deepest cuts in FAA traffic-reduction plan
Regional airlines are waiting to see how drastically their operations will be reduced by the Federal Aviation Administration’s plan to cut air traffic volumes in key markets to ease pressure on the country’s increasingly strained air traffic control (ATC) system.