All articles by Jon Hemmerdinger
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NewsTextron Aviation’s Cessna Citation Ascend enters service
Textron Aviation has delivered the first Cessna Citation Ascend to a retail customer, marking entry into service for the Wichita manufacturer’s updated midsize business jet two-and-a-half years after programme launch.
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NewsUS sanctions Venezuelan firm for assembling and maintaining Iranian drones
Washington has imposed sanctions on a Venezuelan aerospace company and its chairman for allegedly facilitating the acquisition, assembly and operation of Iranian-designed Mohajer-series unmanned aerial vehicles with surveillance and strike capabilities.
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NewsUS approves $1.8bn sale of P-8As to Denmark
The US State Department has approved Denmark’s acquisition of three Boeing P-8A maritime patrol aircraft under an $1.8 billion foreign military sales package, expanding NATO’s 737-based surveillance fleet to include operations around Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
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NewsFrance orders two Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft
France has ordered two Saab GlobalEye surveillance jets in a SKr12.3 billion ($1.3 billion) deal, with options for two additional aircraft, as European demand for reconnaissance platforms continues to strengthen.
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NewsUSA approves $8.6bn F-15IA fighter sale to Israel
Washington has signed off on Israel’s November 2024 order for Boeing F-15IA fighters under the Foreign Military Sales programme, with deliveries of an initial 25 aircraft scheduled to begin in 2031.
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NewsHonda seeks FAA approval to fly eVTOL named ‘F1’
Honda has applied to the Federal Aviation Administration for an exemption to operate an unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft designated F1, as the Japanese manufacturer advances development of its hybrid-electric air taxi.
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NewsSpirit wins new maintenance terms and $140m IAE credit
International Aero Engines will provide Spirit Airlines with up to $140 million in credits as compensation for the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G recall that severely disrupted the ultra-low-cost carrier’s operations, following approval by a US bankruptcy judge.
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NewsKing Air pilots were not incapacitated while Garmin’s Autoland system took over
Pilots of a Beechcraft King Air B200 consciously elected to allow Garmin’s Autoland system to complete their flight after experiencing rapid cabin depressurisation, according to the charter operator involved in the 20 December incident.
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NewsWheels Up secures $105m sale-and-leaseback deal in bid to raise cash amid steep losses
Private aviation operator Wheels Up Experience has agreed a $105 million sale-leaseback transaction covering 10 business jets, which will enable the loss-making company to reduce debt and acquire additional aircraft as part of its ongoing transformation strategy.
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NewsNumber of stored jets with Pratt geared turbofans climbed after mid-year
Number of grounded jets rises nearly 90 aircraft between mid-year and end-October, with storage rates holding steady at one-third of total GTF-powered fleet as manufacturer works to expand maintenance capacity and introduce durability upgrades
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NewsHowmet Aerospace acquires Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing for $1.8bn
The $1.8 billion cash acquisition of California-based precision component supplier Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing by turbofan component specialist Howmet Aerospace is expected to close during first-half 2026.
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NewsSpirit pilots and flight attendants agree to pay cuts as carrier navigates bankruptcy
Spirit Airlines’ pilots and flight attendants have approved revised employment contracts featuring concessions the carrier estimates will save $100 million annually as it seeks to emerge from bankruptcy proceedings.
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NewsUS military helicopter ADS-B exemption sparks safety backlash
Safety investigators and lawmakers are opposing provisions in the US defence spending bill that would exempt some military helicopters from aircraft-tracking requirements, citing risks highlighted by January’s fatal Potomac River collision.
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NewsFAA expands Leap-1A dust-related inspections to engines operated in South Asia
The Federal Aviation Administration has expanded mandatory inspections of CFM International Leap-1A high-pressure turbine blades to engines operating in South Asia, following earlier concerns about dust-related cracking in Middle East operations.
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NewsEvio reveals hybrid-electric regional aircraft for 2030s service entry
Montreal-based Evio has emerged with plans for a 50-100 seat hybrid-electric aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprops and electric motors, targeting first flight in 2029, with Boeing backing.
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NewsBoeing completes ‘ecoDemonstrator’ flights to study internet-based communications
Boeing has completed flight trials of advanced internet-based communications technology using a United Airlines 737 Max 8, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and flight safety while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
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NewsBoom Supersonic pivots to power generation before Overture development
Ultra-fast aircraft developer Boom Supersonic has pivoted its strategy to first develop electricity generating turbines for AI data centres, using revenue from that product to fund development of its conceptual Overture airliner.
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NewsPratt & Whitney Canada working to certificate PT9A-11 turboprop and PW220A turboshaft engines
Pratt & Whitney Canada has refiled regulatory exemption requests with the FAA for its new PT9A-11 turboprop and PW220A turboshaft engines, describing both powerplants as more efficient successors to existing product lines.
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NewsEtihad cancelled some Boeing widebody orders in November
Etihad Airways cancelled orders for 16 Boeing widebody aircraft in November, the same month the Abu Dhabi carrier revealed plans to significantly expand its Airbus long-haul fleet with new A330-900 and A350 orders.
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NewsSome Republican lawmakers challenge federal funding for advanced air mobility
Republican lawmakers questioned federal funding for electric aircraft infrastructure during a congressional hearing.