All articles by Jon Hemmerdinger
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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.
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NewsUS government selects contractor Peraton to lead air traffic control modernisation
The US Department of Transportation has chosen technology firm Peraton to serve as prime integrator for the Federal Aviation Administration’s comprehensive air traffic control system overhaul.
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NewsGulfstream completes maiden flight of G300 super-midsize business jet
Gulfstream has completed the maiden flight of its G300 super-midsize business jet, with the test aircraft flying for 2h 25min from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport on 5 December.
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NewsJekta to begin flight testing scale model of hydrogen-electric amphibian
Swiss start-up Jekta plans to begin flight testing a 1:9-scale model of its hydrogen-electric amphibious passenger aircraft next month as it works towards bringing the PHA-ZE 100 to market by 2030.
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NewsJudge rejects provisions of Gol’s bankruptcy plan, months after airline emerged from Chapter 11
A US federal judge has overturned some provisions of Brazilian carrier Gol’s previously approved bankruptcy restructuring plan, six months after the airline emerged from Chapter 11 protection, citing problematic creditor-release provisions.
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NewsFTC approves Boeing’s Spirit AeroSystems acquisition with Airbus divestitures
The US Federal Trade Commission has approved Boeing’s $4.7bn acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, requiring divestitures of Airbus-related operations that were already planned as part of the deal.
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In depthFAA ‘public charter’ regulatory crackdown stalls under Trump administration
US public charter carriers including JSX and SkyWest Charter appear temporarily safe from proposed FAA regulatory changes that threatened their business models, as the FAA reviews the initiative.
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NewsEve opts for two motor suppliers for production version of electric air taxi
Air taxi developer Eve has revealed propulsion details for its production aircraft, selecting motors from Beta Technologies and Nidec Aerospace in deals potentially worth $1 billion over 10 years.
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NewsCanadian investigators cannot find cause of PT6 failure that prompted PC-12 ice landing
Canadian accident investigators cannot determine why a Pilatus PC-12’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67B turboprop suffered catastrophic blade separation during flight, forcing pilots to execute an emergency landing on sea ice near Rankin Inlet.