All articles by Jon Hemmerdinger – Page 2
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NewsCFM extends IATA aftermarket competition agreement into 2033
CFM International has extended its agreement with IATA through February 2033, allowing airlines greater flexibility to use third-party maintenance providers and non-OEM parts for engine servicing, addressing long-standing aftermarket competition concerns.
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NewsBombardier restructures leadership to advance defence and M&A ambitions
The Montreal-based business jet manufacturer has appointed new executives to lead restructured divisions encompassing aircraft sales, aftermarket services, engineering and defence, while hiring a former Leonardo DRS strategist to drive mergers and acquisitions.
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NewsGE Aerospace expands commercial engines division, appoints Mohamed Ali as chief
GE Aerospace has restructured its commercial engines and services division to incorporate operations and technology functions, appointing Mohamed Ali as chief executive while creating a new commercial sales leadership position.
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NewsBoeing flagged MD-11 pylon bearing concerns years before UPS crash
Boeing issued a 2011 service bulletin warning MD-11 operators about potential spherical bearing assembly failures in engine pylons, the same component now at the centre of the NTSB investigation into November’s fatal UPS MD-11F crash in Louisville that killed 14 people.
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NewsFAA orders PW1100G modifications following engine fires
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an airworthiness directive requiring airlines to modify fuel system components on 586 Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines following multiple fan-blade fracture events that resulted in three under-cowl fires.
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In depthNASA strips down X-59 for post-flight inspections ahead of second sortie
NASA’s X-59 supersonic demonstrator sits partially disassembled at Armstrong Flight Research Center following its October maiden flight, with engineers removing dozens of panels to complete required inspections before resuming flight tests this spring.
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NewsBoeing landed 1,175 jet orders in 2025, while production rates roared back
Boeing secured 1,175 aircraft orders in 2025, more than double the previous year’s total, benefiting from President Trump’s leveraging aerospace deals during trade negotiations with US partners, while production rates reached multi-year highs.
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NewsFAA outlines plan to eliminate leaded aviation petrol starting at end-2030
The Federal Aviation Administration has published a draft roadmap for eliminating leaded aviation petrol by end-2030, though the agency warns the transition could pose operational challenges and depends heavily on replacement fuel availability and private sector decisions.
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NewsAllegiant to acquire Sun Country for $1 billion
Las Vegas-based ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air plans to acquire Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines for $1 billion in a cash and stock transaction, combining two leisure-focused operators.
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NewsFirst Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2 enters service
Textron Aviation has delivered the first Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2 light jet to launch customers, several months after the Federal Aviation Administration certificated the updated nine-passenger aircraft in October 2025.
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NewsLATAM received first GEnx-powered 787 amid fleet renewal
Chile’s LATAM Airlines Group has received its first Boeing 787-9 powered by GE Aerospace GEnx turbofansLATAM receives first GEnx-powered 787 amid fleet renewal
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NewsFAA proposes mandatory 737NG stabiliser inspections
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed mandating inspections of horizontal stabiliser components on all US-registered Boeing 737NGs, following multiple reports of pitch oscillations caused by excessive free play that could lead to flutter events.
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NewsJames Dempsey named Frontier Airlines chief executive
Denver-based Frontier Group has appointed James Dempsey as chief executive, promoting the former interim CEO amid continued upheaval in the US ultra-low-cost carrier sector.
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In depthTall order: US aviation industry faces $4.5bn bill to replace 60,000 altimeters in next wave of 5G fiasco
US operators are faced with replacing or upgrading some 58,600 radio altimeters across their fleets at a cost of at least $4.5 billion under a newly proposed FAA rule designed to prevent interference from expanded 5G wireless networks.
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NewsNTSB urges action to prevent stall-related Hawker crashes
The US safety board is calling for urgent regulatory action after two fatal Hawker business jet crashes during post-maintenance stall tests, warning line pilots lack adequate training to perform such flights safely.
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NewsAlaska Airlines orders 110 Boeing jets in largest-ever purchase
Alaska Airlines has committed to acquire 110 Boeing aircraft – 105 737 Max 10s and five 787s – in what the carrier describes as its largest planned purchase, with deliveries extending through 2035.
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NewsUS government hires RTX and Indra to replace 612 radars as part of ATC overhaul
The Trump administration has awarded contracts to RTX and Indra Group to replace 612 ageing surveillance radars across the US air traffic control network, as part of a $31.5 billion modernisation programme backed by the president following a fatal midair collision in January 2025.
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NewsFAA proposes additional radio altimeter standards amid 5G expansion
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a proposed rule requiring operators to upgrade radio altimeters again as the USA prepares to allocate additional spectrum to 5G cellular networks in the Upper C-Band range between 2029 and 2032.
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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.