Worldwide Aviation News

tech

University of Queensland to Launch Field Trials for Oil-Rich Sorghum Aimed at Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production

Researchers at the University of Queensland are preparing for field trials of a genetically modified sorghum variety engineered to produce significantly more oil. This "super-high-energy" sorghum accumulates oil in its leaves and stems, which can then be converted into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The project, a

tech

Cuberg Reveals High-Energy-Density Battery System for 1,850-Pound eVTOL Aircraft

Northvolt subsidiary Cuberg has announced a new high-energy-density lithium-metal battery pack for electric aviation. The 70 kWh system is designed to power an 1,850-pound eVTOL aircraft from an unnamed U.S. customer. With a specific energy of 280 Wh/kg, the battery utilizes Cuberg’s

tech

Eve Air Mobility Completes Key eVTOL Transition Flight Test Campaign

Eve Air Mobility, an Embraer subsidiary, has successfully completed the first flight test campaign for its full-scale, uncrewed eVTOL technology demonstrator. The tests, conducted in Brazil, included ground evaluations, hover flights, and partial transition flights. During the campaign, the aircraft achieved a speed of 80 knots, validating its flight

safety

Cessna Pilot Uninjured After Emergency Landing in Nebraska Wildlife Area

A pilot successfully executed an emergency landing in a Nebraska wildlife preserve after experiencing engine trouble. The pilot, identified as Lonny Johnson, was flying a 1978 Cessna 182 when he reported a loss of oil pressure. Unable to reach a nearby airport, he safely landed the aircraft in a bean

commercial

Norse Atlantic Airways Launches Inaugural Direct Flight from Athens to New York JFK

Norse Atlantic Airways has commenced a new direct service connecting Athens, Greece with New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. The inaugural flight departed on May 30, 2024, marking the airline's entry into the Greek market. This seasonal route will operate up to five times per

commercial

Trump Announcement Looms Over Blocked Spirit-JetBlue Merger

A federal judge blocked the $3.8 billion merger between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines in January, citing antitrust concerns that it would harm consumers. The ruling has left Spirit Airlines in a precarious financial position, forcing the carrier to explore refinancing options to manage its debt. Now, former President Donald

commercial

Korean Air-Asiana Merger to Force Sale of Three Low-Cost Carriers

Korean Air's planned acquisition of its rival, Asiana Airlines, is poised to significantly restructure South Korea's low-cost carrier (LCC) market. To satisfy anti-trust concerns and gain regulatory approval, the merged entity will be required to sell its LCC subsidiaries. This divestment includes Jin Air,

safety

NTSB Preliminary Report Details Student Pilot's Maneuvers Before Fatal Lancaster County Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on the fatal plane crash in Lancaster County, South Carolina, that killed a student pilot and a flight instructor on May 26. The report details the student's activities earlier that day, which included practicing flight maneuvers like power-

commercial

United Airlines CEO Signals Readiness for Future Mergers Amid Shifting Industry Landscape

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has indicated that the airline is prepared for future industry consolidation, although the timing is not yet right. Speaking at a J.P. Morgan conference, Kirby stated that while he believes mergers are inevitable and ultimately good for the industry, the current Department of Justice

safety

No Injuries Reported After Piper PA-28 Makes Gear-Up Emergency Landing at Thermal Airport

A Piper PA-28 Cherokee aircraft conducted a successful emergency landing at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal on Monday afternoon. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, declared an emergency after the plane's nose gear failed to deploy. Fire crews were on standby as the pilot skillfully

safety

NTSB Report Blames Uneven Runway for Charleston County Cessna Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its report on a small plane crash that occurred on July 15 in Charleston County. The investigation determined the probable cause was uneven terrain on a private grass airstrip in Awendaw. According to the findings, the single-engine Cessna 172 encountered a significant

military

Inside the GCAP Alliance: How the UK, Japan, and Italy Are Building a Sixth-Generation Stealth Fighter

The UK, Japan, and Italy are collaborating on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) to develop a new sixth-generation stealth fighter jet. This aircraft, slated to be operational by 2035, will replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Japan's Mitsubishi F-2. The project aims to integrate cutting-edge

tech

Report Projects Strong Growth for South Africa's eVTOL Aircraft Market

South Africa's electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft market is projected to experience substantial growth, expanding from an estimated USD 6.8 million in 2024 to USD 29.5 million by 2030. This expansion represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.7%. Key drivers

tech

The Real Battle for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Begins with Feedstocks

The aviation industry's ambitious decarbonization goals hinge on the widespread adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). However, a critical bottleneck threatens this transition: the availability and cost of raw materials, or feedstocks. Currently, the primary SAF production method relies on fats, oils, and greases, which face intense competition

commercial

Royal Jordanian Airlines Takes Delivery of its First Embraer E195-E2 Jet

Royal Jordanian Airlines has officially received its first Embraer E195-E2 aircraft at a ceremony in Brazil. This delivery is the first of a total of eight E2 family jets set to join the airline's fleet. The deal, which involves aircraft lessor Azorra, is a key component of

tech

Utah State University Spearheads Development of Electric Aircraft Charging Infrastructure

Utah State University's ASPIRE Engineering Research Center is pioneering charging technology for electric aircraft. In collaboration with Electric Power Systems (EPS), they are developing a system to make electric aviation a viable mode of transportation. The groundbreaking technology is currently being tested on an all-electric Diamond eDA-

tech

NASA Accelerates Open-Source Raven eVTOL Toward 2024 First Flight

NASA is fast-tracking the development of its Raven electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) research vehicle, with a first flight targeted for 2024. This 550-lb aircraft is designed as an open-source platform, meaning its design and data will be publicly available. The project's goal is

tech

Air India Explores eVTOL Aircraft for Emergency Medical Logistics

Air India is investigating the potential use of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft for its operations. The primary focus is on establishing an emergency medical logistics network across India. This initiative aims to transport critical items like organs, medical equipment, and supplies rapidly. By utilizing eVTOL technology,

commercial

National Airlines Expands Cargo Fleet with Third Boeing 777 Freighter

National Airlines has taken delivery of its third Boeing 777-200 freighter, registered as N703NA, accelerating its ongoing fleet expansion. This new addition is part of the airline's strategy to enhance its global air freight capacity and meet growing market demand. The Boeing 777 freighter is renowned for

tech

Breakthrough Energy Leads $43M Funding for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Startup Lydian

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) startup Lydian has secured $43 million in a Series A funding round. The investment was led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a fund founded by Bill Gates, with participation from other climate-focused firms. Lydian is developing a novel technology to convert low-cost, abundant ethanol into

tech

Sora and Toray Launch Partnership for Advanced Composite Aircraft

Aircraft developer Sora has announced a strategic collaboration with materials specialist Toray. The partnership will focus on the development and supply of advanced composite materials for Sora's future aircraft programs. This agreement aims to leverage Toray's expertise in lightweight, high-strength carbon fiber to reduce airframe

safety

Heroic Flight Instructor Marks Over 100 Days in ICU After Saving Student from Fiery Corpus Christi Crash

Flight instructor Bart Tanner remains in the ICU, 108 days after a plane crash in Corpus Christi. He is credited with heroically pulling his student, Andrew Adams, from the burning wreckage of their single-engine Piper PA-28. Tanner suffered severe burns to over 60% of his body after rescuing

commercial

Airbus Outlines Strong 2023 Performance and Future Production Goals

Airbus has announced strong financial results for 2023, with revenues increasing by 11% to €65.4 billion despite a challenging operational environment. The company is focusing on a significant production ramp-up, targeting the assembly of 75 A320 family aircraft per month in 2026. CEO Guillaume Faury highlighted that while

commercial

US-Bangla Airlines Expands Fleet with Arrival of New Boeing 737-800

US-Bangla Airlines has officially expanded its fleet with the arrival of a new Boeing 737-800 aircraft at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. This is the first of two 189-seat Boeing jets the carrier is adding, with the second scheduled to arrive in the third week

safety

Vintage Ercoupe Aircraft Overturns After Emergency Landing in Wisconsin

A 1946 Ercoupe 415-D aircraft overturned after making an emergency landing in a field in Liberty Grove, Wisconsin. The pilot and sole occupant, Timothy Halbrook, initiated the landing on Saturday morning following an engine failure. While the pilot sustained only minor injuries, the vintage aircraft incurred significant damage during