Author: Alan G.W.

Mention “Concorde” to any aviation enthusiast and chances are that they’ll get a certain look in their eyes. That is quite understandable, as the Concorde wasn’t just any other aircraft. Capable of flying at twice the speed of sound, it whisked the wealthy across the Atlantic in under three and a half hours. And for many, it remains the pinnacle of commercial aviation achievement. Anglo-French ambitions take shape The Concorde story began in the late 1950s. It was an era when everything seemingly was possible and optimism for what humanity could achieve prevailed, fueled by healthy (?) competition between the…

Stakeholder Advisory Body (SAB) 03-2026 meeting Established under the Basic Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and relevant EASA Management Board decisions, the Stakeholder Advisory Body (SAB), its Communities (COMMs), and agile Activity Groups (AGs) offer a consultation framework between the Agency and the Industry on both strategic priorities, regulatory aspects as well as a tool for Industry to provide feedback on implementation of regulations and related policies. Darya Kalsi Wed, 21/01/2026 – 16:54

EASA Committee and Expert Group meeting 03-2026 The EASA Committee is a body within the meaning of the so-called “Comitology Regulation” (Regulation 182/2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers). Darya Kalsi Wed, 21/01/2026 – 16:42

Initial set of ANCEN Background Notes provide insight into aviation’s non-CO₂ climate impacts and mitigation options The Aviation Non-CO₂ Expert Network (ANCEN) has published three new Background Notes that clarify how aviation’s CO₂ and non-CO₂ emissions affect the climate and what this means for future mitigation strategies. Developed under the Horizon Europe “NONCO2” research action, these notes are designed to support policymakers, industry stakeholders and the wider community with concise, science-based information. Jennifer Grochowski Wed, 21/01/2026 – 16:39

EASA Committee and Expert Group meeting 02-2026 The EASA Committee is a body within the meaning of the so-called “Comitology Regulation” (Regulation 182/2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers). Darya Kalsi Wed, 21/01/2026 – 16:30

World Defense Show 2026 graham.hebert Tue, 01/20/2026 – 21:24 Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Off February 08, 2026 February 08, 2026 February 12, 2026 Aircraft events Defense

Singapore Airshow 2026 graham.hebert Tue, 01/20/2026 – 21:01 Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore Off February 03, 2026 February 08, 2026 Aircraft events Defense

Japan’s Ministry of Defense reported a sharp increase in Air Self-Defense Force emergency fighter scrambles in December 2025, with aircraft launched 79 times to intercept foreign military aircraft approaching Japanese airspace, according to data released by the Joint Staff Office on January 16, 2026. The total represented an increase of 46 scrambles compared with November […]

Bombardier Announces Leadership Appointments Geared Toward Long-Term Strategic Growth January 20, 2026 christina.lemy… Tue, 01/20/2026 – 04:06 Listing text Bombardier Announces Leadership Appointments Geared Toward Long-Term Strategic Growth Page category News & Events

EASA Committee and Expert Group meeting The EASA Committee is a body within the meaning of the so-called “Comitology Regulation” (Regulation 182/2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers). Darya Kalsi Tue, 20/01/2026 – 18:29

Stakeholder Advisory Body (SAB) 01-2026 meeting Established under the Basic Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and relevant EASA Management Board decisions, the Stakeholder Advisory Body (SAB), its Communities (COMMs), and agile Activity Groups (AGs) offer a consultation framework between the Agency and the Industry on both strategic priorities, regulatory aspects as well as a tool for Industry to provide feedback on implementation of regulations and related policies. Darya Kalsi Tue, 20/01/2026 – 18:20

Stakeholder Advisory Body (SAB) 02-2026 meeting Established under the Basic Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and relevant EASA Management Board decisions, the Stakeholder Advisory Body (SAB), its Communities (COMMs), and agile Activity Groups (AGs) offer a consultation framework between the Agency and the Industry on both strategic priorities, regulatory aspects as well as a tool for Industry to provide feedback on implementation of regulations and related policies. Darya Kalsi Tue, 20/01/2026 – 18:14

Here is the second episode of a new aviation-themed comic book that follows two protagonists who (despite themselves) find themselves transported back in time from the present day to 1917, on the front line between France and Germany. In the first volume, pilot Duncan, alias “Dunk,” and scientist Lucie made the first manned MHD flight (normally reserved for supersonic missiles) and found themselves more than a hundred years in the past, in the somewhat turbulent skies of France during World War I. In this sequel, the two companions, more or less recovered from their journey through time, do their best…

Ukraine has paused additional orders of HX-2 strike drones from German defense technology firm Helsing after the systems showed technical problems during frontline testing, according to Bloomberg. The decision follows field trials conducted by Ukraine’s 14th Regiment, a unit specializing in unmanned aerial systems, where the HX-2 experienced repeated difficulties during launch and operation. The […]

A Ukrainian defense company, CENTRE ZAKHYST, has announced the successful development and combat testing of its ODIN counter-unmanned aerial systems, a domestically produced solution designed to intercept attack drones, according to a statement released by the company. CENTRE ZAKHYST said the system has been implemented in combat conditions and tested both at training grounds and […]

India has reportedly acquired dozens of Belarus-made Berkut-BM one-way attack drones, according to defense industry sources. The Berkut-BM is a jet-powered kamikaze drone developed by the Indela company in Belarus and designed to strike time-sensitive battlefield targets before they can relocate. The system is powered by compact Chinese-made micro turbojet engines produced by Swiwin, giving the […]

Japan’s Board of Audit revealed in January 2026 that military equipment worth approximately 1.1 trillion yen ($6.9 billion) purchased from the United States under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program has not been delivered to the Japan Self-Defense Forces despite more than five years passing since contracts were signed. The finding is detailed in an […]

United States Air Force F-15 fighter jets were spotted flying at low altitude over the eastern Aleppo countryside in northern Syria as Syrian government forces moved into the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) units from the area. The flights were observed as Syrian army units entered […]

An Israeli defense entity has placed its first purchase order for ParaZero Technologies’ DefendAir counter-unmanned aerial system, the company announced, confirming a new procurement of anti-drone equipment amid heightened drone activity identified in recent conflicts. The order represents ParaZero’s first direct contract with a main Israeli defense organization for its DefendAir system and includes delivery […]

NATO Air Command confirmed that Italian Eurofighter Typhoon jets deployed to Amari Air Base in Estonia were scrambled at 11:30 a.m. on January 16 to intercept a Russian Be-200 aircraft approaching the Baltic Sea. The interception took place as part of NATO’s routine air policing mission in the region, aimed at monitoring and responding to […]

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Boeing and Airbus report their final tallies for orders and deliveries in 2025 and it was Boeing’s best year since 2018. Allegiant is buying Sun Country in a shake up of the ultra low-cost market in the US. Delta comes full circle and orders up to 60 787s. And a pair of reports from British accident investigators highlight the importance of good procedure on the flight deck. Helpful links for this week’s episode Air France flight 191 Allegiant announcement on Sun Country merger Boeing 2025 orders and deliveries Airbus 2025 orders and deliveries Thank…

Russia has equipped a BM-35 one-way attack drone with a Starlink-type satellite terminal, Ukrainian specialists said after the aircraft was shot down and examined this week. According to Serhii Beskrestnov, known by the call sign “Flash,” the recovered drone showed clear evidence of remote control through the Starlink system. “For the first time, the fact […]

Russia has begun using a previously unseen jet-powered one-way attack drone. Such drones were spotted after a Russian military unit released footage showing the system striking a Ukrainian HIMARS launcher during an operation recorded earlier this week. The video was published by the unit operating the reconnaissance drone and captured the moment the target was […]

A new step in a long lasting and fruitful cooperation between EASA and French DGA The Executive Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Florian Guillermet, and the Délégué Général pour l’Armement, Patrick Pailloux, co-signed an implementing arrangement for French MoD Guépard helicopter (also known as H160M) on January 14, 2026 in Paris. The implementing arrangement follows on from the generic cooperation arrangement concluded between the two design competent authorities in 2017. Relating specifically to the context of the H160M programme, it sets out to: Jennifer Grochowski Fri, 16/01/2026 – 15:16

When Norwegian Air Shuttle was formed on January 22nd 1993, few could have predicted that it would grow to an aviation powerhouse, taking on legacy airlines and creating headlines in the process. The carrier’s journey from operating a handful of turboprops in Norway to becoming Europe’s third-largest low-cost carrier is a story of bold ambition and hard-won lessons. Norwegian Air Shuttle originally operated the Fokker 50. The humble beginnings of Norwegian Air Shuttle But let’s take it from the top. Like many airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY/NOZ) was founded amidst a time when the deregulation of national aviation markets was in…

Shield AI announced on Wednesday that it has begun wind tunnel testing of its X-Bat unmanned combat aircraft, marking the first major evaluation phase for the company’s next-generation autonomous strike platform. The company said the tests are intended to accelerate design refinement and reduce developmental risk as the aircraft moves toward flight demonstrations. According to […]

A United States Air Force MH-139 Grey Wolf executed its first operational mission on January 8 at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, flying alongside convoys from the 341st Missile Security Operations Squadron. The Air Force said the event marks the new aircraft’s initial integration into day-to-day nuclear security operations supporting the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile […]

United States Air Force personnel released a photo of an MQ-9 Reaper assigned to the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron on January 13, showing the aircraft positioned inside a shelter at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The Air Force said the squadron’s presence reinforces U.S. commitment to security on the Korean Peninsula and provides a […]

Destinus, a European aerospace and defense company, announced the updated versions of its modular precision-strike weapons and interceptor systems, releasing new details on the Ruta Block2 cruise missile, the Vector Vista Block2 navigation system and the Hornet Block2 quick-response interceptor. The company published technical descriptions of the upgraded systems on its website. According to Destinus, […]

The fourth volume in the “Origines” series of “The Adventures of Buck Danny” and the second devoted to the early life of his sidekick Sonny Tuckson. In the previous volume devoted to Sonny Tuckson, “Air Race Pilot,” set in the 1930s, we discovered the youth of a kid who got up to all sorts of mischief with his sidekick Jo. Until the day Sonny’s uncle bought an old plane, sparking a vocation that would stay with the young man for the rest of his life. This time, we are at the very beginning of the 1940s. Jo and Sonny have…

Thailand’s flag carrier, Thai Airways (TG/THA), ended 2025 by adding a new aircraft to its fleet, a model it had never operated before. The first order In mid-2023, the airline announced its first order for brand new Airbus A321neo aircraft, expected to be delivered as of late 2025. The initial order was for five A321neo aircraft, with another five aircraft of this type to be added later. Thai Airways plans to use these aircraft for regional flights in South and Southeast Asia, based in Bangkok, the country’s capital and its main hub of operations. With regard to other narrow-body aircraft,…

China’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense confirmed on Jan. 12 that the export-oriented J-10CE fighter jet achieved its first combat victory last May, stating that the aircraft downed several adversary aircraft in an aerial engagement without suffering losses. The agency described the operation as the J-10CE’s first confirmed combat result. […]

Northrop Grumman delivered its 1,500th center fuselage for the F-35 Lightning II on Jan. 12, completing the milestone at its Integrated Assembly Line in Palmdale, California. The delivery reflects the current production pace of one center fuselage every 30 hours. According to Northrop Grumman, the Palmdale facility uses advanced manufacturing processes to build center fuselages […]

Pegasus Arms has released detailed operational results for its Pegasus Arms 25 heavy strike drone, confirming that Ukrainian forces used the platform in more than a thousand engagements throughout 2025, including over 560 sorties by a single airframe. The company disclosed the figures in an official summary of wartime performance. According to the report, more […]

The United States Air Force has awarded Trust Automation a $490 million contract to research, develop, prototype, and produce counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) technologies, the company announced on January 12, 2026. According to Trust Automation, the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract will support the rapid development and transition of unmanned and counter-unmanned aircraft capabilities. Work will take […]

Ukraine’s General Staff said early on January 13 that Defense Forces carried out an overnight strike on the Atlant Aero industrial facility in Taganrog, Rostov region, hitting a site involved in producing Molniya strike-reconnaissance drones and components for the Orion unmanned aerial vehicles. According to the General Staff, explosions and a fire were recorded across […]

Russia has announced a record increase in its export weapons portfolio, with First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov stating on Friday that Moscow now holds $70 billion in signed defense contracts. Manturov delivered the figures during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, marking the largest reported volume of foreign military orders in Russia’s history. According […]

Elbit Systems announced on January 12, 2026, that it has signed contracts worth approximately $275 million to supply an advanced airborne self-protection electronic warfare suite, including its Direct Infra-Red Counter-Measure system, to an unnamed country in the Asia-Pacific region. The company said the work will be carried out over a five-year period. According to Elbit […]

Paris – Saint-Cloud, France, January 12, 2026 – Dassault Aviation and Harmattan AI today announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the integration of controlled autonomy and AI technologies into combat aviation systems. As part of this collaboration, Dassault Aviation is leading Harmattan AI’s $200 million Series B funding round. Harmattan AI has been awarded multiple Programs of Record by the French and UK Ministries of Defence for its autonomous systems portfolio and is now scaling globally in response to growing demand. The proceeds from this investment round will be used to expand the deployment of AI-enabled missions across new operational…

Colombia announced on January 10 that it is launching a COP 6.2 trillion (approximately $1.6 billion) National Anti-Drone Shield, a move taken directly in response to the recent U.S. military strike on Venezuela, the Colombian government said in an official statement. According to the Ministry of Defense, the program creates a nationwide detection and interdiction […]

Israel placed its security apparatus on high alert on January 10 after senior officials assessed the possibility of direct U.S. intervention in Iran as nationwide anti-government protests there enter their most volatile stage in years, according to Israeli sources who spoke to Reuters. Three Israeli officials with knowledge of internal security consultations said the alert […]

Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) has confirmed that Russia used a new jet-powered strike drone, identified as the Geran-5, during combined air attacks at the start of 2026. The announcement, released today, states that Russian forces employed the platform for the first time against targets inside Ukraine. The Geran-5 has a length of around six […]

The United States Commerce Department has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have imposed new restrictions on Chinese-made drones, according to a government notice posted Friday. The reversal ends a months-long review process and comes ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing this April. According to documents published on the federal website, Commerce […]

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have begun formal discussions to convert a $2 billion Saudi loan into a transaction for JF-17 fighter jets, Reuters reported. The talks center on a broader package valued at $4 billion, including an additional $2 billion allocated for related equipment. Reuters, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, reported that “the total […]

India is moving toward approving a large-scale purchase of Rafale fighter jets, as New Delhi prepares for French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit next month, according to senior officials familiar with the process. Indian Air Force leaders have submitted a proposal to acquire what the service described as a “substantial” number of new aircraft under a […]

A CIA-linked LM-100J Super Hercules operated by Pallas Aviation landed in Caracas on January 10. The aircraft, using callsign WDE08 and tail number N96MG, departed shortly afterward and returned to Puerto Rico. The aircraft belongs to Pallas Aviation, described as a private company that performs “specialized work worldwide that most others refuse.” The company operates […]

France’s Dassault Aviation announced that it delivered 26 Rafale fighter jets in 2025, surpassing its annual plan of 25 aircraft. The company said the deliveries included 15 jets for export customers and 11 for the French Armed Forces. According to Dassault Aviation, the 2025 output exceeds the previous year, when 21 Rafales were delivered — […]

The United States Air Force formally received its first T-7A Red Hawk on January 9, 2026, during an arrival ceremony hosted by Air Education and Training Command (AETC), marking the start of the service’s transition to a new generation of jet trainer aircraft. The event at Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph marked the first delivery from […]

In the late 1950s, Douglas Aircraft Company began developing a narrow-body aircraft for short to medium haul routes, which would complement its only operational aircraft at the time, the Douglas DC-8, configured for long-haul routes, along with its high density. McDonnell Douglas MD-81 Douglas DC-9 The first flight in the history of the DC-9 took place on February 25th, 1965, entering regular service on December 8th of that year with Delta Air Lines. Registered as N3304L, this aircraft was the first DC-9 ever built, produced in Long Beach, as were the remaining 975 aircraft manufactured. Delta Air Lines was one…

We begin the year with a mess in Amsterdam as more than 3,000 flights have been canceled at the airport this week following snow storms and a long list of operational problems. We look at the impact on civil aviation from the US military action in Venezuela last weekend. Kazakhstan investigators issue an update on their investigation into Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243. We delve into a wide variety of regulatory updates, including another round of radio altimeter updates because of 5G mobile data. It would appear that Pakistan International Airlines is actually on its way to privatization. And in our…

All Nippon Airways’ Star Wars C-3PO-themed Boeing 777-200 (registration JA743A) will make its final scheduled commercial flight today, bringing an end to one of aviation’s most distinctive special liveries. A busy final day JA743A has been working hard on its last day. After early morning flights between Tokyo Haneda and Sapporo, the gorgeous 777 currently is awaiting departure as NH265 from Haneda to Fukuoka, a grand finale worth celebrating.Operating as flight NH270, C-3PO is scheduled to depart Fukuoka at 19:55 local time (11:55 CET) and arrive at Tokyo Haneda at 21:30 local time (13:30 CET). That’s the equivalent of making…

The U.S. State Department has approved Denmark’s request to purchase AGM-114R Hellfire missiles and related equipment in a potential foreign military sale valued at $45 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Thursday. According to the agency, Denmark requested up to 100 AGM-114R missiles, along with three Captive Air Test Missiles, six M299 launchers, […]

United States forces conducted a strike in Venezuela on January 3 using the AGM-154C-1 Joint Stand-Off Weapon, after local authorities released images showing debris from the precision-guided glide munition at one of the impact sites. According to photographs published by Venezuelan officials, identifiable fragments of an AGM-154C-1 were found after the January 3 attack. The […]

Extended deadline for application: IT Systems Administrator (Windows) The following vacancy notice for a Contract Agent position published on the Careers portal has been extended: Title / Grade: IT Systems Administrator (Windows)Organisational Directorate: Information Technology SectionClosing Date: 19/01/2026 at 23:59 hrs CET Jennifer Grochowski Thu, 08/01/2026 – 12:53

Emirates Airline (EK/UAE), the leading carrier in the Middle East, has a large fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, all based at Dubai International Airport. The airline began operations in 1985 with two aircraft, which were not its own, expanding rapidly from the early 1990s onwards after placing a major order for new Boeing 777s and changing its business model by developing a hub in Dubai. Emirates’ Airbus A310 A6-EKB at Frankfurt – September 1987 Launch of Emirates On October 25th, 1985, with a Boeing 737-300 and an Airbus A300-600B2, both wet-leased from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the airline made…

(consolidated figures as of December 31, 2025) Deliveries, order intakes, backlog in number of new aircraft, and net sales guidance (unaudited figures) AIRCRAFT DELIVERED IN 2025 26 Rafale (15 Export, 11 France) were delivered, while 25 had been guided, versus 21 Rafale (14 France, 7 Export) delivered in 2024. 37 Falcon were delivered, while 40 had been guided, versus 31 Falcon delivered in 2024. AIRCRAFT ORDERED IN 2025 26 Export Rafale were ordered versus 30 Export Rafale in 2024. 31 Falcon were ordered versus 26 Falcon in 2024. AIRCRAFT IN BACKLOG As of December 31, 2025, the backlog includes: 220…

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (EHAM/AMS) has during the past couple of days faced one of its most challenging operational periods in recent memory. Since Friday, January 2nd, the airport has cancelled over 3,200 flights. Thousands of passengers have been stranded and the effect has been felt across the European aviation network. Your flight has (probably) been cancelled Flightradar24 departure and arrival statistics paint a grim picture of the disruptions faced at Amsterdam Schiphol during the first days of 2026.Friday, January 2: 345 cancellationsSaturday, January 3: 384 cancellationsSunday, January 4: 569 cancellationsMonday, January 5: 711 cancellations Tuesday, January 6: 563 cancellationsWednesday, January 7:…

The United States Air Force moved multiple special operations support aircraft north along the coast of the United Kingdom today, as three U-28A Draco intelligence and reconnaissance aircraft were tracked heading toward the North Sea amid rising tensions over the Russian-flagged crude oil tanker Marinera. Aircraft spotters observed U-28A aircraft using the callsigns AGREE32, AGREE34, […]

Video footage published on Facebook shows United States Air Force CV-22B Osprey aircraft from the 7th Special Operations Squadron conducting fast-rope and rescue training at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. The aircraft, stationed at RAF Mildenhall, carried out the drills using standard special-operations procedures. According to OSINTdefender, the training activity involved fast-rope insertion teams […]

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Pentagon’s research and technology arm, released a new program solicitation on January 6, 2026, for the Frosty effort to develop technology that enables new radar-based sensing modes in the Arctic environment. The notice invites industry to submit proposals by January 30, 2026, for solutions that improve detection […]

The United States Air Force has continued intensive reconnaissance flights near Venezuela’s coastline, deploying RC-135V/W intelligence aircraft over the Caribbean at activity levels comparable to those recorded in early January, according to open flight tracking data and regional monitoring reports. On the latest mission, an RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, tail number 64-14848, operated from Homestead […]

The United States Navy has awarded Collins Aerospace a $20.3 million contract modification to produce and deliver three high-power transmit set modernization kits for the E-6B “doomsday plane,” according to a Department of the Navy contract announcement. The award was issued to Rockwell Collins Inc., operating as Collins Aerospace Government Systems, under a firm-fixed-price and […]

U.S. forces used one-way attack drones during strikes on Caracas on January 3 as part of Operation “Absolute Resolve,” marking the first confirmed large-scale combat employment of kamikaze-style drones by the United States, according to sources and newly published visual evidence from Venezuela. Local residents in Caracas released videos recorded during the strikes that captured […]

Ukrainian Air Force pilots operating F-16 fighter jets were forced to revise NATO-taught air combat tactics after returning from training abroad, as the methods proved unsuitable for the realities of combat near the front line in Ukraine, according to a report published by Militarnyi citing official Air Force video footage. In comments shown in the […]

The United Kingdom expects to have taken delivery of its 75th F-35 Lightning aircraft by the end of 2033, the British government confirmed in a written parliamentary response published on January 5, 2026. In a response to a question from Lord West of Spithead, Defence Minister Lord Coaker said “the Department expects to take delivery […]

Have you been eyeballing the Flightradar24 list of most tracked flights during European morning hours for the past couple of weeks? Then you’ve probably noticed how quite a few flights have ended up holding around Kraków’s John Paul II International Airport (KRK/EPKK). The culprit? Fog. Kraków Airport is perfectly located for fog formation Kraków Airport’s location makes it particularly susceptible to fog formation. The airport lies in a natural basin where cold air settles and accumulates, especially during calm overnight periods. This geographical feature, combined with the proximity to the Vistula River and surrounding wetlands, creates the perfect recipe for…

EASA issues CZIB for the airspace of Venezuela The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin for the airspace of Venezuela.EASA, the Commission and Member States will continue to monitor the situation closely, to assess whether there is an increase or decrease of the risk for EU aircraft operators in the coming days due to the evolution of the threat and risk situation. Janet Northcote Sat, 03/01/2026 – 18:28

Third volume of this original comic book series on the theme of time travel. After jumping back in time to World War I, we now head to 1939-1945! In the first two volumes of “Les Ailes du temps” (Wings of Time), the protagonists Lucie and Dunk found themselves caught in a space-time hole that took them from 2024 to… 1917! Finding themselves on the front lines of the Great War, the two companions, with their opposing temperaments, managed as best they could to overcome all the obstacles that stood in their way, particularly within Lucie’s own family, as they began…

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we’re beginning 2026 by looking back at a pair of our favorite conversations from 2025.  Throughout the year, we focused a lot on the seemingly unending stream of news and what it meant for the aviation industry, but we also had a chance to speak with some very interesting people. We first revisit our conversation with Eliska Hill, Senior Vice President for Cargo at Air Partner. We chatted about her career path, how the cargo market has evolved post-COVID, and some of the more interesting shipments she’s had to deal with. And then we…

A beautiful book that pays tribute to the Rafale Marine and to those who enable it to shine around the globe. Former artistic director of the magazine “Air et Cosmos” and a photographer with countless hours of flight time, Cyrille Cosmao currently works for Dassault Aviation. To pay tribute to the Rafale Marine (or Rafale M), he focused on the current generation of aircraft that travel the world aboard the aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle.” Following a preface by Captain Sébastien Martinot, the book analyzes and explains the aircraft’s technology, its weaponry, and its capabilities depending on the missions entrusted…

Finnair has announced the launch of its first regular route to Australia, marking its first-ever entry into Oceania, a market currently served by only two European airlines. Flights will begin on October 26th, 2026, and will operate daily with Airbus A350-900 aircraft configured for 278 passengers, flying the Helsinki-Bangkok-Melbourne route and vice versa. In addition to offering tickets between Helsinki and Melbourne, the Finnish airline will have traffic rights on the Helsinki-Bangkok and Bangkok-Melbourne routes, the latter via fifth freedom rights. Daily AY 145  Helsinki HEL 00:10 · 16:30 BKK Bangkok AY 145  Bangkok BKK 18:15 · 07:15+1 MEL Melbourne…

Every Christmas, millions of aviation enthusiasts and excited children around the world turn their attention to Flightradar24 to track one very special flight. This year was no exception. Secretive as always, Santa shared his flightplan with us via Telex (used once yearly at the office) at the last minute, announcing his immediate departure at 08:00 UTC, on December 23rd. Santa tracked by millions on Flightradar24 After a brief warm up run over the North Pole, flight SANTA1 (using the callsign R3DN053) began his trip, flying east for a surprise stop in Riovanemi, Finland. During the next day and a half,…

Airports at the end of the year are a special place. Everyone is tired, slightly overpacked, and emotionally invested in being somewhere else. It’s no wonder filmmakers keep returning to aviation as the perfect setting for drama and heartfelt reunions.The Flightradar24 Cinephile Division brings you a smorgasbord of airport adjacent movies to binge watch as 2025 comes to an end. We also imagine how access to Flightradar24 would have impacted the plot (or even being) of these flicks.Dim the lights please! The Terminal (2004) Right out of the gate (ha!), we have The Terminal. Tom Hanks makes a brave attempt…

This story draws parallels between two destinies: that of a vole and that of Amelia Earhart, a true aviation legend. One fine day, a vole meets a mouse. Together, they discover several objects, such as a stamp that inspires them to travel around the world. Accompanied by another mouse, an aviator herself, the two companions set off to explore the globe. Soon, a small flying machine is concocted, despite the uncertainties of the vole’s family, who fear for the fate of the little creature once it leaves the ground… Very quickly, however, the vole manages to fly aboard the aircraft,…

A Falcon 50 business jet carrying Libyan military leaders crashed approximately 30 minutes after take off from Ankara on 23 December. According to Turkish authorities, the aircraft was carrying Muhammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, the Libyan army chief, along with at least four others. The Falcon 50 operated by Harmony Jets Malta departed Ankara at 17:17:24 UTC, climbing to cruising altitude at 32,475 feet at 17:32. Beginning at 17:33:25 the aircraft experienced a brief, but high negative vertical speed, lasting just a few seconds. Based on the granular data we have processed (included for download below), the aircraft began squawking 7700 at…

Gift idea! A book that allows children and their parents to have fun and enjoy building (or assembling) around twenty different aircraft. With Christmas approaching and even afterwards, this is a gift idea that should delight young and old alike! Aerobatic planes, military transport aircraft, seaplanes, bombers… In total, no fewer than twenty aircraft are featured in this fun book, with over 250 stickers of wings, engines, and cockpits to help build modern and/or vintage aircraft. For each of the models featured, children and adults alike will enjoy discovering a complete description (the weapons they can carry, their maximum speed,…

Every December, as huge chunks of the world deck the halls and trim the trees, a special breed of pilot decides that standard flight patterns are beneath (pun intended) them. Because why fly a straight line when you can create Grinch sky art across the winter sky?This holiday season, we’ve spotted not one but two ambitious attempts to paint everyone’s favorite Christmas villain (let’s keep the debate civil in the comments) across the sky. Using Flightradar24’s historical data, we can compare these aerial masterpieces and ask the important question: which Grinch is, uhm, Grinchier? The contenders Flight A took to…

On Saturday, 20 December 2025, the Garmin’s Emergency Autoland was used for the first time in a real world emergency situation. The Emergency Autoland system is designed to take control of an aircraft in the event of pilot incapacitation and safely land at a nearby airfield.That is precisely what happened on Saturday as the pilot of Beech B200 Super King Air N479BR became incapacitated about 20 minutes after departing Aspen for Denver. The operator of the aircraft, Buffalo River Aviation, tells local media that everyone on board is safe, but did not release any information on the condition of the…

Stockholm, Sweden – December 22, 2025 – Flightradar24, the world’s leading flight tracking service, today announced it has entered into an agreement to supply flight data services to Boeing. Under the agreement, Boeing will gain access to Flightradar24’s comprehensive live and historic flight data, based on the latter’s global network of more than 55,000 ADS-B receivers.“We are proud to collaborate with Boeing, one of the world’s most respected aerospace companies,” said Lasse Schmidt Westrén, Vice President of Sales & Business Development at Flightradar24.“This data service is one element of Boeing’s continued innovation and build-out of a robust digital services platform…

With the holiday period being just around the corner, why not write a festive piece to show exactly how much air traffic expands during the days leading up to Christmas? Armed with a rich dataset provided by the digit gurus down in the Flightradar24 data vault, I set out for what I expected to be this year’s easiest assignment—to statistically prove how we’d seen a boost in flights ahead of Christmas last year. Surely this would be a walk in the park? No. As it turns out I was entirely wrong in my assumption.In fact, the month of November last…

When you think planespotting paradise, St Maarten (SXM) immediately comes to mind. Our new 24/7 automated camera puts you as close to the action as you can get without actually standing on the beach. This camera is fully automated, using Flightradar24 ADS-B data to precisely track aircraft with a PTZ camera from CamStreamer hosted by Showme Caribbean Live Cams. Just like our live stream in Las Vegas, live ATC audio is included in the stream. How it works The camera in St Maarten is located just north of the runway on the east side of the airport. Fully automatic aircraft…

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a pair of incidents involving civilian aircraft and military aircraft without active transponders operating in Curaçao’s airspace sounds a bit too familiar. We discuss the events from the last week and the state of airspace in the southern Caribbean. NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy had choice words for Congress after legislation weakening airspace protections put in place in the wake of January’s crash in Washington DC passed as part of the NDAA. But the Senate has now passed the ROTOR Act, which seeks to further strengthen those protections. We discuss what this might mean for…

EASA publishes new revision of Easy Access Rules for Air Operations The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published Revision 23 from December 2025 of the Easy Access Rules for Air Operations (EAR for Air OPS), incorporating the following regulatory material: Charalampos Ka… Thu, 11/12/2025 – 18:12

Stockholm, Sweden — [18 December 2025] — Flightradar24, the world’s leading flight tracking service, today announced two significant additions to its Board of Directors: SAS CEO Anko van der Werff as Chairman of the Board and Alex Dichter, former leader of McKinsey’s global aviation practice, as Non-Executive Director. Together, these appointments reinforce Flightradar24’s commitment to strategic leadership and continued global growth within the aviation industry.“We’re excited to welcome Anko van der Werff as our new Chairman of the Board and Alex Dichter as Director,” said Fredrik Lindahl, Flightradar24 CEO. “Both Anko and Alex bring extensive experience and clear strategic vision…

Dassault Aviation was a partner in the eighth national edition of DuoDay, held on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The initiative was part of the 29th edition of European Disability Employment Week, which took place from November 17 to 23 (SEEPH). With 33 professional pairs—people with disabilities—the 2025 DuoDay event provided an opportunity to discover many talents and advise them on their career plans. In total: Seven major job categories and their working environments were presented: Production, Purchasing, Human Resources, Quality & Environment, Information Systems, Customer Service, and Design & Testing. Eight of our establishments were involved: Biarritz, Mérignac, and Poitiers…

Antarctica stands as Earth’s most remote and inhospitable continent. Nature clearly tells you not to go. And yet, you feel the call of the wild. But how do you get there? Where do you land? You naturally have questions—let’s dig in. Why fly to Antarctica? The primary driver of Antarctic aviation is scientific research. International agreements, particularly the Antarctic Treaty System signed in 1959, established Antarctica as a continent dedicated to peaceful scientific investigation. National Antarctic programs from countries including the United States, Russia, China, Australia, and numerous European nations operate year-round and seasonal research stations across the continent. The…

European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS) 2026 EASA has published the 15th edition of the European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS) that outlines the strategic priorities shared by EASA and Member States, the primary safety risks affecting the European aviation safety system and the necessary actions to mitigate them. Jennifer Grochowski Wed, 17/12/2025 – 18:03

OUTSCALE Achieves SOC 2 Type 2 Attestation, Strengthening Transparency and Confidence in Its Security Controls

On November 28th at 06:36 local time, Luxair’s state-of-the-art Embraer E195-E2, registration LX-LEA, took off from Professor Urbano Ernesto Stumpf International Airport in São José dos Campos, bound for Luxembourg, marking a historic milestone for the country’s flag carrier. London Gatwick – September 1968 The beginnings Luxair, originally named Société Luxembourgeoise de Navigation Aérienne S.A., is a European airline based at Luxembourg Findel Airport, with a current fleet of Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737 MAX 8, Dash 8, and now also Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The airline is the successor to Luxembourg Airlines Company, which began operations in the 1940s.…

Inspired by American comics from the interwar period, Romain Hugault, together with historian Éloi Rousseau, has produced a work of the highest caliber. United States, early 1930s. Young pilot Lloyd Fairbanks, a brilliant mechanic, flies over the Grand Canyon giving people their first taste of flight at the controls of a dilapidated biplane for a pittance. One day, a certain Lowell Finley arrives in a brand-new Gee-Bee to refuel. He realizes Lloyd’s potential and offers him a job in Los Angeles, working for the aeronautics division of a Californian oil company owned by the wealthy Leixter family. Weeks go by,…

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Ian and Jason return from their respective travels to survey this week’s news. We return to India where IndiGo’s meltdown last week left the government none-too-pleased with the airline. In the US, Peraton gets the nod as the FAA’s prime integrator for ATC modernization. Boeing completes its acquisition of Spirit Aerosystems (with Airbus picking up some pieces too). A quickly fixed typo in a Qantas computer started a chain of events that resulted in a 737 taking off thinking it was much lighter than it actually was. And Air India is on the hook…

When China Eastern Airlines flight MU9191 took off from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on May 28, 2023, it marked more than just another domestic flight to Beijing. The aircraft, a COMAC C919 registered as B-919A, represented the culmination of China’s then 15-year journey to challenge the Airbus-Boeing duopoly. It has been far from a smooth ride. The rise of COMAC The story of the C919 begins in May 2008, when the Chinese government established the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in Shanghai. Right off the bat, the newly formed aerospace venture had its sights set on developing a domestic…

The second volume of this trilogy dedicated to Marcel Bloch continues the adventures of the aircraft manufacturer from the mid-1930s to the very beginning of World War II. After an initial volume that traced Marcel Bloch’s career in the early 1930s and the creation of a first company bearing his name, author Philippe Ricco focuses on the improvements made to the MB 200 bomber, mentioned in the first volume. He presents the MB 210, then its successor, the MB 211, as well as the three-engine MB 300, the four-engine MB 160, and more. We should also mention the MB 220,…

A historic and unprecedented route, at least for Argentina, began on December 4th, 2025, connecting three different continents. Buenos Aires Ezeiza – November 2017 On December 4th at 02:19 local time, one of China Eastern Airlines Boeing 777-300 aircraft departed Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Auckland, operating scheduled flight MU745. The airline has been offering the Shanghai-Auckland route since December 2014, with the Chinese city being one of its current four destinations performed to/from AKL, including Hangzhou, Sydney, Shanghai, and now Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is the latest addition, resulting from an agreement with Auckland Airport, which encouraged the re-establishment…

OUTSCALE enhances OUTSCALE Kubernetes as a Service to support and accelerate sovereign AI initiatives

Ana Vieira da Mata elected as new Chair of EASA Management Board Ana Vieira da Mata has been elected as the new Chair of EASA’s Management Board (MB). The MB brings together representatives of the Member States and the European Commission and is responsible for the definition of the Agency’s priorities, the establishment of the budget and for monitoring the Agency’s operations. The Chair of the body is elected by its members from within the membership. The election took place during a regular MB meeting on December 9-10, 2025. Darya Kalsi Wed, 10/12/2025 – 11:07

3rd EASA FTL / Fatigue Risk Management Conference The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency are pleased to invite you to the 3rd EASA Flight Time Limitations (FTL) / Fatigue Risk Management (FRM) Conference, taking place on 4 – 5 March 2026 in Split, Croatia. Jennifer Grochowski Tue, 09/12/2025 – 16:31