January, 2025

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Boom Supersonic one step from first Mach 1 flight after XB-1 completes 11th test

Aerotime

The team at Boom Supersonic are determining whether a 12 th test flight of its XB-1 demonstrator is needed before undertaking its first attempt at breaking the speed barrier. On January 10, 2025, XB-1 reached speeds of Mach 0.95 during a 44-minute flight over the Mojave Desert with Chief Test Pilot Tristan Geppetto Brandenburg at the controls. The 11 th XB-1 test flight also saw the aircraft climb to 29,481 feet as it closes in on supersonic speeds.

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Air Wisconsin Goes It Alone as American Ends Eagle Partnership

Cranky Flier

There are a handful of regional airlines that I’m always surprised to find still in business. There’s Mesa, of course, and yes, GoJet, but one of the biggest surprises of all is Air Wisconsin. And now, it just lost its only regional relationship with no replacement on the horizon. Survival is… going to be a challenge. Air Wisconsin started up flying commuter routes in the 1960s.

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Trending Sources

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Philippine Mars Flies Back to Sproat Lake

Vintage Aviation News

The Philippine Mars has made its way back to its home base for an engine replacement. The historic aircraft departed Sproat Lake three weeks ago on a journey to its new home at the Pima Air and Space Museum (PASM) in Tucson, Arizona. The planned route included stops in San Francisco and San Diego and an inland leg to an undisclosed desert lake. However, the journey hit a snag when the aircraft made an emergency landing in Patricia Bay on December 15.

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Black Box Data Missing From Final 4 Minutes Before Jeju Air Crash

Simple Flying

South Korean authorities said on Saturday that the black boxes from the tragic December crash of the Jeju Air aircraft had ceased collecting data around four minutes before the incident, marking a startling development in the inquiry into the country's deadliest aviation catastrophe, according to Reuters. The missing data is now complicating the investigation into the crash, which claimed the lives of 179 people and marked the worst aviation tragedy in South Korea's history.

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JetBlue Fined For Chronic Flight Delays, A First-Ever DOT Penalty

One Mile at a Time

While JetBlue is known for its pleasant passenger experience, the airline hasnt historically been known for its operational reliability. The situation got so bad that the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has just issued its first-ever fine for chronic flight delays against the airline. DOT fines JetBlue $2 million for unrealistic scheduling The DOT has today announced a $2 million penalty against JetBlue for operating multiple chronically delayed flights. $1 million of that goes

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China Certifies First Commercial Electric Plane

AV Web

China has certified a four-place electric aircraft under Part 23 regulations making it the first to qualify for commercial operations beyond flight training. The Liaoning General Aviation Academy (LGAA)’s RX4E, which first flew in 2019, will be marketed globally with a focus on short-haul flights in areas without good roads. The manufacturer says the plane, which is about the size of Cessna 182 but with a much longer 45-foot wing span will have a 90 minute endurance with a range of about 1

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Smart Skies: How IoT is transforming aircraft maintenance and operations

Aerotime

AeroTime is excited to welcome Christian Charalambous as a guest columnist. A pilot operating Boeing 767s on global routes and a consultant leveraging his extensive aviation and technology expertise, Christian also holds a First-Class Honours degree in Air Transport Operations plus a masters degree in Blockchain. In his columns, he explores the modern challenges and innovative technologies that are shaping the future of flight.

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World Only Factory Built Two Seat Messerschmitt BF-109 For Sale By Platinum Fighter Sales

Vintage Aviation News

Platinum Fighter Sales has announced the listing of an extraordinary aircraft: the worlds only factory-built, two-seat Messerschmitt Bf-109 / Hispano HA-1112-M4L Buchon. This ultra-rare airplane represents a unique chapter in aviation history. Photo by Gavin Conroy via Platinum Fighter Sales The Origins of the Buchon By 1942, the Spanish Air Forces fleet of Messerschmitt Bf-109Ds was aging, prompting Spain to license the production of the newer Bf-109G model.

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The US Air Force Sent 39 A-10 Warthogs To The Boneyard At Davis-Monthan AFB In 2024

Simple Flying

As Simple Flying has previously reported, the Air Force is progressively retiring its fleet of A-10s. As they retire, they are sent to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. Publicly available data from the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (the group responsible for maintaining the aircraft in storage at the boneyard) shows that the United States Air Force sent at least a total of 39 A-10s to be mothballs at the famous Boneyard.

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American Airlines Expands Espresso In First & Business Class

One Mile at a Time

Its not often we see American leading the way when it comes to inflight service, so heres a small but noteworthy victory, as reported by @xJonNYC. American expands premium cabin espresso offering American Airlines is expanding the planes and cabins on which it serves espresso-based drinks. Thanks to a recent change, American now offers espresso in first and business class on Boeing 777s (777-200ERs and 777-300ERs), Boeing 787s (787-8s and 787-9s), and Airbus A321Ts.

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Report: Gulfstream Hits ‘Metallic’ Object at 27,000 Feet

AV Web

Multiple news reports are circulating about an incident involving a Gulfstream G550 that apparently struck an unidentified metallic object at 27,000 feet off the Florida coast on December 11, 2024. The business jet, registered to what appears to be a financial trust at a Utah bank, departed from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE) en-route to Westchester County Airport (KHPN) near New York City.

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Avolon: airline industry to reach US$1 trillion revenue milestone in 2025 

Aerotime

Dublin-based aircraft leasing company Avolon has published a new market outlook report , predicting that the global airline industry will reach US$1 trillion in revenue for the first time ever during 2025. According to this analysis, the main driver behind this growth is the Asia-Pacific region, which will be adding more capacity than all other regions of the world combined.

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How to Fly an ILS Approach

Pilot Institute

Even driving a car can be dangerous in foggy weather. So, how do pilots manage to land their aircraft safely and accurately without even being able to see where theyre going? The ILS (Instrument Landing System) uses radio signals to help pilots align the aircraft accurately on their approach to a runway. Lets learn more about this system! Key Takeaways ILS provides precise guidance for safe landings in low visibility.

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The Last Pathfinder Flies West

Vintage Aviation News

We share with a heavy heart the passing of Lt. Col. David Hamilton, the last Pathfinder, who was laid to rest on Sunday evening, January 5. A national treasure has flown west. Out of respect for all the veterans who have passed and those who will continue to pass, we don’t often write about the passing of specific individuals, with only a few exceptions.

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End Of An Era: Qantas Sends Final Boeing 717 For Retirement

Simple Flying

It appears that Qantas has definitively retired the last of its Boeing 717s months after it quietly resurrected the aircraft from a highly publicized retirement in October 2024. The 717s have played a vital role in Australian aviation for over twenty years, but sadly the day has come when this reliable little T-tail will no longer grace Australias skies.

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Korean Air A380 & 747-8 Retirement Plans: They’re Sticking Around!

One Mile at a Time

Many of us aviation enthusiasts are big fans of the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 , given that these planes are no longer in production, and wont be in passenger service for that much longer. Korean Air is one of two airlines in the world to operate both of these jets (the other is Lufthansa). Up until recently, the carriers plan was to retire Airbus A380s by 2026, and retire Boeing 747s by 2031.

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Spirit Retires Airbus A319 Fleet

Airline Geeks

In its latest cost-cutting move, ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit has phased out its remaining two Airbus A319 aircraft earlier than planned.

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Civilian drone grounds LA firefighting plane after collision over Palisades fire

Aerotime

A Los Angeles aircraft has been grounded and pulled from firefighting service in the United States (US) after being hit by a civilian drone. According to the LA County Fire Department, the Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper was struck on January 10, 2025, at 13:30, local time, while operating in the Palisades fire area. The grounding of the lifesaving aircraft will come as a massive blow to the LA region, as firefighters try to defend homes and businesses from the devastating fires that have so far r

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Report Finds FAA Ignores Majority Of Whistleblower Complaints

AV Web

A new Seattle Times report took a deep dive into whistleblower complaints concerning the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeingfinding that the agency dismisses the majority of complaints it receives. Looking at data from 2020-2023, the report found that more than 90 percent of safety complaints ended with no violation found by the FAA. The Times article highlighted that the FAA dismisses whistleblower complaints on preliminary review when they lack sufficient information to investigat

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The Ercoupe

Plane and Pilot

Many years ago, while working my way through college pumping avgas at the local airport, I discovered that one of our university deans owned a diminutive two-seat, twin-tailed airplanean Ercoupe. He was proud of his little bird, with its unique split sliding canopy, no rudder pedals, and a delightful art deco instrument panel. Long before he purchased his very own Boeing 707, actor John Travolta discovered this economical fun flier and began his remarkable aviation career as a proud owner.

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A Look At The Aerial Firefighting Aircraft Used To Fight The LA Fires

Simple Flying

Over recent weeks, multiple wildfires have ravaged several different neighborhoods across the Los Angeles , California, area. Due to powerful winds and severe drought conditions, wildfires have spread rapidly across the Los Angeles area, affecting thousands of residents. According to ABC News, so far, approximately 24 people have died due to the fires.

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Senior Air France Pilot Quits Due To Environmental Guilt

One Mile at a Time

There are many reasons that pilots may choose to quit and pursue a different career path. Heres a reason Ive never heard of, though, as flagged by AirlineGeeks. Veteran Air France captain quits over eco-anxiety A former Air France captain named Anthony Viaux has taken to LinkedIn , to share his major career change. In a lengthy post thats written in French, he explains how a few days ago he did the craziest thing of his life, by resigning from his position as a captain at Air France.

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Ex-American MD-80 Takes Flight Again

Airline Geeks

A former American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is potentially getting a new lease on life after sitting in the New Mexico desert for around five years.

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Austrian Airlines fits B777-200ER with AeroSHARK technology 

Aerotime

Austrian Airlines has become the latest carrier from the Lufthansa Group to adopt the aerodynamics-enhancing AeroSHARK technology. The Austrian flag carrier announced on January 14, 2024, that one of its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft (OE-LPC) had flown between Bangkok (BKK) and Vienna (VIE) featuring the specially treated fuel-saving fuselage surfaces. AeroSHARK was developed jointly by Lufthansa Technik, which is the engineering and maintenance arm of airline group, and German chemicals giant BASF.

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Naples Airport Authority Launches App For Noise Complaints

AV Web

The Naples Airport Authority (NAA) introduced a new app to make it easier for disgruntled neighbors to file noise complaints. NAA partnered with EnviroSuite in developing the app, which allows users to report aircraft noise events directly from their smartphones. The Naples Airport is no stranger to noise complaints as it saw more than 123,000 aircraft operations in fiscal year 2024 a significant increase from the 119,000 in 2023, intensifying long-standing noise issues.

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What Is Manifold Pressure?

Pilot Institute

When a pilot transitions from an aircraft with a fixed-pitch propeller to one with a constant-speed propeller, they need to get their head around the manifold pressure gauge, what it does, and how to use it. Any online search will give you a lot of information on manifold pressure, much of it difficult to understand, and some is simply wrong. In this article, well step through manifold pressure starting from the basics and moving through to some interesting advanced knowledge that may save your

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Ethiopian Airlines Adds 19th Asian Destination With New Indian Route

Simple Flying

Ethiopian Airlines is Africa's largest carrier by many metrics, although there's little competition for that title. As of January 16 and subject to change, the Star Alliance member plans passenger flights to 138 airports from its Addis Ababa hub this year.

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How To Earn Lifetime World of Hyatt Globalist Status: Super Valuable

One Mile at a Time

Many airline and hotel frequent flyer programs offer lifetime status, whereby you can earn status for a lifetime (whether thats your lifetime or the lifetime of the program is a different question). World of Hyatt Globalist is my favorite hotel status, and in this post I want to take a closer look at how you can earn lifetime Globalist status in the World of Hyatt program.

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American Halts CRJ-200 Operations

Airline Geeks

American is slated to become the latest U.S. airline to remove the CRJ-200 from its network. The carrier is planning a regional shake-up later this year.

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Riyadh Air prepares for the arrival of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner 

Aerotime

Saudi startup airline Riyadh Air has announced that it is preparing for the arrival of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The leased aircraft, painted in the airlines pearl livery, will be showcased at Riyadhs King Khalid International Airport (RUH), the carrier announced on January 9, 2025. The new aircraft will be used as a technical spare and for training purposes in the upcoming months, the statement read.

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Three Arrested For Two Fire-Related Drone Incidents

AV Web

Police have arrested three people involved in two drone incidents related to aerial firefighting in Los Angeles. L.A. County Sheriff’s department did not release details of the circumstances of their arrest or whether either of the incidents involved the collision of a drone with a CL-415 waterbomber late last week. The specific charges have also not been released.

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What is a Stall? – When Wings Stop Working

Pilot Institute

Do you know what causes aerodynamic stalls and how to prevent them? Let’s break it down: An aerodynamic stall occurs when the wing exceeds its critical angle of attack. This can happen to any airplane type. The recovery procedure often involves coordinated actions, including adding power and leveling wings. Understanding the mechanics of wings is key to overcoming stalls successfully.

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STARLUX Boosts Airbus A350F Order Ahead Of Cargo Market Entry

Simple Flying

STARLUX Airlines , the Taiwan-based carrier, has ordered another five Airbus A350F cargo aircraft, complementing its previous order announced in February 2024.

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Flying Blue Devalues Award Pricing On Air France-KLM & Partners

One Mile at a Time

Air France-KLM Flying Blue is one of the most useful frequent flyer programs for redeeming miles. Not only does the program have great award pricing for travel on Air France-KLM, but it also has lucrative award pricing for travel on partner airlines. Well, it appears that the Flying Blue program has just rolled out a significant devaluation when it comes to redeeming miles, particularly for travel on Air France-KLM, as flagged by Travel on Points.

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Spitfire Flights to Launch From Swansea Airport in 2025

Vintage Aviation News

Peter Monk, Managing Director of FlyaSpitfire.com and The Spitfire Company (Biggin Hill) Ltd, has announced an exciting new partnership with the Swansea Airport Stakeholders Alliance (SASA) to bring Spitfire passenger flights to Swansea Airport starting in 2025. Photo by Richard Paver According to Monk, Swansea Airport, as the gateway to Gower and Swansea City, offers access to the breathtaking countryside and coastline of South Wales, making it an ideal location for both local residents and vis

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FAA begins probe after United and Delta jets draw near on runway approach

Aerotime

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun an investigation into a midair incident involving a United Airlines Boeing 737-900ER and a Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-300. According to the US aviation regulator, both aircraft were scheduled to arrive at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) on January 11, 2025, within 23 minutes of each other.

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Mokulele Airlines Grounds Fleet Over Maintenance Issue

AV Web

Mokulele Airlines, a key inter-island carrier in Hawaii, grounded its fleet Wednesday amid maintenance concerns. The airline issued a statement writing, “Safety is our top priority, we are temporarily not operating some flights in our fleet for precautionary maintenance inspections. We continue to operate certain flights, and on impacted flights we’re rebooking or otherwise accommodating passengers.