Senator Maria Cantwell accused FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford of violating his ethics agreement by failing to divest a multimillion-dollar stake in an airline he once led, drawing criticism and raising fresh questions about potential conflicts at the helm of the US aviation safety regulator. Bedford had promised to sell all his shares within 90 days of taking office but has failed to do so more than 150 days later.
The Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) is a powerful tool connecting to sensors and unmanned systems in the field. According to Breaking Defense, TAK provides enterprise-level capabilities for command and control architectures and data platforms.
Senior Space Force acquisition officials are worried about the impact of losing SBIR grants on their programs. Maj.
Spirit Airlines pilots have overwhelmingly approved a restructuring agreement that delivers temporary pay concessions and bankruptcy protections. The Air Line Pilots Association said the deal preserves pilots' core work rules while giving Spirit short-term cost relief tied to its restructuring plan.
Switzerland has decided to cut an order of 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets due to a price increase of roughly $610 million enforced by the US government, following a contract dispute between the two sides. The Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport stated that 'due to foreseeable additional costs, it is not financially viable to maintain the originally planned number' of aircraft.
France and Spain reaffirmed their commitment to the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, citing renewed cooperation and shared goals for European strategic autonomy. However, Germany declined to comment on the meeting, fueling concerns over the program's progress and potential industry disputes.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report highlighting a significant increase in serious accidents involving the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft between fiscal years 2023 and 2024. According to GAO, accident rates were between 36% and 88% higher than previous years, with complex components being cited as a contributing factor.
The US Air Force is reviving the Looking Glass mission, which was previously assigned to the Navy's E-6B Mercury. According to an industry notice, the new program aims to recapitalize missions currently executed on the E-6B.
Turkish Airlines has extended its world record as the airline that flies to the most countries, adding a new service to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The thrice-weekly flights from Istanbul mark the seventh country served by Turkish Airlines in Southeast Asia.
Breaking Defense spoke with Tim Grayson, vice president and general manager, and Leonard Lublin, deputy vice president and general manager for BAE Systems' FAST Labs, to learn more about their approach to R&D. The company is addressing the need for new technologies to counter adversaries by accelerating innovation through collaboration between scientists and businesses.
The Army is undergoing a holistic reevaluation of its approach to autonomy, particularly for ground vehicles, as part of a broader effort to streamline programs and reduce costs. According to Alex Miller, the Army Chief Technology Officer, some programs may be cut due to lack of alignment with the Army's new direction.
IndiGo has hired Captain John Illson, a former senior advisor to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to conduct an independent review of its recent operational meltdown. The airline aims to understand the reasons behind flight cancellations and staff shortages, which have been attributed to new regulations and critical staffing issues.
Vertical Aerospace has unveiled its new eVTOL aircraft Valo at an exclusive event in London's Canary Wharf. The company's design was influenced by insights from its piloted test program and direct feedback from airline customers, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL, and Bristow.
A Beijing court has ordered Malaysia Airlines to pay compensation of over $410,000 to each family that filed a case regarding the disappearance of Flight MH370. Eight families have received compensation orders, totaling around $3.
AeroTime spoke with Saudia's Chief Commercial Officer Arved von zur Muehlen about the airline's transformation and Vision 2030 ambitions. With a young population driving demand for travel, Saudia is modernizing its operations and expanding its network to meet growing passenger numbers.
A skydiver in Queensland, Australia, survived a terrifying midair emergency after his reserve parachute deployed prematurely and left him dangling from the tail of a Cessna 208 at 15,000 feet. According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the incident occurred on September 20 and was captured in dramatic onboard video.
The US Air Force is preparing to award multiple contracts for developing and fielding satellites that can track aircraft and drones, according to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. The program aims to deliver capability quickly and will involve multiple contractors.
According to Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch, senior enlisted advisor to the deputy chief of space operations for intelligence, China and Russia are experimenting with stealth technologies aimed at making it harder for radar and telescopes to find their satellites. The Chinese military has been experimenting with shaping microsatellites since 2012, while Russia recently orbited an experimental satellite called Mozhayets in medium Earth orbit with very low visibility.
American Airlines is exploring the use of Amazon's low-Earth-orbit satellite network for in-flight Wi-Fi. The airline has long relied on traditional satellite providers but may be looking to upgrade its connectivity strategy amid growing competition from new entrants like Starlink.
Firefly Aerospace has appointed Ramon Sanchez as Chief Operating Officer, effective December 22. Sanchez joins from Boeing with over two decades of experience in production operations for commercial, civil, and national security programs.