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Europe’ largest aviation training and recruitment event, Pilot Expo 2024, interview with Ingmars Kibermanis

Today 50skyshades has the pleasure to welcome the guilty one who once created Pilot Expo – Ingmars Kibermanis.  We have a lot of questions, just because for us it will be first time visiting this show next February.  T.O. We have to be prepared, can you tell us – how yo...

Lufthansa Group and Lilium to explore strategic partnership on eVTOL aircraft

Lufthansa Group & Lilium signed a MoU to explore strategic partnership on eVTOL aircraft operation in Europe. Companies want to explore innovation opportunities in aviation, discussing areas such as ground and flight operations, future aircraft maintenance, as well as crewing and...


Accelerated growth - ATP Flight School purchases 40 additional Cessna Skyhawk aircraft

ATP Flight School purchased 40 additional Cessna Skyhawk aircraft to be delivered beginning in 2026. This addition to ATP's existing fleet of nearly 225 Skyhawks, deployed across more than 85 training centers nationwide, will provide students with access to a modern and advanced fleet in support of their pilot career aspirations. This agreement marks the fourth fleet purcha...

Definitive shift from design to industrialization - Lilium starts Lilium Jet production with delivery of first fuselage

Lilium starts production of Lilium Jet, following the arrival of the first fuselage at Lilium’s final assembly line. In parallel, Lilium’ world-class tier-one suppliers – most of which have decades of experience in meeting the certification requirements of commercial aviation – are ramping up production of parts and systems for the Lilium Jet.  Production of...

Pratt & Whitney Canada and Leonardo achieve first 100% SAF flight with PT6C-67C-powered AW139 helicopter

Pratt & Whitney Canada and Leonardo successfully completed first flight for an AW139 helicopter powered by the PT6C-67C engine using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The 75-minute flight and ground tests that took place on November 21 at Leonardo facility in Cascina Costa di Samarate, Italy, evaluated engine performance at multiple power variations and demonstrated no significant diff...

Jetcraft goes beyond the globe with new virtual reality hangar

Welcome to Jetcraft virtual hangar, giving visitors 24/7 year-round access to a range of aircraft in a 360-degree immersive experience. The hangar launch brings together Jetcraft full Beyond the Globe experience, following on from the opening of its Decentraland-based lounge, where it became the first business aviation specialist to establish a permanent presence in the Metaverse....

Signature Aviation opens distinct travel experience facility in Des Moines International Airport

Signature Aviation opened a newly built private aviation facility at Des Moines International Airport in Iowa. The opening is the latest realization of Signature Aviation’s commitment to providing exceptional guest experiences and reinforces its service at the largest airport in Iowa. The greenfield project features a 5,000 square foot guest terminal highlighted by striki...

Air New Zealand buys first ALIA all-electric aircraft from Beta Technologies

Air New Zealand announced ALIA as airline's first purchase of a next generation aircraft in Mission Next Gen Aircraft programme. Designed by BETA Technologies, the battery-powered all-electric aircraft is expected to join Air New Zealand' fleet in 2026. Air New Zealand is purchasing the conventional take-off and landing version of the ALIA....

The EcoPulse aircraft demonstrator makes first hybrid-electric flight

EcoPulse, the hybrid-electric distributed propulsion aircraft demonstrator jointly developed by Daher, Safran and Airbus to support aviation decarbonization roadmap, has successfully performed its first flight test in hybrid-electric mode. The demonstrator flew with its ePropellers activated, powered by a battery and a turbogenerator. EcoPulse took off from Tarbes Airport on Novembe...

First-of-its-kind flight trials integrate uncrewed aircraft into controlled airspace

A partnership of aviation leaders has successfully completed a first-of-its-kind trial, including a series of test flights aimed at evaluating the operational integration of uncrewed aircraft flying beyond visual line of sight into controlled airspace. Successful completion of these trial test flights in New Zealand demonstrates that safe, uncrewed flight operations are possible, today, in co...

NAC collaborates with ATR & TotalEnergies to offer the equivalent of 6% SAF on NAC’s ATR delivery flights

The initiative provides for a blend of 30% Sustainable Aviation Fuel to be used for one out of five deliveries of new ATR aircraft to NAC, resulting in four tonnes of CO2 saved for every batch of five aircraft. This is equivalent to a 6% SAF blend on the first leg of each ferry flight from 2023 onwards. AirSwift is the first airline to benefit from the programme, with a ne...

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines to combine, expanding benefits & choice for travelers throughout Hawai'i and West Coast

Alaska Airlines will acquire Hawaiian Airlines for a transaction value of approximately $1.9 billion. The combined company will unlock more destinations for consumers and expand choice of critical air service options and access throughout the Pacific region, Continental United States and globally. The transaction is expected to enable a stronger platform for growth and competition in the...

Eve Air Mobility & Flexjet to advance Urban Air Mobility through innovative software simulation

The collaborative partnership with Flexjet brings Eve Air Mobility to a milestone in the progression of Urban Air Mobility. Together, companies have conducted an initial software simulation of Eve Urban Air Traffic Management solution. The initiative validated and refined the software through user testing and feedback on its interface and industry value. With London being one o...

ForeFlight & Honda Aircraft Company announce rollout of runway analysis product for HondaJet

All HondaJet HA-420 models are now supported by ForeFlight Runway Analysis product, which helps HondaJet pilots efficiently plan for takeoff and landing using ForeFlight’s integrated obstacle analysis capability. ForeFlight already supports enroute performance planning and weight and balance calculations for the HondaJet, making it an all-in-one solution for HondaJet flight planning wit...

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Top of the week

Electra demonstrates revolutionary airport operations with Ultra-Short Takeoff aircraft using helicopter-style procedures

Electra announced the successful completion of first-of-its-kind flight operations from a heliport located on the commercial airport ramp at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. The demonstration high...

Gogo and Insitu collaborate on Group 3 UAS connectivity

Gogo Special Missions and Insitu have achieved a significant milestone in unmanned aviation with the successful testing and integration of a customized high-speed satellite communications solution for...

Riga Airport initiates the next stage of RIX Airport City development

Riga Airport is taking the next step in the development of RIX Airport City by launching, on 22 September, the qualification stage of an international competitive dialogue to select a development part...

Haffner Energy brings the cost of renewable diesel and SAF closer to that of fossil fuels with SB-HEFA

Haffner Energy is redefining the economics of renewable fuels with the launch of SB-HEFA (Solid Biomass to HEFA), an innovative technology that converts solid biomass directly into liquid feedstock th...

TARMAC Aerosave receives Indian DGCA approval covering the full Airbus A320 family and all engine types

TARMAC Aerosave, Europe’s leading provider of aircraft storage, maintenance and recycling services, announced today at MRO Asia-Pacific 2026 that it has received approval (IND.FAMO.0000000129) f...

Air France earns global recognition with World’s Best First Class Award from Skytrax

Air France was among the leading winners at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, held in London on September 18, 2026, earning multiple distinctions that highlight the excellence of its products and cust...

Star Alliance Paris CDG Lounge remains the World's Best Airline Alliance Lounge

The Star Alliance Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has been named the World’s Best Airline Alliance Lounge at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, securing the prestigious title for a...

Airbus Corporate Jets survey points to a new wave of demand for large business aircraft in Asia

Confidence in Asia's business aviation market is on the rise, according to new research commissioned by Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ). Industry experts expect demand for business aircraft to grow st...

Japan Airlines strengthens E-Jet operations with renewed Embraer Pool Program agreement

Embraer and Japan Airlines have strengthened their long-standing collaboration through a new multi-year agreement under Embraer’s Pool Program, ensuring continued maintenance, repair, and spare-...

RECARO Aircraft Seating marks SAS’ 80th anniversary with exclusive RECARO Gaming NXT chairs

RECARO Aircraft Seating is celebrating the 80th anniversary of Scandinavian Airlines with a unique collection of 80 customized RECARO Gaming Nxt chairs created exclusively for the carrier. Repres...

ExecuJet MRO Services Australasia successfully completes 20-Year heavy maintenance inspection on Indonesian Legacy 600

ExecuJet MRO Services Australia successfully completed a major 20-year scheduled airframe inspection on an Indonesian-registered Embraer Legacy 600 at its Sydney facility, further demonstrating t...

flydubai expands pilot training capacity through partnerships with Egnatia Aviation and Skyborne

flydubai has strengthened its pilot development strategy through new partnerships with Egnatia Aviation and Skyborne Airline Academy, aimed at expanding the airline's training capacity and support...

KlasJet receives key FAA approval to launch ACMI and charter services in the US market

KlasJet has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining Part 129 Operations Specifications (OpSpecs) approval from the FAA, paving the way for the company's expansion into the U.S. market. As pa...

Flexjet receives first-ever Embraer Praetor 600E as fleet launch customer

Embraer delivered the first Praetor 600E to Flexjet, marking the operator as the launch fleet customer for Embraer’s latest-generation super-midsize business jet. The inaugural aircraft joins Fl...

Strategic partnership boosts India’s pilot training with ALSIM’s AL250

ALSIM has announced that MH Cockpit, based in India, has acquired an AL250 simulator—marking a significant step in MH Cockpit’s expansion plans and reinforcing its ambition to build a robu...

Air Charter Expo Regional Europe set for first appearance at AERO Friedrichshafen 2027

AERO 2027 (April 14–17) saw the formal announcement of Air Charter Expo Regional – Europe by show organisers The Air Charter Association and Business Air News, made during ACE26 at Lo...

Embraer adds BermudAir as its second E‑Freighter operator

Embraer and Regional One announced that BermudAir has become the world’s second operator of the Embraer E‑Freighter, marking the aircraft’s debut in the Americas with the airline&rsqu...

easyJet switches to reusable crew meal trays throughout its UK and EU network

easyJet has introduced reusable crew meal trays, developed in partnership with Ecoffee Cup, across its UK and European fleet—cutting onboard waste and strengthening the airline’s wider sus...

AURA AERO takes X‑Volt back to the skies, advancing hybrid‑electric innovation for ERA’s development

Just two months after acquiring VoltAero’s assets, AURA AERO has returned the Cassio S hybrid‑electric demonstrator to the skies at Rochefort Airport—now flying under its new name, X‑VOLT....

Korean Air places landmark order for 103 Boeing aircraft

Boeing and Korean Air announced that the carrier has finalized a purchase agreement for 103 aircraft spanning Boeing’s widebody and single‑aisle families. The deal includes 20 777‑9, 25 787...

Airbus is expanding its delivery capacity for the A320 family in Toulouse with a new integrated center

Airbus has officially unveiled a new delivery center at its Jean‑Luc Lagardère site, northwest of Toulouse, marking a significant milestone in the industrial ramp‑up of the A320 Family. Purpose...

Neste and United Airlines expand their sustainable aviation fuel supply agreements across the U.S. and the Netherlands

Neste and United Airlines have extended their agreement for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel, blended with conventional jet fuel, for flights departing from Chicago O’Hare International A...