Today's Aerospace Pulse
Blue Origin’s New Glenn suffers catastrophic engine failure during static fire
A BE‑4 methane/LOX engine on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket failed four seconds after ignition, causing a catastrophic explosion that destroyed the first‑stage booster and damaged Launch Complex 36A. No personnel were injured. An FAA‑led investigation, supported by the U.S. Space Force, is under way.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Disciplined Growth Acquisition Corp raises $150M in IPO
JAL Enhances Inflight Dining on International Routes
Japan Airlines is overhauling its international inflight dining, launching chef‑curated menus in First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy classes starting March 2026. Renowned chefs Natsuko Shoji and Nae Ogawa will design exclusive dishes for premium cabins, while rising talent from the RED U‑35 competition will serve the lower cabins. The carrier also shifts Business Class’s second‑meal service to a tray‑style format and expands its beverage list with premium Japanese teas, sake and curated wines. These moves aim to enhance the cabin experience as Japan‑bound travel is projected to grow to 60 million by 2030.
Air Force Test Pilots Used Tactical AI to Evade a Missile
Air Force test pilots used tactical AI on a Lockheed X‑62A Vista to autonomously evade a simulated surface‑to‑air missile, demonstrating rapid threat response without pilot input. The experiment, dubbed “Have Remy,” was disclosed by Skunk Works at the Air and...
Lockheed Debuts AI on F-35 Fighter Jet to Identify Targets
Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated AI‑enhanced target identification on an F‑35 during the Project Overwatch flight test at Nellis Air Force Base. The machine‑learning model processed sensor data in real time and presented pilots with potential combat targets, marking the first...
New American Airlines Targeted Promotions For Bonus Miles & Loyalty Points
American Airlines is rolling out a new wave of targeted AAdvantage promotions that award bonus loyalty points for premium‑cabin travel. Members can earn 4,000 points after completing four First, Business or Premium Economy flights, with a 60‑day completion window, while...
Bullet Hole Reportedly Discovered In American Airlines Boeing 737 After Landing in Medellin, Colombia
American Airlines discovered a bullet‑induced puncture on its two‑year‑old Boeing 737 MAX (registration N342SX) after the aircraft landed at Medellín International Airport. The plane was immediately taken out of commercial service and ferried to Dallas‑Fort Worth for detailed inspection and repair. No...
Stealth Project Hail Mary Town Hall At NASA JPL?
NASA Watch reports an unofficial X announcement about a town‑hall meeting at JPL tied to the upcoming film “Project Hail Mary.” The post, shared by a fan‑run account, suggests NASA may be leveraging the movie for cross‑promotional PR, yet no...
Industry Input Wanted for Next Canadian Space Agency Priority Technologies
The Canadian Space Agency has issued a Request for Information titled “Enabling Technologies for Future Missions” to gather industry input before launching its next Space Technology Development Program (STDP) solicitation. Historically, the STDP has been under‑funded, receiving only $147 million over...
Samson Sky and AIR Tashkent Partner to Bring Switchblade Flying Car to Uzbekistan
U.S. firm Samson Sky and Uzbekistan’s AIR Tashkent have signed an MOU to introduce the Switchblade Flying Car to the Uzbek market. The agreement envisions sales of at least 300 units, representing more than $60 million in revenue, with a bulk...
NEWS & OFFERS: BA Leaks New A380 Seat Layout, AF/KLM Sale From £1483 and Virgin Adds Relaxation Pod
British Airways inadvertently published the seat map for its upcoming A380 refurbishment, revealing a full‑business‑class upper deck with 110 Club World suites and a reconfigured main deck of 12 First suites, 84 premium economy and 215 economy seats, though regulators...
Book Review: Beyond Earth, the Soviet Drive Into Space
Beyond Earth, The Soviet Drive into Space is a posthumous diary by aerospace engineer Saunders B. Kramer that chronicles every Soviet launch from 1957 to 1975. The 398‑page softcover blends exhaustive technical specifications—orbital inclinations, payload masses, apogees—with personal anecdotes and...
China Dominates LEO GPS, 41 Satellites vs Lone Western Provider
🇨🇳🛰 The competitor to watch is China, with 75 startups raising $7B. For example, China’s progress in resilient GPS in LEO is far ahead of the West. China already has 41 PNT sats in LEO, and Xona is sole provider in...
IRDM Dominates the Global LEO Satellite Market
$IRDM continuing off that strong base. These guys are the only global low earth orbit (LEO) satellite company. Big name in the space race.
Breeze Announces Two New Destinations From Myrtle Beach, Expands Service to Existing Destinations
Breeze Airways is adding nonstop service from Myrtle Beach to Pittsburgh and a one‑stop BreezeThru flight to Portland, Maine, with fares starting at $39 one‑way. Existing routes to Akron‑Canton, Fort Lauderdale and Long Island will see frequency boosts beginning July...
SALAAM.earth to Launch AAM Test Site in Saudi Arabia in Q1 2026
SALAAM.earth announced the launch of its first advanced air mobility (AAM) test site in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with operations slated for Q1 2026. The sandbox will serve as a controlled environment to validate aircraft, vertiports, digital air‑traffic‑management and secure communications. FlyNow...
Avio to Build $500 Million Facility in Hurt, Virginia
Italian rocket builder Avio announced a $500 million solid‑rocket‑motor manufacturing complex in Hurt, Virginia, pending approval by the Virginia General Assembly. The 860,000‑square‑foot facility, financed by a €400 million capital increase, will create more than 1,000 jobs and may receive a $97.7 million...
Ontario International Airport Earns Top Global Honor for Customer Experience From Airports Council International
Ontario International Airport (ONT) received the 2025 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Customer Experience Award for Best Airport at Departures in North America (5‑15 million passengers), a distinction granted by Airports Council International. The honor is derived entirely from passenger survey...
Orlando International Airport Welcomes Historic Zipair Tokyo-Orlando Flight with Passenger Festivities
Orlando International Airport (MCO) welcomed ZIPAIR’s inaugural nonstop charter flight from Tokyo’s Narita, marking the first direct passenger service between Florida and the Asia‑Pacific region. The flight landed with 280 passengers, a water salute, and Disney‑themed festivities, underscoring the airport’s...
Spirit Airlines Is Betting on This Air-Travel Trend as It Prepares to Emerge From Bankruptcy
Spirit Airlines announced a deal with creditors that will allow it to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy by late spring or early summer 2026. The restructuring will shrink the carrier’s balance sheet, cutting debt from $7.4 billion to about $2.1 billion, and will trim...
Wilsbach Outlines Strategy for Confronting Adversaries, Air Force Success
Gen. Ken Wilsbach, the new Air Force Chief of Staff, outlined a three‑pillar strategy—readiness, modernization, and caring for Airmen—to counter a "complex and ambiguous" threat environment. He called for faster, "fight‑tonight" acquisition and long‑term program agility, citing the on‑track F‑47...
60,000 Forged Certificates — Only One Man to Blame?
A UK‑based individual forged more than 60,000 authenticity certificates for CFM56 engine components between 2019 and 2023, selling counterfeit parts valued at roughly $9.3 million. The parts entered the global aftermarket and were installed by multiple MROs and airlines without proper...
Inside Delta's 44‑Seat First‑Class A321neo
There’s a really interesting story behind this wild @delta Airbus A321neo with 44 first-class seats(!)
Visual Illusions and Terrain Traps Challenge Unwary Pilots
From somatogravic illusions on go-arounds to the visual traps of dark nights and sloping terrain - some of the visual challenges for unwary pilots #humanfactors #avgeek https://t.co/59tJngzTkO https://t.co/IxxlRG3ZcD
Tecnam Rolls Out MOSAIC-Aligned Line
Tecnam unveiled the MOSAIK59 product family to meet the FAA’s new MOSAIC rule, which bases Light Sport Aircraft eligibility on a 59‑knot clean stall speed rather than weight limits. Existing models such as the P92 Echo MKII, P2008 and Astore...
Jungle‑Found Tu‑160 Restoration Reveals New Aeronautical AI Slop
Hesitant to share this as don't want to give them the clicks - but just discovered new levels of aeronautical #AISlop with this 'restoration of a Tu160'(!) lost for 'decades' in the jungle. MAKE. IT. STOP. #avgeek https://t.co/OO0Y7gT9Mk https://t.co/gPr8mMiPh4
E‑Space’s Protosat‑1 Reenters, Still No Proof of Success
The E-Space Protosat-1 IoT demo satellite reentred on Feb 22. It made no orbital manuevers, and - as for all 9 E-Space test satellites launched to date - there is no public evidence that it worked and no announcement about...
Global Defense Modernization Drives Major Awards for BlackSky and Redwire
Global defense spending surges, prompting nations to seek sovereign, AI‑enabled space capabilities. BlackSky reported more than $60 million in new contracts, highlighted by an eight‑figure deal for a Gen‑3 ISR satellite that delivers 35 cm imagery and onboard AI analytics. Redwire entered...
Pilots' Perception Tricks: Seeing Isn't Believing in 3D
When seeing isn't believing - the tricks pilot's bodies can play on them as they navigate 3D space #avgeek #humanfactors https://t.co/r3OCeLJL79 https://t.co/L4GKdB81Vt
France After Four Years of War. Shift or the End of Support?
France has moved from a dual‑sided arms policy to a robust, though now waning, military backstop for Ukraine, supplying ammunition, missiles, CAESAR howitzers, SAMP/T air‑defence and Mirage 2000 fighters since 2022. Operational challenges—limited Ukrainian use of French tanks, pilot shortages, and...
Lufthansa Advances 787-9 Allegris Bookings
Lufthansa has moved the opening of bookings for its Allegris business‑class seats on Boeing 787‑9 aircraft forward to March 29, ahead of the previously announced April 15 date. At least ten 787‑9s, nine already fitted with the premium Allegris cabin,...
Dublin Based ACIA Delivers Third ATR 72-600 to PNG Air
ACIA Aero Leasing has delivered a third ATR 72-600 turboprop to PNG Air, expanding the carrier's domestic fleet. The aircraft joins two earlier ATRs under a lease agreement, reinforcing PNG Air's three‑year strategic plan to modernise with a single‑type fleet....
AI Enables F‑35 to Rapidly Identify Enemy Defenses
AI Is Now Helping The F-35 Spot Enemy Air Defenses New artificial intelligence technology is giving the F-35 the ability to pick out confusing threat emissions and get them properly identified faster. https://t.co/Kq5RxLhQzc
UK Aviation Sector Currently Experiencing Busiest Period in History
The UK Civil Aviation Authority reports a record‑breaking 302 million passenger journeys in 2025, a 2 % rise over 2024 and the highest level since the sector began tracking data. Passenger traffic has tripled since 1989, and a third of travelers plan...
Contour Sets Start Date For New EAS Route
Independent regional carrier Contour will launch Essential Air Service flights from South Arkansas Regional Airport in El Dorado to Dallas/Fort Worth on March 16. The airport, which lost scheduled service in November, will receive up to three daily nonstop flights with a varied...
NASA-Sponsored Working Group to Address Key Barriers to Routine Autonomous Drone Fleets
NASA has convened the Routine Autonomous Multi‑Aircraft Operations (RAM‑AO) Working Group to tackle technical and regulatory obstacles preventing large‑scale autonomous drone fleets from sharing U.S. airspace. Led by Aptima under a NASA contract, the group will meet March 3‑5 at...
Press Release: Gilat Receives $39 Million in Orders for Sidewinder ESA
Gilat Satellite Networks announced $39 million in orders for its Sidewinder electronically steered antenna (ESA) in‑flight connectivity terminals from a leading satellite operator, with deliveries slated over the next 12 months. The orders cover both line‑fit and retrofit installations, underscoring airlines'...
Danish Air Force Establishes 729 Squadron for MQ-9B SeaGuardian Drones
Denmark’s Royal Danish Air Force activated 729 Squadron on 16 February to operate four General Atomics MQ‑9B SeaGuardian UAVs. Ordered in 2025 with deliveries beginning in 2028, the drones will be based at Aalborg Air Base and tasked with high‑endurance surveillance...
The Commercial Space Federation Releases New White Paper “Perfecting Public-Private Partnerships”
The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) released a new white paper titled “Perfecting Public‑Private Partnerships: The Future of Government Space Contracts.” Authored by Rational Futures, the report offers a playbook for government buyers to maximize outcomes on space PPPs, stressing that...
Riyadh Air to Launch Daily Service to Cairo
Riyadh Air announced daily service between Riyadh and Cairo, launching soon on its new Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner. The route taps a high‑traffic corridor that carried 2.7 million passengers last year and joins the airline’s forthcoming London and Dubai flights. The addition...
Delta Unveils Its Largest Hawaii Schedule Ever With New Minneapolis–Maui Route And Boston–Honolulu Return
Delta Air Lines announced its largest seasonal Hawaii schedule for winter 2026‑27, adding a new nonstop Minneapolis‑St. Paul to Maui route and reinstating Boston to Honolulu service, the longest domestic flight in the U.S. The new MSP‑Maui flight operates daily...
Seizing the High Ground: The Case for U.S. Leadership in Space Mining
The article argues that the United States must seize early leadership in space mining to secure economic, energy and geopolitical advantages as extraction technologies become viable. It highlights the trillion‑dollar profit potential of asteroid resources and the strategic value of...
Pilots' Perception Errors: Human Factors Challenge Flight Safety
When your senses deceive you - the stubborn human factors challenges that pilots experience #avgeek #humanfactors https://t.co/dmk5hFt5TY https://t.co/giz0zgi37J
At Colorado Space Firms, Hegseth Casts Pentagon Bureaucracy as the Enemy
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth used a Colorado stop at True Anomaly and Sierra Space to denounce the Pentagon’s acquisition bureaucracy as a "giant swamp" that favors entrenched prime contractors. He framed commercially driven space firms as essential antidotes that...
Self-Healing Composite Could Make Aircraft and Cars Last Centuries
Researchers at North Carolina State University have engineered a self‑healing fibre‑reinforced polymer (FRP) composite that could extend component lifespans from decades to centuries. The approach 3D‑prints a thermoplastic healing agent between fibre layers and embeds carbon‑based heater films that melt...
Global Invacom Group Launches Rapid Deploy XY Antenna Range for Mission‑Critical, Multi‑Orbit Connectivity
Global Invacom Group has introduced a rapid‑deploy XY antenna family spanning four sizes—from 0.98 m to 2.4 m—to provide fast, multi‑orbit, multi‑band connectivity for government, defence, and commercial users. The modular terminals require no tools and can be calibrated and operational in...
London Southend Airport to Allow 2 Litres of Liquid in Cabin Baggage
London Southend Airport announced that passengers can now carry up to two litres of liquid in cabin baggage, thanks to the installation of C3 screening technology. The same system also permits laptops, iPads and tablets to remain inside bags during...
Leonardo Proteus UAV: 15‑Minute Flight Limits Hype
"Wait and sea" - genius headline for this report on Leonardo Proteus UAV from @fg_domperry - but only 15 mins flight time so far? #avgeek https://t.co/fuWDNu7sFH https://t.co/SoGUaRJTZX
Sustainable Spectrum Policy Dossier Updated for 2026
The Sustainable Spectrum Policy dossier has been refreshed for 2026, adding a new research note on space sustainability. It highlights the ESA Zero Debris Charter’s net‑zero target for 2030, the APRSAF “Nagoya Vision” on responsible space use, and IADC’s global...
European Aviation Calls for Continued EU Funding
European aviation groups CANSO, ACI Europe and Airlines for Europe have urged EU ministers to maintain co‑funding of the SESAR programme beyond 2027. They argue that continued financing through the Connecting Europe Facility and the European Competitiveness Fund is essential...
Archer Aviation: The Billion-Dollar Battleground
Archer Aviation’s shares swung from a near‑$9 rally in January to about $6.93 by late February, a 20% drop driven by short‑seller allegations of certification delays. The decline was cushioned by BlackRock’s increased passive stake to 8.1% and a strategic...
LambdaVision Taps Starlab for Post-ISS Manufacturing Plans
LambdaVision announced it has pre‑booked manufacturing time and space on Starlab’s yet‑to‑launch commercial space station, positioning the biotech firm for post‑ISS production. The company, which raised a $7 million seed round and completed nine ISS missions, uses microgravity to fabricate higher‑performance...