Today's Aerospace Pulse
Icelandair to retire B757‑200 fleet by late 2026
Icelandair announced it will retire its Boeing 757‑200 aircraft in late 2026 as part of fleet modernization. In the same coverage cluster, Flexjet’s Irish subsidiary received regulatory approval to operate in the United States.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Eaton merges mobility business with Dana in $10B deal
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 official NASA, JPL, or NASA TV channels have confirmed the event. The silence raises questions about whether the gathering is an internal briefing or a broader agency‑wide initiative. The speculation highlights a potential new model for NASA‑Hollywood collaboration, pending formal acknowledgment.
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(!)
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...
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...
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
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...
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...
IAG Cargo to Manage Qatar Airways Cargo Ground Handling in Dublin
IAG Cargo has been appointed the ground handling agent for Qatar Airways Cargo at Dublin International Airport. The deal covers all cargo processed through IAG’s Dublin facility and supports 17 weekly belly‑hold flights between Dublin and Doha. It is part...
Global Defence Spending Hits 2.63 Trillion Dollars
Global defence spending reached $2.63 trillion in 2025, a 2.5% year‑on‑year increase driven by heightened great‑power rivalry. The United States shifted its strategy toward homeland defence and burden‑sharing, proposing a multi‑layered “Golden Dome” missile shield while scaling back direct aid to...
EmptyLegFinder.aero Launches Across the USA and Canada
EmptyLegFinder.aero, a digital marketplace for discounted empty‑leg private jet flights, has launched across the United States and Canada. At launch the platform lists more than 1,400 empty‑leg opportunities, with over 200 new flights added each day from verified charter operators....
Cathay Cargo January YoY Volumes Increase 5%
Cathay Cargo reported a 5% year‑on‑year increase in total cargo for January 2026, alongside a 3% rise in available freight tonne‑kilometres (AFTKs). Growth was driven by strong demand for fresh produce from Oceania, increased pharmaceutical shipments from Europe and Central...
Seaplane Asia Group and NexAvian Partner on Southeast Asia Air Mobility
Seaplane Asia Group and Singapore‑based NexAvian signed a memorandum of understanding at the 2026 Singapore Airshow to accelerate advanced air mobility across Southeast Asia. The deal merges Seaplane Asia’s amphibious aviation operations with NexAvian’s emerging technology and regulatory expertise, targeting...
Lockheed Martin to Test Digital Atomic Clock on Upcoming GPS III Satellite
Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Space Force will test a new digital atomic clock aboard the tenth GPS III satellite, slated for launch in early 2026. The digital clock is intended to replace legacy rubidium timepieces, offering higher precision while consuming...
Telespazio Awarded €20 Million Contract for Canary Islands Constellation
Telespazio Ibérica has secured a €20 million contract to build an Earth‑observation satellite constellation for the Canary Islands. While the original plan called for eight low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, the award covers three operational spacecraft and a technology demonstrator, each 20‑30 kg. The demonstrator...