Creotech Plans $118 Million Capital Raise, Investment in New Satellite Factory
Polish space‑tech firm Creotech Instruments announced a $118 million capital raise to fund a new satellite factory slated for completion by 2029. The investment will enable the company to quadruple its output to roughly 40 satellites a year, addressing a current order backlog of about 600 million złoty (≈$165 million). Creotech reported 146 million złoty ($40.4 million) in revenue last year and achieved net profitability for the first time. The expansion includes a shift toward larger minisatellites and participation in a multinational Three‑Seas satellite constellation effort.
Your Anomaly Detection Isn’t the Problem
The article contends that the dominant cost in satellite operations is not rare anomalies but the routine monitoring that occupies roughly 80% of engineers' time. A 2025 industry survey and case studies—such as Planet’s SkySat automation and the European Data...
Two Airliners Collided Over the Grand Canyon—In Broad Daylight. How Could They Not See Each Other?
On June 30, 1956, a mid‑air collision over the Grand Canyon claimed all 128 lives aboard TWA Flight 2 and United 718. The tragedy stemmed from pilots’ inability to spot each other due to the constant‑bearing, decreasing‑range visual illusion and cockpit obstructions....
AICRAFT Expands Beyond Edge Computing with Advanced SAR Radar Electronics
Australian AI firm AICRAFT has secured Manufacturing Growth Accelerator funding to develop a low‑power front‑end electronics suite for synthetic‑aperture radar (SAR) payloads. Working with Flinders University and Indian antenna maker Guerin Technologies, the project integrates a custom analogue‑to‑digital converter with...
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Frank M. Salzgeber, Nadir Space Venture
Frank M. Salzgeber, co‑founder of Nadir Space Venture, highlighted at SmallSat Europe how Europe’s mature small‑sat manufacturing base can meet the Gulf’s rapidly expanding demand. He noted Saudi Arabia’s space economy, now $8.7 billion, is projected to reach $31.6 billion by 2035,...
Skylo Seeks FCC Approval for Big D2D Device Expansion
Skylo, Verizon’s direct‑to‑device partner, has filed an FCC request to increase its authorized satellite device limits from roughly 1‑6 million per band to 10 million, 10 million and 50 million units across the ANT‑1, ANT‑2 and ANT‑3 categories. The company already supports 16 million devices...
ATVA Urges FCC to Close “Affiliation-Swap” Loopholes Impacting Satellite Operators
On May 11, 2026 the American Television Alliance filed a petition with the FCC demanding an end to “affiliation‑swap” loopholes that let broadcasters sidestep ownership limits. The filing details a scheme where a broadcaster first acquires a network’s programming rights,...
Sting Ray Mod 1 Torpedo Poised to Start First P-8A Flight Trials
BAE Systems confirmed that the Sting Ray Mod 1 lightweight torpedo will begin air‑carriage and jettison trials on a U.S. Navy P‑8A Poseidon in Q3 2026, marking the final integration step for the RAF’s nine‑aircraft fleet. The trials, conducted at Naval Air...
Telia Lets 5G Fly on Kelluu Airship
Finnish airship operator Kelluu, in partnership with Telia, demonstrated secure 5G connectivity from a hydrogen‑powered airship using a Nokia Kolibri small‑cell on the 3.5 GHz band. The low‑altitude platform, operating between 120 m and 1,000 m, can cover up to 30,000 km² with five...
Indonesia Strengthens Turkish Defence Ties with Kizilelma Drone Order
Indonesia has signed a deal for 12 Bayraktar Kizilelma unmanned aerial vehicles, with options for an additional 48, creating up to five drone squadrons. The agreement, signed with Baykar and local partner Republikorp, includes domestic production and a maintenance centre,...
MDA Space Officially Opens New Montreal Facility to Support Satellite Prime Contractor Strategy
MDA Space has opened a 185,000‑square‑foot satellite manufacturing plant in Montreal, doubling its production footprint. The facility is designed for high‑volume assembly of the AURORA software‑defined satellites, targeting up to 400 units per year. Automated equipment and a proprietary test...
US Innovator Crosses The Bridge From Powdered Milk To SAF
Syzygy Plasmonics, a Texas startup, has unveiled a light‑driven Rigel bioreactor that turns landfill, dairy and wastewater biogas into drop‑in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) without high‑temperature reforming. The company’s first plant, NovaSAF‑1 in Uruguay, secured a six‑year, full‑volume offtake with...
Six U.S. F-16 Pilots Honored with Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroic Role in Operation Midnight Hammer
The U.S. Air Force awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross to six pilots of the 55th Fighter Squadron for their heroic actions during Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strike that helped end a 12‑day Iran‑Israel conflict. The award, presented by...
Rolls-Royce, easyJet Complete Successful 100% H2 Aeroengine Test for Future Narrowbodies
Rolls‑Royce and easyJet have completed the first full‑power test of a modified Pearl 15 turbofan running on 100% hydrogen at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The engine achieved takeoff thrust and completed a simulated flight cycle—including startup, cruise and landing—demonstrating hydrogen can...
Bombardier Displays Global 8000 at Trade Show for First Time
Bombardier unveiled its flagship Global 8000 at the Catarina Aviation Show in São Paulo, Brazil, marking the jet's first public appearance in Latin America. The ultra‑long‑range aircraft boasts a Mach 0.95 cruise speed and an 8,000 nm (14,800 km) range, enabling nonstop flights to destinations...
Testing the A350F’s Cargo Loading and Main Deck Door Actuation Systems
Airbus is advancing the A350F freighter by testing its all‑electric main‑deck cargo door and cargo‑loading system on large‑scale rigs in Bremen. The 20‑tonne "Cargo Zero" demonstrator replicates the 170‑inch door and a full‑scale cargo hold, allowing repeated opening, closing, and load‑handling...
China Space Station: Docking of New Supply Ship
China’s Tianzhou‑10 cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong space station on May 11, after Tianzhou‑9 departed. The uncrewed vehicle delivered nearly 6.2 tons of supplies, including food, water, 700 kg of propellant, a new space treadmill, and three upgraded extravehicular activity...
Starship V3 Booster Roars to Life in Major SpaceX Test
SpaceX performed a full‑duration static fire of the Starship V3 Super Heavy booster, igniting all 33 Raptor engines on its Texas launch pad. The test, lasting about six seconds, demonstrated the integrated propulsion system’s performance and confirmed that the vehicle’s...
Solar Impulse 2, Famous for Around-the-World Flight, Crashes Into Gulf Waters
Solar Impulse 2, the solar‑powered aircraft that completed a historic 2016 circumnavigation, crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off Mississippi on May 4, 2026. The aircraft, owned by Skydweller Aero since 2019, had been converted into an unmanned test platform for long‑endurance surveillance...
UPCOMING: From Perk to Platform: How In-Flight Connectivity Is Rewriting Aviation Economics
In‑flight connectivity has moved from a passenger perk to a core aircraft asset, now embedded in new‑fleet specifications and reflected in lease rates and residual values. Multi‑orbit architectures that blend LEO, MEO and GEO satellites are becoming the industry baseline...
Magellan Jets Launches World Cup Jet Card
Boston‑based Magellan Jets unveiled the World’s Game Jet Card, a $500,000 private‑jet package for groups attending FIFA World Cup matches in six eastern U.S. and Canadian cities. The card provides round‑trip flights on a Bombardier Challenger 300 for up to eight...
What Happens To Spirit Airlines’ Planes Now That It’s Gone?
Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations, leaving its 172‑aircraft fleet in limbo. Most planes are stored at Phoenix Goodyear Airport while lessors reclaim leased jets for resale or transfer. The airline’s bankruptcy will see aircraft inspected, refurbished and potentially repainted for...
No More Air France-KLM: Group To Scrap 22-Year-Old Name Amid SAS & TAP Moves
Air France‑KLM will abandon its historic name as it moves to acquire a majority stake in SAS and seeks a minority position in TAP Air Portugal. The rebrand mirrors IAG’s neutral branding and aims to simplify the group’s identity ahead...
Can Pan Am Bring The Glory Days Of Aviation Back To The Skies?
Pan American World Airways is staging a comeback by deploying an AI‑driven operating model called AIR‑OS, developed with San Francisco‑based GeoSpatios. The platform unifies flight planning, crew scheduling, weather, and airspace data to enable real‑time decision‑making. Pan Am is currently seeking FAA...
Cowboy Raises $275 Million to Build Rockets with Orbital Data Center Upper Stages
Cowboy Space, the former Aetherflux, closed a $275 million Series B round at a $2 billion valuation, bringing its total funding to roughly $365 million. The startup plans to build launch vehicles whose upper stages transform into orbital data‑center nodes, targeting AI‑intensive compute in...
Aetherflux Rebrands, Pivots Business—And Raises $275M
Aetherflux has rebranded as Cowboy Space Corporation and closed a $275 million Series B round at a $2 billion valuation. The company is pivoting from a sole focus on a solar‑power small‑sat constellation to a dual strategy that adds a dedicated launch vehicle...
Diehl Aviation Reports Strong Progress at New Production Facility in Romania
Diehl Aviation announced that its new production facility in Craiova, Romania, will move in during summer 2026, with full aircraft‑component production slated for autumn 2026. The plant will start with about 75 employees and scale up to 500 as output...
SOCOM Taps SkyFi to Build Tactical EO Imagery Tools
U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has selected commercial EO provider SkyFi to build a prototype sovereign intelligence platform that streamlines access to geospatial imagery for troops. The Phase 1 effort includes an Android Tactical Assault Kit plug‑in that lets operators task...
May 11, 1949: A Missile Range at Cape Canaveral
On May 11, 1949 President Harry Truman signed Public Law 60, establishing a joint Army‑Navy‑Air Force missile‑testing range at Cape Canaveral. The site’s Atlantic flight path, year‑round weather, and equatorial boost made it ideal for long‑range rockets. Early programs such as Redstone and Atlas...
Failing to Pass a Defense Budget Is a Self-Inflicted Wound in the Space Race
The White House budget proposes a historic $70 billion allocation for the U.S. Space Force, more than doubling its current $40 billion funding. A continuing resolution (CR), however, would slash the budget back to roughly $28 billion, halting new programs and capping hiring....
First Hydrogen Helicopter Just Proved It Can Fly a Real Mission
A modified Robinson R44, retrofitted by Unither Bioélectronique, completed the first full‑mission flight powered by hydrogen fuel cells, proving take‑off, climb, pattern, approach and landing under real‑world conditions. The system delivered roughly 178 kW, with more than 90% of that power...
'Irresponsible Growth': Emissions From European Flights Rose Above Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2025
European flight emissions rose 2 percent in 2025, surpassing 2019 levels for the first time since the pandemic. The increase was driven primarily by low‑cost carriers, whose aggressive capacity growth offset earlier emissions reductions. Ryanair’s global emissions are now 50 percent higher...
French Navy Welcomes First of Three PC-24 Aircraft
Jet Aviation delivered the first of three Pilatus PC‑24 Super Versatile Jets to the French Navy under a contract with the Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique. The agreement combines aircraft purchase, leasing and sustainment into a single support package, with...
Malaysia Airlines Maintains Focus on Operational Consistency
Malaysia Airlines reported on-time performance (OTP) above 90% for April, marking the second consecutive month it exceeded its 85% target. Passenger traffic rose 30% year‑on‑year in March and continued with an 8% YoY increase in April, indicating strong demand across...
Malaysia Airlines Flight Bursts Tyre at Hong Kong Airport; No Injuries Reported
On May 11, 2026, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH79 aborted take‑off at Hong Kong International Airport after a tyre burst during deceleration, veering onto a taxiway. The aircraft was safely stopped and towed, with no injuries reported among passengers or crew....
Meltio Takes Metal Additive Manufacturing to the Next Level
Meltio’s Directed Energy Deposition (DED) engine kit transforms ordinary industrial robots into high‑precision metal additive‑manufacturing stations. The solution was deployed by Eurobearings in Italy, where a mobile KUKA robot now prints and repairs large‑scale bearing components on‑site, eliminating traditional casting...
Regulation: MAA Regulatory Notices (RN)
The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) released a wave of regulatory notices between May 2026 and March 2023, covering topics such as Military Permit‑to‑Fly improvements, maintainer licences, AI use in safety‑critical systems, and RPAS guidance. Several older notices were withdrawn, notably post‑Brexit compliance...
Brazil Air Focus: Army Set to Dominate Country’s $631.67 Million UAV Market From 2028
Brazil’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) market is projected to reach $631.67 million by 2028, making it the largest in South America. The Brazilian Army is set to lead spending, with a forecast of $279.15 million from 2026, surpassing the Navy’s $227.51 million allocation....
Blind Spots
Planet Labs, a leading commercial satellite operator, announced an indefinite suspension of new imagery over the Gulf States, Iran, and adjacent conflict zones after a U.S. government request. The blackout began in early March 2026 and has been extended, limiting...
Astral Launches Nairobi-Asmara Freighter Route
Astral Aviation has inaugurated a weekly freighter service linking Nairobi, Kenya, and Asmara, Eritrea, aiming to boost trade across the Horn of Africa. The route connects Eritrea to Astral’s broader network that reaches Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe....
New Tu-160M Photo Confirms Russia’s Slow but Steady Bomber Upgrades
The Fighterbomber Telegram channel posted the first photo of Tu‑160 serial 8‑04, dubbed Deynekin, after its conversion to the Tu‑160M standard, confirming six modernized Tu‑160M and three newly built Tu‑160M2 aircraft. The upgrade adds updated avionics, communications and engine improvements...
Liege Aim to Launch First-Line Warehouse by 2028
Liege Airport will open a 38,000 m² first‑line warehouse by the end of 2028, part of the CargoLand hub slated for full completion in 2040. The €500 million (≈$540 million) investment also adds a 120,000 m² e‑commerce facility, a 180,000 m² landside warehouse, 15 GSE...
Lockheed Martin Scales LPBF for Thermal Management Parts in Hypersonic and Aircraft Systems
Lockheed Martin has expanded its laser powder‑bed fusion (LPBF) additive‑manufacturing capability with a new 16,000‑square‑foot facility in Texas, partnering with EOS, Sintavia, Nikon SLM and nTop. The center focuses on producing thin‑walled thermal‑management components for next‑generation aircraft, hypersonic weapons and electric‑propulsion...
After 23 Months of Changes, Southwest Airlines Just Got Some Very Good News
Southwest Airlines topped the J.D. Power 2026 North America Airline Satisfaction Study for the fifth straight year in the economy and basic‑economy segments, even as the carrier rolled out a suite of sweeping changes. Customer satisfaction rose eight points on...
EU Relaxes Tankering and Slot Rules if Fuel Shortages Occur
The European Commission issued guidance that temporarily relaxes the EU’s anti‑tankering rule and the “use‑it‑or‑lose‑it” slot requirement when genuine jet‑fuel shortages arise. Under the ReFuelEU framework, airlines may take less than the usual 90 % fuel load and can tank fuel...
Heathrow Traffic Adversely Impacted by Middle East Conflict
Heathrow Airport reported a 5% drop in April passenger traffic, handling 6.7 million travelers and 38,496 aircraft movements, a 4.6% decline. Cargo volumes rose 1% to 129,912 tonnes. The airport attributes the dip to the Middle East conflict affecting certain markets and...
Pakistan Reveals Fatah-3 Supersonic Cruise Missile
Pakistan’s Inter Services Public Relations unveiled the Fatah‑3, a ramjet‑powered supersonic cruise missile, via a video on May 8. The missile’s airframe and four lateral ramjet intakes closely mirror China’s HD‑1, indicating possible licensed production or Chinese component sourcing. Though no...
K-Mile Begins Thailand-UAE Cargo Flights
K‑Mile Air, operating as K‑Mile Asia, launched a new cargo service linking Northern Thailand with Abu Dhabi. The inaugural flight on 5 May used a Boeing 767‑300 converted freighter, marking the first direct Thailand‑UAE route from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai....
Sentronics Launches High-Precision RealFlow D-Series Sensors for Commercial & Defense UAVs
Sentronics Limited has released its RealFlow D‑Series ultrasonic fuel‑flow sensors, targeting commercial and defense UAVs. The D‑Series spans flow rates from 20 ml/min to 20 l/min and delivers accuracy better than ±0.75% without moving parts or pressure loss. Designed for low‑size‑weight‑power (SWaP)...
Regulation: Regulatory Article (RA) 3261: Aerodrome Service
Regulatory Article 3261, issued by the UK Ministry of Defence and the Military Aviation Authority, sets out the mandatory procedures for aerodrome services covering aircraft movement on runways, taxiways, and the surrounding airspace. The latest version, Issue 13, was released on...