Russia Completes 1st Test, Suborbital, of Its New Soyuz-5 Rocket
Russia’s state‑run space agency announced that the Soyuz‑5 carrier rocket completed its first suborbital test flight on April 28, 2026, launching from Baikonur with a dummy payload. The vehicle is powered by what officials call the world’s most powerful liquid‑fuel engine and is designed to lift roughly 17 tonnes to low‑Earth orbit, outclassing the current Soyuz‑2 but falling short of the Proton. Officials highlighted the rocket’s potential to lower unit launch costs, though the design is not reusable. The first stage and fairings crashed in Russia, while the second stage splashed down in the Pacific.
ISS Is a Disaster Waiting to Happen
The International Space Station’s Russian Zvezda Service Module has a persistent crack in the PrK transfer tunnel, creating an air leak that NASA’s Office of Inspector General labeled a top safety risk through 2030. While sealant patches have stabilized pressure...
Infinity Aviation Group Opens Remodeled FBO at Nashua, New Hampshire
Infinity Aviation Group has opened a remodeled and expanded Fixed‑Base Operator at Boire Field (KASH) in Nashian, New Hampshire. The new terminal provides more than 150,000 sq ft of heated hangar space and full services such as de‑icing, fueling, and premium passenger...
Denys Overholser, Stealth Pioneer Whose Work Led to the F-117, Dies at 86
Denys Overholser, a Lockheed Martin engineer, died at 86. He pioneered the mathematics of radar cross‑section that made the faceted “Hopeless Diamond” concept and the Echo 1 RCS calculator, directly leading to the Have Blue demonstrators and the operational F‑117 Nighthawk. His...
INTERVIEW: Ukraine Open to Cooperating with Japan on Drones: Foreign Minister
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv is open to cooperating with Japan on drones and unmanned systems, contingent on Japan’s readiness. Japan is considering importing Ukrainian‑made drones to boost its defence amid a shifting security posture under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi....
China Space Breakthroughs Forecast
China’s aerospace giant CASC announced an aggressive rollout of missions through 2025, including the Chang’e‑7 lunar probe to scout the Moon’s south pole, the Hubble‑class Xuntian space telescope, and a massive Guowang broadband satellite constellation. The Tiangong space station will...
Duluth Replacing 70-Year-Old Tower
Duluth International Airport is proceeding with a new 143‑foot air traffic control tower to replace its 70‑year‑old structure, the third‑oldest operating tower in the United States. The $72 million project, bolstered by a $20 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant, will add...
Wisk Assesses ‘Flyability’ of Key Markets Based on Weather
Wisk is deploying a "flyability matrix" to score how weather impacts electric air‑taxi operations in each city. The tool estimates lost flight hours from fog, storms, temperature, visibility and other factors, producing seasonal scores such as a 90% winter rating...
Virgin Galactic Reveals New Ship, but It's Running Out of Time and Cash
Virgin Galactic unveiled its next‑generation suborbital spacecraft, moving it to the launch hangar for final integration and ground testing. The company’s cash balance has slumped from $982 million in February 2024 to $338 million after the latest quarter, tightening its financial runway....
Domestic Demand Lifts Air Canada Cargo Q1 Revenues
Air Canada Cargo’s first‑quarter revenue rose 3.5% to C$259 million (≈$189 million USD), propelled by stronger domestic volumes and newly applied fuel surcharges. International and transborder yields weakened, tempering overall cargo profitability. The airline’s total operating revenue jumped 11% to C$5.8 billion (≈$4.2 billion...
Rising Stars: Maddie Dorish, Asset Manager at Boeing
Maddie Dorish, a 24‑year‑old asset manager at Boeing, leveraged a childhood hair‑tie business and a college supply‑chain class into a coveted internship that turned into a full‑time role on the aircraft‑modifications team. In her position she coordinates parts sourcing for...
SAHA 2026 to Convene the Global Defence Ecosystem
From 5‑9 May 2026, SAHA 2026 will convene the global defence and aerospace community in Istanbul, featuring more than 1,700 exhibitors across a 100,000 sqm floor. The event targets participants from over 120 countries and 53 industry sectors, offering B2B, G2B and G2G meetings,...
Naples Aviation Ranks Eighth in US FBO Survey
Naples Aviation, the sole FBO at Naples Airport in Florida, rose to eighth place nationally in the 2026 Professional Pilot PRASE Survey, up from tenth the year before. It also improved to fifth among independent FBOs, climbing from eighth in...
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Jorge Ciccorossi, ITU Radiocommunications Bureau
The upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference 27 (WRC‑27) will set the spectrum allocation framework for next‑generation satellite constellations, a decision that could make or break European mega‑constellation plans. Jorge Ciccorossi, head of the ITU Radiocommunications Bureau’s Space Strategy and Sustainability Division, outlined...
Bill Nye Demonstrates Experiments that Break Down Artemis II Mission
Bill Nye, chief ambassador of The Planetary Society, appeared on CBS Mornings to break down NASA’s Artemis II mission with hands‑on experiments. Using a turntable Earth‑Moon model, he illustrated the launch, trans‑lunar injection, lunar flyby and re‑entry phases. The segment highlighted...
WestJet Launches 8 Major New Routes To Europe For Summer 2026
Canada’s second‑largest carrier WestJet announced eight new European routes for the summer 2026 season, boosting its July schedule to an average of 16 daily departures. The network includes a new Lisbon service operating five times weekly on a 174‑seat 737 MAX 8,...
Icelandair May Hasten B757 Exit Amid Fuel Spike
Icelandair is evaluating an accelerated retirement of its Boeing 757‑200 fleet as soaring jet‑fuel prices erode profitability. The carrier, which relies on the 757 for transatlantic and European routes, faces operating cost spikes that could exceed double‑digit percentages. Management is...
AI Processing of Earth Images Can Now Run In Space
Planet Labs has demonstrated the first successful run of AI image processing on a satellite, using its Pelican‑4 platform to automatically detect and box more than a dozen aircraft at an Australian airport. The onboard NVIDIA Jetson ORIN GPU analyzes a...
Pilatus Breaks Ground on PC-12, PC-24 Aircraft Facility in Colorado
Bell Textron’s MV‑75 tilt‑rotor, now named Cheyenne II, has been officially designated by the U.S. Army under the Future Long‑Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. The aircraft will replace the UH‑60 Black Hawk, offering speeds over 280 knots and a combat range of...
SAS Warns of Structural E-SAF Gap Threatening Europe’s Aviation Market
SAS Aviation Insights warns that Europe faces a structural shortage of electro‑sustainable aviation fuel (e‑SAF) as the EU’s ReFuelEU Aviation regulation ramps up demand. The report shows Scandinavian airlines will need 36,000 t of e‑SAF by 2030, rising to 330,000 t by...
Bangladesh’s Air Power: Intentions Meet a Widening Capability Gap
Bangladesh’s Air Force fielded only 44 combat aircraft during its May 1 Independence Day parade, with 36 still flying the decades‑old Chengdu F‑7 and eight MiG‑29s past their prime. A December 2025 letter of intent to buy Eurofighter Typhoons never materialised, underscoring a pattern...
AF Week in Photos
The U.S. Air Force’s April photo roundup captures a series of high‑visibility training events, from the Wings Over Solano air show to joint exercises with Philippine forces. Highlights include the Balikatan 2026 drills that integrated C‑130J airlift, artillery rockets and...
AF Week in Photos
The U.S. Air Force released its weekly “AF Week in Photos” showcasing Airmen from around the world engaged in expeditionary operations and homeland defense. The feature includes a sunrise shot of an F‑16 at Travis Air Force Base ahead of...
Etihad Expands Africa Network to Boost Cargo and Trade Links via Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways announced a six‑city expansion of its Africa network, launching services to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe from Abu Dhabi. The move dovetails with Etihad’s recent China growth and its joint venture with...
Starcloud Seeks More Orbital Data Center Funding Shortly After Unicorn Status
Starcloud, a two‑year‑old orbital data‑center startup, is seeking at least $200 million in new funding, which would double its valuation to roughly $2.2 billion. The capital raise follows a $170 million Series A round that made it the fastest Y Combinator company to achieve...
Rocket Report: Falcon Heavy Is Back; Russia's Soyuz-5 Finally Debuts
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy lifted off from Florida on April 29, marking its first flight since October 2024 and delivering a ViaSat‑3 broadband satellite. Russia debuted its new Soyuz‑5 rocket from Baikonur, a sub‑orbital test that replaces the aging Zenit family. In the same...
Biman Bangladesh Massively Modernizes Fleet, With 14 New Boeing Planes
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has placed its biggest ever aircraft order, securing 14 new Boeing jets – eight 787‑10s, two 787‑9s and four 737 MAX 8s. The fleet renewal will replace the airline’s aging 777‑300ERs and 737‑800s, boosting capacity on high‑demand Middle‑East routes...
Golden Dome Orbital Interceptors and the New Space-Based Missile Defense Debate
The U.S. Space Force announced on April 24 2026 that it has issued 20 Other Transaction Authority agreements to 12 companies—including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, and Anduril—valued at up to $3.2 billion to develop a prototype of the Golden Dome orbital interceptor system. The...
ESA Opens Applications for Hands-On Earth Observation Mission Design Course
The European Space Agency has opened applications for its 2026 Earth Observation Satellite Systems Design Training Course, a two‑week intensive program where 30 students will design a complete EO mission. The on‑site week runs 28 September‑2 October at ESA’s Academy in ESEC‑Galaxia,...
Space Nuclear Execs Cheer the FY27 Budget Proposal
NASA’s FY27 budget proposal earmarks roughly $675 million for space nuclear initiatives, signaling a strategic shift toward nuclear power for lunar and Mars missions. The plan includes $438.8 million for Mars‑focused fission reactors, $135.3 million for radioisotope power systems, and $100.9 million for infrastructure...
The FAA DETER Program: A New Era of Drone Accountability
The FAA launched the Drone Expedited and Targeted Enforcement Response (DETER) program on April 16, moving from its historic “educate‑first” stance to a rapid enforcement model for first‑time drone violations. DETER issues a formal violation notice and gives operators ten...
Live Coverage: SpaceX Marks May Day with Starlink Mission on a Falcon 9 Rocket From Cape Canaveral
SpaceX launched the Starlink 10-38 mission on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, deploying 29 V2 Mini broadband satellites and pushing the constellation past 10,000 spacecraft. The flight used booster B1069 on its 31st mission, targeting a landing on the...
Widebody Freighter Boost Could Reshape Cargo Flows Across Africa’s Copperbelt
NAC2000, the ground handler at Ndola’s Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport, has installed a widebody‑capable high‑loader, paving the way for a potential Boeing 787 freighter service linking Ndola, Lubumbashi and East Africa. The upgrade arrives as mining output and high‑value...
Pie In The Sky: Lufthansa Wants To Be Europe’s Most Premium Airline
Lufthansa’s chief executive Jens Ritter announced that the carrier will use its 100‑year anniversary to launch a “firework display of innovations” and position the airline as Europe’s number‑one premium carrier. The plan hinges on a rapid fleet refresh—new aircraft every two...
DARPA Selects Three Companies for Lunar Orbiter Studies
DARPA has awarded Phase 1 contracts to Benchmark Space Systems, Quantum Space and Revolution Space for its Lunar Assay via Small Satellite Orbiter (LASSO) program. The mission will search for lunar water ice concentrations above 5% while operating in an ultra‑low...
“A Dominant Force”: Empowering Europe’s Airborne ISR in a New Era
Amid rising drone and missile threats, L3Harris is accelerating the conversion of certified business jets into airborne ISR, AEW&C and electronic warfare platforms for NATO members. Its AERIS X family, built on Bombardier Global 6500 and Gulfstream G550 airframes, offers advanced...
Pentagon Plans to Destroy Hundreds of Minuteman II Missile Motors
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command issued a Request for Information on April 30, 2026 to find a contractor capable of demilitarizing at least 178 Minuteman II solid‑rocket motors, with a potential ceiling of 282 units, over a ten‑year performance window. The...
America Plays Catch Up on Drones
The Pentagon has launched a $1.1 billion Drone Dominance Program to close a widening gap with China, which controls roughly 90% of the global commercial‑drone market. While China’s DJI can churn out millions of units, U.S. maker Skydio produces only thousands...
US Military Spends $178M to Keep Aging J85 Jet Engine in Service
The Department of Defense has spent more than $178 million to keep General Electric’s legacy J85 turbojet engine in production through a series of sole‑source contracts. An initial $107.8 million delivery order in December 2024 was followed by four modifications worth about $70.7 million...
Ouch: Mahan Air Boeing 777 Destroyed In Mashhad Airport Attack
In late March 2026 an Israeli airstrike devastated Mashhad International Airport, completely destroying Mahan Air’s Boeing 777‑200ER (registration EP‑MTC). The 25‑year‑old aircraft had joined Mahan Air’s fleet in December 2025, giving it just three months of service before the hull...
AF KLM Cargo Sees Volumes Rise but Revenues Fall in Q1
Air France‑KLM Martinair Cargo reported a 3.5% year‑on‑year drop in first‑quarter cargo revenue to €600 million (≈ $648 million) despite a 4% increase in tonnage to 234,000 t and a 3.8% rise in revenue‑tonne‑kilometres. Capacity grew 2.9% and the load factor edged up to...
Nigeria Caps Jet Fuel Prices to Avert Disruptions
Nigeria’s government imposed price caps on jet fuel and allowed airlines to buy on credit after fuel costs surged more than 270% in two months. The caps set jet fuel at NGN 1,760‑1,988 per litre in Lagos and NGN 1,809‑2,037 in Abuja,...
American Airlines CEO & US Transportation Secretary Open SMS Industry Forum
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy opened the 11th annual Safety Management System (SMS) Industry Forum with a fireside chat on aviation safety in 2026. The event marked the first appearance of a cabinet...
FCC Updates Satellite Rules to Boost Broadband Capacity
The FCC voted unanimously to replace the outdated Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) limits with a performance‑based protection framework for geostationary and non‑geostationary satellites. The new rules could boost usable broadband capacity by up to seven times, delivering an estimated...
Regional Flights to Move to MM2 as FG Settles 20-Year Dispute with Bi-Courtney
The Nigerian federal government approved a settlement ending a two‑decade dispute with Bi‑Courtney Aviation Services over the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2). The agreement clears the way for regional airlines to operate from MMA2, restores Bi‑Courtney’s concession for a stalled...
Sentinel-1D Goes Live: A Milestone for Europe’s Radar Mission
Sentinel‑1D completed its commissioning on 1 May 2026 and is now fully operational, joining Sentinel‑1A, 1C and the restored 1B to complete Europe’s first‑generation radar constellation. The four‑satellite fleet delivers all‑weather, day‑and‑night synthetic‑aperture radar imagery, extending a continuous data record toward two...
NASA Announced Team for SpaceX’s Crew-13 Mission to the ISS
NASA announced the four-member crew for SpaceX’s Crew‑13 mission, slated for launch no earlier than mid‑September 2026. The team—NASA commander Jessica Watkins, pilot Luke Delaney, Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov—will join Expedition 75 on the International Space...
Pilots Association Flags Safety Risks, Seeks Full Implementation of Duty Time Rules
The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) has pressed the DGCA for a time‑bound roadmap to fully enforce the revised flight‑duty‑time (FDTL) rules. ALPA argues that recent extensions granted to carriers such as IndiGo and Air India dilute fatigue‑management safeguards...
The Premium Cabin Revolution – Are These the Best Seats in the Sky?
The article aggregates recent travel‑focused pieces, spotlighting a surge in premium cabin upgrades alongside lifestyle trends such as luxury safaris, sustainable hotel design, and productivity hacks for business travelers. It notes that airlines are re‑engineering first‑class seats to capture higher...
The Pentagon Wants to Kill a Missile-Warning Program Congress Already Saved
The Pentagon’s FY2027 budget request proposes terminating the Next‑Gen OPIR Polar missile‑warning satellite program even though Northrop Grumman has already delivered a flight‑ready sensor. The effort was originally designed to place two polar‑orbiting sensors over the Arctic, but the Space...