Royal Aeronautical Society

AEROSPACE NOTAM - April 2026

The latest Aerospace NOTAM podcast recaps the April 2026 issue of the magazine, spanning general aviation, commercial airlines, air law, and emerging space technologies. Host Tim Robinson and editors Steve Bridgewater and Dominic Ward discuss recent events, from a UK cyber‑and‑space symposium to museum visits and a historic library tour, before diving into the week’s headline aerospace news. Key highlights include the Battle Space Advantage symposium, which examined digital targeting, drone vulnerabilities, and the need for integrated air‑land‑maritime operations in future conflicts. The National Aviation Library in Farnborough showcased rare 1930s KLM posters and a 24‑foot wind tunnel, while Belfast’s Ulster Transport Museum displayed a Shorts SC‑1 VTOL demonstrator and Harry Ferguson’s pioneering aircraft. The Artemis II mission finally launched, emphasizing multinational cooperation with NASA, ESA, and a Canadian astronaut, and attracting millions of live viewers. Notable remarks featured ESA’s Joseph Aspinall noting that most people use space‑based services 15‑20 times each morning, underscoring the sector’s everyday impact. The episode also warned of a looming US Senate and UK CIA push for mandatory ADS‑B in low‑altitude airspace by end‑2025, and highlighted a Starlink policy capping service to aircraft above 100 mph, prompting GA pilot criticism. A recent LaGuardia fire‑truck incursion and escalating Iran‑Saudi air‑base strikes added a sobering security dimension. These developments signal accelerating regulatory pressure on avionics, growing reliance on satellite connectivity, and heightened geopolitical risk for air operations. Industry players must adapt to tighter surveillance mandates, reassess cost‑benefit of satellite services, and consider resilience strategies amid evolving cyber‑and‑physical threats.