By Garth Calitz Last week marked 36 years since the maiden flight of the Rooivalk AH-2A attack helicopter's XDM Testbed on 11 February 1990. From its earliest experimental roots to combat deployment under the United Nations banner, the Rooivalk’s story is one of ambition, ingenuity, prolonged development, political constraint and hard-earned operational credibility. Few military aviation programmes better reflect the strategic pressures of their era and fewer still illustrate

By Garth Calitz South Africa’s airline landscape could be heading for another significant shake-up following reports that infrastructure investment firm Harith General Partners has signed a purchase order to acquire a controlling stake in low-cost carrier FlySafair. While the transaction still faces regulatory approvals and finalisation, the prospect of a new ownership structure at one of the country’s most consistently profitable airlines has sparked both optimism and unease

EGYPTAIR has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s long-haul fleet modernisation programme and positioning the carrier as the launch operator of the type in North Africa. The handover, completed in Toulouse on 9 February 2026, is the first step in a broader acquisition plan that will see EGYPTAIR introduce 16 A350-900s into service over the coming years. The new aircraft is expected to play a central role in reshaping th

By Garth Calitz The Boeing Company has secured a new contract from the United States Air Force to modernise the flight deck of the C-17A Globemaster III, ensuring that the iconic strategic airlifter remains operationally relevant well into the second half of the 21st century. The programme will see the design, manufacture, integration, qualification and military certification of a fully modernised cockpit, replacing ageing avionics and mission-essential equipment with a conte

Embraer has taken another deliberate step in deepening its engagement with the African defence and aerospace market, announcing the appointment of Leandro Marc Pienaar as Business Development Director for the Southern Africa region. The move signals the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer’s intent to sharpen its regional footprint, build closer partnerships with governments and industry, and position its defence portfolio more prominently in a part of the world where airlift, bo

By Garth Calitz London Heathrow has decided that if it’s going to save the planet, it may as well do so with a bit of ambition and gusto. The airport has announced a new target for alternative aviation fuels to make up 5.6% of its total fuel mix in 2026, stepping well ahead of the UK government’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate of 3.6% for the same year. It also marks a notable jump from Heathrow’s own earlier target of 3% in 2025, proving that even large airports can

Bombardier’s Global 8000 has officially completed its certification grand slam. Following approvals from Transport Canada in November 2025 and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in December 2025, the ultra-long-range flagship has now received European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification, clearing the final major regulatory hurdle for widespread global operations. The milestone not only broadens the aircraft’s market access across Europe and beyond, but als

Air Canada has quietly turned last year’s “undisclosed” widebody order into a very visible statement of intent, confirming a firm purchase for eight Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. While eight aeroplanes may sound modest in an industry accustomed to headline-grabbing mega-orders, the choice of variant speaks volumes about where Canada’s flag carrier sees its long-haul future heading. The A350-1000 represents the largest and longest-legged member of Airbus’ A350 family, designed to

By Garth Calitz South African Airways (SAA) has delivered a headline that would have seemed improbable just a few years ago: the national carrier claims to be profitable for a second consecutive year. At its Annual General Meeting in Johannesburg, the SAA Group announced a net profit of R155 million for the year ended 31 March 2025, with the airline itself contributing R30 million. For an airline long associated with turbulence of the financial rather than aerodynamic kind, t

By Garth Calitz In the long history of experimental aviation, few aircraft have looked as unconventional or as quietly influential as NASA’s AD-1. With its single pivoting wing mounted diagonally across the fuselage, the AD-1 appeared less like a conventional aeroplane and more like a designer’s sketch brought to life. Yet behind its unusual appearance lay a serious aerodynamic concept that aimed to address one of aviation’s most enduring challenges: how to reduce drag and im

By Garth Calitz In the aviation world, landing gear might not win beauty contests, but it is absolutely crucial to the safe operation of any aircraft, as they all have to land at some point and return safely to the sky. With that in mind, Boeing has been placing a renewed emphasis on its Landing Gear Exchange (LGE) programme, helping airlines keep their fleets flying and maintenance headaches on the runway. Landing gear is “boring but essential,” which makes Boeing’s exchange

The global fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft has officially surpassed one million cumulative flying hours, a figure that represents not just a numerical achievement, but millions of take-offs, landings, intercepts, training sorties and the occasional pilot wondering. More than two decades after entering frontline service, the Typhoon continues to demonstrate that it is very much in its prime, combining operational maturity with a steady stream of upgrades that keep

By Garth Calitz ExecuJet has been appointed as the sole Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Sydney International Airport, a move that reshapes the business aviation landscape at Australia’s primary international gateway. The strategic appointment follows a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation of leading international FBO operators and underscores Sydney Airport’s ambition to partner with a provider capable of delivering a premium, future-focused service offering for VIP passengers, crew

O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), South Africa’s primary aviation gateway and Africa’s busiest airport, is pressing ahead with an ambitious R14.5 billion, five-year capital expenditure programme aimed at modernising critical infrastructure, improving operational resilience and significantly elevating the passenger experience. The investment forms part of Airports Company South Africa’s (ACSA) long-term strategy to ensure ORTIA remains competitive as a leading intercon

Bell Textron has unveiled TRU Simulation + Training’s Veris Virtual Reality (VR) Bell 505 Flight Simulator at the Singapore Airshow 2026, marking the system’s Asia-Pacific debut and underlining Bell’s growing emphasis on advanced training solutions to complement its light helicopter portfolio. Developed by TRU Simulation + Training Inc., an affiliate of Bell Textron Inc., the Veris VR simulator has been qualified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Level 7 Fl

Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus has officially commenced construction of a major new sales, service and production facility at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ), marking a significant expansion of the company’s industrial footprint in the United States. The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by Pilatus executives alongside representatives from local, regional and state authorities, signals the first phase of what is planned to become the company’s flagship U.

By Garth Calitz Photos by Garth Calitz and Trevor Cohen The South African Air Force (SAAF) marked its 106th anniversary with a traditional Prestige Day Parade at Air Force Base (AFB) Swartkop, reaffirming its enduring legacy as one of the world’s oldest independent air forces and underscoring its continued relevance in a challenging operational and fiscal environment. Held at the historic Swartkop Air Force Base (recently renamed Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing), widely rega

By Garth Calitz Ghana is moving decisively to re-establish a national airline, marking a strategic push to revitalise its aviation sector and strengthen its position as a key regional hub in West Africa. After more than two decades without a state-backed carrier, the government has set a clear goal of launching a new national airline within the next year, with plans to celebrate “a Ghanaian airline flying to the rest of the world” by early 2027. The announcement comes amid a

By Garth Calitz The recent announcement by US President Donald Trump to pursue the “decertification” of Bombardier aircraft in the United States has sent shockwaves through the global aerospace industry. While the proposal has yet to be fully implemented, the political signal alone has raised serious concerns among manufacturers, operators, regulators, and investors about the stability of international aviation certification frameworks. At the centre of the dispute is Bombard

By Garth Calitz Throughout the history of aviation, war has been one of the most powerful, even if uncomfortable, forces shaping the development of civilian aircraft. While conflict brings devastation and human suffering, it has repeatedly accelerated technological progress, industrial capability and operational expertise that later migrated into commercial aviation. From jet propulsion and advanced materials to navigation systems and global airline networks, the influence of

For those who were anticipating positive news for the South African Air Force, Embraer has officially identified the Republic of Uzbekistan as the previously unnamed customer for its C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. This announcement was made during the Singapore Airshow, dashing hopes that South Africa might be the customer. This confirmation represents a notable achievement for both Embraer and the Uzbek Air Force, with Uzbekistan poised to be the first operato

Exercise Red Flag 2026 will once again bring together air, space and ground forces from the United States and allied nations for one of the most complex and demanding military training exercises in the world. Conducted primarily at Nellis Air Force Base and across the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), Red Flag provides a realistic environment in which participating forces can practise large-scale, high-intensity combat operations. The exercise operates across more than 1

Boeing has secured a new production contract from the United States Air Force to build four additional MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, further accelerating the service’s effort to modernise its rotary-wing fleet and strengthen homeland security operations. The latest award marks the second MH-139A production contract in just five months and brings the total number of aircraft under contract to 38. Announced on 29 January 2026, the contract includes the production of the additi

The French Navy is set to become the world’s first operational user of Airbus Helicopters’ Aliaca vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial system, marking a significant step forward in naval drone operations. The French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) has placed an order for a new VTOL-configured version of the SMDM (Système de Mini-Drones de la Marine) through Airbus Helicopters’ subsidiary, Survey Copter, further strengthening France’s position at the fore