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