By Garth Calitz In a country where aviation often means gravel runways, high-density altitudes and long distances between fuel stops, aircraft need to be more than attractive machines; they need to be tough, simple and affordable. The Bat Hawk is exactly that. Over the years, this proudly South African light sport aircraft (LSA) has carved out a reputation as one of the most practical light aircraft operating on the continent. But the Bat Hawk’s story is about more than priva

By Garth Calitz A significant labour development is unfolding in South Africa’s aviation sector, as the government considers whether pilots, cabin crew, and certain aviation personnel should be designated as “essential services” under national labour legislation, a move that could fundamentally reshape industrial relations in the industry. At the centre of the process is the Essential Services Committee (ESC), a statutory body established under the Labour Relations Act. The c

By Rob Russell It's not an unusual sight nowadays to see so many white aircraft parked around airports. It's not due to a lack of imagination from the airlines! Gone are the days of fancy paint schemes. Well, at least for a few years! Whilst an aircraft painted all over showing a certain brand or advertising a certain product is unusual and stands out, most aircraft are white for some very practical (and as important, economical) reasons. (And to keep the bean counters happy)

By Garth Calitz The latest escalation involving Iran has once again reminded the aviation world of a hard truth: geopolitics and jet fuel are permanently intertwined. While commercial aircraft cruise serenely at FL350, they remain deeply vulnerable to events unfolding far below. The recent conflict centred on Iran has disrupted global air transport in ways both immediate and far-reaching and the ripple effects are being felt from Johannesburg to Tokyo. The most immediate impa

There are few things in aviation as universally understood as the urge to share a great flying story. Whether it’s a sunrise departure from a quiet Highveld strip, a coastal hop with endless blue on the horizon or a triumphant first solo, pilots are natural storytellers. Now, Slingers around the world have an added incentive to post those moments. Sling Aircraft has officially kicked off the next round of its popular #TakingYouPlaces competition — and this time, the spotlight

It is widely accepted that modern aviation was born on 17 December 1903, when Orville Wright lifted off the sands of Kitty Hawk, ushering in a new era of powered flight. Yet what is less commonly known is that South Africa entered the age of aviation remarkably soon thereafter. Just six years later, the first powered flight in South Africa and indeed the first heavier-than-air powered flight on the African continent, took place on local soil. Interestingly, the origins of Sou

After several challenging years navigating restructuring and regulatory hurdles, 2025 will likely be remembered as the year Enstrom Helicopter Corporation firmly reasserted itself in the global light helicopter market. From certification milestones and new model launches to leadership transitions and expanded service networks, the Michigan-based manufacturer spent the year rebuilding momentum and turning heads. One of the most significant developments of the year was the full

Embraer has unveiled what it calls the first true evolution of its acclaimed Praetor family: the new Praetor 600E and Praetor 500E. More than a routine upgrade, these aircraft introduce a fully reimagined cabin concept and next-generation onboard technology aimed squarely at redefining the private flight experience. When Embraer launched the original Praetor 600 and 500 in 2018, the Brazilian manufacturer set a new benchmark in the super-midsize and midsize categories. The Pr

By Garth Calitz When Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) authorised local manufacture of the Sling TSi light sport aircraft in early 2026, it was more than just another regulatory approval in a distant market. For South Africa’s aviation community, it marked another international milestone for one of the country’s most successful modern aerospace exports. From its roots in a Johannesburg hangar to production lines in the United States and now Brazil, Sling Aircraft

By Rob Russell The Aero Spacelines Super Guppy Turbine is a large, wide-bodied four engine turboprop cargo aircraft used for transporting outsize cargo components. It was produced by Aero Spacelines. Five were built in two variants, both of which were colloquially referred to as the "Super Guppy". The first Super Guppy, or "SG", was built directly from a retired USAF Boeing YC-97J Stratofreighter.. The fuselage was lengthened to 141 feet (43 m), and ballooned out to a maximum

By Garth Calitz In a moment that neatly blurred the lines between motorsport theatre and precision aviation, Red Bull athlete and Rotax brand ambassador Luke Czepiela has become the first pilot to fly the complete racing line of the Bahrain International Circuit from the air. The low-level flight, captured in the short film Aircraft Meets Racetrack, was unveiled by BRP-Rotax in February 2026 and premiered during the circuit’s official Formula 1 pre-season press conference in

By Garth Calitz Textron Aviation has once again taken top honours across multiple delivery categories in the global general aviation market, reaffirming its position as one of the industry’s most reliable heavy-hitters. According to the latest annual shipments and billings report published by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the Wichita-based manufacturer led the field in total business jet deliveries, total turbine aircraft deliveries, and total turbopr

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration has selected the BRM Aero's Bristell trainer to support the Republic of Korea Air Force’s initial pilot training programme, reinforcing ROKAF’s efforts to modernise and future-proof its training pipeline. The multi-year agreement, announced on 6 February 2026, will introduce a new generation of training aircraft into Air Force service as part of a broader push to enhance training efficiency and operational readiness. Un

NASA’s carefully choreographed countdown towards the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon has hit a familiar speed bump, with engineers now preparing for the possibility of rolling the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center. The precaution follows an overnight observation on 21 February that helium flow to the rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) was interrupted, prompting

The Royal Australian Air Force is set to significantly expand its C-130J Super Hercules training capacity through a new Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme that will see Lockheed Martin deliver a suite of advanced training devices and simulator upgrades. Awarded through Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the United States, the programme will introduce next-generation training systems aligned with the latest operational configuration of the C-130J, with deliveries scheduled

India’s ambitions to build a homegrown regional aviation manufacturing ecosystem took a tangible step forward this week as Adani Defence & Aerospace and Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer exchanged an enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore establishing a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the Embraer E175 regional jet in India. The agreement was formalised in the presence of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and India’s Minister of Commerce & Indus

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