By Garth Calitz In a significant decision affecting the global cargo industry, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released an emergency airworthiness directive grounding all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft. This directive, declared on 8 November, comes in response to the fatal crash of a UPS Airlines MD-11F during take-off at Louisville International Airport on 4 November. The FAA announced that it "has determined the unsafe condition is l

By Garth Calitz South African Airways (SAA) is attempting to step up its game in regional travel by launching a new twice-daily flight between Johannesburg and Gaborone, Botswana. The first flight took off on 4 November and management was quick to chalk it up as yet another big step in the national airline's growth across Africa. Speaking at the launch event in Gaborone, SAA Group CEO Professor John Lamola emphasised that the new route represents far more than an additional f

Textron Aviation has achieved a significant milestone with the FAA certification of its latest midsize business jet, the Cessna Citation Ascend. This accomplishment represents a crucial step towards its service launch later this year, reinforcing Ascend's status as the next advancement in the world's most successful midsize jet family. Designed and manufactured at Textron Aviation’s Wichita headquarters, the Citation Ascend represents a complete reimagining of the proven Cita

Boeing has officially broken ground on a major expansion of its Boeing South Carolina (BSC) site, the home of the 787 Dreamliner program. The move marks a significant investment in the future of the company’s widebody production as it gears up to increase 787 output to 10 aircraft per month by 2026. The expansion project will enable Boeing to address the increasing global demand for the 787 Dreamliner series, known for its long-range efficiency, passenger comfort, and economi

This week, a significant milestone in aviation history took place in California's skies as Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, collaborating with NASA, successfully conducted the inaugural flight of the X-59. This innovative supersonic research aircraft is engineered to travel faster than sound without the disruptive sonic boom that has historically restricted supersonic travel over land. The X-59, an elegant, needle-nosed experimental jet, departed from U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in P

The spirit of adventure and innovation that has long defined American backcountry aviation reached new heights, literally, when a factory-stock CubCrafters Carbon Cub UL climbed to a verified altitude of 37,609 feet above sea level. The flight, conducted on October 28, 2025, shattered expectations and set an unofficial world altitude record for Cub-type aircraft, eclipsing a benchmark that had stood for nearly three-quarters of a century. Piloted by Jon Kotwicki of Fly8MA Fli

By Garth Calitz The North American X-15A-2 represents one of the most striking chapters in the history of hypersonic flight. It was a radical, purpose-designed modification of an already groundbreaking rocket plane, testing the limits of materials, aerodynamics and pilot endurance. Unlike a sleek airshow performer, the X-15A-2 functioned as a rugged flying laboratory. It was stripped down, elongated, and reinforced to address one primary question: how does a piloted vehicle p

For all the Chopper enthusiasts, Robinson Helicopter Company has released its highly anticipated book, Climb Higher: Worldwide Adventures with Robinson Helicopters . The publication marks a milestone moment for the iconic California-based manufacturer, chronicling nearly five decades of engineering excellence, industry disruption, and a steadfast commitment to making helicopter flight accessible to pilots around the world. "Climb Higher" tells the story of Frank D. Robinson,

By Garth Calitz The US government shutdown that kicked off at the beginning of October has turned the nation's aviation system into a comedy of errors, turning usual travel plans into an unexpected episode of “Survivor: Airport Edition.” While commercial flights are still taking off, the US skies are not exactly friendly. With more employees staying at home, processing is moving slower than a sloth on Sunday and staffing levels are making a skeleton crew look overstaffed. Del

By Garth Calitz Boeing has taken a major step in assisting in enhancing Australia’s maritime surveillance and anti-submarine capabilities with the induction of the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon into a comprehensive upgrade program. At the same time, the RAAF has welcomed its 13th Poseidon aircraft into service, further strengthening Australia’s fleet readiness and operational reach across its extensive maritime domain. This milestone signifies a new ph