By Garth Calitz On 6 January 2026, the aviation industry takes a moment to recognise a significant milestone. Exactly a century earlier, in the chilly winter atmosphere of Berlin, a merger occurred that would permanently change the course of global commerce and travel. The joining of Deutsche Aero Lloyd and Junkers Luftverkehr led to the creation of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Today, a hundred years after those groundbreaking times, Lufthansa marks its centenary not just as an airli

As we welcome a new year, all of us at Flightline Weekly would like to extend our best wishes to the aviation community, an industry defined by resilience, innovation and an unwavering passion for flight. A new year is always a time to look forward: new opportunities, new markets, new aircraft, new technologies and renewed momentum. For aviation-related businesses, it is also the ideal moment to ask an important question: Where will your brand be seen in the year ahead? Fligh

By Garth Calitz While much of the general aviation industry was winding down for the festive season, the atmosphere at Van’s Aircraft’s Aurora, Oregon headquarters remained electric. In a moment that will likely be recorded as a pivot point in the company’s storied history, the team marked two days before Christmas not with a holiday party, but with a milestone: the official commencement of customer deliveries for the highly anticipated RV-15. On the afternoon of 23 December,

For years, Garmin's Emergency Autoland system has been recognised as one of the most groundbreaking safety innovations in general aviation. This technology can completely control an aircraft, navigate to an appropriate airport, communicate with air traffic control and land safely without pilot intervention. However, until recently, it was primarily a theoretical concept, showcased in tests and simulations rather than real-life emergencies. This changed when Emergency Autoland

At the end of 2025, the midsize business jet market saw a major new addition with the official entry into service of the Cessna Citation Ascend, delivered to its first retail customer on 30 December. This milestone represents the completion of a program announced in 2023 and demonstrates Textron Aviation's commitment to enhancing performance, technology, and cabin experience in one of the most competitive sectors of business aviation. The Citation Ascend received type certifi

BRM AERO has reached a major milestone in light aircraft certification with the Bristell B23, which has become the first aircraft in the world to receive EASA CS-23 approval while being powered by the Rotax 916iS engine. Certified on 17 December 2025, this approval introduces the highest-power Rotax option to the Bristell B23 lineup, enhancing the aircraft's capabilities for advanced training, touring, and demanding operations, such as glider towing. The EASA approval of the

Australia is a country celebrated for its breathtaking beauty and hospitable nature, but it is also marked by its extremes. Vast deserts stretch for hundreds of kilometres, rugged coastlines confront harsh seas, and bushland gives way to ravines and mountain ranges that challenge even experienced travellers. For emergency medical services (EMS) operators, the main threat isn't just the terrain or wildlife; it's the distance. When accidents or medical emergencies occur, patien

By Garth Calitz Urban transportation transformed on December 19, 2025. At Embraer’s famous flight test facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, a quiet revolution unfolded in the air. Eve Air Mobility embarked on the flight-test phase of its mission, achieving the first hover flight of its full-scale, uncrewed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) prototype. For an industry that has long vowed to turn "The Jetsons" from fiction into reality, this milestone signifies mo