Epic Aircraft has reached another important milestone in its international expansion with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granting type certification to the E1000 AX, clearing the way for sales and operations across Europe. The certification, announced during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, allows the Oregon-based manufacturer to begin introducing its flagship high-performance single-engine turboprop to European customers, with deliveries expected to commence in

French aircraft manufacturer Elixir Aircraft and turbine engine developer Turbotech have taken a significant step toward the future of general aviation training by launching the Elixir Turbine Industrial Program. The announcement, made at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, follows a successful year of flight testing and formalises the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will guide the aircraft toward certification and commercial service by 2030. The agreement ma

By Garth Calitz Walk into any flying club, airport pub or hangar on a Saturday morning and mention the words "best avionics" if you want to witness a debate that makes discussions about oil brands or tailwheel versus nosewheel seem positively civilised. Within seconds, pilots will divide into tribes. Coffee will be spilt. Someone will begin drawing wiring diagrams on a serviette. An avionics engineer will quietly walk away before being asked for a quote. The truth is, there h

By Rob Russell Every time you open a travel site or read a travel article, Cape Town is right up there and everyone wants to travel to the Western Cape. Great for business and the economy, but is the Cape well-equipped to handle the increase in air traffic? At present, the Cape only has one airport that can handle international traffic, both scheduled and non-scheduled. Many of these non-scheduled (and private) flights bring some well-known people to the Cape and they are her

When aviation expertise and emergency medicine come together, the result is far more than a business partnership; it becomes a vital link in South Africa's emergency response capability. The long-standing collaboration between the National Airways Corporation (NAC) and Netcare 911 continues to demonstrate how world-class aviation support can make a critical difference when every second counts. For many years, NAC has provided the aviation backbone that enables Netcare 911 to

Two of the aerospace industry's fastest-growing innovators have joined forces to unveil an ambitious new vertical lift platform that aims to bridge the gap between commercial aviation and modern military operations. At the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, Anduril Industries and Archer Aviation introduced a jointly developed autonomous hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft platform designed to support a wide range of civilian and defence missions

The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) will strengthen its maritime surveillance capability with the addition of a new Beechcraft King Air 360ER, following its delivery by Textron Aviation during the Farnborough International Airshow. The aircraft will expand Malta's existing King Air fleet while maintaining commonality with its current maritime patrol assets. The factory-new extended-range turboprop has been delivered to German mission systems specialist Aerodata AG, where it will

Bell has reached another significant production milestone, announcing the delivery of the 700th Bell 505 helicopter during the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow. The landmark aircraft has been delivered to a private VIP operator, underscoring the Bell 505's growing popularity in the executive and corporate aviation market. The achievement comes less than a decade after the Bell 505 entered service in 2017, highlighting the strong global demand for the light single-engine

One of the world's leading aircraft lessors has reinforced its confidence in the future of single-aisle aviation with a major commitment to Boeing. At the Farnborough International Airshow, SMBC Aviation Capital announced an order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, comprising 60 737-10s and 40 737-8s, marking one of the largest commercial announcements of the event. The agreement is particularly significant as it represents SMBC Aviation Capital's first-ever order for the Boein

Eve Air Mobility has reached two significant milestones in the certification journey of its Eve 100 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, further strengthening the company's ambitions to bring the aircraft to global markets. Announced during the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, the developments include the opening of a public consultation by Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) on updated airworthiness criteria for the Eve 100, as well as E

Cirrus has introduced the TRAC10, a purpose-built training aircraft aimed at professional flight schools, universities and pilot training organisations. The new aircraft represents an expansion of the company's dedicated training portfolio and has been designed to address the evolving requirements of modern commercial pilot training. Production of the TRAC10 will take place at Cirrus' headquarters in Duluth, Minnesota. The manufacturer expects to begin deliveries to customers

By Garth Calitz The reported R1 billion credit facility extended to South African Airways (SAA) by Standard Bank has once again placed the national carrier under the aviation industry's microscope. While the existence of the facility has been widely reported, some important question remains unanswered: Who, if anyone, guaranteed the loan? Neither SAA nor Standard Bank has disclosed the terms of the agreement, citing commercial confidentiality. That is standard practice in the

As modern battlefields continue to evolve, one of the greatest challenges facing military planners is how to defeat a weapon that is both inexpensive to build and costly to intercept. Airbus Defence and Space believes it has found part of the answer with its latest development, the Bird of Prey, a reusable uncrewed interceptor designed specifically to hunt and destroy one-way attack drones. The rapid proliferation of one-way attack drones, often referred to as Suicide drones

As wildfires become larger, more destructive and increasingly difficult to control, the aviation industry is searching for innovative ways to support traditional aerial firefighting operations. One of the most intriguing concepts currently under development is the FLYOX I, a large amphibious uncrewed aircraft developed by Spanish company Singular Aircraft. Unlike the small drones that have become commonplace for aerial photography and infrastructure inspections, the FLYOX I o

The Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat has reached another significant milestone in its development, becoming the first collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) to participate in the multinational Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, providing valuable insight into how autonomous aircraft could operate alongside crewed fighters in future coalition operations. Held across the Western Pacific in June, the biennial exercise brought together forces from the United States and allied nations to refine joi

Air cargo connectivity between China and Africa has received another boost with the restart of Astral Aviation's dedicated freighter service linking Haikou, China, with Johannesburg, South Africa. The renewed operation, launched in partnership with Fly Noor Aviation Services, is expected to strengthen one of the world's fastest-growing trade corridors while supporting the continued expansion of e-commerce and high-value freight between the two regions. The agreement was forma

NATO has taken a major step toward modernising its airborne surveillance capability by selecting Saab's GlobalEye as its preferred Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platform. During the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that the Alliance will begin formal negotiations with Swedish defence and aerospace company Saab for the potential acquisition of up to ten GlobalEye aircraft. While the announcement represents a significant m

Electra has taken another significant step toward bringing its innovative EL9 hybrid-electric aircraft to market after achieving an important certification milestone with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Virginia-based aerospace company announced that the FAA has officially closed the G-1 Issue Paper for the EL9 Ultra Short aircraft, establishing the certification basis for the company's nine-passenger hybrid-electric design. The milestone marks the complet

By Garth Calitz The United States Air Force has officially commenced the operational preparation phase at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota to serve as the aircraft's first permanent operating base for the next-generation B-21 Raider stealth bomber. The development marks a significant step in one of the U.S. Air Force's largest modernisation programmes, as the service prepares to transition from the long-serving B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit to the sixth-generation B-21 R

By Garth Calitz Long before ultra-realistic cockpits, virtual air traffic controllers and flight simulators that required computers with the processing power of a small nation, there was Google Earth Flight Simulator. Hidden away like an aviation Easter egg in the original desktop version of Google Earth, it allowed anyone with a keyboard and a sense of adventure to leap into the cockpit and explore the world. It wasn't particularly realistic, the aircraft seemed to have an i

When millions of Americans looked skyward during the recent America 250 celebrations, they witnessed a breathtaking spectacle unlike anything seen during previous Independence Day commemorations. Instead of relying solely on traditional fireworks, thousands of illuminated drones painted giant images across the night sky, telling the story of 250 years of American history through light, movement and precision choreography. The display, created by Texas-based Sky Elements, feat

Air Europa has launched a new scheduled direct service between Madrid and Johannesburg, marking the airline's first route into sub-Saharan Africa and adding another long-haul connection to South Africa's largest international gateway. The inaugural flight arrived at O.R. Tambo International Airport on 25 June 2026 aboard one of the airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, where it was welcomed by representatives from Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), South African Touris

When the first Airbus A220 entered commercial service in July 2016, few could have predicted the remarkable impact the aircraft would have on the global airline industry. A decade later, the aircraft has established itself as one of the most successful modern commercial airliners, combining advanced technology, exceptional passenger comfort and impressive operating economics. Originally conceived as Bombardier's C Series, the aircraft's journey has been one of persistence, in

Cape Town-based drone pilot and videographer Luke Bell has pushed the boundaries of unmanned aviation after setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest flight by a multirotor drone. His specially developed "Endurance Drone" remained airborne for an impressive 4 hours, 21 minutes and 39 seconds, establishing a new benchmark for electric multirotor endurance. The achievement represents the culmination of months of engineering, testing and refinement. Rather than relying