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

By Garth Calitz As the year draws to a close and hangars grow a little quieter, the festive season offers us a welcome moment to pause and reflect on another remarkable yet difficult year in aviation. It has been a year shaped by innovation, adversity, resilience and the enduring passion that unites pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, manufacturers, operators, regulators, and aviation enthusiasts across the globe. Despite ongoing challenges and rapid change, the aviat

By Rob Russell The DC 4 gets another panel beating and a new shape!!! Douglas Aircraft developed the C-124 from 1947 to 1949, from a prototype they created from a World War II-designed Douglas C-74 Globemaster and based on lessons learned during the Berlin Airlift. The aircraft was powered by four large Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major piston engines producing 3,800 hp (2,800 kW) each. The C-124 had its origins in the C-74. The Douglas C-74 Globemaster was a United States he

By Garth Calitz Ethiopia's geological "sleeping giant" has stirred, and its initial stirrings have thrown the global aviation industry into chaos. On Sunday, 23 November 2025, the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted for the first time in over 12,000 years. While the eruption has had a significant local impact on livestock and nomadic communities, the atmospheric effects have led to a logistical crisis extending from the Horn of Africa to the Indian subcontin

Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) is making a strong case for its R66 turbine helicopter as the future of military initial rotary-wing training. The Torrance, California-based manufacturer recently announced that a combined fleet of just six R66 aircraft has surpassed 2,300 total flight hours in less than 7 months of operation. This substantial accumulation of flight time is currently being logged across a spectrum of U.S. military training efforts involving Army, Navy, Coast

In the high-stakes environment of naval aviation, where split-second decisions are the difference between mission success and catastrophe, the interface between pilot and machine is undergoing a radical transformation. On 12 December 2025, Collins Elbit Vision Systems (CEVS) announced a pivotal leap forward: the successful completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Zero-G Helmet Mounted Display System+ (HMDS+). This milestone represents a significant turning point

In a landmark decision underscoring Canada's commitment to strategic and sovereign aerospace capabilities, the Government of Canada has selected the made-in-Canada Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to bolster the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) multi-mission air transport fleet. This significant procurement sees Bombardier providing six of its high-performance Global 6500 jets, a move that promises to enhance the RCAF's capacity for crucial worldwide utility and support missi

Boeing has reached a major milestone in the long-term modernisation of the U.S. Air Force’s iconic B-52 Stratofortress, delivering the first aircraft fitted with a new-generation radar system for dedicated flight testing. The delivery marks a critical step in ensuring that the legendary bomber remains operationally relevant and technologically dominant well into the 2050s and beyond. The aircraft, configured for the Radar Modernisation Program (RMP) flight-test phase, has bee

Gulfstream Aerospace has commenced the flight test program for its latest aircraft, the Gulfstream G300, after a successful first flight on 5 December 2025. This important achievement highlights the advanced development stage of the super-midsize jet, which was introduced slightly more than two months earlier on 30 September. Set to transform its category, the G300 is a significant enhancement to Gulfstream’s next-generation lineup. The inaugural flight of the first G300 test

By Garth Calitz Few modern aviation stories are as captivating or as uniquely South African as the tale of Sling Aircraft. Over the last two decades, this Johannesburg-based manufacturer has evolved from a modest startup into a highly esteemed name in the international light aircraft industry. Their journey is marked by bold flights, continuous innovation and a steadfast conviction that high-performance aircraft can be affordable, accessible and elegantly designed. The journe

By Garth Calitz Not many helicopters have made as big a mark on modern aviation as the Bell 206 JetRanger. With its sleek look, dependable performance and amazing versatility, it's been setting the standard in the light-utility helicopter world for over sixty years. Whether it's helping out news crews, keeping an eye on cities, flying VIPs, training pilots or even serving on military front lines, the JetRanger has become one of the most recognisable and trusted aircraft aroun

By Garth Calitz Denel, South Africa's national defence tech group, claims to be bouncing back from a really tough period and feels it is gradually getting back on track. Thanks to strong support from its new shareholder, the Department of Defence (Read the SA Taxpayer), Denel is rolling out a plan to attempt to turn things around. The goal is to get back to top performance, win back trust from stakeholders and set the company up for long-term stability and growth. The latest

Turkish Airlines, Türkiye's national flag carrier, and South African Airways (SAA), the national airline of South Africa, have made a major advancement in enhancing aviation cooperation between the two nations by signing a new codeshare agreement. This partnership was officially established on 4 December 2025 at a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, coinciding with the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) meeting. Senior executives from both airlines attended to formalise t

Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has made significant progress in its revitalisation efforts by announcing that its 480B turbine-powered helicopter has achieved full certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its crash-resistant fuel system (CRFS). This approval represents a milestone for the Michigan-based company and advances rotorcraft safety, as Enstrom reenters the U.S. market with renewed energy and an improved product. The certification adheres to a

The approval of the GCC Civil Aviation Authority (GCC-CAA) represents a significant milestone in the integration of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Endorsed at the 46th GCC Summit in Bahrain in early December 2025, this unified regulatory body is poised to revolutionise the aviation operations across the six member states. This decision underscores the GCC's dedication to strengthening its position as the world’s leading aviation hub. The establishment of the GCC-CAA is a

Lockheed Martin’s notoriously renowned Skunk Works division, depending on what side you find yourself on, has advanced significantly towards fully autonomous unmanned operations by successfully demonstrating artificial intelligence-driven mission-contingency management (AI/MCM). This was achieved using a Stalker XE Block 25 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and a modified Alta X 2.0 drone. The live demonstration, conducted on December 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas, highlighted how AI c

Archer Aviation has made a significant move to transform transportation in one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States by revealing comprehensive plans for a fully integrated electric air taxi network across the Miami metropolitan region. Announced on December 3, 2025, the company's vision is to link Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach with swift 10–20 minute flights, significantly cutting travel times and avoiding the area's notorious traffic ja