By Garth Calitz South African Airways (SAA) has delivered a headline that would have seemed improbable just a few years ago: the national carrier claims to be profitable for a second consecutive year. At its Annual General Meeting in Johannesburg, the SAA Group announced a net profit of R155 million for the year ended 31 March 2025, with the airline itself contributing R30 million. For an airline long associated with turbulence of the financial rather than aerodynamic kind, t

By Garth Calitz In the long history of experimental aviation, few aircraft have looked as unconventional or as quietly influential as NASA’s AD-1. With its single pivoting wing mounted diagonally across the fuselage, the AD-1 appeared less like a conventional aeroplane and more like a designer’s sketch brought to life. Yet behind its unusual appearance lay a serious aerodynamic concept that aimed to address one of aviation’s most enduring challenges: how to reduce drag and im

By Garth Calitz In the aviation world, landing gear might not win beauty contests, but it is absolutely crucial to the safe operation of any aircraft, as they all have to land at some point and return safely to the sky. With that in mind, Boeing has been placing a renewed emphasis on its Landing Gear Exchange (LGE) programme, helping airlines keep their fleets flying and maintenance headaches on the runway. Landing gear is “boring but essential,” which makes Boeing’s exchange

The global fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft has officially surpassed one million cumulative flying hours, a figure that represents not just a numerical achievement, but millions of take-offs, landings, intercepts, training sorties and the occasional pilot wondering. More than two decades after entering frontline service, the Typhoon continues to demonstrate that it is very much in its prime, combining operational maturity with a steady stream of upgrades that keep

By Garth Calitz ExecuJet has been appointed as the sole Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Sydney International Airport, a move that reshapes the business aviation landscape at Australia’s primary international gateway. The strategic appointment follows a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation of leading international FBO operators and underscores Sydney Airport’s ambition to partner with a provider capable of delivering a premium, future-focused service offering for VIP passengers, crew

O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), South Africa’s primary aviation gateway and Africa’s busiest airport, is pressing ahead with an ambitious R14.5 billion, five-year capital expenditure programme aimed at modernising critical infrastructure, improving operational resilience and significantly elevating the passenger experience. The investment forms part of Airports Company South Africa’s (ACSA) long-term strategy to ensure ORTIA remains competitive as a leading intercon

Bell Textron has unveiled TRU Simulation + Training’s Veris Virtual Reality (VR) Bell 505 Flight Simulator at the Singapore Airshow 2026, marking the system’s Asia-Pacific debut and underlining Bell’s growing emphasis on advanced training solutions to complement its light helicopter portfolio. Developed by TRU Simulation + Training Inc., an affiliate of Bell Textron Inc., the Veris VR simulator has been qualified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Level 7 Fl

Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus has officially commenced construction of a major new sales, service and production facility at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ), marking a significant expansion of the company’s industrial footprint in the United States. The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by Pilatus executives alongside representatives from local, regional and state authorities, signals the first phase of what is planned to become the company’s flagship U.

By Garth Calitz Photos by Garth Calitz and Trevor Cohen The South African Air Force (SAAF) marked its 106th anniversary with a traditional Prestige Day Parade at Air Force Base (AFB) Swartkop, reaffirming its enduring legacy as one of the world’s oldest independent air forces and underscoring its continued relevance in a challenging operational and fiscal environment. Held at the historic Swartkop Air Force Base (recently renamed Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing), widely rega

By Garth Calitz Ghana is moving decisively to re-establish a national airline, marking a strategic push to revitalise its aviation sector and strengthen its position as a key regional hub in West Africa. After more than two decades without a state-backed carrier, the government has set a clear goal of launching a new national airline within the next year, with plans to celebrate “a Ghanaian airline flying to the rest of the world” by early 2027. The announcement comes amid a

By Garth Calitz The recent announcement by US President Donald Trump to pursue the “decertification” of Bombardier aircraft in the United States has sent shockwaves through the global aerospace industry. While the proposal has yet to be fully implemented, the political signal alone has raised serious concerns among manufacturers, operators, regulators, and investors about the stability of international aviation certification frameworks. At the centre of the dispute is Bombard

By Garth Calitz Throughout the history of aviation, war has been one of the most powerful, even if uncomfortable, forces shaping the development of civilian aircraft. While conflict brings devastation and human suffering, it has repeatedly accelerated technological progress, industrial capability and operational expertise that later migrated into commercial aviation. From jet propulsion and advanced materials to navigation systems and global airline networks, the influence of

For those who were anticipating positive news for the South African Air Force, Embraer has officially identified the Republic of Uzbekistan as the previously unnamed customer for its C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. This announcement was made during the Singapore Airshow, dashing hopes that South Africa might be the customer. This confirmation represents a notable achievement for both Embraer and the Uzbek Air Force, with Uzbekistan poised to be the first operato

Exercise Red Flag 2026 will once again bring together air, space and ground forces from the United States and allied nations for one of the most complex and demanding military training exercises in the world. Conducted primarily at Nellis Air Force Base and across the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), Red Flag provides a realistic environment in which participating forces can practise large-scale, high-intensity combat operations. The exercise operates across more than 1

Boeing has secured a new production contract from the United States Air Force to build four additional MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, further accelerating the service’s effort to modernise its rotary-wing fleet and strengthen homeland security operations. The latest award marks the second MH-139A production contract in just five months and brings the total number of aircraft under contract to 38. Announced on 29 January 2026, the contract includes the production of the additi

The French Navy is set to become the world’s first operational user of Airbus Helicopters’ Aliaca vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial system, marking a significant step forward in naval drone operations. The French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) has placed an order for a new VTOL-configured version of the SMDM (Système de Mini-Drones de la Marine) through Airbus Helicopters’ subsidiary, Survey Copter, further strengthening France’s position at the fore

The Sukhoi Su-35S represents the most advanced and capable evolution of Russia’s famed Flanker family, blending extreme aerodynamic performance with modern sensors, powerful engines and multi-role flexibility. While often described as a “4++ generation” fighter, the Su-35S sits at the very top of non-stealth combat aircraft in service today and remains a cornerstone of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). The Su-35S traces its lineage to the Su-27, an aircraft originally desig

By Garth Calitz The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Air Command has received a substantial consignment of C-130 Hercules spare parts and maintenance equipment from the United States, reinforcing a long-standing defence partnership and significantly improving the operational readiness of Botswana’s strategic airlift fleet. The package, valued at close to US$ 1 million, includes a broad range of consumables, tooling, and aircraft components essential to sustaining C-130 operations

By Rob Russell In the early 1970s, following the successful launch of the first wide-body airliner, the 747, Boeing began looking to further develop its narrow-body 727. Designed for short and medium-length routes, the trijet was the best-selling jetliner of the 1960s and a mainstay of US and European airlines. Studies focused on improving the 189-seat 727-200, the most successful variant. Two approaches were considered: a stretched 727 (to be designated 727-300), or an all-n

By Garth Calitz The global commercial aviation industry closed 2025 with airliner sales at levels not seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring airlines’ urgent need to modernise fleets, restore capacity and meet long-term growth projections. While aircraft demand remained exceptionally strong across all market segments, persistent production constraints continued to define the pace at which manufacturers could deliver on record order books. At the heart of the ma

Qatar Airways is set to significantly expand its South African network in early 2026, adding 7 extra weekly flights to the country. The increase will lift the carrier’s total South Africa capacity from 35 to 42 weekly services, reinforcing the airline’s long-term commitment to the market and underlining growing demand for travel between Southern Africa and the rest of the world via Doha. The expanded schedule will be phased in from mid-February to early March 2026 and will se

In a move that underscores both ambition and strategic foresight, Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest and most globally connected carrier, has confirmed a firm order for nine Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, marking a significant expansion of its widebody fleet as international travel demand continues to grow. The announcement, made on January 20, 2026, reflects the airline’s commitment to fleet modernisation, sustainable operations, and enhanced global connectivity. The ne

By Des Warden To my fellow aircraft owners, pilots and AMOs. The ongoing debate surrounding the so-called “12-year engine rule” did not arise suddenly, nor is it the result of a single regulatory decision. It is the outcome of more than two decades of incremental drift; a slow convergence of manufacturer guidance, regulatory interpretation, and, most critically, sustained inaction by General Aviation itself. The origin of the issue is well known. The engine manufacturers Lyc

The Bristow Group has made a significant move in influencing the future of regional and point-to-point air mobility by signing a pioneering Pre-Delivery Payment (PDP) deposit agreement with Electra. This agreement secures the first delivery slot for the EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft. The multimillion-dollar agreement converts Bristow’s earlier Letter of Intent into binding commercial terms for five EL9 aircraft, all scheduled for delivery during the model’s first y