50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

World aircraft news

aircraft related aviation news

Qantas' $10 million regional grants program open for applications

The national carrier is reinforcing its longstanding commitment to regional Australia with $2 million in regional grants available for Australian based not-for-profit community groups and projects that benefit regional areas in 2025. In its fourth year, the Qantas Regional Grants program will provide a total of $10 million in grants over five years – $2 million each year – in the...

Bombardier Defense announced order of two Challenger 650 aircraft destined for ISR missions in Australia

Bombardier Defense announce that Principle Finance, a renowned provider of customised operating lease for aircraft in Australia, has acquired two Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft destined for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Australia. The delivery of both aircraft is planned for 2026.  Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Air...

XTI Aerospace provides TriFan fuel system design update

XTI Aerospace announced the successful update of its fuel system design, achieving a key 2025 first quarter product and engineering milestone announced in a prior press release. The updated fuel system design significantly increases the fuel volume in the wings from approximately 300 gallons to 400 gallons while minimizing unusable fuel in the system.  Dave Ambrose, VP of Engineering at XT...

Technology transfer project between Lockheed Martin and Pilatus for PC-21

Under the terms of an offset project, Pilatus and Lockheed Martin will partner on the technology and development of avionics and training functionality for its advanced next-generation pilot training system. This will allow Pilatus to provide a bespoke pilot training solution to customers operating the F-35 and other fifth-generation frontline aircraft. In 2022, Switzerland finalized an agreement...

Microflite orders Airbus H125 helicopter to expand utility work in Australia

Melbourne based helicopter operator, Microflite, has ordered an additional H125 to join their fleet in Australia, making it their 20th Airbus helicopter ordered over the years. This proven utility helicopter joins the fleet as part of Microflite’s strategy to continue to deliver the highest levels of safety available to their customers, with the H125 being the backbone of their fleet for all...

Japan Airlines orders 17 additional Boeing 737 MAX jets to refresh fleet

Boeing and Japan Airlines finalized an order for 17 737-8s to leverage the fuel efficiency and flexibility of the 737 MAX. The airline aims to launch the new 737 MAX jets on its robust domestic network, amid continued record-breaking tourism. This marks JAL’s second order for the 737-8 and nearly doubles its 737 MAX backlog to 38 firm orders. Mitsuko Tottori, president of Japan Airlines,...

Queensland Police Service to add three Bell 429s, taking its POLAIR Fleet to six Bell aircraft

At Avalon Australian International Airshow Bell Textron announced the Queensland Police Service has entered into a second service provision contract for QPS POLAIR services for three additional Bell 429s, which will expand the number of Bell helicopters in its current fleet to six. In 2022, contract provider Surf Life Saving Queensland signed for three Bell 429s, operating the QPS P...

Honda Aircraft Company reaffirms commitment to service excellence with fourth consecutive FAA AMT Diamond Award

Honda Aircraft Company celebrated its receipt of the William O’ Brien Aviation Maintenance Technician Award developed by FAA for the fourth year in a row. The AMT Employer Diamond Award represents the highest level of distinction awarded to aircraft maintenance employers, requiring that 100% of eligible employees have each individually earned the AMT Award of Excellence. Honda A...

Airbus showcases hydrogen aircraft technologies during its 2025 Airbus Summit

During the 2025 Airbus Summit, Airbus provided an update on its roadmap to pioneer the future of commercial aviation in the decades to come, outlining plans to prepare a next-generation single-aisle aircraft that could enter service in the second half of the 2030s, as well as its revised ZEROe project roadmap to mature the technologies associated with hydrogen-powered flight. At the S...

TAG Aviation counts down to the arrival of Falcon 6X

TAG Aviation is excited for the arrival of their brand-new Falcon 6X which is currently in Dassault Aviation’s completion facility in Little Rock. This will be the first UK-registered Falcon 6X and will be available for charter.  This aircraft type will fit perfectly into an already varied and established charter fleet at TAG.  The onboarding team at TAG Aviation for this brand-...

New Zealand Search and Rescue Services order four Airbus H145 helicopters for emergency medical services

New Zealand Search and Rescue Services has placed an order for four Airbus H145 helicopters to bolster its emergency medical services operations. These state-of-the-art helicopters will join SRSL’s existing fleet of H145 and BK117 aircraft, further enhancing its ability to serve communities across the country. Christian Venzal, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Australi...

Place your orders for INTEGRAL R and discover ERA at AERO Friedrichshafen

AURA AERO will be exhibiting at AERO Friedrichshafen showcasing its range of low-carbon two-seater and 19-seater aircraft. This year 2 versions of INTEGRAL, the two-seater training aircraft with aerobatic capabilities will be showcased this year: ● INTEGRAL R: designed for aerobatics, with a thermal SEP engine and tailwheel, the first model of the INTEGRAL family was certified by EASA in Decemb...