50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

Essential news for 13 Apr 2026

RECARO Aircraft Seating showcases innovative seating solutions at AIX 2026

RECARO Aircraft Seating had an extremely successful year 2025 with a double-digit growth rate and a revenue of 710M€. RECARO invests annually on average 10 % into R&D and driving innovations. The product portfolio is young with nearly 120,000 pax produced in 2025. All the RECARO seating solutions are hand-manufactured. RECARO is ready to unveil its newest economy class and business class...

Lufthansa Technik and Designworks unveil narrowbody VIP cabin concept “The BOW”

At AIX 2026 Lufthansa Technik is presenting an entirely new approach to VIP aviation: “The BOW” – a modular narrowbody cabin concept created in exclusive collaboration with Designworks, a BMW Group Company. The concept redefines the idea of shared deluxe travel for executive groups, sports teams, or artists.  Inspired by the growing demand for flexible, design‑driven p...

Cessna piston fleet capabilities strengthened through new flight deck and system upgrades

Textron Aviation announced a suite of new enhancements for its Cessna piston lineup, including the Cessna Skyhawk, Cessna Skylane, Cessna Turbo Skylane and Cessna Turbo Stationair HD. These updates feature the introduction of the Garmin G1000 NXi System Release 7 avionics upgrade and the Lycoming dual electronic ignition system (dual EIS). Previously announced for the Cess...

Monday`s summary

H55 selects Safran to supply the electric propulsion unit for the Bristell B23 Energic

Safran Electrical & Power and H55 signed an agreement to integrate the Safran ENGINeUS electric motor into the H55 electric propulsion system, powering the fully electric Bristell B23 Energic aircraft. This collaboration aims to deliver certified electric propulsion solutions for general aviation, targeting CS-23 / Part 23 Level 1 and 2 aircraft. It combines Safran's EASA ce...

F/LIST expands into corporate helicopter interiors, allowing integration of its materials product portfolio across the aerospace industry

F/LIST, the Austrian pioneer for high-end aircraft cabin interiors, is marking a significant milestone at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2026 (Stand 6B62) with the official expansion of its production and support capabilities for corporate helicopters. F/LIST now supports customers seamlessly across corporate helicopters, business and private jets, premium commercial aircraft cabins, and private residenc...

ThinKom unveils Space-optimized ThinAir Nexus aircraft antenna

A new generation of multi-orbit inflight connectivity is ready to fly, with the introduction of the ThinKom ThinAir Nexus, a compact antenna rewriting what is possible for airlines. Sitting at the crossroads of efficiency, size, power, and flexibility, Nexus offers industry-leading, flight-proven performance in a package size similar to single-orbit electronically steered antenna solutio...

Wi-Fly update! Virgin Atlantic accelerates Starlink rollout for take-off

Virgin Atlantic announced an accelerated rollout of Starlink, the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky, as the airline gears up to introduce free, high-speed WiFi across its entire fleet, helping customers bring their world onboard from take-off to landing.  Virgin Atlantic will begin introducing Starlink connectivity onboard its Airbus A350 fleet from May, with&nb...

Pilot training capacity becomes critical as Saudi aviation expands

Saudi Arabia aviation sector is entering a new phase of expansion as airlines grow their fleets and strengthen regional connectivity. Much of this development is driven by narrowbody aircraft orders, which are expected to increase the demand for qualified pilots across the region. According to the Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook, the Middle East will require more than 58,000 new pilo...