50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

Aviation essential

Essential and most important aviation news

Latest essential aviation news

The world's oldest airports

  ​We make a flying visit to the world's 12 oldest continuously operating airports... 12. Albany International Founded: 1928 Annual passengers: 2,393,506 (2013) While an airport was established in Albany, New York, in 1909, with early aviation pioneers such as Amelia Earhart...

Airbus’ China A330 Widebody Completion & Delivery Centre construction starts

Airbus has taken additional steps in the expansion of its global footprint and its strategic partnership with China as construction gets underway for the Airbus A330 Completion and Delivery Centre (C&DC) in Tianjin, China. The A330 C&DC will be co-located at the same site as the Airbus Ti...


The rugged and economic H215 ready for the U.S. market

Airbus Helicopters’ H215, the twin-engine, versatile, economic and robust helicopter designed to meet for a wide range of utility missions, will embark on a US-wide demo tour following its appearance on static display at the 2016 Heli Expo international trade show. Beginning on March 4, the H215 will perform demonstration flights in Louisville (Kentucky), Huntsville (Alabama) and then on...

SIA collects first Airbus A350-900 plane on Thursday

The new model is said to be about 20 per cent more fuel efficient than existing models, and could help Singapore Airlines save costs amid heating competition with Gulf carriers. Singapore Airlines (SIA) has successfully completed the first maiden test flight of its first Airbus A350-900 in Toulouse, France - home of aircraft maker Airbus - and is set to pick up the keys on Thursday (Mar 3).&nbs...

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie: how was Nato's phonetic alphabet chosen?

An older version began with Apples and Butter, while soldiers in the First World War preferred Ack and Beer. Sixty years ago today, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) implemented the final version of the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet – known to most people as the Nato phonetic alphabet, or simply the Alpha, Bravo, Charlie alphabet. What is it for?...

Auckland welcomes world record passenger flight

Welcome aboard Emirates EK448 and congratulations, you're on the world's longest passenger flight. Weary but happy passengers at Auckland International Airport on Wednesday said they found out at the last minute they were on the world's first 16 hour-plus flight, from Dubai. Palmerston North expat New Zealander Cameron White said he got a message from his brot...

Honeywell forecasts 4,300 to 4,800 global helicopter deliveries over next five years

In the face of a slower global economic growth environment and increased volatility in oil and gas-related markets, the helicopter industry is reacting with a cautious outlook for near-term new purchases. In its 18th annual Turbine-Powered Civil Helicopter Purchase Outlook, Honeywell  forecasts 4,300 to 4,800 civilian-use helicopters will be delivered from 2016 to 2020, roughly 400 helicopter...

Finmeccanica Stressing Lighter Product Offerings

Finmeccanica Helicopters is stressing the lighter portion of its portfolio of AW models here at Heli-Expo in the wake of continuing softness in the offshore energy market. “We want to show the versatility of our product portfolio and have invested in new products at the right time that have come to market in a timely fashion. There is a general worry about the oil-and-gas down...

The Sukhoi T-4 Heavy Supersonic Bomber was an Experimental Craft, Here are 5 Cool Facts

The Sukhoi T-4 was a Soviet high-speed Reconnaissance, anti-ship and strategic bomber aircraft that did not proceed beyond the prototype stage. The T-4 had intake ramps similar to the XB-70, was made largely from titanium and stainless steel, and featured a quadruple redundant fly-by-wire control system but also employed a mechanical system as a backup. 5. First Flew in 1972 The first T-...

Meet the SR-10 – Russia’s first privately designed trainer aircraft

For the first time in the history of Russian aviation, a private design bureau has created an aircraft that can outperform its state-designed counterparts. The SR-10 light trainer plane is expected to go into production in 2017. he SR-10 light dual-pilot jet trainer aircraft caused a sensation when it first took to the Russian skies in late December 2015. For the first time in Russian aviation,...

Airbus Helicopters updates Executive Committee, puts stronger focus on Customer Support & Services

Ben Bridge (44) has been appointed Executive Vice President Global Business while Matthieu Louvot (41) becomes Executive Vice President Customer Support & Services, in a move aimed at consolidating Airbus Helicopters’ leading position while remaining as close as possible to its customers. Both Global Business and Support & Services functions are now sitting at the company’s Exe...

ANALYSIS: MRO steps into the Asian limelight

The 2016 edition of the Singapore Airshow was light on aircraft orders, but this allowed the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector sector to steal some of the limelight for a change. The show saw a substantial number of MRO deals by airlines, along with the announcements about new manufacturing facilities, marking a long-running trend in which the Asia-Pacific plays a key role in the a...

First training flight is a success!

The first Solar Impulse 2 maintenance flight took place on Friday 26 of February was uneventful. The plane took off from Kalaeloa airport at 4:32PM UTC with our test pilot, Markus Scherdel, in the cockpit, and landed at 6:05PM UTC. Bertrand Piccard was following this long-awaited flight from the other side of the world and confessed that it was a true relief to see Si2 back in the sky of Hawaii...

Air France Will Cut Even More Staff in 2016

Air France told a workers’ council it will eliminate 1,605 jobs this year, with all cuts to come through voluntary departures, people familiar with the situation said. Ground staff, including mechanics and airport workers, account for the vast majority of the cuts, with 1,405 jobs set to go, or 3 percent of their total, the people said declining to be named because the talks are private....

Upcoming events

NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2026

20/10/2026 - 22/10/2026
United States, Las Vegas

Bahrain International Airshow 2026

18/11/2026 - 20/11/2026
Bahrain, Sakhir

Top of the week

GE Aerospace names FL Technics Indonesia as first MRO partner for avionics support

FL Technics Indonesia, the first MRO in Indonesia to be appointed as a GE Aerospace avionics support partner, has signed a service support agreement with GE Aerospace covering Boeing 737 and Airbus A3...

SkyDrive eyes Osaka’s rooftops for a new generation of eVTOL vertiports

Following the successful public flight demonstrations at Expo 2025 Osaka, SkyDrive announced plans to undertake a feasibility study exploring the conversion of Osaka City’s existi...

Azerbaijan Airlines continues fleet modernisation with delivery of another Airbus A321neo

Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), part of AZCON Holding, has taken delivery of another Airbus A321neo, increasing its fleet to 31 aircraft as the carrier continues its long-term modernisation strategy. The...

Ethiopian Airlines grows cargo ambitions with Boeing 777 and 777-8 freighters

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines have announced a new cargo fleet expansion agreement, with the African carrier ordering eight 777-8 Freighters and two additional 777 Freighters. The investment will enab...

Textron Aviation helps shape tomorrow’s workforce through Kansas’ first aviation youth apprenticeship initiative

As the first aviation company in Kansas to introduce state-registered youth apprenticeships through the Kansas Office of Apprenticeships, Textron Aviation is taking a leading role in workforce develop...

CAA Malaysia advances air traffic controller recruitment strategy with Airways International’s SureSelect

Airways International has entered into a new five-year partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), extending the use of its SureSelect air traffic control (ATC) candidate assessm...

FLYONE Armenia orders two Airbus A321neo

FLYONE Armenia, the country’s leading airline, has finalised an order with Airbus for two A321neo aircraft, marking a significant milestone in its fleet modernisation strategy. The agreement was...

Emirates opens the door to a memorable Dubai winter

As Dubai prepares for another vibrant winter season, Emirates is inviting travellers from across its global network to discover the city with unparalleled comfort, convenience and exceptional value. L...

ATP Flight School hosts Alumni Career Expo featuring 20 airline and industry partners

On October 1, ATP Flight School will welcome nearly 500 aspiring airline pilots to its Arlington, Texas training center for an exclusive career expo featuring 20 airline and industry partners. Attende...

Airbus A350F freighter successfully performs its maiden flight

The Airbus A350F freighter (MSN 700), the first of two flight test aircraft, has successfully completed its maiden flight. Equipped with dedicated flight test instrumentation, the aircraft spent 4 hou...

German aviation reaches new milestone as Deutsche Aircraft opens D328eco® Final Assembly Line

A new era for German aerospace began today as Deutsche Aircraft officially opened its Final Assembly Line (FAL) at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Joined by senior government representatives Christian Hirte an...

EHang brings Global Fast Track Program to Vietnam, marking its second international market

EHang has announced the expansion of its Global Fast Track Program to Vietnam, making it the second country to join the initiative after Sri Lanka. The program’s launch in Hanoi also marks...

Tanis brings comprehensive STC and PMA support to Daher TBM 700-series turboprops

Tanis Aircraft Products, a division of Hartzell Propeller, has expanded its portfolio of aircraft preheating solutions with the approval of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) covering the entire Da...

VINCI Airports announces the most significant investment plan in Edinburgh Airport’s history: £500 million over five years to support its growth

VINCI Airports has announced a landmark £500 million investment programme for Edinburgh Airport over the next five years, marking the largest investment in the airport's history. The initiat...

New wings for humanitarian missions: Props for a Purpose welcomes its first dedicated Tecnam P2012 Traveller

Props for a Purpose, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to humanitarian aviation, has acquired its first dedicated aircraft, a Tecnam P2012 Traveller.The aircraft has been secured through a...

RECARO Aircraft Seating Polska celebrates opening of expanded production and office facility

RECARO Aircraft Seating Polska has reached a significant milestone with the opening of its expanded production and office facility in Świebodzin, Poland. The double-digit million-euro investment more...

TFC Flight Traininge elevates pilot training journey with new Pipistrel Explorer

TFC Flight Training has become the first flight school in Germany to operate the Pipistrel Explorer following the delivery of two aircraft from Pipistrel, a Textron Inc. company and affiliate of Textr...

Biman Bangladesh Airlines boosts fleet modernization through 11-jet Boeing order

Boeing and Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced the national carrier placed an order for 11 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX airplanes to grow and renew its fleet. The purchase, which includes five 787-10 an...

Navigating change: Luxaviation UK's George Galanopoulos on growth, innovation and resilience

The business aviation landscape is evolving rapidly. Client expectations are shifting, demand for unique travel experiences is on the rise, and aircraft acquisitions remain resilient despite geopoliti...

magniX powers eFlyer 2 milestone as Bye Aerospace achieves first flight

Bye Aerospace’s eFlyer 2 has completed its first flight powered by magniX’s Samson300 battery system, marking a significant step forward for electric flight training technology. Departing...

flydubai becomes first airline to launch scheduled international flights to Pokhara

flydubai has expanded its Nepal network with the launch of daily direct flights between Dubai and Pokhara, marking the first-ever non-stop service linking Dubai with western Nepal. The new route makes...

The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and Boeing celebrate grand opening of expanded Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Centre

The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) and Boeing today celebrated the expansion of the Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Centre (SALC), marking a new chapter in their partnership to su...

Vertical Aerospace unveils Valo Assembly Centre to support next phase of aircraft development

Vertical Aerospace has unveiled a new Aircraft Assembly Centre at Cotswold Airport, reinforcing its transition from aircraft development and testing to certification and early-stage production of its...

RAF 2026 - RTU opens new pathways for European aerospace collaboration

Speaking during the Riga Aviation Forum 2026, Pauls Irbins, Head of the Aerospace Direction at the RTU Innovation Office, presented a compelling vision of how Riga Technical University (RTU) can becom...

Heart Aerospace unveils ES-36, announces JSX purchase agreement for up to 100 aircraft

Heart Aerospace has unveiled the ES-36, its new 36-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner and planned production aircraft. Concurrently, award-winning air carrier JSX announced a deposit-backed agreem...