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Oman Air appoints Nasser Al Sharji as CEO as Con Korfiatis steps down after two years
SustainabilityAug 20, 10:58 AM

Oman Air appoints Nasser Al Sharji as CEO as Con Korfiatis steps down after two years

Nasser Al Sharji will take the helm at the Muscat-based carrier on 1 September. Oman Air has appointed Nasser Al Sharji as its new chief executive, replacing Con Korfiatis who will move to an advisory role after just over two years in charge. Al Sharji, whose most recent roles include chief executive at Transom Handling and acting chief of Oman Airports, will take up his new position on 1 September when Korfiatis will become his advisor. "Nasser brings extensive leadership experience, a strong understanding of the aviation sector and a proven track record of leading organisations through transformation and change," says Oman Air chair Saeed Al Mawali. "We are confident that, under his leadership, Oman Air will continue to build on the significant progress achieved in recent years and further strengthen its position as Oman's national carrier." When Korfiatis joined Oman Air in May 2024 from Saudi Arabian budget carrier Flyadeal, he embarked on a transformation programme aimed at returning the loss-making carrier to profitability. "Under his leadership, the airline has made important progress towards greater financial sustainability, operational efficiency and organisational effectiveness, while continuing to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive industry," says Al Mawali.

Top stories right now

  1. 01
    Airlines

    Southwest Must Correctly Inform Flight Attendants on Religious Discrimination Rights

  2. 02
    Business Aviation

    Norse Atlantic reports $95 million loss amid pivot to leasing and own network cutbacks

  3. 03
    Business Aviation

    Airbus expanding Belfast wing plant to boost A220 production to 13 jets per month by 2028

  4. 04
    MRO/Maintenance

    Sydney Airport's $2 Billion Security Upgrade Outpaces TSA's $781M Scanner Rollout

Most read this week

  1. 01
    Aviation Safety

    Private Jet Pilot Flies Into Path of United 787 Over Newark Amid ATC Confusion

  2. 02
    Airports

    United Airlines Showcases Polaris Business Class on Transatlantic Newark-London Flight

  3. 03
    Aviation Safety

    FAA Unveils Advanced Surface Movement Radar at Newark to Boost Airport Safety

  4. 04
    Aviation Safety

    New Surface Movement Radar Enhances Safety at Newark Liberty International

  5. 05
    MRO/Maintenance

    AirAsia delays Bahrain hub and London flights amid fuel cost surge and capacity cuts

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A350F test aircraft emerges in distinctive ‘parcel’ paint scheme
CargoAug 19, 9:23 PM

Airbus reveals new A350F test aircraft sporting unique parcel delivery livery

Fuselage design for initial freighter selected after competition. Airbus has unveiled the paint scheme on its first A350F aircraft, as the freighter edges towards flight testing . The initial flight-test airframe features a fuselage design representative of packaging, with labels and postal instructions. This livery was the successful entry from over 4,000 submitted during a competition organised by Airbus in 2022. Airbus has been aiming to conduct the twinjet's maiden flight in the third quarter of this year, although it recently referred only to plans to achieve first flight by the year-end . The aircraft is fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, like the slightly-larger A350-1000 passenger variant. Airbus will use two aircraft – MSN700 and MSN701 – for the certification campaign. It is expecting initial deliveries in the second half of next year.

Southwest Airlines flight attendant standing near aircraft on airport apron at sunset
AirlinesAug 19, 9:04 PM

Southwest Must Correctly Inform Flight Attendants on Religious Discrimination Rights

Southwest Airlines reinstated flight attendant Charlene Carter and helped pay a $946,102.87 judgment after a jury found it liable for religious discrimination case - it fired her at the behest of the union as a result of her speaking out with anti-abortion and anti-union messages. But the airline triggered a contempt fight by refusing to send flight attendants the message about their rights that the judge demanded.

Airbus A220 wing manufacturing facility in Belfast under construction extension
Business AviationAug 19, 8:36 PM

Airbus expanding Belfast wing plant to boost A220 production to 13 jets per month by 2028

Airbus has started construction on a major extension to its Airbus A220 wing facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as it prepares to almost double the production tempo of its smallest commercial aircraft. The Irish News reports that the 6,221-square-meter (67,000-square-foot) expansion is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2028, while Airbus says the investment is critical to supporting its target of producing 13 A220s per month by 2028.

Eurocopter EC130 helicopter flying over a rugged mountainous safari landscape at dawn
Aviation SafetyAug 19, 8:07 PM

Seven perish in Eurocopter EC130 crash on Kenya safari flight near Mount Ololokwe

Five Americans were among seven people killed when a tourist helicopter crashed in a remote area of northern Kenya on August 19, 2026. The Eurocopter EC130 B4, registered 5Y-GYM, was carrying six passengers and one pilot when it crashed near Kirish, close to Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the accident occurred at approximately 09:13 local time while the helicopter was flying from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area. The aircraft was operated by Lady Lori Helicopters and was carrying guests of luxury safari company &Beyond. "We can confirm that on the morning of August 19, an aircraft registered as 5Y-GYM, carrying &Beyond guests, crashed near Kirish, close to Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu County, Kenya," the company said in a statement. The US State Department confirmed that five US citizens were among those killed. "We can confirm the deaths of five US citizens in a helicopter crash in Samburu County, Kenya," a State Department spokesperson said. "The US Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance." Lady Lori Helicopters identified the aircraft as 5Y-GYM and said it was operating the charter flight from Suyian Conservancy to Ololokwe. "Lady Lori Helicopters is deeply saddened to confirm that one of our aircraft, registered 5Y-GYM, was involved in an accident," the company said. "Our deepest sympathies are with the guests, crew, their families and loved ones, and all those affected by this tragic accident." The six passengers included Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of Ecuador's National Intelligence Center; his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez, a dual US-Ecuadorian citizen; and José Alberto Suárez, a senior Telemundo executive based in Florida. The Kenya Red Cross joined a multiagency response at the crash site. The remote and mountainous terrain complicated efforts to reach the wreckage. Kenya's Air Accident Investigation Department is leading the crash investigation. The EC130 B4 is a seven-seat, single-engine helicopter developed by Eurocopter, now part of Airbus Helicopters. The type is widely used for sightseeing and charter flights because of its large cabin, low external noise and unobstructed views. Mount Ololokwe, also known as Ol Donyo Sabache, rises above the Samburu region and is a popular destination for hiking and wildlife tourism. Loisaba Conservancy and the Ewaso Nyiro River are also part of Kenya's northern safari circuit.

Airlines

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Southwest Airlines flight attendant standing near aircraft on airport apron at sunset
AirlinesAug 19, 9:04 PM

Southwest Must Correctly Inform Flight Attendants on Religious Discrimination Rights

Southwest Airlines reinstated flight attendant Charlene Carter and helped pay a $946,102.87 judgment after a jury found it liable for religious discrimination case - it fired her at the behest of the union as a result of her speaking out with anti-abortion and anti-union messages. But the airline triggered a contempt fight by refusing to send flight attendants the message about their rights that the judge demanded.

Airbus A350 of Starlux Airlines parked at an airport gate during early evening
AirlinesAug 19, 5:50 PM

Starlux Airlines Launches Direct Mile Sales at Premium Price Point

Folks, Starlux Airlines' COSMILE frequent flyer program has finally gotten into the business of selling miles to consumers. Objectively it's a pretty awful deal, as the airline is charging an astronomical four cents per mile (we'll see if there are promotions in the future). However, I'm ridiculously excited here, as this is a way to score a discount on a Starlux first class ticket, as that's an experience that has been on my radar for a long time. Buy Starlux COSMILE miles for four cents each Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines launched its COSMILE frequent flyer program back when the airline commenced operations, in 2019. Unless you live in Taiwan or constantly fly with Starlux, you probably shouldn't care much about the program — the only airline partner is Alaska Airlines, and if you want to redeem on Starlux, you're generally best off redeeming Alaska Atmos Rewards points . However, it is worth noting that there is now a new way to earn miles in the COSMILE program, as the airline has just started selling miles directly to consumers . To access this, just log into your Starlux account, go to the "COSMILE" section, and then click on "Mileage Purchase." Buy Starlux COSMILE miles The program is charging a flat four cents per mile, and members can purchase anywhere from 1,000 to 150,000 miles per transaction. 150,000 is also the annual limit on how many miles you can buy. Purchases are processed by points.com, as is common for the points purchase programs of many loyalty programs. Buy Starlux COSMILE miles I am curious to see if Starlux gets aggressive about selling miles, and if we see some major promotions. For example, is this just the base level purchase price, and we'll often see the program offer substantial discounts or bonuses? Finally a "deal" on Starlux Airlines first class!! I've written about Starlux Airlines' quirky first class product — it's available on all A350s, the pricing is very high, and there's not even a curtain between first and business class. Since the airline launched, I've been trying to find a way to fly the carrier in first class, just because I try to review all first class experiences. On virtually every airline, I've been able to get a deal by using miles , taking a strategic positioning flight , etc. In the case of Starlux, I've found absolutely nothing. Yes, you can fly the airline within Asia in first class for around $2,500, but I'd like to give the airline a fair shake on a long haul flight, so I can truly review the experience, rather than just getting the scaled back service on a short haul flight. The best fare I've been able to find for a long haul first class flight is around $8,700 one-way. That's just absurdly rough, and I've not been able to find any other trick to get a better deal. Starlux first class fare So for a long time I've been thinking to myself "I hope the airline starts selling miles soon, and that this is an opportunity to get a deal on first class." Well, that time is finally now! For context, below is Starlux's award chart for travel between Asia and the Americas and Europe. Starlux award chart Below is Starlux's award chart for travel within Asia. Starlux award chart There's a devaluation coming October 1, 2026, but until then, you can book a long haul first class flight one-way for 120,000 miles. At four cents per mile, that's $4,800. Obviously that's still a massive amount to spend on a flight. However, it's just over half the cost of the best available long haul first class fare, and it's the first option I've seen to get a deal for first class! Also, reviewing airlines is my job, and I'm a bit of a completionist. I'm tired of having *almost* flown every first class product in the world , and I just need to rip the band aid off and do it. Don't get me wrong, it kills me to spend this much on a flight, but this is my career of 18+ years, and it's an investment worth making. The good news is that first class award availability is excellent — that's not surprising, given that the airline barely seems to sell first class seats. However, I can't actually price out an award, since I don't have enough miles in my account. I do have a couple of questions, for those more familiar with Starlux COSMILE than I am. First, is there anything I'm missing here? There's no status requirement to redeem for first class, or anything like that, right? Next, I see the first award chart is described as the pricing "Between Asia & America/Europe." Does anyone know if that means you could actually include an intra-Asia flight on the same itinerary at no extra cost? So is the cost the same for Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Taipei (TPE) to Phoenix (PHX), as it is just for the last segment, or is pricing additive? Also, am I correct in thinking that carrier imposed surcharges are very limited? Now, I do think I'll hold off just a bit, and see if Starlux offers any promotion on buying miles, since I wouldn't be surprised if that becomes a consistent aspect of this. If they'd like to offer a 100% introductory bonus on buying miles, I certainly wouldn't complain. 😉 If anyone does notice such an offer and I don't write about it within five minutes, please do ping me. Starlux Airlines first class seat A350 Bottom line Starlux Airlines' COSMILE frequent flyer program has just started selling miles to consumers. Members can purchase up to 150,000 miles per year, at a cost of four cents per mile. It remains to be seen if the program offers promotions on buying miles, to lower the cost a bit. I wouldn't expect there to be widespread appeal for this, though I do think the one unique angle is that this is an opportunity to get a significant discount on a long haul first class ticket on Starlux. The airline simply doesn't ordinarily discount its first class, and I'd know, because I've been closely tracking it for nearly seven years. 😉 So while it's hard to get excited about a $4,800 first class fare, that's about half of the typical cost, so that's at least better. Now let's just see a 100% bonus on buying miles, and then we'll really be talking. What do you make of Starlux getting into the business of selling miles?

Business Aviation

More Business Aviation →
Boeing 787 aircraft parked on airport apron during daylight with airline livery visible
Business AviationAug 20, 6:33 AM

Norse Atlantic reports $95 million loss amid pivot to leasing and own network cutbacks

Second-quarter income slumps as Norse cuts own network activity while lease business for IndiGo underperforms. Long-haul low-cost operator Norse Atlantic has turned in a $95 million net loss for the first half – more than four times deeper than last year – as its shift to a split business model led to a heavy fall in second-quarter revenues. Norse Atlantic operates a fleet of 12 Boeing 787s but has allocated half of them to lease activity, with aircraft serving routes on behalf of Indian carrier IndiGo. This resulted in a sharp drop in second-quarter passenger revenues, down more than $100 million to $82.4 million – a decline only partly offset by increased lease and charter revenues of $45 million. Norse points out that its lease and charter operations achieved "fewer block hours than planned", and involved longer flight durations. IndiGo's usage in the second quarter fell short of the intended 420 block hours in both May and June. The weaker revenue performance amplified the impact of higher fuel costs. Although lower production and the shift to lease activity meant operating expenditure fell to $140 million during the quarter, the airline still posted a $71 million loss for the three months – substantially worse than the previous figure of $6 million. "We are, of course, not satisfied with the financial results," says chief executive Eivind Roald. "But I believe we have taken important steps to strengthen our commercial operations and financial platform." The airline is engaged in an efficiency exercise, named 'Project Falcon', to reduce costs by $50 million. It adds that it is managing capacity on a profitability basis, taking steps including cancelling its summer programme to Los Angeles. "We have, in addition, strengthened our balance sheet and progressed the strategic review that has attracted strong international interest," says Roald. As well as carrying out a recent rights issue , the carrier reinforced its liquidity on 19 August with a $52 million senior secured financing agreement, which matures in May next year. IndiGo has been using the damp-leased Norse 787s for operations to Europe, but disruption from airspace closures has affected the economic business case. IndiGo and Norse will end the partnership on 1 November, and the Indian carrier will return all six of the leased aircraft. Roald says this will provide "more flexibility to optimise our fleet deployment" across the company's two business streams. "We plan to further strengthen our ability to capture new market opportunities, while pursuing a more flexible and selective [charter and lease] approach with a clear focus on profitability," he adds. Roald says the carrier is aiming to be an "airline on demand", with over half its fleet on "high-graded" own network operations, ramping up and down as required, while less than half will be allocated to lease and charter, in order to maximise profits. "Fully transitioning to an 'airline on demand' across both segments opens new strategic paths for Norse," he says. "This is recognised by potential partners." Norse is continuing with a strategic review which could lead to a sale, merger or other partnership for the company. Roald says "multiple parties" have signed non-disclosure agreements as part of this process.

Airbus A220 wing manufacturing facility in Belfast under construction extension
Business AviationAug 19, 8:36 PM

Airbus expanding Belfast wing plant to boost A220 production to 13 jets per month by 2028

Airbus has started construction on a major extension to its Airbus A220 wing facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as it prepares to almost double the production tempo of its smallest commercial aircraft. The Irish News reports that the 6,221-square-meter (67,000-square-foot) expansion is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2028, while Airbus says the investment is critical to supporting its target of producing 13 A220s per month by 2028.

Airbus A320neo taxiing at Frankfurt Airport with passengers boarding under clear skies
Business AviationAug 19, 12:04 PM

Lufthansa debuts Starlink wi-fi on first A320neo, plans 850 aircraft retrofit by 2029

German airline group is installing the SpaceX in-flight wi-fi service on all of its carriers' aircraft. Lufthansa Group has installed SpaceX's Starlink in-flight wi-fi service on its first aircraft, kicking off a programme that will see 850 jets operated by all of its airlines equipped with the system by 2029. The first aircraft to feature the low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based system, a Lufthansa mainline Airbus A320neo (D-AINM), entered service on 19 August after undergoing installation by Lufthansa Technik in Berlin. The inaugural flight featuring the service was between Frankfurt and Rome. A further 10 Lufthansa and Lufthansa City A320-family aircraft will have the system installed by the end of this year, says the carrier. Installations will also take place at Lufthansa Technik’s facilities in Budapest and Sofia, and are being timed to coincide with scheduled downtime for technical checks. The system is being retrofitted to existing aircraft and will be added as a linefit solution to future aircraft ahead of delivery, says Lufthansa. The German airline group aims to install Starlink on 850 aircraft across all of its carriers – Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Edelweiss, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa City Airlines and Eurowings – over the next three years. Installations on the other carriers will begin “soon”, says the group. Starlink uses a network of LEO satellites to provide low-latency global coverage, including across polar regions. Lufthansa claims that passengers will experience "an internet bandwidth above the clouds that, in many cases, is faster than their internet connection at home or in the office". The group will provide the wi-fi service free-of charge for members of its Miles & More frequent flyer programme and for users of its Travel ID service. Lufthansa tells FlightGlobal that wi-fi access will remain free to use in the future, noting that “any customer can register” for Travel ID “for free, in an easy process, even during the flight”. The connectivity service, which will be branded as Lufthansa Group Wi-Fi, is sponsored by Mastercard. The credit card company also sponsored the carrier's previous FlyNet in-flight wi-fi service, which was provided by Deutsche Telekom and Viasat. Lufthansa Group’s Discovery unit had also previously selected Panasonic Avionics’ multi-orbit connectivity service for its Airbus A330s. Satellite wi-fi competition heats up Lufthansa announced at the beginning of this year that it was switching to Starlink as its connectivity provider across its entire fleet, dealing the latest blow to the geostationary satellite market. SpaceX through its Starlink service and Amazon with its own Leo-branded in-flight connectivity offering have been taking market share from incumbent satellite providers , which have begun offering multi-orbit services to airlines in response. Other European airlines to have selected Starlink include IAG – with Spanish unit Vueling set to become "the first low-cost carrier in Europe" to offer the service when it is installed on its incoming Boeing 737 Max jets, according to the airline group – Air Baltic, Wizz Air and Virgin Atlantic. The service is also proving popular in North America, having been selected by Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines , Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines , WestJet and charter carrier JSX. Last month, Frontier Airlines also announced that it would install Starlink on its entire fleet , as part of a programme that will see five Indigo Partners-backed carriers equip more than 1,000 aircraft with the system. Amazon's Leo service, meanwhile, counts Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways among its customers.

Aviation Safety

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Eurocopter EC130 helicopter flying over a rugged mountainous safari landscape at dawn
Aviation SafetyAug 19, 8:07 PM

Seven perish in Eurocopter EC130 crash on Kenya safari flight near Mount Ololokwe

Five Americans were among seven people killed when a tourist helicopter crashed in a remote area of northern Kenya on August 19, 2026. The Eurocopter EC130 B4, registered 5Y-GYM, was carrying six passengers and one pilot when it crashed near Kirish, close to Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the accident occurred at approximately 09:13 local time while the helicopter was flying from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area. The aircraft was operated by Lady Lori Helicopters and was carrying guests of luxury safari company &Beyond. "We can confirm that on the morning of August 19, an aircraft registered as 5Y-GYM, carrying &Beyond guests, crashed near Kirish, close to Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu County, Kenya," the company said in a statement. The US State Department confirmed that five US citizens were among those killed. "We can confirm the deaths of five US citizens in a helicopter crash in Samburu County, Kenya," a State Department spokesperson said. "The US Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance." Lady Lori Helicopters identified the aircraft as 5Y-GYM and said it was operating the charter flight from Suyian Conservancy to Ololokwe. "Lady Lori Helicopters is deeply saddened to confirm that one of our aircraft, registered 5Y-GYM, was involved in an accident," the company said. "Our deepest sympathies are with the guests, crew, their families and loved ones, and all those affected by this tragic accident." The six passengers included Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of Ecuador's National Intelligence Center; his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez, a dual US-Ecuadorian citizen; and José Alberto Suárez, a senior Telemundo executive based in Florida. The Kenya Red Cross joined a multiagency response at the crash site. The remote and mountainous terrain complicated efforts to reach the wreckage. Kenya's Air Accident Investigation Department is leading the crash investigation. The EC130 B4 is a seven-seat, single-engine helicopter developed by Eurocopter, now part of Airbus Helicopters. The type is widely used for sightseeing and charter flights because of its large cabin, low external noise and unobstructed views. Mount Ololokwe, also known as Ol Donyo Sabache, rises above the Samburu region and is a popular destination for hiking and wildlife tourism. Loisaba Conservancy and the Ewaso Nyiro River are also part of Kenya's northern safari circuit.

NTSB Releases New Video, Investigative Details From Fatal Philadelphia Learjet Accident
Aviation SafetyAug 19, 5:18 PM

NTSB Publishes New Video and Reports on Deadly Philadelphia Learjet 55 Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a new batch of investigative material from its probe of the January 2025 Learjet 55 crash in Philadelphia, including surveillance videos capturing the aircraft before and during the accident. The material was added to the NTSB's public docket Tuesday, Aug. 18. The docket now contains 59 items, including operational, airworthiness and maintenance reports, along with videos, audio recordings and other investigative data. Among the newly released videos are doorbell-camera and drive-thru footage showing the final seconds of the flight. Additional surveillance footage shows the aircraft at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport, including video of the crew conducting its preflight and the airplane taxiing for departure. The Learjet 55, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport shortly after 6 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2025, carrying a pediatric patient, her mother and four crewmembers on a flight to Tijuana, Mexico. The aircraft was airborne for about 22 seconds before crashing near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Mall. All six people aboard were killed, as were two people on the ground. At least 24 others were injured. The docket also includes an operational factors factual report, accident flight risk assessment, pilot training and flight-time records, aircraft weight-and-balance information, airworthiness and maintenance reports, and a checklist page recovered from the wreckage. Investigators also released reports covering the cockpit voice recorder , enhanced ground proximity warning system, aircraft performance and FAA ADS-B data. The NTSB has not yet determined what caused the crash. The newly released documents are factual investigative material and do not represent the agency's final findings or probable cause. The investigation remains ongoing, with the NTSB expected to address the cause and any contributing factors in its final report.

Flight Training

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A regional airline pilot preparing to board a turboprop aircraft on the tarmac at a US airport during sunset
Flight TrainingAug 15, 11:00 PM

US Regional Pilot Shortage Eases As Cadet Programs Adjust to New Realities

Members of the PSA Airlines Cadet Program received a disappointing email in late July 2026, when the company advised pilot cadets that it would no longer sponsor the ATP/CTP course that all new hires are required to complete before officially joining the airline. Traditionally, this is paid for by the company, but for those in the PSA program, it's now on the cadet's shoulders to take the course and pay for it.

Modern Spirit Airlines corporate headquarters campus in Dania Beach with adjacent residential units and parking
Flight TrainingAug 1, 9:04 PM

Spirit Airlines' $250M Dania Beach Campus Faces $88M Bankruptcy Bid

Spirit opened its new $250 million "Spirit Central" corporate campus in 2024, complete with training facilities, employee housing, and space for more than 1,000 workers. Now, in bankruptcy, a stalking horse bidder is offering just $88 million for much of the nearly brand-new headquarters complex — an extraordinary markdown for a project that symbolized how far the airline had drifted from its ultra-low-cost roots.

Military/Defense

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WATCH: ‘Ultra-Quiet’ Electric Aircraft Engines Power First Piloted Flight
Military/DefenseAug 19, 7:30 PM

Whisper Aero's Ultra-Quiet Electric Engines Power First Piloted Flights in Tennessee

An electric aircraft engine designed to reduce operational noise to a whisper is now powering piloted aircraft. Whisper Aero on Wednesday revealed that its "ultra-quiet" eQ250 electric ducted fan propulsion system is being put to the test in Tennessee under an FAA special airworthiness certification. The company said it installed a pair of eQ250s on a modified Aériane Swift 3 glider, with which test pilot Zac Majors conducted three flights spanning 130 minutes, or about 43 minutes on average. Majors said the aircraft, which the company refers to as the Whisper Powered Swift, produced more thrust and was quieter than the standard propeller version of the glider, "but still great handling." "[I] could really do whatever I wanted with it," Majors said in a statement. "Look forward to flying it again." Fortunately for him, the campaign is only just beginning. Whisper plans to continue testing the Swift in Tennessee before advancing to flight tests and evaluations with "government customers" later this year. The company is under contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop a new family of quiet, efficient, autonomous aircraft for contested logistics, with initial testing planned for 2027. How It Works The eQ250 is the flagship product of Whisper's electric quiet (eQ) engine series. According to the company, it produces up to 85 pounds of static thrust for fixed-wing aircraft. It can also power Group 3 uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS)—which have maximum weight of 1,320 pounds and speed under 250 knots—or larger drone platforms. The specialized electric ducted fans are 10 inches in diameter and produce about 20 dB less noise than "comparable quiet propulsion systems," while also being 20 percent more efficient, according to Whisper's website . For short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft, the eQ250 is designed to enable coefficients of lift as high as 14. The propulsion system is intended to unlock short-to-medium-range regional air mobility services using small airports. The idea is similar to Electra's concept for "direct aviation," which involves the company's "ultra-short" takeoff and landing EL9. The goal is to replace trips that would take about 90 minutes driving with air service that takes closer to 20 minutes. Whisper said the Swift's 26:1 lift-to-drag ratio made it ideal for evaluating handling qualities and the propulsion system's performance, integration, and acoustics. Video: Whisper Aero The glider's eQ250s are powered by five Epic 1.0 Energy modules from Whisper partner Electric Power Systems (EPS). According to EPS, they provide 60 minutes of usable flight time with 30 minutes of reserve for trainer, eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing), and "thin-haul" aircraft, which are used for very short trips with a handful of passengers. Whisper said the aircraft "completed its planned objectives," which included validating its propulsion integration, battery, control, and other systems. At full throttle at 100 feet agl, Whisper said the engines were quieter than the airframe itself. Ian Villa, co-founder and chief operating officer, told The Air Current that the glider can generate substantial noise without engines. Flown during the early morning, the aircraft produced about 52 dB(A) of noise compared to 34 dB(A) background noise, Whisper said. "The ability to fly within the soundscapes of even rural environments…will be critical for flights of FAA MOSAIC aircraft," the company added. The Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) took effect in phases over the past few months and permits electric propulsion systems in the light-sport aircraft (LSA) category. More to Come Whisper said the test campaign "reduces risk" for the eQ250's larger civil and defense applications. The company is developing its JetFoil integration for STOL and VTOL aircraft, designed to enable runway independence. The JetFoil distributes ducted fan engines across the entire leading edge of the wing and would enable near-vertical takeoffs with 50 feet of ground roll. Whisper claims it will do so using half the thrust of tilt-rotor VTOL aircraft while offering more range and double the payload. Villa earlier this year told FLYING that Whisper is in talks with government customers to build and fly JetFoil-equipped prototypes, the idea being that they could be transitioned to commercial manufacturers who could bring them to market. For example, one could swap the de Havilland Twin Otter's high wing for a JetFoil and hybrid-electric powertrain. Whisper said the testing will further support its Collaborative Logistics Aircraft (CLA) program with the U.S. Air Force. The CLA concept is similar to the service's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) framework, which pairs crewed fighter jets with uncrewed "loyal wingmen." Instead, CLA aircraft would carry between 500 and 3,000 pounds of cargo and operate from austere or degraded runways. Whisper is studying two CLA concepts that incorporate 12 and 30 eQ250 engines on the leading edge of the wing, using the JetFoil integration. According to the company, at 250 knots, the CLA aircraft would generate reduced noise and heat signatures compared to models they could replace. Whisper in May 2025 said that initial CLA flight testing would begin in 2027 at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The company has also shared concepts for a regional Whisper Jet and more robust 100-seat model, both based around its ducted fan and eQ technology.

A US military pilot in flight gear walking toward a military aircraft on a sunny day
Military/DefenseAug 19, 12:00 AM

US Military Pilots Weigh Retirement Benefits Versus Airline Pay After Service

The aviators of the US Armed Forces face a crossroads when they come to the end of their minimum active-duty service commitments. All the branches of the Department of Defense have their own core of professional aircrew. In the US Air Force and Army, the contracts to be a professional flyer come with a ten-year commitment. Meanwhile, the US Navy and the Marines have a slightly shorter minimum duty at eight years.