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Loganair aircraft taxiing at Dundee Airport apron under cloudy sky
SustainabilityAug 17, 9:57 PM

Loganair to Close Dundee Base and End All Flights by October 2026

Loganair will close its Dundee base later this year. The airline has confirmed it will stop all operations from Dundee Airport after 23 October 2026. This decision ends scheduled commercial flights from the airport. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(119); }); The main service affected is the Dundee to London Heathrow route. Loganair will fly the final flights on Friday 23 October. The route has run under a Public Service Obligation, or PSO, since 2014. Local council and government funding has helped support it. Loganair says the contract is no longer financially viable. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(127); }); Routes to the Islands Also End The base closure means more than just the London service will stop. Flights to Kirkwall in Orkney and Sumburgh in Shetland will also finish in October. These routes have linked Dundee with the northern isles. Once they end, Dundee Airport will have no regular commercial passenger flights. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(128); }); Loganair explained the decision in a clear statement. “Following a review of the route’s long-term viability, Loganair can confirm that its Dundee–London Heathrow service will cease after Friday 23 October, and the operating base will close.” The company added that it had looked at other options but could not find a sustainable way forward. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(129); }); Riik@mctr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Impact on Jobs and Staff Around 16 posts linked to Loganair’s Dundee operations now face risk. The airline says it will support affected workers. Staff will receive help to find alternative roles across the wider network where possible. Airport staff employed by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited may also see changes. The operator has started talks about shorter opening hours. The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) issued a short statement following the news of the closure. “Following Loganair’s announcement of the closure of its Dundee and Southampton bases, BALPA has moved quickly to formally engage with the company on behalf of affected members.” ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(130); }); They urged affected personnel to get in touch with their Company Council as early as possible. Earlier Plans Changed In May 2026, Loganair first announced it would end the Heathrow route. At that time the airline said it remained committed to the Dundee base. It planned to explore other London airports. By August those plans had changed. The full base closure followed after further review. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(131); }); Photo Credit: Loganair Airport Future and Government Response Dundee Airport now faces an uncertain period. Without Loganair it will rely mainly on private and general aviation. First Minister John Swinney has spoken about the situation. He said the Scottish Government remains committed to keeping the airport open. Officials will look at ways to protect air links despite pressure on public finances. The airport has served the city for decades. Loganair’s presence dates back many years. Its departure marks a significant shift for local travel and business connections. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(132); }); Looking Ahead Passengers with bookings after 23 October will hear from the airline directly. They can expect refunds or help with alternative travel options. Meanwhile, local leaders continue discussions with funding partners. The goal is to find new ways to maintain useful air services for Dundee and the wider region. Loganair’s move forms part of broader network changes. The airline is also closing its Southampton base around the same time. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(133); }); These decisions reflect ongoing challenges facing regional carriers, including rising costs and the need for routes to remain viable. The final flights in late October will mark the end of an era for Dundee Airport. Residents, businesses and island communities will watch closely for any future developments that could restore regular commercial services.

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The Airplane Farm Announces MOSAIC eVTOL Aircraft
Technology/eVTOLAug 17, 7:46 PM

The Airplane Farm Unveils Trio of MOSAIC-Compliant eVTOLs for Diverse Missions

The Airplane Farm, a Sparks, Nevada-based aircraft company founded this year, announced plans Saturday for three eVTOL designs aimed at personal transportation, aerobatic flying and tactical operations. The young company says prototype construction and initial testing are underway. Its team draws on earlier aircraft development work that includes the MXS aerobatic racer, ViperJet , Javelin and TwinJet. Three Different Missions The Harvest is a personal powered-lift design intended for sport pilots and short-distance transportation. According to the company's published specifications, it is designed for both vertical and conventional takeoffs and landings and has a projected maximum speed of about 111 mph and continuous cruise range of about 76 miles. The Storm is intended for aerobatic and competition flying. The company lists a planned maximum speed of 250 mph and a design load limit of +8/-4 G. The BarnCat is an optionally piloted tactical aircraft that can also operate without a crew aboard. The company describes it as a carbon-fiber, twin-engine tail-sitter and lists a maximum speed of 275 mph. All three designs are based on what The Airplane Farm calls its patent-pending Electric PowerWing airframe concept. "Our name, The Airplane Farm , represents our philosophy of cultivating and growing the future of aviation with groundbreaking designs," a company representative said in Saturday's announcement. "With the Storm, we are honoring our Red Bull air racing heritage to give competitive pilots an aggressive, crowd-pleasing aerobatic machine. Paired with the accessible Harvest commuter and our tactical hybrid BarnCat, this lineup proves our engineering scales seamlessly from pure weekend fun to elite competition and complex tactical deployment all using our patent pending Electric PowerWing Airframe." Powered-Lift Standards The company says the aircraft are being developed around ASTM F3840-26 . The FAA accepted the standard in July as a means of compliance for light-sport category powered-lift aircraft under the MOSAIC framework. The standard also addresses multicopters, although the FAA currently accepts it only as a means of compliance for powered-lift aircraft.

Uber’s Drone Delivery Bet: 1 Million Daily Trips by 2029
Military/DefenseAug 17, 4:30 PM

Uber, Zipline Aim for 1 Million Daily Drone Deliveries by 2029

App- and web-based delivery platforms from Walmart, Amazon, DoorDash, and now Uber are embracing small drones to slash trip times in a trend that could reshape low-altitude U.S. airspace. Uber on Monday announced it is partnering with drone manufacturer and operator Zipline, which is also a partner of Walmart and competitor Wonder , the parent company of Grubhub. By the end of 2029, Uber and Zipline hope to achieve a cadence of 1 million daily drone deliveries, with "goals to expand far beyond that." The partners said the first deployments will begin this year in Dallas, Houston, and other cities where Zipline already operates, expanding as the company scales to dozens of other areas. Zipline in a news release called the move "one of the biggest steps toward expanding Zipline's service to every home in the U.S." "Our goal is for millions of people to be able to order lunch, dinner, snacks, and more through the Uber Eats app and have them delivered by Zipline" in five to 10 minutes, the company said. In a show of confidence, Uber is also making a strategic investment of an undisclosed amount in Zipline. "We look forward to bringing this technology to more communities and making autonomous delivery part of everyday life," said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, in a statement. Zipline's Platform 2 (P2) drones, or Zips, cruise at about 70 mph with up to 8 pounds of cargo, capable of 24-mile, one-way trips or flying within a 10-mile service radius. At the delivery location, the drones unfurl a tether to lower orders—stored within a smaller "droid"—to the ground from as high as 300 feet. Zips are designed for hub-and-spoke or dock-to-dock operations, delivering to the customer's front yard or public locations such as a park. Store employees load orders into a container called a Dropbox , entering a code on a keypad to unlock a secure drawer. The Zip then lowers the smaller droid into the Dropbox and secures the order autonomously. Zipline began conducting medical drone delivery operations in Rwanda in 2016 and now serves more than 5,000 hospitals. It operates commercial on-demand and medical delivery services in Ohio, Arkansas, and Texas. The company said U.S. deliveries now make up about 70 percent of its volume. Beyond Zipline, Uber seeks to add an aerial element to its services in partnership with Joby Aviation, with which it is exploring commercial air taxi services beginning in the Middle East. Drone Delivery Set to Explode For years, ambitions of drone delivery were kept afloat by venture capital flowing to small startups or side projects of companies such as Amazon and Alphabet. The industry has since evolved from pilot programs to routine commercial services. The backing of platforms such as Uber could take it to new heights—with significant implications for low-altitude airspace. Uber's collaboration with Zipline pits it directly against rival DoorDash in the drone delivery business. In July, the latter revealed it is building its own delivery drone to complement the models it operates from Alphabet's Wing, Israel's Flytrex, and Ireland's Manna. DoorDash has explored U.S. drone delivery since 2024 but is now looking to bring more of those operations in-house, akin to Amazon's Prime Air unit that builds and operates its own drones. The company is putting the full weight of its DoorDash Labs automation division into developing an end-to-end network, including a software that determines which deliveries best lend themselves to drones. Wonder aims to add Zipline's drone delivery service to the majority of its Texas locations by the end of next year, and it recently trialled a service in New Jersey with partner Dexa. Walmart offers drone delivery from Zipline, Wing, and Flytrex through its app and website. Uber also works with Flytrex and is exploring the U.S. market in partnership with Manna. According to Uber, Zipline drones make a delivery every 20 seconds on average. The company says it has delivered over 20 million items across more than 2.5 million deliveries and 140 million miles flown. Achieving one million daily deliveries by 2029, though, will require even greater scale. Drone delivery operators represented by the Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) and other lobbying groups are clamoring for the FAA's finalization of Part 108 , which would unlock routine operations beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of humans. Instead, drones would rely on detect and avoid systems and uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) traffic management (UTM) platforms to keep operations safe. Part 108 would enable the scale the drone industry desires. But pilots have pushed back on some of the proposal's more permissive elements, such as the granting of right-of-way to drones over crewed aircraft in certain scenarios. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and others have expressed skepticism about the maturity of detect and avoid systems and their ability to prevent collisions. Proposed Part 108 reportedly moved to the federal Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review last month. That means the rule could be months or even weeks away from being finalized, and companies such as Uber and Zipline could soon face fewer restrictions on fully autonomous drone delivery.

Airbus A350-1000 taxiing at an international airport at dusk
AirlinesAug 17, 4:00 PM

Air Canada Picks 16 Airbus A350-1000s Over Delayed Boeing 777X for Long-Haul Fleet Renewal

For nearly two decades, the Boeing 777-300ER has been at the very heart of Canada's flagship carrier, dominating long-haul routes from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. When it came time to plan its flagship fleet successor for the decade ahead, Air Canada turned away from Seattle and placed its faith in the rival company Airbus . The airline confirmed a firm commitment for eight Airbus A350-1000s , with purchase rights for eight additional aircraft, bypassing Boeing's delayed 777X program to opt for European composite-twin technology for its next era of international expansion.

Boeing 767 freighter taxiing on Denver International Airport runway at dusk
CargoAug 17, 2:38 PM

UPS Boeing 767 Freighter Executes Safe Landing After Total Instrument Failure in Denver

Over the weekend, a Boeing 767-300 Freighter operating a domestic cargo flight for UPS Airlines had a more dramatic arrival into Denver than its crew might have been bargaining for, following a total instrument failure on approach to the Colorado hub. This forced the pilots to defer to the jet's standby instruments, with which they were indeed able to successfully carry out a safe landing at Denver Airport.

Close-up of a modern turbofan jet engine on a commercial airliner at an airport gate.
AirlinesAug 17, 9:15 AM

Modern jet engines cut commercial aircraft fuel burn by up to 15 percent over predecessors

The primary driver of aircraft efficiency today is the engines. While advances in aerodynamics and materials do cut down on fuel burn as well, the engine is the main determinant as to how much fuel an aircraft burns, and older planes equipped with new engines tend to be more than competitive against a clean-sheet aircraft. During the start of the Jet Age, manufacturers were primarily focused on increasing power, with fuel efficiency being a second priority, but as technology has developed, this has changed.

Airlines

More Airlines →
Commercial aircraft interior with seat rows and cabin crew walking past passengers
AirlinesAug 17, 9:19 PM

American Airlines Bans Humanoid Robots From All Flights Citing Safety Risks

Fort Worth-based American Airlines has issued an internal policy update for employees, which prohibits staff and passengers from bringing human-like and animal-like robots on board . They will be officially banned from being taken into the cabin, and even in checked luggage, immediately. The email that outlined the policy update strictly states that the humanoids will not be allowed even if they have purchased a separate seat .

Airbus A350-1000 taxiing at an international airport at dusk
AirlinesAug 17, 4:00 PM

Air Canada Picks 16 Airbus A350-1000s Over Delayed Boeing 777X for Long-Haul Fleet Renewal

For nearly two decades, the Boeing 777-300ER has been at the very heart of Canada's flagship carrier, dominating long-haul routes from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. When it came time to plan its flagship fleet successor for the decade ahead, Air Canada turned away from Seattle and placed its faith in the rival company Airbus . The airline confirmed a firm commitment for eight Airbus A350-1000s , with purchase rights for eight additional aircraft, bypassing Boeing's delayed 777X program to opt for European composite-twin technology for its next era of international expansion.

Business Aviation

More Business Aviation →
Bombardier Challenger 300 business jet on taxiway at dawn
Business AviationAug 13, 1:00 PM

Owning a Bombardier Challenger 300 Beats Chartering Beyond 300 Flight Hours Annually

200 hours of flight time is the most commonly cited figure for when it makes more sense to purchase a private jet than charter one. However, the exact number of flight hours depends heavily on the cost of charter and the aircraft in question. To take the Bombardier Challenger 300 as an example, charter rates are usually between $5,950 (low-end quote) and $9,525 (billable average) per hour, according to the Air Charter Journal . The latter is the figure that this article will use.

Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet on runway at a small airport under clear sky
Business AviationAug 12, 1:00 AM

Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet Offers Ultra-Cheap Ownership Compared to Chartering Business Jets

Most people associate the term ' private jet ' with the largest, most expensive long-range jets produced by Gulfstream and Bombardier, but most business jets are significantly smaller with less range. These planes are less usable and may appear to provide fewer benefits, but they're also much cheaper to purchase. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the market lies the tiny Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet, a single-engine, single-pilot very-light-jet that's more similar in design and capabilities to turboprops than other VLJs.

Aviation Safety

More Aviation Safety →
Japan Airlines Boeing 787 taxiing at Seattle airport near a parked Delta Boeing 737
Aviation SafetyAug 17, 8:05 PM

Seven Passengers Sue Delta After Low-Speed Collision with Japan Airlines 787 at Seattle

Seven members of the same family are pursuing injury claims against Delta Air Lines after a Japan Airlines Boeing 787-9 struck the tail of their stationary Boeing 737-800 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in February 2025. The litigation is notable because the collision occurred at roughly 2.3 mph (3.7 km/h), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recorded no injuries among the people aboard either aircraft.

Avianca Cargo Airbus A330F freighter taxiing at an airport with relief supplies loaded
Aviation SafetyAug 17, 1:33 AM

Avianca Cargo delivers over 150 tons of earthquake aid to Colombia in two days

Avianca Cargo transported an additional 60 tons of humanitarian aid from Miami to Cali, Colombia, on August 14, 2026. The delivery brings the total volume of aid the airline has moved since the earthquake struck to more than 150 tons over just two days. Of the latest shipment, nine tons were coordinated by the Government of Colombia, while the remaining 51 tons were donated by the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) to support communities most in need. The cargo included electric generators and essential supply kits containing hygiene products and nonperishable food, all transported aboard an A330F freighter aircraft capable of carrying large volumes of relief supplies. Avianca draws on cargo and passenger networks for relief push The Miami-to-Cali flight builds on Avianca's response since the earthquake first struck, with the airline drawing on both its cargo operations and passenger network to move aid into the region. The shipment will be received in Cali and distributed based on the needs of affected communities. La respuesta a una emergencia requiere la articulación y el trabajo conjunto de diferentes organizaciones. Gracias por sumarte a apoyar a las comunidades afectadas. Hacerlo de manera organizada nos permite llevar la ayuda donde más se necesita. Si ya reuniste donaciones y… pic.twitter.com/ZGfOZFdqcW — avianca (@avianca) August 14, 2026 Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo, said the airline's operations carry a purpose beyond simply connecting destinations, emphasizing the goal of getting aid to the communities that need it most. He thanked the Government of Colombia and GEM for trusting Avianca's logistics capabilities as part of the joint relief effort. Michael Capponi, Founder and President of GEM, said humanitarian response ultimately comes down to speed and efficiency, getting the right aid into the hands of families as quickly as possible. He credited the partnership with Avianca Cargo, the City of Doral, and on-the-ground partners for allowing GEM to move critical supplies directly from Miami into its distribution network in Colombia, adding that the organization remains committed to supporting the country through the long recovery ahead. Avianca said it will continue supporting relief efforts as Colombia works to recover from the disaster. Colombia's deadliest quake in a century sparks the relief effort The relief effort follows a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, the strongest to hit the country in a century. The quake killed more than 200 people, injured over 2,500, and left hundreds more missing, with cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo among the hardest hit. Colombia's government declared three days of national mourning, and President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just days before the disaster, declared a state of emergency as rescue crews continued searching for survivors. RELATED Avianca opens temporary Bogota-Valencia service in response to Venezuela quake

Boeing 787-9 taking off from a long runway at an international airport under cloudy sky
Aviation SafetyAug 16, 9:04 PM

Vietnam Airlines B787-9 Overruns Munich Runway with Late Rotation, Sustains Gear Damage

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9, registration VN-A867, operating flight VN34 from Munich to Hanoi , encountered a significant takeoff performance issue on 15 August 2026. The aircraft rotated extremely late on Runway 26L and became airborne near or beyond the runway end. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(119); }); Takeoff Sequence The 787-9 commenced its takeoff roll on Munich’s 4,000-metre runway 26L. Ground footage shows the main landing gear remaining in contact until the final portion of the pavement. A large dust cloud rose as the aircraft lifted off. Preliminary reports from aviation sources indicate a late rotation accompanied by a tailstrike. The aircraft appears to have overrun the paved surface by approximately 120 metres. It then became airborne in the grass near the first row of approach lights and reportedly damaged runway edge lighting. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(127); }); Immediate Crew Response After becoming airborne, the crew levelled off around 9,000–10,000 feet and entered a holding pattern in the Munich area. The aircraft was fuelled for the long-haul sector and therefore above maximum landing weight. The crew initiated fuel jettison and burned fuel for roughly 90 minutes to two hours. They also reported a tyre-pressure indication. Before committing to landing, the crew conducted one or more low approaches over Runway 26R, allowing ground personnel to visually assess the underside and tail section. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(128); }); Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner reportedly overruns the runway during take-off from Munich. The aircraft is currently on approach to the airport after holding. Video: MunichAviation pic.twitter.com/qqbWSV2jrN — Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) August 15, 2026 Landing and Aircraft Condition The aircraft landed safely on Runway 26R. Multiple tyres on the left main gear failed or shredded during the landing roll, and the left main gear was observed trailing smoke. The aircraft became temporarily disabled on the runway and required towing. Airport rescue and firefighting services responded as a precaution. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(129); }); Outcome and Investigation No injuries were reported among passengers or crew. Vietnam Airlines confirmed that the flight returned due to a technical issue, that standard procedures were followed, and that all occupants are safe. Munich Airport confirmed the extended takeoff roll and subsequent landing-gear and tyre damage. Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) is examining the event. The precise cause — whether related to takeoff performance calculation, aircraft configuration, or another factor — remains under investigation. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(130); }); Further technical details are expected once the formal investigation progresses.

Flight Training

More Flight Training →
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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Uber’s Drone Delivery Bet: 1 Million Daily Trips by 2029
Military/DefenseAug 17, 4:30 PM

Uber, Zipline Aim for 1 Million Daily Drone Deliveries by 2029

App- and web-based delivery platforms from Walmart, Amazon, DoorDash, and now Uber are embracing small drones to slash trip times in a trend that could reshape low-altitude U.S. airspace. Uber on Monday announced it is partnering with drone manufacturer and operator Zipline, which is also a partner of Walmart and competitor Wonder , the parent company of Grubhub. By the end of 2029, Uber and Zipline hope to achieve a cadence of 1 million daily drone deliveries, with "goals to expand far beyond that." The partners said the first deployments will begin this year in Dallas, Houston, and other cities where Zipline already operates, expanding as the company scales to dozens of other areas. Zipline in a news release called the move "one of the biggest steps toward expanding Zipline's service to every home in the U.S." "Our goal is for millions of people to be able to order lunch, dinner, snacks, and more through the Uber Eats app and have them delivered by Zipline" in five to 10 minutes, the company said. In a show of confidence, Uber is also making a strategic investment of an undisclosed amount in Zipline. "We look forward to bringing this technology to more communities and making autonomous delivery part of everyday life," said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, in a statement. Zipline's Platform 2 (P2) drones, or Zips, cruise at about 70 mph with up to 8 pounds of cargo, capable of 24-mile, one-way trips or flying within a 10-mile service radius. At the delivery location, the drones unfurl a tether to lower orders—stored within a smaller "droid"—to the ground from as high as 300 feet. Zips are designed for hub-and-spoke or dock-to-dock operations, delivering to the customer's front yard or public locations such as a park. Store employees load orders into a container called a Dropbox , entering a code on a keypad to unlock a secure drawer. The Zip then lowers the smaller droid into the Dropbox and secures the order autonomously. Zipline began conducting medical drone delivery operations in Rwanda in 2016 and now serves more than 5,000 hospitals. It operates commercial on-demand and medical delivery services in Ohio, Arkansas, and Texas. The company said U.S. deliveries now make up about 70 percent of its volume. Beyond Zipline, Uber seeks to add an aerial element to its services in partnership with Joby Aviation, with which it is exploring commercial air taxi services beginning in the Middle East. Drone Delivery Set to Explode For years, ambitions of drone delivery were kept afloat by venture capital flowing to small startups or side projects of companies such as Amazon and Alphabet. The industry has since evolved from pilot programs to routine commercial services. The backing of platforms such as Uber could take it to new heights—with significant implications for low-altitude airspace. Uber's collaboration with Zipline pits it directly against rival DoorDash in the drone delivery business. In July, the latter revealed it is building its own delivery drone to complement the models it operates from Alphabet's Wing, Israel's Flytrex, and Ireland's Manna. DoorDash has explored U.S. drone delivery since 2024 but is now looking to bring more of those operations in-house, akin to Amazon's Prime Air unit that builds and operates its own drones. The company is putting the full weight of its DoorDash Labs automation division into developing an end-to-end network, including a software that determines which deliveries best lend themselves to drones. Wonder aims to add Zipline's drone delivery service to the majority of its Texas locations by the end of next year, and it recently trialled a service in New Jersey with partner Dexa. Walmart offers drone delivery from Zipline, Wing, and Flytrex through its app and website. Uber also works with Flytrex and is exploring the U.S. market in partnership with Manna. According to Uber, Zipline drones make a delivery every 20 seconds on average. The company says it has delivered over 20 million items across more than 2.5 million deliveries and 140 million miles flown. Achieving one million daily deliveries by 2029, though, will require even greater scale. Drone delivery operators represented by the Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) and other lobbying groups are clamoring for the FAA's finalization of Part 108 , which would unlock routine operations beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of humans. Instead, drones would rely on detect and avoid systems and uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) traffic management (UTM) platforms to keep operations safe. Part 108 would enable the scale the drone industry desires. But pilots have pushed back on some of the proposal's more permissive elements, such as the granting of right-of-way to drones over crewed aircraft in certain scenarios. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and others have expressed skepticism about the maturity of detect and avoid systems and their ability to prevent collisions. Proposed Part 108 reportedly moved to the federal Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review last month. That means the rule could be months or even weeks away from being finalized, and companies such as Uber and Zipline could soon face fewer restrictions on fully autonomous drone delivery.

Reliance, Rolls-Royce to explore local engine for India’s AMCA
Military/DefenseAug 17, 3:09 AM

Reliance and Rolls-Royce Collaborate to Develop Indigenous Engine for India's AMCA

Partnership is a nod to India's desire to develop its local defence industry. Reliance and Rolls-Royce will explore the possibility of developing a fighter engine for India's planned Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The two companies say they have a "strategic intent" related to designing, developing, manufacturing, and delivering an indigenous engine for the fighter. They will also explore a local production capability for the engine. "India's strategic autonomy requires sovereign capability in critical technologies," says Reliance Industries executive director Anant Ambani. "Our intent with Rolls-Royce is to combine their world-leading expertise in advanced propulsion with Reliance's technology, manufacturing, scale and execution capabilities to build an indigenous aero-engine ecosystem in India. Together, we aim to build an enduring national capability that can make India self-reliant and, over time, globally competitive in advanced propulsion technologies." AMCA has been on the drawing board for nearly two decades, with India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) leading the programme. In May 2025, New Delhi cleared a plan that will allow private sector players to bid to work with ADA developing the jet: in the past, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) would have been tapped as the exclusive developer. Initially, AMCA will be powered by a pair of GE Aerospace F414 INS-6 engines, with later tranches of the aircraft to be powered by a locally developed engine. In June 2023, GE Aerospace and HAL entered a memorandum of understanding for the potential production of F414s in India. Indian media reports indicate that Safran has also shown interest in a future AMCA engine. The design phase for AMCA ran between 2019-2024, and the formal development effort is to run over 10 years, with five prototypes to be built. Plans call for the first production aircraft to be delivered in 2036. The aircraft marks India's first attempt to develop a low observable aircraft, with the air force hoping to obtain 120 examples.

A formation of A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flying over a desert landscape at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Military/DefenseAug 16, 3:00 PM

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Ends Five Decades of A-10 Pilot Training as Focus Shifts to F-35

In April 2026, the US Air Force closed the training pipeline that had produced every Fairchild Republic A-10 pilot it ever fielded. The 357th Fighter Squadron graduated its last class of Thunderbolt II students at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in April. That same week, and at that same base, an A-10 flying combat search and rescue escort over Iran took enemy fire, kept flying, and helped bring a downed fighter pilot home before its own pilot was forced to eject over Kuwait.