Our guest purchased the assets of planemaker Sonex and restarted the company. In the news, Customs and Border Protection officers at airports, Eclipse 500 spare parts availability, a Spitfire kit plane, recreating cockpit voice recorder audio from spectrograms, and a new website to track ATC modernization progress.

Stephen Osborne is the owner and founder of Top Aviation Services and the president and CEO of The Osborne Company. Shortly after planemaker Sonex shut down, he purchased its assets and reopened operations as Sonex Aviation LLC.

Sonex has a history of providing the recreational aviation community with innovative and affordable aircraft kits, powerplants, and accessories. The company is a leader in the homebuilt space and works to cultivate new pilots and airplane builders through educational efforts.

Stephen describes how he quickly moved to purchase the Sonex assets, resume shipping kits, and set the tone for the company’s future. Sonex has a strong “work family” environment that serves not only employees but also customers and vendors. As Sonex moves forward, its success will be built on those core values and the mission to make aviation affordable for everyone.

Stephen is a military veteran and former U.S. Army Captain and FAA-certificated commercial pilot. Top Aviation provides FAA-certified flight training for Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, and Commercial, as well as discovery flights and aircraft rentals at KTOP in Topeka, Kansas. The Osborne Company is a general contracting firm specializing in the design and installation of electric vehicle and aircraft charging infrastructure across the United States.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has suggested removing Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called sanctuary cities where local authorities do not assist federal immigration investigations. Those cities include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco international hubs. In a recent congressional hearing, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “We shouldn’t shut down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics.”

In a joint statement, the U.S. ​Chamber of Commerce, Airlines for America, the National Retail Federation, U.S. Travel, and other groups said the move “threatens to cause unnecessary chaos throughout the nation’s air transportation system.”

“Any reduction in Customs and Border Protection operations at major U.S. gateway airports threatens to cause unnecessary chaos throughout the nation’s air transportation system. International aviation networks are highly interconnected, and operational changes at a small number of gateway airports will quickly ripple across the country, negatively impacting travelers, cargo shipments, supply chains, and the communities that depend on those connections. Airports and airlines rely on stable, predictable federal inspection services to keep people and commerce moving safely and efficiently. We urge DHS to avoid actions that would create unnecessary operational and economic consequences for communities nationwide. As the United States prepares for growing international travel demand, DHS should avoid actions that would create unnecessary bottlenecks and economic consequences for communities across the country. Now is the time to strengthen America’s gateway infrastructure, not weaken it.”

See also, Airlines urge Trump administration not to curb international flights in feud over ‘sanctuary cities’

Eclipse supplier Resurgent Aviation Solutions (RAS) says on its webpage that the company “has elected to wind down all business operations and liquidate all remaining assets. All finished goods will be made available for outright purchase using an auction format. The liquidation will be completed over several auctions over the next two months.”

An original Supermarine Spitfire will set you back about £3 million. The new Aerolite Spitfire Type 433 has been constructed at a cost of about £750,000. The composite kit plane is touring the UK this spring and summer at air shows and military and classic motor festivals.

Great British Supermarine Ltd, is the manufacturer. Chief executive Jeremy Meeson, said: “The moment is right to reimagine the Supermarine Spitfire because today’s materials, propulsion, and digital engineering finally let us evolve an icon without losing what made it exceptional.”

The NTSB does not release cockpit voice recordings made during an accident. Other evidence from investigations is released to the public, including photographs, videos, maps, and other data. During a two-day investigative hearing on the UPS flight 2976 accident, a PDF file was released that showed an analysis of the spectrogram of the audio recorded by the CVR.

However, the NTSB was not aware “that advances in image recognition and computational methods have enabled individuals to reconstruct approximations of cockpit voice recorder audio from sound spectrum imagery.” Subsequently, the NTSB closed public access to all dockets.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) expressed its support for a new online dashboard developed by the Department of Transportation and the FAA to provide updates on the status of modernization of the country’s air traffic control (ATC) network. The Modern Skies dashboard provides information on ATC modernization projects already underway and updates at more than 4,600 FAA sites across the country, along with a map overlay detailing specific efforts.

Rob Mark and Max Trescott were shortlisted for the Aerospace Media Award in the Best Multimedia category for Episode 26 of NTSB News Talk – March 25, 2026 LaGuardia Plane Crash Into Fire Truck + Rob Mark on Losing a Pilot Friend. The Aerospace Media Awards will be presented on the evening of 19th July at No 8 Northumberland Avenue, London. The 2026 Call for Nominations closed with a record 700 nominations.

Amelia Earhart is back in Harbour Grace as stolen statue returns home

Infighting, court battles could put long-hyped air taxi breakthrough in jeopardy

An Air Taxi Lands in Manhattan, but You Can’t Fly in It Yet

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.

We speak with the founder and CEO of Points Path, which helps travelers get the most up-to-date pricing from both Google and airlines.

Julian Kheel is the founder and CEO of Points Path, a browser extension that helps you make informed travel purchases. Points Path performs the same flight search with Google Flights for each of its covered airlines, but requests prices in points or miles rather than cash. The results are then combined with Google’s results, so you see the most up-to-date pricing available from both Google and the airlines themselves.

In the free extension, Points Path offers award pricing for the frequent flyer programs of Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, and United. Paid Pro tier and Founders Club members also get access to Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air France/KLM, Avianca, Emirates, Etihad, Qantas, Qatar, TAP Air Portugal, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Australia. All tiers include domestic and international flights on the airlines themselves, as well as flights with partner airlines.

The free version of the Points Path extension includes real-time, true round-trip points pricing for US domestic airline programs, as well as bank transfer programs for those airlines, indicators when a transfer bonus is in effect, and deal recommendation arrows. Points Path Pro is a paid upgrade that adds more airlines, price-tracking alerts, a 7-day points calendar, and other features.

Julian has extensive industry knowledge. He was previously Editorial Director of The Points Guy, as well as CNN’s Senior Editor covering travel and credit card rewards, and also worked as a consultant for the “Big 3” airlines. He has appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Bloomberg Surveillance, and other TV programs to discuss frequent-flyer miles and has been quoted on travel rewards in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and many other national publications.

Julian was kind enough to offer Airplane Geeks listeners a discount code for the Pro version. Use airplanegeeks15 at checkout.

Max Flight, Brian Coleman, and our Main(e) Man Micah.

U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growler jet collision, Boeing’s China order, the new target for air traffic controller staffing, new United flight attendant contract, domestic flight lengths, Boeing civil suit award, and a tribute to a flight instructor.

Two U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growler jets collided midair during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. All four Washington-based pilots ejected. The jets exploded upon impact with the ground. The Gunfighter Skies Air Show (May 16-17, 2026) was a free event open to the public and featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

The Growler is a variant of the Super Hornet with advanced sensors and jamming pods. The VAQ-129 “Vikings” EA-18G Growler Demo Team showcases the platform for tactical jamming and electronic attack.

Video: Deep Intel on the Growler Midair at Idaho Airshow

Last week, we reported that Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg was joining President Trump on his visit to China. There was anticipation for a 500-airplane deal, but it appears the negotiation resulted in a 200-airplane purchase. No other details were available at the time.

The FAA has a new target for air traffic control staffing: 12,563 certified controllers. The previous target was 14,633 controllers. That’s a reduction of 2,070 controllers, or 14%.

Controller overtime costs have gone up more than 300% since 2013, according to a National Academies of Sciences report. Air traffic is up, but time spent on position managing air ⁠traffic has gone down. The ​FAA said, “Deploying modern staffing models and scheduling tools will improve controller staffing efficiency and reduce the need for excessive overtime.”

The FAA said about 11,000 certified controllers are deployed, 4,000 are in training, including 1,000 who were previously fully certified and are training ‌at new air traffic control facilities.

United Airlines flight attendants ratified the tentative agreement that was reached in March. Almost 89% of eligible union members voted, and of those who did, 82% approved the contract. Flight attendants get their first raise in 5.5 years, almost 20% over the life of the contract.

There are many more scheduled short domestic flights in the U.S. than long ones, but over the past 10 years, the number of flights of 500 miles or less has decreased, while the number of longer flights has increased. 

Samya Stumo was a 24-year-old who was killed in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, in 2019. Like other victims’ families, Stumo’s family brought a civil suit against Boeing. Most of those other suits were settled out of court. Stumo’s family did not reach a settlement, and the case went to trial focusing on compensation. Boeing had previously admitted liability.

A federal jury in Chicago awarded $21 million for Stumo’s death, $16.5 million for the family’s loss of companionship, and $12 million for the family’s grief.

Steve Visscher’s tribute to Gary Bittle, his flight instructor and friend.

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and Erin Applebaum.

AirAsia places a large A220 order, a Frontier jet collides with a pedestrian, Boeing hopes for a mega-deal in China, power banks in the cabin are in the cross-hairs, the Senate hopes to save the last three Tomcats, and FedEx plans to return MD-11s to service. Also, preliminary information about AvCon 2027, upcoming airshows and fly-ins, and a detailed explanation of weight and balance for airliners.

AirAsia becomes the launch customer for a 160 PAX high-density version of the Airbus A220 currently under development. The order from the Malaysian LCC brings total A220 orders to more than 1,000. Airbus wants to increase the production rate to 14 per month, and this order will help. Deliveries could begin in late 2027 or early 2028.

Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer of Capital A (the holding company of AirAsia), said “My philosophy has been built on a very strong network. Two of the driving factors of AirAsia’s network are that 60% of our routes are routes that were never done before. We go into secondary and tertiary cities. And the second underlying principle of what we do is frequency. So, obviously, we’ve bought a lot of A321s, which have 244 seats. Not every route pairing could fill 244 seats.”

A person crossed the perimeter fence and a runway at Denver International Airport and was subsequently struck and killed by a departing Frontier Airlines plane, Flight 4345. The flight was aborted, and a brief engine fire was extinguished. Twelve people reported minor injuries in the evacuation, and five were taken to local hospitals.

President Donald Trump’s business delegation is visiting China, and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg is reportedly attending. Thirteen Chinese domestic carriers operate 97 737 MAX aircraft, and Boeing is hopeful that with Trump’s help, as many as 500 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and about 100 widebody jets can be ordered. In April 2026, Ortberg said, “Without the administration’s support, I don’t think we’ll see any near-term large orders out of China. It really is something that would be tied to the effort from the administration.”

The CAAC does not simply rubber-stamp Western approvals. It runs a parallel, sovereign certification process based on the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) signed by the US and China in 2005, with the operational details specified in the Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness (IPA).

According to ICAO, power banks caused more reported airplane fires and thermal runaway incidents than any other lithium-battery device in 2025. FAA data shows that airlines reported lithium battery events involving fire, smoke, or extreme heat nearly twice a week on average in 2025. Airlines ban power banks in checked luggage and are now implementing new rules for these devices brought on board.

The US Navy has just three remaining F-14D Tomcats. The aircraft were retired in 2006, but the U.S. Senate wants to ensure that those three jets survive and maybe even fly. S. 4161, the Maverick Act, passed by the Senate but not yet enacted, authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to transfer the three F-14D Tomcats to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama. The Commission could put the aircraft on display or operate them at “an airshow … or a commemorative event to preserve United States naval aviation heritage.”

FedEx hopes to repair and return to service 29 grounded MD-11 freighter aircraft. The company proposes to send technicians to 16 locations worldwide, where they will remove the engine pylons and transport them to maintenance facilities in Indianapolis and Memphis. There, Boeing redesigned bearings will be installed, and the pylons will be returned to the aircraft. MD-11 operations were halted after the November 4, 2025, crash of UPS Flight 2976 in Louisville, Kentucky.

See: FAA Ends MD-11 Grounding After Boeing Review

AvCon is billed as “The world’s only convention built for aviation fans by aviation creators.” The organizers say,  “Based on the success of 2026, we’ve extended this – so for THREE amazing days, we’re taking over the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Orlando, Florida for panels, merch, meet-ups, and good old-fashioned AvGeek fun. Whether you’re a YouTube fan, private pilot, model collector, or airline loyalty nerd — join us aboard.” May 21, 21 & 22 2027” [sic]. Hyatt Regency, Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Stories about Flying: When a Standard Instrument Departure Becomes Hazardous to Your Professional Health. A routine instrument departure turns into a career-defining moment when poor cockpit communication and rushed decisions lead to a serious ATC deviation. In this episode, Rob Mark shares how one flight exposed the dangers of weak Crew Resource Management—and the hard lesson that remaining silent can be just as risky as making the wrong call.

The Great State of Maine Airshow, July 11 and 12, 2026, at Brunswick Executive Airport (former Brunswick Naval Air Station) and featuring the Blue Angels, the F-35 Demo Team, and the C-17 Demo Team.

The 29th Annual Spurwink Farm Pancake Breakfast and Fly-In, Sunday, July 12, 2026, at 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM.

Why Insurance Breaks The Uber-In-The-Air Fantasy

Video: United — Safety in Motion

Video: A Hundred Years of Safety – Delta’s 2025 Centennial Safety Video

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Rob Mark.

Dynamic airline ticket pricing, Blackhawk helicopter altitude instrumentation, a U.S. Government equity position in Spirit Airlines, the NTSB preliminary report on the fatal LGA accident, capacity cuts at airports, AI-enabled ATC, the Digital Tower Technology Coalition, and SpaceX Starlink in-motion aviation plans.

Airline executives have told Congress that personal data is not used to dynamically set ticket prices. However, a complaint has been filed in federal court alleging that JetBlue uses “trackers” and shares data with third parties to dynamically set prices. This stems from an exchange on X where a passenger complained about a ticket price increase and JetBlue responded by saying the passenger should try “clearing your cache and cookies or booking with an incognito window.” JetBlue later stated that the response was incorrect and added that “fares can change at any moment as seats are purchased or as inventory is adjusted based on demand”.

At a media briefing on Bell’s MV-75 tiltrotor, The Air Current asked the commanding general of Army Aviation, Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, whether last year’s fatal midair collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet changed the Army’s thinking about fielding the Black Hawk’s partial replacement. Gill answered, “No, it’s completely unrelated.” The MV-75 will have “a more advanced cockpit, but the D.C. crash really wasn’t about whether or not it was an advanced cockpit or not.” This implied that faulty altimeters and outdated avionics in the accident helicopter did not substantially contribute to the crash.

The NTSB found that altitude exceedances on the Washington, D.C., helicopter routes were likely exacerbated by inaccurate altimeters on older UH-60L “Lima” Black Hawks, including the one involved in the crash.

The Federal government is considering an equity deal to keep Spirit Airlines afloat. Under the proposal, the airline would receive $500 million, providing additional liquidity as Spirit works to emerge from bankruptcy. The U.S. government could own up to 90% of the airline, according to sources.

Reportedly, the government would charge Spirit a reasonable interest rate and move to the top of the debtor list. CBS News says, “The loan would be protected by Spirit assets that would exceed the government’s costs, and would provide taxpayers with a warrant — the right to own 90% of the company after it emerges from bankruptcy.” Also, “The Pentagon would use Spirit’s excess capacity for transporting troops, military cargo, or other missions. The airline would then likely be sold to another carrier.”

See: 

On March 22, 2026, Jazz Aviation LP flight 646 (operating as Air Canada flight 8646), a CRJ-900, was substantially damaged after it collided with Rescue 35 (R35), an Oshkosh Striker 1500 aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle, while landing on runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport. The captain and first officer were fatally injured. 

Of the 2 flight attendants, 72 passengers, and 2 crew of the ARFF vehicle, 39 were transported to local hospitals with 6 serious injuries reported. The airplane was a Part 129 scheduled flight from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Montreal, Quebec, to LGA.

A review of the ASDE-X system data by the FAA determined that the system did not generate an aural or visual alert on the ASDE-X displays in the LGA ATC tower to warn controllers of the potential runway conflict.

The FAA is ordering flight reductions at Chicago O’Hare International Airport over the summer travel season. 3,080 daily flights were scheduled for peak summer days in 2026. Now O’Hare flights will be restricted to 2,708 per day from May 17 to Oct. 24. This change is motivated by capacity and operational delay concerns.

The FAA said it intends to bring in more air traffic controllers, speed up controller training, reduce delays by optimizing routes and airspace, and increase communication between the agency, the airport, and airlines during high-risk periods.

The Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (SMART) is an artificial intelligence-powered software tool designed for air traffic management. People familiar with the project say it could fundamentally change how the U.S. airspace system operates.

Palantir, Thales, and Airspace Intelligence (ASI) are competing on the initiative. Operational start could be as early as later this year. The system could enable the FAA to plan for bottlenecks and anticipate schedule conflicts before an aircraft even leaves the ground. This contrasts with today’s human-centric, reactive ATC structure.

The Digital Tower Technology Coalition “is an alliance of stakeholders advocating for the FAA’s implementation of the digital tower program, as outlined in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. By leveraging U.S. airports, regional partners, air traffic controllers, original equipment manufacturers, and federal partners, our coalition seeks to ensure an efficient and transparent process while strengthening U.S. global competitiveness in cutting-edge aviation technology.”

See the Press Release: Introducing the Digital Tower Technology Coalition, Representing Bold Commitment to Innovation in Effort to Modernize U.S. Aviation [PDF]

When SpaceX imposed a 100 mph speed cap on all non-aviation plans, general aviation pilots were forced to switch to more expensive aviation-specific tiers. That generated an outcry from the flying community, including a petition with over 9,500 signatures. GA pilots had been using Starlink Roam for $50 per month with a 100GB data cap. Now SpaceX has made some changes to its in-motion aviation plans.

Aviation 300MPH is renamed General Aviation Local 50GB, the price is lowered to $200 per month (from $250), and the monthly data limit is increased to 50GB (from 20GB). Additional data can be purchased in 50GB blocks for $25 (from $10 per GB).

The Aviation 450 MPH plan is now General Aviation Global 50GB, which is still $1,000 per month, but the monthly data cap has been increased to 50GB (from 20GB). Additional data can be purchased in 50GB blocks for $100 (from $50 per GB).

Swiss cheesemakers allowed to artificially make holes in Emmental cheese

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Rob Mark.

More on the Laguardia crash from the NTSB and ASDE-X; a near-collision at LAX involving a Frontier flight and two trucks; a United Airlines plane struck two de-icing trucks; the FAA requested funding for 2,300 controller trainees; a Navy MQ-4C Triton reconnaissance drone went missing; and air taxis are coming to Utah.

The NTSB has determined that a LaGuardia Airport air traffic controller cleared the fire truck to cross a runway 12 seconds before the Air Canada flight touched down. The two pilots were killed in the resulting collision. The NTSB has yet to identify how this was allowed to happen.

Unanswered questions:

LaGuardia has an advanced surface surveillance system called Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X). This system displays the locations of planes and vehicles to the Controllers. The fire truck didn’t have a transponder, but the emergency vehicles behind it stopped in time. Possibly, the close proximity of the vehicles merging kept the system from triggering an alarm.

ASDE-X is a surveillance system that uses radar, multilateration, and satellite technology to allow air traffic controllers to track the surface movement of aircraft and vehicles. It was developed to help reduce critical Category A and B runway incursions.

The ASDE-X collects data from a variety of sensors:

Multilateration (MLat) sensors determine an object’s position by measuring the time differences of signals received from multiple known locations. They are commonly used in applications such as air traffic control and navigation to accurately track the locations of vehicles or devices.

Frontier Airlines flight F9-3216, an Airbus A321, was taxiing for departure at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) when it encountered two trucks that cut it off. To avoid a collision, the pilots were forced to “slam on the brakes.”

The Frontier pilot told LAX controllers, “It happened so fast, both of us are like holy shit and slammed on the brakes… I might have to call the flight attendants, make sure everyone is alright in the back. It was real close… close as I’ve ever seen.”

On March 6, 2026, a United Airlines plane struck two de-icing trucks at Denver International Airport (DIA) as it was taxiing out of the de-icing pad. No on-board injuries occurred, although one de-icing agent suffered minor injuries. The plane suffered substantial damage. There was some confusion about whether the plane had been cleared to leave the de-icing pad.

At the end of September, the FAA employed 13,164 air traffic controllers, about 3,500 short of the targeted staffing level. The FAA’s fiscal 2027 budget request proposes funding to hire 2,300 air traffic controller trainees, with about $95.4 million earmarked for that effort. A WSOC Charlotte, SC video reports that gamers are being offered paid training and other incentives if they apply.

Open-source tracking indicates the surveillance drone suddenly turned toward Iran and transmitted the universal 7700 emergency code. It descended from more than 50,000 feet toward approximately 9,000 feet, then disappeared from public tracking networks.

The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is the maritime version of RQ-4 Global Hawk. It is a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned surveillance aircraft flown by the United States Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Navy had 20 Triton aircraft in service in 2025, and had planned to acquire seven more. The unit cost was estimated to be just over $238 million.

See: US Navy MQ-4C Triton Vanishes Near Iran After Emergency Code: Did Tehran Just Down America’s US$200 Million Spy Drone?

Paul Damron, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) air mobility program manager, says unmanned electric aircraft might be carrying packages and medical supplies as early as this summer. The FAA has designated UDOT to lead one of eight national pilot programs focused on integrating electric aircraft into various airspaces.

Initially operating out of Utah’s airports, the long-term goal is to create “vertiports” and connect them to existing transit modes. Under the uFLY pilot program, Utah leads a five-state partnership with Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, and Oklahoma. Aircraft will be tested under a variety of environmental conditions.

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Rob Mark.

The decline of enjoyment in today’s air travel experience, special TSA treatment for Congress members, consolidating ATC functions, TRACON evacuations, Artemis II, Part 141 training organizations, and aerial refueling. Also, Av-Con 2026, Spacewoman documentary, “souls onboard,” and EAS.

Recent events have made commercial air travel a difficult proposition for many air travelers. We see increasing fuel costs and increasing ticket prices, long lines at some security checkpoints, TSA workers absent, recent accidents, air traffic controller shortages, equipment malfunctions, and more.

The U.S. Travel Association’s senior vice president of government relations, Erik Hansen, said of passengers, “What they’re seeing is chaos, and what they’re seeing is a system that doesn’t work.”

In a statement to The Hill, Delta said, “Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta. Next to safety, Delta’s no. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment.” Those services have included airport escorts and red coat services.

Just days before the Delta action, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a proposal to end the special treatment members of Congress get at airports. That included permitting members of Congress to speed through or skip security screening checkpoints. To become law, the House would have to pass the bill, and the President would have to sign it.

On March 22, 2026, an Air Canada jet landing at LaGuardia struck a fire truck, killing both pilots. LaGuardia tower’s standard operating procedures specify that a controller cannot perform both air and ground duties. The NTSB is investigating the roles of the controllers at the time of the crash.

A 2023 rule in the LaGuardia ​Tower Standard Operating Procedures states, “Positions at LaGuardia Tower are not to be consolidated to one position prior to midnight local time or 90 minutes after the start of the shift, whichever is later.” Those familiar with the matter said the rule remained in effect in 2026.

On March 13, 2026, FAA operations were disrupted after Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) reported a strong smell. Fire responders investigated, and the source was identified as an overheated circuit board. That incident caused a ground stop lasting a little over two hours, affecting DCA, IAD, BWI, and nearby airports.

On March 27, 2026, the TRACON was evacuated again after another strong chemical smell, reportedly originating from an overheated battery backup or other electrical component in the break room/IT area. That second evacuation also triggered ground stops and significant delays across the region.

A similar event occurred in April 2025, when smoke entered the Potomac TRACON control room. That incident did not lead to an evacuation, but did leave multiple controllers with health issues severe enough to affect their medical certificates.

The Artemis II Mission flew four astronauts around the moon before returning them to Earth. The planned 10-day test flight is the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972 that humans have departed Earth orbit. NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. EDT on April 1, 2026.

The Artemis III mission will launch a crew in the Orion spacecraft atop the SLS rocket to test rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and commercial spacecraft (SpaceX and Blue Origin) needed to land astronauts on the Moon. NASA will announce specifics on the Artemis III mission design and crew closer to the 2027 launch.

Artemis IV astronauts will travel to lunar orbit, where two crew members will descend to the surface and spend approximately a week near the Moon’s South Pole conducting new science before returning to lunar orbit to rejoin their crew for the journey back to Earth.

The FAA has released a 471-page report by the National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA) titled A Comprehensive Modernization of Pilot Training Conducted by 14 CFR Part 141 Training Organizations, which states:

“The goal of this modernization effort is unambiguous: to develop a robust certification and regulatory framework under 14 CFR Part 141 that stands alone as the preeminent accreditation and method by which aviators are trained throughout the world. Under this new framework, achieving FAA certification would represent the highest standard of training excellence available anywhere negating the need for further accreditation or external oversight. The American flight training system would, in this vision, stand alone already.“

The key recommendations include:

A test A-10 has been flown for the first time with a refueling probe replacing its normal aerial refueling receptacle. The A-10 successfully connected to the aerial refueling drogue of a C-130. 

The Air Force uses a flying boom system, while the Navy uses a probe-and-drogue system.

The “Spacewoman” documentary about Eileen Collins, the first woman Shuttle pilot.

Journey is the Reward / Airplane Geeks Meet-Up, Sunday, May 17, 2026, 4:00 PM at Charlie’s Pizza, Restaurant and Pub (1980 Rt. 37, Manchester Township, NJ 08759).

Visiting the Av-Con 2026 in Atlanta – Held April 4, 2026, at the Delta Flight Museum. Av-Con is described as “the world’s first convention built for aviation fans by aviation creators.”

Souls On Board

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Rob Mark.

The MOSAIC rule and the demand for Sonex Aircraft, rising jet fuel prices impacting airlines, JetBlue evaluating a merger, Essential Air Service, the Enhanced AT-CTI Initiative, and United Airlines’ Relax Row in economy class. Also, SpaceX Starlink for GA pilots, a Southwest flight experience, and a conversation with the NTSB.

The FAA’s MOSAIC rule (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) expands what can be certificated as light-sport aircraft using consensus standards. It broadens sport pilot privileges to give access to more aircraft types.

The general aviation industry expected MOSAIC to create new opportunities for pilots and aircraft manufacturers. But unintended consequences may have arisen from removing limitations on light sport aircraft and making heavier aircraft available as entry-level airplanes. A drop in demand has contributed to Sonex Aircraft’s closure.

Video: Sonex is Closing: A Message from Mark Schaible

Global oil prices are up. Brent crude is roughly 50% higher than a year ago. Jet fuel is up around 90% compared to a year ago. Since fuel typically accounts for 20% or more of an airline’s total costs, we can expect higher fares, fuel surcharges, and capacity cuts. Profits could take a hit if airlines can’t pass higher costs on to consumers fast enough.

JetBlue is reportedly evaluating selling itself to a competitor, such as United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or Southwest Airlines. Any such deal could raise antitrust issues, and there is pressure to reach one soon, before the current political climate changes.

After talking with JetBlue and American Airlines at a joint meeting with the airport advisory board, the Presque Isle City Council voted 5-2 to recommend JetBlue to continue serving the city’s airport for the next four years. The Council’s recommendation next goes to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a final decision on the Essential Air Service award, which may take several months.

See the DOT Essential Air Service page.

The FAA’s Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) is a non-funded partnership between the FAA and approved institutions. The Enhanced AT-CTI Initiative was created to allow qualified institutions to provide students with equivalent FAA Academy air traffic control training. Program graduates are placed directly into a facility, with FAA oversight. They can immediately begin localized training at an air traffic facility. These graduates still must pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) and meet medical and security requirements.

United Airlines is introducing the Relax Row in economy on long-haul flights. Passengers can reserve a row of three seats, which can become a “lie-flat mattress-like space” for families with small children or passengers who want more space. Launching in 2027, the Relax Row will be available on more than 200 Boeing 787s. By 2030, the service will be available on Boeing 777s. Air New Zealand has licensed its Skycouch to United Airlines.

See:

SpaceX Starlink and GA:

Savvy Aviation Founder Mike Busch Receives AOPA’s Richard G. McSpadden General Aviation Safety Award

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Max Trescott.

A runway incursion at LaGuardia results in a fatal crash, new helicopter safety regulations are introduced near airports, Airbus voices frustration with Pratt & Whitney, the second NASA X-59 test flight ends prematurely, A-10 Warthogs see combat over the Strait of Hormuz, and Essential Air Service is considered for Presque Isle Airport.

A tragic runway incursion at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 22, 2026, ended in disaster when an Air Canada Jazz CRJ900 landing there collided with an airport rescue and firefighting vehicle on the runway. The crash claimed the lives of both pilots and left dozens seriously injured.

See also:

The FAA now requires air traffic controllers to use radar to manage aircraft and helicopters in close proximity. The interim general notice (Notice (GENOT) JO 7110.801 – Interim Helicopter Separation Procedures) suspends the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters in Class B and Class C airspace, and Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSAs).

The DOT said, “Many helicopter operators who are used to obtaining immediate approval to transit through certain areas may have to adjust their flight routes or be delayed while controllers ensure they maintain safe distance from other aircraft. When helicopter pilots, conducting urgent medical or LEO missions, request to fly through these heavy-traffic areas, airline operations to those airports may be disrupted in order to allow these missions priority clearance.”

Airbus is frustrated with Pratt & Whitney over the slow delivery of GTF engines for the A320 family. The issue stems from an allocation crunch, with demand coming both from Airbus for new aircraft and from airlines waiting on repairs to get problem engines back in service. Reports suggest Airbus may be seeking potential damages.

This stems from a manufacturing problem where contaminants were introduced into the nickel-based powdered metal used to forge certain rotating engine components. (Turbine disks and some HPC parts.) These engines face an increased risk of microscopic cracks and premature failure, particularly those produced roughly between late 2015 and 2021. Instead of waiting for routine shop visits, these engines required accelerated inspections and life‑limit reductions.

The second flight of the NASA X-59 supersonic demonstrator ended after nine minutes when a warning light illuminated shortly after takeoff. An unrelated caution light indicated an issue prior to the flight, but after a system reset, the flight was approved to proceed.

The first flight took place on October 28, 2025, when the demonstrator reached 12,000 feet and 200 knots. The second flight was intended to last an hour and reach 20,000 feet and 225 knots, but ended up matching the first flight.

The Pentagon has long sought to retire the A-10 Warthog, but Congress has kept it flying. In the meantime, A-10 pilots have been training for a maritime mission: attacking Iranian fast boats in the Strait of Hormuz. AH-64 Apache attack helicopters are also now performing this mission, as well as shooting down Iranian drones. The A-10 has long been considered a close air support aircraft for ground forces, but it also has a maritime role.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has received proposals from JetBlue and American Airlines for the next Essential Air Service contract for Presque Isle International Airport. JetBlue has provided the service since 2024 with seven weekly round-trip flights to Boston. The 140-seat Airbus A220s depart early in the morning and return late at night. The airline is proposing to continue that service.

American Airlines is proposing at least 12 round-trip weekly flights on a 65-seat jet, split between Boston and Philadelphia. American is seeking a two-year contract with an average annual subsidy of $8.2 million. JetBlue is seeking an $11,521,129 in each of four years, or a two-year contract worth $11,745,899 annually.

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Bonus story:

The U-2 Dragon Lady first flew 70 years ago, and it’s still being used as an ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) platform. Recently, BAE Systems was awarded a contract by Robins Air Force Base in Georgia to support and sustain the U-2’s AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System (ADS).

In a press release (BAE Systems to modernize Advanced Defensive System for the U.S. Air Force U-2 reconnaissance aircraft), BAE said, “Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide continuous field service support for the aircraft’s electronic warfare (EW) system, complete repairs to maintain system availability, and provide software updates so it can detect and engage new threats.”

Stories about Flying. Flight Instructing is About More Than Just Logging Hours.

China Clipper (1936) movie.

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and Erin Applebaum.