Boeing is making steady progress repairing hundreds of microscopic cracks discovered in structural reinforcing members on the two 747-8 aircraft being converted into the next Air Force One fleet, with the news coming from Bloomberg. The repairs involve longitudinal structures known as stringers, which are being replaced under procedures mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we discuss the low Airlink flypast in Cape Town, what’s been lost in the discussion so far, and what the South African civil aviation authority has to say about it. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns airlines to avoid Russian airspace as drones play an ever increasing role in the war between Russia and Ukraine. German authorities blame Russia for the recent explosive-laden drone in Leipzig. The FAA is moving to fire a pair of controllers who left the La Guardia tower early on the day of the crash between an Air Canada CRJ and ARFF truck. But the situation isn’t as straightforward as it seems. South Korean officials move to charge seven officials from the transport ministry with falsifying documents after the Jeju Air crash in Muan. And US airlines continue the race to be as premium as possible. Helpful links for this week’s episode * Airlink’s low flypast: video, data, airline statement, South Africa CAA statement * La Guardia Controllers left the tower early * JetBlue’s new first class * American Airlines’ new premium heavy 777-300ER * Chinese airlines swing to losses in the first half of 2026 * Airline Atlas, the new map prints powered by Flightradar24 data Check back soon for a transcript of this week’s episode.
Flightradar24 Blog•Flightradar244 Sept
Students in some high school maintenance programs face additional requirements before they can take the FAA’s general knowledge test.
AVweb•Matt Ryan3 Sept
The penalty covered 737 production and safety violations cited by the agency.
AVweb•Matt Ryan3 Sept
Pilots whose diabetes is controlled without insulin could potentially receive medical certificates directly from an AME.
AVweb•Matt Ryan3 Sept
FAA says the manufacturer paid the maximum statutory penalty after violations that included two unairworthy aircraft and interference with safety officials
Air Data News•Ricardo Meier3 SeptAviation News – Boeing has paid a $3.1 million fine to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following a series of safety violations, including actions...
The FAA has rejected Trident Adventures’ request to resume helicopter “helocast” tours that let passengers jump into the ocean from 10 to 35 feet.
AVweb•Amelia Walsh2 Sept
FAA has installed its 100th Surface Awareness Initiative system as part of an accelerated effort to expand airport surface surveillance.
AVweb•Amelia Walsh2 Sept
After 35 years since the law was imposed, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will now mandate that passengers will not be permitted to hold onto provided service items, such as paper and plastic cups, during pushback. As first reported by View From The Wing, this will result in less time for pre-departure beverages typically served in premium cabins.
The carrier has agreed to pay $58.5 million.
AirlineGeeks•Zach Vasile31 Aug
The facility is undergoing extensive renovations to accommodate commercial aircraft.
AirlineGeeks•Zach Vasile31 Aug
The FAA could take several months to reflect the new name on its VFR charts.
Part 121 certification allows the business aviation company to add 60-seat E170 charter operations alongside its 30-seat executive jets
Air Data News•Ricardo Meier31 Aug
FAA ties delayed pay to efficiency metrics that demand more on position time amid a 3,000 controller shortfall.
The FAA is reportedly moving to fire both workers.
AirlineGeeks•Zach Vasile28 Aug
JetBlue wins with the FAA's tentative approval of its slot acquisition. Google loses as a cabin crew union blocks its data acquisition.
Agency wants pilots to retain awareness of control limits after conventional mechanical feedback is removed.
AVweb•Matt Ryan28 AugAfter a week away, there’s much to discuss on this week’s episode of AvTalk. We start in Munich, where the Runway 26L took a great deal of abuse. We discuss the Vietnam Airlines 787 runway overrun and tail strike , followed two days later by a Lufthansa A380 touching down before the threshold on the same runway. We also examine what happened aboard Air India A320neo VT-EXO, which briefly lost pressure across all three hydraulic systems, causing an upset that injured nearly two dozen people. Plus, American puts two aircraft with the same call sign on the same frequency—again—and investigators say an unqualified passenger may have been flying a Phenom 100 that overran a wet runway. Elsewhere, a ramp worker is killed during the pushback of a French bee A350 in Montreal, a Frankfurt Airport employee dies from a rare case of malaria, and a Qantas A380 flies to Dallas and back with a maintenance light left inside its wing. We also discuss rising runway incursions in Australia, the return of the Delta–Aeromexico joint venture, Eurowings’ new Premium BIZ seats, the FAA’s war on plastic cups, United’s orphaned 737 MAX 10 seats, and American’s plan to bring seatback screens back—eventually. Please check back soon for a transcript of this week’s episode.
Flightradar24 Blog•Flightradar2428 Aug
In March 2026, we saw an Air Canada Jazz CRJ-900 collide with a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), claiming the lives of two pilots, and injuring dozens of others.
One Mile at a Time•Ben Schlappig28 Aug