Aviation Week reports, “An Air India Boeing 787-8 crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport, India, on June 12. The crash is the first fatal accident of any 787 since the type entered service in 2011 with All Nippon Airways.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Tag: Aviation
Saab Gripen E Jet Completes First AI-controlled Flight Tests
Aerotime reports, “Saab has completed a series of flight tests integrating artificial intelligence into its Gripen E fighter jet, the company announced on June 11, 2025. Conducted in partnership with the German-based defense AI firm Helsing, the flights over the Baltic Sea saw the AI agent, named Centaur, take autonomous control of the aircraft during simulated Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat scenarios.”
Full Story (Aerotime)
Boeing Books 303 New Orders in May in One of Highest Monthly Order Tallies in Company History
Reuters reports, “Boeing heads into the Paris Air Show after a blockbuster May that included booking 303 new orders and rolling out 38 new 737 MAX jets, a production rate it has been working to reach for more than a year. The company also delivered 45 aircraft last month, it said Tuesday. It was the sixth-highest monthly order tally in Boeing’s history, according to company data.”
Full Story (Reuters)
New Executive Order Aims to Usher in New Generation of U.S. Aircraft
Flying Magazine reports, “President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that aims to usher in a new generation of drones, self-flying planes, and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis while shutting out “unfair foreign competition” from countries like China. The order, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” contains a package of measures designed to bolster the U.S. drone industry by lifting restrictions and streamlining manufacturing, testing, and access for American-built uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
U.S. Navy’s T-54A Trainer Achieves IOC
Aviation Week reports, “The U.S. Navy’s new multi-engine trainer reached initial operational capability (IOC) in May, the service announced June 9. The Textron T-54A Merlin II is replacing the aging T-44C Pegasus to provide Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and allied training for multi-engine platforms such as the P-8A, E-2D and C-130. The service has received 15 of the aircraft so far, with plans to buy up to 64 with deliveries running through 2026. The T-54A is a modified King Air 260.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Trump Orders FAA to Repeal Ban on Overland Supersonic Flight
Flying Magazine reports, “President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order instructing the FAA to repeal its ban on supersonic flight over U.S. land. The order said that, with advances in noise-reduction technology, supersonic flight is ‘not just possible, but safe, sustainable, and commercially viable.’ New noise standards will be developed that weigh ‘community acceptability, economic reasonableness, and technological feasibility,’ the White House added.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
AURA AERO Unveils French Alternative to Reaper Drone
Aerotime reports, “Toulouse-based aircraft manufacturer AURA AERO has unveiled ENBATA, a new “low-cost high-performance” MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drone, marking its formal entry into the defense sector. The news was first reported by OpexNews in an exclusive interview with AURA AERO CEO and co-founder Jérémy Caussade.”
Full Story (Aerotime)
U.S. Army Launches ‘Major Overhaul’ of its Flight School Following Deadly Crashes
Defense News reports, “In the wake of a string of deadly military aviation accidents over the past several years, the U.S. Army is launching a major overhaul of how it trains new pilots that focuses on getting back to the basics. The overhaul includes rethinking the type of aircraft used for training, along with a likely shift to a contractor-owned-and-operated schoolhouse.”
Full Story (Defense News)
Beta’s Alia CX300 Makes First Electric Flight into New York City Airport
Aviation International News reports, “Beta Technologies’ Alia CX300 on Tuesday [became] the first all-electric aircraft to land at a New York City airport … One of Beta’s prototypes landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) after a passenger-carrying demonstration flight with a pilot and four passengers, including Blade Air Mobility CEO Rob Wiesenthal and Republic Airways president Matt Koscal. According to Beta, the energy cost for the 45-minute flight was just $7 compared with what it estimated as $160 in fuel costs for a helicopter making the same trip. The Alia flew at 135 knots, operating under a market survey ticket that the FAA issued.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
New High-Density Battery Provides Up to 63% More Flight Time for UAVs
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “Tulip Tech, a high-tech battery innovator based in the Neatherlands, has revealed a major leap forward in UAV endurance with the integration of its new high-density 39Ah battery pack into the Acecore Technologies Noa drone. Delivering an energy density of 360 Wh/kg, the advanced lithium battery has achieved flight time increases of up to 63%, unlocking significantly greater range and productivity for demanding drone missions.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)