World's fastest passenger jet goes supersonic in tests

The race to resume supersonic passenger flights nearly two decades after the retirement of Concorde was offered a glimmer of excitement on Monday when plane manufacturer Bombardier revealed high speed achievements while confirming the launch of its new business jet. The Canadian company said the in-development Global 8000 will be "the world's fastest and longest-range purpose-built business jet." The news comes after a Global 7500 test vehicle broke the sound barrier during a… (www.ctvnews.ca) Plus d'info...

GE’s Catalyst close to certification as first all-new turboprop engine design in more than 50 years

GE Aviation unit Avio Aero said it has continued to progress toward certifying its new Catalyst turboprop engine, they said it has completed 50 percent of certification testing which involves more than 3,000 hours of combined operations... (www.aviationweekly.org) Plus d'info...

Mental health of pilots under scanner after China Eastern 737-800 jet crash

An anonymous survey of 1,848 pilots in 2015 found 12.6% suffered from depression while 4.1% experienced suicidal thoughts. How would you feel about getting on a flight knowing that the pilot had been having suicidal thoughts? If you’re a regular passenger, you’ve probably already done it. (www.airguide.info) Plus d'info...

Aviation Giants Enter Final Stretch to Replace Black Hawk

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As the Army prepares to decide on a replacement for the venerable but aging Black Hawk, competitors are putting the finishing touches on their offerings. The service is expected to make a decision on its future long-range assault aircraft, or FLRAA, program this fall, a decision so imminent that the Army has entered a “quiet period” on the competition. (www.nationaldefensemagazine.org) Plus d'info...

B-21 Raider's First Flight Has Been Grounded Until 2023

Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider will not make its first flight in 2022, as previously planned. The U.S. Air Force now projects the highly-anticipated bomber will take to the skies in 2023 – an added delay of at least six months. News of the delay has come via a report by Air Force Magazine. While the service aims to remain “transparent” on production times of its key capabilities, the unnamed Air Force spokeswoman cited in the article did not explain the specific reasons for the delay. As Air… (www.msn.com) Plus d'info...

Two Iranian Airlines Get Approval To Fly To Oman

Iran's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has given its initial approval for two Iranian airlines - flag carrier Iran Air and Karun Airlines - to begin direct flights between Iran and Oman. The country's aviation agency announced its decision on Sunday, adding that both airlines will launch their new services soon. (simpleflying.com) Plus d'info...