SAN DIEGO – Unmanned aircraft manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems said Thursday it has tested a communications pod that allows its MQ-9B drone to restore connectivity in areas affected by natural disasters.
The Disaster Relief Unit communications system was developed by Japanese telecommunications and technology company SoftBank Corp.
The system allows the MQ-9B to serve as a mobile network relay tower in the sky, providing connectivity where cellular towers have been damaged, such as by floods or other natural disasters, General Atomics said.
The MQ-9B family comprises multi-mission uncrewed aircraft that can operate in all weather conditions. The aircraft are being flown by operators in several countries.
WestJet said the deal marks the start of the retirement of its 737-700 fleet. Photo: WestJet.
NEW YORK – Canadian airline WestJet has begun retiring its Boeing 737-700 fleet with the sale of 27 aircraft to lessor FTAI Aviation Ltd., including 17 in a sale-leaseback transaction, FTAI said Monday. Ten airplanes will be off lease.
WestJet currently lists 30 Boeing 737-700s in its fleet, meaning the transaction covers all but three of the type.
The 10 off-lease aircraft will support FTAI’s Aerospace Products business by expanding its supply of CFM56-7B engines and modules for its maintenance, repair and exchange customers, the company said.
FTAI added that the transaction is one of its largest aircraft acquisitions to date and combines its airplane ownership business with its engine maintenance capabilities.
“We are pleased to expand our relationship with WestJet through this transaction,” FTAI President David Moreno said.
WestJet Group Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mike Scott said the transaction marks the start of the airline’s retirement of its 737-700 fleet.
“We’re pleased to partner with FTAI Aviation Ltd. to make this happen, and we look forward to building on this relationship for future opportunities,” Scott said.
TOYOTA CITY, Japan –SkyDrive has published a paper making the case for compact eVTOLs designed for urban transportation, arguing that such aircraft should prioritize efficient hovering and vertical operations over long-range cruise performance.
The Japanese company says its approach is particularly suited to flights of less than 30 kilometers, where aircraft would spend a significant portion of their missions taking off, landing and hovering in confined urban areas.
SkyDrive is developing a three-seat eVTOL called the SD-05 with 12 independently controlled propellers for such operations.
The design differs from winged eVTOLs and tilt-rotor aircraft, which can use their wings to improve efficiency during forward flight. Those configurations also require additional structures and mechanisms to support the transition between vertical and forward flight, adding weight and complexity, SkyDrive said.
The SD-05. Photo: SkyDrive.
For short urban flights, the company argues that the additional weight provides less benefit because the aircraft spends relatively little time in cruise.
Instead, SkyDrive has designed its aircraft around what it calls a low-disk-loading configuration.
Disk loading is a measure of how much weight an aircraft must support for a given area of rotor. A larger rotor area relative to the aircraft’s weight reduces the power required to hover.
SkyDrive says that lower power requirement is important in cities because it provides additional power capacity during takeoff, landing and emergency situations.
Graphic: SkyDrive.
The aircraft also uses four separate battery systems, providing another layer of redundancy. SkyDrive says the combination of distributed propulsion and lower power requirements helps maintain a power margin for hovering and landing in contingency situations.
The company also noted that compact aircraft require less space for takeoff and landing, an important consideration in built-up areas.
SkyDrive’s focus on short-distance operations is also reflected in its recent international plans.
Last week, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Verty to study commercial eVTOL operations in the country by 2028. The companies plan to examine sightseeing flights, including around Jeju Island, as well as regional routes around the Seoul metropolitan area.
It’s the airline’s largest order for Boeing single-aisle aircraft. Photo: Boeing.
NEW YORK –Turkish Airlines has finalized an order for up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX jets, comprising 100 firm orders and options for 50 more, Boeing said Wednesday.
No financial details were disclosed.
The order is Turkish Airlines’ largest purchase of Boeing single-aisle aircraft, the U.S. manufacturer said. The agreement also includes substitution rights for the 737-10, the largest variant of the 737 MAX family.
The order concludes discussions that began last year and supports the airline’s plans to expand its fleet and network.
“This agreement marks another significant step in the continued expansion of our fleet. The new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will bring greater efficiency and flexibility to our operations, supporting the extensive network we serve from our hub in Istanbul,” said Murat Şeker, Turkish Airlines chairman.
The airline operates more than 200 Boeing airplanes, including 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner, 737 Next-Generation and 777 Freighter aircraft, Boeing said.
The agreement was signed in New York in the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye. Photo: Boeing.
The new 737-8 jets will be used on both domestic and international routes.
Boeing said the aircraft’s range, payload flexibility and fuel efficiency will support Turkish Airlines’ operations on routes with high demand.
The order follows the airline’s 2025 purchase of up to 75 787 Dreamliners.
Turkish Airlines, a Star Alliance member, was established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft.
It now operates 567 passenger and cargo aircraft serving 358 destinations in 133 countries, making it the airline that flies to the most countries in the world.
The P.180 Avanti over the Italian Riviera. Photo: Piaggio Aerospace.
VILLANOVA D’ALBENGA, Italy –Piaggio Aerospace is marking 40 years of its P.180 Avanti business aircraft by retaining the distinctive design that defined the original turboprop while continuing to introduce new technologies and capabilities.
The P.180 first flew in 1986 and has evolved through several generations while retaining its three-lifting-surface configuration and rear-mounted engines.
The Italian manufacturer has added new systems and technologies over the years without fundamentally changing the aircraft’s original design.
The anniversary coincides with another milestone for Piaggio – more than 40 Avanti EVOs, the latest version of the aircraft, have been sold since the first customer delivery in 2015, the company said this week.
More than 270 P.180 aircraft of all variants have been sold since the program began, it said.
Photo: Piaggio Aerospace.
Piaggio is now looking toward the next stage of the aircraft’s development with the Avanti NX. The new version is planned to feature an updated flight deck, a new interior and enhanced connectivity as the company seeks to bring newer technologies to the established design.
Piaggio Aerospace has been owned by Turkish aerospace company Baykar since June 2025, when Baykar completed its acquisition of the company following its sale by the Italian government.
Baykar has since approved a new industrial plan and is supporting the development of the company’s aircraft programs.
Piaggio also is expanding support for operators of the Avanti I, Avanti II and Avanti EVO, covering aircraft throughout their service lives, the company said.
The Cessna Citation Latitude is among the Top 10 business jets in North America. Photo: Textron Aviation.
WICHITA, Kan. –Textron Aviation has rolled out the 500th Cessna Citation Latitude business jet from its Wichita manufacturing facility, marking a production milestone for the midsize aircraft.
“The rollout of the 500th Citation Latitude is a testament to the employees who build this aircraft with dedication and pride every day,” Eric Cardinali, senior vice president of manufacturing, said in a statement Tuesday. “This milestone is only possible because of the skill of our workforce and the trust customers continue to place in our products.”
The Citation Latitude is among the 10 most-active business-jet models in North America.
It ranked third by flight volume in July, with 13,255 flights, according to aviation data provider AVI-GO. Textron Aviation describes it as the world’s best-selling midsize business jet.
The Citation Latitude can carry up to nine passengers and has a maximum cruise speed of 446 knots, according to the company. Its full-fuel payload is 1,000 pounds.
The aircraft has a range of 2,700 nautical miles with four passengers at high-speed cruise. Its cabin features a stand-up, flat-floor configuration.
Textron Aviation, a Textron Inc. company, manufactures a range of Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft for the business, general aviation and special-mission markets.
The Cessna Caravan flew from California to North Carolina. Photo: Joby Aviation.
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. –Joby Aviation said Friday it completed a 3,199-mile autonomous flight across the United States using a modified Cessna Caravan, demonstrating autonomous technology the company is developing alongside its electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft program.
The aircraft flew from California to North Carolina with no control inputs from its onboard safety pilot, including during taxiing, takeoff, cruise and landing, Joby said.
The flight was remotely supervised from California and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, at distances of up to 2,323 miles.
The eastbound journey included stops in Arizona, Texas and South Carolina. The aircraft also flew over Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, near the site of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight in 1903.
Joby said the autonomous technology demonstrated in the Cessna could support applications including commercial freight, medical transport, disaster response and defense logistics.
Conceptual rendering of the SD-05 flying over Jeju Island. Photo: SkyDrive.
TOYOTA, Japan – Japanese compact aircraft developer SkyDrive and South Korean air mobility company Verty are studying the introduction of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in South Korea, with commercial operations targeted for 2028, SkyDrive said Wednesday.
The companies will assess flight safety, infrastructure requirements and potential routes, including sightseeing flights and inter-city transportation, SkyDrive said.
Initial routes under consideration include tourist destinations such as Jeju Island and connections between urban centers in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Goyang City.
The partnership will focus on the three-seat SD-05 aircraft, known as SKYDRIVE, and explore business models for commercial services.
EVTOLs can support short-distance transportation, airport transfers and sightseeing services. Guangzhou, China-based EHang is currently the only company operating commercial eVTOL passenger services.
Others including Eve Air Mobility, Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation and Vertical Aerospace are developing eVTOLs and pursuing certification and plans for commercial operations.
Verty is developing an integrated operating system covering flight operations, air traffic management and vertiport infrastructure. It aims to become South Korea’s first eVTOL operator to obtain a certificate, according to the release.
SkyDrive is working with aviation authorities in Japan and the United States to certify its aircraft, with a goal of entering service in 2028.
The agreement follows SkyDrive’s efforts to expand into international markets, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia and Taiwan.
Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada’s largest. Photo: GTAA.
TORONTO – Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Tuesday that his government will seek private investment to operate Canada’s four largest airports while retaining ownership of their land and assets.
Carney was addressing business leaders from around the world gathered in Toronto for the first Canada Investment Summit, which aims to mobilize C$1 trillion for 167 projects by 2030.
Mark Carney at a campaign rally in 2025. Photo: Abdul Latheef.
“Following best practice in other countries, the Government of Canada will retain ownership of the underlying land and assets, but we will unlock their true value, by bringing new capital and expertise to their operations and growth,” he said.
“We will reinvest the tens of billions of dollars of capital we raise into the infrastructure that Canada needs for the next generation.”
The announcement came amid speculation that the government was planning to privatize the airports outright.
The Canadian Labour Congress warned in a report released last week that privatization would “put upward pressure on the cost of flying and put airport workers at risk.”
Carney, however, stressed what his government is offering is a long-term concession, not privatization. He said the investment will help provide better and more affordable air connections to regional and remote communities.
Carney noted that Canadian pension funds already invest successfully in many airports around the world.
“It is time to bring that same expertise home to more directly benefit all Canadians,” the prime minister added.
Drone mapping of Buena Vista Park using the new Ouster system. Photo: Ouster.
SAN FRANCISCO – Lidar sensor maker Ouster said Monday that its Rev8 OS1 Max system is being adopted by drone manufacturers and payload integrators for aerial mapping and infrastructure inspections, citing improved accuracy and native color imaging.
The San Francisco-based company said its Rev8 OS1 Max combines three-dimensional lidar data with RGB color in a single sensor, eliminating the need to combine data from separate lidar and camera systems.
Ouster said the new sensor offers twice the accuracy and precision of the previous-generation Rev7 OS1 Max. It has a precision of 0.25 centimeters and accuracy of 1.25 centimeters, according to the company.
The sensor has 256 vertical channels and can detect objects up to 200 meters away under specified conditions. Ouster said a smaller laser spot allows the sensor to maintain detailed mapping capabilities when drones operate at higher altitudes.
Photo: Ouster.
The company said the technology is intended for applications including utility inspections, infrastructure mapping and aerial surveying.
Flying at higher altitudes can allow drones to cover larger areas while maintaining the ability to identify small features on the ground.
The native-color capability also improves the alignment of three-dimensional and visual data because both are captured by the same sensor rather than being combined from separate systems, the company said.
Ouster develops and manufactures lidar sensors and related sensing technology for applications including robotics, autonomous vehicles, industrial automation and drones.
A Mokulele Airlines Cessna Grand Caravan. Photo: Surf Air Mobility.
LOS ANGELES –Mokulele Airlines has won a four-year, $19.4 million U.S. Department of Transportation contract to continue providing scheduled air service to Lana’i, Hawaii, from Honolulu and Kahului, its parent company, Surf Air Mobility, said Monday.
At 140.5 square miles, Lanaʻi is Hawaii’s smallest inhabited island and is 98% owned by Oracle founder and CEO Larry Ellison.
The Essential Air Service contract provides subsidized revenue through August 2030, excluding passenger fares. Mokulele was selected through a competitive process, Surf Air Mobility said.
Under the contract, Mokulele will operate 126 weekly flights, including 42 round trips to Honolulu and 21 to Kahului.
The Transportation Department cited Mokulele’s record of serving the Lanaʻi community, its established infrastructure in Hawaii and its interline connectivity in selecting the airline, Surf Air Mobility said.
Mokulele has interline agreements with Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Japan Airlines at Honolulu and Kahului, providing connections from Lanaʻi to other destinations in Hawaii, the continental United States and internationally, the company said.
Mokulele currently operates about 112 daily departures across five islands. Over the past year, it has added Cessna Caravan aircraft and upgraded ground and lounge facilities in Hawaii.
Alia’s demonstration flight. Photo: Surf Air Mobility.
Surf Air Mobility said the new contract supports the company’s broader strategy of developing its SurfOS air mobility platform and its goal of launching commercial passenger electric flights using BETA Technologies’ Alia aircraft once certified.
In June, Surf Air Mobility participated in a demonstration flight of BETA’s all-electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft in Hawaii.
The company has since placed a firm order for 25 Alia aircraft, with an option for another 75.
The Midnight completed the piloted roundtrip Friday. Photo: Archer Aviation.
SALINAS, Calif. – Archer Aviation’s Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft has completed a piloted roundtrip flight between Salinas and Hollister, Calif., covering more than 40 miles (65 km), the company said Tuesday.
The Midnight flew Friday between Salinas Municipal Airport and Hollister Municipal Airport in about 12 minutes each way, reaching a top speed of 125 mph and cruising at 3,550 feet, Archer said.
Photo: Archer Aviation.
The flight was the first stop on Archer’s “No Roads” tour, which is intended to demonstrate the aircraft’s ability to connect cities by air and showcase potential routes for electric air taxis.
Archer plans to continue the tour with flights to Monterey, San Martin, San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco before expanding to Los Angeles and other states.
The company is conducting the flights in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration as it prepares for future operations under a federal eVTOL pilot program.
The Midnight is a four-passenger electric aircraft designed for short urban and regional trips with zero operating emissions.
The flight comes as electric aviation moves toward larger aircraft.
In August, Heart Aerospace completed the first flight of its X1 demonstrator, which it described as the largest battery-electric aircraft to fly. The aircraft flew for 27 minutes at an altitude of 1,100 feet, demonstrating an all-electric propulsion system that delivered more than 1 megawatt of power.
The unveiling of Bombardier Global 6500 at EBACE 2018 in Geneva. Photo: Abdul Latheef.
WASHINGTON/MONTREAL – Claiming “their products aren’t good enough,” U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to block Canadian business jet maker Bombardier from selling airplanes in the country unless the aircraft are built in America.
Trump’s Truth Social post came amid a deteriorating trade war, with Canadian retaliatory tariffs due to go into effect Tuesday.
Quebec-based Bombardier is a key player in the U.S. business aviation market, the world’s largest. It also operates a specialty defense-related manufacturing facility in Kansas and service centers across the country, employing thousands of Americans.
Quebec defends Bombardier
Christine Fréchette: We will defend our companies. Photo: Govt. of Quebec.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette wrote on X that she “will not respond to provocation with provocation.”
She called Bombardier “a source of pride for Quebec” and noted that the company employs thousands of Quebecers.
She added that she had reached out to Bombardier CEO Éric Martel to offer him support.
“Quebec will not allow anyone to dictate where our companies must produce in order to access a market,” Fréchette wrote. “We will defend our companies, our workers, and our expertise with resolve.”
Bombardier said in a statement late Monday that it employs thousands of Americans and supports tens of thousands of U.S. jobs through its operations and supply chain.
The company spends more than $2.5 billion annually with U.S. suppliers, making it a significant contributor to the American aerospace industry, the company said.
“Bombardier values its great partnership with American companies and its U.S. employees,” the statement continued. “Our plan is to continue to invest in our people, our customers and the communities in which we operate across the country.
It was not immediately clear how Trump could enforce a sales ban as the aerospace industry is highly integrated.
ATR said the FLY91 order for 40 aircraft is its largest in almost a decade. Photo: ATR.
NEW DELHI – Indian regional airline FLY91 is buying 40 ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft in a deal valued at about $1 billion, as the country’s rapidly expanding aviation sector creates new opportunities for domestic connectivity, the Franco-Italian airplane manufacturer said Thursday.
FLY91 said in a separate release that the firm order is the largest for ATR aircraft globally by a regional airline, while ATR said it is its largest firm order in almost a decade. Deliveries are scheduled from 2027.
The agreement will support a major expansion by FLY91, which launched operations less than three years ago. The Goa-based airline plans to grow its fleet from six aircraft to 60 over the next five years as it expands its regional network across India.
FLY91 said the order will provide the scale to build a larger network connecting more unserved and underserved cities. The airline currently operates about 280 weekly flights to 12 cities, with a 13th destination scheduled to begin later this month.
India’s regional aviation expansion requires aircraft capable of operating short routes efficiently while keeping fares affordable, ATR said. The ATR 72-600 is suited to routes linking Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where demand for air travel is growing.
Deliveries of the new aircraft are expected to begin next year. Photo: ATR.
FLY91 Chairman Harsha Raghavan said the order reflects the airline’s confidence in India’s growth and the potential of regional aviation.
Founder and CEO Manoj Chacko said the ATR 72-600 offers the operating economics needed for FLY91’s network and that the order will serve as a catalyst for its next phase of expansion.
ATR CEO Nathalie Tarnaud Laude said FLY91’s commitment reflects the growing role of regional aviation in connecting India’s next generation of travelers.
ATR, based in Toulouse, France, is a joint venture between European aircraft maker Airbus and Italian aerospace company Leonardo.
The FLY91 agreement takes ATR’s 2026 order intake to 54 aircraft, already exceeding its total net orders for all of 2025.
The 2,000th Embraer E-Jet was delivered to Azul Linhas Aéreas. Photo: Embraer.
SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil –Embraer’s E-Jet program has entered the ranks of the world’s three largest commercial jet families with the delivery of its 2,000th aircraft, the company said Wednesday.
The E-Jet family is behind only the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families in terms of aircraft delivered. The milestone aircraft, an E195-E2, was delivered to Azul Linhas Aéreas, Brazil’s largest airline by number of destinations served.
Photo: Embraer.
Since entering service in 2004, the E-Jets family has established a global presence, serving more than 90 airlines worldwide. The fleet has accumulated about 48 million flight hours and carried more than 2.85 billion passengers worldwide.
“The delivery of the 2,000th E-Jet is an extraordinary milestone for Embraer and for the global aviation transport industry,” Arjan Meijer, president and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, said in a statement.
“As one of the world’s three most successful commercial jet programs, the E-Jets family has played a vital role in connecting communities, opening new markets, and creating sustainable growth opportunities for airlines,” Meijer added.
Azul has operated more than 140 E-Jets since beginning operations in 2008 and was the launch customer for the E195-E2, taking delivery of its first aircraft in 2019.
Embraer and Azul executives celebrate the milestone. Photo. Embraer.
The 2,000th E-Jet also marks Azul’s 50th E2 aircraft, Embraer said.
The E-Jet family comprises the first-generation E170, E175, E190 and E195, as well as the second-generation E190-E2 and E195-E2.
The program has enabled Embraer to expand beyond its traditional regional aviation market and establish a strong position in the global small narrowbody segment.
