IATA Annual Safety Report Message from the Accident Classification Task Force (ACTF) Secretary: Hanada Said This year, IATA proudly presents the 61st edition of the IATA Annual Safety Report. Since its launch in 1964, this report has evolved into an essential resource for compiling, monitoring, and analyzing accident data to enhance safety of commercial aviation. Throughout its history, the IATA...Read More
FAA Advises Boeing 757 Freighter Operators to Evaluate Cargo Doors By Caleb Revill The FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advising operators of Boeing 757-200 freighter planes to be aware of an “airworthiness concern” regarding the main deck cargo door opening while in flight. The bulletin, issued Friday, stated that this concern is not an unsafe condition that...Read More
British Airways To Acquire Boeing Gatwick MRO Hangar By James Pozzi British Airways is set to grow its domestic maintenance presence by acquiring Boeing’s MRO operation at London Gatwick Airport. The UK flag carrier announced the acquisition Feb. 17, subject to conditions, and says it will establish a new wholly owned subsidiary called British Airways Engineering Gatwick. The business will join...Read More
Falling Debris: How SpaceX’s Expansion Raises the Risk of Space Junk Hitting Planes By Ryan Kessler The skyrocketing number of satellites increases the danger of falling space debris threatening aviation safety. Key Points at a Glance: The risk of space debris impacting aircraft is rising due to the surge in satellite launches. SpaceX’s Starlink constellation significantly contributes to this growing...Read More
ATR Presses On With Maintenance Interval Extensions By Thierry Dubois After the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 XT engine resulted in a major extension of maintenance intervals in 2022, ATR has received approval for a comparable improvement on the nose landing gear, and engineers are working on alleviating the servicing needs of more subsystems. The effort aims to address pain...Read More
AA Mandates Rudder Replacements For Thousands Of Piper Aircraft The FAA issued an airworthiness directive for rudder replacements for thousands of Piper aircraft on Feb. 13. By Amelia Walsh The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final airworthiness directive (AD) requiring the replacement of rudders on specific Piper series aircraft. The AD, effective March 20, 2025, addresses safety concerns stemming from...Read More
Vertical Aerospace and its VX4 eVTOL makes you believe the future is possible By Ian Molyneaux After a few past wobbles, Vertical Aerospace has the feel of a company that is entering a new era of real significance backed up by an experienced, international team with a binding belief in its future success. In just the past few weeks, the...Read More
Nuuva V300 takes off with successful first flight Pipistrel, a Textron Inc. company, has announced the successful first hover flight of the Nuuva V300, a long-range, large-capacity hybrid-electric VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) unmanned aircraft. This milestone marks an advancement in the development of advanced, sustainable and versatile unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The Nuuva V300 is designed to carry a 600-pound...Read More
New Challenges in Avionics Training: Adapting to Rapid Technological Change By John Persinos The aviation industry is undergoing a technological revolution, with advancements in avionics transforming aircraft systems and operations. From the development of autonomous flight capabilities to the integration of virtual reality (VR) in cockpit simulations, these innovations promise to make aviation safer and more efficient. However, they also...Read More
Remembering Professor James Reason (1938 – 2025) IFA is sorry to hear that Professor James Reason has passed away. His work continues to have a profound effect on thinking about human factors, safety and culture across many industries. Our thoughts are with his Family and Friends at this time. This International Federation of Airworthiness (IFA) video examines Human Factors Error...Read More