Putting the pieces together: modular engineer licensing A new approach to gaining engineering qualifications aims to boost supply in this important trade. By Robert Wilson Trent Baker didn’t set out to be a pioneer in Australian aviation but that’s what he has become. As the first licensed aircraft maintenance engineer (LAME) to obtain his licence through self-study in a modular...Read More

Q&A with Don Ruhmann, Boeing’s Chief Aerospace Safety Officer By Cat Hofacker One might assume there are many differences between Don Ruhmann’s current job and his past roles in aircraft engineering and program management. But as he sees it, they’re “very complementary,” he told me on the sidelines of AIAA’s SciTech Forum in January. The chief engineer of an aircraft...Read More

NTSB Issues Preliminary Report on Hudson River Ditching Investigators say an instructional flight ended after a loss of oil pressure and total engine failure. By Matt Ryan The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report on the March 2 ditching of a Cessna 172N in the Hudson River near Newburgh, New York. The airplane, operating a Part 91 instructional flight, was...Read More

EU Sign Aviation Production Pact to Boost Safety India and the European Union have signed a working arrangement on industrial aviation production between the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The move aims to enhance collaboration in aviation safety, manufacturing standards, and industrial cooperation. The pact supports “Make in India” initiatives aligned with European norms and is expected to facilitate projects...Read More

New Thrust Flight Survey Finds 78% of U.S. Adults Would Be Uncomfortable Flying With an Airline Short on Maintenance Workers Data suggests maintenance staffing is becoming a key factor in how travelers judge airline safety and reliability A new Thrust Flight survey finds the aircraft mechanic shortage could become a bigger trust issue for airlines as travelers connect maintenance staffing more directly...Read More

2026 Competition at VERTICON Results: Rising All-Stars! A group of students from Rising Aviation High School didn’t just show up to compete, they dominated. Rising Aviation earned the highest score in seven of nine events, propelling them to victory at the second annual Competition at VERTICON, presented by Snap-on, held during the 2026 VERTICON convention in Atlanta earlier this month....Read More

AFRAA and the 4 Founding African MROs Launch Landmark African MRO Conference in Addis Ababa to Drive Sustainability in Aircraft Maintenance The African Airlines Association (AFRAA), in partnership with the founding African Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) providers – Ethiopian MRO, EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering, Kenya Airways MRO, and South African Airways Technical, supported by many other aviation stakeholders today...Read More

NASA’s X-59 Prepares for Second Flight By Nicolas Cholula NASA’s X-59 experimental aircraft is preparing for its second flight, a step that will set the pace for more flight testing in 2026. Over the coming months, NASA will take the quiet supersonic jet faster and higher, while validating safety and performance, a process known as envelope expansion. NASA test pilot Jim “Clue” Less will...Read More

Airbus Confirms Feasibility of Hydrogen-Powered ZEROe Concept for Sustainable Aviation By Rog Vogelaar Aviation News – Airbus has officially confirmed the technical feasibility of its ZEROe 100-seat aircraft concept and its accompanying hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. This milestone marks a significant step toward the company’s goal of bringing a zero-emission commercial aircraft to market by 2035. Following a rigorous evaluation period concluded at the turn of...Read More

Focus on Maintenance: Reaching the finish line By John Carinha The flurry is almost over. The “full gas” days of fall and winter are done, and the operational season is upon us. For many of those tasked with maintaining utility aircraft, the marathon is almost over. For us, we’ve just come off multiple airframe rewire projects, plenty of avionics and radio upgrades, and a bit of everything else in between. Many of our clients operate fleets with multiple aircraft types. Their own staff are often...Read More