Boeing’s F-15 Qatar Advanced Jet Completes Successful First Flight

Boeing has successfully completed the first flight of the F-15QA fighter, the most advanced version of the jet ever manufactured. Developed for the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF), the jet demonstrated its next-generation capabilities during its 90-minute mission.

Readying Fleet Aviators: USS Ford Prepares Pilots for Deployment

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) concluded its first-ever Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) carrier qualifications (CQ) for Naval aviators while underway in the Atlantic Ocean, April 4.

Air Force Makes Final Basing Decision For Next Two Air National Guard F35A Bases

The Department of the Air Force selected Truax Field, Wisconsin, and Dannelly Field, Alabama, for the next two Air National Guard F-35A Lightning II locations. F-35As will begin to replace many of the older fourth-generation aircraft, but the Air Force will continue to fly a mix of fifth and fourth-generation fighters into the 2040s.

Transportation Secretary Chao Announces $10B in Relief for America’s Airports

SecTrans Elaine Chao has awarded approximately $10 billion to commercial and general aviation airports from the Trump Administration’s newly created Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Airport Grant Program.

USAF Notes 78th Anniversary Of The Doolittle Raid

In choppy, frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean and more than 10 hours out from their planned takeoff, the Doolittle Raid task force was spotted. Not wanting to jeopardize the mission, the command was given and each of the modified bombers slowly crept off the Hornet’s flightdeck – one of the most daring aerial missions in American history was underway.

USMC Conducts First Operational Flight Of MQ-9A Reaper UAS In The Middle East

U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) pilots and sensor operators from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) conducted their first operational flight of GA-ASI’s MQ-9A Reaper UAS in the Middle East on March 20. 

GA Groups Request Temporary Fuel Tax Relief

EAA joined several prominent general aviation organizations in requesting temporary relief from noncommercial fuel taxes, a measure already taken for commercial fuel taxes paid by air carriers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Air Canada to Temporarily Suspend Transborder U.S. Flights

Air travel is about to get an additional restriction… of sorts. Air Canada will suspend scheduled service to the U.S. after April 26 as a result of the agreement between the governments of Canada and the United States to extend border restrictions by an additional 30 days, effective today.

Airbus Achieves World’s First Fully Automatic Refuelling Contacts

Airbus has achieved the first ever fully automatic air-to-air refuelling (A3R) operation with a boom system. The flight test campaign, conducted earlier in the year over the Atlantic Ocean, involved an Airbus tanker test aircraft equipped with the Airbus A3R solution, with an F-16 fighter aircraft of the Portuguese Air Force acting as a receiver.

JetBlue Mandates Masks For Crew AND Passengers

While the legalities are still being worked out, JetBlue has mandated that as of May 4, all customers will be required to wear a face covering during travel.