“EAA congratulates Bryan Bedford on his nomination as FAA administrator and looks forward to his Senate confirmation hearing and the opportunity to work with him on behalf of the general aviation community. General aviation is enjoying one of its safest periods in history while encompassing a wide range of activities, due in large part to the cooperation between the FAA and industry associations such as EAA. If confirmed, we look forward to welcoming him to AirVenture 2025 to experience the entire spectrum of general aviation." Source: Jack J. Pelton, EAA’s CEO and Chairman of the Board, commenting on the nomination of Bedford to be the next FAA Administrator.

Association’s Sixth Head Since 1970 Founding

James A. Viola is officially the new President and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the sixth leader of the association since it was founded 55 years ago in 1970.

Aircraft Will be Exhibited at the National Military Museum as Its Origin is Investigated

A rare First World War-era Fokker D.VII is set to return to the Netherlands in September 2025 to be put on display at Soesterberg’s National Military Museum. The aircraft was traced back to Dutch heritage after spending decades in Germany. The Fokker D.VII’s long-term fate is still undecided.

Sixth-Generation Air Dominance Fighter To Replace F-22 Raptor

President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Boeing has been awarded a $20 billion contract to develop and manufacture the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter that is expected to enter service in the 2030s to replace the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.

Pilot And Industry Veteran With Proven Organizational Leadership

The National Business Aviation Association greeted President Donald Trump’s nomination of Bryan Bedford with approval as a pilot and aviation industry veteran with extensive experience in organizational leadership who, if confirmed, will bring consistency and continuity to the agency as the next administrator.

Covers Gulfstream GV and G550, Adds To G650 And G650ER Models

Gogo announced it has received FAA Supplemental Type Certification approval for its Plane Simple Ka-band tail-mount terminal for the Gulfstream GV and G550 models, adding to the G650 and G650ER aircraft already secured in rollout of the antenna series.

Also: Heli Student Busted, EMS Career Program, C17 Weather Shelter, FedEx Outsources???

Airbus Helicopters recently debuted the latest addition to its light twin-engine helicopter lineup: the H140. Unveiled at VERTICON, the H140 is designed for emergency medical services (EMS), passenger transport, and private and business aviation. The H140 is a 3-ton class helicopter positioned between the Airbus H135 and H145 models. It incorporates design elements based on feedback from H135 operators... Sikorsky announced its successful validation of advanced control laws to fly a prototype battery-powered rotor blown wing concept UAS in both helicopter and airplane models. Sikorsky made the announcement at this week’s HAI Verticon 2025 in Dallas, Texas, and said the 115-lb twin proprotor concept aircraft demonstrated operational stability and maneuverability across all regimes of flight including the transition from rotor-borne to wing-borne flight

Greek Airline Purchases 8 More Airliners to Support Network Growth

AEGEAN, Greece’s flagship carrier, has placed an additional order for eight Airbus A321neo aircraft, bringing its total direct orderbook with Airbus to 60. More than half of these have already been delivered, allowing the airline to support its growing network. AEGEAN’s fleet modernization began with a $5 billion order in 2018.

Also: Starship 8 RUD, Starlink Authorized, CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS, Ukraine Shoots Russkie Drones

The US Space Force’s X-37B made a safe return to Earth on March 8 after spending 434 days in orbit. While most of what the Boeing-built plane did in space is confidential, the mission was reported as a success on all fronts. The solar-powered, unmanned space vehicle began Mission 7 on December 29, 2023. The U.S. Air Force has assigned an official name to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.'s (GA-ASI) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) prototype: YFQ-42A. This designation comes after the Air Force selected GA-ASI in 2024 to develop the aircraft, making it part of an ongoing effort to integrate uncrewed systems into future combat operations. Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission to the Moon wrapped up earlier than planned, but not before delivering at least some data to NASA. The Nova-C lander, Athena, touched down on March 6 inside a c

Also: FAA Safety Steps, Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship, Salem Airport RWY Fight, GA-ASI’s New Uncrewed Fighter

After months of pushback from local pilots and aviation groups, the Kissimmee City Commission officially approved landing fees for Kissimmee Gateway Airport (KISM) on December 20, 2024. The charges took effect on February 1, 2025, requiring pilots to pay $3 per 1,000 pounds for fixed-wing aircraft and a flat $20 for helicopters. Despite overwhelming opposition from the pilot community, the commission locked in a three-year contract with Vector Airport Systems to handle billing—at a 15% commission, of course. The historic B-29 Superfortress “Doc” will be in Abilene, Texas, and is available for booking flight experiences before and after the Wings Over West Texas Air Show at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene. Doc will be open for ground and cockpit tours while at Dyess when not performing on April 18-20. In celebratio