Airplane Geeks Podcast

This episode:

ETOPS flights could be impacted by the closing of an airport on a tiny South Pacific island.

FAA rescinds Cessna Citation single-pilot exemptions.

Heart Aerospace unveils the ES-36 hybrid-electric 30-seat regional commercial aircraft and JSX purchase agreement for up to 100 aircraft.

A Congressman questions the FAA deployment of the Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (“SMART”).

The Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board determined that incorrectly positioned variable vanes caused the F-16 crash in December 2025.

A Boeing 737 MAX software glitch could disrupt a navigation feature.

Boom Supersonic loses the launch customer for their land-based Superpower stationary powerplant.

And pilots are accused of being in a “club” of furry fetishists.

Aviation News

Midway Atoll’s Airport Has No Flights, But Its Closure Could Disrupt Airlines Worldwide

Midway Atoll Airport (MDY) in the South Pacific, also known as Henderson Field, is a public airport on Sand Island. Midway Atoll is a 2.4-square-mile unincorporated territory of the United States. With a 7,800-foot runway, the airport primarily serves as an emergency diversion point for transpacific flights. The DOT estimates that the airport needs at least $100 million to stay certified. The Airline Dispatchers Federation (ADF) opposes closing Midway Atoll Airport because it will affect airline operations across the Pacific.

ETOPS ratings (“Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards) apply to twin-engine jets and specify how many minutes a plane is allowed to fly on a single engine to get to the nearest suitable diversion point. The FAA grants approval for each airframe-engine combination and again to each operator, based on its maintenance and dispatch program.

The ETOPS rating process is informal. The FAA grants two separate approvals, one for the design and one for the operator, and both are needed before an airline can fly a route:

Type design approval (Aircraft Certification Service)

The manufacturer shows that a specific airframe-and-engine combination is suitable for extended diversions. It involves:

Design and systems review. The FAA assesses ETOPS-significant systems such as fuel, electrical, hydraulic, APU, cargo fire suppression, and pressurization for redundancy and their ability to keep working through the maximum diversion time, including time-limited systems.

Propulsion system reliability. Assess in-flight shutdown (IFSD) rates and the engine’s overall service record. For new engine/airframe combinations without an in-service history, an early or accelerated ETOPS relies on design assessment, testing, and a demonstrated reliability program instead of accumulated fleet hours.

The Configuration, Maintenance, and Procedures (CMP) document defines the required airplane configuration, maintenance tasks, and operating procedures that an ETOPS-approved airplane must follow.

Operational approval (Flight Standards)

Type design approval doesn’t let any airline fly ETOPS routes. Each operator must be authorized through its FAA certificate-holding district office (CHDO). The airline must show that it can:

Maintain the airplane to the CMP standard, with an ETOPS maintenance program, ETOPS-qualified maintenance personnel, and procedures such as verifying critical systems after work and monitoring reliability.

Dispatch properly, including selecting ETOPS alternate airports with suitable weather and services, and planning for time-limited systems, fuel, and diversion scenarios.

Train crews and dispatchers on ETOPS procedures.

Conduct a validation process, which for new operators or new airplane types may include proving or validation flights.

The FAA conducts ongoing oversight and monitors IFSDs and other events that could affect ETOPS. It can restrict or revoke an approval if reliability degrades.

For detailed ETOPS information, including EDTO (Extended Diversion Time Operations), see How Do Planes Fly Over the Pacific? (ETOPS Explained) from Aeruxo – Flight Ops Insights.

FAA Rescinding Cessna Citation Single-pilot Exemptions

The FAA is rescinding exemptions that allow some Part 25-certified Cessna Citation jets to operate with a single pilot. The exemptions date back to 1984 and had been based on a lack of data showing any negative impact. The FAA’s decision is based on an 18-year review indicating that older Citation jets operated by a single pilot have a significantly higher accident rate than other models. Also, investigations revealed issues such as incomplete training records and unauthorized use of training devices among exemption holders.

The ruling is effective September 28, 2026, and affected pilots must operate these aircraft with a qualified second-in-command. Pilots who previously held single-pilot exemptions will lose their privileges. 

The FAA has been issuing single-pilot exemptions for transport-category CE-500 variants for over forty years, starting with Exemption No. 4050 to Cessna in 1984. The eight variants covered are the 500 (Citation and Citation I), 550 (Citation II), S550 (S/II), 552 (Navy T-47A), 560 (V and Ultra), 550 Bravo, 560 Encore and Encore+. The exemptions went to training providers, who issued single-pilot logbook endorsements.

Heart Unveils ES-36 With JSX Order

In Episode 898, our guest was Heart Aerospace co-founder and CEO Anders Forslund. We talked about the ES-30, a hybrid-electric 30-seat regional commercial aircraft the company is developing. Heart just unveiled the 36-seat ES-36 with an additional 1,415 pounds of payload capacity. Maximum takeoff weight and battery capacity remain the same, and the plane now employs two series-hybrid electric powertrains. The changes result from Heart’s experience flying the X1 demonstrator aircraft.

JetSuiteX, Inc. (or JSX) charters a 30-seat Embraer regional jet that is operated by a subsidiary and then resells seats on that aircraft to the public. It offers point-to-point flights in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Texas, Utah, and Baja California Sur in Mexico. JSX’s agreement converts a 2023 letter of intent into a deposit-backed purchase commitment and secures early delivery positions for the carrier.

See also, press release: Heart Aerospace Unveils ES-36 with JSX Purchase Agreement for Up to 100 Aircraft

Beyer Calls For Suspension Of AI System Deployed By FAA At Washington Area Airports

In a press release, U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) says, “The FAA should not use my constituents as guinea pigs for an unproven AI air traffic control system.” He was referring to the FAA’s deployment of the Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (“SMART”) system to manage flights at Washington area airports.

Beyer cited uncertainty among regional residents about air safety, and the lack of public awareness about the change. Air traffic controllers were also neither consulted nor trained, and airlines “were privately ‘panicking’ about the hasty implementation of this system.” Beyer serves as co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Artificial Intelligence (AI) Caucus. His Northern Virginia district includes Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA).

‘Misaligned’ fan blades, loss of thrust caused Thunderbird F-16 crash

The F-16CM aircraft that crashed on Dec. 3, 2025, in California was powered by a Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 turbofan. The pilot was rejoining the formation after a vertical loop/barrel roll sequence when the engine stalled. The pilot described it as “the jet just… stopped midair.” He fought the aircraft for roughly four minutes, then ejected at under 500 ft AGL.

The Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board [PDF] determined the mishap was caused by three misaligned or turned variable vanes in the engine’s 4th and 5th stages, which caused a 5th-stage compressor blade and a 6th-stage compressor blade to fracture and separate, resulting in catastrophic engine damage at low altitude with no ability to recover.

The aircraft had a documented foreign object damage (FOD) event years earlier (2021, per Common Defense’s reporting) that produced damage in the 1st stage on three separate occasions, plus recovered foreign material at the 4th stage (paracord). Because the visible damage was upstream and nothing was seen in the sections preceding the 5th/6th stage core, that area was never inspected and the investigators concluded the FOD “substantially contributed” to the mishap by leaving a latent path for the vane misalignment to develop undetected.

Variable vane actuators on the outside of an engine case. Image by Olivier Cleynen.

Boeing flags 737 MAX software glitch: reports

The software glitch identified can prevent pilots from accessing an automated navigation feature when they change their planned flight path after a missed approach. Pilots have been notified, and Boeing is working on a software update.

The Air Current reports that the software issue emerged nearly two years ago. Boeing “was alerted by a customer in November 2024 to the potential issue affecting 737 models with flight management computer (FMC) updates U14 and 14.1… When a pilot alters their preprogrammed flight path following a missed approach, the FMC may transition from vertical navigation (VNAV) mode to a simpler level of automation for pitch control.”

Crusoe abandons $1.25B plan to use Boom turbines at AI data centers

In Episode 874, we looked at Boom Supersonic’s plan to develop the land-based Superpower stationary powerplant as a derivative of its Symphony engine, generating a revenue stream to fund Boom’s other operations. We cited reports that Crusoe Energy, an AI data center startup, had 29 Superpower units on order, valued at $1.25 billion, with delivery expected in 2027.

Crusoe has now announced it will not pursue a deal with Boom. Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl posted on X his congratulations to Crusoe on their latest funding round, and: “Also wanted to let everyone know Crusoe and Boom are no longer launching our Superpower turbine together. The TL/DR is that turbines are no longer part of Crusoe’s near term primary power mix at Abilene/etc., so a launch partnership just didn’t make sense.” Further, “Boom will be delivering about 250MW of Superpowers next year to other sites, and we’re targeting 1GW in 2028.”

Trump ally Tuberville isn’t kidding when he says US pilots are in a ‘club’ of furry fetishists

Senator Tommy Tuberville from Alabama claimed on the Senate floor that “many airline pilots, flight attendants and air traffic controllers are part of the furry community.” The International Anthropomorphic Research Project’s Furscience website says “furries” are an anthropomorphic animal subculture. Members of this group adopt alter egos known as “fursonas” and wear “fursuit” costumes. Tuberville said, “We got a huge mental illness problem in this country, and we need to address it. We need to address it quick.”

The IARP website says, “Furscience is the public face of the International Anthropomorphic Research Project (IARP), studying furries and their fandom and disseminating our evidence-based research to furries, the general public, scholars, and the media to increase understanding and decrease stigma.”

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.

Advanced airline systems technology with the head of DataArt’s Aviation Practice. In the news: cloud-based air traffic control in the Washington, D.C., area; thousands of flights delayed and canceled after FAA and NATS system failures; safety reforms after the DCA midair collision; and the loss of a new Cessna Citation Latitude.

Guest

Tim McMullen is Vice President, Business Development, Aviation and Travel Technology, at DataArt. That company provides data and analytics services, artificial intelligence and machine learning services, cloud migration and optimization, and custom software engineering to the aviation and other industries.

Tim leads DataArt’s Aviation Practice and has spent nearly twenty years working with airlines worldwide on technology, from start-ups to the largest network carriers. He has provided clients with solutions in reservations, customer care, loyalty, network planning, pricing/RM, airline operations, dispatch, crew planning and scheduling, airport operations, aircraft maintenance, and cargo.

Tim previously worked as a software product manager and managed the end-to-end lifecycle of a SaaS suite of network planning, forecasting, and fleet optimization solutions. He also has 10 years’ experience at two airlines in network planning, pricing, revenue management, and finance.

Aviation News

FAA Preparing to Field SMART in Washington, DC in First Operational Deployment

The Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories, or SMART, is characterized by the FAA SMART Fact Sheet [PDF] as “a cloud-based platform system that enhances existing FAA air traffic management systems. It provides air traffic control and aircraft operators with a shared, data-driven view of the National Airspace before flights depart.”

Using AI, SMART analyzes airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, airspace conditions, and operational constraints to forecast traffic flows and identify potential conflicts before they occur. It gives the FAA, airlines, and operators a shared, continuously updated view to coordinate efficient routes and departure times as conditions change.

The FAA is preparing to put SMART into operational use in the Washington, DC area in the system’s first operational fielding. SMART is part of the Flow Management Data and Services (FMDS) platform being built by Air Space Intelligence (ASI). The company says the award covers both systems and is worth US$875m over 12 years.

See also: FAA to launch AI-enhanced software to help manage the nation’s airspace

Video: Civil Aviation at ASI

https://youtu.be/2dDMx3KW760

Thousands of US flights snarled due to FAA telecom problem

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said that a circuit blew at the Philadelphia TRACON. When the system tried to switch to the backup, it discovered that a construction crew had cut the fiber-optic line. ​FlightAware reported that more than 5,600 US flights were delayed or canceled. The three New York-area airports accounted for 1,200 of those flights.

UK air traffic controller blames a millisecond-software glitch for flight cancellations

On September 8, 2026, over 2,000 flights in and out of the United Kingdom were canceled. A preliminary report faults a software glitch with NATS, formerly known as National Air Traffic Services. The system, which allocates codes, allows air traffic controllers to identify flights on radar. Hundreds of thousands of travelers were impacted, and it took days to fully restore operations.

Families of D.C. midair crash victims press Congress for aviation safety reforms

Families of the victims of the January 2025 mid-air collision between an American Eagle CRJ700 commuter jet and a U.S. Army helicopter near Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) are looking for Congressional action. Some of the family members are concerned that Congress isn’t up to the task. The father of one victim referred to it as “fading urgency” where  “Something everyone agrees will make people safer gets caught in process, objections, exceptions and delay until you look up and an entire generation has passed. Flight 5342 cannot follow that path.”

FAA, Army move to implement spirit of NTSB recommendations after DCA mid-air

The NTSB issued recommendations in its February 2026 final report on the DCA mid-air collision. These were directed at “deficiencies with area helicopter routes, Army helicopter operations in the DCA area, and the conduct of air traffic control — both in the DCA tower and the Potomac Consolidated TRACON (PCT) Terminal Radar Approach Control, and the management of both those facilities by the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO).”

The NTSB directed 33 recommendations to the FAA. Eleven 11 are classified as “Open—Unacceptable Response.” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford issued a formal reply to the NTSB saying most would be implemented or resolved by the end of May 2027, when the FAA intends to issue already scheduled updates to manuals, policies, and procedures.

Among those recommendations is a mandate for ADS-B In with cockpit traffic display and audible alerts where ADS-B Out is already required. The ROTOR and Alert Acts in Congress would institute an ADS-B In mandate, but neither had cleared both chambers before Congress at this time.

Both Pilots of Crashed Bizjet Accused of Being Intoxicated

On September 14, 2026, a Cessna 680A Citation Latitude jet, recently delivered to an Istanbul charter company, departed the runway at Misrata International Airport in Libya upon landing. The pilots got the jet back on the runway, but not after damaging the landing gear. The plane caught fire and was destroyed. The two pilots and the cabin attendant escaped unharmed. The pilots are in a Libyan jail and accused of being intoxicated.

See also:

Pilot and copilot of Misrata Airport crashed private jet found intoxicated: Attorney General

Cessna Citation Latitude Destroyed in Fire After Off-Runway Excursion at Misrata Airport

Mentioned

RTX Selects Jill Albertelli As Pratt & Whitney President

Skycards: the new collectible aviation card game powered by Flightradar24

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.

Bombardier and global aerospace manufacturing, air traffic controller criticism of the FAA, boom refueling for RAF tankers, airport gate access for people without tickets, restricting beverage service after pushback, and an OzDesk report.

Aviation News

Trump’s Call for Bombardier Ban Draws Opposition

In a social media post, the President threatened to ban Bombardier’s business jet sales in the United States. Canadian aerospace manufacturer Bombardier Aviation is a subsidiary of Bombardier Inc. and produces the Challenger 3500 and 650, and the Global 5500, 6500, and 8000. The company reportedly delivered 157 aircraft in 2025 and is expecting the same in 2026.

Global 6500, courtesy Bombardier.

Bombardier performs final assembly in Canada. Wings are manufactured in Red Oak, Texas, and flight control components come from the Los Angeles/Van Nuys, California area. A newer component-manufacturing plant is located in Moorpark, California. Wichita, Kansas, is Bombardier’s U.S. headquarters and houses Bombardier’s flight test center plus a large service and Bombardier Defense operation.

Bombardier says they currently employ 3,500 people in the U.S., spread across more than 20 states. They are currently actively recruiting to fill 500 open U.S. positions. According to Bombardier, the company has engineering, supply chain, defense, and support roles in states including Arizona, Florida, Connecticut, Illinois, Delaware, Washington, D.C., and New Jersey. The company recently said it has about 2,800 U.S. suppliers across 47 states and $2.5B in annual American purchasing.

See also: A U.S. ban on Bombardier sales could ‘massively’ disrupt American aerospace

Air traffic controllers turn on FAA chief as tensions boil over

In August, the Washington Examiner published an interview with FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford titled, Trump administration races to overhaul America’s air traffic control system by 2028. After the article was published, more than 400 air traffic controllers “have privately reached out to the publication… and warned that the nation’s aviation system has reached a breaking point.” Controllers said the FAA was being treated “like a corporate balance sheet by trying to squeeze out every ounce of productivity from controllers.” Congress previously approved and funded a compensation package, but Bedford admitted that the FAA is withholding a 2.8% retroactive raise.

See also: FAA leaves air traffic controller raises in limbo amid mounting strain on system.

UK Government Commits To Boom Refueling For RAF Tankers

Aerial refueling is performed by one of two methods: flying-boom (used by the U.S. Air Force) and probe-and-drogue (used by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and many allied air forces). The future Tempest combat jet being developed under the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) initiative is planned to be a flying-boom aircraft. The U.K. tankers use probe-and-drogue refueling, but Defense Minister Luke Pollard said the RAF’s existing aerial refueling capability will eventually be complemented by a boom system.

TSA brings back gate access for some people without plane tickets 25 years after 9/11

As a consequence of the 9/11 attacks, those without tickets have been unable to pass through security checkpoints. However, at some airports, under the program called “Gateside by TSA PreCheck” the TSA is allowing eligible TSA PreCheck® members without tickets to pass through security and enter gate areas.

The program is free and TSA PreCheck members and those with Known Traveler Numbers (KTNs) are eligible. Children are eligible to visit but must be entered on their parent/guardian’s reservation. The program is currently available at 13 airports and will roll out to more airports in the coming months. Apply at the Gateside by TSA PreCheck webpage.

See also: From the Lockerbie bombing to 9/11: How attacks on flights defined US air travel and A major TSA rule may be changing for some travelers.

Drink Up: Delta Crews Will Collect Pre-Departure Drinks Earlier, In “FAA-Driven” Change

Delta sent a memo to flight attendants explaining that effective September 1, 2026, “Flight attendants will be required to collect all Delta-provided service items, including both disposable and non-disposable service items, before pushback. This FAA-driven change applies across the industry and requires airlines to collect and stow service items before pushback. On flights that offer pre-departure beverages in disposable serviceware, customers may have less time with their beverages before collection, so consider opportunities to begin service earlier in the boarding process when possible.”

This requirement has been in place since 1992, with FAR 121.577 (a) stating: “No certificate holder may move an airplane on the surface, take off, or land when any food, beverage, or tableware furnished by the certificate holder is located at any passenger seat.” Ben Schlappig writes, “The thing is, there was no enforcement mechanism in place, and there was also an exception for disposable service items. That has finally changed as of 2026…”

Delta’s Regional Airline Says Passengers Must Put Complimentary Water Bottles in Their Carry-Ons Because Then It Belongs to Them

Endeavor Air, a Delta-owned regional subsidiary, wants to follow the requirement to collect service items before pushback. To comply with the rule for complimentary water bottles, Endeavor says passengers must place the bottles in carry-on bags for taxi and takeoff, rather than in the seatback pocket. That shifts responsibility from the airline to the passenger.

Australia News Desk

Grant, Steve, and Brian deliver local aviation news from Australia. Find Grant and Steve at Plane Crazy Down Under.

See: Qantas captain’s shock after he landed his final flight.

Video: 2026 River Fire C-17 Rehearsal

Video: 2026 River Fire F-18 Practice

Mentioned

Capetown’s DHL Stadium

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.

We learn about airshow photography as we talk with a private pilot and UAV operator. In the news: Textron’s new president and CEO, controllers and the fatal Air Canada Express crash, Marine One communications with DCA tower, Boeing’s new F-15 contract, the TSA’s Gold+ privatized airport screening program, and the Airlink low pass over a Cape Town stadium.

Thunderbird F-16 in flight. All photographs courtesy Logan Lynch.

Guest

Logan Lynch is a lifelong avgeek who loves photographing aircraft. He’s attended AirVenture since 2018, where he can usually be found on the flight line with a camera glued to his face. Be sure to look through Logan’s 2026 EAA Airventure photo gallery for a sample of his work. As we talk about airshow photography, we learn that Logan owns very little photo gear and prefers to rent long zoom lenses from Lensrentals.com. We talk about good focal lengths, using a monopod (especially for fast jets), and a tripod for night shows.

Logan spends the entire day shooting at a show, and he explains the accessories he carries, like lots of batteries, memory cards, and a cleaning kit. We talk about shooting RAW vs. JPG and editing images in Lightroom. Logan addresses the challenge of getting the right amount of prop blur and the importance of panning. We also explore tips for shooters who might only have the camera in their phone.

An example of prop blur and panning on the Skip Stewart PITTS S-2S.

Logan is a part owner of a 1966 Cessna 150F nicknamed Graham Cracker, and also a full-time UAV Operator and LDAR Technician for a major oil and gas producer out of North Dakota. He started Lynch Drone Photography in 2021 as an idea to generate a little extra income, but plans to expand it. Logan earned a Bachelor’s in Aviation Management from Utah Valley University and serves as board treasurer for his local airport.

The F-22 Raptor.

The night show at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024.

Aviation News

After Eight Years as President and CEO, Ron Draper Announces Retirement; Brian Rohloff to Lead Textron Aviation Forward

Effective August 31, 2026, Ron Draper retired as president and CEO of Textron, with Brian Rohloff replacing him. Rohloff most recently served as senior vice president of Customer Support, overseeing global customer support operations, including service center capacity, parts availability, and AOG (aircraft-on-ground) response.

Rohloff joined Cessna Aircraft Co. in 2009 as a production manager, and held positions including vice president of quality, vice president of sales, senior product director for the Citation XLS and Citation X lines, and director of paint operations.

FAA seeks to fire two controllers who left early before fatal Air Canada crash

On March 22, 2026, an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots. That night, two controllers left about an hour before the end of their shift, leaving two controllers to cover the tower. They remained recorded as working, in a practice known as “early shove.” ABC News reported that the two departing controllers were not needed to provide the normal minimum staffing for that time of night.

The FAA has not said that the absence of the two controllers contributed to the accident. NATCA said it was discussing the allegations with FAA management. The NTSB has not determined the probable cause of the accident.

New tech at Portland Jetport aims to boost safety

New grant money will help Portland [Maine] International Jetport pay for location transponders in 57 airfield vehicles. The FAA is providing $200,000 while the state and the airport are contributing smaller amounts. Portland Jetport Director Paul Bradbury said, “…the tragedy in LaGuardia happened at midnight, right? It’s dark; it’s hard for controllers to see. This will make it another opportunity for them to see exactly where every vehicle is on the airfield.” 

White House construction contributed to radio problems that let Trump copter come close to jet

Several times controllers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport failed to hear the standard three-minute warning call that Marine One was getting ready to take off. Marine One is using the Ellipse while the new helipad is being constructed behind the White House. This caused the radio receiver to be moved to a different location. Now the FAA has adjusted the antenna “to improve communications” between Marine One and the airport.

Boeing nabs whopping $131 billion F-15 deal

The U.S. Department of War, in its Contracts for Aug. 24, 2026, says that it has awarded Boeing “a $131,230,000,000 ceiling, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the F-15 Eagle Crest in support of the F-15 Program Office. This contract provides for aircraft production, systems integration, modernization, upgrades, retrofits, sustainment, and the establishment of organic depot maintenance capabilities to deliver and maintain critical F-15 Eagle Weapon System capabilities for the Air Force, Air National Guard, and other Department of War customers. Work will be performed at St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed by August 2037.”

TSA Scraps Gold+ Privatized Airport Screening Program After 3 Months

The Gold+ private airport screening program, which would privatize TSA screening, has been scrapped. In a previous web page (now taken down), the TSA explained Gold+:

“TSA Gold+ is a new public-private partnership aimed at modernizing aviation security at select airports across the United States. TSA Gold+ will pair the Screening Partnership Program with TSA’s innovation authorities to enable cutting-edge aviation security solutions.

“Under TSA Gold+, TSA will continue to set the standards for aviation security using outcome-based measures that both drive performance and security. Long-term Screening Partnership Program (currently a TSA private screener contract model) contracts will redirect funds into the investable partnerships where leading industry operators can manage both technology and screening workforce.”

Reasons cited for dropping the program:

Only three airports (Tampa, Charleston, and Des Moines) were interested in the Gold+ protocols.

Tampa International Airport performed “an extensive review and evaluation over several months” and announced it would not adopt Gold+.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing TSA screening officers, sued the TSA to force it to turn over records about TSA Gold+.

The TSA announced it will replace the Gold+ program with an “evolved” version of the existing public-private Screening Partnership Program (SPP). It was launched in 2002, where private companies hire and manage screening personnel while the TSA oversees operations. The SPP currently includes 20 U.S. airports.

Airlink pilots caught on video flying dangerously close to South African sports stadium

Two Airlink Embraer E190 passenger jets executed a flyover before a match at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium filled with some 60,000 fans. Airlink is a regional airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Flightradar24 calculated that the aircraft flew as low as 41–46 ft (12.5–14 m) above the top of the stadium. This generated widespread reaction about the safety of the spectacle. Some were appalled; others argued this was entirely in line with South African values.

Airlink says the South African Civil Aviation Authority approved the flyover and has offered to provide the black box data showing they complied with the waiver’s altitude and speed requirements. The airline said, “The two aircraft were flown by highly-experienced crew, with each comprised of three senior captains operating in the roles of commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer. The flight data recorded by both aircraft confirms that the flights were performed within the SACAA’s approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits for the flypast.”

See also:

VIDEOS: Airlink responds to concern planes got ‘too close’ to CT Stadium

Airlink Flyover Sparks Global Outrage, But What Actually Happened Above DHL Stadium?

Airlink hands over black-box data after low flypast over DHL Stadium

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.

Aircraft carrier catapult systems, Peraton’s performance as the Prime Integrator for the FAA’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System, the Department of Homeland Security’s luxury jets, Google’s purchase of Spirit Airlines’ data for AI training, American Airlines economy seatback screens, and a Li-ion laptop battery that caught fire in flight. Also, Micah’s first flight, Delta’s requirements for portable chargers, and the real reason they are called bear straps.

Aviation News

Trump orders Pentagon to redesign US aircraft carrier to use steam catapults to launch jets

President Trump signed a national security memorandum directing the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and the acting Navy secretary, Hung Cao, to come up with a plan to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Weapons Elevators with steam and hydraulic systems for the construction of the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller. Critics of the change point to the major redesign and expense required.

Aircraft Carrier Catapult Technology by Era:

Era
Technology
Key navies

1910s–30s
Compressed-air/flywheel catapults (mostly floatplanes)
US, UK

WWII
Hydraulic catapults
US, UK

1950s–2010s
Steam catapults
UK (pioneer), US, France

2010s–present
Electromagnetic (EMALS)
US, China

Throughout
No catapults (ski-jump/STOVL)
USSR/Russia, Italy, Spain, India, UK (post-1978), current China (Liaoning/Shandong), US Navy Amphibious Assault Ships

Arrangement of a hydro-pneumatic catapult in an aircraft carrier. Naval Marine Archive.

See also: Why The Ford Class Carrier’s Island Superstructure Is Located So Far Back and Navy considers major aircraft carrier revamp to better suit Trump’s aesthetic.

Trump’s FAA picked an unlikely contractor to lead its air traffic overhaul. The agency is having second thoughts.

In December 2025, DOT/FAA selected Peraton as Prime Integrator for the FAA’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS), a $1.5 billion contract. Peraton, which had little direct experience working with the FAA, was chosen over Parsons Corp., which has extensive experience with FAA contracts.

Peraton is a national-security and government-services contractor owned by Veritas Capital, and is known for its defense, intelligence, and IT/communications work. (Veritas also owns Peraton Labs, the former Bell Labs).

Some reports indicate that the FAA is frustrated with Peraton. A source notes that “Peraton has basically not done any work since they got in” and admits that the FAA was partially at fault because it “stonewalled Peraton’s efforts to work seamlessly with FAA counterparts.” The FAA has micromanaged the project, and Peraton has failed to manage the project.

An In-House Private Jet Service, Senators Say

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) purchased two Gulfstream G650s, two G700s, and eight Boeing 737s to be used by the Trump Administration. U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee vice chair Patty Murray (D-Washington) and ranking homeland security subcommittee member Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) are calling for an investigation. In a letter to both DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and the DHS inspector general requesting the investigation, the purchases are characterized as a “gross misuse” of tax dollars.

Spirit Data Sale to Google Prompts Flight Attendants’ Objection

After 34 years of operations, Spirit Airlines ceased all flight operations on May 2, 2026. Spirit’s Chapter 11 reorganization failed, and the airline went into full liquidation. The bankruptcy court entered a Wind-Down Order covering the sale of LaGuardia slots, the corporate campus, the loyalty program, and operating equipment. For $10 million, Google won the auction for Spirit’s approximately 100 million emails, calendar data, 500 million Microsoft Teams chats, documents, spreadsheets, and software code. Google will use them to improve its products and AI models.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, voiced a limited objection to the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, raising privacy concerns. The union is concerned about the confidentiality of disciplinary records, payroll history, and internal communications, noting that the deal’s privacy provisions are designed to protect consumers, not employees.

The union also raised concerns about links between payroll, timekeeping, and communications data; whether there will be an independent screen for employee confidentiality; and provisions on later transfers to third parties.

The AFA asked the court to reject the sale unless changes are made to exclude all flight attendant information, including training records, time cards, and payroll, as well as any Microsoft 365 content containing flight attendant data. Alternatively, the court should require a review protocol for labor or disciplinary records and communications, and prohibit using the data to profile any identifiable group of flight attendants, the AFA said.

See also: Flight attendants freaked out that Google is buying tons of Spirit employee data

American Airlines U-turn: Seatback screens coming to all classes in 2028

American Airlines plans to start rolling out personal inflight entertainment displays on its narrowbody fleet in 2028, and complete the upgrade by the early 2030s. American will begin offering Starlink inflight connectivity on 500 planes beginning in 2027. 

The lack of screens in economy cabins dates back to the US Airways merger in 2014. Doug Parker argued that the cost of screens was not worth the investment since most fliers brought their own portable device. United and Delta followed a different path.

Laptop catches fire on American Airlines flight, passenger suffers minor burns

Injuries occurred on American Airlines flight 2398 between Atlanta (ATL) and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) on August 21, 2026, after a laptop battery caught fire. The pilots reported smoke in the cabin to ATC. The cabin crew extinguished the fire (reportedly using a thermal containment bag). The A321 landed without further incident.

Mentioned

Airplanes and Water Can Mix in the Stories about Flying podcast.

The Wreck of the U. S. S. “Memphis”

Up Against the Rocks: The Wreck of the Memphis

Lynch Drone Photography LLC, 2026 EAA AirVenture. Photos by Logan Lynch.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.