State Aviation Journal – Page 78 – Your Best Source of State Aviation News

Christophe Cador, Founder of Satys, Announces Completion of Strategic Realignment Fully Refocusing Activities in Aeronautics Sector
Driven by the strong momentum of the global aeronautics industry, the discreet Toulouse-based Satys Group is consolidating its growth, recovering its pre-Covid profitability ratios, and entering 2026 with solid development ambitions across its six markets: commercial aviation, regional aviation, business aviation, helicopters, defense, and aircraft repainting. “This favorable environment contrasts sharply with the extreme difficulties […]
Daher Introduces the TBM 980 Featuring Significant Advancements in Avionics Technology
Daher unveiled the latest version of its TBM aircraft family – the TBM 980 – which integrates Garmin’s third-generation G3000® PRIME avionics for an unprecedented piloting experience and incorporates cabin enhancements that further increase passenger comfort. The TBM 980 was introduced at Daher Aircraft’s TBM production facility in Tarbes, France, during an event attended by […]
Cirrus Unveils New G3 Vision Jet
Cirrus (Cirrus Aircraft Ltd.) introduced the next evolution of its jet product line with the new Generation 3 (G3) Vision Jet®. The G3 Vision Jet reveals a reimagined interior with premium materials and an expanded seating option for six adults, as well as ATC Datalink and over 30 refinements designed to create a new era […]
Step Into the Phoenix Airport Museum’s New Immersive Art Exhibition
A new, immersive exhibition at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is casting a light on passengers and inviting them to explore its spiritual and transformative qualities through a wide range of media. Spectral Alchemy, curated by the Phoenix Airport Museum, features works by 15 Arizona artists and transforms the Terminal 4, Level 3 Museum Gallery […]

State News

Florida Legislature Recognizes ERU for 100 Years of Aviation and Aerospace Excellence

Photo – Embry‑Riddle President P. Barry Butler, students and guests are recognized at the Florida State Capitol. (Photo: Embry‑Riddle) Legislators in Tallahassee have honored Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University’s (ERU) Centennial by adopting a resolution recognizing the university’s outstanding contributions to aviation and aerospace in the state of Florida, across the nation and around the world. The resolution, which declared Feb 11, 2026, as “Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University Day at the Capitol,” was presented by Sen. Tom Leek, Rep. Chase Tramont and Sen. Tom Wright, whose districts include parts of Volusia County, home to Embry‑Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus. The congressmen announced the resolution in their respective chambers, recognizing Embry‑Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D., and other guests, including students who are part of the university’s Student Government Association. Embry‑Riddle President P. Barry Butler with Florida State Rep. Chase Tramont. “This is a momentous occasion for the university in its centennial year,” Butler said. “We are honored to receive this recognition from our great state officials, and we thank Senator Leek, Representative Tramont and Senator Wright for this distinguished tribute. We could not be more proud as our faculty, partners and especially our students chart a bold course into the next century as the newest generation of leaders and explorers.” Mori Hosseini, chairman of the Embry‑Riddle Board of Trustees, expressed his deep appreciation to Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for this honor and recognition. “Over the past 100 years, Embry‑Riddle has transformed into a dynamic institution where academia, technology, industry and the future of aviation and aerospace development meet,” Hosseini said. “The support of the state of Florida has been essential in strengthening Embry‑Riddle’s role as the global leader in aviation and aerospace education, ensuring that our university is uniquely positioned to serve our students, our community and our great state as a leader in higher education, technological progress and economic growth.” The resolution notes Embry‑Riddle’s “transformative impact on the aerospace and aviation industries, and its unwavering dedication to excellence in education, research and innovation.” Leek offered his recognition for the tremendous influence of Embry‑Riddle and the institution’s 100 years of leadership in advancing aviation and aerospace technology for the state, nation and the world. “The university’s longstanding commitment to academia, along with their contributions to the economic growth of state of Florida, have ensured that thousands of alumni have opportunities to live, work and thrive here,” Leek said. “We applaud Embry‑Riddle’s vital support in attracting international partners to our region and look forward their ongoing impact to innovation in the state for generations to come.” The resolution details Embry‑Riddle’s history and accomplishments over the past 100 years, from its founding in 1926 and move to the Daytona Beach Campus in 1965 to offering more than 100-degree programs, ranging from associate to doctoral levels. Other notable successes include its record-breaking enrollment for the 2025-2026 academic year and the university’s more than $2.2 billion annual impact on the state’s economy, including the creation of more than 220 high-wage jobs and the attraction of $146 million in grants and equity investments since 2017. The resolution also highlights that Embry‑Riddle counts more than 160,000 alumni, including 10 astronauts and 12 four-star generals and admirals. Florida State Sen. Tom Wright (center) stands with students who are part of Embry‑Riddle’s Student Government Association. “Embry‑Riddle has educated generations of technicians, pilots and controllers who keep airline passengers safe, and it has guided the trajectory of our space program at Cape Canaveral and around the world,” Tramont said. “The university has inspired scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs who fuel industries while partnering with the state of Florida to create high-paying jobs and strengthen our role as the global leader in the aviation and aerospace economy. The work underway at Embry‑Riddle is transformational, and we commend the university for a century of contributions to the community, region and to our great state.” Additionally, the resolution lauds Embry‑Riddle’s expanding Research Park, including the opening of the Boeing Engineering Center in the Cici & Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology and the debut of the first U.S. facility for French aircraft designer AURA AERO. It also notes that Embry‑Riddle is making space history, with EagleCam becoming the first student-led project to land on the moon and the LLAMAS camera capturing images of Polaris Dawn crew before the world’s first commercial spacewalk. “With a century of aviation and aerospace experience, Embry‑Riddle is poised to reimagine the future of our skies,” said Wright. “This includes positioning the state as a leader in advanced air mobility aircraft and drone technology, strengthening aviation and aerospace cybersecurity, developing instruments bound for new frontiers, and furthering an innovation ecosystem at its Research Park, which attracts partners from cutting-edge start-ups to global industry leaders. I have no doubt Embry‑Riddle’s next century of breakthroughs and graduates will position Florida — and the nation — at the forefront of this new era for aviation and space exploration.”
HDOT Welcomes International Shoppes as New Concessionaire at Honolulu and Kahului Airports

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) has selected International Shoppes (iShoppes) to provide retail and in-bond duty free concessions at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Kahului Airport (OGG). Under a 10-year contract, New York-based iShoppes along with business partner Ben Crump Enterprises, will take over the shops that are currently operated by DFS Hawaii starting April 1 at both HNL and OGG. International Shoppes will also open two new spaces in the Mauka Concourse of Terminal 1 at HNL that will offer specialty retail. International Shoppes intends to renovate the existing DFS spaces, but will remain open for business while it finalizes its renovation and construction plans. In addition to national and international brands, iShoppes plans to showcase products from across the state of Hawai‘i, which will provide opportunities for local businesses and artisans to reach new customers and gain international exposure. International Shoppes also welcomes current DFS employees and other interested individuals to apply for job opportunities at its Honolulu and Kahului airport locations. “This new partnership with International Shoppes will bring an elevated retail experience to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Kahului Airport,” said Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen. “We welcome International Shoppes’ investments in our state and appreciate its commitment to support island businesses and artisans by featuring Hawai‘i products and crafts alongside premium international brands.” “International Shoppes has spent generations building airport retail programs rooted in integrity, partnership, and long-term sustainability for all stakeholders, said Matthew Greenbaum, co-CEO, International Shoppes. “We are honored to work alongside HDOT at HNL and OGG as we build upon DFS’s remarkable legacy and invest in a future that celebrates Hawaiʻi, its people and its culture.” “This is a rare opportunity to be a long-term steward of two of the most important gateways in Hawaiʻi,” said Scott Halpern, co-CEO, International Shoppes. “We’re committed to investing in the airports, the local business community and the teams on the ground. Our vision is to make HNL and OGG a reflection of the islands’ creativity, craftsmanship and welcoming spirit.” International Shoppes currently operates duty free and specialty retail stores in New York’s JFK International Airport, Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport, Baltimore’s Thurgood Marshall Airport, Hartford’s Bradley International Airport and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

National News

AAR Appoints Dylan Wolin as Chief Financial Officer

AAR CORP. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Dylan Wolin as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, effective February 23, 2026. Wolin’s responsibilities will include finance, accounting, tax, treasury, investor relations, and corporate development. Dylan Wolin Wolin will rejoin AAR from Federal Signal Corporation, where he served as President of Elgin, Trackless, and Vactor, the company’s primarily municipal-focused specialty vehicle businesses, from 2024 to 2026. From 2017 to 2024, Wolin led AAR’s strategic and corporate development, treasury, and investor relations functions. He helped lead the Company’s portfolio repositioning, capital markets activities, and strategic planning, including the acquisitions of Trax and Triumph Product Support. Before joining AAR and Federal Signal, Wolin was a Director in Boeing’s Corporate Development group, where he was responsible for merger, acquisition, and joint venture transactions. Prior to Boeing, he served as a Vice President in Deutsche Bank’s Global Industrials Group within its investment banking division. Earlier in his career, Wolin was an Associate at McManus & Miles, a boutique investment bank specializing in financial advisory and private placements. Wolin earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Tufts University and a Master of Business Administration in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. “I worked very closely with Dylan during his seven years at AAR. He was instrumental in developing the strategy we are executing today. I am thrilled he is rejoining our senior leadership team, bringing valuable additional operational and strategic experience,” said John M. Holmes, AAR’s Chairman, President and CEO. “I would also like to thank Sarah Flanagan for her service as our Interim CFO. Sarah is a deeply valued member of our team, and I am looking forward to her continued leadership in our finance organization.” “AAR’s strong team, unique customer value proposition, and exciting additional growth opportunities underscore the Company’s compelling future,” said Wolin. “I am eager to partner with John and the rest of the AAR team to drive continued execution of AAR’s growth strategy.” Sarah Flanagan, the Company’s Interim Chief Financial Officer, will return to her previous role as Vice President, Financial Operations, effective February 23, 2026. AAR reaffirms its guidance for the third fiscal quarter and full fiscal year issued on January 6, 2026.
Airports as Economic Engines: Managing a High-Value Public Asset

Airports generate hundreds of billions of dollars in direct and indirect economic activity annually in the United States, supporting millions of jobs and serving as critical gateways for commerce, tourism, emergency response, and national security. For states and local communities, an airport is often the single largest economic asset they own. Each airport plays a unique role based on its location, airspace, and surrounding economy. When managed well, an airport attracts investment, supports jobs, and generates long-term revenue. When managed poorly, it becomes a financial drag on already constrained municipal and state budgets. The difference between those outcomes comes down to how safely, efficiently, and continuously the airport is managed—and how effectively leadership uses data to improve performance over time. The Regulatory Reality: Compliance Is Not Optional Airport operators and state aviation directors operate within a dense framework of FAA Orders, Advisory Circulars, and grant assurances. For any airport accepting FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding, compliance is not discretionary—it is a fiduciary obligation to the public. Recognizing both the operational burden and opportunity for modernization, the FAA explicitly acknowledged in its 2020 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) that uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) could help airports manage assets more efficiently, improve safety, and reduce costs—especially for general aviation and smaller commercial airports that lack revenue from airlines, charter operations, or training schools.The FAA identified eight priority areas where drones can immediately improve airport operations: Pavement inspections Wildlife hazard management Foreign Object Debris (FOD) ARFF situational awareness Obstruction surveys Lighting inspections Perimeter surveillance Construction monitoring Several of these capabilities are no longer theoretical—they are operational today. Pavement Inspections Without Runway Closures Runway pavement is one of an airport’s most valuable and expensive assets. In 1998, the GAO highlighted the high cost, inconsistency, and safety risks of traditional pavement inspection methods. This led to the FAA’s push for 100% detailed inspections and standardized Pavement Condition Index (PCI) evaluations under ASTM D5340. Traditional vehicle- and foot-based inspections: Require runway closures Place personnel in active movement areas Produce inconsistent, non-repeatable results Are labor-intensive and costly By contrast, FAA-approved drone-based inspections, combined with AI analysis and engineer review: Meet all FAA safety, legal, and fiduciary requirements Eliminate runway closures Produce repeatable, auditable data Reduce inspection costs dramatically Support long-term maintenance planning and grant compliance This is not just safer—it is better asset management. Wildlife Hazard Management: Solving Hidden Problems Bird strikes are a well-known risk, but fewer airport leaders realize what attracts birds to runways in the first place. One surprising culprit: anthills. Ant colonies can: Attract birds searching for food Erode subsurface materials under runways, taxiways, and aprons Increase long-term maintenance costs Create safety hazards that are difficult to detect visually High-resolution 3D drone data allows airport operators to identify and mitigate these issues early, reducing wildlife risk while lowering long-term repair costs—something traditional inspections simply cannot do at scale. FOD: Identifying the Source, Not Just the Debris The FAA has determined that most FOD originates from pavement distress. Cracking, raveling, and joint failures generate debris that damages tires, engines, and aircraft structures.Once an airport is digitized using FAA-approved cameras: A baseline 3D model identifies where FOD is being generated AI analysis correlates pavement distress with daily operations Airport staff can proactively address high-risk areas Damage is mitigated before costly incidents occur This shifts FOD management from reaction to prevention. Obstruction Surveys Made SimpleDrone-based surveys using FAA-specified cameras generate precise 3D point clouds of pavement and surrounding features, making it easy to identify: Obstructions Vegetation encroachments Objects in the OFZ, RSA, and imaginary surfaces Structures affecting Part 77 compliance What once required multiple surveys and consultants can now be done through a single, repeatable digital process. One Digitization, Many Uses The real power of drone-based inspections is reusable data.FAA guidance typically considers data valid for six months, with a preference for leaf-on and leaf-off conditions. In practice, drones are now so efficient—and AI processing so fast—that they are becoming part of daily airport operations, supporting: Part 139 inspections ARFF response planning Perimeter security Construction monitoring Asset management systems One digital twin replaces dozens of redundant inspections. AIP Grant Eligible and Easy to Implement Yes—UAS inspections are AIP-eligible. The FAA’s Airport Data Information Portal (ADIP) makes grant requests straightforward. Using simple dropdown menus and short narratives, applications can be submitted electronically and routed to the appropriate FAA authority quickly. No friction. No guesswork. Sustainability, Safety, and Fiscal Responsibility Runways, roadways, and rail systems endure extreme loads and environmental stress. Rehabilitation is inevitable—but unnecessary rehabilitation is wasteful and avoidable.Inaccurate inspections lead to: Premature demolition Excess material production Increased air pollution Unnecessary environmental impact Silent Falcon’s inspection and analytics are precise enough to determine: Exact material quantities Targeted repair locations Optimal maintenance timing This reduces waste, lowers emissions, protects wildlife, and saves public funds—all while improving safety. Always Open, Always Safe Silent Falcon inspections do not disrupt operations. Airports remain fully functional while leaders receive: Accurate PCI ratings Georeferenced, auditable data Predictive maintenance insights Defensible FAA compliance documentation Our PavPrint™ technology creates an AI-powered digital fingerprint of your airfield, combining: High-fidelity digital twins Proprietary AI analysis Forward-looking maintenance forecasting One inspection. Endless insight. Data Access, Anytime Silent Falcon is developing an iOS application (launching Spring/Summer) that will allow airport leaders to access infrastructure data 24/7—on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. This is not about drones.It’s about better decisions, safer operations, and stronger airport economics. Airports are too valuable to manage any other way.

International News

American Airlines Named First-Ever Official Airline of Women in Aviation International’s Annual Conference

As American Airlines celebrates 100 years of connecting people and places around the world, the airline announced its partnership with global nonprofit Women in Aviation International (WAI). As a strategic partner for 2026, American will serve as the first-ever Official Airline for the 37th Women in Aviation International Conference to be held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, March 19-21. WAI is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing women in aviation and aerospace. With more than 20,000 members in 120 countries, WAI envisions a world where the sky is open to all, and aviation and aerospace dreams are possible without barriers. The organization focuses on investing in the current and future workforce, building a strong and informed talent pipeline and inspiring women and girls to pursue careers across all sectors of aviation and aerospace. “At American, we believe building a culture where women and girls are represented, empowered and able to thrive as leaders is vital to the future of our industry,” said Cole Brown, American’s Chief People Officer. “As we celebrate our centennial year, we’re proud to partner with WAI — and welcome its supporters to our hometown of Dallas-Fort Worth — to honor our legacy of innovation and reinforce our commitment to developing the future of the aviation workforce. We look forward to continuing to inspire the next generation of aviation and aerospace professionals for generations to come.” WAI2026 is a three-day event that unites aviation and aerospace professionals, students and industry leaders across the globe for keynote sessions, hands-on learning, career development and networking. As part of this milestone collaboration, American Airlines will play an active role throughout the conference — including awarding eight scholarships during the event, participating in panel discussions, attending networking events and sponsoring both the Pioneer Hall of Fame dinner as well as the Career Panel for Girls in Aviation Day Dallas on March 21. “We appreciate and value American’s year-round support of Women in Aviation International as a 2026 strategic partner,” said Lynda Coffman, WAI CEO. “As the Official Airline of this year’s annual conference, American has an important role in welcoming our estimated 5,000 WAI2026 attendees to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.”
Christophe Cador, Founder of Satys, Announces Completion of Strategic Realignment Fully Refocusing Activities in Aeronautics Sector

Driven by the strong momentum of the global aeronautics industry, the discreet Toulouse-based Satys Group is consolidating its growth, recovering its pre-Covid profitability ratios, and entering 2026 with solid development ambitions across its six markets: commercial aviation, regional aviation, business aviation, helicopters, defense, and aircraft repainting. “This favorable environment contrasts sharply with the extreme difficulties we faced from 2020 to mid-2024, initially due to the health crisis and subsequently to the effects of hyperinflation, a cyber-attack, and the discontinuity of demand,” notes Christophe Cador, founder and chairman of Satys. “We have worked extensively, particularly on our organizational structure, and continued to invest in training and targeted industrial capabilities to ensure we could meet the strong recovery of the sector. The efforts of the Satys Aerospace and Satys Coatings teams are now paying off, and our four priorities have remained unchanged for 40 years: staff safety, on-time delivery, the quality of our services, and a service driven mindset.” A strategic realignment toward our core business The group has undertaken a major strategic shift since 2020 by refocusing on aircraft painting and surface treatment. This roadmap led Satys to divest its cabling business to an investment fund in 2020, then in early 2025 to sell its Satys Cabin division to the UUDS Group, a leading player in this field in France. Finally, on 30 January 2026, it sold its rail interior design business, Kelox, to the French group Barat, a well-established player in this sector. Kelox had been successfully restructured in 2025 following very serious financial difficulties between 2022 and 2024, which had required significant financial support from the shareholder. Satys announces the takeover of Sabena technics’s four aircraft painting facilities in Toulouse The latest milestone in this strategy is the takeover of Sabena technics’ four aircraft painting facilities in Cornebarrieu, finalized on February 13th, 2026. Located on the edge of the Toulouse-Blagnac runways, these facilities handle 140 aircraft per year. The transaction includes the transfer of the site’s 130 employees to Satys Aerospace. “The expertise of the Satys teams in Blagnac, combined with that of Sabena technics in Cornebarrieu, will enable us to further strengthen our positioning and operational performance for our customer Airbus, with a total of 10 painting facilities in Toulouse, including 4 wide-body hangars,” emphasizes Gregory Mayeur, CEO of Satys Aerospace. This takeover follows the acquisition of SPI in 2022 and the opening of four new painting facilities in 2025–26, including a wide-body paint bay in Châteauroux. Satys Industries is today structured around two autonomous groups, each 100% dedicated to aeronautics: – Satys Aerospace is a global leader in aircraft painting and sealing and will celebrate its 40th anniversary in June 2026. The company operates forty-six paint shops and sixty-eight paint booths across ten countries and plans to open eighteen additional sites — including six long-haul capacity facilities — on four continents over the next six years. Satys Aerospace’s main customers include the aircraft manufacturers Airbus, Dassault, Embraer and ATR, airlines and maintenance centers. Its revenue — €140 million in 2019, €96 million in 2021, and €192 million in 2025 — is expected to reach €265 million in 2028 and more than €300 million in 2030, with 1,200 aircraft painted. Satys Aerospace is benefiting from the average 8% growth in production rates among OEMs (aircraft and engine manufacturers) and is gaining market share in the defense and MRO sectors (airlines and maintenance centers). The group employs 2,200 people, including 1,500 in France. By 2030, it plans on recruiting 800 people, over one-third of which will be in France. Satys Aerospace’s shareholders include Christophe Cador through the Satys Industries holding company, the management team, and financial investors: funds managed by Tikehau Investment Management, Crédit Mutuel Equity, Groupe Crédit Agricole, BPI France, and IRDI. “They, together with our long-standing banking partners, have been very supportive during the difficult years,” confirms Pierre-Yves Fargeas, the Group’s Chief Financial Officer.” Satys Coatings, led by Thierry Cotelle (CEO), specializes in surface treatment for aeronautical parts and operates four production sites: in Marseille, where Satys Coatings is investing in the renovation of its historic facility; in Toulouse; in Dugny (Seine-Saint-Denis); and in Gyula (Hungary). Satys Coatings has also developed in Marignane, together with its partner Gaches Chimie, the Expiris platform, which comprises a design office—focused on research into next-generation coatings—a corrosion expertise center, and a laboratory supporting its activities. With revenue of €35 million in 2025, a workforce of 300 people, and 7% annual growth, the company is strongly focused on innovation. The group has developed anaphoretic coating technology (with a €7 million investment in 2023), a genuine alternative to the use of chromates in surface treatment and painting. “Our priorities also include reducing processing times, maintaining a high level of quality, and providing additional capacity to support the growth of the aeronautics sector,” explains Thierry Cotelle.

Unmanned Systems

Airports as Economic Engines: Managing a High-Value Public Asset

Airports generate hundreds of billions of dollars in direct and indirect economic activity annually in the United States, supporting millions of jobs and serving as critical gateways for commerce, tourism, emergency response, and national security. For states and local communities, an airport is often the single largest economic asset they own. Each airport plays a unique role based READ MORE
Drone Survey Results: Citizens in Europe Welcome Drones in Life-saving Operations

Photo above – Sakari Röyskö | Forum Virium Helsinki A series of surveys reveals that citizens in six European cities strongly favor drone usage for emergency services and environmental monitoring. In Helsinki, citizens worry about criminal activity and invasion of privacy. In six cities, Helsinki, Hamburg, Stockholm, Gdansk, Riga, and Tartu, more than 8 000 READ MORE

Aviation Education

Florida Legislature Recognizes ERU for 100 Years of Aviation and Aerospace Excellence

Photo – Embry‑Riddle President P. Barry Butler, students and guests are recognized at the Florida State Capitol. (Photo: Embry‑Riddle) Legislators in Tallahassee have honored Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University’s (ERU) Centennial by adopting a resolution recognizing the university’s outstanding contributions to aviation and aerospace in the state of Florida, across the nation and around the world. The READ MORE
Fly to Save Lives Theme Inspires 2026 Aviation Art Contest Winner

Artwork above – First place winner of the Senior Division: Soyoon Kim The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation has announced the winners of the 2026 North Carolina Aviation Art Contest, an annual competition designed to inspire and engage young people in aviation through artistic expression. 2nd Place in the Intermediate level – Artist READ MORE

Advexure Partners with MatrixSpace to Enhance Industry-wide, Advanced Drone Solutions

February 11, 2025February 11, 2025 Kim Stevens

Advexure has partnered with MatrixSpace to enhance its drone operations and perimeter security solutions. The partnership combines Advexure’s deep expertise in complex solution delivery with MatrixSpace’s advanced AI-sensing radar technology and increases the capabilities Advexure provides to its various public safety, infrastructure and utility customers. “Our clients demand some of the most advanced drone operations […]

ZenaTech’s ZenaDrone Subsidiary Initiates Process for Green UAS Certification for IQ Square Drone for Land Survey, Bridge Inspections

February 11, 2025February 11, 2025 Kim Stevens

ZenaTech, Inc. has announced that its subsidiary ZenaDrone has commenced work towards a Green UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) certification for its IQ Square drone for applications including land survey, bridge inspections and other infrastructure inspections for use by US Defense agencies. The ZenaDrone team has commenced a review and assessment of its cybersecurity practices, standards […]

GeoCue Announces New Drone Partnership with Clogworks Technologies

February 11, 2025February 11, 2025 Kim Stevens

GeoCue announced a new strategic partnership with UK-based drone designer and manufacturer, Clogworks Technologies Limited. This partnership brings together GeoCue’s TrueView LiDAR and LP360 software solutions with Clogworks’ best-in-class Dark Matter range of multi-rotor UAVs, delivering a unique and highly efficient mapping and surveying solution to professionals around the world. Clogworks Technologies, founded in 2014 […]

Pyka Unveils Pelican 2: The World’s Largest Autonomous Crop Protection Aircraft

February 11, 2025February 11, 2025 Kim Stevens

Pyka unveiled its next-generation agricultural spray aircraft, Pelican 2, which features an expanded 300-liter payload and a work rate of up to 90 hectares per hour. Pelican 2 is the world’s largest and most productive autonomous electric agricultural aircraft. Pyka has secured FAA authorization for commercial operation of Pelican 2 in the United States, making […]

State of Oklahoma Launches First Investment in Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure

February 11, 2025February 11, 2025 Kim Stevens

The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) has completed the selection process and executed a contract for the state’s first investment in an airspace management system and automatic detect-and-avoid solution to support both drone flights and the rapidly emerging Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry. ODAA has selected Vigilant Aerospace, a local company based in […]

Northern Plains UAS Test Site Supports AURA Network Systems’ – FAA Contract to Enhance UAS Integration in NAS

February 11, 2025February 11, 2025 Kim Stevens

The Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS) will support AURA Network Systems’ recently announced contract with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). AURA, a leader in secure and reliable communications solutions for the aviation industry, received a FAA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) contract to demonstrate and validate technologies in support of the safe integration of Unmanned […]

Twin City GA Airports See More Growth in Operations

February 10, 2025February 10, 2025 Kim Stevens

Photo above – St. Paul Downtown Airport. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Airports Commission. New data from the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) shows the organization’s general aviation airports in the Twin Cities totaling 372,609 operations in 2024. This number represents a 1% increase over the total of 370,509 takeoffs and landings at the facilities in 2023. […]

Tom Kendrick Named Chief Executive Officer of Engineering at McFarland Johnson

February 10, 2025February 10, 2025 Kim Stevens

McFarland Johnson Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Thomas Kendrick, Chief Executive Officer of Engineering (CEO) for the employee-owned company, effective February 1, 2025. “After an extensive and rigorous national search, the Board is pleased to announce Thomas Kendrick as our new CEO. With his exceptional skills and vast experience, Tom is […]

First Flight Society Introduces 2025 Board of Directors

February 10, 2025February 10, 2025 Kim Stevens

The First Flight Society recently announced its Board of Directors for 2025. Paul Wright Jameson was elected as President, succeeding Mike Fonseca. Paul is a great-great nephew of Wilbur and Orville Wright. In addition, the Executive Committee was appointed as follows: The rest of the 2025 board consists of: Sara Lou Copeland, M. Roy Daniels, […]

Flower Power – Avianca Cargo Conducts Record-Breaking Flower Shipments from Colombia to the U.S.

February 10, 2025February 10, 2025 Kim Stevens

Avianca Cargo successfully concluded its Valentine’s Day 2025 season with record-breaking flower shipments from Colombia and Ecuador to North America. To meet heightened demand, the airline doubled its regular capacity, prioritizing on-time performance, service excellence, and quality handling. Throughout the season, Avianca Cargo operated approximately 300 cargo flights, transporting around 18,000 tons of flowers to […]

Christophe Cador, Founder of Satys, Announces Completion of Strategic Realignment Fully Refocusing Activities in Aeronautics Sector

Daher Introduces the TBM 980 Featuring Significant Advancements in Avionics Technology

Cirrus Unveils New G3 Vision Jet

Step Into the Phoenix Airport Museum’s New Immersive Art Exhibition