Vintage Aviation News

MAY 20, 2025

By Chris Bucholtz In the early morning of November 20, 1944, Lt. Cliff Saari and his fellow P-47 Thunderbolt pilots were hunting for more trouble. That morning, the eight P-47Ds from the 378th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group had already skipped bombs into the opening of a rail tunnel at Oberstein, destroying 20 rail cars and two locomotives on the nearby rail lines, before heading south to find more targets.

Tail

Aerotime

MAY 20, 2025

Qantas Group and Virgin Australia are benefiting from strong demand for flying and minimal competition in the domestic airline sector, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commissions latest (ACCC) report. In the report , which was released on May 20, 2025, the ACCC said that both Qantas Group and Virgin Australia recorded significant profits in the first half of 202425.

Airline

AV Web

MAY 20, 2025

If you ask a pilot, Have you ever panicked while flying? and they respond, No, watch them closely. Theyll probably lie to you about other things, too. Speaking for myself, the times I experienced panic were a little more, uh, justified, maybe, and they hit me right quick. Just what is this thing called panic? What happens if you do panic? And how can you not panic to start with?

Runway

One Mile at a Time

MAY 20, 2025

Weve sometimes seen stories of malicious people breaking into the secure area of an airport. However, a food delivery driver accidentally ending up on an airport taxiway is a new one for me Driver gains access to secure area of OHare Around 12PM on Saturday, May 17, 2025, there was a serious security scare at Chicago OHare International Airport (ORD), after a car reportedly drove miles through the interior and restricted areas of the airport, including on taxiways, and even possibly crossing run

Air Traffic Control

Plane and Pilot

MAY 20, 2025

With the dollar as strong as it is against the pound, has there ever been a better time for a flying visit to England? Probably not. So, why should you come and fly here? Whats the same and whats different? Obviously, the main similarity will be the actual aeroplanes (er, airplanes) youll fly. You might run into the odd Tecnam or Aquila, or maybe a Sonaca or Chipmunk , but theyre mostly going to be Cessnas and Pipers.

Altimeter

One Mile at a Time

MAY 20, 2025

Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines has revealed its next destination in the United States (thanks to @IshrionA for flagging this), and its not what youd necessarily expect. Its also the first destination in the United States which isnt served by at least one of Taiwans two other global carriers (China Airlines and EVA Air). Starlux launching Taipei to Phoenix flights as of February 2026 While flights arent yet on sale, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) has announced that Starlux Airlines

Airline

World Airline News

MAY 20, 2025

FORT WORTH, Texas In time for the busy summer travel season, passengers traveling through Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) now have a 25,000-square-foot oasis awaiting them in the A-West Terminal, as American Airlines opens the doors to its highly anticipated Flagship and Admirals Club lounges on May 22. Eligible AAdvantage members, qualifying one world members and customers traveling in premium cabins on qualifying same-day flights can access the Flagship and Admirals Club lounge

Airline

Aerotime

MAY 20, 2025

On May 18, 2025, Uganda Airlines started its new nonstop service linking Entebbe (EBB) to London-Gatwick (LGW). The new route reintroduces a direct service between the United Kingdom and the African country a decade after British Airways discontinued its services between London-Heathrow (LHR) and Entebbe. As reported by AeroTime back in March 2025 , when Uganda Airlines new service was announced, Heathrow had been the airlines initial choice of airport, but the lack of slots and cost considerati

Airline

Flying Magazine

MAY 20, 2025

Flight Schedule Pro, a widely utilized platform for flight training operations, has entered into a partnership with educational financing firm Sallie Mae to provide options for students pursuing pilot certification. The collaboration aims to integrate student loan management directly into the flight training process, the company said. This exclusive agreement will allow approved flight schools across all 50 states to offer private student loans to qualified students through Sallie Mae.

Pilot

World Airline News

MAY 20, 2025

Starlux Airlines Airbus A350-941 B-58502 (msn 557) NRT (Michael B. Ing). Image: 962142. PHOENIX Mayor Kate Gallego today announced that STARLUX Airlines intends to begin new nonstop flights between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Taipeis Taoyuan Airport. The service, pending final government approvals, would begin early next year, with three to four flights a week.

Airline

Simple Flying

MAY 20, 2025

On May 12, a Lufthansa Airbus A340 flying from New York to Frankfurt was forced to return to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) following an in-flight engine-related issue over the Atlantic, as reported by The Aviation Herald. The crew requested a descent shortly after reaching cruising altitude.

Descent

Flying Magazine

MAY 20, 2025

Michigan on Tuesday kicked off what stakeholders bill as a first-of-its-kind, state-sponsored competition where participants use autonomous drones to deliver 10-pound packages. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Department of Transportation (MDOT), Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and National Guard are partnering to host the Uncrewed Triple Challenge , which pits teams from seven states and three countries against one another to deliver across sea, land, and airal

Payload

Simple Flying

MAY 20, 2025

United Airlines is facing significant onboard catering challenges at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) following a recent switch to a new catering provider. What was expected to be a smooth transition has resulted in service disruptions and frustrations among passengers and crew.

Airline

AV Web

MAY 20, 2025

The pilot of a medevac helicopter is being praised for his expertise and courage in an emergency landing last night in Pennsylvania. The 1997 Eurocopter MBB-117 C-1, registered to Triple M Leasing of Shreveport, Louisiana, and reportedly operated by PennSTAR, wound up on the front lawn of a house in Whitemarsh Township near Philadelphia. All three crew members escaped unscathed and no one on the ground was injured.

Pilot

Simple Flying

MAY 20, 2025

On May 16, Hawaii News Now reported that Hawaiian Airlines has implemented a new no-show policy from Thursday, May 15. Per the new rules, if a passenger is not present for their ticketed flight at the time of boarding, the airline will cancel their reservation, including layover and return flights. Money or miles spent on the flight will not be refunded, nor available as credit towards future flights.

Airline

AV Web

MAY 20, 2025

A student pilot was on a night cross-country in the Atlanta area. Cessna 1234Y: Peachtree Tower, Cessna One Two Three Four Yankee. Turn on the runway lights now please. Peachtree Tower: Cessna Three Four Yankee, the runway lights are on. Cessna 1234Y: Well, could you turn them up please? Peachtree Tower: Sir, the runway lights are up to maximum intensity now.

Runway

Simple Flying

MAY 20, 2025

It has happened again. Newark Liberty International Airport just experienced its fourth air traffic control (ATC) outage in the past month. Controllers at the troubled Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) area, which manages arrivals and departures for Newark, lost radio frequencies for a brief period yesterday, leaving them unable to communicate with aircraft.

Air Traffic Control

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 20, 2025

Over the past six months, the restoration team working on B-17E Desert Rat (s/n 41-2595) in Marengo, Illinois, has continued to push forward with painstaking efforts across several frontsdespite seasonal slowdowns and the ongoing challenges that come with reviving such a historically rare aircraft. Project lead Mike Kellner and his dedicated group of volunteers, including longtime contributor Bill Riedel, have made incremental yet significant progress, from structural repairs to system reassembl

Tail

Aviation Bussiness News

MAY 20, 2025

Interline technology company TripStack has entered into a partnership with Azul, Brazils largest airline in terms of daily flights and destinations served. Through this collaboration, TripStack enables Azul to offer its customers access to a broader range of global destinations by connecting with other airlines, directly on the airline’s official website.

Airline

Flyertalk

MAY 20, 2025

The carrier will welcome guests in their newest Flagship lounge and Admirals Club at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) starting on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Lounge Divided Into Neighborhoods to Create Unique Experience The 25,000-sqare-foot lounge space is divided into four neighborhoods to help flyers relax and find the respite they need. The Lounge Neighborhood will offer ample seating, including a fireplace to decompress before or between flights.

Airline

Simple Flying

MAY 20, 2025

Wizz Air has taken delivery of its 1st Airbus A321XLR during an event at Airbus' Hamburg Finkenwerder site in Germany. The aircraft is the first of 47 due to be taken by the airline. While this may not be the first Airbus A321XLR to have been delivered to an airline, it does still tick a number of boxes. Firstly, it is the first of these aircraft to be powered by Pratt & Whitney engines, but also the first one to be delivered with a low-cost carrier cabin.

Airline

Flying Magazine

MAY 20, 2025

Senate Democrats on Monday introduced a bill aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from accepting a luxury Boeing 747-8i from the government of Qatar. The Presidential Airlift Security Act of 2025 would bar the use of Department of Defense funding to procure, modify, restore, or maintain an aircraft previously owned by a foreign government, an entity controlled by a foreign government, or a representative of a foreign government for the purposes of providing presidential airlift options.

Jet

Simple Flying

MAY 20, 2025

On May 16, American Airlines flight 1884 from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) diverted to Nashville International Airport (BNA), after the crew reported hydraulic problems. Upon the final approach to Nashville, the crew advised that they would stop on the runway, and requesting emergency services to stand by. 40 minutes after the decision to divert, the landed safely.

Final Approach

Cranky Flier

MAY 20, 2025

Spirit is an airline looking for a network identity. It used to be that Spirit was the ultra low cost carrier (ULCC) with frequent service in large markets. It was the ultimate spill carrier. But times have changed, and Spirit has been looking for a new way to get an edge. It is now looking to a very unlikely partner… Essential Air Service (EAS)-provider Contour.

Airplanes

Simple Flying

MAY 20, 2025

Whatever your flying experience, the chances are that you have been on an aircraft powered by CFM International engines. Two of the turbofan manufacturer's most iconic engines are the decades-old CFM56 family and the CFM LEAP family. The former has noteworthy uses, powering the Airbus A320 family and Boeing's 737 Classic and 737NG series. Meanwhile, CFM LEAP engines have been used to power the Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX, and the Comac C919.

Aviation News

MAY 20, 2025

Wizz Air has taken delivery of its first of 47 A321XLR aircraft. The airline becomes the first in the world to operate theA321XLRpowered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, and the first European low cost operator of the type.

Airline

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 20, 2025

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum has announced the opening dates for galleries under renovation at the National Mall location in downtown Washington, D.C. The ongoing renovations to the building and its galleries have been underway since 2018 and represent the biggest changes to the National Air and Space Museum building since its opening 49 years ago in 1976.

Hangar

Aviation News

MAY 20, 2025

Bell Textron, joined the U.S. Army Program Manager FLRAA office and members of Team FLRAA in support of a program status update and demonstration of the FLRAA Virtual Prototype.

Aerotime

MAY 20, 2025

Pratt & Whitney and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the union representing around 3,000 striking workers in Connecticut, plan to resume negotiations on May 22, 2025, as the strike continues into its third week. On May 5, 2025, more than 3,000 Pratt & Whitney workers went on strike, walking out of their jobs at factories in East Hartford and Middletown.

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 20, 2025

On this day in aviation history, 77 years ago (May 20, 1948), the first production variant of the North American P-86A-1-NA took to the skies. This milestone marked the debut of an aircraft that would later become one of the most iconic jet fighters of the 20th centurythe F-86 Sabrefollowing the U.S. militarys transition from Pursuit (P) to Fighter (F) designations.

Ceiling

Aviation News

MAY 20, 2025

Textron Aviation today celebrated the five-year anniversary of the first flight of the versatileCessna SkyCourier, the companys clean-sheet twin-engine, high-wing utility turboprop. This is a.

Payload

AV Web

MAY 20, 2025

An Air Canada pilot based in Calgary, Canada, is on the verge of running his way into the Guinness World Records book. In addition to his airline flying, John Bird (hes likely heard all of your jokes already) is also a pilot for the charitable organization Dreams Take Flight. But his volunteer efforts are rising to a new level. Bird, an avid runner, has completed more than 20 marathons, including the famous Boston Marathon this year.

Pilot

Flying Magazine

MAY 20, 2025

A new partnership between a technology company and an air- and land-based ambulance service is aiming to cut down response times for people in dire need of medical help. Global Medical Response said it is integrating an emergency communications platform from New York-based RapidSOS called Unite to request and dispatch its air ambulances. The two companies said that the process for requesting air medical support can be time consuming and laborious, requiring phone calls and manual data entry.

Simple Flying

MAY 20, 2025

Southwest Airlines has issued the voting results following its annual shareholder meeting, with the airlines shareholders approving every nominated candidate to its board, including five members that were appointed following the carriers truce with Elliott Investment Management (Elliott).

Airline

Aerotime

MAY 20, 2025

Emirates’ brand new A350 has landed at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), beginning its regular service on the second daily flight from Dubai to Amman. Originally scheduled for June 1, 2025, the service launch was moved up by two weeks, the airline said in a statement on May 20, 2025. Flight EK 905 departed Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at 22:10 on May 19, 2025, and reached Amman, Jordan, at 00:15 on May 20, 2025.

Ceiling

Simple Flying

MAY 20, 2025

Ongoing civil unrest in Haiti has led to a decision to extend the hiatus of JetBlue flights to Port-au-Prince through April until at least June 11, 2025, as Simple Flying previously reported earlier this month. JetBlue operated flights from New York and South Florida to Port-au-Prince, but the routes were initially suspended from November 2024 until April 30.

Cargo

Flying Magazine

MAY 20, 2025

As we near the midpoint of 2025, it’s a good time to check in and see how the drone industry is doing. The news is full of concerns related to the economy, with the potential of a global trade war and actual armed conflicts taking place in many regions. Most of us are feeling the crunch of higher prices at the grocery store and the gas pump, so there is reason for concern.

Pilot