Real World

KLM Welcomes Its First Airbus A350-900 to Schiphol

KLM has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900, welcoming the aircraft to Amsterdam Schiphol on October 2 as the airline continues its long-haul fleet renewal.

NASA SR-71 Project Fuels Blackbird Return-to-Flight Speculation

NASA may be exploring an extraordinary effort to return an SR-71 Blackbird to flight nearly 27 years after the aircraft’s final mission. The agency has not officially confirmed the project, but the removal of SR-71A tail number 844 from display and reported outreach to former Blackbird personnel have intensified speculation.

Airbus A350F Completes Successful Four-Hour Maiden Flight

Airbus has successfully completed the maiden flight of its new A350F freighter, beginning an extensive certification campaign for the company’s next-generation cargo aircraft. The first test aircraft spent more than four hours in the air and reached an altitude of 25,000 feet during the September 29 flight from Toulouse, France.

FAA Moves to Modernize Air Traffic Control After Major Outage

Federal officials are promising a more resilient air traffic control network after a telecommunications failure disrupted approximately 9,500 flights across the United States, halted arrivals at major Northeast airports and exposed the consequences of relying on aging aviation infrastructure.

Alaska Flight Academy Adds First ELITE PI-235 Pro AATD

Alaska Flight Academy has installed its first ELITE PI-235 Pro Advanced Aviation Training Device, adding a flexible new platform for instrument instruction, avionics familiarization and scenario-based pilot training at the academy’s Wasilla facility.

FlightSimExpo Announces 2027 Las Vegas Dates at Westgate

FlightSimExpo is heading back to Las Vegas. The annual flight simulation convention will take place June 11-13, 2027, at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, bringing the event’s hotel rooms, convention space and activities together under one roof.

Qantas Accelerates A380 Retirement as A350 and 787 Plans Grow

Qantas has confirmed that it will begin retiring its Airbus A380 fleet from mid-2028, bringing forward the superjumbo’s exit by roughly four years as the airline accelerates a major long-haul fleet renewal program.

United Bets on A321XLR for Its Largest International Expansion Yet

United Airlines is preparing for its largest international network expansion in company history, and the Airbus A321XLR will be one of the aircraft making it possible.

Airbus A350F Targets September Maiden Flight as Testing Nears

Airbus is aiming to fly its new A350F freighter for the first time in late September, potentially marking one of the biggest milestones yet for the company’s push into the large widebody cargo market.

United Expands Denver Flight Training Center to 86 Simulators and 860 Pilots a Day

United Airlines and CAE have completed the first phase of a major expansion at United’s Denver Flight Training Center, giving the airline what it describes as the world’s largest pilot training facility and dramatically increasing the number of pilots it can train each day.

Delta Boeing 757 Returns to Atlanta After Cockpit Smoke Report

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200 returned safely to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on August 8 after the crew reported smoke in the cockpit, prompting an emergency evacuation on a taxiway after landing. The FAA has opened an investigation into the incident

Happy Birthday to Sky Blue Radio!

🎉 Happy 19th Birthday to Sky Blue Radio! 🎉 For 19 incredible years, we’ve been bringing the sound of aviation, music, community, and sky-high good vibes to listeners around the

FSLTL Set to Lose FlightRadar24 Live Traffic Feed on April 30

There’s some tough news breaking across the Microsoft Flight Simulator community this week, especially for virtual pilots who rely on realistic live traffic to bring their skies to life. FSLTL,

FAA Cuts O’Hare’s Summer Flight Schedule to Reduce Delays

Ukraine Considers Reopening Airspace After Four Years

Ukraine initiates formal steps to reopen its airspace for commercial aviation. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba established a working group to coordinate with ICAO and IATA. Lviv serves as the primary candidate for initial flights.

Power Outage Disrupts Operations at Denver International Airport During Busy Travel Push

Travelers at Denver International Airport were met with a rough start on Wednesday after a widespread power outage disrupted operations across one of the nation’s busiest hubs. According to airport