U.S. FAA

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The Aviation Technical Education Council is petitioning the FAA to allow qualified high school students to take the agency’s General written test required for all prospective airframe and powerplant certificate candidates.

Long-awaited 737-7 certification builds on Boeing’s reset links with regulators, paving the way for approvals of the 737-10 and 777-9.

FAA outlines modernization plans for air traffic control, safety and infrastructure, addressing eVTOLs, AI and leaded fuel elimination by 2030.

The FAA has granted an amended type certificate for the Boeing 737-7, paving the way for deliveries of the penultimate MAX derivative to get underway in early 2027.

Skykraft appoints former FAA ATO chief Teri Bristol to its board as it advances satellite-based VHF communications for global air traffic management.

Yacht composites to aircraft, Caravan hydrogen conversions, electric light sport aircraft, and fuel-cell propulsion for ultralights.

FAA clears Washington Manassas Airport for commercial service with a FONSI, paving the way for a new terminal and scheduled airline operations.

FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau is stepping down from his post after an eventful year and a half with the agency, initially as acting administrator.

Ampaire has begun flight testing the second-generation version of its hybrid-electric Cessna Caravan as the company advances what it says is the FAA’s first hybrid aircraft engine certification program.

The NTSB says inadequate airspeed management during severe icing conditions, among other factors, led to a fatal crash in the Bering Sea off of Alaska in 2025.

FAA mandates expanded CFM56-7B fan blade inspections after recent updates, addressing safety concerns following past and recent engine failures.

Lessons learned from earlier missteps are paving the way for what aviation stakeholders hope will be a smoother ride as wireless offerings expand.

Some 15% of the landing HondaJet fleet rolled off the runway unintentionally.

DoorDash launches in-house drone delivery program, developing mid-range aircraft and infrastructure to complement existing partnerships with Wing and Flytrex.

Cosmic Aerospace has unveiled plans to produce a four-seat light aircraft using its novel embedded electric propulsion system.

Pipistrel introduces the Voyager two-seat trainer built specifically for FAA's new Mosaic rules with advanced avionics and lower operating costs for flight schools.

The FAA’s radio altimeter (RA) upgrade mandate sets Dec. 30, 2030, as the deadline for commercial aircraft and will give other affected operations, including Part 135, until Oct. 31, 2034.

FAA's proposed supersonic rule could expand overland testing, benefiting Starfighters Space and future high-speed aircraft.

Frequentis USA delivers 15,000 protocol converters to FAA, accelerating air traffic control modernization under the VoICE program and Bnatcs initiative.

FAA will require radio altimeter upgrades ahead of expanded C-band wireless services beginning in 2030.

FAA and industry leaders face a tight timeline to transition U.S. general aviation to unleaded avgas by 2030 as supply chain and testing challenges loom.

Just one year after finalization, the FAA’s Mosaic rule is already changing how aircraft are developed, certified and brought to market.

The FAA has begun trials on the Bell 525 Relentless Advanced Systems Integration Lab (Rasil) as one of the final steps to secure the type certificate.

Israeli startup AIR has begun flight testing the production version of its AIR ONE eVTOL aircraft.