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The Air Current • Will Guisbond

FAA nears selection of ASI (over Palantir) and Thales for AI-powered air traffic management tied to SMART NAS overhaul

The FAA is close to awarding its AI-powered air traffic management system contract, weighing ASI against Palantir and Thales, according to the reporting. The program—SMART—was described by the FAA as a central pillar of its National Airspace System modernization plan, poised to reshape the ATC stack built on legacy technology.

2026-06-13T16:20:24.638043-07:00

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

Turkish Airlines 777-300ER strikes radar antenna mast during taxi at Antalya; oxygen masks deploy and 267 evacuated

2026-06-12T05:22:55.199448-07:00

The Air Current

FAA chief administrative officer exits, latest senior-management change amid ongoing modernization

2026-06-11T09:22:31.951143-07:00

AINonline

Rocheleau: FAA highlights ATC hiring gains and signals broader hiring focus across controller roles

2026-06-10T09:37:45.259362-07:00

News Timeline

The Air Current

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FAA nears selection of ASI (over Palantir) and Thales for AI-powered air traffic management tied to SMART NAS overhaul The FAA is close to awarding its AI-powered air traffic management system contract, weighing ASI against Palantir and Thales, according to the reporting. The program—SMART—was described by the FAA as a central pillar of its National Airspace System modernization plan, poised to reshape the ATC stack built on legacy technology.

2026-06-13T16:20:24.638043-07:00

FAA nears selection of ASI (over Palantir) and Thales for AI-powered air traffic management tied to SMART NAS overhaul

AeroTime

NORAD intercepts multiple New York/New Jersey TFR violations, warns pilots after unauthorized incursions NORAD says it has responded to more than a dozen aircraft incursions into FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) over the New York/New Jersey region so far in June. In one weekend over Bedminster, New Jersey, it intercepted nine general aviation aircraft, totaling 15 unauthorized incursions overall, NORAD said.

2026-06-12T09:01:36.896918-07:00

NORAD intercepts multiple New York/New Jersey TFR violations, warns pilots after unauthorized incursions

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

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Turkish Airlines 777-300ER strikes radar antenna mast during taxi at Antalya; oxygen masks deploy and 267 evacuated A Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300ER was damaged after taxiing into a radar antenna mast at Antalya Airport (AYT) on June 11, 2026. Passengers were evacuated with reports of oxygen mask deployment, and the incident also caused significant damage to airport infrastructure and ground equipment.

2026-06-12T05:22:55.199448-07:00

Turkish Airlines 777-300ER strikes radar antenna mast during taxi at Antalya; oxygen masks deploy and 267 evacuated

The Air Current

FAA chief administrative officer exits, latest senior-management change amid ongoing modernization The FAA’s chief administrative officer is departing the agency, the latest in a broader run of senior executive exits. The move underscores continued churn in top FAA leadership as the agency pursues operational modernization and technology-enabled approaches.

2026-06-11T09:22:31.951143-07:00

FAA chief administrative officer exits, latest senior-management change amid ongoing modernization

AINonline

Rocheleau: FAA highlights ATC hiring gains and signals broader hiring focus across controller roles FAA Deputy Administrator Rocheleau told the NATA forum the agency has notched “ATC hiring successes,” while also looking beyond headline controller vacancies to other staffing needs across the system. The remarks position FAA recruiting as a continuing lever for stabilizing NAS capacity amid persistent staffing pressure.

2026-06-10T09:37:45.259362-07:00

Rocheleau: FAA highlights ATC hiring gains and signals broader hiring focus across controller roles

Flying Magazine

The fading legacy of NDB approaches: why flying “rare” procedures is harder than it sounds An analysis of NDB instrument approaches argues that their low frequency and legacy status make them operationally brittle. It highlights how the limited exposure pilots get to non-precision procedures increases workload and raises the bar for procedure discipline, briefing, and execution—especially when conditions demand accuracy.

2026-06-10T06:45:07.571045-07:00

The fading legacy of NDB approaches: why flying “rare” procedures is harder than it sounds

AeroTime

French Rafale NATO Baltic Air Policing jet shoots down drone over Latvia amid recurring eastern-border UAS incursions A French Rafale operating NATO Baltic Air Policing shot down an unannounced drone after it entered Latvian airspace from Russia. The incident is the latest in a pattern of cross-border drone violations across Europe’s eastern frontier, raising concerns about further spillover of the Ukraine war.

2026-06-08T00:56:58.974829-07:00

French Rafale NATO Baltic Air Policing jet shoots down drone over Latvia amid recurring eastern-border UAS incursions

Reuters

FAA notice shows ground stop at San Francisco International Airport

2026-06-07T22:58:27.908818-07:00

FAA notice shows ground stop a

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ATC News

FAA nears selection of ASI (over Palantir) and Thales for AI-powered air traffic management tied to SMART NAS overhaul

Turkish Airlines 777-300ER strikes radar antenna mast during taxi at Antalya; oxygen masks deploy and 267 evacuated

FAA chief administrative officer exits, latest senior-management change amid ongoing modernization

Rocheleau: FAA highlights ATC hiring gains and signals broader hiring focus across controller roles

News Timeline