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Aviation Week • Bill Carey

Jet Aviation adds automated drone + AI exterior aircraft inspections for U.S. customers, extending a 2023 Basel deployment

Jet Aviation has launched a service in the U.S. that uses automated drones and artificial intelligence to inspect aircraft exteriors for customers, building on a technology partnership started in 2023. The capability first rolled out from its Basel, Switzerland headquarters in 2023 and is now being extended across its global footprint.

2026-05-20T04:40:56.464475-07:00

AINonline

DAS and AQRD team up on an engineered fix for the Phenom 300 engine inlet (replacement of 700 rivets)

2026-05-20T10:26:48.747710-07:00

FlightGlobal

Emirates completes first retrofit of two-class Airbus A380 with upper-deck Premium Economy (15-ship program)

2026-05-20T03:24:11.490593-07:00

FlightGlobal

NTSB: UPS MD-11F engine pylon failure tied to fatigue cracks and 10 prior ignored bearing alerts

2026-05-19T13:54:07.237004-07:00

News Timeline

AINonline

Jean-Christophe Gallagher named Ontic next CEO; Gareth Hall to become executive chairman Ontic has named Jean-Christophe Gallagher as its next chief executive officer. Outgoing CEO Gareth Hall will transition to the executive chairman role, marking a leadership change at the aerospace MRO provider as it plans continuity through the new executive structure.

2026-05-20T10:40:17.223558-07:00

Jean-Christophe Gallagher named Ontic next CEO; Gareth Hall to become executive chairman

AINonline

DAS and AQRD team up on an engineered fix for the Phenom 300 engine inlet (replacement of 700 rivets) DAS and AQRD have partnered on an engineered repair for the Phenom 300 engine inlet, involving the replacement of 700 rivets and a detailed inspection as part of the corrective work scope.

2026-05-20T10:26:48.747710-07:00

DAS and AQRD team up on an engineered fix for the Phenom 300 engine inlet (replacement of 700 rivets)

AINonline

Pro Star rolls out on-site Starlink satcom installs via its “On-The-Fly” program Pro Star is installing Starlink satellite connectivity at customers’ aircraft locations under its “On-The-Fly” program, aiming to remove the need to reposition aircraft to an MRO facility. The approach reframes IFC/installed satcom as a field-service workflow rather than a depot-driven retrofit.

2026-05-20T10:26:47.821372-07:00

Pro Star rolls out on-site Starlink satcom installs via its “On-The-Fly” program

Aviation Week

Jet Aviation adds automated drone + AI exterior aircraft inspections for U.S. customers, extending a 2023 Basel deployment Jet Aviation has launched a service in the U.S. that uses automated drones and artificial intelligence to inspect aircraft exteriors for customers, building on a technology partnership started in 2023. The capability first rolled out from its Basel, Switzerland headquarters in 2023 and is now being extended across its global footprint.

2026-05-20T04:40:56.464475-07:00

Jet Aviation adds automated drone + AI exterior aircraft inspections for U.S. customers, extending a 2023 Basel deployment

FlightGlobal

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Emirates completes first retrofit of two-class Airbus A380 with upper-deck Premium Economy (15-ship program) Emirates has returned the first retrofitted two-class Airbus A380 to service after adding a Premium Economy cabin upstairs, shifting from a 615-seat high-density layout toward a three-cabin configuration. The airline says this is the first milestone in a plan to refurbish 15 similarly configured A380s.

2026-05-20T03:24:11.490593-07:00

Emirates completes first retrofit of two-class Airbus A380 with upper-deck Premium Economy (15-ship program)

FlightGlobal

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NTSB: UPS MD-11F engine pylon failure tied to fatigue cracks and 10 prior ignored bearing alerts At an NTSB hearing, investigators said the left engine/pylon separation on a UPS MD-11F stemmed from fatigue cracking in the pylon bearing supports—a problem reported as far back as 2002. The cracked part had fractured 10 times previously, with questions raised over inspection and reporting by the FAA, Boeing and UPS maintenance personnel.

2026-05-19T13:54:07.237004-07:00

NTSB: UPS MD-11F engine pylon failure tied to fatigue cracks and 10 prior ignored bearing alerts

FlightGlobal

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Lufthansa Technik and Airbus to develop and certify AeroSHARK riblet film for the A330ceo wing and empennage Lufthansa Technik and Airbus will extend the AeroSHARK riblet film application on the Airbus A330ceo beyond the initial scope, targeting installation on the wing and horizontal/vertical stabilizers. The partners will develop and certify Lufthansa Technik’s AeroSHARK material for those primary aerodynamic surfaces.

2026-05-19T02:39:37.351082-07:00

Lufthansa Technik and Airbus to develop and certify AeroSHARK riblet film for the A330ceo wing and empennage

DefenseNews.com

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US Air Force plan would repurpose decommissioned offshore oil rigs as sea-based rocket booster recovery stations The U.S. Air Force is proposing to convert retired offshore oil platforms into “sea-based recovery stations” to support U.S. Space Force and commercial rocket-recovery operations. The concept reframes maritime infrastructure as an aircraft-like recovery asset, expanding recovery options beyond land and traditional range assets.

2026-05-18T08:53:46.937333-07:00

US Air Force plan would repurpose decommissioned offshore oil rigs as sea-based rocket booster recovery stations

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MRO News

Jet Aviation adds automated drone + AI exterior aircraft inspections for U.S. customers, extending a 2023 Basel deployment

DAS and AQRD team up on an engineered fix for the Phenom 300 engine inlet (replacement of 700 rivets)

Emirates completes first retrofit of two-class Airbus A380 with upper-deck Premium Economy (15-ship program)

NTSB: UPS MD-11F engine pylon failure tied to fatigue cracks and 10 prior ignored bearing alerts

News Timeline