eVTOL Insights
• Thomas Sleightholm
Archer has signed a multi-year partnership with Formula 1 to explore air taxi flights at selected Grands Prix, using its Midnight aircraft. Any commercial service would require regulatory approval, making the agreement a potential high-profile venue for Archer’s electric aircraft plans rather than a confirmed launch.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Aviation Safety & Regulation
Latest source-backed stories
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has filed a police complaint against former CEO Camiel Eurlings after a power bank caught fire during a flight in September, prompting an emergency diversion, according to reports. The complaint brings attention to the onboard safety risks posed by battery-powered devices.
The FAA has directed operators to modify certain Boeing 787s after reports of unreliable altitude information during approaches and landings. The directive covers 169 US-registered aircraft and requires radio-altimeter cable replacements, giving airlines five years to complete the work.
High activity
Archer has signed a multi-year partnership with Formula 1 to explore air taxi flights at selected Grands Prix, using its Midnight aircraft. Any commercial service would require regulatory approval, making the agreement a potential high-profile venue for Archer’s electric aircraft plans rather than a confirmed launch.
The National Transportation Safety Board criticized a New York Times article about aviation safety, alleging that comments it provided were distorted. The board characterized the coverage as an attempt to malign the president and his administration; the available report does not detail the disputed comments or the article’s specific claims.
Air New Zealand is calling for industrywide changes to how aviation safety agencies approve aircraft interior designs, arguing the process is adding to already lengthy delays in new-aircraft deliveries. The airline’s appeal focuses on premium cabin seats and the approval timeline for cabin configurations.
Japan’s Osaka Regional Civil Aviation Bureau has issued a safety improvement recommendation to Daiichi Aviation, which operates as First Flying, after its DHC-6-400 JA201D was operated on July 12-13, 2026, with a known weather radar defect. The recommendation calls attention to the operator’s safety practices.
High activity
Safety advocates say national investigation agencies around the world are not publishing enough air accident reports to generate recommendations that could improve safety. They raised the concern on the sidelines of an industry conference Thursday.
The waiver allows Skyways’ V2 unmanned aircraft to fly beyond visual line of sight over the high seas while inspecting a pipeline en route to a Shell offshore platform. The mission marks the first such FAA waiver, extending drone operations into offshore infrastructure work.
Create a free account to see more recent Aviation Safety & Regulation stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
