Reuters
• Doyinsola Oladipo
Several air traffic controllers on duty when two Qantas aircraft nearly collided at Sydney Airport in July had been identified as facing a high risk of fatigue, according to internal records and a call recording obtained by Reuters. One shift manager described the staffing situation as “a bit insane.”
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Several air traffic controllers on duty when two Qantas aircraft nearly collided at Sydney Airport in July had been identified as facing a high risk of fatigue, according to internal records and a call recording obtained by Reuters. One shift manager described the staffing situation as “a bit insane.”
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Some U.S. airlines are evaluating an additional midair-collision avoidance system before any legal mandate takes effect, according to Acron Technologies CEO. The company retrofits Airbus aircraft with the equipment, suggesting operators may pursue voluntary safety upgrades ahead of regulatory requirements.
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India’s ISRO successfully launched the Advanced Earth Observation Satellite-05 aboard the GSLV-F17 and precisely injected it into geosynchronous orbit. EOS-05 is described as India’s first dedicated imaging satellite in geostationary orbit, marking ISRO’s first launch since a failure in January and adding a strategic Earth-observation capability.
Brazil has suspended the air operator certificate (AOC) of Total Linhas Aéreas, removing the carrier’s authorization to conduct commercial air operations. The action places the airline’s operating status under regulatory scrutiny and highlights the immediate business impact of losing certification.
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Boeing’s $8.4 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems has exposed previously unidentified liabilities, while the FAA fined the company $3.1 million for hundreds of quality-system and safety violations tied to 737 production. Separately, foreign airlines are challenging the exclusion of non-U.S. operators from a $5.7 billion 5G upgrade fund.
Alpha Unmanned Systems will supply its lightweight A900 Class I remotely piloted helicopter to the Spanish Armada’s CEVENTA experimentation center for maritime-surveillance assessment. Separately, aviation authorities AESA and ENAIRE issued guidance for authorizing high-altitude unmanned platform operations, formalizing pathways for emerging systems in Spain.
An Air China Boeing 747-8 has returned to flight after spending nearly three days stranded at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The aircraft sustained damage to its refueling ports when a fuel truck moved away while still connected, disrupting the jumbo jet’s operation.
Horizon Aircraft has begun icing tests for its Cavorite X7 eVTOL, with certification approval for operation in icing conditions potentially enabling year-round service to northern communities. The testing represents a step toward expanding the aircraft’s operational envelope beyond seasonal or favorable-weather missions.
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