News

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Canada’s Snowbirds to stand down after 2026 season; CT-114 Tutor jets replaced by CT-157 Siskin II (PC-21)

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s Snowbirds will fly their final jet season in 2026, then take a hiatus after the airshow calendar as they prepare for new CT-157 Siskin II turboprops in the early 2030s. The move replaces the aging, more than-60-year-old CT-114 Tutor/C-1 jets amid rising airworthiness and sustainment costs, with the CT-157 based on the Pilatus PC-21.

2026-05-19T12:10:05.021670-07:00

AINonline

Senate confirms Michael Graham for another NTSB term; Daniel Edwards to DOT assistant secretary role

2026-05-19T10:41:27.002193-07:00

Task & Purpose

US Navy EA-18G Growlers collide midair at Idaho air show; all four crew eject safely

2026-05-17T12:51:13.509349-07:00

FlightGlobal

Freight haulers seek temporary suspension of US jet fuel tax as Iran-war pricing keeps fuel costs elevated

2026-05-18T17:24:09.024526-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

❗️

Canada’s Snowbirds to stand down after 2026 season; CT-114 Tutor jets replaced by CT-157 Siskin II (PC-21) The Royal Canadian Air Force’s Snowbirds will fly their final jet season in 2026, then take a hiatus after the airshow calendar as they prepare for new CT-157 Siskin II turboprops in the early 2030s. The move replaces the aging, more than-60-year-old CT-114 Tutor/C-1 jets amid rising airworthiness and sustainment costs, with the CT-157 based on the Pilatus PC-21.

2026-05-19T12:10:05.021670-07:00

Canada’s Snowbirds to stand down after 2026 season; CT-114 Tutor jets replaced by CT-157 Siskin II (PC-21)

AINonline

❗️

Senate confirms Michael Graham for another NTSB term; Daniel Edwards to DOT assistant secretary role The U.S. Senate approved Michael Graham for another five-year term on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and confirmed Daniel Edwards as the Department of Transportation’s assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs. Industry groups—including NBAA, NATA, and VAI—publicly welcomed the nominations as key appointments supporting aviation safety oversight.

2026-05-19T10:41:27.002193-07:00

Senate confirms Michael Graham for another NTSB term; Daniel Edwards to DOT assistant secretary role

FlightGlobal

Tekever opens first US office near Fort Bragg to expand autonomous drone footprint for US special operations Autonomous drone developer Tekever has established its first US presence near Fort Bragg, North Carolina—home of the Pentagon’s Joint Special Operations Command. The move signals a push to commercialize and scale its drone operations closer to a key U.S. special-operations customer base.

2026-05-19T09:24:25.477042-07:00

Tekever opens first US office near Fort Bragg to expand autonomous drone footprint for US special operations

FlightGlobal

Freight haulers seek temporary suspension of US jet fuel tax as Iran-war pricing keeps fuel costs elevated U.S. cargo carriers are calling on the Trump administration to temporarily suspend the jet fuel tax, arguing that jet fuel prices have stayed “stubbornly” high amid the Iran war. The request highlights how geopolitical-driven fuel volatility is squeezing air-freight economics and pricing decisions.

2026-05-18T17:24:09.024526-07:00

Freight haulers seek temporary suspension of US jet fuel tax as Iran-war pricing keeps fuel costs elevated

AeroTime

FAA to reorganize to close safety gaps after fatal DCA midair, launching nationwide runway safety upgrades FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford says the agency is reorganizing to address safety gaps highlighted by the fatal DCA midair collision and is moving quickly to close a runway safety gap exposed by a serious runway accident earlier this year. The changes signal accelerated, system-level safety pressure across the NAS.

2026-05-18T14:08:37.839714-07:00

FAA to reorganize to close safety gaps after fatal DCA midair, launching nationwide runway safety upgrades

AINonline

❗️

FAA cuts 2026 certified air traffic controller target to 12,563 as staffing-model “math” shifts The FAA’s 2026 air traffic controller workforce plan targets 12,563 full certified professional controllers (CPCs), down from 14,633 in the 2025 plan—about 2,000 fewer. The agency argues updated tools and staffing-model assumptions reduce the number needed to run the National Airspace System efficiently.

2026-05-18T10:40:00.140495-07:00

FAA cuts 2026 certified air traffic controller target to 12,563 as staffing-model “math” shifts

FlightGlobal

Report: US loses or severely damages 42 aircraft in Iran bombing campaign; includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper and seven KC-135 tankers A report says the US military lost or suffered significant damage to 42 aircraft during an aerial bombing campaign against Iran amid a tenuous ceasefire. The tally includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper drones, seven KC-135 tankers, and several fighter types, underscoring combat attrition risks to high-tempo air operations.

2026-05-18T10:39:20.544451-07:00

Report: US loses or severely damages 42 aircraft in Iran bombing campaign; includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper and seven KC-135 tankers

Task & Purpose

❗️

US Navy EA-18G Growlers collide midair at Idaho air show; all four crew eject safely Two US Navy Boeing EA-18G Growlers collided during an air show in Idaho, becoming entangled and plummeting to the ground. Officials said all four crew members ejected safely before the jets crashed, with video showing the aircraft spinning as they fell.

2026-05-17T12:51:13.509349-07:00

US Navy EA-18G Growlers collide midair at Idaho air show; all four crew eject safely

Menu

North America News

Canada’s Snowbirds to stand down after 2026 season; CT-114 Tutor jets replaced by CT-157 Siskin II (PC-21)

Senate confirms Michael Graham for another NTSB term; Daniel Edwards to DOT assistant secretary role

US Navy EA-18G Growlers collide midair at Idaho air show; all four crew eject safely

Freight haulers seek temporary suspension of US jet fuel tax as Iran-war pricing keeps fuel costs elevated

News Timeline