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• Jeff Foust
The FAA is seeking industry input as it implements elements of a new space transportation policy, focusing on the development of new spaceports and access to airspace for launch operations. The effort could shape future launch infrastructure planning and coordination between commercial space operators and aviation authorities.
Policy & Regulation
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The FAA is seeking industry input as it implements elements of a new space transportation policy, focusing on the development of new spaceports and access to airspace for launch operations. The effort could shape future launch infrastructure planning and coordination between commercial space operators and aviation authorities.
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Delta flight attendants will have to collect airline-provided cups, glasses and other pre-departure service items before aircraft pushback beginning Sept. 1, 2026, under FAA enforcement. Passengers may retain identical drinks brought aboard themselves, provided those items are properly stowed.
The European Commission has closed its antitrust investigation into Pratt & Whitney Canada after the engine manufacturer amended contractual provisions that raised competition concerns in the spare-parts market. The decision removes the immediate regulatory case while underscoring scrutiny of aftermarket access and engine-support agreements.
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A new National Space Transportation Policy directs the Defense Department, NASA and other agencies to identify regulatory, operational, programmatic and technological barriers to faster, more resilient access to space. The policy also calls for expanded launch infrastructure, including evaluating a new federally supported spaceport for heavy-lift vehicles.
Nav Canada is increasing its air traffic control service charges as it seeks to recover a shortfall accumulated during the pandemic. The move will raise operating costs for airlines and other airspace users, with potential implications for carrier economics and network planning in Canada.
The FAA is setting phased deadlines for cockpit voice recorder upgrades on new business aircraft: larger models must comply by 2027, while smaller turbine-powered aircraft have until 2029. The requirements will shape avionics specifications, certification schedules and procurement decisions for business aviation manufacturers and operators.
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The FAA awarded two rounds of airport improvement grants in August worth $870 million and $615 million, bringing the month’s announced funding to nearly $1.5 billion. The awards underscore the scale of federal investment supporting airport infrastructure upgrades across the United States.
Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft through late third quarter of 2026, prolonging an aviation restriction between the neighboring countries. The decision maintains existing constraints on airline operations and overflight access, with implications for network planning, routing, and regional connectivity.
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