ch-aviation
• Hilka Birns
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines under Executive Order 13902, alongside 36 third-party enablers. The designations mark Washington’s first action against Iranian carriers since determining on Aug. 24, 2026, that Iran’s aviation sector was subject to sanctions.
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IranAir CEO Taher Abdolhai says the carrier hopes to return to European markets once sanctions are lifted and it regains the necessary regulatory approvals. The plan points to a potential renewal of Iran’s air connectivity with Europe, contingent on changes in both policy and compliance conditions.
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The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines under Executive Order 13902, alongside 36 third-party enablers. The designations mark Washington’s first action against Iranian carriers since determining on Aug. 24, 2026, that Iran’s aviation sector was subject to sanctions.
A Pakistani court is considering a dispute over the proposed privatization of Pakistan International Airlines, placing the carrier’s ownership transition and restructuring plans under legal scrutiny. The case could affect the timing and terms of efforts to shift PIA into private hands.
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NBAA, AOPA and other aviation organizations are urging the FAA to apply proposed uniform flightcrew rest and duty standards to Part 91, Part 125 and Part 135 operators, rather than limiting the framework to scheduled airlines operating under Part 121.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says government backing modeled on U.S. solar subsidies could help unlock sustainable aviation fuel production, including from corn and soy now used for biodiesel. He criticized Europe’s approach while arguing that stronger policy support is needed to overcome persistent supply constraints.
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The FAA is pursuing rulemaking to permit supersonic flight over land, implementing Executive Order 14304, while taking broader actions that could affect spaceflight infrastructure. The changes could expand viable operating locations for high-speed aircraft and launch providers beyond established coastal corridors.
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United Aircraft says it is close to finalizing licensing terms for the SJ-100 in India, as the Russian airframer promotes its aircraft lineup at the Innoprom show. The company expects to pursue operator agreements at Aero India 2027, signaling an effort to establish a foothold in the Indian market.
The FCC is expected to formalize its longstanding practice of excluding satellite constellations from environmental reviews as developers advance proposals for more than 1 million orbital data centers. The decision could establish a clearer regulatory baseline for large-scale commercial space infrastructure.
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