Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
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.
Policy & Regulation
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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.
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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Elon Musk is promoting Starlink’s satellite internet for underserved rural regions of India, where more than 11,000 villages reportedly lack 4G, while Ukrainian officials seek approval to use Starlink-equipped drones against Russian ballistic-missile launchers. Starlink’s security and military applications remain central to both discussions.
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President Trump’s new National Space Transportation Policy calls for government support to scale U.S. launch and reentry activity to 1,000 missions annually by 2030. The policy arrives as SpaceX reaches 100 launches in 2026, Starlink approaches 11,000 operational satellites and Globalstar advances its LEO replenishment.
SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile are reportedly interested in acquiring Grain Management’s spectrum for direct-to-phone satellite services, while Muon Space raised $250 million at a $1.5 billion valuation. Muon plans to scale production to 500 satellites annually by 2027 and expand defense, NASA and NOAA work.
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