https://squawkseven.com/2026-08-18https://squawkseven.com/share-home.svg https://squawkseven.com/news/faa-partners-air-traffic/2026-08-18https://squawkseven.com/share-faa-partners-air-traffic.svgFAA Partners with AT&T for Air Traffic Network OverhaulThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded AT&T an initial $74.3 million contract to support the overhaul of the US air traffic control system. (Source: AeroTime) https://squawkseven.com/news/rakuten-helps-helsing-pitch/2026-08-18https://squawkseven.com/share-rakuten-helps-helsing-pitch.svgRakuten Helps Helsing Pitch HX-2 Strike Drone to JapanJapanese e-commerce group Rakuten is assisting German defense technology company Helsing in its pursuit of a sale of its HX-2 strike drone to Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force. (Source: AeroTime) https://squawkseven.com/news/south-african-airways-suspends/2026-08-18https://squawkseven.com/share-south-african-airways-suspends.svgSouth African Airways Suspends Acting CEO Amid Governance ConcernsSouth African Airways has suspended its acting CEO, Matshela Seshibe, after four months in the role, citing a commitment to good governance and accountability. (Source: AeroTime) https://squawkseven.com/news/l3harris-removes-ceo-christopher/2026-08-18https://squawkseven.com/share-l3harris-removes-ceo-christopher.svgL3Harris Removes CEO Christopher Kubasik Following Code of Conduct InvestigationL3Harris Technologies has removed its Chairman and CEO Christopher Kubasik after an investigation found that he violated the company's code of conduct. (Source: AeroTime) https://squawkseven.com/news/electric-aircraft-used-emergency/2026-08-17https://squawkseven.com/share-electric-aircraft-used-emergency.svgElectric Aircraft Used for Emergency Medical Response in Rural North CarolinaA paramedic in rural North Carolina has used an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to respond to emergency medical calls, reaching patients faster than ground ambulances. https://squawkseven.com/news/india-launches-5b-tender/2026-08-17https://squawkseven.com/share-india-launches-5b-tender.svgIndia launches $10.5B tender for 60 medium transport aircraft, pitting C-130J against C-390India's Ministry of Defence has issued a request for proposals for 60 medium transport aircraft, valued at approximately $10.5 billion, with Lockheed Martin's C-130J and Embraer's C-390 emerging as... https://squawkseven.com/news/airbaltic-bondholders-approve-terms/2026-08-17https://squawkseven.com/share-airbaltic-bondholders-approve-terms.svgairBaltic Bondholders Approve New Terms for Outstanding BondsairBaltic has announced that its bondholders have approved amendments to the terms of the airline's outstanding €380 million 14.5%-interest bonds, which are due in 2029. (Source: AeroTime) https://squawkseven.com/news/brussels-airlines-adds-arctic/2026-08-17https://squawkseven.com/share-brussels-airlines-adds-arctic.svgBrussels Airlines adds Arctic winter routes to Norway and FinlandThe Belgian flag carrier will operate new scheduled flights to Evenes, Kemi and Kittilä during the 2026/27 winter season, reflecting growing demand for northern European destinations. https://squawkseven.com/news/avianca-cargo-continues-relief-b2ae36/2026-08-17https://squawkseven.com/share-avianca-cargo-continues-relief-b2ae36.svgAvianca Cargo Continues Relief Efforts in ColombiaAvianca Cargo has transported an additional 60 tons of humanitarian aid to Colombia, bringing the total volume of aid moved to over 150 tons in just two days. (Source: AeroTime) https://squawkseven.com/news/gol-linhas-reas-appoints-f8d05d/2026-08-17https://squawkseven.com/share-gol-linhas-reas-appoints-f8d05d.svgGol Linhas Aéreas Appoints New CEO Amid Leadership ChangeGol Linhas Aéreas welcomes back former executive André Fehlauer as its new CEO, while Celso Ferrer joins Boeing as its new president for the Latin America and the Caribbean regions. https://squawkseven.com/news/senators-allege-dhs-operated-a0ecb3/2026-08-17https://squawkseven.com/share-senators-allege-dhs-operated-a0ecb3.svgSenators Allege DHS Operated Private Jet Service for Trump OfficialsTwo U.S. senators have accused the Department of Homeland Security of misusing funds to acquire luxury aircraft for high-ranking officials during the Trump administration, including members of the... https://squawkseven.com/news/iag-challenges-heathrow-third-b76752/2026-08-17https://squawkseven.com/share-iag-challenges-heathrow-third-b76752.svgIAG Challenges Heathrow’s Third Runway Costs in Transport Committee EvidenceInternational Airlines Group (IAG), owner of British Airways, has raised concerns over the $66 billion price tag for Heathrow’s third runway, calling it 'exceptional' and questioning its... https://squawkseven.com/news/pilatus-consolidates-composite-operations-4bae6a/2026-08-16https://squawkseven.com/share-pilatus-consolidates-composite-operations-4bae6a.svgPilatus Consolidates Composite Operations in SwitzerlandAviation manufacturer Pilatus has opened a new composite manufacturing center in Switzerland, bringing together its development and production operations under one roof. (Source: AeroTime) https://squawkseven.com/news/avolon-akasa-air-finalize-92ba89/2026-08-16https://squawkseven.com/share-avolon-akasa-air-finalize-92ba89.svgAvolon and Akasa Air Finalize Sale-Leaseback Deal for Seven Boeing 737-8200 AircraftAvolon and Akasa Air have agreed on a sale-leaseback transaction for seven Boeing 737-8200 aircraft, allowing the Indian carrier to optimize its financial resources while maintaining operations. This... https://squawkseven.com/news/russia-jet-powered-drones-113033/2026-08-16https://squawkseven.com/share-russia-jet-powered-drones-113033.svgRussia's Jet-Powered Drones Test Ukraine's Low-Cost Interceptor DefensesRussia's increasing use of jet-powered drones is pushing Ukraine to adapt its air defense systems, with the country's military and manufacturers developing faster and more advanced interceptors. https://squawkseven.com/news/faa-proposes-mandatory-fix-a73aac/2026-08-16https://squawkseven.com/share-faa-proposes-mandatory-fix-a73aac.svgFAA Proposes Mandatory Fix for Boeing 787 Fan Cowl IssueThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a mandatory airworthiness directive to address a potential safety issue with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's fan cowl. (Source: AeroTime) https://squawkseven.com/news/spanish-shoots-down-drone-e2f18a/2026-08-16https://squawkseven.com/share-spanish-shoots-down-drone-e2f18a.svgSpanish F-18 Shoots Down Drone Over Romania After Approach Via MoldovaA Spanish Air and Space Force F/A-18 Hornet shot down a drone over southeastern Romania in the early hours of August 16, 2026, marking the fourth unmanned aircraft destroyed over Romanian territory... https://squawkseven.com/news/historic-race-winning-aircraft-14976a/2026-08-16https://squawkseven.com/share-historic-race-winning-aircraft-14976a.svgHistoric 1934 Race-Winning Aircraft Damaged in Landing AccidentThe de Havilland DH.88 Comet G-ACSS, a historic aircraft that won the speed section of the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race, has been badly damaged in a landing accident at the Shuttleworth Trust's Old... https://squawkseven.com/news/retired-luftwaffe-transall-airlifters-64eca3/2026-08-16https://squawkseven.com/share-retired-luftwaffe-transall-airlifters-64eca3.svgRetired Luftwaffe Transall Airlifters to Return as Armored Firefighting AircraftTwo retired Transall C-160Ds are being converted into armored firefighting aircraft, with the first expected to be operational for the 2027 wildfire season. (Source: AeroTime) https://squawkseven.com/news/us-army-selects-robinson-de5814/2026-08-16https://squawkseven.com/share-us-army-selects-robinson-de5814.svgUS Army Selects Robinson R66 for $10 Billion Helicopter Training ProgramThe US Army has chosen the Robinson R66 as its primary helicopter trainer under a major overhaul of initial helicopter pilot training. (Source: AeroTime) https://squawkseven.com/air-traffic-control/2026-08-18 https://squawkseven.com/about/ https://squawkseven.com/sources-and-methods/ https://squawkseven.com/corrections/