Flight Safety Information - September 23, 2025 No. 190 In This Issue : Incident: Qatar B773 near Bangalore on Sep 22nd 2025, cracked windshield : Incident: Malta Air B738 at London on Sep 22nd 2025, loss of communication : Air Charter Safety Foundation - Industry Audit Standard Lite : Incident: Nouvel A320 at Nice on Sep 21st 2025, approached wrong runway and overflew lining up aircraft : Passenger jet descends within 10 feet of EasyJet plane in France : Ryanair Pilots Reportedly Send Distress Call After Losing Contact with Air Traffic Control During Approach : Second Video in NBAA Series Provides Actionable Guidance for SMS Implementation : Air India crash aftermath handled 'irresponsibly', says court : FAA Shutdown Bill Proposed in Congress : Afghan boy flies from Kabul to Delhi hiding in plane's landing gear : EU slams Russia effort to get back on UN aviation body : Bankrupt Spirit Airlines is furloughing one-third of its flight attendants : Uzbekistan Airways places 22 Boeing aircraft order : FAA updates certificated Part 135 operators, aircraft list after pause : ‘Best and Brightest:' TCU grad and Little Elm test pilot named NASA astronaut candidates : France's Dassault Aviation says it could build new fighter jet alone if needed : Turkey plans to buy hundreds of Boeing airliners and Lockheed Martin fighters, Bloomberg News reports : Calendar of Event Incident: Qatar B773 near Bangalore on Sep 22nd 2025, cracked windshield A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300, registration A7-BAC performing flight QR-853 from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Doha (Qatar), was enroute at FL360 about 100nm northeast of Bangalore (India) when the crew decided to divert to Bangalore reporting a cracked windshield. The aircraft landed safely on Bangalore's runway 27L about 25 minutes later. https://avherald.com/h?article=52d68ea6&opt=0 Incident: Malta Air B738 at London on Sep 22nd 2025, loss of communication A Malta Air Boeing 737-800 on behalf of Ryanair, registration 9H-QCJ performing flight FR-642 from Valencia,SP (Spain) to London Stansted,EN (UK), was descending towards Stansted Airport when the aircraft entered a hold at FL090 and set the transponder to indicate loss of communication. The aircraft left the hold after about 15 minutes and positioned for an approach to runway 04, where the aircraft landed without further incident about 30 minutes after entering the hold. The aircraft continued service after about 4.5 hours on the ground. https://avherald.com/h?article=52d6880d&opt=0 Incident: Nouvel A320 at Nice on Sep 21st 2025, approached wrong runway and overflew lining up aircraft A Nouvelair Airbus A320-200, registration TS-INP performing flight BJ-586 from Tunis (Tunisia) to Nice (France), was on approach to Nice's runway 04L but lined up for runway 04R. The aircraft continued the approach reaching the lowest point over the touch down zone of the runway before commencing a go around. An Easyjet Europe Airbus A320-200, registration OE-IJZ performing flight U2-4706 from Nice to Nantes (France), was lining up runway 04R when TS-INP overflew OE-IJZ before initiating their go around. OE-IJZ subsequently vacated the runway via the next exit and returned to the apron, the flight was cancelled. TS-INP climbed to 4000 feet, positioned for another approach to runway 04L and landed on that runway without further incident about 15 minutes after the go around. According to ADS-B data TS-INP crossed the runway threshold at 50 feet AGL and initiated the go around 6 seconds later. On Sep 22nd 2025 the French BEA announced, they have dispatched 4 investigators to Nice and opened an investigation. https://avherald.com/h?article=52d656fd&opt=0 Passenger jet descends within 10 feet of EasyJet plane in France An easyJet flight preparing to depart Nice Côte d'Azur Airport in France on the evening of Sept. 21 was canceled after another passenger jet descended dangerously close to it, prompting officials to investigate the serious incident. The near miss occurred when easyJet flight 4706 was positioned on the runway, ready to depart for its journey to Nantes Atlantique Airport in western France, the United Kingdom-based carrier told USA TODAY. The Airbus A320-214 was awaiting clearance for takeoff from air traffic control when another Airbus A320-214 from Tunisian-based airline Nouvelair approached for landing right above it. The Nouvelair flight, which came from Tunis, Tunisia, was preparing to arrive in Nice for its scheduled time of 10:10 p.m., according to FlightAware. As reported by local media outlet Nice-Matin, the Nouvelair flight passed over within 10 feet of the easyJet plane, causing passengers to feel "strong vibrations." Flightradar24 data reported the Nouvelair flight's altitude between 25 and 50 feet at the time. According to the flight-tracking platform, all arriving flights were assigned to Runway 04L that night, but the Nouvelair flight made its first approach at Runway 04R, which was only being used for departing flights. Air traffic control directed the Nouvelair aircraft to perform a go-around, and it landed safely at 11:49 p.m., according to FlightAware data. Nouvelair did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. According to its website, the easyJet flight was delayed until the next day "due to a non-easyJet aircraft incident." In a statement to USA TODAY, easyJet said: "The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority and in line with procedures, we are fully cooperating with the safety investigation that has been launched in order to understand what happened." The Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety launched a safety investigation into the incident, deploying a team of four investigators to the airport, the agency said in a tweet on Sept. 22. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/passenger-jet-descends-within-10-203539641.html Ryanair Pilots Reportedly Send Distress Call After Losing Contact with Air Traffic Control During Approach Crew on the Boeing 737 issued an emergency distress signal less than 20 miles out from landing at London Stansted Airport on Sept. 22 A Ryanair flight reportedly issued an international distress code on its approach to a London airport According to multiple outlets, flight FR642 issued a squawk 7600 as it circled outside London Stansted Airport on Sept. 22 The code signals when an aircraft loses radio communication capabilities A passenger aircraft approaching a London airport reportedly lost communication with air traffic control due to a radio system failure. On Sept. 22, Ryanair flight FR642 departed Valencia Airport in Spain at 11:12 a.m. local time, according to FlightAware. The Boeing 737 was heading toward London Stansted Airport located in the U.K. During its final approach, the plane began to circle the skies less than 20 miles away from the runway. According to outlets Airlive and Travel and Tour World, crews on board issued an emergency squawk code 7600. The U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority's Rules of the Air manual states pilots shall use the signal "to indicate a state of radio-communication failure." “In the event that the radio on the aircraft fails to function properly, communication can get cut off. This can lead to grave safety risks,” according to the California Aeronautical University. “Because the aircraft cannot let the ATC (air traffic control) know verbally, they can immediately change the code in their transponder to Squawk 7600.” They added: “This alerts ATC and, as the aircraft continues to travel as they should to their airport, ATC can make the necessary adjustments with those they can communicate with to ensure everyone in the sky is safe as the mute aircraft lands.” FlightAware data shows this aircraft kept steady at 9,000 feet for around 16 minutes while circling three times before making a wide turn to arrive at Stansted Airport. While it is unclear what procedures were used to get the plane on the ground, the aircraft landed at 12:40 p.m. local time. According to AirLive, the plane was led by a “follow me” car to the gate after landing. A representative for London Stansted Airport deferred to Ryanair for comment, who did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request. Earlier this year, an outage at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey left air controllers unable to communicate with planes for roughly 60 to 90 seconds, according to ABC News. On Monday, April 28, air traffic control computer screens went dark, according to the outlet which cited multiple sources. In obtained recordings, a controller is heard telling pilots that “approach lost all radars. Three of the four radar screens went black and they have no frequency.” Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In a statement shared with PEOPLE at the time, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said, "Air traffic controllers in Area C of the Philadelphia TRACON (PHL), who are responsible for separating and sequencing aircraft in and out of Newark Airport (EWR), temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, unable to see, hear, or talk to them." The FAA wrote on X: "We are working to ensure the current telecommunications equipment is more reliable in the New York area by establishing a more resilient and redundant configuration with the local exchange carriers. In addition, we are updating our automation system to improve resiliency.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ryanair-pilots-reportedly-send-distress-183047705.html Second Video in NBAA Series Provides Actionable Guidance for SMS Implementation Safety management systems (SMS) are based on a simple premise: to demonstrate a practical commitment to safety excellence. However, the creation and implementation of an SMS that meets all the FAA’s requirements can benefit from a few, actionable tips offered by those who’ve been through the process. That’s the idea behind NBAA’s FAA Part 5 SMS for Small Operators: A Practical Guide, which includes, among other resources, a series of scenario-based videos offering practical guidance developed by the NBAA Safety Committee’s SMS Working Group also created. The newly released second video in the series focuses on the safety-assurance aspect of an SMS: assessing the ongoing effectiveness of implemented risk control strategies and facilitating the identification of new hazards. View the video. It’s what the FAA calls safety performance monitoring and measurement, which includes data collection and assessment, or the “auditing” side of an SMS. The FAA’s Part 5 SMS requirement applies to Part 135 operators, Part 91.147 air tour operators that have a letter of authorization, and aircraft manufacturers. These organizations have until May 28, 2027, to implement their SMS and submit a declaration of compliance statement. NBAA Safety Committee SMS Working Group Lead Amanda Ferraro, CEO of Aviation Safety Solutions, mentioned an additional provision in the new requirement – “If a Part 145 repair station has European Aviation Safety Administration approval, Europe is mandating those repair stations have a Part 5 SMS in place by Dec. 31, 2025.” Ferraro estimates that about 1,200 repair stations will be affected. “We have many operators who believe they can simply copy a manual and their SMS will be good to go,” Ferraro said. “But compliance with the new mandates will require people to roll up their sleeves and implement a system that’s able to demonstrate its usage and effectiveness to the FAA, specifically, to the principal operations inspector and the principal maintenance inspector assigned to the certificate. “Every time the FAA inspectors reach out, currently for those operators that have achieved FAA Part 5 compliance, they’re asking for evidence from the SMS,” Ferraro said. “So far this year, in my role as director of safety on a Part 135 certificate, we’ve had four compliance record-keeping requests – a clear sign that our system is being put to use and is performing as designed.” Ferraro added there are several items operators need to pay attention to after watching the video. “First, the FAA has established eight categories of data that operators must track under CFR 5.71,” she said. “Operators are also required to audit both their SMS and their operations. Within the safety assurance framework, the FAA is shifting SMS toward a predictive data model. This is where simply copying a manual falls apart — because it’s not just about collecting data. It’s about analyzing that data, drawing insights, and ensuring it’s readily available when requested.” Certificate holders are encouraged to take the SMS mandate seriously. The FAA’s vision is to raise the safety bar, and these new regulations are the result of a commitment to reduce the number of preventable accidents. https://nbaa.org/aircraft-operations/safety/second-video-in-nbaa-series-provides-actionable-guidance-for-sms-implementation/ Air India crash aftermath handled 'irresponsibly', says court The highest court in India has strongly criticised the country's aviation authorities for their handling of the aftermath of the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people in June. Leaving only one survivor, the flight bound for Gatwick airport from Ahmedabad crashed shortly after taking off, killing 241of 242 passengers on board and 19 others on the ground. The court said it was "irresponsible" for the aviation authority to suggest, through leaks to the media, that pilot error had caused the disaster. It called on Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for the government's response before it rules on a case filed by activists demanding an independent investigation. The court said the way the aviation body released its preliminary report in to the Boeing Dreamliner's crash was "selective and piecemeal". The preliminary report, published by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in July, said fuel supply to the engines was cut off just seconds after take-off. The report also said one of the pilots was heard asking the other "why did he cut off" in a cockpit voice recording, with another pilot responding that he did not do so. The recording doesn't clarify who said what. At the time of take-off, the co-pilot was flying the aircraft while the captain was monitoring. But the findings of the report have been challenged by aviation safety group Safety Matters Foundation, which is calling for an independent investigation into the crash. In a court hearing overseeing the aviation safety group's petition, one of India's Supreme Court judges said that suggestions that the pilots deliberately shut off fuel supply were "very unfortunate and irresponsible". The crash has left many questioning the safety of India's airspace. The chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has defended the safety record of the country, telling the BBC in July that "India's skies have always been safe". That same month, the DGCA uncovered 51 safety violations at Air India in the preceding year, as part of its annual audit of the country's airlines. The families of four passengers who died on the plane filed a lawsuit in the US against planemaker Boeing and aircraft parts maker Honeywell, accusing the companies of negligence. The lawsuit accused the companies of doing "nothing" despite being aware of the risks of the aircraft's design. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmex7912nro FAA Shutdown Bill Proposed in Congress Lawmakers introduced the FAA shutdown bill to keep air traffic control and safety programs running during funding gaps. Congressmen Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) and Andre Carson (D-IN-7) introduced the Aviation Funding Stability Act late last week. This FAA shutdown bill would allow the FAA to continue operating in the event of a government shutdown by tapping into financial resources from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. This proposal comes as expiration of the current budget agreement looms on Sept. 30. Cohen said the measure is aimed at avoiding “disruptions in aviation safety operations, air traffic control staffing, and certification processes that are vital to the U.S. economy and our national security,” according to a release. The bill would authorize the FAA to access the trust fund for up to 30 days without a new appropriations bill in place. The fund, supported by ticket, fuel, and cargo taxes, typically brings in enough revenue to sustain the agency’s operations. Carson said the measure, if passed, will allow the FAA to continue operations as normal without having to deal with any funding-related disruptions. This is both in the interest of public safety and of job security for aviation-sector workers, according to Carson. Multiple industry groups said they support the bill. Such groups include Airlines for America, Airports Council International-North America, the Air Line Pilots Association, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “We cannot allow politics to disrupt aviation safety and security,” said Sara Nelson, president of AFA. Kevin Burke, president and CEO of ACI-NA, said the last shutdown “took a tremendous toll on our aviation system.” The Association of Professional Flight Attendants also endorsed the measure, with National President Julie Hedrick saying uninterrupted FAA functions are necessary to ensure “safety-critical roles” continue during any lapse. https://avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-shutdown-bill-proposed-in-congress/ Afghan boy flies from Kabul to Delhi hiding in plane's landing gear The boy travelled undetected, hiding in the landing gear compartment A 13-year-old Afghan boy made a dangerous journey from Kabul to Delhi, hiding in the landing gear compartment of a Kam Air passenger plane. Officials say the teen, who is from Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan, was found wandering around on the runway at Delhi's international airport after the plane landed on Monday. He was detained by Indian security personnel and questioned for several hours before being sent back to Kabul on the same flight. The boy reportedly told authorities he made the journey out of curiosity. A spokesperson from the Indian Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) said the boy managed to travel undetected on Kam Airlines flight RQ-4401, which landed in Delhi around 11:10 (05:40 GMT) on Sunday. Police found him roaming around by himself and took him aside for questioning. The boy reportedly told authorities that he had hidden himself in the rear central landing gear compartment of the plane. The airline staff also found a small red-coloured audio speaker after further safety inspections were carried out. The Indian Express newspaper reported that the 13-year-old wanted to travel to Iran and did not know that the flight he entered was bound for Delhi, not Tehran. According to the newspaper, the boy sneaked into Kabul airport, trailed a group of passengers, and stowed away in the aircraft's rear wheel well - the internal compartment which houses the landing gear. He was carrying only the red coloured speaker with him. There have been recent incidents of stowaways hiding in flights to the US or Europe, often escaping their home countries. But very few of them make it out alive. Experts say that many stowaways who survive such flights are often unconscious during descent, putting them at risk of falling to their deaths when the landing gear is lowered. In 2022, a 22-year-old Kenyan man was found alive in the wheel well of a cargo plane in Amsterdam. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp987j57lxko EU slams Russia effort to get back on UN aviation body Moscow wants a seat on the ICAO Council that recognized it was responsible for shooting down flight MH17. The Kremlin is now pushing its candidacy to be part of the body again, presenting itself as “the largest aviation power, with a history of civil aviation reaching back more than a hundred years.” | Vlad Karkov/SOPA BRUSSELS — Russia’s attempt to regain access to the governing body of the U.N.'s aviation agency despite being held responsible for shooting down a civilian airliner and stealing hundreds of airplanes is being met with fierce resistance from the European Union. The battle comes to a head on Tuesday, when the International Civil Aviation Organization opens its assembly in Montreal. This triennial gathering of the organization's 193 member countries will discuss new targets for the sector and elect 36 states to serve on the council — ICAO's governing body from which Russia was expelled in 2022. Back then, Moscow’s illegal confiscation of leased airplanes at the start of its war against Ukraine was enough to convince most governments not to elect Russia to the council. The Kremlin is now pushing its candidacy to be part of the body again, presenting itself as “the largest aviation power, with a history of civil aviation reaching back more than a hundred years.” The EU — which three years ago celebrated Moscow's expulsion from the council — is on high alert. “It is unacceptable that a state which endangers the safety and security of air passengers and violates international rules should hold a seat on the organisation’s governing body, tasked with upholding those very rules,” said Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, the Commission’s spokesperson for transport matters. Dariusz Joński, a member of the European Parliament and part of a delegation of MEPs representing the EU at the assembly, said: “Russia’s candidacy is incompatible with the credibility of ICAO.” He underlined that Russia isn't fit to be on the ICAO Council. “These responsibilities cannot be exercised by a state that systematically violates international law, undermines international security, and disregards the very principles on which ICAO was founded,” Joński added. “We call on all member states to send a clear signal: the international community will not reward aggression, lawlessness, or disregard for civil aviation safety with a seat on the Council,” said the Polish parliamentarian from the center-right European People's Party. Joński is echoed by his colleague Johan Danielsson of the Socialists and Democrats. “The situation has not improved since 2022, when they were voted out,” he said. “There are simply no arguments for letting them back in,” he added, noting that “given Russia’s ongoing war and repeated violations of airspace, it would be almost ironic if they were rewarded with a seat on the ICAO Council.” Three years ago, Russia received 80 votes, six fewer than what was needed to remain on the council. International prestige For a country that controls the largest airspace in the world, a seat on the ICAO Council is as much about prestige as about doing aviation business, and there are plenty of reasons why Moscow is making this push as it tries to regain the diplomatic initiative after years of setbacks. “First, to be voted off was very embarrassing for Russia,” said Andrew Charlton, managing director of the Aviation Advocacy consultancy. “They no doubt want to reverse that ‘shame.’” In addition, a potential return to the ICAO Council “will be the start of Russia trying to legitimize its actions to change the state of registry of the leased aircraft that were trapped in Russia when the airspace was closed” at the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, he added. There are also more strategic goals that could help the Kremlin and its allies create the perception that they have a tailwind. “In pure geopolitical terms, it would be seen as accepting the invasion of Ukraine as ‘part of the way the world works,’” Charlton said. “Finally, it will strengthen the existence of, and relevance of the BRICS grouping as a bloc with power,” he added, referring to the developing country bloc led by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Charles Stotler, director of the Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi, underlined that Russia needs the backing of a majority of member countries to get on to the council. “The council has three tiers, each elected in three separate votes,” Stotler said, noting the first tier is composed of countries that “are considered to be of ‘chief importance to air transport.’” Russia has traditionally been part of this group. The second tier is made of countries that make large contributions to the provision of air navigation facilities, and the third tier is chosen for equitable geographic distribution. “At the last assembly, Western states lobbied against Russia’s inclusion,” Stotler said, referring to the election for the first tier in 2022. After being defeated, “Russia could have put itself forward for election as a tier two or three state but did not, probably because the vote would have been similar, and even if elected into tiers two or three, it would have been a step down in prestige.” Now, Moscow wants its top-tier seat back, even if it means clashing with the current council to get there. Shooting down MH17 In May, the ICAO Council blamed Russia for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. It found that Russia had failed to "refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight." On July 17, 2014, the airliner carrying 298 people — two-thirds of whom were Dutch nationals — from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was hit by a surface-to-air missile over Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine, leaving no survivors. “That was the first time in the history of ICAO that the council reached a decision on the merits,” Stotler said. Russia still might have been condemned even it was still on the council, as members of the body have no veto power. Russia appealed the decision on Sept. 18, bringing the case to the International Court of Justice. “We are aware of media reports that Russia is appealing their exclusion from the ICAO Council with the ICJ. We await further communication from the Court on this topic, and will study the Russian objections,” said Richard Funnekotter, spokesperson of the Dutch Infrastructure Ministry. “In May, the ICAO Council’s decided that ‘the Russian Federation is responsible for the downing of Flight MH17 and has thus violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation.’ That has not changed,” he added. https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-russia-un-international-civil-aviation-organization/ Bankrupt Spirit Airlines is furloughing one-third of its flight attendants Spirit Airlines, the budget carrier that filed for bankruptcy twice this year, is laying off about one-third of its flight attendants, as it cuts flights and restructures the business to reduce costs. On Monday, Spirit said it would discharge approximately 1,800 of its 5,200 flight attendants, an airline spokesperson confirmed to CBS News. The Wall Street Journal first reported Spirit's plan to furlough workers. "As part of our ongoing restructuring, we are taking steps to align staffing with our fleet size and expected flight volume. In line with this process, we have made the difficult decision to furlough approximately 1,800 Flight Attendants, effective Dec. 1, 2025," Spirit said in a statement to CBS News. Spirit added that it is committed to treating employees affected by the restructuring with "care and respect during this process." The move comes after the airline earlier this month, announced it would reduce capacity by about 25% in November. At the time, CEO Dave Davis said layoffs would likely accompany the scheduling cuts. "These evaluations will inevitably affect the size of our teams as we become a more efficient airline. Unfortunately, these are the tough calls we must make to emerge stronger. We know this adds uncertainty, and we are committed to keeping you informed as these decisions are made," he wrote in a memo to employees. The union representing Spirit pilots said it was told by the airline that Spirit "must obtain approximately $100 million in annual cost savings from pilots," according to a memo from union chair Ryan Mulle. The union is surveying its pilot members on the matter. Spirit has cited low demand for domestic leisure travel as a driver of its financial woes, as budget-conscious Americans cut back on travel, over economic concerns. Americans who can afford to travel, meanwhile, are demanding more premium flight experiences, it said. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spirit-airlines-flight-attendants-furloughs-bankrupt/ Uzbekistan Airways places 22 Boeing aircraft order Boeing and Uzbekistan Airways have announced the airline’s largest-ever aircraft purchase, confirming an order for up to 22 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The deal includes 14 firm orders for the 787-9 variant, with options for an additional eight aircraft. This investment will significantly modernise Uzbekistan Airways’ wide-body fleet, while Boeing estimates the order will support approximately 35,000 jobs across the United States. The agreement was formalised in New York on the side-lines of the United Nations General Assembly, with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in attendance alongside senior representatives from Boeing and the airline. As part of the event, Boeing also signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Uzbekistan Ministry of Transport. This partnership will explore ways to further strengthen and expand the country’s aviation infrastructure and ecosystem, signalling Uzbekistan’s ambitions to establish itself as a leading hub in Central Asia. Uzbekistan Airways’ Chairman, Shukhrat Khudaikulov, described the 787 Dreamliner family as the cornerstone of the carrier’s long-haul operations. He emphasised that the acquisition reinforces both the airline’s and the nation’s role in global aviation, enhancing connectivity and underpinning long-term sustainable growth. The new aircraft will provide passengers with greater travel opportunities and contribute to the airline’s competitive positioning in the international market. The airline was the first in Central Asia to operate the 787, having introduced the 787-8 to connect Europe, Asia and the United States, including a direct service to New York City. With the larger and longer-range 787-9, Uzbekistan Airways will be able to extend its network to new destinations in North America and other long-haul markets. The timing of the expansion is strategic, coming as global air travel demand continues to recover and increase, particularly for international routes. https://avitrader.com/2025/09/23/uzbekistan-airways-places-22-boeing-aircraft-order/ FAA updates certificated Part 135 operators, aircraft list after pause An updated, downloadable Part 135 list of aircraft and operators had been unavailable since July as part of an FAA data migration. The Federal Aviation Administration is once again making available the list of Part 135 operators and aircraft available for charter in a single list. The FAA-certificated Aircraft Operators (Legal Part 135 holders) list had not been updated since early July. It is typically updated in the first few days of the month. Website visitors can download it in an Excel spreadsheet. A warning on the website still reads, “The information contained in this list is not current due to recent technical updates. We are working on providing more timely data to the public.” Receive an apples-to-apples comparison of programs that meet your needs from more than 500 jet card and fractional options covering 65 points of differentiation and over 40,000 data points. However, an FAA spokesperson pointed us to the page, which now contains a file that is listed as being updated on Sept. 17, 2025. There are 11,323 aircraft currently on the list. The July FAA list has 11,488 tails. The FAA list of Part 135 Charter Operators includes the Certificate Holder Name, Certificate Designator, FAA District Officer, Aircraft Registration Number, Aircraft Serial Number, and Aircraft Model Type. You can download the entire list in Excel here for easy use. https://privatejetcardcomparisons.com/2025/09/22/faa-updates-certificated-part-135-operators-aircraft-list-after-pause/ ‘Best and Brightest:' TCU grad and Little Elm test pilot named NASA astronaut candidates The astronaut candidates could be eligible for flight assignments to the Moon and Mars. NASA introduced its newest astronaut candidates Monday, 10 scientists, engineers and test pilots chosen from more than 8,000 applicants to help explore the moon and possibly Mars. For the first time, there were more women than men in an incoming astronaut class, two of whom have ties to North Texas. The new astronaut candidates include engineer and pilot Rebecca “Becky” Lawler, of Little Elm, and TCU graduate Anna Menon, of Houston. Lawler, 38, most recently was a test pilot for United Airlines, but she was formerly a lieutenant commander in the Navy and logged more than 2,800 hours in more than 45 different aircraft. She earned her bachelor's in mechanical engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy and is a U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduate. She's got master's degrees in space systems engineering and flight test engineering and also flew with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a hurricane hunter and flew a P-3 Orion during NASA's Operation IceBridge. Menon, 39, is from Houston and earned her bachelor’s degree from TCU with a double major in mathematics and Spanish. She also holds a master’s in biomedical engineering from Duke University. Menon previously worked in the Mission Control Center at NASA Johnson, supporting medical hardware and software aboard the International Space Station. In 2024, Menon flew to space as a mission specialist and medical officer aboard SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn. The mission saw a new female altitude record, the first commercial spacewalk, and the completion of approximately 40 research experiments. At the time of her selection, Menon was a senior engineer at SpaceX. The six women and four men in the candidate class will undergo two years of training before becoming eligible for spaceflight. Acting Administrator Sean Duffy said one of them could become one of the first to step on Mars. He also stressed that the U.S. will win this second race to land astronauts on the moon. “You are America's best and brightest, and we're going to need America's best and brightest because we have a bold exploration plan for the future," Duffy said at Monday's ceremony at Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Some are challenging our leadership in space, say like the Chinese … We are going to win." This is NASA's 24th astronaut class since the original Mercury Seven made their debut in 1959. The previous class was in 2021. Only 370 people have been selected by NASA as astronauts, making it an extraordinarily small and elite group composed mostly of men. The latest additions will join 41 active U.S. astronauts currently serving in the corps. NASA's flight operations director Norm Knight said competition was stiff and called the newcomers “distinguished” and “exceptional." They include several military pilots, a former SpaceX launch director and a medical doctor. NASA announced its 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class on Sept. 22, 2025. The 10 candidates, pictured here at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston are: U.S. Army CW3 Ben Bailey, U.S. Air Force Maj. Cameron Jones, Katherine Spies, Anna Menon, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Erin Overcash, U.S. Air Force Maj. Adam Fuhrmann, Dr. Lauren Edgar, Yuri Kubo, Rebecca Lawler, and Dr. Imelda Muller. NASA announced its 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class on Sept. 22, 2025. The 10 candidates, pictured here at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston are: U.S. Army CW3 Ben Bailey, U.S. Air Force Maj. Cameron Jones, Katherine Spies, Anna Menon, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Erin Overcash, U.S. Air Force Maj. Adam Fuhrmann, Dr. Lauren Edgar, Yuri Kubo, Rebecca Lawler, and Dr. Imelda Muller. Astronaut candidates for 2025 The 2025 astronaut candidates are: Ben Bailey, 38, chief warrant officer 3, U.S. Army, was born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia and is completing a master’s in systems engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Bailey is a U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduate with more than 2,000 flight hours in more than 30 different rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. At the time of his selection, Bailey was responsible for the developmental testing of emerging technologies aboard Army rotary wing aircraft, specializing in the UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47F Chinook. Lauren Edgar, 40, considers Sammamish, Washington, her hometown. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Earth sciences from Dartmouth College, and her master’s and doctorate in geology from the California Institute of Technology. Edgar has served as the deputy principal investigator for the Artemis III Geology Team. In this role, she helped define lunar science goals, geology activities NASA astronauts will conduct, and science operations for NASA’s return to the Moon. She also spent more than 17 years supporting Mars exploration rovers. She was working at the U.S. Geological Survey at the time of her selection. Adam Fuhrmann, 35, major, U.S. Air Force, is from Leesburg, Virginia, and has accumulated more than 2,100 flight hours in 27 aircraft, including the F-16 and F-35. He holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and master’s degrees in flight test engineering and systems engineering from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and Purdue University, respectively. He has deployed in support of Operations Freedom’s Sentinel and Resolute Support, logging 400 combat hours. At the time of his selection, Fuhrmann served as the director of operations for an Air Force flight test unit. Cameron Jones, 35, major, U.S. Air Force, is a native of Savanna, Illinois. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California and the U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. He’s an experienced test pilot with more than 1,600 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft, including 150 combat hours. The majority of his flight time is in the F-22 Raptor. At the time of his selection, Jones was an Air Force Academic Fellow at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Yuri Kubo, 40, is a native of Columbus, Indiana. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s in electrical and computer engineering from Purdue University. He spent 12 years working across various teams at SpaceX, including as launch director for Falcon 9 rocket launches, director of avionics for the Starshield program, and director of Ground Segment. Earlier in his career, Kubo was a co-op student at NASA Johnson, where he completed multiple tours supporting the Orion spacecraft, the International Space Station, and the Space Shuttle Program. At the time of his selection, Kubo was the senior vice president of Engineering at Electric Hydrogen. Rebecca Lawler, 38, is a native of Little Elm, Texas, and a former lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. She is a former Navy P-3 pilot and experimental test pilot with more than 2,800 flight hours in more than 45 aircraft. Lawler holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University and the National Test Pilot School. She also is a U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduate. Lawler also flew as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hurricane hunter and during NASA’s Operation IceBridge. She was a test pilot for United Airlines at the time of selection. Anna Menon, 39, is from Houston and earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University with a double major in mathematics and Spanish. She also holds a master’s in biomedical engineering from Duke University. Menon previously worked in the Mission Control Center at NASA Johnson, supporting medical hardware and software aboard the International Space Station. In 2024, Menon flew to space as a mission specialist and medical officer aboard SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn. The mission saw a new female altitude record, the first commercial spacewalk, and the completion of approximately 40 research experiments. At the time of her selection, Menon was a senior engineer at SpaceX. Imelda Muller, 34, considers Copake Falls, New York, her hometown. She formerly was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and served as an undersea medical officer after training at the Naval Undersea Medical Institute. Muller earned a bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience from Northeastern University and a medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine. Her experience includes providing medical support during Navy operational diving training at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. At the time of her selection, Muller was completing a residency in anesthesia at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. Erin Overcash, 34, lieutenant commander, U.S. Navy, is from Goshen, Kentucky. She holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and a master’s in bioastronautics from the University of Colorado, Boulder. A U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduate, Overcash is an experienced F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet pilot with multiple deployments. She has logged more than 1,300 flight hours in 20 aircraft, including 249 carrier arrested landings. Overcash was part of the Navy’s World Class Athlete Program and trained full-time at the Olympic Training Center with the USA Rugby Women’s National Team. She was training for a squadron department head tour at the time of selection. Katherine Spies, 43, is a native of San Diego and holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Southern California and a master’s in design engineering from Harvard University. She is a former Marine Corps AH-1 attack helicopter pilot and experimental test pilot, with more than 2,000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, she served as UH-1Y/AH-1Z project officer and AH-1W platform coordinator during her time on active duty. At the time of her selection, Spies was the director of flight test engineering at Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/becky-lawler-anna-menon-nasa-astronaut-candidate-tcu-north-texas/3922146/ France's Dassault Aviation says it could build new fighter jet alone if needed CERGY, France (Reuters) -Dassault Aviation's head said on Tuesday the French planemaker could independently develop the next generation of European fighter jets, escalating tensions with Germany over leadership in a joint 100-billion-euro ($118 billion) defence project. Asked at the opening of a new factory for current-generation Rafale warplanes about a row with German-backed Airbus over the next round of fighters, Dassault CEO Eric Trappier said: "The Germans can complain, but here we know how to do this. If they want to act on their own, let them do so". Germany has blamed French industry for blocking the next phase in the development of a new generation air combat system, the FCAS/SCAF programme, by demanding sole leadership. Asked if Dassault had the ability to build a so-called sixth-generation fighter combining a crewed fighter with unmanned cohorts without other partners, Trappier said "yes," but said this would be a decision for the French government. Trappier said Dassault was arguing for clearer control of the core crewed fighter component of the project, while granting Airbus similar room for manoeuvre in the parts of the wider manned and unmanned system for which it has responsibility. Airbus represents Germany and Spain in the project. Trappier denied breaking any existing industrial accords and said the argument with Airbus solely concerned responsibilities for the next phase. He was speaking to reporters at the inauguration of a new parts assembly plant for Dassault's Rafale warplanes and Falcon business jets outside Paris. Trappier said he was talking with the head of Airbus' defence business about the dispute, but no compromise had been found. He declined to put a deadline on the talks. Airbus said it remained committed to the success of the FCAS/SCAF project and to all agreements struck so far. ($1 = 0.8478 euros) https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/frances-dassault-aviation-says-could-115345185.html Turkey plans to buy hundreds of Boeing airliners and Lockheed Martin fighters, Bloomberg News reports (Reuters) -Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan plans to buy hundreds of Boeing airliners and Lockheed Martin jets, while seeking over $10 billion in local production deals, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday citing people familiar with the matter. The deals are subject to approval by U.S. President Donald Trump, the report added. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. The White House, Boeing and Lockheed Martin did not immediately respond to a Reuters requests for comment outside regular business hours. Turkey's Defense Ministry declined to comment to Bloomberg. They could not be immediately reached for comment by Reuters. The development comes ahead of a scheduled meeting between Donald Trump and Erdogan at the White House on September 25. Trump expects to conclude trade and military agreements in the meeting, including the large scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, a major F-16 Deal, and a continuation of the F-35 talks with Turkey. Erdogan confirmed on Monday that Turkey will negotiate the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets during his meeting with the U.S. President. Turkey angered the Trump administration in 2019 by buying Russian S-400 missile defenses, prompting Washington to cancel a planned F-35 fighter jet sale and remove Ankara from the program's joint production line. Turkey subsequently agreed on a deal to purchase F-16 jets. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/turkey-plans-buy-hundreds-boeing-050723804.html CALENDAR OF EVENTS · ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO . 2025 NBAA Single-Pilot Safety Standdown; Monday, Oct. 13 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Las Vegas, NV . 2025 NBAA National Safety Forum, Tuesday, Oct. 14 – Wednesday, Oct. 15; Las Vegas, NV . Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC™) - 2025 – October 27-29th (Omaha, Nebraska) . 78TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT (IASS) - Lisbon, November 4–6 . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada . 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium; April 7-9, 2026; ERAU Daytona Beach, FL . 2026 NBAA Maintenance Conference; May 5-7, 2026; New Orleans, LA . BASS 2026 - 71st Business Aviation Safety Summit - May 5-6, 2026 | Provo, Utah . The African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit - May 19-20 | Johannesburg, South Africa . Safeskies Australia - Australia’s renowned Aviation Safety Conference - Canberra Australia 20 and 21 May 2026 . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis