According to a Reuters report quoting the DOT, the approval is a 鈥渟ignificant step forward in further normalization of the US-China market in anticipation of the Summer 2024 traffic season.”

Before COVID-19 restrictions were imposed in early 2020, more than 150 weekly round-trip passenger flights were permitted between the US and China. 

US and Chinese carriers could each fly only 12 weekly round-trip passenger flights between the two countries until August 2023. 

In August 2023, the DOT announced it would increase the number of Chinese passenger flights allowed to enter the US to 18 weekly round-trips from September 1, 2024, and this would be further increased to 24 per week starting October 2024.

Industry trade organization Airlines for America, which represents the three biggest international US carriers operating 31 weekly flights to China, expressed its support of the government精东影业 decision to further open its doors to China.

US DOT responds to China flight cancellations, suspends 26 Chinese flights

• Civil Aviation

byMichael Jonga

2022-08-26

The specific piece of luggage belonged to a traveler who was returning to Boston from the Democratic Republic of Congo on January 8, 2024. According to the recent CBP statement, the bag caught the officers’ attention during the routine luggage screening procedure of Delta Air Lines flight 225 from Paris.

鈥淯pon arrival of foreign flights at Logan Airport, CBP Canine (K9) units perform a preliminary screening of baggage. During the screening of Delta flight 225 from Paris, CBP K9, Buddey alerted his handler to a specific piece of luggage,鈥� the CBP wrote in the

Despite the passenger denying carrying anything illegal during questioning and insisting on only bringing dried fish, it was later discovered that the luggage actually contained some dried fish and four heads of deceased and dehydrated monkeys.

鈥淭he luggage was x-rayed and appeared to hold dried fish. Still, upon physical inspection, the officer identified the dead and dehydrated bodies of four monkeys,鈥� the US authority added.

The CBP notified the Center for Disease Control (CDC) regarding the unusual findings and received an order to seize the ‘bushmeat,’ as raw or minimally processed meat from wild animals can potentially pose a risk of communicable diseases.

Zebra and giraffe bones found in passenger精东影业 luggage at Dulles Airport

• Airport

byJean Carmela Lim

2022-12-19

鈥淭he potential dangers posed by bringing bushmeat into the United States are real. [鈥 Bushmeat can carry germs that can cause illness, including the Ebola virus. The work of CBP精东影业 K9 unit and Agricultural Specialist was vital in preventing this potential danger from entering the US,鈥� Julio Caravia, the Area Port Director of CBP Boston, explained.

The plans call for the launching of all-electric air taxi commuter flights throughout the South Florida area beginning in 2026 subject to receiving all US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) approvals. 

Both UrbanX Air and Eve are reportedly already collaborating closely with local and state officials to sign strategies for infrastructure, energy, and technology to establish the necessary framework for launching electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft flights.聽聽

The flights will 鈥渁ssist commuters to navigate short distances, avoid traffic congestion, and improve travel times while providing a safer, faster, and more sustainable mode of transportation,鈥� according to the companies. 

In 2022, GlobalX signed a letter of intent to purchase 200 eVTOL aircraft from Eve, one of the current batch of companies pioneering the delivery of global eVTOL development.  

With the delivery of its first 10 eVTOLs due in 2026, UrbanX is poised to be the first to bring the innovative aircraft technology to South Florida, revolutionizing urban transportation in the region.聽

“Urban Air Mobility has the capacity to transform the way people move throughout the Miami metropolitan area,鈥� said Lucy Morillo, President & CEO of UrbanX. 鈥淲e are proud to lead the way to bring this technology to the region and ensure it benefits our entire community.”  

“The introduction of these eVTOLs marks a significant milestone in achieving our vision to bring all-electric and noise-reduced air travel to life for South Florida residents and tourists alike,” added Ed Wegel, Chairman and CEO of GlobalX. 鈥淎dding eVTOLs to our growing fleet provides us the ability to offer clients international, domestic, regional, and intra-city travel options.鈥� 

With an initial route network proposed to cover critical areas in South Florida, UrbanX aims to provide residents with a quick, economical, and lower-carbon means of commuting in dense urban environments, such as Miami-Dade County. UrbanX and Eve are collaborating to identify origin and destination locations to establish key routes throughout the region. The eVTOL aircraft, with its 100 percent electric design and a range of 60 miles, is described as 鈥渂eing well-equipped to complete a variety of UAM flights throughout the Miami area, ensuring efficient and sustainable transportation options.鈥� 

鈥淲e are looking forward to collaborating with the team at UrbanX to bring eVTOL operations to Miami-Dade County,鈥� said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility. 鈥淏y leveraging the latest aviation technology and providing an exceptional customer experience, UrbanX will be well positioned to change the way people commute and travel in South Florida.鈥澛�

eVTOL developer Volocopter completes flight tests in Japan ready for EXPO 2025

• Aircraft
• Sustainability

byIan Molyneaux

2023-12-13

In a recent statement, SpaceX announced that the Falcon Heavy rocket’s launch, scheduled for December 10, 2023, from NASA精东影业 Kennedy Space Center in Florida, has been moved to occur on December 11, 2023.

鈥渋s targeting Monday, December 11 at 8:14 p.m. ET for Falcon Heavy精东影业 launch of the USSF-52 mission to orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA精东影业 Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A backup launch opportunity is available during the same time on Tuesday, December 12. A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff,鈥� the company wrote.

鈥淭his will be the fifth launch and landing of these Falcon Heavy side boosters, which previously supported USSF-44, USSF-67, Hughes JUPTER 3, and NASA精东影业 Psyche mission. Following booster separation, Falcon Heavy精东影业 two side boosters will land on SpaceX精东影业 Landing Zones 1 and 2 (LZ-1 and LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida,鈥� SpaceX concluded.

Originally scheduled for December 7, 2023, the launch faced delays that were reportedly related to logistical challenges and pad availability issues, leading to the rescheduling.

Out of this world: Japanese restaurateur sends ramen into space on SpaceX rocket

• Space

byEmilia Stankeviciute

2023-11-16

According to the , since its inaugural launch in 2010, the X-37B space drone has spent 3,774 days in space. In the upcoming mission, the uncrewed vehicle will conduct various tests, including 鈥渆xperimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects on NASA materials,鈥� the Space Force explained.

SpaceX精东影业 Starship explodes minutes after launch in first test flight聽

• Space

byMiquel Ros

2023-04-20

It will be the first time the Boeing-built space drone flies with SpaceX.

Around 30 million travelers are expected to take to the air in total, with passenger numbers due to peak on November 26 following Thanksgiving itself, with almost three million passengers set to fly on that day alone.   

Although airport authorities and airline executives say that they are prepared for the record number of travelers, previous holiday travel at US airports in recent years will add to the pressure being faced by those attempting to get huge numbers of the traveling public to their destinations on time and with their luggage.  

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen a record-breaking 30 million passengers from November 17 through November 28, 2023. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) expects Thanksgiving flights to peak at 49,606 on November 22, up from 48,192 on the same day in 2022. 鈥� 

The surge in travel is largely thanks to lower prices, which have fallen as US airline services have increased and competition on key routes has risen in recent months.鈥疉ccording to the US authorities, overall airfares have dropped 13 % from this time last year.聽

Delta Air Lines has said that it expects to carry between 6.2 million and 6.4 million passengers over Thanksgiving, while United is expecting 5.9 million, a figure that is 13 % higher than last year.鈥�

The predicted numbers are far in excess of those seen in the months prior to the start of the pandemic when the TSA says it handled 26 million passengers. 

The surge in demand over the forthcoming holiday period will be a further test for US airlines, which are seeing 2023 developing into the worst ever in terms of on-time performance. So far in 2023, airlines have racked up a record number of delayed departures, with nearly a quarter of all flights departing late 鈥� that is, more than five minutes after the scheduled time of departure. 

The woeful on-time performance is adding to other issues that have negatively affected the US airline industry this year. These issues have included staff shortages, adverse weather incidents, mass cancelations, a series of near misses at airports, and the discovery of counterfeit engine parts in numerous commercial aircraft. 

The most recent holiday period in the US, Independence Day (July 4), was blighted by thousands of cancellations across the US due to a number of reasons, which included shortages of both pilots and air traffic controllers. United Airlines was singled out for the most criticism over that holiday period after thousands of passengers traveling from its Denver (DEN) hub were affected by hundreds of the airline’s flights being either delayed or canceled.聽聽

鈥淯S industry leads the world in bringing the benefits of space to Earth,鈥� Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said in a press statement on November 15, 2023. 鈥淭his legislation ensures that our government will build a regulatory environment that supports commercial expansion to benefit all Americans.鈥� 

The new rules would see the DOT, through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation, expand its oversight beyond spacecraft launch and reentry. Under the proposed plan, the FAA will oversee a broader range of human spaceflight activities, including commercial space stations and lunar missions. It will also implement an “in-space transportation license”, which will govern the transport of items through space and to the lunar surface.聽

Simultaneously, the DOC’s Office of Space Commerce would broaden its jurisdiction to include unmanned spacecraft that are not regulated by the DOT. This would include the burgeoning field of in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM), as well as debris removal.  

Furthermore, the Office of Space Commerce is also developing a civil space traffic coordination system, with the possibility of taking over this responsibility from the US Defense Department.   

Out of this world: Japanese restaurateur sends ramen into space on SpaceX rocket

• Space

byEmilia Stankeviciute

2023-11-16

Alexander Mikheyev, General Director of Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-controlled arms exporter, announced the potential collaboration during the Dubai Airshow 2023, Russia’s state news agency . 

According to Mikheyev, Rosoboronexport is actively discussing the joint production of aircraft weapons with both private and state-owned Indian enterprises, with the goal of integrating these systems into India’s existing aviation fleet.  

鈥淲e have already signed the corresponding document and now, together with an Indian private company, we are organizing the production of Igla-S MANPADS in India,鈥� Mikheyev told .  

Russia also agreed that India could produce individual fighter components locally. Mikheyev highlighted Rosoboronexport’s readiness to adapt to India’s stringent import requirements and partnership conditions under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.  

This program, which aims for maximal localization of weapon production and technology transfer, is a key aspect of India’s defense procurement strategy, highlighting India’s intent to be more self-reliant in its defense capabilities. 

In August 2023, under the same flagship program, the US granted approval for the manufacturing of F414 jet engines in India, a move aimed at boosting Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Tejas Mk2 fighter jet project. This approval represented a significant shift in US policy, as critical American technologies are rarely shared with non-allies鈥嬧�嬧�嬧��. 

Airbus delivers first C295 transport aircraft to Indian Air Force

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2023-09-14

The DoD stated that these strikes were a measure of self-defense following more than a dozen rocket and drone attacks on US bases in the region since October 17, 2023. 

A total of 21 US forces have suffered minor injuries, mostly traumatic brain injuries, from the attacks led by Iranian-backed forces. However, in one instance, a US citizen contractor died from a cardiac arrest while taking cover. 

鈥淭he President has no higher priority than the safety of US personnel, and he directed today精东影业 action to make clear that the United States will not tolerate such attacks and will defend itself, its personnel and its interests,鈥� the US DoD said in a statement commenting the US airstrikes. 

The strikes were executed in the early hours of October 27, 2023, near Abu Kamal, a strategic border town adjoining Iraq. Deploying two F-16 fighter jets armed with precision munitions, the US targeted weapons and ammunition storage facilities utilized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups.聽

In the wake of these strikes, the US has also bolstered its military presence in the region, deploying additional troops, warships and fighter aircraft, including two aircraft carriers, in a bid to deter further aggression by Iran and its affiliates.  

“I want to emphasize that the United States does not seek conflict, nor do we desire further hostilities; however, the Iran-backed attacks against US forces are unacceptable and must cease,鈥� Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said during a press briefing, adding: 鈥淲e are prepared to take further measures to protect our people if necessary.”聽

Syrian paratroopers train with Russian military aircraft: video

• Defense

byEmilia Stankeviciute

2023-10-06

The joint decision, announced by US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a statement on October 25, 2023, is meant to 鈥渆nhance interoperability and accelerate technology transfer in the rapidly emerging field of Unmanned Aerial Systems [UAS].鈥� 

The Indo-Pacific region stands at the core of this alliance, with both nations pledging their commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the region amid escalating military assertiveness from China. 

The announcement follows previous autonomous systems collaboration between the US and Japan in December 2022 and is in line with Australia精东影业 Loyal Wingman project, which aims to develop autonomous drones like the MQ-28A Ghost Bat to support combat aircraft. 

Zach Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, emphasized the necessity of allied collaboration.  

“At the end of the day, the Chinese have so much capacity that the only way for us to compete with them effectively is to work as allies to maximize not just American capacity, but allied capacity,” he told . 

Series of USMC Osprey unplanned landings in Japan raises questions

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2023-09-22

A report from Chinese Communist Party’s flagship newspaper said that the USS Ronald Reagan is sending the 鈥渨rong signal鈥� to the Philippines, emboldening the country to 鈥渋nfringe鈥� upon China精东影业 sovereignty.

On October 23, 2023, the Philippine government lodged a diplomatic protest with China in response to maneuvers by Chinese vessels on October 22, 2023 that led to collisions with Philippine ships on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal (international name: Second Thomas Shoal).

Both the Philippine Department of National Defense and the Chinese Embassy in Manila issued conflicting statements on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), with their own versions of what transpired. 

According to the Global Times, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Philippines and China have managed the Second Thomas Shoal situation quite well until the arrival of USS Ronald Reagan in the region in early 2023.

鈥淭he US has been blatantly emboldening the Philippines’ acts of infringing upon China’s sovereignty and inciting and supporting the Philippines attempts to repair and reinforce its warship that was deliberately 鈥榞rounded鈥� on Ren’ai Jiao (Second Thomas Shoal)鈥�, the spokesperson said. 

Philippine media outlet reported that the United States said it “stands with our Philippine allies”, saying China violated international law by intentionally interfering with the Philippine vessels’ exercise of high seas freedom of navigation.

The USS Ronald Reagan is a Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. Its home port is in Yokosuka, Japan.

US Navy sends USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to Guam for typhoon relief operations

• Defense

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-05-26