NEWS: The FAA quietly released its official responses to all of the NTSB's D.C. midair crash recommendations yesterday. The agency said it has addressed six recs & plans to fully address "more than half" by EOY. via @theaircurrent.com w/ no paywall: theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

The FAA's top safety official is retiring, @willguisbond.com reports in a scoop for @theaircurrent.com. The timing is not great for Boeing, with key certification decisions looming. Gift link here: theaircurrent.com/s/wztpqj4dsgn

Air traffic control modernization of all places is complicating the Trump administration's "America first" policies. Why? Read here on @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/air-traffic-...

Really enjoyed joining the folks at @slate.com to talk about the fall of Spirit Airlines. Take a listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/0KrG...

I won. Boutique Airlines sued me & AIN over 2 yrs ago. They called me a liar and a thief. I won in trial court. I just won in Appeals court. I expect it will be a nightmare to get my legal fees back. But I proved that the work was my own. I proved I wrote the truth. I am a good reporter. I won.

We’ve dropped the paywall on last week’s deep dive from @theaircurrent.com as Spirit Airlines approached the end. Even with the demise of the carrier there’s insight here to understand what’s next. theaircurrent.com/airlines/spi... (via @willguisbond.com @juliejohnsson.bsky.social and yours truly)

Highly recommend this story for anyone working in an industry they believe is transformative. So much to learn from Igor Sikorsky about trying to usher in a paradigm shift. Excellent work as always from @elanhead.com via @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/historical-c...

Prospects for a deal are dimming, a person familiar with the talks told @theaircurrent.com.

The Spirit Airlines rescue effort is frustrating an industry that has simply been waiting for the beleaguered carrier to fail. Here's how to think about the last two chaotic weeks (w/ @juliejohnsson.bsky.social & @jonostrower.com via @theaircurrent.com): theaircurrent.com/airlines/spi...

SCOOP: The FAA is considering purchasing a commercial office building in Dallas to house its first consolidated ATC "super center." The deal is not final, but it's unclear whether it complies w/ 2025 law to "construct a new" building (via @theaircurrent.com): theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby for the first time publicly acknowledges that he approached American about a merger, saying it would have been ‘adding and not subtracting’ (via @juliejohnsson.bsky.social & @jonostrower.com on @theaircurrent.com) theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

Latest SCOOP on Spirit's situation w/ Ryan Gould and Siddharth Philip. Airline has floated idea of offering the US government a stake in the company in exchange for a bailout. h/t to @theaircurrent.com for first reporting that they were seeking government aid. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

SCOOP: Spirit Airlines seeks U.S. government aid as oil spike threatens turnaround (with @jonostrower.com & @juliejohnsson.bsky.social via @theaircurrent.com): theaircurrent.com/airlines/spi...

SCOOP: The FAA is quietly developing a new AI-powered software tool for air traffic management that could fundamentally change how the U.S. airspace system operates. Palantir, Thales, Airspace Intelligence all bidding. via @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/air-traffic-...

New: In rare public comments, Army aviation chief Maj. Gen. Gill said that the D.C. midair crash "wasn't about" whether the accident Black Hawk didn't have an advanced cockpit (via @theaircurrent.com -- no paywall): theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

Incredibly thrilled to share that @theaircurrent.com team is growing with the addition of @juliejohnsson.bsky.social -- one of the most highly respected reporters in our field! Read more here: theaircurrent.com/product-anno...

NEWS: FAA and the Pentagon sign agreement related to operations of counter-UAS laser systems at the southern border that earlier this year caused two abrupt airspace closures. FAA says systems "do not pose undue risk" to passenger aircraft:

Scoop: FAA short-lists competitors for key next-gen ATC software platform known as the "common automation platform" (via @theaircurrent.com) theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

SCOOP: A year before the two recent evacuations of D.C.'s ATC center, a previously unreported incident caused smoke to enter the control room but did not result in an evacuation. Controllers lost their medical certificates. via @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

Conversations this week around near misses in aviation are eerie, given today is the 49th anniversary of the Tenerife disaster. Two 747s collided on the runway in the Canary Islands, killing 583 people -- it remains the deadliest accident in aviation history. (Wikimedia photo)

Fatal collision highlights air traffic control challenges at LaGuardia (featuring our @willguisbond.com) ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...

NEW: FAA says it is investigating whether its new visual separation policy between helicopters and fixed wing aircraft was followed during a Tuesday close call near SNA Airport in California:

NTSB CHAIR: INITIAL ANALYSIS SAYS CRITICAL ASDE-X SURFACE AWARENESS TECH IN ATC TOWER DID NOT GENERATE AN ALERT BEFORE FATAL CRASH B/W AIR CANADA JET AND FIRETRUCK

NTSB SAYS TWO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WERE IN THE "CAB" AT THE TIME OF FATAL LGA RUNWAY COLLISION. This included the local controller and the controller-in-charge. Says it was "unclear" who was controlling ground traffic on taxiways.

On March 13, the Potomac TRACON was evacuated and DCA/IAD/BWI briefly came to a standstill. Per a report from the local fire department, it appears this single faulty part was causing a smell/leak that led over 30 people to become ill:

New: Decades of aircraft and ground vehicle near misses at LGA preceded fatal crash, public safety databases show (via @theaircurrent -- no paywall): theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

SAFETY NEWS: FAA permanently suspends use of visual separation between helicopters and airplanes around most high-traveled U.S. airports (via @theaircurrent.com TAC/Intel - no paywall): theaircurrent.com/intel/faa-pe...

A next-gen collision avoidance tool known as ACAS X could help prevent a future midair collision, but will have to make its way through Congress first. The collision avoidance tool that could help prevent the next midair disaster (via @theaircurrent.com): theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

We’ve made this free to all readers, too! ⬇️

NEWS: White House spokesperson says Inman was fired because of “highly concerning reports” of alcohol use, staff abuse:

SCOOP w/ @jonostrower.com: NTSB board member J. Todd Inman abruptly departs safety watchdog (via @theaircurrent.com): theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

This incisive piece of analysis from @jonostrower.com is now free for all readers as a public service, given the evolving and incredibly critical nature of the conflict. Read more ⬇️

Must read breaking news from @theaircurrent.com's @elanhead.com: Hyundai eVTOL subsidiary Supernal lays off most of its staff in major retrenchment #staycurrent theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

For those keeping track at home, this is the same mechanism the FAA activated last year to address chronic issues at Newark Liberty International Airport.

NEWS: The FAA will hold a delay reduction meeting next week to reduce flights at Chicago O'Hare Airport, citing over scheduling during peak travel periods.

FAA closes airspace in Fort Hancock, Texas after reported use of anti-drone laser (via @reuters.com): www.reuters.com/business/aer...

The NTSB has issued a safety alert to first responders warning of dangers posed by unused rockets that power ballistic parachute systems, like Cirrus' CAPS. www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/saf...

American Airlines safety executive John DeLeeuw was confirmed to be the fifth member of the NTSB by the Senate today in a 50-45 vote.

SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON was a "no" vote on this bill.

BREAKING: ROTOR ACT FAILS TO PASS HOUSE AFTER NOT RECEIVING TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE IN STUNNING SETBACK FOR FAMILIES & SENATE AUTHOR CHAIR TED CRUZ.

NEW: Rep. Graves says he is committed to marking up the ALERT Act as soon as *next week* if ROTOR fails on the House floor at 1:30pm:

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy slams House ALERT Act in a gaggle. Says idea that the bill implements all 50 recommendations is “false.”

Big day on the hill - ROTOR Act vote set for this afternoon. Packed press conference happening now NTSB Chair Homendy here, among others.

Folks with @theaircurrent.com TAC/Intel saw this first last night: NTSB analysis contradicts lawmakers on how House bill addresses D.C. crash safety recommendations. Notable chart from said analysis, which is provided for free to subscribers: theaircurrent.com/intel/ntsb-a...

NEWS: Monday’s House vote on the ROTOR Act (and all other votes) are POSTPONED due to inclement weather. DC area set for a significant snow event starting early tmrw morning.

As the U.S. House considers two different aviation safety proposals, @theaircurrent.com has dropped the paywall on my Oct. '25 feature on the ROTOR Act and the fight over mandating ADS-B In. Available for free as a public service. Read here: theaircurrent.com/aviation-pol...

Good story from the team at Politico on this drama in Congress over air safety legislation. I think the point about Graves' miscalc of waiting to introduce legislation is an important one. House chairs upset at Speaker Johnson's deal over upcoming air safety vote: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

Apparently delivered by Leidos:

DOT confirms that Reagan National Airport (DCA) has transitioned to using electronic flight strips -- part of the Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) technology suite.

I decided it was finally time for a new suit since I've been wearing the same two since I was a freshman in college (yikes). I put the new one on today and I feel invincible, its like a Cadillac (tho still the budget find at Men's WH). What are they putting in these things??