Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom
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May 6, 2026, (c) Leeham News: The following reports from Boeing, CAE, Oliver Wyman, Deloitte, PwC, and McKinsey provide much of the detail in our two-part series on the Aerospace and Defense Workforce. In addition, these reports may be summarized as follows: Boeing: 43,000 aircraft will be delivered between now and 2044. BUT: 56% of companies are struggling to hire skilled manufacturing workers, according to a study by AIA. “Both Boeing and Airbus have reported difficulties maintaining production schedules owing to a shortage of skilled workers, including machinists, welders, and chip engineers.” Boeing incurred an estimated $5bn in losses due to halted…
Two employees of Safran Ventilation Systems are in critical condition after an explosion at the company’s plant in Blagnac, near Toulouse, on May 5, 2026, in what local authorities have described as a serious industrial accident at one of the most sensitive nodes of the French aerospace supply chain. The blast occurred at around 10:30 local time inside a test bay on the site, located on Place Marcel-Dassault in the ZAC du Grand-Noble, a few hundred meters from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS). According to La Dépêche du Midi, the explosion occurred during a high-pressure test, with the rupture of a pressurized nozzle cited as a possible cause.…
May 6, 2026, © Leeham News: In our series on the state of alternative propulsion projects, we are looking at different hydrogen-fueled propulsion systems.Hydrogen can either be processed chemically in a fuel cell to produce electrical power, which is then coupled to an electrical motor system, like for hybrids or battery electric aircraft. The advantage is that the system gets rid of the inefficient batteries that kill these systems.The other alternative is to burn the hydrogen in the combustor of a gas turbine. The advantage is we keep the high power to mass ratio of a gas turbine with a…
By Kathryn B. Creedy Analysis May 6, 2026, © Leeham News: The history of workforce issues is long–40 years–and dozens of efforts have attempted to address workforce shortages as we’ve bumped along, complaining about the problem and waiting for someone else to solve it. Those involved in previous efforts warn that they failed because there was no accountability, and no one took responsibility for making things happen. They also cited the efforts staffed by volunteers. Now, our shortages are more acute than ever and threaten not only our economy but also our ability to grow. Government studies often get shelved,…
Passengers often assume that airplanes will immediately land upon reaching the destination airport. After all, lingering in the air wastes time and fuel. In many cases, however, airplanes will enter a holding pattern. What is a holding pattern exactly? The Basics of Holding Patterns Holding patterns are flight maneuvers that involve flying over an airport while awaiting clearance to land. They typically involve an oval, racetrack-like shape with two straight legs connected by smooth turns. Pilots will continue to fly in this pattern until Air Traffic Control (ATC) has given them clearance to land. Why Airplanes Enter Holding Patterns Airplanes…
Russian Tu-95MS Bear bombers conducted a rare flight with Kh-101 cruise missiles over the Barents and Norwegian Seas, accompanied by an Il-78M tanker and at least one Su-30SM2 fighter. For the second time in one year, a Russian Tu-95MS Bear strategic bomber conducted a rare flight with a Kh-101 Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) over the Barents and the Norwegian Seas. The Russian Ministry of Defense (RuMoD), which reported the flight in its daily update on Apr. 30, 2026, said the four-aircraft package included two Tu-95s, at least one Su-30SM2 and an Ilyushin Il-78M tanker. The Tu95-Kh101 loadout was previously reported…
Following the Milestone C decision in April, the U.S. Air Force has cleared T-7A Red Hawk for serial production, placing an order for the first 14 trainers. The U.S Air Force and Boeing Defense announced on May 4, 2026, that the T-7A Red Hawk has reached the Milestone C on April 23, allowing the service to clear the start of the serial production. Boeing has thus received a $219 million contract for the first 14 advanced trainer aircraft as part of the low-rate initial production (LRIP), as well as associated spares, support equipment, and training. The broader Program of Record…
The UAE is procuring ten C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, with an option for ten more, making the UAE the largest export customer for the aircraft and the first in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed a deal with Embraer for ten C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, with an option to buy ten more, making the UAE the largest export customer for the aircraft. The deal was signed on May 4th 2026, at the Tawazun Council for Defense Enablement stand at the ‘Make It In The Emirates’ exposition in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of UAE Vice President…
On-Course Indication An indication on an instrument, which provides the pilot a visual means of determining that the aircraft is located on the centerline of a given navigational track, or an indication on a radar scope that an aircraft is on a given track.