Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

Ukraine’s experimental effort to bring private industry into air defense appears to have reached operational use, with one company already intercepting Russian drones over the Kharkiv region.  On March 30, 2026, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said a company identified as Carmine Sky had downed Russian drones, including Shahed and Zala types, using Sky Sentinel, a Ukrainian-made autonomous anti-aircraft turret backed by UNITED24. Fedorov added that 13 more enterprises were in the process of forming similar air defense units. These groups operate under the Ukrainian Air Force’s unified command-and-control system.  Private air defense working. First Shahed & Zala drones downed in Kharkiv by a private…

Air Canada announced on March 30, 2026, that President and CEO Michael Rousseau has informed the board of directors of his intention to retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026. He will remain in his role and on the board until a successor is in place.  Rousseau’s departure will cap nearly two decades at Air Canada, a stretch that saw him rise from Chief Financial Officer to Deputy CEO before succeeding Calin Rovinescu as President and CEO in February 2021. Under his watch, the airline navigated the 2007-2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, brought the Aeroplan loyalty program back in-house, and restored the solvency of its…

Switzerland’s Pilatus has formed an agreement with Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) to provide 12 PC-24 aircraft to a government authorized contractor. On March 30, 2026, Pilatus confirmed that a contract for 12 PC-24s has been signed with PT E-System Solutions Indonesia, after Indonesian MoD selected the aircraft to support the country’s “air force transport pilot training, air transport and liaison missions”. The contract includes an option for additional aircraft, ground support equipment, tools, spare parts, training, and technical support from Pilatus headquarters in Stans, Switzerland. “We appreciate the trust placed in Pilatus by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense. This…

Spain has closed its airspace to United States (US) military aircraft involved in the war in Iran, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais. Citing military sources on March 30, 2026, El Pais reported that the ban applies to flights originating from Spanish territory as well as overflights by US aircraft based in third countries such as the United Kingdom or France. The restriction does not apply to emergency situations. Spain previously confirmed that it would not allow its bases to be used for attacks on Iran, however today’s reported news goes further and could prompt more criticism from US President…

Virgin Australia has rolled out its first-ever retro livery, painting one of its newest Boeing 737-8 aircraft in the all-red colors that defined the airline’s early years as Virgin Blue. The aircraft emerged from Boeing’s Seattle factory with a throwback design that recalls the 2000-2011 era, when the carrier operated under its original name before rebranding to Virgin Australia. Named Lake Centenary, following the airline’s tradition of naming planes after bodies of water, the jet marks two milestones: it’s Virgin Australia’s 150th Boeing 737 since the airline launched in 2000, and the 100th 737 in its current fleet. The aircraft,…

Airbus Defence and Space has completed the first demonstration flight of its Bird of Prey uncrewed interceptor, with the drone autonomously detecting, classifying and engaging a medium-sized one-way attack drone during a test at a military training area in northern Germany on March 30, 2026. The flight marks the first time the Frankenburg Technologies Mark I air-to-air missile has been fired from an airborne platform. The engagement sequence ran autonomously: the Bird of Prey searched for, detected and classified the target before launching one of its guided missiles against the simulated kamikaze threat. From target drone to interceptor (Credit: Airbus…

Although aviation happens to be one of the most welcoming industries with collaborations, an integral part of what drives innovation forward, it is also extremely competitive. Always looking for the upper hand, many of aviation’s biggest companies are looking to find ways to do things quicker, cheaper and more efficiently. And with survival sometimes positioned on a knife edge, it is perhaps no surprise that on occasions grievances that may be best kept behind closed doors, find their way into the public arena. AeroTime looks at some of the more widely known spats and industry rivalries. Airbus vs Boeing –…

If you’re planning to use an anchor nut, you’ll need to choose the right type. Also known as plate nuts, anchor nuts support blind fastener installations. They allow threaded fasteners to be installed, as well as removed, from a single side of the joined parts. #1) Fixed Fixed anchor nuts are characterized by an immobile threaded section. All anchor nuts have a section with interior threading in the center; it acts as a receptacle for a threaded fastener. Fixed anchor nuts have a stationary threaded section that doesn’t move. #2) Floating There are also floating anchor nuts. They differ from…

A week after announcing its largest order in years, Finnair has signed Letters of Intent (LOI) for the lease of two Embraer E190-E1 and two ATR-72-600 aircraft. On March 30, 2026, Finnair confirmed that the E190-E1 and ATR-72-600 aircraft would be assigned to its regional operator Norra. According to the Finnish flag carrier, Norra currently operates 12 Embraer E190-E1a and 12 ATR-72-500. Finnair added that it plans to increase the number of jets operated by Norra to eighteen. The aircraft will join the fleet of Finnair’s partner Norra by summer and early autumn 2026. “An extensive regional network plays an…

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is pleased to announce the second edition of the Innovative Air Mobility (IAM) Implementation Forum. Following the strong engagement and fruitful exchanges of the inaugural event, this new edition will once again gather authorities, industry leaders, technical experts, and community representatives to discuss the evolving IAM, UAS and U-space regulatory implementation.Mark the event dates in your calendar. Full details regarding the programme, registration modalities (both in person and remote), and participation fees will be shared in the coming weeks source