Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom
Japan Airlines (JAL) is bringing humanoid robots to the tarmac. Starting May 2026, JAL Grand Service and GMO AI & Robotics Trading will begin testing humanoid robots at Japanese airports in what is being called the first experiment of its kind in the country. The goal is to see whether robots shaped like humans can help with ground handling tasks such as loading baggage, moving cargo, and eventually even cleaning aircraft cabins. Why humanoid robots? Airport ground operations still rely heavily on manual labor. Workers operate various types of equipment in tight spaces around aircraft, load and unload bags, and…
A Qatar Airways pilot and an air traffic controller at Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) recently had a disagreement on frequency. While the pilots were primarily at fault, this gets at the issue of how phraseology differs in the United States vs. in most other parts of the world. It also felt like the air traffic controller was on a bit of a power trip. Qatar Airways pilots confused over ATC instructions This incident happened very late at night on April 23, 2026, and involves Qatar Airways flight QR8357. Specifically, this was a Qatar Airways Cargo flight, operated by a Boeing…
Solomon Airlines announced it is adding a new weekly service between Honiara International Airport (HIR) and Jacksons International Airport (POM) in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, giving travelers from the Solomon Islands same-day connections to several major Asian cities. The route launches on June 30, 2026, and will operate every Tuesday. Flights depart Honiara at 09:40 local time, and arrive in Port Moresby at 11:00 local time, with enough time for passengers to catch onward flights to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) on the same day. In the other direction, the return flight leaves Port…
If you’re planning to use solid rivets, you should consider their grip length. Solid rivets are permanent mechanical fasteners that, like other permanent fasteners, are used to join two or more parts. Solid rivets feature a preformed head connected to a solid shank. After drilling a hole in the parts, you can insert a solid rivet and then deform the tail end of the shank to secure it in place. Grip Length Explained Grip length is exactly what it sounds like: the length of a solid rivet that grips and holds the parts with which it’s used. It’s not the…
Thai AirAsia X announced it is reducing flight frequencies and temporarily suspending some international routes as the airline grapples with rising aviation fuel prices and what it describes as broader global challenges. The low-cost carrier announced on April 24, 2026, that it will scale back services from Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) in Bangkok to several destinations, including Narita International Airport (NRT) in Tokyo, Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka, Almaty International Airport (ALA) in Kazakhstan, and Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi. The airline is also suspending two routes entirely. Flights between Don Mueang and Shanghai Pudong International…
Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton Pat Shanahan during his Boeing career. Credit: Seattle Times. April 27, 2026, © Leeham News: Antiquated air traffic control systems and staffing shortages of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been well-known for decades. Budget and staffing cuts at the FAA by the Trump Administration through its DOGE policy exacerbated these issues. Also affected, but less well known, are staff cuts in the technical and maintenance areas, which also hurt FAA operations. Even less well known is that certification by the FAA has been dramatically slowed. There are a number of reasons, and certification affects…
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Over the past week or so, there has been lots of talk of the government bailing out Spirit Airlines, which is on the brink of liquidation. If finalized, this would almost certainly give the government a 90% stake in the budget carrier. There’s now talk of a much broader industry bailout, which I have to imagine might just become a reality. US budget airlines need more cash to cover high fuel costs The Wall Street Journal reports on a meeting that happened on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, between the CEOs of some US budget airlines, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and…
The Wall Street Journal just ran an article about United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, and about how the carrier has been trending upwards under his leadership. The piece starts with an interesting story about Kirby, which I didn’t know, and can’t help but share. Kirby used to be a serious gambler, counted cards I had no clue that Kirby used to be a gambler, and that he has even been banned from many casinos around the globe: Before he started in the airline industry, and long before he was the CEO of United Airlines, Scott Kirby was a serious gambler.…
Also: Emergency Notice for Embraer, 7 Organic Molecules On Mars, Drone Interferes w/Rescue, Piper Diode Cooler The Air Force is extending the life of the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack plane until at least 2030, pausing the service’s plan to retire the close air support aircraft amid active combat in the Middle East. The move spares the aging but beloved close air-support aircraft, which has played an important role in Iran, from an earlier retirement deadline of 2026. Elixir Aircraft introduced the Elixir+ at the opening of AERO Friedrichshafen April 22, which introduces modifications designed to improve the flight trainer, alongside…