Aviation news and analysis with Tower. FAA policy changes, industry trends, safety data, and what the headlines mean for the pilots who fly every day.
The Supreme Court is taking up a case that could establish a uniform constitutional standard for government aircraft seizures under the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause.
L3Harris delivered the first production-standard Viper Shield EW pod for the F-16, with 233 units on order across eight allied nations as of September 2026.
The TSA is convening closed-door industry sessions to build model security programs for beyond visual line of sight drone operations, a framework that will reshape U.S. airspace for every pilot.
GAMA's first-half 2026 data shows turbine sales surging while piston deliveries fall, revealing a deepening structural split in general aviation.
The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit has contracted GE Aerospace to develop Derecho, an air-launched hypersonic test vehicle designed to reach Mach 5.
JetBlue's new BlueFirst enclosed first-class cabin ends the airline's 25-year no-first-class identity and signals a broader shift away from egalitarian cabin models.
Manistee County Blacker Airport voted August 17 to impose landing fees effective October 1 - a move AOPA calls 'extremely concerning' with implications far beyond Michigan.
A Coast Guard C-37A carrying DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin declared an emergency and landed safely, demonstrating what preparation looks like under pressure.
The GAO is pushing the FAA to fix an eligibility gap that blocks high school aviation maintenance students from qualifying for A&P knowledge tests.
The U.S. Navy has formally asked defense contractors to propose autonomous carrier-based strike aircraft capable of carrying up to 10,000 pounds of ordnance - a landmark step toward unmanned combat aviation.
The Texas House held its first dedicated general aviation subcommittee hearing, a structural shift that could reshape how the state protects its 300+ public-use airports.
A new study of collegiate flight students found no shift in flying willingness based on whether nearby drones are remotely piloted or fully autonomous - but what that neutral result means is the more important question.
A Wolf Pitts Pro photo from EAA AirVenture reveals why aerobatic training sharpens every pilot, regardless of what they fly or where they fly it.
A high-speed police chase ended when a 17-year-old driver breached the perimeter fence at Portsmouth International Airport and struck a PlaneSense PC-12 on the ramp.
DeKalb County formally recognized pilot Larry Scheinpflug for years of advisory board service at PDK - a model for how GA airports survive growth pressure.
Regent's Viceroy seaglider completed its first crewed flight off Rhode Island, a milestone for wing-in-ground-effect technology and coastal transportation.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary warned that smaller European airlines without adequate fuel hedging may not survive the coming winter amid sustained elevated fuel costs.
Southwest Airlines is opening its first airport lounges at four locations, marking a fundamental shift away from the egalitarian model that defined the carrier for decades.
South Africa's CAA is investigating two Airlink jets that reportedly passed within 50 feet of a packed stadium in what appears to have been a deliberate low pass.
The FAA has deployed its 100th Surface Awareness Initiative system, expanding real-time ground surveillance to medium-traffic airports across the U.S.