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.
Boeing's 777X refines the electrochromic window technology introduced on the 787 Dreamliner with faster dimming, smoother light control, and larger glass panels.
The FAA's Organization Designation Authorization lets Boeing certify its own aircraft - here's what the 737 MAX crashes revealed about how that system failed and what changed.
In 2026, the Airbus A350-900ULR operates the ten longest commercial routes on earth - yet only one of those ten flies nonstop.
The KC-135 Stratotanker, flying since 1957, will refuel the B-21 Raider stealth bomber well into the 2040s - a story about institutional knowledge outlasting technological ambition.
Australian F-35A pilots are using the E-3 visa to join US major airlines, drawn by pay gaps that can exceed $3 million over a career.
The U.S. Air Force is keeping the C-5M Super Galaxy flying until 2050 - because nothing else can carry what it carries, and the math on a replacement never works out.
The Boeing Dreamlifter is a heavily modified 747-400 freighter - one of only four in existence - that serves as the backbone of the 787 Dreamliner's global manufacturing supply chain.
American Airlines has tightened pilot-passenger interaction rules, frustrating frequent flyers - but the operational and security logic behind the change is more defensible than the headlines suggest.
Joining oneworld Alliance is by invitation only - existing CEO members vote, not applicants apply - and the mechanics behind that process shape the entire global aviation network.
Flight trackers show pilots far more than position data - groundspeed variations, step climbs, and oceanic routing decisions are all readable in real time.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has confirmed a 2030 target launch decision for the A320 successor, the aircraft that will define airline travel into the 2060s.
The U.S. Air Force is keeping 54 A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in service following Operation Epic Fury, a live-fire demonstration that made the case for the Warthog's continued relevance.
Air Canada is deploying the A321XLR on US routes, marking a North American turning point for a narrowbody that matches widebody range at a fraction of the operating cost.
Bombardier's Global 8000 completed a nonstop Dubai to Los Angeles flight, covering roughly 7,200 nautical miles and proving its certified range holds up in operational reality.
How the Boeing 747-200's upgraded engines eliminated the mandatory Anchorage fuel stop and permanently reshaped transpacific air travel.
American Airlines' new premium economy product is closing the gap on Delta Premium Select, reshaping the competitive landscape for long-haul international travel in 2026.
Delta's June 2026 widebody domestic push marks the carrier's largest-ever deployment of lie-flat seats on U.S. routes, reshaping transcontinental travel and pilot career calculus alike.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is one of the largest coordinated charter aviation operations ever staged in North America - here's what pilots need to know.
A JetBlue A320 declared an emergency after a lightning strike destroyed its weather radar on departure - what every pilot should learn from this incident.
AOPA is at booth 463 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, offering pilots free face-to-face access to medical, regulatory, and legal specialists.