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 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.
The 2026 Fourth of July travel window brings 19 million commercial passengers and a dense TFR network - here's what every pilot needs in their preflight brief this week.
Alaska Airlines has completed a Starlink WiFi rollout across its entire regional fleet ahead of schedule, offering free, low-latency connectivity to all passengers.
Pilots at Aeroflex-Andover Airport in New Jersey are fighting eviction notices from the state Forest Fire Service, with AOPA citing federal grant assurance protections.
United's A321XLR more than doubles premium seating versus the 757 it replaces, reshaping the economics of thin-route transatlantic flying.
Emirates operates the only scalable A380 premium network in existence, and no competitor can replicate it before the type's retirement horizon around 2041.
Delta is quietly preparing to open a second Delta One Lounge at LAX, signaling a broader industry shift toward premium ground experiences as a competitive weapon.