Elan Head

We don't do this very often, so grab this while you can. theaircurrent.memberful.com/checkout?cou...

Instrument flying gets a reinvention with new electric aircraft theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

A longstanding compromise between the FAA's air traffic & space offices allowed a limited # of aircraft to be exposed to higher risk from space debris while keeping the overall odds of a fatal accident low. The FAA eliminated that limit 4 days before the SpaceX IPO. theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

Air taxi maker Joby Aero owes $116.9 million in trade secrets case, US jury says reut.rs/4y7tr6i

FAA will accept more risk to aircraft from space debris under new policy theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

🔓 Why U.S. airlines balked at adopting Boeing’s latest 737 Max software versions theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf... (via @jonostrower.com) #staycurrent

Why do some helicopter pilots fail to execute a survivable autorotation after an engine failure? I explored that question in 2013, concluding that many of us underestimate the skill/luck required to make a successful forced landing—or overestimate our own abilities. verticalmag.com/news/failure...

Regent’s challenging path to a seaglider first flight theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

A new generation of purpose-built satellites is revolutionizing wildfire detection. By pairing thermal infrared sensors with machine learning, new orbiters spot blazes as small as a shipping container within minutes—giving firefighters a vital head start.

Boeing’s Starliner odyssey takes an unexpected turn theaircurrent.com/space/boeing... (via @juliejohnsson.bsky.social) #staycurrent

Whisper Aero tests its ultra-quiet electric propulsors in crewed flight theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

Flight testing Navi’s AI-powered pilot training tool theaircurrent.com/technology/f... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

When Wisk filed its eVTOL patent infringement lawsuit against Archer five years ago, who knew that the saga would end with Archer acquiring Wisk from Boeing? I caught up with Archer’s Adam Goldstein and Boeing’s Brian Yutko to discuss the deal: theaircurrent.com/industry-str...

Archer to acquire rival Wisk as Boeing broadens its asset sales theaircurrent.com/industry-str... (via @elanhead.com & @juliejohnsson.bsky.social) #staycurrent

When the FAA released its draft powered-lift safety continuum for eVTOL aircraft two years ago, it appeared to be moving closer to harmonization with EASA. Not anymore. In my latest story for @theaircurrent.com, I break down what's changed: theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...

New policy moves FAA further from EASA on eVTOL certification theaircurrent.com/regulation/f... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

‘Money is being hijacked from what would have benefited a large population to go to the oligarch, ultra-wealthy'

I skipped out of Farnborough early last week for a new project I'm very excited about, which also involved flying a JetRanger through the Swiss Alps. Stay tuned!

The engineering behind Anduril and Archer’s Thunder drone theaircurrent.com/defense/the-... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

This was a bad day for everyone involved, including the "bystander" gull that was hit by flying debris from the disintegrating helicopter.

The sightseeing helicopter that broke apart in flight and crashed into the Hudson River in April 2025 struck geese, according to newly published NTSB documents (with @willguisbond.com for TAC/Intel): theaircurrent.com/intel/new-nt...

Been curious about @theaircurrent.com’s app but you’re not a subscriber, you say? Quite alright! Airflow, our stream of headlines, is free for all to enjoy. Perfect for following the Farnborough Airshow. Dive in! iPhone: apps.apple.com/us/app/the-a... Android: play.google.com/store/apps/d...

Electra secures the FAA certification basis that eVTOL developers wanted theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

The FAA has confirmed that Electra's ultra-short take-off and landing airplane will be certified as... an airplane. Although not surprising, it's a big deal for Electra, which is positioning its EL9 to compete with eVTOLs. Full story in @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev...

ChatGPT posters and flyers are polluting real life and driving me insane. Please respond to this with the worst ones you've seen irl. I'll post some in the thread www.404media.co/we-are-livin...

Fascinating dig into an issue that's puzzled me for months by @elanhead.com - great read too! Opinions split at FAA over prospect of early commercial eVTOL ops - theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...

The FAA has been sending mixed messages as to whether it will allow commercial operations in non-certificated aircraft under the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. My latest story for @theaircurrent.com goes deep on why opinions are divided at the agency: theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...

Wisk, Boeing’s air taxi firm, rushed software testing, ex-employee claims (via @seattletimes.com / Lauren Rosenblatt): www.seattletimes.com/business/boe...

New: Coast Guard pilots said they believe risk of a helicopter-on-helicopter collision near DCA airport is *higher* after the FAA changed the airspace in the wake of a 2025 midair crash. Deep dive on @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

"Finally, if we want to be safer then we need to fund the folks that keep us safe. If we want more oversight then we don’t need more algorithms or data tracking or AI or anything else that keeps inspectors sitting at desks and typing on keyboards."

It's finally here: @theaircurrent.com app for Android! play.google.com/store/apps/d...

Sunday bump for my article interrogating the curious motives and pathologies of Martian dreams. (With all due apology to the space-nerds getting exercised on X and Reddit, many of whom are driven purely by a desire to save humanity from itself, I'm sure.) www.noemamag.com/the-mars-del...

After quitting the Cold War, US Navy captain William Heronemus and a scrappy crew from @umassamherst.bsky.social built an experimental wind turbine based on helicopter rotor engineering and the rear axel of a truck. Their work birthed the modern wind energy industry.

SCOOP: The FAA is close to picking Air Space Intelligence to build its AI-powered air traffic management tool, passing over Palantir and Thales. Story here on @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/air-traffic-...

“What I’ve been saying to politicians for the last 12 months is: Do we want this industry still in Europe or no? Do we want this in Germany or no? And luckily, finally, the answer is yes.” How ERC is continuing to keep Germany's eVTOL dreams alive: theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev...

Helios Horizon pushes the boundaries of battery tech in crewed electric flight theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

Helios Horizon claims to have made "the first flight of a human-piloted electric plane powered by solid-state batteries." Some battery experts would quibble with their definition, but it's still an impressive achievement, as I report for @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

Well look at that: @theaircurrent.com's app is now on Android. play.google.com/store/apps/d...

This story is really f***ing interesting.

Yesterday Mach Industries alluded to a DIU contract award for runway-independent strike aircraft. Today they revealed they're working with Whisper Aero on the program, leveraging Whisper's "stall-proof" JetFoil tech. My deep dive for @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/technology/w...

Beta confirmed today that Duffy flew in both the CTOL and VTOL versions of its Alia aircraft: www.linkedin.com/posts/us-dep...

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy went for a flight with Beta Technologies CEO Kyle Clark in one of the company's electric Alia CTOL aircraft — I expect them to say more about this soon. (Pro subscribers to The Air Current get more details & video preview: theaircurrent.com/intel/transp...)

FAA expects commercial eVTOL ops under integration pilot program theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent

NEWS: The FAA quietly released its official responses to all of the NTSB's D.C. midair crash recommendations yesterday. The agency said it has addressed six recs & plans to fully address "more than half" by EOY. via @theaircurrent.com w/ no paywall: theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

Really enjoyed joining the folks at @slate.com to talk about the fall of Spirit Airlines. Take a listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/0KrG...

I won. Boutique Airlines sued me & AIN over 2 yrs ago. They called me a liar and a thief. I won in trial court. I just won in Appeals court. I expect it will be a nightmare to get my legal fees back. But I proved that the work was my own. I proved I wrote the truth. I am a good reporter. I won.

Great read! Via @elanhead.com

Highly recommend this story for anyone working in an industry they believe is transformative. So much to learn from Igor Sikorsky about trying to usher in a paradigm shift. Excellent work as always from @elanhead.com via @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/historical-c...

This must read piece from @elanhead.com is so wonderful. We are known for our breaking news and our deep dives, but this is a magnificent dose of historical context that just ties it all together.

We’ve dropped the paywall on last week’s deep dive from @theaircurrent.com as Spirit Airlines approached the end. Even with the demise of the carrier there’s insight here to understand what’s next. theaircurrent.com/airlines/spi... (via @willguisbond.com @juliejohnsson.bsky.social and yours truly)