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869 Government Shutdown

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The impact of the Federal government shutdown on commercial flights and private jets, the MD-11 fleet-wide grounding after the UPS crash, Bombardier Global 8000 cabin pressure, the FAA’s desire for flight schools to conduct their own pilot testing, United flight attendant priorities, the oldest airports in the world, and a new center wing box for Fat Albert.

Aviation News

BWI-Marshall on FAA’s list of airports for reduced flights amid federal government shutdown

The FAA is requiring airlines to reduce flights by 10% at 40 high-volume airports. Thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed as the flight reductions cascade through the network.

FAA grounds private jets at 12 major US airports as government shutdown chaos worsens

The FAA shut down private jet and business aviation operations at 12 airports: 

  • Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
  • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (BOS)
  • George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told CNN that flights were being limited to “reduce the pressure on controllers.” See Private Jets Grounded at a Dozen Airports Nationwide. The NBAA’s CEO Ed Bolen said that the restrictions were “disproportionately impacting general aviation, an industry that creates more than a million jobs, generates $340 billion in economic impact and supports humanitarian flights every day.”

Trump threatens air traffic controllers who fail to return to work as flight cancellations jump

“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked.’”

UPS, FedEx ground MD-11 fleets after deadly Louisville crash

UPS flight 2976, an MD-11, crashed on November 4, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The left-hand engine and its pylon detached from the airplane during takeoff, and the MD-11 crashed into a nearby neighborhood, resulting in at least 14 fatalities, including the three crew members onboard and numerous casualties on the ground.

Following the crash, the FAA grounded all MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft. MD-11F operators UPS and FedEx also voluntarily grounded their MD-11 aircraft out of an abundance of caution, following Boeing’s recommendation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation.

From Aviation News Talk: 403 UPS MD-11 Crash Analysis + Dr. Catherine Cavagnaro on How to Make Better Landings

Bombardier Global 8000 Sets Cabin Altitude Record

At Mach 0.95, Bombardier says the Global 8000 will be the fastest business jet in the world and have a cabin altitude of 2,691 feet while flying at 41,000 feet. Most commercial aircraft maintain cabin pressure at levels equivalent to 6,000–8,000 feet above sea level. Business jets generally operate at a pressure equivalent of between 3,000 and 6,000 feet.

The Bombardier Global 8000 in flight.
Global 8000, courtesy Bombardier.

FAA To Encourage More Flight Schools To Conduct Testing Themselves

A designated pilot examiner (DPE) shortage is resulting in a checkride backlog. Only 74 of 509 certificated flight schools have the authority to do their own testing for pilot certificates. In response, the FAA wants more schools to run the tests themselves. A reduction in flight school surveillance to assess whether a school can qualify to do its own testing makes a policy change easier.

United Airlines Flight Attendants Reveal New List of Demands After Rejecting Contract Deal

In July 2025, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) recommended that United Airlines flight attendants accept the proposed contract; however, 71% of the voting membership rejected it. At the time, the union felt the proposed contract was the best that could be achieved. Since then, the union has worked to understand what contract areas were of most concern to the flight attendants. Eight focus areas were identified. The next bargaining session is scheduled to take place in early December.

Oldest Airports in the World, No.6 Will Surprise You

A surprising and historically informative list.

Blue Angels’ “Fat Albert” to Undergo Center Wing Box Replacement in the UK

“Fat Albert” is the KC-130J Super Hercules that supports the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. It’s off to Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge, UK, to have its center wing box replaced, extending its service life by 20 years. This particular plane is the former Royal Air Force Hercules C5 ZH885, which was refurbished and repainted by Marshall Aerospace, an authorized Lockheed Martin C-130J heavy maintenance center.

See: US Navy bringing ‘Fat Albert’ back to Marshall Aerospace for a new centre wing box

Mentioned

Talking E2 with Embraer & Virgin Australia – Plane Crazy Down Under.

Video: RED BULL FLUGTAG FLYOVER | FlySafair B737-800 🇿🇦

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, David Vanderhoof, and Rob Mark.

AirplaneGeeks 278 – Professor Scooter

Noorduyn Norseman

Guest Scott Winter is Assist Professor of Aviation Sciences, College of Aeronautics, Florida Institute of Technology. We talk about the aviation programs at Florida Tech, the research Scott is conducting, his experience working at Cirrus, and Flight Safety Foundation student chapters. Mixed in is some advice for those considering aviation careers, automated system trust concepts as they apply to passengers and pilots.

Scott completed his Doctorate degree from Purdue University in 2013, where his dissertation research focused on pilot decision-making in irreversible emergencies. He presently conducts research in 3 foundational areas: pilots’ transition and information processing in glass cockpit aircraft, training pilots in very light jet operations, and enhancement methods for pilot cognition and decision-making.

Prior to beginning his academic career, Dr. Winter worked in the Flight Standards and Operations Department at Cirrus Aircraft. During his time at Cirrus, he worked on designing various training manuals and educational tools. As a check airman, he oversaw the training and proficiency for company pilots. For two years, Dr. Winter served Cirrus as an international representative of the Flight Standards and Operations Department, where he obtained international flight experience in Europe, South America, the Caribbean, Australia, and South Africa.

The week’s aviation news:

  • Pilots Cited in July Jet Crash

David Vanderhoof’s Aircraft of the Week: the Noorduyn Norseman. (Image above)

In this week’s Australia Desk:

  • Rob’s got both Steve and Grant keeping their knees up this time, but that won’t help Qantas who are collapsing into a sea of red as they announce a $250-$300 million loss for the first half of the year.
  • The Qantas woes are even impacting Jetstar who are threatening to withdraw their flights from Avalon Airport and have confirmed they’ll be closing their Darwin base.

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

In this week’s Across the Pond segment:

Air Serbia A319 Courtesy Air Serbia

Air Serbia A319 Courtesy Air Serbia

This week we welcome back Petar Voinovich from TangoSix to look at the main aerospace topics in Serbia. We first look at the intriguing relationship developing between the United Arab Emirates and Serbia which has resulted in Emirates investing a significant amount of money in the ailing Air Serbia. TangoSixPortal on Facebook and @tangosix on Twitter.

Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast.

Mentioned:

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.