FAA Adopts ‘Gulf of America,’ Reverses NOTAM Naming

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday that it will be updating its data and charts to reflect several Trump-era name changes.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Monday, February 10, 2025 at 03:46 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Inside a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight deck at the Farnborough Airshow (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday that it will be updating its data and charts to reflect several Trump-era name changes.

According to an FAA charting notice, the agency will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Denali to Mount McKinley. The two name changes come after executive orders from President Donald Trump federally renamed the geographic locations.

“This Charting Notice implements President Trump’s direction in Executive Order 14172, ‘Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,’ that the names be changed,” the notice stated.

NOTAM Change

Additionally, the FAA said it has changed the name of Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) back to Notice to Airmen, reversing an executive order that changed the acronym by former President Joe Biden in 2021.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.

777X Deliveries Likely Delayed Again

Dubai-based carrier Emirates could see its first Boeing 777X deliveries delayed for another one to two years, per a recent report.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Monday, February 10, 2025 at 02:52 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Boeing 777X aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Dubai-based carrier Emirates could see its first Boeing 777X deliveries delayed for another one to two years.

According to reporting by Bloomberg, deliveries of the upcoming 777X aircraft could be delayed until at least the second quarter of 2027 – or even 2028. The report cited unnamed individuals familiar with Emirates’ financial and operational planning, who told Bloomberg the carrier’s own budgeting doesn’t account for the new jet in 2027.

The news comes after Emirates President Sir Tim Clark said the airline would like to grow its operations in the U.S. despite delivery delays from Boeing creating some challenges.

In late January, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed on a call with investors that German airline Lufthansa would be the first carrier to receive a 777X delivery in 2026. Qatar Airways was originally speculated to be the first planned recipient of the new aircraft.

The 777X resumed flight testing for its long-delayed certification with the Federal Aviation Administration last month. According to Bloomberg, Boeing originally planned to deliver Emirates its 777X in 2020 before the certification delays.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

First Officer Who Died on Flight 5342 Named Honorary Captain

Sam Lilley posthumously received the title of captain, PSA Airlines said Sunday. He was one of the four airline crew members killed on board flight 5342.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, February 10, 2025 at 10:34 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

PSA crew member honored with water canon salute upon returning to Charlotte. (Photo: Markus Lachenmeir)

First Officer Sam Lilley posthumously received the title of captain, PSA Airlines said Sunday. Lilley was one of the four airline crew members killed on board flight 5342 after it crashed on Jan. 29.

He began flight training in 2019 before later joining PSA, a wholly owned regional subsidiary of the American Airlines Group. Lilley had spent two years at the carrier prior to the crash.

According to Fox 5 Atlanta, he was engaged to get married later this year. His father – Tim Lilley – currently flies private jets but was previously a Black Hawk pilot in the Army.

“It is with profound respect and deep appreciation that PSA Airlines posthumously bestows the status of Honorary Captain upon First Officer Samuel Lilley,” the airline said.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators recovered all major pieces of both the Army Black Hawk helicopter and CRJ-700 that collided over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. All 67 victims have also been recovered and identified.

PSA added that Lilley “exemplified the highest standards of aviation excellence.”

Other Crew Members Honored

The three other crew members on flight 5342 were also honored by the airline, including Capt. Jonathan Campos, flight attendant Danasia Elder, and flight attendant Ian Epstein.

All four crew members will receive PSA’s Honorary President’s Award, the carrier said. This is the highest honor any of the airline’s employees can receive.

“It is a peer-nominated honor and based on the company-wide outpouring of support for our lost colleagues, we cannot think of a more moving or sincere tribute than having all 5,000 PSA team members nominate our fallen colleagues,” the airline stated.

Families of the crew will receive certificates reflecting the award.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

D.C. Area Set for Fourth Commercial Airport

Ultra-low-cost carriers will be the primary users of the new facility. Avports leaders have said there’s been an “incredible amount of interest.”

Ryan Ewing

Monday, February 10, 2025 at 09:41 AM ET

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A rendering of Manassas Airport (Photo: Avports)

The Washington, D.C. region could be getting its fourth commercially-served airport. Scheduled flights are set to begin as early as this year.

Joining Washington Reagan National and Dulles airports – which are operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority – and Baltimore/Washington – operated by the State of Maryland – Manassas, Virginia, plans to leverage its existing airport for commercial service.

Airport management group Avports says the new facility could open in late 2025 or early 2026. The airport’s existing 35,000-square-foot terminal will initially see around 10 flights per day, per WTOP.

The City of Manassas owns Manassas Regional Airport, which is located approximately 30 miles from downtown D.C. Both Avports and the local government are working to ready the airport for commercial flights while awaiting final approval from the Federal Aviation Administration on an Airport Certification Manual.

Ultra-low-cost carriers will be the primary users of the new facility. Avports leaders have said there’s been an “incredible amount of interest.”

D.C. isn’t the only major U.S. city slated for a brand-new commercial airport. The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex will add its third in McKinney, Texas.

Ryan Ewing

Airbus Puts eVTOL Program on Hold

The manufacturer announced the move in late January, noting issues mostly in regards to the technological requirements, but also the proposed business plan.

Sam Jakobi

Sunday, February 09, 2025 at 05:19 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

CityAirbus NextGen with ITA Airways livery rendering. (Photo: Airbus)

Airbus recently said that it would be halting plans to put its latest eVTOL aircraft, named CityAirbus, on the market, reports AIN Online.

The aircraft manufacturer announced the move in late January, noting issues mostly in regards to the technological requirements, but also the proposed business plan.

Plans were initially launched in 2021, aiming to get the aircraft into commercial service by the end of the decade. It came as a part of the race to get the first eVTOL (electric vertical take-off or landing) into the skies, competing with numerous companies such as Lilium, Joby, and Vertical Aerospace.

It’s no secret that the industry widely views eVTOLs as the future of aviation, with their electric power being vital in introducing sustainability into aviation, as well as rethinking the way most cities see urban mobility. Several local governments are pouring money into developing large infrastructure projects to accommodate the aircraft, with Copenhagen being the latest to start thinking about how island hopping could be achieved.

Battery Woes

However, despite the industry boom, Airbus has failed to capitalize on the growing trend. Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters claimed that the minimum range of the CityAirbus needed for it to enter commercial service would likely be 80-100 km. He stated that on the battery side, the company clearly saw “the need to continue to improve the performance to reach what we consider the minimum level of performance.”

Airbus hasn’t been the only eVTOL manufacturer struggling, with European start-up Lilium having to be saved by an investment of over 200 million Euros from an investment consortium known as Mobile Uplift Corporation.

Currently, China’s EHang is the only eVTOL aircraft to be certified, having done so in 2023. However, flights in this autonomous-flying vehicle have yet to reach most of the Western world.

Sam Jakobi

Sam Jakobi is a young aviation journalist based in London, U.K. A lifelong Airbus fan, he has adored aviation for as long as he can remember. Sam writes articles and conducts interviews with members of the aviation community.

United Adds New A321neo Routes

Starting in June 2025, United's A321neo fleet will regularly serve all of the airline's hubs along with a handful of other new markets.

Ryan Ewing

Sunday, February 09, 2025 at 04:59 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

United's first A321neo arrives in Houston (Photo: @unitedflyerhd)

United plans to grow its Airbus A321neo network this summer, including new regularly scheduled service from its Newark, New Jersey, and Washington Dulles hubs. The Chicago-based airline took delivery of its 25th A321neo back in December and now has over 30 in its fleet.

According to this week’s Cirium Diio schedule update, the carrier’s newest fleet type will operate scheduled service from Newark to Denver and Chicago O’Hare. In addition, United’s A321neos will serve Washington Dulles from Chicago and Denver.

Currently, A321neo flights on these routes are only scheduled between June and September, at least once per day.

Scheduled United A321neo routes in July 2025 (Photo: Cirium Diio)

Other New Routes

Also starting in June, United’s A321neo aircraft will begin regular service to Sacramento, California. Daily flights on the aircraft are only scheduled during the summer months to Denver and Chicago.

This summer, the airline’s A321neos will operate from all its hubs.

Ryan Ewing

TAAG Secures $150 Million Financing for Boeing 787 Fleet

On December 27, 2024, AerCap Holdings announced a sale-and-leaseback agreement with TAAG for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Victor Shalton

Saturday, February 08, 2025 at 06:00 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

TAAG's first Boeing 787 (Photo: TAAG)

The Angolan government has approved a $110 million sovereign guarantee to support its national carrier, TAAG Angola Airlines (Linhas Aéreas de Angola), in acquiring three additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners. This authorization was formalized through Executive Order No. 30/25, issued on Jan. 21.

According to Novo Jornal, the acquisition requires a Pre-Delivery Payment (PDP) of $150 million, which will be financed through a loan from a consortium comprising Afreximbank (African Export-Import Bank) and Absa Bank. Cuanza Limitada, the financial arm of the Angolan state responsible for managing strategic investments, will act as the borrower.

As part of the agreement, TAAG is required to pay a commission of 1% of the guarantee amount ($1.1 million) for the issuance of the sovereign guarantee. The release of these funds was contingent on the government’s approval, which has now been granted.

The three new Boeing aircraft are part of a broader strategy to enhance TAAG’s operational capabilities, aligning with Angola’s vision of becoming a regional aviation hub and promoting economic diversification. To facilitate the transaction, the President has delegated authority to the Minister of Public Finances, granting the power to sign the sovereign guarantee and all related documentation on behalf of Angola.

This delegation also includes the right to subdelegate responsibilities, ensuring a smooth execution of the agreement in accordance with Article 39 of Angola’s public debt issuance and management regulations.

TAAG originally placed an order for four Boeing 787 Dreamliners on October 10, 2023. This order includes two 787-9s and two 787-10s. The first aircraft, a Boeing 787-9, registered as D2-TEQ, was delivered this month.

On December 27, 2024, AerCap Holdings, the world’s largest aircraft leasing company, announced a sale-and-leaseback agreement with TAAG for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The newly acquired Dreamliners are expected to replace three grounded Boeing 777-200ERs, reinforcing TAAG’s long-haul fleet, which currently consists of five active Boeing 777-300ERs. Additionally, the airline is expanding its short- and medium-haul operations with the introduction of 15 Airbus A220-300s, the first of which was delivered in September 2024.

Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

Update: Bering Air Crash Site Located

A Bering Air Cessna Caravan aircraft disappeared from radar on Thursday in western Alaska. The aircraft was carrying 10 people.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, February 07, 2025 at 06:31 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Cessna Caravan (Photo: Cessna)

A Bering Air Cessna Caravan disappeared from radar on Thursday in western Alaska. The aircraft was carrying 10 people, of which three have been located so far.

“On February 6, 2025, at 4:00pm, AST was contacted by AKRCC in reference to an overdue aircraft,” the Alaska State Troopers said in a statement. “It was reported that a Bering Air Caravan had gone missing while en route from Unalakleet to Nome, with 9 passengers and 1 pilot on board.”

Local media are reporting a Bering Air flight is overdue at Nome and search & rescue efforts are now underway. #8E445 departed Unalakleet at 23:38 UTC (14:38 local)

Last position received at 00:16 UTC
64.330212, -164.02679
5,300 feethttps://t.co/MgIBmtsp2U pic.twitter.com/N4bMUjni0q

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) February 7, 2025

On Friday afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard said it located aircraft wreckage consistent with the missing Caravan. The aircraft – registered as N321BA – was operating Bering Air flight 445.

So far, three individuals were found deceased at the crash site, Coast Guard officials said. The aircraft was found 34 miles southeast of Nome.

#UPDATE #USCG has located an aircraft matching the description of the missing plane approx. 34 miles southeast of of Nome. 3 individuals were found inside and reported to be deceased. Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragic incident. pic.twitter.com/F9RUPLFoOo

— USCGAlaska (@USCGAlaska) February 7, 2025

The aircraft lost radar contact around 3:16 p.m. local time Thursday at just over 5,000 feet.

Bering Air began operations in 1979 and operates a fleet of 27 aircraft to destinations across Alaska. It is a certified Part 121 air carrier.

This story is developing.

Ryan Ewing

Airlines Back Trump ATC Plan

Airlines for America – a trade group representing most major airlines in the U.S. – applauded President Donald Trump for his “bold leadership."

Ryan Ewing

Friday, February 07, 2025 at 03:40 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An American Airlines aircraft at Washington Reagan National Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock | The Bold Bureau)

Airlines for America – a trade group representing most major airlines in the U.S. – applauded President Donald Trump for his “bold leadership” following remarks on improving the air traffic control system.

“We should have had the proper control,” Trump said at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. “We should have had better equipment. We don’t. We have obsolete equipment. They were understaffed, for whatever reason.”

His comments come a little over a week after a PSA Airlines CRJ-700 and Black Hawk helicopter collided in Washington, D.C., killing all 67 on both aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

“I think what is going to happen is we’re all going to sit down and do a great computerized system for our control towers, brand-new — not pieced together, obsolete, like it is …,” he continued.

Trump suggested that he’d work with Congress on a bill to improve air traffic control systems in the U.S.

Airlines Agree

Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio backed Trump’s comments.

“We applaud the bold leadership of President Trump taking swift, decisive action to get adequate staffing in air traffic control facilities and to modernize our nation’s ATC technologies with smarter, more efficient equipment,” he said in a statement. “The days of paper strips and floppy disks must end.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier this week that he’s spoken with Elon Musk, and his Department of Government Efficiency team plans to “plug in” and rapidly upgrade these systems.

“We must all act with a sense of urgency. We agree with President Trump: NOW is the time for action,” Calio concluded.

Ryan Ewing

Twin Otter Planned to Survey for D.C. Crash Debris

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed plans to conduct a low-altitude flight over the Potomac River.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Friday, February 07, 2025 at 01:56 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An NOAA Twin Otter (Photo: NOAA)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed plans to conduct a low-altitude flight over the Potomac River using a fixed-wing aircraft equipped to locate smaller remaining debris from last week’s midair collision.

According to a news release emailed to AirlineGeeks by Unified Command Thursday evening, NOAA’s De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter aircraft, equipped with LiDAR scanning technology, was originally planned to begin flying at approximately 2 a.m. local time Friday to support Unified Command’s salvage efforts.

That flight was later cancelled due to weather conditions, and a rescheduled flight plan is in the works, Unified Command confirmed on Friday.

According to NOAA’s website, LiDAR – which stands for Light Detection and Ranging – is a remote sensing method that uses light from a pulsed laser to measure variable distances to the earth.

Flight plan for NOAA aircraft (Photo: Unified Command)

“Lidar systems allow scientists and mapping professionals to examine both natural and manmade environments with accuracy, precision, and flexibility,” the NOAA website stated. “NOAA scientists are using lidar to produce more accurate shoreline maps, make digital elevation models for use in geographic information systems, to assist in emergency response operations, and in many other applications.”

During the scan, the aircraft will project a visible green laser onto the water’s surface. The release stated that while the laser is safe for the eyes, individuals are advised to avoid direct eye contact.

Unified Command reported that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, together with the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage Diving, have completed the removal of all major components of the PSA CRJ-700 and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that crashed on Jan. 29.

The remains of all 67 crash victims have been recovered and identified as of Wednesday.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff