In the most visible personnel move yet during the 737 MAX crisis, Boeing named longtime executive Stan Deal to take over its Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) unit, removing Kevin McAllister and turning the reins of the company’s largest business over to a seasoned leader with significant supply-chain and customer-support experience.

FAA administrator Stephen Dickson said mistakes made during the development of the Boeing 737 MAX highlight the need for a “more integrated approach to human factors” during the aircraft design process.

Air Tahiti Nui (ATN) has completed the transition of its widebody fleet from Airbus A340s to Boeing 787-9s, and the carrier anticipates significant operational benefits from the switch.

Electric aircraft developer Ampaire is studying the feasibility of modifying the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter to hybrid-electric propulsion under a NASA contract.

The UK is looking to form a mobile national counter-drone capability to respond to “challenging drone security incidents” such as the shutdown of London’s Gatwick Airport around the 2018 Christmas holiday.

The prospects of Boeing cutting or halting 737 production have grown, financial analysts and others said Oct. 21 after an internal Boeing pilot conversation over the MAX and the maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) became public.

UK regional Virgin Connect, formerly known as Flybe, plans to ultimately consider larger aircraft once things have settled under its new ownership.

Telecommunications provider Nokia has sold its air-to-ground (A2G) aviation connectivity assets through a management buyout, leading to the creation of a new company called SkyFive that will play a key role in the worldwide roll-out of A2G.