NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley have begun a two-week quarantine ahead of a flight test of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS.)

U.S.-based lessor Aircastle has posed a $34.2 million 2020 first quarter (Q1) net loss, driven by $34.8 million in costs related to its acquisition by Japanese investor Marubeni Corp. and Mizuho Leasing, which closed in March.

The COVID-19 pandemic may create momentum in the light business jet segment should it lead to what some expect will be an increase in passengers turning to private aviation. 

Worldwide business aviation activity fell 58% in the first two weeks of May compared to a year ago, an improvement from the 70% drop in traffic in April, according to WingX Advance. 

House Republicans have stepped up a campaign spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to ground the drones that Chinese manufacturer DJI has loaned or donated to local police departments to support their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the long-term ripple effects of COVID-19, add this: aerospace and defense (A&D) companies are going to become a lot more digital, from tip to tail.

The Russian government has provided RUB23.4 billion ($316.5 million) in subsidies to local airlines to cover COVID-19 losses, the country’s Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsiya said May 14. 

The air chiefs of France, Germany and Spain have set up a trilateral working group to establish improved connectivity capabilities for their existing Eurofighter and Rafale combat aircraft fleets.