Samwise Aeronautical Mechanics
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
FAA Proposes AD for Boeing 737 Fuselage Skin Cracks Near Aft Drain Mast
The FAA has issued a proposed airworthiness directive for all Boeing 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes after reports of fuselage skin cracks found near the aft drain mast. The condition, if unaddressed, could prevent principal structural elements from sustaining limit loads — a failure path leading to rapid decompression and loss of structural integrity. The proposed AD requires inspection of the aft drain mast area and surrounding fuselage skin for existing repairs, followed by repetitive inspections for cracks and corrosion with applicable on-condition actions. Comments are due June 11, 2026.
Sources: Federal Register
MHIRJ Adds 7,000-Part Structural Manufacturing Capability to CRJ Aftermarket
MHIRJ is expanding aftermarket support for the Bombardier CRJ family by adding fabricated metal parts manufacturing at its Bridgeport, West Virginia facility. The supplier can now produce approximately 7,000 part numbers including structural components such as flaps and doors, supplementing existing component repair and overhaul services. The expansion targets a global fleet of 1,297 Mitsubishi CRJs, of which 424 remain parked or stored. United Airlines is reconfiguring at least 40 CRJ-200s into two-class CRJ-450 variants, with SkyWest projected to operate roughly 100 total. Each CRJ-450 conversion takes approximately two weeks.
Sources: Aviation Week
Boeing Global Services Posts Record $33B Backlog as Aftermarket Weathers Iran Conflict
Boeing Global Services reported a record $33 billion backlog and $5.4 billion in first-quarter revenue — up from $5.1 billion a year earlier — with an 18.1% operating margin. CEO Kelly Ortberg said he is “not too worried” about Middle East hostilities affecting the commercial aftermarket, noting flight-hour-dependent services would be the first indicator of any slowdown. A new landing gear exchange agreement with Singapore Airlines covers 75 Boeing 737 MAX and 787 aircraft, adding to a pool of approximately 480 aircraft across 34 airlines. Boeing completed its 100th 787-8 LGE unit in the quarter.
Sources: Aviation Week
Bristell B23 Energic All-Electric Trainer Selects Safran EngineUs Motor for 2027 Launch
Czech aircraft maker Bristell has selected a Safran EngineUs electric motor to power its B23 Energic all-electric trainer, targeting customer deliveries by early 2027. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 850–900 kilograms with approximately 220 kilograms of payload capacity and is designed to provide 70 minutes of endurance including reserves. One hour of charging yields one hour of flight time. The Safran EngineUs motor is part of the parent company’s electrical systems division serving the light and regional electric aircraft market, where regulatory certification pathways for electric propulsion remain the primary timeline driver.
Sources: Aviation International News
CFM RISE Open-Fan Program Passes 400 Wind Tunnel Hours as 2027 Ground Test Nears
Safran reports more than 400 hours of wind tunnel testing collected for the CFM RISE open-fan engine program, alongside completed icing tests for fan blades and prototype durability evaluations. The RISE architecture targets a bypass ratio of 60:1 — compared to 10:1–12:1 in current turbofans — and aims to deliver over 20% fuel efficiency improvement. The EU-funded program, which has received €100 million in support, is planning a full-scale ground test in spring 2027 and a first flight demonstration aboard an Airbus A380 in 2029. Commercial service is targeted for 2035.
Sources: Aerospace America
AVIC Completes Inaugural Flight of HH-200 Twin-Engine Heavylift Cargo UAV
China’s Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has completed initial flight testing of the HH-200, a twin-engine uncrewed cargo aircraft designed for heavy-lift logistics operations. The design features a 55-foot wingspan and is rated to carry a 3,300-pound payload over a range of 1,470 miles. The platform demonstrates structural and propulsion capabilities for large unmanned cargo aircraft at scales previously requiring crewed operations. The inaugural flight marks the first major milestone for the program, which targets commercial cargo and logistics applications. No certification timeline or commercial entry date has been disclosed.
Sources: Aviation Week
Airhart Tests Context-Aware Avionics Suite with Sensor Fusion in Flight Demonstration
Airhart Aeronautics has demonstrated a “context-aware” integrated avionics platform during flight testing aboard a Sling TSi kitplane. The system uses sensor fusion to continuously compute real-time aircraft state information, enabling the avionics suite to adapt its guidance and displays to the current phase of flight, energy state, and environmental conditions. Airhart describes the approach as moving beyond static instrument presentation toward an avionics architecture that monitors and interprets flight context rather than simply reporting sensor readings. The company has not disclosed hardware specifics, an FAA certification pathway, or a commercial availability date.
Sources: Aviation Week
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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