Samwise Aeronautical Mechanics
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
NTSB Flight Recorder Data Confirms Engine Fuel Cut-Off Preceded China Eastern MU5735 Crash
Newly released NTSB documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that both engine fuel cut-off switches on China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735 — a Boeing 737-800 that crashed in Guangxi province, China, in March 2022, killing all 132 aboard — were moved to the off position seconds before impact. A graph of the final 90 seconds of flight shows normal operation until the dual fuel cut-off, at which point the autopilot disconnected and the control column was pushed forward into a steep dive. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has yet to release findings four years after the crash, raising transparency concerns among international investigators.
Sources: FlightGlobal
B-52J Commercial Engine Replacement Programme Passes Critical Design Review
The U.S. Air Force, Boeing, and Rolls-Royce confirmed on 4 May that the B-52J Commercial Engine Replacement Programme (CERP) has passed its critical design review, clearing the path to begin modifying the first aircraft later this year. The Rolls-Royce F130 low-bypass turbofan — derived from the 16,900 lb-thrust BR725 that powers the Gulfstream G650ER — will replace the eight Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines on each B-52H Stratofortress. The first bomber will be sent to Boeing’s San Antonio facility before moving to Edwards AFB for flight testing. The Air Force has requested $998 million for CERP in fiscal 2027, with the reengining keeping the B-52 in service into the 2050s.
Sources: Aviation Week
Qatar-Donated Boeing 747-8i Completes Structural Modifications and Flight Testing for Presidential Role
A former Qatari Boeing 747-8 BBJ, gifted to the Pentagon in 2025 and officially designated the VC-25B Bridge aircraft, has completed structural modifications and flight testing ahead of its entry into service as Air Force One. L3Harris performed the complex structural modification programme, with Boeing providing engineering data to meet airframe requirements. Three additional 747-8is supported the effort: a leased Atlas Air freighter used for pilot qualification and two former Lufthansa jets, one serving as a crew trainer and the other for spare parts. Flight testing commenced 16 April at Majors Field, Greenville, Texas. The aircraft will roll out this summer ahead of receiving its presidential livery.
Sources: FlightGlobal
Iran War Cuts Maintenance Throughput by a Third at Jordan’s Joramco
Joramco, the Amman-based MRO subsidiary of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, reported a steep decline in first-quarter 2026 revenue following disruption from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. DAE Engineering — which includes Joramco — recorded $48 million in revenue for the period, down roughly 33% year on year and back to 2024 levels. The provider serviced just 69 aircraft, compared with 102 in Q1 2025, as customers could not deliver aircraft for scheduled maintenance. The decline comes despite Joramco completing a new hangar with five additional heavy maintenance lines in 2025. The MRO now operates 24 heavy maintenance lines across six hangars, several sitting idle.
Sources: Aviation Week
GA Telesis Donates Two Rolls-Royce Trent 800 Engines to Broward College Technician Programme
GA Telesis has donated two Rolls-Royce Trent 800 turbofan engines to Broward College in Florida, an asset the company values at $4.1 million, bolstering hands-on training for the next generation of aviation maintenance technicians. The wide-body high-bypass turbofan, which powers the Boeing 777-200 and 777-300, gives students exposure to a current-generation commercial powerplant. GA Telesis President and CEO Abdol Moabery said the donation aims to raise the standard of technical education and ensure graduates are prepared to meet the demands of global fleets. The donation reflects a broader industry effort to address a persistent shortage of certificated aviation maintenance technicians.
Sources: Aviation Week
Omega Air Poised to Return Retired KC-10 Extenders to Service as Contracted Tanker Demand Booms
Virginia-based Omega Air is preparing to return a portion of the U.S. Air Force’s retired Boeing KC-10 Extender fleet to service by year’s end under its contracted air refueling model, responding to surging military demand. Powered by three General Electric CF6-50C2 turbofan engines, KC-10s were retired by the Air Force in 2021–2023 after more than three decades of service. Omega, which already operates three KDC-10s acquired from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, sees the surplus airframes as operational assets rather than parts sources. The U.S. Air Force has not yet committed to contracting the revived aircraft, though discussions on contracted aerial refueling capacity are ongoing.
Sources: Aviation Week
Israel’s First KC-46 Gideon Tanker Completes Maiden Sortie Ahead of Delivery
The first Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tanker destined for the Israeli Air Force has completed its maiden sortie in the United States, the Israeli Ministry of Defense confirmed on 5 May. Designated Gideon in Israeli service, the 767-based tanker is fitted with indigenous Israeli electronic systems. Israel will eventually operate six KC-46s, replacing a fleet of six KC-707s — Boeing 707 derivatives now roughly half a century old — and seven Lockheed Martin KC-130HIs with a fleet average age of nearly 50 years. The KC-46 is powered by two General Electric CF6-80C2B6F high-bypass turbofans. Delivery is expected within one month.
Sources: FlightGlobal
Curated by JD · samwise.agency