When Philip Ryther was forced out of the FAA in 1970, he set out to let everyone know what he thought about how the agency worked.

Dec. 4, 2025: Due to repeated violations of Reader Comment Rules by a select few, who have ignored warnings, comments on news freewall articles and some more recent articles are closed for the rest of the year. Comments remain open on Paywall articles.

By Karl Sinclair Dec. 3, 2025, © Leeham News: Boeing’s chief financial officer outlined the priorities for the use of cash going forward, and it reaffirms what has been obvious but largely unstated: debt reduction is the top priority. Speaking at the UBS Global Industrials and Transportation Conference, The Boeing Company’s (BA) new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jay Malave reiterated the corporation’s prudent position on where Free Cash Flow (FCF) was going to be spent.

By Scott Hamilton Dec. 3, 2025, © Leeham News, Washington (DC): Boeing’s “hangover” and PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome) following the 737 MAX crisis of 2019 and beyond is over, says the former acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) who had to deal with the fallout before Congress. Dan Elwell faced investigations from hostile Congressional hearings, a criminal probe, civil litigation, an Inspector General’s inquiry from the FAA’s parent department, and in-depth reporting from many newspapers and television media in the months after the second of two MAXes crashed in March 2019, five months after the first fatal accident.

By Charlotte Bailey  Dec. 2, 2025, © Leeham News: As aerospace companies, investors, and industry analysts gather in Amsterdam for the second iteration of the annual Future Aero Festival, the attributes and advantages offered by clean-sheet aircraft concepts are in the spotlight. Bjorn Fehrm, analyst and consultant at Leeham Co, believes that an initial early propulsion evolution to come to market will be the so-called “micro-hybrid” innovation.

Dec. 1, 2025, (c) Leeham News: In October, Boeing announced another delay in certification of the 777X and a delay from 2026 to 2027 of entry-into-service of the -9 model. Tim Clark, the president of Emirates Airline, is vocal about his dismay over the continuing delays. Emirates has more 777Xs on order than any other customer. The first airplane was due in early 2020.

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton and Bjorn Fehrm Dec. 1, 2025, © Leeham News: Airbus rolled its first A350F out of the factory last week. It now moves to another building for the installation of systems and engines. The first flight is planned for the third quarter next year, as a second freighter is completed to begin regimented flight testing.

From our partners at AIN: Nov. 25, 2025, © Leeham News: LNA’s partner AIN attended the Dubai Air Show and has now posted videos from the event. There are also two unrelated stories about the US Federal Aviation Administration’s efforts to modernize the Air Traffic Control system. Videos from the Dubai Air Show, and more: Boeing 777X Sukhoi Su-57 flight demo Air show fly-by of UAE air force Archer eVTOL ambitions AIN Reporting FAA solicits vendors for ATC updates FAA needs $20bn for ATC updates

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton Nov. 24, 2025, © Leeham News: Boeing landed a big order for its 777-9 at the Dubai Air Show last week, valued at $38bn at list prices for 65 airplanes ($575.8m each). Emirates Airline, already Boeing’s largest customer for the airplane, now has 270 777Xs on order. This represents 43% of the firm orders once added to Boeing’s backlog.

The contract was not everything union members were hoping for, but most seem relieved to return to work.

Nov. 20, 2025, (c) Leeham News: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report of the UPS Boeing MD-11F accident of Nov. 4 in Louisville (KY). Included are photos of the dramatic moment the No. 1 engine separated from the airplane, which had just lifted off on take-off. The report may be downloaded here: Prelimiary Report DCA26MA024 UPS MD11

Nov. 19, 2025, © Leeham News: Yesterday flydubai ordered the 150 Airbus A320neo family at the Dubai Air Show. Today, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for 75 Boeing 737 MAXes and options for 75 more. Flydubai may switch its orders between the 737-8, -9 or -10. The airline already operates the 737 NG and 737 MAX. Emirates Airline placed an order for eight more Airbus A350-900s, bringing its total order to 73.

Nov. 18, 2025, © Leeham News News: Airbus notched orders on Day 2 of the Dubai Air Show. Boeing announced a small deals today. The European OEM gained a new customer, flipping from Boeing, with a major deal from flydubai. Flydubai signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for 150 A321neos. Etihad Airways ordered six A330-900s, becoming a new A330neo customer.

By Scott Hamilton Nov. 17, 2025, © Leeham News: Despite Boeing saying it was going to concentrate on outlining a path for certification of the 777X at the Dubai Air Show, the company dominated the ope...

By Scott Hamilton Nov. 17, 2025, © Leeham News: Despite Boeing saying it was going to concentrate on outlining a path for certification of the 777X at the Dubai Air Show, the company dominated the opening day with new orders. Embraer also announced a few orders at the show. Airbus was a no-show for commercial deals on opening day.

Subscription Required  By Scott Hamilton  Nov. 17, 2025, © Leeham News: Sales of Embraer’s E195-E2 have taken off this year after a long period of stagnation. It also appears that its slow-selling military KC-390 tanker-transport is gaining traction as well. Embraer’s order book for the C-390 is approaching 50, with several NATO countries recently ordering the aircraft. the C-390. Non-NATO orders are also customers.

Boeing Insists 777X Widebody Is Worth the Wait By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor Charlotte Bailey • Writer Nov. 16, 2025, © AIN: Twelve years since Boeing launched the 777X program at the 2013 Dubai Airshow, the OEM is back on-site with both its 777-9 test aircraft and a renewed confidence that delays to the protracted certification schedule are finally over.

Oct. 7, 2025, (c) Leeham News: Boeing’s decline into the existential crisis that befell the company in March 2019 was decades in the making. The 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas Corp. is pegged as t...