Latest / Aviator Daily Briefing / Aviator Daily Briefing — Friday, July 24th, 2026
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- Aviator Daily Briefing — Friday, July 24th, 2026 [Today's Top Stories] • Delta Flight 1384, SFO Tower Clash Over Missing ATIS Code • Kalitta Air Boeing 777 Freighter Suffers Tail Strike at CVG • Qantas Project Sunrise Test Flight Completes Nonstop Toulouse-Melbourne Run • Jack Aces Expand to Three-Ship P-51D Formation Routine Delta Flight 1384, SFO Tower Clash Over Missing ATIS Code A recorded radio exchange between the crew of Delta Flight 1384 and air traffic controllers at San Francisco International Airport has surfaced, revealing a pointed dispute over the crew's failure to copy the current Automatic Terminal Information Service broadcast. Audio published by the YouTube channel CaptainSteeeve captures an audibly frustrated tower controller confronting the crew after they requested departure clearance without the required ATIS information code. The Delta crew told controllers they had not yet copied the ATIS due to high workload and a congested taxi environment. ATIS is a continuous broadcast of essential weather, runway configuration and NOTAMs; controllers routinely require crews to confirm the current letter code before issuing clearances, a standard practice designed to reduce frequency congestion and ensure shared situational awareness in busy terminal environments. Neither Delta Air Lines nor the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a public statement regarding the incident, and no formal safety investigation or enforcement action has been linked to the exchange. Even so, the recording has drawn renewed attention to human factors and communication friction at high-traffic hubs — a subject of persistent concern for aviation safety researchers and regulators alike. Kalitta Air Boeing 777 Freighter Suffers Tail Strike at CVG A Kalitta Air Boeing 777-300ERSF freighter suffered a tail strike during a go-around at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) on Sunday, July 19. The aircraft, operating as flight K4 264 inbound from Brussels, contacted the runway surface during a missed approach, producing visible sparks as the crew pitched up to climb away. The incident was captured on video by the TakingOff YouTube channel. The flight crew maintained control following the strike, climbing to approximately 4,000 feet before air traffic control vectored them for a second approach. The aircraft landed safely at approximately 8:15 p.m. local time with no injuries reported. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it has opened an investigation into the event. Kalitta Air Chief Operating Officer Heath Nicholl confirmed that the aircraft, registration N778CK, has been removed from service pending a full structural evaluation. The freighter is expected to be ferried to the airline's heavy maintenance facility at Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport in Michigan for inspections and any necessary repairs. Kalitta Air said the incident is also under internal review. Qantas Project Sunrise Test Flight Completes Nonstop Toulouse-Melbourne Run A landmark Qantas Project Sunrise test flight concluded July 24, 2026, as the airline's first Airbus A350-1000 Ultra Long Range (ULR) variant completed a nonstop journey from Toulouse, France, to Melbourne Airport (YMML). The mission covered approximately 17,000 kilometers over 19 to 22 hours, making it the most demanding endurance test in the aircraft's certification campaign to date. Operating under callsign AIB35LR and registration F-WULR, the aircraft was used to validate a specialized long-range fuel system built around a 20,000-liter aft center fuel tank — a key modification that extends the A350-1000ULR's range to nearly 10,000 nautical miles. Airbus and Qantas said the flight tested endurance and fuel efficiency across multiple climatic zones, pushing the platform to the edge of its operational envelope. The Toulouse-to-Melbourne nonstop serves as a capstone for the A350-1000ULR's proving phase. The aircraft is expected to be delivered to Qantas by April 2027, clearing the way for Project Sunrise's commercial debut in October 2027 — when the carrier plans to launch nonstop services from Australia's east coast to both London and New York. Jack Aces Expand to Three-Ship P-51D Formation Routine The Jack Aces Formation Aerobatic Team has expanded to a three-ship P-51D Mustang routine, marking a significant leap in operational capability. The team — which performed as the High Flight Formation Team in 2023 before rebranding as the Jack Aces in 2024 — has since integrated a third aircraft into its precision aerobatic program. The three-ship formation features a trio of distinct North American P-51D Mustangs: "Mad Max," flown by lead pilot Louis Horschel; "The Little Witch," flown by Ariel Luedi; and "Cheryl Lynn," flown by Marco Rusconi. The team specializes in tight, coordinated maneuvers and multi-ship formation passes, as showcased during recent appearances at the Air Power Over Hampton Roads event at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. The three-ship configuration echoes WWII combat formations flown by units such as the 361st Fighter Group, grounding the team's performances in authentic wartime heritage. That commitment has positioned the Jack Aces as a headline warbird act for 2026, including a scheduled appearance at Thunder Over Michigan at Willow Run Airport alongside the RAF Red Arrows. You can get the latest aviation news at https://aviatordb.com