Latest / Aviator Daily Briefing / Aviator Daily Briefing — Sunday, September 27th, 2026
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- Aviator Daily Briefing — Sunday, September 27th, 2026 [Breaking News Headlines] • Let L-410 Crashes Near Kenge, DR Congo, Killing All 17 Aboard [In Other News] • FAA Bans Single-Pilot Ops in Older Cessna Citation Jets • Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 10 Certification Expected Within Days • Qatar Airways A330 Retirement: Pilots Offered RwandAir Secondments • Global 8000 London City Airport Approval Granted by UK CAA Let L-410 Crashes Near Kenge, DR Congo, Killing All 17 Aboard KENGE, Democratic Republic of Congo — Sept. 25, 2026 — A Let L-410UVP turboprop operated by TRACEP Congo Aviation crashed and burst into flames near Kenge, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Friday, killing all 17 people on board, according to the Aviation Safety Network. The aircraft, registration 9S-GUC, departed Kikwit at approximately 13:50 local time en route to Kinshasa. It came down near Kenge at approximately 14:05, with preliminary reports indicating the crew attempted to divert after encountering technical difficulties. The aircraft reportedly circled the area in search of a landing site before crashing into the Masikita commune, a residential area. Preliminary information indicates the flight was carrying a high-level military delegation. Among those reportedly killed are Lieutenant General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi, auditor general of the Armed Forces of the DRC, and Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, first president of the High Military Court, according to AeroCorner. The passenger manifest also included a major, a captain, and other military personnel, as well as civilians, per ASN reports. The aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire. The specific nature of the technical failure that prompted the diversion has not been officially established. The Bureau Permanent d'Enquêtes sur les Accidents et Incidents d'Aviation (BPEA), the DRC's national aviation accident investigation authority, is responsible for the investigation. No preliminary findings have been released. Sources: Aviation Safety Network, AeroInside, AeroCorner, Radio Okapi, Régie des Voies Aériennes FAA Bans Single-Pilot Ops in Older Cessna Citation Jets The Federal Aviation Administration has announced it will rescind existing exemptions that permitted single-pilot operations in several older Cessna Citation models originally certificated for two-pilot crews. According to a policy document placed on public inspection Sept. 25, 2026, the agency will stop renewing single-pilot privileges and require operators to return to two-crew standards. The rule is scheduled for Federal Register publication Sept. 28 and takes effect Sept. 29. The FAA said the action follows a review that found widespread noncompliance among exemption holders, including inadequate training records and failures to meet continuing requirements. The agency also reported that older Citation jets flown single-pilot had approximately twice the accident rate of models specifically certificated for single-pilot operation under Part 23 — a gap it determined the existing exemption framework could no longer justify. The policy applies to the Citation 500, 550, S550, 552, 560 (including the V and Ultra variants), Bravo, and Encore/Encore+ series. It does not affect the Citation Mustang or CitationJet families, which were designed and certificated for single-pilot operations from the outset. Industry groups, including the National Business Aviation Association and Citation Jet Pilots, have questioned the abrupt nature of the rescission, noting that many operators invested heavily in qualifying training programs. The FAA maintains the rollback is necessary because the exemptions no longer provide an equivalent level of safety to the original type certification standards. Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 10 Certification Expected Within Days Alaska Airlines expects the Boeing 737 MAX 10 to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification by the end of September 2026. Chief Operating Officer Jason Berry told Reuters that the carrier anticipates the largest variant of the Boeing 737 MAX family will receive regulatory approval within days, clearing the way for fleet expansion plans. Following the expected certification, Alaska Airlines plans to take delivery of its first 737 MAX 10 in spring 2027, targeting the start of passenger service between April and mid-May. Fleet planning data show the carrier expects to receive 22 MAX 10 aircraft in 2027 and an additional 30 in 2028 — part of a 105-aircraft order announced in January 2026 that secures delivery positions through 2035. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said certification is coming "very soon," noting the company completed the MAX 10 flight-test campaign in late July 2026. Although flight testing is finished, final FAA approval hinges on the agency's review of remaining certification documentation. The FAA retains sole authority over issuance of the amended type certificate. Qatar Airways A330 Retirement: Pilots Offered RwandAir Secondments Qatar Airways has completed the retirement of its remaining passenger Airbus A330 aircraft, ending the type's role in the carrier's passenger fleet. Reports published Sept. 25, 2026, indicate the decision was accelerated by higher fuel costs and prolonged disruptions to Gulf aviation, both of which have hastened the phase-out of older, less fuel-efficient widebody jets. As part of the transition, Qatar Airways is offering a group of A330-qualified pilots voluntary, short-term secondments to Rwanda's national carrier, RwandAir. A spokesperson for Qatar Airways confirmed the arrangement, saying the program allows pilots to maintain flying opportunities while supporting the operational needs of both airlines. Reports indicate just over a dozen staff members are involved in the assignments. At least one former Qatar Airways A330 was also acquired by RwandAir earlier in 2026, illustrating a broader redistribution of older assets to smaller operators. The retirement reflects an industry-wide shift toward newer-generation widebody aircraft — particularly the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 — which offer meaningfully better fuel efficiency. For Qatar Airways, the move also simplifies widebody operations by eliminating specialized maintenance requirements and spare-parts support for the A330 type, allowing the carrier to concentrate resources on its next-generation fleet. Global 8000 London City Airport Approval Granted by UK CAA The Bombardier Global 8000 has received approval from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to operate at London City Airport, one of the world's most operationally demanding gateways. The clearance, announced by Bombardier, permits eligible aircraft to fly directly into the airport, giving passengers immediate access to London's financial district without routing through more distant alternatives such as Farnborough or Luton. Because London City Airport features a relatively short runway and mandates a specialized steep-approach procedure, the approval is not a blanket authorization. Bombardier says the clearance applies specifically to aircraft registered in jurisdictions where the relevant aviation authority has approved the jet's steep-approach supplement. Operators must also comply with all applicable aircraft certifications, crew qualifications, and airport-specific operating procedures before utilizing the airport. Marketed as the world's fastest civil aircraft — with a top speed of Mach 0.95 and a range of approximately 8,000 nautical miles — the Global 8000 gains a meaningful commercial advantage with this approval. Bombardier says the capability enables nonstop connections from long-haul origins such as Singapore and Los Angeles directly into central London, subject to payload and regulatory constraints, positioning the aircraft as a uniquely capable option for ultra-high-net-worth travelers and corporate operators targeting the U.K. capital. You can get the latest aviation news at https://aviatordb.com