Technology & Innovation
NASA X-59 Reaches Mach 1.53 in First Year of Flight Testing
NASA’s X-59 Quesst aircraft hits Mach 1.53 and 56,000 ft across 41 flights, advancing toward acoustic validation testing.
NASA and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works marked the one-year anniversary of the X-59 Quesst aircraft’s first flight on October 28, 2026, announcing the experimental jet has reached speeds of Mach 1.53 and altitudes exceeding 56,000 feet.
The milestone, detailed in a NASA press release, signals the program’s steady progression toward its acoustic validation phase. This phase is a critical step in the agency’s effort to provide regulators with data that could eventually lift the decades-old ban on commercial supersonic flight over land.
Expanding the supersonic envelope
Since its inaugural flight on October 28, 2025, the X-59 has completed 40 additional flights. Operations are conducted from Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California, and NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
The flight test campaign has steadily expanded the aircraft’s operating envelope over the past twelve months. The X-59 achieved its first supersonic flight on June 5, 2026, reaching Mach 1.1 at 43,400 feet. One week later, on June 12, the aircraft reached its target mission conditions for the first time, flying at Mach 1.4 and 55,000 feet.
The testing pace accelerated in late 2026. In September, the team logged six flights in three days, marking the busiest week of testing to date. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman highlighted this momentum following the initial supersonic milestones.
X-59 is getting ready for its quiet supersonic debut. Since the aircraft’s first flight on Oct. 28, 2025, the team has made tremendous progress, flying 16 times in the last 90 days and getting into a steady test rhythm.
On October 21, 2026, NASA test pilot Mike Lippert took the controls of the X-59 for the first time, following extensive simulator training and engine runs conducted in August. Lippert described the flight as the realization of a lifelong dream to test a unique aircraft alongside an exceptional team.
The origins of the Quesst mission
The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) mission, a joint effort managed across the agency’s Langley, Glenn, Ames, and Armstrong aeronautical research centers.
Lockheed Martin was awarded the preliminary design contract for the aircraft in February 2016, followed by a final design and build contract in April 2018. The aircraft is engineered to reduce the sharp sonic boom typically associated with supersonic flight to a quieter “sonic thump,” targeting a perceived noise level of approximately 75 effective perceived noise decibels (EPNdB). NASA compares this sound level to a car door closing from 20 feet away.
Commercial supersonic flight over land has been banned in the North American United States and many other jurisdictions since 1973 due to the disruptive noise of sonic booms. This regulatory restriction effectively limited previous supersonic airliners, such as the Concorde, to transoceanic routes.
The Quesst mission aims to provide the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and international regulators with comprehensive acoustic data to establish new, data-driven noise thresholds.
Transitioning to acoustic validation
With the initial envelope expansion flights demonstrating the aircraft’s performance at Mach 1.53 and altitudes above 56,000 feet, the X-59 team will transition to the acoustic validation phase in the coming months.
This next phase will focus on analyzing the sound signatures the aircraft produces from the ground. Through 2029, NASA plans to fly the X-59 over several communities across the United States to gather data on human responses to the sound generated during supersonic flight.
The resulting dataset will be delivered to regulators, potentially opening a new market for commercial supersonic travel by replacing the current speed-based ban with a noise-based standard.
AirPro News analysis
The X-59’s progression to Mach 1.53 and 56,000 feet within its first year of flight testing indicates that the fundamental aerodynamic design is performing as expected. The real test for the Quesst mission, however, begins with the acoustic validation phase. Proving an aircraft can fly safely at supersonic speeds is a solved engineering problem; proving it can do so while generating a noise signature acceptable to the general public and regulators is unprecedented.
If the upcoming community overflights yield the targeted 75 EPNdB metric, it will place immense pressure on the FAA and international bodies to revise the 1973 overland ban. A shift from a blanket speed prohibition to a performance-based noise standard would fundamentally alter the business case for aerospace manufacturers, potentially catalyzing a new generation of commercial supersonic aircraft development.
Photo Credit: NASA
Sustainable Aviation
Singapore Airlines Signs SAF Offtake Deal with Aether Fuels
Singapore Airlines commits to buying SAF from Aether Fuels’ Project Beacon facility in Singapore, due online in 2028.
Singapore Airlines (SQ) has finalized a firm purchase agreement to offtake next-generation Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from Aether Fuels, becoming the first carrier to commit to the upcoming Project Beacon production facility in Singapore.
Announced in a joint press release on 28 October 2026, the agreement transitions a previous memorandum of understanding into a binding contract. The deal secures future fuel volumes to support the airline’s target of replacing 5 percent of its total fuel consumption with SAF by 2030.
Transitioning from framework to firm commitment
The 28 October 2026 announcement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two companies on 4 February 2025. That initial framework outlined the airline’s intention to procure neat SAF for a five-year period, with an option to extend for an additional five years, once Aether commenced commercial production.
While the companies confirmed the transition to a firm offtake agreement, the exact fuel volumes and financial terms were not disclosed in the release.
Project Beacon and the Aurora technology
Aether Fuels, a climate technology firm incubated and funded in 2022 by Temasek-backed deep tech venture firm Xora, officially launched Project Beacon on 11 November 2025. The project is a partnership with Aster, a joint venture between Indonesian chemical and infrastructure company Chandra Asri and commodities trader Glencore.
The commercial-scale SAF facility will be located at Aster’s refining hub on Pulau Bukom in Asia-Pacific in Singapore. Aster acquired this site from Shell to develop a dedicated sustainable fuels footprint. Construction of the facility is scheduled to commence in 2026.
Once operational in 2028, Project Beacon is projected to produce 50 barrels per day, equating to approximately 2,000 tons of SAF annually. The plant will utilize Aether’s proprietary Aurora technology to produce Fischer-Tropsch Synthesized Paraffinic Kerosene (FT-SPK). According to Aether Fuels, this pathway is expected to deliver a minimum 70 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.
De-risking commercial scale-up
The firm offtake agreement follows a critical technical milestone for Aether Fuels. On 29 September 2026, the company announced the successful operation of a fully integrated demonstration line at RTI International in North America.
The 2.5 barrel-per-day system combined Aether’s Aurora Tri-Converter and Upgrader units with an existing Fischer-Tropsch reactor. The demonstration successfully converted renewable natural gas derived from landfill gas and captured industrial carbon dioxide into synthetic aviation fuel meeting ASTM D7566 specifications. This successful run provided the engineering data required to de-risk the design and scale-up of the Project Beacon facility ahead of its construction phase.
Singapore’s SAF ecosystem and airline targets
The aviation industry is increasingly reliant on SAF to meet decarbonization targets, but feedstock availability remains a primary bottleneck. Aether’s FT-SPK pathway addresses this by utilizing industrial waste gases and biomethane, bypassing the constrained agricultural and lipid-based feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, that dominate current SAF production.
The agreement aligns with broader regional regulatory shifts. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has mandated a SAF levy for flights departing Singapore starting in 2026 to fund centralized SAF procurement. Singapore Airlines, which operates a fleet with an average age of under eight years, has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
AirPro News analysis
We view this firm offtake agreement as a clear indicator of the tightening future market for non-lipid SAF. The aviation sector’s reliance on Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) SAF is running into hard limits regarding used cooking oil and tallow availability. By committing to Aether’s FT-SPK product before the Project Beacon facility has even broken ground, Singapore Airlines is moving aggressively to lock in alternative feedstock pathways.
This early commitment is necessary for airlines aiming to meet 2030 mandates. The lead times for financing, constructing, and scaling novel waste-to-fuel facilities span several years, meaning airlines cannot wait for commercial production to begin before securing their supply lines.
Photo Credit: Aether Fuels
Technology & Innovation
AstraQua Wins $1.27M NASA Contract for AstraSense Software
NASA awards AstraQua a $1,274,990 SBIR Phase II contract to advance AstraSense predictive health software for electric aircraft.
AstraQua Inc. has secured a $1,274,990 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to advance its onboard predictive health management software for autonomous and electrified aircraft.
The definitive contract, awarded on October 7, 2026, and announced by the company in a press release on October 20, 2026, funds the continued development of AstraSense. The technology is designed to provide operational self-awareness for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, enabling autonomous machines to evaluate component degradation and adapt their tasks in real time.
Shifting from threshold alarms to predictive reasoning
AstraSense operates within AstraQua’s broader software architecture, known as the Adaptive Quorum Foundation Model (AQFM). The system is specifically tailored for electrified aircraft propulsion (EAP) applications. Rather than relying on rigid threshold alarms that trigger only when a component fails, AstraSense utilizes continuous predictive reasoning.
The software processes real-time sensor streams across electric propulsion units, battery arrays, and electromechanical actuators. Running locally on onboard processors, it evaluates early degradation signals and estimates the remaining operational capability of the aircraft.
“A robot should know when to slow down, not just when it has broken down,” said Loay Elbasyouni, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AstraQua. “That’s what we mean by teaching robots to feel pain: using their own health to make better, safer decisions in real time.”
Progression to a TRL-6 prototype
The Phase II award builds upon research initiated under a Phase I SBIR contract. During the initial phase, AstraQua demonstrated real-time diagnostics and predictive-health capabilities to NASA using motors, inverters, and electrical systems. NASA subsequently selected the company’s proposal, titled “AstraSense: AI-Driven Health Predictions for Sustainable Aviation,” for Phase II negotiation on July 21, 2026.
Under the definitive contract, which carries a period of performance ending on April 9, 2028, AstraQua aims to advance AstraSense from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to TRL 6. The 18-month development cycle will culminate in the delivery of an integrated prototype demonstrated in a relevant environment.
AstraQua, which maintains operations in California and Kentucky, focuses on developing Agentic Physical AI to help autonomous machines perceive, reason, and adapt across various domains. Elbasyouni previously served as the lead electrical engineer for NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopters and led rocket-engine avionics at Blue Origin.
AirPro News analysis
The ability to process health data locally on the aircraft addresses a critical vulnerability in advanced air mobility (AAM) operations. Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and other autonomous platforms operating in edge environments cannot always rely on continuous cloud connectivity due to communications latency or signal blackouts. By shifting the computational load to onboard processors, AstraQua’s technology aligns with the stringent safety margins required by regulators for autonomous flights over populated areas. If successful, predictive health management systems like AstraSense could accelerate the certification pathways for eVTOL original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and propulsion suppliers by demonstrating deterministic, fail-safe decision-making capabilities independent of ground control.
Photo Credit: AstraQua
Technology & Innovation
CAE Sells Flightscape to SITA for US$500 Million
CAE agrees to sell its Flightscape airline operations software to SITA for US$500M, with closing expected in H1 2027.
CAE Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its airline operations software business, Flightscape, to multinational information technology provider SITA for an enterprise value of US$500 million. The divestment, announced on October 26, 2026, marks a strategic realignment for both aviation technology providers.
According to press releases issued by both companies, the transaction allows Montreal-based CAE to redirect capital toward its core simulation and training divisions. For Geneva-based SITA, the acquisition accelerates a broader corporate shift toward providing data-driven operational intelligence and disruption management tools for commercial airlines.
Strategic realignment for CAE and SITA
The sale of Flightscape aligns with CAE’s stated strategy to deploy capital into its core simulation and training businesses while returning capital to shareholders. The company operates training locations in over 40 countries, serving commercial airlines, business aviation, and defense forces.
Matthew Bromberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of CAE, characterized the sale as a necessary step in the company’s evolution.
“This transaction is fully consistent with our transformation plan and will sharpen CAE’s focus to our core Civil and Defense businesses, where we are best positioned to lead,” Bromberg stated.
For SITA, an organization owned by the air transport community, the acquisition represents a significant expansion of its software portfolio. SITA has traditionally focused on telecommunications and connecting aviation industry partners. The integration of Flightscape signals a pivot toward actionable operational intelligence.
David Lavorel, Chief Executive Officer of SITA, noted that the acquisition will connect operational decisions with insights from across the aviation ecosystem. Lavorel stated the combined capabilities will help customers anticipate disruptions, recover more effectively, and run more resilient operations.
The aviation industry is increasingly relying on artificial intelligence and data-driven platforms to manage complex operations. Yann Cabaret, CEO of SITA for Aircraft, emphasized the role of technology in high-pressure environments.
“The hardest decisions in an operations control center come when plans change and every minute counts,” Cabaret said. “Technology and AI can now help airlines and their partners see more of what is happening and respond together.”
The role of Flightscape in airline operations
Flightscape is a cloud-native, data-driven software platform designed specifically for airline operations. The system provides integrated modules for flight planning, crew management, operations control, ground activities, and in-flight services. By centralizing these functions, the software allows operators to optimize schedules and forecast crew resources.
More than 90 airlines globally use Flightscape software on a daily basis to manage their networks and recover from operational disruptions. SITA has confirmed it plans to maintain the platform’s modular and open architecture following the acquisition.
Flightscape will continue operating as usual under CAE until the transaction officially closes.
Transaction details and timeline
The US$500 million enterprise value of the transaction remains subject to customary adjustments. Both parties have engaged extensive advisory teams to facilitate the deal. CAE retained BMO Capital Markets and Citigroup Global Markets as financial advisors, with Norton Rose Fulbright serving as legal advisor. SITA engaged Rothschild & Co. as its sole financial advisor and Borden Ladner Gervais as legal advisor.
The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027. The finalization of the deal is pending the receipt of required regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
AirPro News analysis
We view the US$500 million sale of Flightscape as a clear illustration of two major aviation technology providers retreating to their respective areas of absolute advantage. CAE is doubling down on the physical and simulated training infrastructure required to address the global pilot shortage. This focus was evident in the company’s recent deployment of four new full-flight simulators across the Americas for the Global 6500, Praetor 600, PC-24, and CJ4 platforms. Managing a cloud-native airline operations software suite, while profitable, diverts executive attention and capital from CAE’s core competency in simulation.
Conversely, SITA is moving aggressively beyond its traditional role as a telecommunications pipeline for the air transport industry. By acquiring a platform already embedded in the daily operations of more than 90 airlines, SITA instantly positions itself as a central node for artificial intelligence and predictive analytics in airline operations control centers. As airlines face increasing pressure to mitigate the financial impact of weather and air traffic control disruptions, owning the software that dictates crew recovery and flight planning gives SITA a highly lucrative, sticky product line that complements its existing infrastructure.
Photo Credit: SITA
-
Business Aviation5 days agoDTA Aircraft JP1 eVTOL Targets April 2027 US Flight Testing
-
Regulations & Safety4 days agoFAA Launches MedGuide Medication Database for Aviators
-
Business Aviation5 days agoCivil Air Patrol Orders 21 Cessna Aircraft From Textron Aviation
-
Space & Satellites5 days agoBAE Systems Acquires Colorado Facility for Space Hardware
-
Technology & Innovation3 days agoSkyfly Technologies Raises $10M to Certify Axe eVTOL