Aviation

Bloomberg All but the smallest civilian drones would have to broadcast radio tracking data to ensure greater safety and prevent terrorism under a sweeping proposal unveiled by US regulators. The long-awaited draft rules call for a massive new tracking network for everything from toys to larger commercial drones so that law enforcement can spot the devices flying anywhere, from congested …

Bloomberg A new batch of messages between Boeing Co. employees on the development of the 737 Max paints a “very disturbing picture” of concerns about the plane, according to an aide to a House committee. The documents were turned over to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the agency said in a statement. The disclosure came the same day that Boeing ousted …

Bloomberg At least a dozen people died after a plane crashed shortly after takeoff in southeastern Kazakhstan, leading local authorities to ground the rest of budget carrier Bek Air’s fleet. The twin-turbofan Fokker 100 aircraft was carrying 98 people including five crew members, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said at a news conference in the former capital Almaty. Another …

Bloomberg Go Airlines India Ltd. said delays by Airbus SE in delivering new A320neo jets were partly to blame for flight turmoil, adding to evidence the European planemaker may be struggling to meet production targets. GoAir “experienced delivery delays during the month of November and December, adding to its operational challenges,” it said in an emailed statement. The budget carrier …

Bloomberg China launched a Long March 5 rocket from the island province of Hainan, a key step in its ambitions to reach Mars and cement its place as a major power in space exploration. The country’s largest carrier rocket, with a diameter of 5 meters (16 feet), blasted off from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center at 8:45 pm local time and …

Bloomberg Boeing Co. said another high-ranking executive working on the company’s response to the 737 Max crisis will step down. Michael Luttig, 65, will retire at year-end, Boeing said in a statement, three days after the planemaker announced the departure of Dennis Muilenburg as chief executive officer. Luttig, the company’s former general counsel, was reassigned in May to advise Muilenburg …

Bloomberg Mexico’s decision to cancel a $13 billion airport has made investors hungrier to participate in the expansion of Peru’s main air terminus, according to the project’s director. Anton Aramayo, who is overseeing the plans at Lima Airport Partners, said dozens of international companies are interested in bidding for around $1.2 billion of works to build a second runway and …

Bloomberg An American Airlines Group Inc. mechanic pleaded guilty to attempted destruction of an aircraft for tampering with a critical flight-monitoring device on a jet in Miami. Abdul-Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani, 60, entered the plea in federal court in Miami to a single count, the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida said in a statement. Alani told investigators …

Bloomberg Boeing Co.’s incoming boss David Calhoun faces a daunting task when he takes over as chief executive officer next year: rescuing the 737 Max while mending the company’s fractured relationship with US regulators. But that’s just the first of the hurdles awaiting him. Calhoun, who takes the reins January 13, will be leading a once-proud company whose reputation for …

Bloomberg As Boeing Co. halts production of its beleaguered 737 Max, global rival Airbus SE is grappling with a very different problem: speeding output of its rival narrow-body. So-called “stretch” versions of the A320neo jet have sparked an order frenzy as airlines snap them up to replace costly twin-aisle planes on longer routes or cram in seats on shorter legs. …