Microsoft Flight Simulator fans have fresh runway news this week, with Microsoft’s March 5, 2026 Weekly Briefing confirming two major sim developments. First, Sim Update 16.1 for Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) has officially been released. Second, a new Sim Update 5 beta build for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is now live. According to Microsoft, Sim Update 16.1 is a smaller release focused mainly on stability and crash fixes for MSFS […]

Spirit Airlines is showing signs of life again, recalling furloughed pilots as the ultra-low-cost carrier works toward emerging from bankruptcy. Reuters reported on March 10, 2026 that Spirit has begun bringing back nearly 500 pilots, a move that signals the airline is trying to steady the ship and prepare for its next chapter. The recall comes as Spirit moves through restructuring with the backing of lenders and aims to exit […]

Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport could be headed for another busy-season squeeze, as the Federal Aviation Administration is reportedly seeking deeper cuts to flight schedules for the summer travel period. According to Reuters, the FAA wants to reduce daily operations more than it had originally proposed, with the goal of easing congestion and limiting delays at one of the nation’s busiest hubs. The report says the summer scheduling window in question […]

Microsoft has rolled out a new minor update for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, and while this one may not come with flashy new features or headline-grabbing aircraft, it does bring something many simmers will gladly take: improved stability. Sim Update 16.1 (version 1.39.12.0) officially went live on March 2, 2026 and focuses on fixing a handful of crash-related issues across PC and Xbox. One of the biggest fixes in this […]

AOPA is backing a new bipartisan bill that would help modernize safety at federal contract towers by bringing ADS-B-based situational awareness tools to airports that currently operate without radar or similar surveillance systems. The proposal, called the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act, was introduced in late February and aims to close a long-standing gap at smaller towered airports across the country. According to AOPA, more than 90 contract towers […]