Former pilot sentenced to 10 years for nationwide theft of avionics equipment

United States District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle sentenced 61-year-old Mario Mercier Hernandez to the statutory maximum of ten years in federal prison for interstate transportation of stolen property. Mercier, who pleaded guilty on July 25, stole more than $1.1 million in avionics equipment from aircraft over several years.

The sentencing follows a multi-state investigation that uncovered a five-year burglary campaign targeting commercial and private aircraft at more than forty airports across the United States. Beginning around 2019, Mercier, a certified pilot, used his access and knowledge of airport operations to break into aircraft and remove valuable electronic components, including navigation systems, communication radios, and flight‑control units.

According to court documents, the stolen parts were subsequently sold through websites operated by Mercier’s businesses, JWG International and JWG Aviation, both based in the Middle District of Florida. JWG International is registered as a nonprofit organization that claims to provide aid to underprivileged children in Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.

The federal case ended after Mercier was arrested on May 23, 2024, while attempting to steal equipment from an aircraft at Caldwell Executive Airport in Caldwell, Idaho.

Mercier’s criminal history includes two prior convictions for similar offenses. In 1993, he was sentenced in the Eastern District of Texas for a series of avionics burglaries spanning Texas, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Vermont. A later conviction in 2007 in the Middle District of Florida involved transportation of stolen property tied to a comparable resale scheme.

“Today’s sentencing sends a clear and unequivocal message that those who engage in extensive, far-reaching schemes to steal, transport, and resell avionics equipment will face serious consequences,” said Greg Thompson, Special Agent‑in‑Charge of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Mid‑Atlantic Region. “Together with our law‑enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit our transportation systems and ensure they are brought to justice.”

The case underscores growing concerns within the aviation industry about the security of aircraft components and the potential for illicit trade to compromise both safety and supply chains.

Two Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes delivered to Canada's WestJet

Aviation Capital Group LLC (ACG), a premier global full-service aircraft asset manager, announced Thursday the delivery of two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to the Canadian airline WestJet.

These deliveries mark the completion of a two-aircraft sale-and-leaseback transaction between ACG and WestJet. Both aircraft, equipped with CFM LEAP-1B engines, were delivered to Seattle this week.

"We are delighted to complete the delivery of two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and to strengthen our long-standing relationship with WestJet,” said Carter White, chief commercial officer, ACG. “These modern, fuel-efficient aircraft will support WestJet’s fleet expansion and continued growth. We also extend our congratulations to WestJet as the airline celebrates its 30^th anniversary and wish the team continued success for the years ahead."

Founded in 1989, ACG has approximately 450 aircraft owned, managed, or leased to roughly 85 airlines in approximately 50 countries.

State Department looks to secure hangar space in Brazil for US Air Force aircraft

The U.S. Department of State (DoS) is seeking hangar space at Brasília International Airport in Brazil for a single Air Force C-12 aircraft (also known as Super King Air B200). The agreement, which would run from March 5 through Dec. 4, is valued at $64,528.30, according to contract documents.

Under the terms of the contract, the selected service provider will maintain a designated parking spot for the aircraft, ensure 24-hour ground support, and allocate an exclusive VHF frequency (130.4 MHz) for communications. The services are intended to enable the Department of War and its Defense Attaché Office (DAO) in Brasília to carry out routine operational duties, support diplomatic missions, and safeguard United States interests in the region.

“This will allow the Office of the Department of Defense and DAO to accomplish their assigned duties and defend the U.S. government interests and policies, working to further assist on making America prosperous, stronger, and safer,” DoS said in contract documents.

The Super King Air B200 and its military variant, the C‑12, are twin-engine turboprop platforms used for transport, personnel movement, and light surveillance. Their relatively short-range capabilities make them suitable for regional missions throughout South America, a region where the United States maintains a network of defense and diplomatic outposts.

Plane-spotting hobbyists in Brazil photographed a C-12 landing at Brasília International Airport in October 2016, bearing tail number 30496.

Interior Department solicits purchase of three helicopters for US Park Police

The U.S. Department of the Interior released a procurement solicitation on Tuesday that will purchase three new helicopters for the U.S. Park Police (USPP).

The aircraft will bolster the USPP's capability to conduct law enforcement, medical evacuation, visitor security, search-and-rescue, high-risk prisoner transport, Special Weapons and Tactics missions, and protection of the President of the United States and other dignitaries.

The solicitation calls for two medium-sized Bell 412 EPX helicopters and one lightweight Bell 407 GXi. Today, the USPP Aviation Unit currently utilizes two Bell 412s and a Bell 206L-3.

Bell 412 EPX – medium‑class platform

Each helicopter must be a twin-engine turbine aircraft with skid-type landing gear.

The airframes must be capable of rapid interior reconfiguration among law-enforcement, search-and-rescue (including hoist operations), and medical-transport layouts. In a medical configuration, the cockpit must accommodate a stretcher and a dedicated medical seat, while a passenger layout can add up to four seats beyond the pilot, co-pilot, and medical seat.

The helicopters are to be certified and equipped with a full suite of communications gear, including dual VHF‑AM transceivers, three police‑band FM radios covering VHF‑low, VHF‑high, UHF, 700 MHz, and 800 MHz bands.

a. VHF-low (29.7Mhz-50Mhz analog)

b. VHF-high (138MHz-174MHz)

c. UHF (406MHz-512MHz)

d. 700MHz (698MHz – 806MHz)

e. 800MHz (790MHz-862MHz)

Bell 407 GXi – light‑class platform

The third aircraft must be a single-engine turbine helicopter.

Factory seating for up to seven occupants is required, with an optional litter kit for medical evacuations. Like the Bell 412s, the 407 must carry the same communications suite and ensure interoperability across the USPP fleet.

Contract documents show the aircraft will be delivered on March 31, 2028.

FBI seeks large aircraft hangar in Richmond, Va.

[You can also view this story on Substack]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released a market research notice seeking potential providers of a leasehold interest in a large-scale aviation hangar and mission support facility in the Richmond, Va., metropolitan area. The “Sources Sought” document, released on Monday, is intended to gauge industry capability and does not constitute a solicitation or contract award.

Key parameters of the requirement

The agency estimates the need for roughly 80,000 square feet of secure hangar space capable of housing two Boeing 757‑200 jets and two Gulfstream G550 business aircraft simultaneously. Minimum technical specifications include:

Clear height: at least 46 feet.

Door opening: minimum 135 feet wide.

Floor loading: reinforced flooring able to support a maximum taxi weight of 256,000 lb or greater.

Operational access: direct, unrestricted connection to an active taxiway and a runway of at least 9,000 feet in length, with 24 / 7 / 365 access for both aircraft movements and air‑traffic control services.

The notice clarifies that the facility may be located on‑airport or on airport‑adjacent property, but the exact site is not identified. The FBI states that the requirements are “mission-driven” and do not reference any specific airport or operator.

Over recent months, aircraft operated by the U.S. Department of Justice have been observed landing at Richmond International Airport with a frequency that exceeds typical operational patterns. While the specific purpose of each flight remains classified for security reasons, the uptick has drawn attention from plane‑spotting hobbyists.

FBI contract documents dated July 2025 clearly state the agency maintains a dedicated Manassas Aviation Operations Hangar at Manassas Regional Airport, located roughly 70-75 miles northwest of Richmond.

Development options under consideration

Respondents may propose one of three approaches:

• Existing hangars that already meet the criteria or could be modified at a reasonable cost.
• Modified facilities where upgrades would bring an existing structure into compliance.
• New construction or build-to-suit projects provided the bidder can secure the necessary property rights, development authority, and airport approvals.

Submission deadline and contact

Companies interested in responding to the request must do so no later than March 31.

Implications for the aviation and construction sectors

If the FBI proceeds to a formal acquisition, the project could generate significant demand for specialized construction services, engineering expertise, and airport-adjacent real‑estate development in the Mid-Atlantic region.

US firm awarded contract to build CH-53K helicopter facility in Israel

The U.S. Department of War announced Friday that Exyte US Inc., headquartered in Albany, N.Y., has secured a firm‑fixed‑price contract to design and construct “bed down” facilities for CH‑53K heavy‑lift helicopter in Israel. The award is valued at $96,248,142 and is slated for completion by March 23, 2029.

The contract was announced through an Internet-based solicitation that attracted four bids. After evaluation, Exyte US was selected for the contract work to be performed at a base in Israel. Fiscal 2026 Foreign Military Sales (Israel) funds for $96,248,142 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Middle East District, is managing the contract.

Scope of work

The project involves a Design-Bid-Build, new construction of the CH-53K Bed-down site in Israel. The project includes the construction of Operational Level (O-Level) and Intermediate Level (I-Level) Hangars, associated support spaces, airfield improvements, grading and drainage improvements, and supporting infrastructure to support the bed down of CH-53K aircraft.

Maintenance Hangar Details

The O-Level Maintenance Hangar area will serve as a maintenance campus and will facilitate the general aircraft maintenance between missions.  This Hangar is designed to provide protected space for the maintenance of one CH-53K aircraft and additional storage/shelter for three partially folded CH-53K aircraft. The O-Level campus will also include parking spaces for up to ten aircraft, a Wash Pad, an Aircraft Rinse Pad, a Combat Depot, and a Chaff/Flare Locker.

The O-Level Hangar will provide space and equipment necessary to support the new CH-53K for the following functional areas:

• Aircraft Maintenance Hangar Bay
• Aircraft Storage Hangar Bay
• Aircraft Maintenance Administration
• Aircraft Maintenance Tool Room
• Hazardous Storage / Hazardous Waste
• Support Equipment Storage

The I-Level Maintenance Hangar and Depot-Level maintenance facility comprises two I-Level Maintenance Hangar bays to provide general aircraft maintenance and is designed to provide protected space for aircraft maintenance of two CH-53K aircraft.

The I-Level Hangar will provide space and equipment necessary to support the new CH-53K mission for the following functional areas:

• Aircraft Maintenance Hangar Bays
• Warehouse / Ground Equipment
• Hazardous Waste Area
• Blade Repair Shop
• Building Complex
• Parts Storage / Tool Room
• Facilities Complex
• Office Complex
• Engine Complex

CH-53K for Israel

In 2022, Lockheed Martin announced it would produce 12 CH-53K heavy lift helicopters for Israel under a U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales agreement.

This production announcement was for the first four of 12 aircraft for Israel and was on the heels of a contract to produce nine more aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps. The signed letter of offer and acceptance between the U.S. Government and Israel states that deliveries of the baseline aircraft were planned for 2025.

The CH-53K helicopters will replace the Israeli Air Force (IAF) fleet of modified CH-53D Yasur helicopters, which have been in Israel’s inventory for over 50 years. The all-new CH-53K delivers modern state-of-the-art capabilities that result in improved survivability, safety, and reduced aircrew workload over its predecessor, making it the perfect fit for the demanding IAF mission. Also, with a reduction in support equipment footprint compared to the legacy fleet, the CH-53K will mean reduced operating costs.

The aircraft are manufactured at Sikorsky headquarters in Stratford, Conn.

Starfighters Space moves to Critical Design Review for STARLAUNCH I rocket

Starfighters Space, Inc., the operator of the world’s largest fleet of commercial supersonic aircraft, announced Friday that it will proceed to a Critical Design Review (CDR) for its STARLAUNCH I rocket. The milestone follows a series of subsonic and supersonic wind‑tunnel tests that validated the vehicle’s separation dynamics and aligns the program with engineering support from GE Aerospace.

STARLAUNCH I is being developed as a suborbital vehicle capable of carrying payloads to altitudes of roughly 45,000 feet for air‑launch into space. The rocket is intended to enable short-duration microgravity missions and to serve as a pathfinder for future air-launched concepts. The vehicle will be released from one of Starfighters’ modified supersonic aircraft, which can be configured in-flight as a first-stage lifting platform for a variety of payloads.

The upcoming CDR, a structured program milestone, will provide an integrated review of the vehicle’s design baseline, system interfaces, verification plans, and key risks before full-scale fabrication and testing begin. Starfighters expects the review to focus on configuration control, manufacturability, and test readiness, as well as a verification sequence that moves from ground validation through drop‑testing to flight evaluation.

The wind‑tunnel campaign demonstrated that the rocket maintains aerodynamic stability during separation from the carrier aircraft under both subsonic and supersonic conditions. Based on those results, Starfighters has begun procurement of an instrumented demonstrator to be flown underwing, allowing real-world assessment of separation dynamics.

GE Aerospace, a long-time partner, will participate in the CDR to lend its expertise in propulsion integration and program discipline. The aerospace firm previously contributed engineering analysis and flight‑test support for STARLAUNCH’s early development phases and will continue to aid risk reduction as the project advances.