Two former P.F. Chang restaurant executives join Red Lobster

Red Lobster, an iconic seafood restaurant brand, announced Monday the appointments of Brad Hill as chief financial officer and executive vice president, Transformation, and Kristen Briede as chief global development officer. Both executives will join the company's executive leadership team and report to Red Lobster Chief Executive Officer Damola Adamolekun.

Brad Hill: Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Transformation

As Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Transformation, Hill will lead Red Lobster's finance organization, oversee planning, forecasting, and stakeholder reporting, and partner with operations to drive performance excellence. He will also lead the company's strategic real estate efforts, from negotiations through economic analysis and deal execution.

Hill previously held multiple executive roles at P.F. Chang's, where he partnered finance and operations to drive sustained performance and executed major real estate initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hill succeeds Bob Baker, who has departed the company. “Red Lobster thanks Baker for his contributions and wishes him well,” the company said in a press release.

“We're now shifting from stabilization to a disciplined, execution-led growth phase focused on optimizing the guest experience, driving operational excellence, accelerating real estate optimization and building a stronger platform for durable growth," said Adamolekun in a company statement.

Kristen Briede: Chief Global Development Officer

As Chief Global Development Officer, Briede will lead Red Lobster's asset‑light growth and brand development agenda, including domestic and international franchising, travel and airport formats, and strategic partnerships, retail and licensing opportunities that extend the brand beyond the dining room.

Briede brings deep experience building and scaling franchising and partnership platforms at leading restaurant brands, including P.F. Chang's and Steak 'n Shake, with a track record of launching new growth channels and putting in place the systems, standards, and partner governance required to scale sustainably.

These leadership changes reflect Red Lobster's commitment to strengthening its operational foundation, enhancing agility, and delivering an improved experience for guests as the company continues executing its long‑term growth plan.

Video: Hermeus completes first flight of Quarterhorse Mk 2.1

Hermeus, an Atlanta-based aerospace startup backed by venture capital, announced Monday that its latest prototype, the Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, has completed a maiden flight.

The flight, conducted over the airspace of White Sands Missile Range from Spaceport America in New Mexico, was remotely piloted from Hermeus’ ground-based flight deck and was intended to validate the aircraft’s systems, handling qualities, and operational procedures ahead of a planned supersonic test campaign.

The aircraft, roughly the size of an F-16 fighter jet and powered by a Pratt & Whitney F100 engine, is nearly three times larger and four times heavier than the company’s earlier Quarterhorse Mk 1, which first took to the skies in May. While the Mk 1 demonstrated Hermeus’ rapid, iterative development model, the Mk 2.1 is designed to fly at speeds exceeding Mach 1, making it one of the largest unmanned platforms ever built for high‑speed flight.

"Speed is the fundamental requirement for our flight systems and for our company," said AJ Piplica, CEO and founder of Hermeus. "We're building and flying aircraft on timelines that match the urgency of the world we're in. Today's flight kicks off a critical flight test campaign that will ultimately get us to supersonic speeds, bringing the United States closer to having the high-speed capability it needs now, not decades from now."

The current Mk 2 phase aims to achieve and expand supersonic capability through a succession of prototypes, each larger and more capable than its predecessor. According to the company, the subsequent Mk 2.2 prototype is slated for a flight later this year, and later phases will focus on unlocking sustained ramjet-powered cruise—an ambition Hermeus hopes to realize for the United States by the end of the decade.

The successful flight of Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 adds momentum to Hermeus’ broader effort to field next-generation, high-speed unmanned aircraft for defense and security applications. As the program moves into the next stage of testing, observers will watch how the company balances rapid development with the stringent safety and reliability standards required for operational deployment.

Delta Air Lines secures 34 more Airbus A321neo jets

Delta Air Lines announced Friday that it will exercise options for 34 additional Airbus A321neo aircraft, bringing the total number of A321neo jets in its fleet to 189. The new aircraft are slated for delivery beginning in 2029, marking the latest step in Delta’s long-term fleet‑modernization program.

The A321neo, equipped with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, is the most cost-effective narrow-body model in Delta’s operating roster. According to the airline, the jet delivers a 20‑30% improvement in fuel efficiency over the previous generation of aircraft it replaces.

Since receiving its first A321neo in 2022, Delta has built a fleet of 92 aircraft in service and holds 97 firm orders, including the 34‑aircraft option exercised Friday. The carrier also retains options for a further 36 A321neo jets, giving it flexibility to adapt to future network and demand shifts.

Beyond the economics, the A321neo is positioned as a “pillar” of Delta’s next‑generation narrow‑body strategy because of its cabin configuration. The aircraft features a three-class layout—Delta First, Delta Comfort and Delta Main—with a higher proportion of premium seats than any other narrow-body type in Delta’s fleet. Passengers will benefit from seat‑back entertainment, power outlets at every seat, larger overhead bins and upgraded seating designed to improve comfort across all cabins.

Delta’s broader fleet plan this year includes two separate wide‑body orders announced this year, comprising more than 60 aircraft: Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Airbus A330‑900s and A350‑900s.

The additional 34 A321neos will be integrated into Delta’s domestic and short‑haul international routes, where the aircraft’s range and capacity are well suited to high‑traffic corridors. The airline expects the new planes to support its strategy of offering more premium seating options while maintaining competitive ticket pricing.

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Single Air delivers first Pilatus PC‑12 PRO to Mexican operator

Single Air, an Authorized Pilatus Center, handed over its first PC‑12 PRO to a Mexican customer recently, bringing the latest iteration of the Swiss-made turboprop to the country’s aviation market. The delivery introduces a model equipped with a fully digital Garmin cockpit, the Safety Autoland System and an enhanced cabin layout designed for higher passenger comfort.

The PC‑12 PRO is positioned as a multi-role platform capable of serving business‑jet charters, corporate transport, government missions and operations in remote regions. Its ability to operate from short, unpaved runways is seen as a particular advantage in Mexico’s varied terrain, which includes mountainous areas, desert strips and coastal airfields.

Speaking at the handover, Adrian Zambrano, managing director of Single Air, commented: “In Mexico, the unique capabilities of the PC-12 and the PC-24 are driving growing demand for both aircraft. The first delivery of the brand-new PC-12 PRO confirms the high degree of customer confidence in Pilatus’ innovative strength.”

Pilatus Aircraft highlighted that the PC‑12 family now exceeds 2,200 deliveries worldwide and has accumulated more than 11 million flight hours. The PC‑12 PRO will continue this record, pairing the proven Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engine with a fully automatic Engine and Propeller Electronic Control System. The PT6 platform, which powers over 60,000 engines and has logged more than 400 million flight hours, is widely regarded for its reliability and safety.

Adrian Zambrano further emphasizes: “In a single-engine aircraft, the choice of powerplant is crucial for our customers. They want a tried-and-tested product – which only the PC-12 PRO can offer in this class of aircraft.”

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.