Mystery Drones Swarm Over New Jersey

Good morning! This week is extra special, as my alma mater (the Naval Academy) gets ready to square off against West Point for the 125th Army-Navy Football Game. Navy leads the series 62–54–7, though last year we saw Army triumph 20–17 in double overtime… let’s hope that doesn’t happen again in 2024.

Go Navy, BEAT ARMY!

-Rob Roy

In today’s email:

• Mystery Drone Sightings in New Jersey

• Around the Skies: Earhart’s plane eludes discovery, Seattle’s aviation icon shuts down, Boeing bosses fly budget, Honeywell and Bombardier unite, Controller’s calm saves pilot, Neptune expands aerial firefighting fleet

• PilotTube: What Actually Happened To Amelia Earhart?

THE BUSINESS OF AVIATION

The Drone Mystery Gripping the Garden State

Clusters of mysterious drones have been buzzing around New Jersey for weeks, leaving residents and law enforcement puzzled—and a bit uneasy. These larger-than-usual drones have been spotted hovering over homes, buildings and even golf courses, typically at night. While the FAA and local law enforcement (including the FBI) are investigating, no one seems to know who’s flying them or why.

The drones’ appearances have already caused disruptions, including an aborted medical helicopter landing at a local college. Temporary flight restrictions have been implemented near sensitive locations, like Trump National Golf Club and Picatinny Arsenal, but sightings persist. Federal, state and local authorities are asking residents to share footage or information about the drone operators. Despite the mysterious buzz, officials maintain there is no known threat to public safety—just an ongoing nuisance with serious potential risks.

While unidentified drones aren’t new, their presence raises questions about privacy, safety and airspace security. FAA rules requiring drones to broadcast live identification were designed to prevent such rogue operations, but compliance appears optional for these nighttime intruders. The FBI and other agencies continue to monitor the situation, leaving New Jersey residents to wonder if their neighborhood skies will ever go back to being, well, uneventful.

For now, New Jersey is left with more questions than answers: Who’s flying these drones? Why are they there? And what does this mean for privacy and airspace safety in the future?

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AROUND THE SKIES

🛩️ A deep-sea exploration company recently announced that a sonar image initially believed to be Amelia Earhart's missing plane turned out to be a rock formation. After combing through nearly 7,700 square miles of ocean floor, South Carolina-based Deep Sea Vision confirmed that their hopes were dashed. Despite this unexpected twist, the search for Earhart’s Lockheed Electra marches on, proving that the mystery remains far from solved.

🛩️ After 94 years and 20,000 pilots trained, Seattle’s Galvin Flying has abruptly closed, citing financial challenges. Once a cornerstone of Boeing Field, its closure marks the end of an era for the city’s aviation community. As equipment is sold and facilities are vacated, the skies feel a little emptier without this historic institution.

🛩️ Boeing execs are swapping luxury jets for economy seats as CEO Kelly Ortberg slashes Challenger 650 flights by 80% to reduce costs. It’s all part of a plan to address Boeing’s production challenges and hefty expenses—talk about a corporate culture shift.

🛩️ Honeywell and Bombardier have settled their 2016 lawsuit and teamed up to co-develop new technologies, including a next-generation HTF7000 engine and Anthem avionics. The collaboration hints at a potential Challenger 3500 refresh or a new super-midsize jet.

🛩️ New Zealand controller Kate Lindsey heroically talked down a panicked student pilot at Dunedin Airport, successfully guiding her to a safe landing. Local pilots pitched in, delaying flights and providing escort support. The student nailed the landing but promptly retired her wings—proving some dreams are best left grounded.

🛩️ Neptune Aviation is converting Airbus A319s into 4,500-gallon water bombers, increasing capacity by 50% compared to its current fleet. Partnering with Aerotec & Concept, the first retrofit is scheduled for completion in 2027, promising safer and more efficient wildfire missions.

PilotTube

The mistakes of Amelia Earhart’s final flight (and the physics that could have saved her).

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