The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
May 7, 2025
NDTA – CAS
Surface Force Projection Conference
Register Today!
Education, Deployment, and Sustainment Readiness are the key reasons for our meeting at the SFPC! Don’t miss this great opportunity to join the Surface Force Projection Conference (SFPC), June 10-12, 2025! […READ MORE…]
NDTA Europe & Africa Regional Workshop 2025
Register today for the 2025 Europe & Africa Regional Workshop! Registration closes May 16. Join the NDTA Europe & Africa Regional Committee, in collaboration with the NATO Support & Procurement Agency, for an opportunity to reconnect, strengthen partnerships, and gain deeper insight into the current challenges facing EUCOM and AFRICOM. Explore solutions and develop ideas for future cooperation.
April 30, 2025
The legislators first introduced this bill with overwhelming support from industry leaders in December of 2024
Today, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-8), and Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS-1) re-introduced the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act, comprehensive legislation to revitalize the United States shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries. Other co-sponsors in the Senate include Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator John Fetterman (D-PA).
There are currently 80 U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce while China has 5,500. The SHIPS for America Act aims to close this gap and boost the U.S. Merchant Marine by establishing national oversight and consistent funding for U.S. maritime policy, making U.S.-flagged vessels commercially competitive in international commerce by cutting red tape, rebuilding the U.S. shipyard industrial base, and expanding and strengthening mariner and shipyard worker recruitment, training, and retention. […READ MORE…]
Pentagon Warns It’s Not Prepared for Homeland Drone Attack
Citing the hundreds of drones that flew around military sites last year, defense officials warned that the Pentagon is still unprepared to defend its installations—but say a new standard operating procedure, and expanded authorities, could help.
“Mass drone incursions over Joint Base Langley-Eustis in December 2023 reminded us that the homeland is no longer a sanctuary, and should our adversary choose to employ drones for surveillance or even attack, we would not be prepared to adequately defend our homeland and only marginally capable to defend our military installations,” Rear Adm. Paul Spedero, vice director for operations for the Joint Staff, said Tuesday during a House oversight subcommittee on military and foreign affairs hearing.
The mysterious drone swarms over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia in 2023 raised questions about when base commanders can legally take down drones, and how the military should coordinate with the various agencies that oversee US airspace. […READ MORE…]
Republican Chair Unveils $15B plan to Modernize Air Traffic Control
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) released a budget reconciliation proposal Tuesday that would allocate $15 billion for the modernization of air traffic control technology.
The funds would go to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) efforts to improve the nation’s aviation infrastructure by replacing outdated technology, modernizing the air traffic control radar systems, and enhancing the hiring of air traffic controllers. […READ MORE…]
Editor’s Picks
Army Pauses Helicopter Flights Near DC Airport After More Close Calls
(Military Times) The Army is pausing helicopter flights near a Washington airport after two commercial planes had to abort landings last week because of an Army Black Hawk helicopter that was flying to the Pentagon.
The commander of the 12th Aviation Battalion directed the unit to pause helicopter flight operations around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following Thursday’s close calls.
World’s Biggest Plane ‘Skytanic’ Will Take to the Skies by 2030
(The U.S. Sun) Officially called WindRunner, the colossal aircraft will be able to carry 12 times more than a Boeing 747. WindRunner will measure an incredible 356 feet and will be 79 feet tall.
The company behind it, Radia, has already been working on the plans for almost a decade. While it will be a versatile vehicle, the size and shape of WindRunner are designed to accommodate one specific item: wind turbines. Wind turbine blades are enormous and incredibly tricky to transport on roads, and normal planes are too small to handle them.
Bollinger Approved to Start Full Construction of First Polar Security Cutter
(USNI.org) The Coast Guard has given a Mississippi shipyard the green light to start full production of the first heavy US icebreaker in almost 50 years. Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding can now expand production of the future USCGC Polar Sentinel, the first in the new class of Polar Security Cutters, beyond preliminary modules that have been in production in the Pascagoula shipyard since 2023.
The First Driverless Semis Have Started Running Regular Long-haul Routes
(CNN.com) Driverless trucks are officially running their first regular long-haul routes, making roundtrips between Dallas and Houston.
Autonomous trucking firm Aurora announced it launched commercial service in Texas under its first customers, Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines, which delivers time- and temperature-sensitive freight. Both companies conducted test runs with Aurora, including safety drivers to monitor the self-driving technology dubbed “Aurora Driver.” Aurora’s new commercial service will no longer have safety drivers.
China Is Shaping the Future of Shipping with a New Army of Ghost Trucks
(Fast Company) Beijing has set autonomous logistics as one of its priority objectives for its 2030 national agenda. The futuristic vehicle is part of a fleet of driverless light trucks that can carry 1,000 parcels each completely unattended over a range of more than 110 miles. These vehicles, operated by Chinese logistics giant ZTO Express, are the vanguard of a silent, state-sponsored effort to revolutionize the way China ships goods around the country.
Cab-less Truck Glider Leaps Autonomously Between Road and Rail
Dual-mode vehicles that can travel on roads and rails have been around for a while now, with the idea being explored over a century ago. In 2025, Glid Technologies is set to launch a pilot project running its autonomous road-rail vehicle on California’s Skunk Train route. The Utah-based startup has partnered with Mendocino Railway to integrate the former’s Glider M hybrid-powered manned road-to-rail vehicle, along with an autonomous version, onto the 40-mile heritage and freight route along the Willits-to-Fort Bragg corridor in California.
How Delta’s Sustainability Strategy Drives Innovation and Fuel Savings
As Delta continues its journey to net-zero emissions by 2050, the airline remains committed to decarbonizing operations long term, while making changes within its control now to save on jet fuel. Every destination and airport are different and present unique opportunities to save jet fuel. Enter Delta’s Flight Ops and OCC teams, who, in collaboration with Delta’s cross-functional Carbon Council, optimized a landing approach into Hilo Airport in Hawaii that requires less fuel.
DHL Cuts Ties with Cargo Airlines as Efficiency Initiative Ramps Up
DHL’s recent cancellation of transport partnerships with third-party airlines supporting its courier and freight forwarding networks is part of a new cost improvement campaign that helped the Express division achieve first-quarter operating profit despite lower shipment volume and rising trade volatility.
DHL Express’ operating profit increased 4.8% year over year to $754 million as efficiency measures ramped up, while better pricing and product mix boosted revenue 2%, according to DHL Group financial results released Wednesday.
FedEx Converts Parcel Freighter to Heavy Cargo Operation
FedEx has redeployed another large freighter from its overnight parcel network to its daytime operation focused on deferred cargo as it pursues more business from freight forwarders. The integrated parcel logistics company last week announced that it has added a nonstop flight between Liège, Belgium, and its global hub in Memphis, Tennessee, utilizing a Boeing 777 freighter aircraft. The new flight increases frequency on the route from five to eight times per week.
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