Aviation Week & Space Technology, September 26, 2016 is available to both Aviation Week & Space Technology and AWIN subscribers.

Subscribe now to read this content, plus receive critical analysis into emerging trends, technological advancements, operational best practices and continuous updates to policy, requirements and budgets.

Already a subscriber to AW&ST or AWIN? Log in with your existing email and password.

Subscribe    Log in    
Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, September 26, 2016

VOL. 178 NO. 39 September 26, 2016

Aeronautical Engineering

article

Newcomers, Established Players Share NASA X-plane Funding

Sep 22, 2016
As NASA widens its search for ultra-efficient X-plane demonstrators, little-known design house Dzyne Technologies unveils its proposal for a blended wing-body business jet and small airliner.
article

A Closer Look At NASA’s Options For Large-Scale X-Planes

Sep 23, 2016
Double-bubble D8, Blended Wing Body, Transonic Truss-Braced Wing, Hybrid Wing Body and a small-airliner-size BWB – the configurations NASA is considering for planned ultra-efficient subsonic transport demonstrators.

First Take

article

First Take (Sept. 26, 2016)

Sep 23, 2016
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Reusable Launch Technology

article

Reaction Engines Refines Hypersonic Engine Demonstrator Plan

Sep 21, 2016
Reaction Engines is firming up plans to build a fighter engine-size ground demonstrator of its reusable hypersonic propulsion system.
article

United Launch Alliance Vulcan Engine Reuse Gains Ground

Sep 21, 2016
United Launch Alliance is taking the first steps along an alternate path involving recovery of only the first-stage engines.

Technology

article

Testing For FAA Sheds Light On UAS Collision Risks

Sep 20, 2016
Risk of injury from drones falling on people’s heads appears to be less than expected, but a small UAS hitting an aircraft will not be the same as a birdstrike, initial research indicates.
article

The Week In Technology, Sept. 19-23, 2016

Sep 19, 2016
Israel’s ducted-rotor cargo UAS; distributed flaps improve efficiency; submarine-launched drone tested; Prodrone’s grasping, clinging UAS; DARPA’s counter-UAS Dragnet.

Commercial Aviation

article

Trade Organization Ruling Stokes Boeing-Airbus Subsidy Battle

Sep 23, 2016
A World Trade Organization compliance panel has found state sponsors of the Airbus Group did not properly remove illegal subsidies for building large civil aircraft. Boeing representatives say the decision could mean more than $10 billion in allowable annual trade clawbacks for the U.S.
article

China Clamps Down On Airline Licensing

Sep 19, 2016
From full speed ahead to slamming on the brakes: The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has formally tightened rules on setting up airlines, around five months after it suspended authorizations, unannounced.
article

Simpler 737-10X, New Midsize Airplane Both ‘Doable’

Sep 30, 2016
The design space remains wide open for a potential second stretch of the 737 MAX family to counter the Airbus A321neo, Boeing says, but as assembly of the first 737-9 nears, the manufacturer appears to be leaning toward a simpler, lower-risk derivative.
article

ATC Reform Advocates Vow To Press On and Win

Sep 20, 2016
With little more than a year until the FAA’s authorization runs out, debates over whether air traffic control should be handed to the private sector are raging.

Business

article

Hiccups Notwithstanding, UAV Market Looks Promising

Sep 22, 2016
What goes up must come down, but in the UAV market, looks can be deceiving.

Space

article

Airbus Safran Launchers Aims For 2020 Ariane 6 First Flight

Sep 19, 2016
Lower cost is key for Europe’s future launchers.
article

Launch Service Provider CEOs Discuss Future Space Challenges

Sep 21, 2016
The recent accident that destroyed a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket offers competing launch service providers an opportunity to tout their relative strengths.

Defense

article

Unmanned Wingmen For Japan’s Piloted Force Planned For 2030s

Sep 23, 2016
Japan's defense ministry says it will “acquire high-autonomy technology to realize an unmanned wingman for the F-3 in 15 to 20 years.”
article

Bell’s Military Future Tied To V-280-Like Tiltrotors

Sep 16, 2016
Bell Helicopter plans to offer tiltrotors for almost every anticipated U.S. military requirement as its V-280 Valor prototype comes together in Amarillo, Texas.
article

Bell Banking On Advanced Military Tiltrotor Candidates

Sep 23, 2016
Bell has unveiled the smaller V-247 Vigilant tiltrotor, aimed at an emerging U.S. Marine Corps requirement for a ship-based expeditionary, endurance unmanned aircraft system.
article

U.S. Air Force Wants Stealthy, Laser-Shooting Next-Gen Tanker

Sep 28, 2016
Facing an increasingly contested battlespace, Air Mobility Command is looking for follow-on tankers—even stealthy ones—and wants a survivable new tanker to escort fighters and bombers into conflicts.­­­­
article

USAF Dubs B-21 Stealth Bomber 'Raider,' Honoring Doolittle

Sep 19, 2016
U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah James says the new bomber will be called the Raider, in honor of the Doolittle Raiders that fought Japan during World War II.
article

Aero Vodochody L-39NG Development Program Progresses

Sep 22, 2016
A jet trainer free from International Traffic in Arms Regulations could grab a significant chunk of that market.
article

Czech Manufacturer Refocuses Strategy On Defense Production

Sep 22, 2016
New Aero Vodochody CEO Giuseppe Giordo charts path to aircraft production.
article

The Week In Defense, Sept. 22-29

Sep 22, 2016
In this week’s roundup, a South Korean company agrees to market Israeli-made loitering munitions in the Pacific nation; the Argentinian air force buys a handful of training aircraft; BAE Systems advances microchip technology; and Orbital ATK shows off an extended-range version of the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile.

Up Front

article

Opinion: Why Low Oil Prices Are Bad For Business Aircraft

Sep 29, 2016
Business jet demand was once linked to a wide array of economic indicators, especially equities markets and corporate profits. Since 2008, these links have broken down.

Going Concerns

article

U.S. Defense R&D Trough Brings Consequences

Sep 23, 2016
Officials and executives should turn some attention to the drought of new defense projects on the horizon.

Airline Intel

article

Opinion: Airlines Sending Clear Signals About A380's Future

Sep 23, 2016
Singapore Airlines’ return of its first A380 is terrible news for Airbus and the funds that own the aircraft.

In Orbit

article

Space Benefits Touted To Cash-Strapped European Politicians

Sep 21, 2016
New head of Germany’s DLR space agency and her colleagues across Europe lobby for money to fund future projects.

Washington Outlook

article

U.S. ATC Reform Draws Support At Industry Summit

Sep 23, 2016
In this week’s Washington Outlook, American Airlines and others continue fight to overhaul the FAA; U.S. needs to move faster to counter Chinese and Russian space prowess; rethinking Syrian conflict; Boeing can sell aircraft to Iran.

Viewpoint

article

Taiwan To ICAO: Let Us In

Sep 21, 2016
Despite its location in the busiest section of airspace in East Asia, Taiwan’s CAA has had no direct access to ICAO for the past 40 years and has only indirectly gained information.

Feedback

article

Letters From Our Readers (Sept. 26, 2016)

Sep 23, 2016
In this week's Feedback column, readers comment on legacy mindset vs. forward vision in industry, Canada's F-35 decision, implications of China's long-range bomber development and defining G-LOC.

Who's Where

article

New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections (September 26, 2016)

Sep 23, 2016
R​olls-Royce has appointed Simon Kirby chief operating officer. He has been chief executive of HS2 Ltd., which oversaw delivery of the UK’s new high-speed rail network, Europe’s largest infrastructure project.

Aerospace Calendar

article

Aerospace Calendar And Aviation Week Events (Sept. 26, 2016)

Sep 23, 2016
Upcoming aviation and aerospace industry events in October, and Aviation Week Network events