A U.S. startup that plans to use airships to transport green hydrogen and air cargo has been selected for a business accelerator program run by Dassault Systemes.

Targeting increased supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), specialty chemicals heavyweight Johnson Matthey has introduced a technology to enable the cost-efficient production of synthetic crude oil on scales from small to large.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury opened the new year with strong hints that the Toulouse-based aircraft manufacturer will raise A320neo family production above the current 2023 target of 65 aircraft per month in 2024 and 2025. 

Spanish testing specialist Applus has been funded to develop the means for cryogenic testing of hydrogen tanks for aircraft, in support of Airbus’ initiative to field a zero-emissions airliner by the mid-2030s.

While Airbus and the European industry are accelerating research and technology work to replace current aviation fuels with hydrogen, experts in atmospheric science and propulsion are debating the contrail potential of the zero-carbon fuel.

Startups may pioneer single-pilot operations in regional turboprops, but also create a virtual co-pilot in light aircraft.

Finalizing aircraft certification plans and filling out the mobility ecosystem are priorities for 2022.

Share prices of publicly traded A&D companies in 2021 were up from catastrophic 2020, but still down from pre-pandemic heights.