Aviation Week & Space Technology, December 21, 2020 is part of our Aviation Week & Space Technology - Inside MRO and AWIN subscriptions.

Subscribe now to read this content, plus receive full coverage of what's next in technology from the experts trusted by the commercial aircraft MRO community.

Already a subscriber to AWST or an AWIN customer? Log in with your existing email and password.

Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, December 21, 2020

VOL. 182 NO. 51 December 21, 2020

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE 2021

Aerospace & Defense 2021: An Introduction

Dec 18, 2020

Thinking ahead: What we can expect in the major aerospace and defense sectors.

WATCHPOINTS

Aerospace Watchpoints For 2021

Dec 18, 2020

From loyal wingmen to hydrogen propulsion, here are some milestones expected in 2021.

Urban Air Mobility Developments To Watch

Dec 15, 2020

Urban air mobility will move a step closer to reality in 2021 as development testing gives way to operational trials with pilot cities.

DEFENSE

Incoming U.S. Administration Strikes New Tone, Confronts Old Problems

Dec 16, 2020

Beyond COVID-19, the new leadership team at the Pentagon will inherit a huge modernization agenda.

Can Trudeau’s Defense Plan Survive Canada’s Next Fiscal Crisis?

Dec 14, 2020

A four-year-old strategy to boost spending levels for defense faces its greatest test in the wake of Canada’s COVID-19 response.

Chinese Defense Growth Should Slow With GDP

Dec 15, 2020

If the relationship between China’s defense spending and GDP holds, growth in allocations will trend downward in the coming decade.

Russia Ends Large-Scale Rearmament Era

Dec 16, 2020

While Russia’s defense budget is likely to flatten, Putin will maintain his focus on the nation’s strategic forces.

Defense Investments Mask Possible Brexit Impact On UK Security

Dec 17, 2020

The UK is adding billions to its defense budget, but spending plans are in flux until the Integrated Review reports.

France Proceeds With Defense Budget Growth

Dec 17, 2020

France will spend an extra €1.7 billion ($2 billion) this year, but uncertainties lie ahead, linked to the pending sale of used Rafales.

Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer

Berlin Laying Foundation For Stronger German Defense

Dec 16, 2020

German defense budget is increasing to meet modernization needs, but hurdles to progress remain.

Eastern Europe’s Defense Modernization Gathers Speed

Dec 17, 2020

The specter of a renewed threat from Russia prompts Eastern European countries to raise their defense game.

Iran Isolated As Israel, Arab States Plan Cooperation

Dec 18, 2020

How regional defense plans are changing in the Middle East as Israel and Arab states work to isolate Iran.

Markets, Politics Transform Israel’s Defense Outlook

Dec 18, 2020

Industrial and regional changes open vast new opportunities for Israel’s defense sector.

India Focuses On China Challenge

Dec 16, 2020

Pinched by COVID-related economic woes, New Delhi is still prepared to buy what it needs to counter border threats in Ladakh.

Requested Japanese Budget Would Extend Upward Trend

Dec 15, 2020

Although the ministry has requested a 3.3% rise, something closer to the 1.5% average of the past eight years is more likely to happen.

Korea Aerospace Industries KF-X fighter aircraft

South Korean Spending On Aircraft Slows

Dec 15, 2020

All four RQ-4s have been delivered and all 40 F-35As will be in 2021. So the 2021 acquisition budget is not rising much.

Brazilian Aerospace Set For Landmark Year

Dec 14, 2020

A crop of developmental projects are set to come to fruition over the next 12 months as new projects enter the design phase.

Australian F-35As RAAF Williamtown, Newcastle

Australia Spending Beats Target, Will Keep Rising

Dec 16, 2020

The defense budget is likely to reach 2.4% of GDP within two years. Slow naval programs will consume much of the money.

Sanctions Could Stimulate Rather Than Slow Turkish Defense Capability

Dec 18, 2020

Sanctions against Turkey’s SSB could taint the country’s future defense exports and stimulate it toward greater self-sufficiency.

FCAS Nations Urged To Maintain Momentum

Dec 17, 2020

Initial phases of FCAS may cost €8 billion but could bring combat cloud technology to the frontline by 2030.

The Week in Defense, Dec. 18-24, 2020

Dec 18, 2020

U.S. OKs G550 sale to Italy; Saudi Arabia’s final F-15SA deliveries; Russia launches anti-satellite test; and U.S. fighters swap data.

DEFENSE SYSTEMS

Rotary-Wing Rationalizations Focus On Streamlining Fleets

Dec 11, 2020

Modernization and rotary-wing fleet renewal is a priority for defense’s new spending spree.

U.S. Military Pushes Autonomous Combat System Into Flight

Dec 16, 2020

A decade of research and simulation is transitioning into a flight test series of autonomous aircraft projects in 2021.

Defense Systems Data Center, 2021-25

Dec 18, 2020

Forecasts, snapshots and aircraft to watch.

Leonardo Falco Xplorer medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft

Unmanned Systems Highlights Of 2020

Dec 16, 2020

Unmanned aircraft technology continued its advances in 2020.

AEROSPACE SYSTEMS

NASA Space Launch System super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle

Commercial Human Spaceflight Poised For Pivotal Year

Dec 14, 2020

U.S. back in human spaceflight business.

SpaceX Rolling Out Satellite Broadband Service

Dec 14, 2020

Public trials of SpaceX satellite broadband service are underway.

Space Technologies To Watch

Dec 15, 2020

A dramatic shift toward commercial space missions, including those supporting the return of humans to the Moon, is fueling a flood of new technologies entering the market

CIVIL AVIATION

Civil Aviation Data Center, 2021-25

Dec 18, 2020

Forecasts, snapshots and commercial air transport and business aircraft to watch.

OEMs Keep Rotors Running Despite Pandemic

Dec 18, 2020

The commercial rotorcraft industry has weathered the pandemic, but key programs are facing more delays.

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Pandemic Downturn Opens New Doors For Low-Cost Carriers

Dec 14, 2020

Demand trends during the pandemic and recovery should favor LCCs over larger legacy airlines.

Long-Haul LCCs Fight For Post-COVID-19 Survival

Dec 14, 2020

A business model that has long had its doubters will be facing tougher competition in the post-pandemic era.

Global Connecting Hubs Confront Daunting COVID-19 Challenges

Dec 16, 2020

Major transit hubs have proven to be particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 crisis as connectivity falls apart.

Air Cargo Faces Dual Post-COVID Challenges

Dec 16, 2020

Air cargo operators are gearing up to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine while fighting to overcome a capacity shortage.

737 MAX Return Starts New, Complex Phase

Dec 17, 2020

Boeing confident it has resources to meet airlines’ demand.

Airbus, Boeing Must Rely On Narrowbodies During Difficult 2021

Dec 16, 2020

The Boeing-Airbus duopoly cannot count on widebody sales anytime soon, so their hope is to get narrowbody production back to normal.

In Trouble Before The Pandemic, Widebodies Will Remain Problematic

Dec 18, 2020

The pandemic has made a difficult market worse for Airbus and Boeing, threatening the viability of programs and dimming optimism.

Problematic Outlook For 777X Adds To Boeing’s Challenges

Dec 15, 2020

Long-haul aviation market has changed since the 777X was launched, increasing pressure on Boeing’s business case.

BUSINESS AVIATION

Business Aviation Deliveries To Decline Before Comeback, Experts Say

Dec 18, 2020

Business aviation has fared better than commercial during the pandemic, but renewed growth depends on vaccines.

Business Aviation Highlights Of 2020

Dec 18, 2020

The business and general aviation market was hit hard by COVID-19, but 2020 saw several first-flight and delivery milestones.

MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OVERHAUL

Worldwide 2021 Outlook For MRO By Region

Dec 18, 2020

How MRO activity is likely to rebound in 2021 as the pandemic winds down.

Aftermarket Rally Will Vary By Segment

Dec 18, 2020

Airline cost focus, OEM struggles will benefit alternative-material suppliers.

Atitech aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul

MRO Looks To 2021 To Begin Slow Recovery

Dec 18, 2020

What will happen in the commercial aftermarket as aircraft return to the skies.

Josselin Bequet, Donecle Co-Founder and CEO

Key MRO Executives To Watch In 2021

Dec 16, 2020

Here are potential MRO headliners in 2021.

Delta Air Lines cabin disinfecting protocol

What’s In And Out For 2021 In MRO

Dec 18, 2020

A look at what’s trending—and what is not—in the aviation aftermarket.

MRO Trends To Look For In 2021

Dec 17, 2020

How MRO providers and their customers need to prepare for the post-pandemic recovery

Top 10 Pandemic-Driven Aircraft And Cabin Innovations

Dec 18, 2020

A look at new aircraft and cabin products developed to solve pandemic-related challenges for airlines.

FROM THE EDITOR

The Bright Spots For Aerospace In 2020

Dec 16, 2020

Despite the pandemic, the industry continued to make progress in sustainability, space, aviation safety and more.

INTERVIEW

GE Aviation’s Slattery On MAX Return, Widebodies And Sustainability

Dec 18, 2020

Slattery wants the engine manufacturer to become more agile, is bullish about the 737 MAX and cautious for future hydrogen propulsion.

MILITARY SPACE

The U.S. Space Force At One

Dec 18, 2020

A year ago, the U.S. military created its first new service since 1947. The Space Force is coming into its own, but fast enough?

MANUFACTURING

British Aerospace In Limbo As Brexit Transition Period Nears End

Dec 15, 2020

Four and half years since the Brexit referendum and aerospace is no nearer to understanding what the UK’s future trading relationship with its nearest and largest trading partner will look like.

SECOND TAKE

Second Take: Aerospace Highlights Of 2020

Dec 18, 2020

A look back at 2020, a year the aviation industry—and everybody else—would like to forget.

First Flights In 2020

Dec 14, 2020

The year may have been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but 2020 also proved to be a surprisingly busy year for first flights.

Rotorcraft Highlights Of 2020

Dec 17, 2020

Downselects to finalists in two key U.S. military rotorcraft competitions were the high points of 2020 for the industry.

COLUMNS AND OPINION

An Appreciation: Former Aviation Week Editor-in-Chief David M. North

Dec 18, 2020

North filed pilot reports on more than 120 aircraft and was a protector of his staff and the publication.

An Appreciation: Aviation Legend Chuck Yeager

Dec 18, 2020

His path defined an era of singular achievement driven by skill, courage and a bit of luck.

Opinion: Settle In For Decades Of Resistance To China

Dec 18, 2020

With self assurance and an us-vs.-them view of international relations, the Asian giant will not improve its behavior.

DEPARTMENTS

New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections, Dec. 21, 2020

Dec 18, 2020

Recent appointments, promotions and honors in the aviation and aerospace industry.

Aerospace Calendar And Aviation Week Events, Dec. 21, 2020

Dec 18, 2020

A roundup of upcoming conferences, exhibitions and summits.

Market Sector

Share

Aviation Week & Space Technology, December 21, 2020

Share

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE 2021

WATCHPOINTS

DEFENSE

DEFENSE SYSTEMS

AEROSPACE SYSTEMS

CIVIL AVIATION

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OVERHAUL

FROM THE EDITOR

INTERVIEW

MILITARY SPACE

MANUFACTURING

SECOND TAKE

COLUMNS AND OPINION

DEPARTMENTS