Aviation Week & Space Technology

SpaceX’s Elon Musk may have stunned the Air Force Association with his statement that the time for manned fighter aircraft has passed. Aviation Week editors explain why that was shocking – and why it wasn’t.

Key helicopter programs to protect new UK carriers are behind schedule, so race is on to get them ready for the first deployment.

Elon Musk startled an Air Force audience by declaring fighters dead, but his opinion isn’t far off current acquisition strategy.

Triton production halted; Maxar sees geospatial services growth: FAA certifies training simulator and issues with nuclear modernization.

Mark Matossian has been hired by Finland’s Iceye as U.S. CEO. He will lead U.S. expansion for the satellite-based synthetic-aperture radar services

Readers write about the safety of wake surfing, Boeing management, aviation software testing and the Convair 880.

IATA projects the industry could lose up to $113 billion in revenues in 2020 if the coronavirus spreads further.

Commercial orbital debris mitigation services are on the horizon, but operators will expect low costs.

Aerospace Calendar March 16-April 30—RTCA Plenary Sessions. Various locations. See rtca.org/content/upcoming-committee-meetings March 17-19—Global

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

SpaceX is testing coatings to cut the reflectivity of its growing broadband satellite constellation.

More than 50,000 respondents have commented on the FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking.

Following the exit of Bombardier, Airbus is digging deeper into what it can do to make the A220 profitable fast.

An old friend is about to crash the party in A&D manufacturing and MRO: Howmet Aerospace. But it might not be so friendly this time.

Dozens of tech demos and satellites for new networks have been launched into orbit, with hundreds more to come.

With thousands of satellites expected to launch in the next 10 years, the U.S. is trying to prevent orbital mayhem.

Boeing is offering a thrust-compounded helicopter for the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program.

Aviation is still struggling to comply with ICAO language standards set 20 years ago.

Can Ireland continue to rely on its British neighbors to meet its air defense needs, or should it stand on its own two feet?

A series of alliance deals signals American Airlines’ refusal to back down over its latest setback to Delta Air Lines in South America.

The service has launched the Agility Prime program with the goal of accelerating the FAA certification of commercial eVTOL cargo and passenger vehicles.

Hybrid-electric 50-seater; medical delivery eVTOL; South Korea targets UAM; Electric commuter; Climate research.

The aircraft leasing industry has been booming over many years, but now has too many players in the market to sustain good lease rates.

NASA says it is still “pressing” toward launching the James Webb Space Telescope on schedule in late March 2021.

Downturn in energy prices has reduced helicopter use and sent three major operators into Chapter 11; now consolidation is underway