Aviation Week & Space Technology

Inspector faults FAA’s productivity, program management; military leader encourages debate about deadly autonomous weapons.

European airlines set up new trade association as European Commission highlights new aviation push.

Sluggish aircraft industry growth is threatened by several looming macroeconomic trends, and the jetliner primes’ lofty production goals appear out of line with economic reality.

Canadian airline WestJet intends to escalate its expansion of European routes following successful trial venture.

The JSF Program Office says it is making good progress with F-35 software, but the Pentagon’s testing watchdog says problems are ahead.

From NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services-2 award to the Dream Chaser spaceplane, to Space-X’s recent near miss landing in Vandenberg, California, the field of reusable space systems is expanding. Join our editors as they discuss developments and competition in the burgeoning commercial and defense space launch markets.

Super Tucanos Arrive. Raytheon tests Tomahawk upgrade. F135 engine deal. Boeing USAF maintenance deal. Indian Tejas LCA.

After years of sole-source launch contracts for the United Launch Alliance, the U.S. Air Force may soon have many options to choose from.

Despite the restrictions that come with a Section 333 FAA exemption, quite a few entities seem to think the chance to operate a business drone is worth the effort and expense.

A full demonstrator engine for the F-3 is due to run in 2018, when the Japanese government should decide whether to go ahead with the indigenous fighter.

Forging an integrated engine company out of the various Chinese government businesses will be a huge managerial challenge. Design institutes and factories are scattered across the country, and Chinese state organizations are jealous of their autonomy.

NASA and the Energy Department designate a "planetary defense officer" to coordinate efforts to find and deal with dangerous asteroids.

The European Data Relay System (EDRS) is a new space and ground infrastructure that will provide near-real-time data delivery services of up to 50 terrabytes per day using laser technology.

The Atlanta-based carrier’s top annual goal—no NTSB-reportable accidents—sets the safety agenda for daily operations.

Pilots are becoming complacent both in hand-flying and monitoring skills; Help is coming in the form of new rules, but guidance from the FAA is lagging.

Airbus backs community-designed carmaker; Europe’s laminar wings progress; Ceramic nanoparticles make metal stronger; Smart bomb navigates by vision; Ducted-fan VTOL AirMule flies.

The final numbers for orders and deliveries are out for 2015. Who is the leader, Airbus or Boeing? And why? Join Jens Flottau, Guy Norris and Graham Warwick as they discuss, compare and look at the impact of these figures.

With more than $18 million pledged through a crowdfunding campaign, startup XTI Aircraft moves ahead with bold plans to develop a ducted-fan vertical-takeoff business aircraft.

NASA, which invested $400 million in the project on top of a further $250 million invested by industry partners, says the potential payback to airlines could be significant.

Threats abound, yet we do not have a clearly stated, coherent security, intelligence or foreign policy strategy for each of these threats.

The EC should finally address delayed approval of Norwegian Air International in the joint committee as defined by the EU/U.S. open skies pact.

Air travel could not have grown without getting safer, and some safety innovations were more important than others.

Debate swirls around the right way forward for air safety. But the history of air safety shows that debates and mysteries are part of the process.

After its December first flight, NATO’s first Alliance Ground Surveillance Global Hawk is being mated with its radar sensor for test flights in the U.S. and Europe.

AoA and Commercial Airlines, Comments on AW&ST 2016 A&D Forecast