Aviation Week & Space Technology

Lawmakers draw battle lines on defense budget; FAA creates rulemaking committee for micro UAVs; Foreign Military Sales process remains slow; Culberson makes another attempt to allow the NASA administrator to serve 10 years.

The order backlog for Airbus Group has never been so large. Program execution is now key.

COMMERCIAL AVIATION Embraer rolled out the first E190- E2 on Feb. 25, revealing it is boosting the range and performance of the E195-E2, largest of its second-generation E-Jets, by increasing wingspan and maximum takeoff weight. The 88-seat E170-E2, 160-seat E190-E2 and 132-seat E195-E2 now each have different wings. The E190-E2 is to enter service in 2018, the E195-E2 in 2019 and E170-E2 in 2020.

Why a merger of relative equals—with Honeywell on top in the end, according to numerous reports—and why now?

A network of low-level IFR routes and anti-icing-equipped helicopters may represent the future of air ambulance operations.

Thinking about the next fighter as an airplane first and foremost is a strategic mistake.

Raytheon/Finmeccanica say what differentiates their candidate for the USAF T-X award is that it is operational, low-risk, affordable and safe, unlike the clean-sheet designs of their competitors.

Both plans appear to be extremely bullish for defense, but rapid spending increases may prove difficult for some parts of industry to digest.

Increasing weapons exports; Canada may consider F-35 after all; F-35A operational tests; Minuteman III flies.

The French-led project helps to address the increasing demand for small-satellite launch, and the dearth of options for meeting it.

European officials acknowledge the competitive threat a reflyable Falcon 9 may pose, they seem less interested in reusable launchers than in mimicking a more mundane aspect of the SpaceX business model—volume production of a common engine.

NASA's fire-safety experiments on Cygnus could pave the way for future commercial free-flyers to extend space station research.

Washington will always be home to protests, even if most don’t amount to anything.

GE readies for test runs of its new GE9X, which will be the largest turbofan engine ever produced in terms of physical dimensions.

Rolls-Royce is set to begin flight tests of its Trent 1000 TEN engine as it steps up XWB production for the Airbus A350.

Demand outlook remains strong in Asia-Pacific, based on incremental rather than big orders.

Boeing may be moving up the launch of a new midsize aircraft program.

Pipistrel tests hybrid electric; Russia flies tiltrotor UAV; coatings for smoother flying; Airbus in Singapore delivery-UAV trial; structure says where it hurts.

From battery weight and cost to motor cooling and electric arcing, a long list of issues must be tackled to make electric propulsion a reality for large aircraft.

Rolls-Royce Liberty Works and United Technologies Research Center are assessing whether parallel hybrid turbine-electric propulsion could provide fuel and emissions savings in otherwise conventional single-aisle airliners.

The new SS2 will begin captive carriage flight tests beneath the company’s WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft later this year, leading to glide flights and later powered flights using the new motor.

Even though the GAO has sided with the Air Force and its incumbent bomber provider, a contentious atmosphere means we have probably not heard the end of this dispute.

The new president faces the critical challenge of steering Pratt’s production system through the largest ramp-up in its peacetime history.

Bombardier hopes to build on Air Canada order for C Series airliner to secure other major customers around the world.

In an interview with Aviation Week, recently retired Nav Canada CEO John Crichton discusses the ANSP industry and his new role at Aireon.