Sustainability

Power-dense motors; controls from high flyers; rechargeable thermal battery; in-space refueling port.

The U.S. Energy Department’s research arm is studying whether it can launch a program to modify a regional jet into a flying testbed for the propulsion systems.

NASA and Boeing are setting up for a round of key wind tunnel tests of the X-66 Sustainable Flight Demonstrator.

Questioning of aviation’s net-zero-emissions 2050 target comes as key technologies move toward ground and flight testing.

Sustainability efforts in the airline industry must be transparent, authentic and they must touch the entire customer journey.

UK advertising watchdog ASA has upheld complaints that a radio ad relating to Virgin Atlantic’s much-publicized 100% SAF flight in November 2023 was misleading.

Modern commercial aircraft flying at high altitudes create longer-lived contrails than older aircraft, according to new research.

An engine choice for a 737 successor may be years away, but Boeing is showing signs of preferring ducted engines to the outwardly more efficient open fan.

Ampaire is preparing to conduct flight tests of its Eco Caravan, a modified Cessna Grand Caravan retrofitted with a hybrid-electric powertrain, on 100% SAF.

Emissions are generally on the higher side considering Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways’ large fleets of luxuriously fitted widebody aircraft.

European airlines including Lufthansa and easyJet have expressed doubts about plans for contrail monitoring and reporting.

Ethiopian Airlines Group has signed an MoU with Satarem America to partner on production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Ethiopia.

JetBlue Airways has signed a pact with World Fuel Services for sustainable aviation fuel to help power some of the carrier’s flights from New York JFK.

United Airlines has agreed to buy up to 1 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel from Neste this year for use at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Air New Zealand is pulling back from a 2030 emissions reduction target, citing aircraft delivery delays and SAF supply as obstacles to achieving the goal.

Le Bourget organizers explain how environmental pressures are already influencing plans for 2025.

This week’s Carbon Analysis goes transatlantic as we look at Air Canada, British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Norse Atlantic Airways.

Readers write about curbing air travel, airborne lasers, the Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 757 and Mars exploration. Plus: Behind the Scenes at Farnborough and Oshkosh.

Work on a follow-on program to further mature the technologies in Airbus’ Wing of Tomorrow research project is gathering momentum.

Airbus and Avolon will investigate how future hydrogen-powered aircraft could be financed and commercialised.

The chief technology officers of Boeing, Airbus, Dassault, GE Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, RTX and Safran have called for government research programmes that enhance scientific understanding of aviation non-CO2 effects such as contrails, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur, aerosols and soot.

Airbus, Air France-KLM, Qantas and a collection of other partners are investing a total of around $200 million in a sustainable aviation fuel financing fund

Indonesia President Joko Widodo is looking to use the country’s massive coconut production as a potential feedstock to create sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has expanded its partnership with Rolls-Royce to advance its sustainable initiatives.

Safran will provide the electrical power generation system for the Boeing X-66A aircraft, which forms part of NASA's Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project.