Aerospace

Aviation Week senior editor Guy Norris speaks with Erik Daehler, Vice President of Orbital Systems and Services for the Sierra Space Corporation.

Max Space sees its inflatable structures as useful for building orbiting space stations in Earth orbit, but habitats in cislunar space, on the Moon and Mars.

The recovery is a milestone in the company’s efforts to step up its launch cadence by reusing first-stage boosters.

The bench is a flight simulator built to the fidelity required for certification testing of both hardware and software that will then go to the aircraft.

Vast plans to integrate SpaceX’s Starlink laser communication system into its commercial space station, Haven-1, scheduled for launch in 2025.

Tom Gentile succeeds Chairman, CEO and President Nick Stanage, “who worked closely with the board on his desire to retire at the end of the year,” Hexcel says.

As they grapple with supply chains and pitch new processes, companies are trying to ramp up production.

Boeing’s new leaders would be wise to study GE’s metamorphosis under Larry Culp.

EMBRAER and CORREIOS signed MOU to conduct joint studies to advance optimization and expansion of the Brazilian and international air networks for large cargo, focusing on new business models using E-190F, E-195F, and C-390.

Amir Kleiner to Chief Operating Officer of Statasys, Israel.

BOEING delivered 29 airliners (24 737 MAXs; five 787s) in March 2024 vs 64 (52 737 MAXs; 737NG; 767F; three 777Fs; seven 787s) in March 2023; it delivered 83 aircraft in 1Q24 vs 130 in 1Q23. It announced orders from an unidentified customer for 20 777Xs and ended quarter with 6,259 aircraft on backlog, up from 5,356 a year ago.

CFM INTERNATIONAL delivered first LEAP-1A with new reverse bleed system (RBS), which mitigates carbon build-up on fuel nozzles, reducing required on-wing replacements; it also plans to introduce the RBS on the LEAP-1B.

Joseph Lemieux, Jr. and Oren Schmidt were named Principals of new Aerospace & Defense team of Heritage Capital Group, FL.

AVERNA, Canada has acquired ELCOM (test & measurement, power engineering and industrial automation).

AIRBUS delivered 63 aircraft (four A220s; 51 A320 Family; three A330s; five A350s) in March 2024 vs 61 (five A220s; 51 A320 Family; three A330s; two A350s) in March 2023; it delivered 142 aircraft in 1Q24 vs 127 in 1Q23. It announced order for an A319neo from a private customer and ended quarter with 8,626 aircraft on backlog vs 6,604 a year ago.

SEAL DYNAMICS (HEICO) was appointed by Crane Aerospace & Electronics as its exclusive distributor of ELDEC brand proximity sensors and switches to the commercial aerospace aftermarket.

Alexandra Brendel to Associate Vice President of Member Services and Engagement of NATA, Washington, DC.

PRATT & WHITNEY is adding Florida-based North American Technoloty Accelerator (NATA) aftermarket operations center, focusing on material restoration and process automation including advanced repairs, digital inspection, adaptive processing, and coating and masking for compressor and fan parts, blades, cases, and additive repairs for GTF parts.

Japan has selected research themes for funding support under a program to develop hydrogen-electric propulsion technologies for next-gen commercial aircraft.

Embraer and Brazil’s Correios postal service will jointly explore opportunities for freighter versions of the E190 series and C-390 tanker transport.

Lower launch costs—driven by SpaceX’s partially reusable Falcon 9—are driving down the cost of building, launching and operating satellites in space.

In recent years, Ducommun’s recovery has included acquisitions, including BLR Aerospace last year for its maintenance, repair and overhaul work.

The U.S. military was ULA's primary customer for the booster, purchasing 12 of its 16 flights.

The Russian threat was first hinted at in an intelligence assessment revealed Feb. 14.

NRO is building the proliferated architecture across different orbits to provide more resilient imaging and signals intelligence.