Aircraft & Propulsion

With the regional aircraft market split between Embraer and ATR, U.S. airlines will have to buy in for Embraer to break into turboprops.

American Airlines has become an anchor partner in Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, investing $100 million in the Bill Gates-founded initiative to accelerate clean energy technologies needed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

As manufacturers strive to reduce the fuel burn and emissions of their next generation of commercial airliners, longer wings are near the top of the list.

Electric Accel takes off; Moog flies SureFly; Tulips cleans airports; Terrafugia launches UAV; and Hamburg’s drone sandbox.

Canada’s SAF+ Consortium has produced the first few liters of synthetic kerosene at its pilot plant in Montreal.

Universe of customers for eVTOL aircraft expands, with Europcar Brazil plans to order 50 eGyros from startup Skyworks Aeronautics.

The 50-seat regional jet was a game changer in the early part of the current century. But the good times couldn’t last for small RJs.

Missile tests on the Korean Peninsula; MQ-25’s third customer; Vertex’s Raytheon training pickup; and Capella provides a SAR sampler.

Near-term deliveries lower, replacement rates higher as airlines reset post-pandemic.

SkyGuardian’s UK firsts pave the way for the Royal Air Force Protector’s introduction in 2023.

Terrafugia, owned by Chinese automaker Geely, has launched first product Commaris, and Seeker UAS for commercial inspection operations.

A research project to improve the sustainability of airports by eliminating emissions and waste, led by Royal Schiphol Group, has been awarded €25 million ($29.5 million) in funding by the European Commission.

Boeing booked 17 widebody orders from unidentified customers among its 53 gross additions in August, including seven for 787-9s, providing a boost during a largely anemic time for long-haul passenger demand.

The U.S. Export-Import Bank has renewed a guarantee supporting aircraft-engine sales while Reta Jo Lewis has been nominated to lead the export credit agency.

Inmarsat, Boeing and Cobham trial end-to-end cockpit-to-ground internet protocol satellite communications for more efficient operation.

The U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) has identified 313 aerospace businesses to be awarded $482.3 million in funding, with Spirit Aerosystems garnering the lion’s share at more than $70 million.

Energy giant Chevron and renewable fuel producer Gevo have signed an LOI to build one or more facilities to process inedible corn into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Regional air mobility startup Lilium will become a publicly traded company Sept. 15, with less cash in hand than was hoped for.

The FAA has issued research contracts worth more than $100 million to six aerospace partner companies and teams under the third phase of its long-running Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program.

In support of U.S. plans to boost sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production to at least 3 billion gal. a year by 2030, the U.S. Energy Department (DOE) has awarded $64.7 million in funding for 22 projects to produce cost-effective low-carbon biofuels.

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

The cargo market proves tempting to eVTOL developers targeting urban air mobility.

The research and technology effort in Europe toward the use of hydrogen in commercial air transport is in full swing, but the readiness level varies depending on the industry segment.

European flight-training provider Bartolini Air has taken delivery of the first new CAP10C NG as launch customer of the re-introduced aerobatic airplane, which it uses for upset-recovery training.

Beta’s Alia eVTOL hews as close to a conventional fixed-wing aircraft as possible.