Aircraft & Propulsion

For all those who believe that things come in threes, there now is the third failed mergers and acquisition (M&A) deal attributable to COVID-19 in April alone.

Startup Skyryse is flight testing the software for the first application of its FlightOS automation system as it progresses toward certification of the aircraft-agnostic fly-by-wire (FBW) architecture on its first platform.

Automatic tanking could optimize refueling rates and reduce human workloads.

A review finds a conflict between emergency procedures and maintenance instructions.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury gave a dramatic warning to employees that heralds potentially deeper production cuts than initially planned.

MOSCOW—Irkut Corporation has resumed the flight trials of its new MC-21 narrowbody aircraft in Zhukovsky, near Moscow. The flights were suspended on

U.S. Air Force eVTOL event; EHang plans E-port; Zipline fights COVID-19; Pipistrel measures DEP noise; Onera tests airship.

Embraer and Boeing are entering into a bitter public fight over who is responsible for the end of the proposed commercial aircraft joint venture, Boeing Brasil Commercial.

The police department of Westport, Connecticut, has decided that it will not test a “pandemic drone” designed to sense symptoms of COVID-19 after the

Boeing has tapped Mark Jenks to lead a new Airplane Programs organization that the company expects to ensure both consistency and efficiency throughout its core commercial aircraft production efforts—one of several changes announced by the company’s leadership aimed at aligning similar businesses.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has said it will suspend its production for the Boeing 787 program for up to 10 days in May.

Airbus nudges the RACER first flight to the fourth quarter of 2021, citing program management complexity for the high-speed rotorcraft.

Airbus has begun using an “e-Delivery” remote process for aircraft handovers as a way to ensure health and safety amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rarely have production-rate changes been so highly anticipated as the expected news from Boeing.

Italian aircraft-interiors specialist Aviointeriors has unveiled two social-distancing seat designs, aimed at safeguarding against COVID-19 contamination, which could be available within a short time frame.

Boeing is reorganizing top managers and their duties, the company said late April 21, in what is the first headquarters overhaul under relatively new CEO and president David Calhoun.

Aerospace composite provider Hexcel on April 20 scrapped its guidance for 2020 with its financial outlook marred by declining production rates at OEM customers making large commercial aircraft (LCA).

Airbus’ A321XLR long-range, single-aisle program is gathering momentum as the first examples of some specific components are being produced, suppliers are being chosen and detailed design activities are proceeding, according to the airframer.

By mid-April, a White House-sponsored airlift to deliver urgently needed medical supplies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic had completed 45 flights.

How the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry will fare in the aftermath of the COVID-19 impact on commercial aviation is far from clear. But most

Haeco Cabin Solutions, responding to a surge in cargo demand as passenger-aircraft belly capacity has been reduced during the coronavirus pandemic, is fast-tracking development of several products designed for carrying freight in passenger cabins.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and Subaru have suspended production of 787 components in response to Boeing’s earlier decisions, now partly reversed, to stop work on the program amid the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.

CDB Aviation has become the latest lessor to reduce its Boeing 737 MAX orderbook in light of the coronavirus crisis.

Airship in wind tunnel; X-57 ground tests; battery for hybrid-electric demonstrator; next-gen fuel cell; EASA’s drone rules.

Aircraft manufacturers have to adapt to a “new normal”: significantly lower production over an extended period of time.