Aircraft & Propulsion

The metal is key to aircraft construction, and Russian suppliers accounted for 30-50% of Europe’s needs before the war in Ukraine.

The European Parliament’s Transport Committee has approved legislation that includes a more ambitious sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate than one originally proposed by the European Commission’s “Fit for 55” climate package.

IATA says SAF production needs to increase from roughly 100 million liters (26.4 million gal.) annually in 2021 to 449 billion liters (119 billion gal.) to meet the industry’s goal of net zero carbon emissions.

The new deal comes on the heels of a recently completed purchase of 37 aircraft, also from lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC).

Wet-lease specialist GetJet Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-800, which is scheduled to be joined by a further four by year-end.

GE chairman and CEO Larry Culp has taken over GE Aviation as well, a few years in advance of an already planned transition as part of the parent company’s breakup into three segments.

Boeing may still be at least two years away from launching its next all-new commercial airliner, but the manufacturer is on the hunt for thousands of new engineers and machinists.

Advancing hydrogen for aviation; Alliance for zero emissions; Stratospheric microballoons; Kaman backs autonomy; H55 electric propulsion.

Airbus has partnered with energy supplier Uniper, Siemens Energy and sustainable fuels company Sasol EcoFT to launch the Green Fuels Hamburg project to produce power-to-liquid synthetic e-kerosene on a commercial scale in Germany.

The order is for up to 10 aircraft for an undisclosed customer with the feedstock coming from the customer’s current E-Jet fleet.

Aerospace manufacturing suppliers expect around 8% growth in work volume in the first half of 2022 and 11% in the second half, according to a new industry survey by RBC Capital Markets analyst Ken Herbert.

Engines and cabin interiors top the list of missing components, while airlines and airports struggle to keep up normal operations.

The OEM produced the T-7A in only three years, but challenges remain before the process can green-light its next all-new airliner.

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

Airbus and global industrial gases and engineering company Linde are broadening their cooperation agreement to study the logistics aspects of hydrogen use in aviation.

MTU Aero Engines says it has identified a Flying Fuel Cell (FFC) and Water Enhanced Turbofan (WET) as “favored” concepts for revolutionary reductions in emissions from aircraft propulsion systems.

Two initiatives have been unveiled in Europe and the UK to help advance the use of hydrogen to decarbonize aviation.

A Netherlands’ aerospace cluster plans to develop a hydrogen-electric propulsion system for retrofit to 40-80-seat regional turboprops as a path to securing a position on future Airbus and Embraer sustainable aircraft programs.

The development of the Sino-Russian CR929 widebody airliner may face further delays after the Russian participant in the program United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) was slapped with new Western sanctions in response to Moscow’s invasion to Ukraine.

Airbus is struggling with implementing big production increases, as is Boeing, which also faces uncertainty over 737 certifications.

Aviation executives departed into a parallel universe for a few days in June.

Safran has made an undisclosed investment in Sintermat, a five-year-old company specializing in an advanced sintering process for higher-performance engine components.

IATA says the online tool will allow travelers to choose the most sustainable route.

On June 21, an ATR 72-600 operated by Swedish carrier Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA) completed a milestone test flight with both Pratt & Whitney engines 100%-powered with Neste sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

With commencement of flight tests, Airbus is moving closer to new territory: true long-haul narrowbody services.