Aircraft & Propulsion

COMAC flew the sixth and last C919 prototype on Dec. 27, achieving an unpublished target that had begun to look doubtful.

Whether more management heads roll at Boeing remains to be seen now that Dennis Muilenburg has been fired as chief executive.

Production resumption is not linked to getting MAX flying again.

Spirit AeroSystems, the leading supplier of 737 aerostructures to Boeing, announced Dec. 20 that it will stop producing new 737 aerostructures and halt deliveries to its OEM customer on Jan. 1, 2020.

Electric and hybrid power makes inroads as engine-makers face continuing challenges in commercial and military sectors.

The year 2020 will see important milestones for the aviation industry for several reasons.

From environmental pressures to transformational technologies, significant changes lie ahead for the aerospace and defense industry.

A look back at aviation and aerospace milestones that occurred over the last 10 years.

Forecasts of business and commercial aviation market shares and specs on business and commercial aviation to watch.

Changes will go beyond MAX training curriculum

Air Arabia’s move into the Abu Dhabi market symbolizes how much the region has shifted, change that will become more visible in 2020.

Days after Boeing announced a coming halt to production of its 737 MAX, the first forecasts to emerge from financial analysts covering aerospace and defense (A&D) still see good business prospects for the sector in 2020 but with several caveats, and with far cloudier horizons.

Maximum effect: what a 737 production halt means for the workers and companies who depend on it.

Days after Boeing announced a production halt of the 737 MAX, the three major U.S. credit rating agencies have turned slightly negative on the manufacturer with new outlooks that stress growing demands on the company’s credit access and softening cash prospects.

Following Boeing’s announcement that it would temporarily halt production of the 737 MAX, its large and small suppliers are assessing the potential impact to their operations.

Airbus is introducing touch-screen displays in A350 cockpits in an effort to improve handling of the electronic flight bag (EFB).

MAX approval process shows signs of new approaches

Spirit Airlines has begun retrofitting its all-Airbus fleet with newly-designed seats in a bet that passenger comfort can be enhanced without budging on seat pitch.

Airbus is not benefiting from Boeing’s ongoing 737 MAX troubles, including the U.S. manufacturer’s Dec. 16 decision to suspend production of the type, Airbus chief commercial officer Christian Scherer said.

Canada could see a 7% capacity jump after modest 2019 expansion.

Delivering on new programs and upgrading existing products take precedence for commercial rotorcraft OEMs as the market remains stagnant.

As numerous airline collapses demonstrate, high costs and macroeconomic uncertainty are making life difficult for the sector.

Economic and political uncertainty clouds outlook but air cargo operators look to growth sectors

Boeing, citing “uncertainty” in when the 737 MAX will be cleared to return to service as a key factor, will suspend 737 production in January 2020.

UK long-haul operator Virgin Atlantic is considering postponing the retirement of its remaining Airbus A340s because of “ongoing supply issues” with the engines on its Rolls-Royce powered Boeing 787s.