Emerging Technologies

General warns of Chinese space prototype; U.S. Army wants FVL upgrades; Singapore’s new operational tanker; and T-7 aft fuselage arrives.

An alliance has been launched with the goal of accelerating investment in sustainable aviation fuels by creating a certificate system that provides a standardized approach to verifying and tracking the emissions reductions from the low-carbon fuels.

Europe and Japan have launched a joint research program to advance the direct conversion of CO2 to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

While Ariane 6 is overcoming the last technical hurdles, reusability demonstration programs are making progress.

Electric aircraft propulsion will lead to the creation of electric low-cost carriers—eLCCs—flying sub-regional routes that are not economically viable for hydrocarbon-powered aircraft, proposes a report released by UK trade association ADS Group.

A Russian research agency is preparing to begin the first flight tests of a superconducting electric motor powering an aircraft.

Swiss startup H55, a spinoff from the Solar Impulse round-the-world aircraft project, has joined MagniX and Harbour Air to certify an electric-powered version of the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver.

Unilabs, the leading European diagnostic services provider, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association for the world’s airlines, have signed an agreement to incorporate Unilabs’ worldwide Covid-19 testing network into IATA Travel Pass.

Another startup has emerged to join the growing number of companies targeting the unmanned air logistics market.

EHang’s longer-range eVTOL; Aska flying car; Pipistrel cargo UAV for China; Xwing autonomy demo; and ANA flies Wingcopter.

Long-sought changes have the potential to turn Spirit’s 20th-century-style factories into marvels of digitally driven lean manufacturing.

With some 100 companies vying to enter the advanced air mobility industry, the competition was bound to get bloody sooner or later.

The clock is ticking for a high-risk, high-reward technology demonstration.

Hunt for hypersonic interceptor; Smith wants May 10 budget request; Air Force’s SIAW shift, and Austin scraps European drawdown.

EASA has published its final special condition for the certification of electric and hybrid propulsion systems for aircraft.

Racer’s development has involved industry and academia from across Europe.

The “fleet” of defense competitors has been growing in recent years, and new entrants may have different tactics, resources and goals.

National Aviation Services (NAS) has partnered with the World Economic Forum to enhance safe air travel by using its KuwaitMosafer platform to share Kuwait’s vaccine records with countries and airlines across the globe.

Agricultural eVTOL; Quiet electrics; South Korean UAM; 3D-printed RF; and Europe’s electric potential.

The U.S. Army plans to use like digital twins and advanced manufacturing to improve aviation sustainment.

Flight tests of an aircraft converted to electric propulsion from piston power have shown noise energy levels at least 100 times lower, highlighting the potential for electric aircraft to reduce airport noise pollution.

Rolls-Royce says Accel’s advanced electric technologies are relevant to its urban air mobility and electric commuter aircraft work.

New propulsion system test site under construction for larger Hermeus hypersonic turbine-based combined-cycle engine.

The A350 will replace an A340-600 previously used to measure trace elements and greenhouse gases in the tropopause.

As the pandemic’s impact seems clearer, updated cost-benefit analysis supports acceleration of air traffic management upgrade in Europe.