Emerging Technologies

At the official opening of the final week of the Virtual World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2020 yesterday, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Secretary General Dr Fang Liu said that information and communications technologies are critical to aviation’s role in global UN Sustainable Development Goal attainment and to how air transport will build back better post-COVID-19.

The key is the right combination of cost, capability, autonomy and flexibility.

German electric aircraft start-up Lilium has partnered up with Dusseldorf and Cologne/Bonn airports to study air mobility networks in the region.

Etihad Airways has partnered with Travelfusion as it continues its New Distribution Capability (NDC) strategy launched earlier this year.

Europe to fly hybrids; eVTOL cargo UAV; Flying-V takes flight; Lasers for air data; Drag sail deorbiter; High-rate UAM manufacture

Combined-cycle testbed paves the way for Air Force’s longer-term hypersonic vehicle ambitions.

From SpaceX’s recent successes to Palantir’s coming public stock offering, newcomers are making noise in A&D, but looks can be deceiving.

A year-old proposal to reform the U.S. Air Force fighter pilot training pipeline is restructuring its acquisition approach again.

Air France has tested all-electric ramp-handling equipment for the first time ahead of an Airbus A350 flight from Paris to Delhi as part of broader sustainability efforts, which include making its ground operations carbon neutral by 2030.

NASA X-59 project inspires attempt to capitalize on possible entry of low-boom supersonic jets within the next decade.

The first of two aircraft fitted with a modular hybrid-electric propulsion system developed under a European research program is expected to fly in September.

Hill Helicopters wants to help relaunch the British rotorcraft industry with a fresh design.

Even as it begins deliveries of its first certified electric aircraft, Slovenia’s Pipistrel has begun accepting orders for a family of unmanned cargo aircraft.

ARPA-E funds electric aircraft; ERAU tests hybrid propulsion; Ambular air ambulance; Longer-range EHang; and SkyDrive flies manned eVTOL.

Vertical Aerospace’s new eVTOL concept faces an aggressive development timeline.

The FAA seeks to evaluate counter-unmanned aircraft systems and choose airports to host the technology.

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

Futurists talk of electric aircraft, hybrid power systems and hydrogen as a fuel source, but there are decades of life yet in jet propulsion.

To kick-start the market, startup Universal Hydrogen plans to convert ATR 42 and De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 regional aircraft to hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion to pump-prime demand.

Artificial-intelligence agent sweeps the board in simulated dogfights with human F-16 pilot.

Engine-makers adjust to changing post-pandemic priorities and consider accelerating efforts on advanced and disruptive technologies.

Highly regarded as an "engineer’s engineer," David Joyce has led transformational changes during his 12-year tenure as GE Aviation CEO.

The agreement to provide 25 million gal. per year of renewable hydrocarbons is the largest yet for Gevo and takes the Englewood, Colorado-based company to more than $1.5 billion in long-term contracts.

Startup test-flying Cessna’s cargo feeder modified for lower-cost unmanned operations.

The AI program developed by Alpha Dogfight finalist Heron Systems won all five mock dogfights against the human-controlled aircraft, rendering the fighter pilot obviously confused after the first four defeats.