Emerging Technologies

Despite pandemic-related uncertainty, aviation industry tech accelerators are pressing on with innovation efforts.

Pipistrel is developing a family of unmanned cargo aircraft as a follow-on to the first type-certified electric trainer.

Airbus has completed three test flights using two of its own Airbus A350s with the autopilot engaged in its Fello’fly wake vortex-riding project.

The French government has reiterated its desire to see a hydrogen-fueled Airbus flying in service by 2035, firmly reacting to those claiming the move is too risky.

Emirates has announced a collaboration with Huawei to promote the Emirates app to Huawei phone users and build a more convenient experience for passengers as travel demand recovers in the post-pandemic era.

Satcom Direct (SD), a business aviation solutions provider, has achieved a significant milestone for its FlightDeck Freedom datalink service by activating its 2,000th aircraft.

After decades of fundamental research, AFRL readies rotating detonation engine concepts for potential missile, engine and rocket roles.

U.S. agency is expanding partnerships, adding new weather-monitoring technologies and moving to cloud-based data services.

France will focus on investing in hydrogen technology as part of a broader post-COVID-19 economic relaunch plan with the government planning to have a hydrogen-powered aircraft ready for 2035.

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.