Emerging Technologies

Propulsion testbed prepared for flight in UK as work begins on first application.

UAE and China are looking for Mars debuts, joining eight spacecraft currently operating at the Red Planet.

With plans to operate as well as produce its electric air taxis, German startup Lilium has unveiled its thinking on modular vertiports that could start small, but scale up quickly as the market takes off.

German aerospace center DLR is founding four new research institutes focused on synthetic fuels, low-emission propulsion and electric aviation.

Thales has unveiled its new PureFlyt flight management system (FMS), which will be available from 2024 and promises enhanced safety and efficiency in the cockpit. Steve Nichols reports.

Skylegs, a flight operations specialist, has unveiled a first batch of operational features to help operators combat COVID-19.

DARPA preparing to award contracts to design an X-plane concept around active flow control.

FAA’s ConOps for UAM; NASA seeks AAM partners; Europe’s clean R&D plan; Wisk eyes U.S. UAM launch; FAA certifying 12 drones.

A system developed by German aerospace center DLR to help pilots fly more energy-efficient, lower-noise approaches is to be prepared for production by Swiss International Air Lines and Thales Avionics in a joint program.

Collins Aerospace describes initiatives to safeguard aviation’s VHF-routed data link communications.

Ask the Editors: Industry consolidation and growing automation and digitization will exacerbate pandemic-related layoffs.

U.S.-Spanish startup Skydweller Aero is opening offices in Oklahoma as the company pushes its solar-powered medium-altitude pseudo satellite for potential U.S. government requirements.

Frost & Sullivan says airlines need to maintain focus on technologies including AI, machine learning and blockchain.

The slackening of air traffic worldwide during the coronavirus pandemic offers time to take stock of what Collins Aerospace calls the Datalink Dilemma—the increasing volume of aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS) data sent over VHF frequencies.

Rolls progresses electric propulsion; ZeroAvia flies electric in UK; Terrafugia unveils eVTOL; and Electra.aero builds team.

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

Fuel cells may be more suited to smaller commercial aircraft, while larger ones would retain turbine engines.

BIRD Aerosystems has completed the delivery of its AMPS system, including the AeroShield POD and MACS sensor, to a VIP customer in Africa.

Development, assembly and test of XB-1 proving to be more than sum of its parts for Boom as a step toward follow-on supersonic transport.

Airbus’ hybrid-electric technology and hydrogen power could pave the way for a greener replacement to its bestselling Ecureuil platform.

Airbus lands autonomously; Cuberg’s better eVTOL battery; fuel from CO2; Swiss electric propulsion; and fuel-cell eVTOL.

Error and fear are part of human beings’ superior performance, says French safety expert.

Startup Beta Technologies transfers its eVTOL prototype to new location to begin flight testing.

Ask the Editors: Composite use is growing as a percentage of weight for manufacturers. Repair and recycling knowledge also are improving.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched the Security Risk Intelligence Portal (SRIP)—an incident reporting tool to help airlines mitigate and manage security risks.