Manufacturing & Supply Chain

Airbus has been forced by its workers to walk away from an earlier plan to sell its plant in Varel, Germany, to Mubea, an automotive supplier aiming at expanding into aerospace.

The space sector has unique propellants when it comes to M&A, which is likely to create a “melt-up.”

Woodward Chairman, CEO and President Tom Gendron plans to retire from the major aerospace supplier on May 9, the company announced April 21, handing over the reins to Charles “Chip” Blankenship Jr. under a quietly planned succession

By the first quarter of this year, twin-aisle deliveries and backlogs by value had declined to just 30% of the market.

A project led by the IRT Saint-Exupery research and technology institute in Toulouse is well on track to cutting raw materials needed for 30% of titanium parts on Airbus aircraft.

Composite materials specialist Saint-Gobain and engineering service provider Roctool have joined forces to offer a swifter curing process that, combined with 3D textile forms, is designed to speed manufacturing of complex aircraft parts.

Rolls-Royce is pinning its turbofan’s future on UltraFan technologies, a vision to be tested this year with its first demonstrator.

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

Global helicopter operator brings its experience to bear to help AAM get off the ground.

Spirit’s reengining work; South Korea earmarks transport aircraft, missile funds; F-35A flying hours drop; and Draken gets RAF contract.

Why MRO spending for the A220 is likely to show solid growth as regional airline traffic recovers first.

Parker Hannifin has committed to divest its aircraft wheels and brakes business to secure European Commission approvals for its acquisition of UK-based aerospace supplier Meggitt.

Spirit AeroSystems sees repairs, expansion into new markets as keys to growing aftermarket business 20% annually through 2024.

Tis the season for spring cleaning, and in midtier commercial manufacturing that increasingly means divesting assets to either become more focused on aerospace or at least certain parts of it.

Liebherr-Aerospace has signed a long-term collaboration agreement with Airbus to work jointly on the key design features of the landing gear that will meet Airbus’ future requirements.

Certification progress for the MAX variants is unclear under more stringent FAA processes.

MROs, airlines and OEMs are rolling out new sustainability initiatives to reduce waste and carbon emissions.

Revisions planned every two years for Boeing-designed loyal wingman.

The U.S. must develop propulsion technologies that are not dependent on rare propellants subject to extreme price volatility.

FedEx’s autonomous air cargo; Flying on synthetic kerosene; Volansi’s bigger cargo UAV; and Lighter hydrogen tanks.

Aviation has long seen China as its growth engine in Asia, but some changing fundamentals should be concerning to the industry.

$194 billion budget proposes deep divestments to free up funding for research and development.

Scotland-based Spirit AeroSystems (Europe) has signed a term sheet in principle with UK startup Electric Aviation Group (EAG) to collaborate on the development of technologies to support zero-emission flight.

The 737 MAX 10’s likely appeal for airlines, restarted MAX and 787 deliveries and free cash flow generation are some reasons for optimism.

For a key supplier famous for not chasing high-growth prospects, setting up a UAM business group seems incongruous. Except it is not.