The only new aircraft over which CFM and Pratt & Whitney compete head-to-head is the Airbus A320NEO, and at the 2011 Paris air show it was the struggle for market share on this newly launched project that grabbed the headlines.

Airbus enters another crucial phase in the A350 program

Europe's industry is marshaling its arguments to defend proposals seeking a substantial increase in funding for aeronautics research even as the recession-hit region scales back once-ambitious plans to boost government support for R&D to increase competitiveness. Proposals are being finalized for a follow-on to Europe's Clean Sky public-private research program that would increase funding to €3.6 billion ($4.7 billion) from €1.6 billion, with half to come from the European Commission (EC) and half from industry and academia.

Comac's eight-year schedule for developing the C919 158-seat airliner has always looked doubtful, even though it was at least two years longer than Bombardier gave itself for the technologically similar CSeries. It is looking even more questionable now that the first flight has been delayed by up to a year.

The Russian aerospace industry hoped the revamped Tupolev Tu-204SM would serve as a bridge until launch of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) MS-21 narrowbody in 2017, but it still does not have a single order, despite its recent certification by aviation authorities in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Boeing’s preparations continue towards first flight of the stretched 787-9 at its Everett, Washington facility. Late last month, just before the final body join of ZB001, the first 787-9, I was among a group of journalists who was shown the aircraft along with the bustling main 787 assembly line. Here are images of the tour, which were embargoed until today. (all images Guy Norris)  

Airline leaders cannot be accused of wishful thinking in their optimistic assessment of the industry's outlook. Clear signs are emerging that the sector is past the bottom of the latest trough in the cycle and on the way up again. These indicators have led the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to lift its 2013 profit forecast for the global airline industry to $12.7 billion, thanks partly to anticipated easing of oil prices and the average load factor exceeding 80% for the first time.

On any given morning, groups of US Airways Airbus A330s head west out of various European countries on North Atlantic tracks that ultimately lead to Philadelphia International Airport.