When the first Bombardier Global 5000 business jet equipped with Rockwell Collins's Pro Line Fusion avionics entered service in May 2012, it was a big day for proponents of head-up displays (HUD) in civil aircraft. The Global is the first aircraft to be certified with synthetic vision—a computer-generated three-dimensional view of the outside world—on the HUD. Now developers want to exploit the “always daylight” environment provided by synthetic vision to enable lower-visibility landings at a wider range of airports.

Avionics makers vie for Link 2000+ customers.

Commercial, defense aerospace set to follow divergent trajectories.

A plethora of regulations, including the long-awaited TSA repair station security rule, that could affect MRO in 2013.

After its unveiling of the J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters, it is not unimaginable that Beijing could pull off another technological surprise in 2013. Could it up the superpower stakes by testing an unmanned combat air vehicle, an air-launched strike weapon or even a mini-spaceplane? Speculation abounds.

Bombardier's future as a major player in the passenger jet business could rest on its new CSeries aircraft. The first flight has been delayed from December until as late as next June, and a key Chinese fuselage supplier fell down on the job. In 2013, Bombardier needs the CSeries to fly and customers to buy. Chinese

Just as the aluminum industry profits by turning one soda can into another, aircraft manufacturers are waiting for the day when composite scrap from their assembly lines, or parts reclaimed at an aircraft's end-of-life, can be made flyable again.

Asian investors continue to take big stakes in the aircraft leasing market. A consortium of three Chinese investors plans to close on a deal to acquire the International Lease Finance Corp. That follows earlier sales of Jackson Square Aviation and the Royal Bank of Scotland's aircraft leasing business to Japanese buyers and Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise's acquisition by the Bank of China.