Aviation Week & Space Technology

CityAirbus arriving; Siemens-powered regional; tackling icing dangers; a better Hero; electrifying rotorcraft.

From the loss of 40N6E missiles in the English Channel to Russia’s attempt to sell the air defense system to Saudi Arabia, and the politics of sanctions, Defense Editor Steve Trimble discusses new developments from the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi.

China’s Insitu look-alike, HAL displays utility helo mockup; the U.S. Air Force’s space force, and Saab may sign on to UK fighter concept.

Readers discuss merits of Nexus' UAM, ramifications of SpaceX layoffs, reasons behind thin profit margins on some A&D programs, clarify Taiwan's status.

Recent appointments, promotions and honors in the aviation and aerospace industry.

One of Aviation Week’s 20 Twenties in 2014 is now a mechanical test engineering manager for Northrop Grumman’s James Webb Space Telescope program.

Certification program steps up as Bell 525s go north for cold-weather testing.

Upcoming aviation and aerospace industry events and Aviation Week Network events.

Too fast and too slow: lessons learned from two failed and very different supersonic transport ventures.

Superbly engineered but environmentally and economically flawed, Concorde is a key source of lessons learned for today’s supersonic aircraft developers as the design icon marks its golden anniversary.

Fixed engines, V-tails and distributed flight control systems will feature in Leonardo’s tiltrotor tech demonstrator.

Hybrid system would improve autorotation safety and could increase payload capabilities.

The proposal’s co-sponsor may be ill-informed on aviation’s benefits and accomplishments, but the industry needs to read the tea leaves and move fast.

U.S. officials may decide to enforce the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act law inconsistently.

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

Aerion sees low noise and emissions as key to the return of supersonic air transport.

The shaky financial conditions of some of India's largest airlines could complicate the nation's plans for rapidly growing its aviation sector.

Safety improvements are also leading to benefits in daily operations.

Operators may expect improvements for the pilot, as well as reduced maintenance costs in aircraft systems.

Company takes on Iridium, GlobalStar with cheap narrowband communications via nanosatellites.

With orders and deliveries on the up, helicopter OEMs are hoping the worst of the downturn is over.

Oil price slump has resulted in bankruptcies and helicopters being repurposed.

In Airbus’ history, the A380 played a key technological role, enabling the success of the A350 program and other aircraft upgrades.

With the market for large geostationary satellites in a slump, heritage companies expand options for smallsat ride-shares.

The Navy begins prepping for its first F-35C aircraft carrier deployment.