Aviation Week & Space Technology

Readers discuss the CFM56-78 fan blade separation from a couple of angles as well as reminisce about the Pilatus PC-6 Porter and conjecture how to save it.

At its second Elevate Summit in Los Angeles last week, Uber described an ambitious end-state vision for its aerial ridesharing initiative. Guy Norris and Graham Warwick were there for the eye-opening presentation and discuss the challenges to realizing Uber’s vision with Mark Moore, the man behind its plans to fill the skies over the world’s most congested cities with electric VTOL air taxis.

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

Growing pains or systemic flaws? Recent 737 aerostructure delivery slips come amid growing supply-chain stress concerns.

New program ignites slow-moving FAA effort to introduce drones more widely into the U.S. national airspace system.

NATO officials see Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile as a real security concern.

Subsidies in air transport can only be addressed multilaterally, but any movement is unlikely.

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

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

Describing its Elevate initiative as a “forcing function” for urban air mobility, Uber is taking on challenges across a wide front. Photo: Uber

Airlines are using advances in aircraft and engine technology to offer ultra-long-haul flights—and are pushing OEMs to stretch aircraft capabilities further.

To create the 777X, Boeing is not only introducing the world's largest all-composite wings, but it is transforming the way it builds and assembles the 777 from which it is derived.

Simultaneous solicitations for payloads and flight services could return U.S. to the lunar surface as early as 2019.

ULA piecing together Vulcan rocket; Israeli Air Force’s transport upgrade; Saab builds Gripen facility in Brazil, and Indonesia receives two more maritime patrollers.

What the KLX Aerospace acquisition says about Boeing, future acquisitions and the aftermarket

Booming demand, tariffs and geopolitics jeopardize aluminum and titanium supply for aerospace manufacturing.

The Trump administration announces 10 local, state and tribal government projects under the UAS Integration Pilot Program.

SpaceX plans novel test of booster’s reusability by flying it twice in 24 hr.

The Air Force has directed a one-day flight pause for units to conduct wing-level safety reviews.

A Senate bill would block F-35s to Turkey, while House lawmakers could instead delay JDAM deliveries.

Business aviation may be about to awaken from a long economic nightmare, with the pre-owned market being first to show strong signs of improvement.

Reaction Engine ponders accelerating the schedule as its U.S. test site ramps up and funding builds.

News from the Uber Elevate Summit: Skyport concepts, advanced rotors, Grand Challenge, and international plans.

Used aircraft and smarter scheduling are among the more novel tactics being tried by U.S. airlines.

After years of delay, the aerospace giant and its government customer are no closer to an agreement on when the new tanker will be ready for delivery.