Aviation Week & Space Technology

Although efforts to make flying safer took center stage this year, there was no dearth of new products and improvements on existing aircraft.

Rescuing people at sea has long been mentioned as a role for the AG600. But a military newspaper adds that it will also be able to carry supplies to islands and reefs.

Industry experts say turbo-electric propulsion is still years away, so NASA should focus research also on gas turbines, sustainable jet fuels and propulsion-airframe integration if it wants to reduce carbon emissions.

The image of a U.S. president checking for recent payments as a first response to America’s allies being attacked comes across as neither strong nor smart.

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

This week’s Washington Outlook looks at strategic options for the new president, NASA cash, presidential helicopter and new routes to Mexico.

Mitsubishi watches past issues in MRJ intro, while Comac struggles for any sales.

Science planners believe the approach would increase the chances another surface vehicle eventually will be able to recover them for analysis on Earth.

India has signed a follow-on order to buy four maritime patrol aircraft from Boeing, worth about $1 billion, to replace the Indian navy’s fleet of Russian-origin Tu-142Ms.

The FAA as a growth opportunity might be hard to see sometimes. But it isn’t just the FAA that beckons opportunists.

Weather satellites are showing that global warming is contributing to heavier rainfalls worldwide.

For Turkish airlines, recent political developments can only be described with one word: disastrous.

European manufacturers—especially airframers and engine-makers—hope the EcoTitanium project will make titanium procurement less challenging in the future.

U.S. Air Force officials consider pursuing two separate light-attack aircraft, potentially in parallel, to meet immediate and long-term needs for close-air support.

The European Commission decision allows the new company to finalize development of the Ariane 5 successor while overhauling Europe’s space industry.

European carriers reel from drop in traffic in light of terrorist attacks and other factors that hurt what was projected to be a fairly decent financial year.

In an Aviation Week interview, Avio Aero CEO Riccardo Procacci talks about future engine development technologies.

Germany hopes to lead from the front on foreign operations and multinational programs.

In light of mixed results, including disappointing sales of its Rafale fighter and a softening of the business aircraft market, Dassault is consolidating its workforce.

Modern anti-aircraft weapons being developed and fielded by U.S. foes will increasingly push the B-2 farther away from sensitive military targets.

Facebook’s full-size UAV flies; Airbus debut’s hybrid E-Fan; Flirtey UAV delivers for 7-Eleven; Airbus Perlan glider heads to Argentina; Leonardo to fly active rotor.

Etihad Airways and Lufthansa have held preliminary discussions over transfer of Air Berlin’s nonhub routes to its larger rival, industry sources say.

The July 15 coup revealed divisions and vulnerabilities in the Turkish state and its relationship with the armed forces.

Harking back to the U.S. Navy scout-carrying airships of the 1930s, SAIC and ArcZeon propose an airship carrier concept to extend the reach of small- and medium-size unmanned aircraft.

Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden argues that airlines have learned how to manage the economic ups and downs for the benefit of customers, employees and investors.