Aerospace

The FAA on Nov. 20 released for comment proposed airworthiness standards for six small unmanned aircraft systems as a step toward issuing its first-ever regulatory certifications of drone designs.

The FBI on Nov. 19 arrested a Hollywood, California, man on charges that he crashed a drone into a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter in September.

Newly emerged from bankruptcy, under new ownership and with a new CEO, OneWeb’s goal is to resume launches for its global, high-speed internet-via-satellite service on Dec. 17, the company said on Nov. 20.

A Rocket Lab Electron booster has lifted off from New Zealand, sending 30 small satellites on their way to orbit. It then turned around and parachuted into the Pacific Ocean for the first time.

New-space investment group Voyager Space Holdings is buying the Launch Co., a launch support startup based near Anchorage, Alaska, that has been partnering with other marquee space startups and increasingly the U.S. military.

U.S. start-ups VerdeGo Aero and XTI Aircraft have partnered to develop a hybrid-electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing unmanned aircraft.

Other regulators are expected to follow the FAA’s lead but will mandate additional steps.

From nuclear security to acquisition policy and global alliances, these are the issues President-elect Joe Biden will face.

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

SOJITZ, Japan acquired minority stake in TDA GROUP, The Netherlands, which specializes in aircraft acquisitions for part out.

RECARO reached agreement with IGM-represented workers at Schwaebisch Hall on concessions, securing employment through June 2023; it has been using

LUFTHANSA TECHNIK delivered eight Patient Transport Units (PTU NGs) and 16 oxygen supply systems to Airbus for installation on NATO A330 MRTTs.

Jason Bennick to President-Digital Innovation Group of GA Telesis, Fort Lauderdale.

US DEPT OF ENERGY announced $16m in funding for 17 projects under Phase 1 of Ultrahigh Temperature Impervious Materials Advancing Turbine Efficiency

Daniel J. Crowley was extended as President and Chief Executive Officer of Triumph Group for five years.

Ground-based flight operations rely on a series of tightly managed processes that depend on the efficiency of one another, and any deviation in these

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is to use artificial intelligence in the design of an air taxi under a four-year, $7.2 million DARPA contract.

“These are very long-running issues; the Boeing-Airbus one has been running literally decades,” says one consultant.

SpaceX becomes first company to win U.S. government certification of human spaceflight system.

The FAA next year will begin using live telemetry data from commercial space vehicles to determine the extent of airspace it needs to protect during launch and re-entry operations.

BOEING forecasts Middle East will need to acquire 2,945 new aircraft (30 regional jets/1,540 narrowbodies/1,280 widebodies/95 freighters) worth $685b

SIX WEST announced it has become a wholly-owned Irish company following sale of its corporate jet crewing business.

APOC AVIATION, Netherlands acquired five CFM56-7Bs from unidentified North American carrier for its engine portfolio.

SPATIAL was selected by Cheongju University to supply A320 Door Trainer for use by Aero K and Qantas for A330/787 cabin emergency evacuation trainer.

BELCAN has acquired AVISTA, WI (safety-/mission-critical software engineering services) from TransDigm Group.