Aerospace

Airbus has begun using an “e-Delivery” remote process for aircraft handovers as a way to ensure health and safety amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on April 22 to deliver a seventh batch of the company’s Starlink communications satellites into low Earth orbit.

Rarely have production-rate changes been so highly anticipated as the expected news from Boeing.

Italian aircraft-interiors specialist Aviointeriors has unveiled two social-distancing seat designs, aimed at safeguarding against COVID-19 contamination, which could be available within a short time frame.

PLATAINE was selected by Muskogee Technology, AL to provide an IIoT manufacturing solution to include material shelf-life management system for time

Boeing is reorganizing top managers and their duties, the company said late April 21, in what is the first headquarters overhaul under relatively new CEO and president David Calhoun.

The Quad/Vent Splitter quadruples ventilator capability to help save lives.

After having let employees generate many digital tools, Airbus is streamlining their creation and use.

KAWASAKI HEAVY INDUSTRIES and SUBARU have suspended production of 787 components into early May.

PIPISTREL, Slovenia helped secure donation of 100,000 masks from China, plus thermometers/test kits for COVID-19.

Brett Gerry to Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President-Global Compliance of Boeing, Chicago.

Greg Smith, CFO of Boeing, was also named Executive VP-Enterprise Operations, Finance & Strategy.

BOEING created Enterprise Operations, Finance & Strategy group to bring together teams responsible for manufacturing, supply chain and operations

Aerospace composite provider Hexcel on April 20 scrapped its guidance for 2020 with its financial outlook marred by declining production rates at OEM customers making large commercial aircraft (LCA).

AIRBUS says it has received multiple customer requests for aircraft delivery deferrals and is currently considering them.

Airbus’ A321XLR long-range, single-aisle program is gathering momentum as the first examples of some specific components are being produced, suppliers are being chosen and detailed design activities are proceeding, according to the airframer.

North American companies involved in building and operating small drones are proposing systems that could potentially be used in battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIRBUS and SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS delivered the first shipset of composite A320 wing spoilers produced (in Prestwick) using Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM)

AIRBUS opened 1,100 sq meter manufacturing milling center at Finkenwerder.

AIRBUS received 180-minute ETOPS approval for A330-800 from EASA; approval includes option for 285-minute ETOPS.

LOCKHEED MARTIN had $1.7b net profit on $15.7b sales in 1Q20 vs $1.7b on $14.3b in 1Q19; it delivered 22 F-35s, three C-130Js and 15 helicopters vs 26

By mid-April, a White House-sponsored airlift to deliver urgently needed medical supplies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic had completed 45 flights.

Practically everyone in commercial aerospace is scrambling to figure out how deep, and how long, COVID-19 will affect industry. Two longtime aerospace experts from consultancy Roland Berger, Manfred Hader and Robert Thomson, join Aviation Week senior business editor Michael Bruno on Check 6 to discuss what may occur.

The coming weeks and months will be full of big announcements about business changes. Here are three factors affecting A&D supply chains.

Haeco Cabin Solutions, responding to a surge in cargo demand as passenger-aircraft belly capacity has been reduced during the coronavirus pandemic, is fast-tracking development of several products designed for carrying freight in passenger cabins.