Virgin Galactic remains committed to becoming the first commercial human spaceflight provider this year, but it could entail just lofting co-founder and celebrity entrepreneur Richard Branson rather than starting regular operations as previously forecast.
The flight trial will see the helicopter’s mission commander take control of an unmanned aircraft system and prove the ability of the crew to control and monitor it and its payload.
An Airbus A321 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion—developed by joint-venture partners ST Engineering, Airbus and Dresden-based freighter conversion specialist Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW)—has secured EASA supplemental type certification (STC).
An FAA draft directive set for publication Feb. 26 calls for Boeing 737 MAXs to undergo inspections and modifications before further flight to ensure engine-control wiring has adequate protection from electromagnetic interference.
The U.S. Air Force has detailed its plans to accelerate the emerging advanced air mobility market, and potentially become an early adopter of electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicles, but is making clear it does not intend to set requirements or fund development.
Having placed a bet on the return of supersonic air travel by becoming a supplier on Aerion’s AS2 business jet, aerostructures specialist Spirit AeroSystems is putting down a marker on the emerging urban air mobility industry.
