Industry News
In This Section
News about the aerospace industry curated by AIAA staff
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Virgin Orbit Closing for Good After $36.4M Asset Sale
24 May 2023
Reuters reports that on Tuesday, Virgin Orbit “revealed that it was closing for good after a $36.4 million asset sale, including an agreement to sell the bulk of its... -
Gulfstream Finalizes G700 Testing, Puts G800 on Deck
23 May 2023
Aviation Week reports that Gulfstream’s five G700 test flight aircraft are winding down from certification test flight, with FAA approval anticipated sometime this fall. -
ISS Welcomes Axiom Space Mission Including First Saudi Female Astronaut
23 May 2023
The AP reports that the ISS welcomed the Axiom Space organized flight Monday, with the four passengers including two visitors from Saudi Arabia. -
GE Performs New Dust Test on CFM LEAP Engines
22 May 2023
Aviation Week reported that a series of tests at GE Aerospace’s Evendale, Ohio, site are being validated... -
NASA’s DART Mission Recognized by AIAA
22 May 2023
Space Coast (FL) Daily reports that NASA’s DART mission “was recognized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics with the organization’s newest award... -
NASA Deploys PC-12 for Advanced Air Mobility Trials
19 May 2023
Aviation International News reports that NASA is “deploying a Pilatus PC-12 for test flights in the Cleveland area as part of its work to pave the way for the autonomous operations... -
SpaceX Launches 22 Next-Generation Starlink Satellites
19 May 2023
UPI reports that SpaceX successfully “launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying nearly two dozen satellites for its Starlink Internet mission... -
KC-46 Deliveries Remain Paused, But Boeing Still Hopes to Meet 2023 Goal
18 May 2023
Aviation Week reports that deliveries of the Boeing KC-46 tanker to the US Air Force “are still paused amid an ongoing problem with the aircraft’s fuel tanks... -
Artemis II Crew Begins Training
18 May 2023
SPACE reports that the Artemis II crew has begun training for the mission. The astronauts will “be the first humans ever to fly atop NASA’s Space Launch System megarocket and ride in the agency’s Orion spacecraft.” -
Airbus H160 Helicopter Close to FAA Certification
17 May 2023
Aviation International News reports that the Airbus H160 helicopter got closer to FAA certification this month with the Federal Aviation Administration’s issuance of a notice... -
Axiom Space’s Private Astronaut Mission Edges Closer to Liftoff
17 May 2023
Aviation Week reports that preparations for Axiom Space’s “second four-person private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) cleared its May 15 flight readiness review and remains on track for a liftoff early next week... -
FAA Orders Replacement of Decompression Panels in Some Boeing 787s
16 May 2023
Aviation Week reports that the Federal Aviation Administration published an airworthiness directive limiting a draft order to replace decompression panels on Boeing 787s... -
JUICE Deploys Radar Antenna
16 May 2023
Space News reports that the European Space Agency said that, “after weeks of effort to loosen a stuck pin,” the JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) successfully deployed its 16-meter-long antenna. -
EASA to Examine A380 Wind-Spar Cracking More Closely
15 May 2023
Aviation Week reported that Airbus A380s that “sit idle in severe environmental conditions may be susceptible to wing-spar cracking previously linked... -
SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission, Recovers Booster Successfully for 191st Time
15 May 2023
UPI reports that on Sunday morning, SpaceX “successfully deployed another batch of Starlink satellites into space... -
Archer Aviation Progressing Towards Certification of its VTOL Vehicle
12 May 2023
FlightGlobal reports that start-up electric air taxi company Archer Aviation “says it continues to progress toward... -
Vulcan Rolled Out to Launchpad for Final Series of Tests Ahead of its Debut Launch
12 May 2023
Aviation Week reports that a “United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan-Centaur rocket was rolled out to its launchpad on May 11 for a final series... -
Whisper Aero to Present Propulsion Method, Business Plan
11 May 2023
Aerospace America reports that Whisper Aero “has long promised that the propulsion technology it is developing for the U.S. Defense Department... -
NASA Seeks Industry Input for Controlled ISS Deorbit
11 May 2023
Aviation Week reports that NASA is “seeking industry input in developing a strategy for a commercial, controlled end-of-life... -
Vertical Aerospace Pushes EVOTL Certification to Late 2026
10 May 2023
Aviation International News reports that Vertical Aerospace “expects it will need at least an additional 12 months to certify... -
SpaceX Hoping Steel Plates Prevent Launchpad Explosion
10 May 2023
Bloomberg reports that before SpaceX “can try again to send its massive Starship rocket into orbit, the company needs to... -
EASA Publishes Noise Standards for EVOTLs
9 May 2023
Aviation International News reports that EASA “has published what it claims are the world’s first proposed noise certification... -
Virgin Galactic’s Four-Member Test Flight Will Take Place This Month
9 May 2023
Reuters reports that Virgin Galactic Holdings announced May 8 that its “four-member test flight will take place... -
Revolutionary New Air Transportation is Closer Than We Think
8 May 2023
The Miami Herald reported that the Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a plan for incorporating air taxis into some of the biggest airports... -
Rocket Lab Launches NASA Hurricane Hunter Satellites
8 May 2023
SPACE reports that the first two satellites “in NASA’s new hurricane-hunting constellation have taken to the skies.” -
EC-37B Compass Call Makes Debut Flight
5 May 2023
Aviation Week reports that the USAF Compass Call eavesdropping and electronic attack suite has been successfully moved from the retired legacy EC-130H aircraft into the EC-37B. -
Richard Branson Defends Space Travel
5 May 2023
CNBC reports that Richard Branson spoke to the BBC in an interview and expressed his optimism for space travel, saying... -
Czech Republic Signs Artemis Accords
4 May 2023
SPACE reports that a ceremony held at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday “the Czech Republic’s Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of the nation... -
Comlux Delivers First Completed ACJ TwoTwenty to Five Hotels
4 May 2023
Aviation International News reports that Comlux delivered the first completed ACJ TwoTwenty to launch customer Five Hotels and Resorts. -
SWE Diverse Podcast: Starr Ginn – 2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum
3 May 2023
Originally published by Society of Women Engineers: On this episode of Diverse, SWE President Dayna Johnson sits down with Starr Ginn, the Advanced Air Mobility Lead Strategist at NASA, and discusses the upcoming 2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum -
Artemis I Cubesat Winds Down Mission
3 May 2023
Space News reports that a cubesat launched “as a secondary payload on Artemis 1 may end its operations at the end of the month unless it can get its propulsion system working.” -
Rolls-Royce Opening Up Freighter Market
3 May 2023
Aviation Week reports that Rolls-Royce is eyeing the widebody cargo sector as a growth opportunity for the engine manufacturer. -
NASA Secures Partner Cooperation on ISS Through 2028
2 May 2023
SPACE reports that Russia has agreed to remain onboard the ISS through 2028, which is a clarification from last year’s announcement of a departure sometime after 2024... -
Rain Aero Has Developed Remote Operation Kits for Drones and Black Hawk Helicopters
2 May 2023
Aviation Today reports that “Rain Aero, a California-based company using advanced aviation technologies to fight wildfires, has successfully equipped both a small rotorcraft drone and a full-sized Black Hawk... -
SpaceX Falcon Heavy Lifts Off Following Scrubbed Mission
1 May 2023
UPI reports that SpaceX launched a Falcon Heavy rocket on Sunday night from Kennedy Space Center’s pad 39A, loaded with a payload of competitor ViaSat-3 Americas broadband Internet satellite... -
NASA’s X-59 Supersonic Aircraft Will Fly This Year
1 May 2023
Aviation International News reported NASA confirmed that the X-59 supersonic aircraft... -
Russia Agrees to Stay Aboard ISS through 2028
28 April 2023
SPACE reports that Russia has agreed to remain onboard the ISS through 2028, which is a clarification from last year’s announcement of a departure sometime after 2024... -
US Army Chief: V-280’s Speed, Range, Increased Maneuverability Right for FLRAA
28 April 2023
Aviation Week reports that the US Army’s top officer said the service’s “choice for its Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) prevailed... -
Ispace Details Moon Lander Crash
27 April 2023
The Hill reports that Tokyo-based ispace “confirmed Wednesday that its HAKUTO-R spacecraft, which was scheduled to make a historic lunar landing... -
Indigo Partners Warns that Supply Chain Challenges Could Last Until 2028
27 April 2023
Aviation Week reports that Indigo Partners is warning “that aircraft supply chain issues could be prolonged as far out as 2028, which could cause challenges for airlines worldwide.” -
SpaceX to Use Second Vandenberg Launch Pad for Falcon Rockets
26 April 2023
Space News reports SpaceX is adding a second West Coast launch pad after receiving “approval to lease Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) at Vandenberg Space Force Base... -
How Dangerous Are Bird Strikes to Planes?
26 April 2023
The Washington Post reports that the Federal Aviation Administration maintains a database of airplane wildlife strikes, and 97% of the over 2,300 recorded in 2023 so far... -
SpaceX Starship Explosion Sets Off FAA Investigation, Assessment of Particulate Matter Spread
25 April 2023
CNBC reports that as SpaceX faces a standard practice FAA grounding of its “Starship Super Heavy launch program pending results of a ‘mishap investigation’” over... -
Used Business Jet Inventory Up 59% Year Over Year, Data Show
25 April 2023
Aviation Week reports Jefferies data reveal “the number of used business jets for sale in April 2023... -
Northrop Grumman’s Resupply Capsule Departs ISS
24 April 2023
Aviation Week reported that Northrop Grumman’s 18th “NASA-contracted resupply mission capsule departed the seven-person International Space Station (ISS) early April 21... -
Experts Discuss Challenges, Opportunities Around AAM
24 April 2023
Aviation Today reported that a panel of experts hosted by AUVSI and the FAA “discussed the challenges and opportunities associated with cooperating internationally on advanced air mobility, or AAM.” -
ULA Expects Vulcan Launch in the Summer, at Earliest
21 April 2023
Gizmodo reports United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno tweeted that company’s Vulcan rocket’s earliest estimated launch date would be “June/July.” -
Panel Warns of Increased Cybersecurity Threats to Aviation
21 April 2023
Aviation Week reports that a panel at Aviation Week’s MRO Americas Conference examined the cybersecurity -
SpaceX Launches Upgraded Starlink Satellites
20 April 2023
Florida Today reports that SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday morning from Cape Canaveral... -
Planemakers Touting “Surge Capacity” Plans
20 April 2023
In an analysis, Reuters reports that, with the aerospace industry still struggling “to tame post-COVID disruption,” both Airbus and The Boeing Company... -
NASA Says Falling Satellite Poses Low Risk
19 April 2023
The AP reports an old NASA satellite – dubbed “Rhessi” – will fall to Earth Wednesday night, “but experts tracking the spacecraft say chances are low it will pose any danger.” -
IAI to Open Boeing 777 Freighter Conversion Line in South Korea
19 April 2023
Aviation Week reports that Israel Aerospace Industries, in collaboration with MRO firm Sharp Technics K, will open a passenger-to-freight conversion line... -
FAA Seeking to Balance Rocket Launches with Air Traffic
18 April 2023
USA Today reports that the Federal Aviation Administration “announced new guidelines for space launch approvals to ensure that air traffic controllers... -
Aachen University Wins AIAA’s Design, Build, Fly Competition
18 April 2023
Aerospace America reports that RWTH Aachen University of Germany won AIAA’s annual Design, Build, Fly competition, which “challenged students... -
RAeS Article: Taking Revolutionary Leaps Toward a New Age of Aviation
17 April 2023
The first age of aviation proved that human flight was possible and developed aviation into a safe and viable transportation industry. The second age of aviation started with the development of the jet engine, which enabled higher speeds... -
2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum: AAM And Autonomy
17 April 2023
In June, AIAA will host their annual AIAA AVIATION Forum, the only event that covers the entire integrated spectrum of aviation business, research, development, and technology. AUVSI met with Jeremy Wang, an AAM expert, to learn more about the event’s programming around autonomy. -
SpaceX Launches Transporter 7 Rideshare Mission
17 April 2023
Space News reported that SpaceX launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California a Falcon 9 on the Transporter-7 mission, carrying more than 50 satellites. -
Boeing Engineers Break World Record for Longest Paper Airplane Flight
17 April 2023
CNN reported that three engineers from The Boeing Company broke the world record for the farthest flight by paper airplane... -
NASA Refining Designs of Mars Helicopters
14 April 2023
SPACE reports that NASA is drawing on experience from the Ingenuity Mars helicopter’s nearly 50 flights in designing the two Mars Sample Recovery Helicopters... -
SkyDrive Now Preselling eVTOL to Private Individuals
14 April 2023
Aviation Week reports SkyDrive is now preselling its SD-05 two-seater electric VTOL aircraft to private individuals. -
SpaceX Plans Starship Launch as Early as Monday
13 April 2023
The Orlando Sentinel reports that SpaceX doesn’t plan a launch pad run-through for its Starship and Super Heavy rocket, which has a target date of April 17... -
Used Parts Increasingly Sought to Keep North American Jets in ihe Air
13 April 2023
Reuters reports that, amid rising costs and supply-chain shortages, North American airlines and aircraft repair shops... -
Rocket Lab Shifts NASA Cubesat Launches from Virginia to New Zealand
12 April 2023
Space News reports that Rocket Lab has relocated a pair of Electron launches of NASA storm-monitoring cubesats from LC-2 in Wallops Island, Virginia... -
Airlines Set to Announce Strong Earnings, but Economic Uncertainty Raises Fresh Concerns
12 April 2023
Reuters reports major US airlines “are expected to reiterate the strength of travel demand when earnings season gets underway later this week.” -
JUICE Mission to Take 8 Years to Reach Jupiter
11 April 2023
SPACE reports the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), which has an April 13 launch date, will take eight years to travel to its destination. -
Startup Breaks Records with Hydrogen-Powered Flight
11 April 2023
The San Jose Mercury News reports, “Hydrogen fuel cells increasingly are looking like feasible options... -
Startups Seek to Mine Asteroids
10 April 2023
NBC News reports that asteroid mining is “a tantalizing but elusive prospect for innovators and investors alike.” Asteroids are a potential source of platinum and “other precious and rare earth metals -
China’s GDAT Buying 50 Airbus H160 Helicopters
10 April 2023
Aviation International News reported that during French President Macron’s state visit to China, Chinese helicopter lessor... -
SpaceX Launches NASA’s TEMPO from Cape Canaveral
7 April 2023
Florida Today reports that SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral early on Friday morning “carrying a communications satellite and hosted NASA payload... -
Schiphol Airport to Ban Private Jets, Small Business Aircraft Beginning in 2025
7 April 2023
Aviation International News reports that Amsterdam Schiphol Airport “intends to ban private jets and small business aircraft starting in 2025 as part of a wider strategy... -
Mars Ingenuity Helicopter Breaks Speed, Altitude Records
6 April 2023
CBS News reports on Sunday, NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter based on Mars flew 14.5 miles per hours at an altitude of 52.5 feet... -
NASA’s New Supersonic Jet Will Have One Thing Missing: A Sonic Boom
6 April 2023
Robb Report reports that NASA’s experimental X-59 jet, powered by GE Aerospace, will work to minimize the loud noise that usually accompanies an aircraft breaking the sound barrier... -
Japanese Airlines Make Use of Predictive Maintenance Platforms
5 April 2023
Aviation Week reports that Japanese airlines such as All Nippon Airways (ANA) operate a mix... -
Artemis II Astronauts on Being Selected for Moon Mission
5 April 2023
CBS News reports that the crew of four astronauts who will fly by the moon in NASA’s first crewed moon mission in over 50 years was announced on Monday. -
General Says F-35 Supply Chain Too Risky for Future War
4 April 2023
Defense News reports that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter “will need a more resilient supply chain to ensure the military can keep it flying in a future...