Aviation Week reports, “A new type of military airlifter is rising to the top of the U.S. Air Force’s list of modernization priorities: small, autonomous, electric-powered aircraft capable of short takeoffs and landings—and numbering in the hundreds. Air Force Material Command (AFMC) is in the market research phase for the Next-Generation Intratheater Airlift (NGIA) concept. A five-year prototyping program could begin as early as fiscal 2026, leading to the start in the early 2030s.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Tag: Aviation
Airbus Sets New Speed Target for Next Compound Rotorcraft Demo
Aviation Week reports, “Airbus Helicopters has set a new speed target of 240 kt. (276.1 mph) for the next round of flight testing of its Racer compound high-speed rotorcraft. The Racer is currently in maintenance after its first 8 hr. of flight testing, during which it achieved speeds of 227 kt. in June after just seven flights.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
FAA Ends Review Launched After Spike in United Incidents
Aerotime reports the FAA “has concluded a six-month review of United Airlines that the agency launched in March 2024, after several high-profile safety incidents. … On October 2, 2024, the FAA gave United the all clear after completing its evaluation.”
Full Story (Aerotime)
Toyota to Invest $500M in Joby’s eVTOL Air Taxi
Flying Magazine reports, “One of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers this week committed half a billion dollars to help develop a new mode of flight. Toyota on Wednesday announced it will funnel an additional $500 million into the commercial production and certification of Joby Aviation’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi. The four-passenger design—which takes off vertically like a helicopter but cruises on fixed wings—last year began crewed testing and is expected to begin ferrying customers as early as next year, pending FAA approval.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
eVTOL Developer Lilium Powers on its First In-production Jet
Aerotime reports, “In a significant milestone the electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Lilium has successfully powered on its first in-production Lilium Jet. The first Lilium Jet, MSN 1, will be used exclusively for ground testing to confirm safety for the first piloted flight scheduled for early 2025 with MSN 2, which itself is currently in final assembly. This power-on test “confirms that the aircraft is being built in accordance with Lilium’s platform design and the flight systems are functioning correctly,” the developer said on October 1, 2024.”
Full Story (Aerotime)
NTSB Issues Warning on Possible Use of Suspect Rudder Control Parts by Foreign Operators on Boeing 737s
Reuters reports, “The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has said more than 40 foreign operators of Boeing 737 airplanes may be using planes with rudder components that could pose safety risks, though it did not identify which airlines could be affected. The NTSB on Thursday issued urgent safety recommendations about the potential for a jammed rudder control system on some 737 airplanes after a February incident involving a United Airlines flight.”
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Embraer Shares More Details About its New Autonomous Takeoff System
Simple Flying reports, “During the Farnborough Airshow earlier this year, Embraer introduced a new takeoff system it calls E2TS, which stands for Embraer Enhanced Takeoff System. It’s a world-first automated takeoff system, which will see the pilots not rotating the aircraft off the runway. … At a media briefing last week, Embraer revealed more details about the E2TS system and how it works, as well as its potential to influence the wider aviation industry, not just the E2 family of aircraft.”
Full Story (Simple Flying)
Boeing Pauses 737 Production
Flying Magazine reports, “Boeing 737 production ground to a halt on Wednesday as the company continues to be riddled with costly strikes in the Pacific Northwest. A Fortune report stated that two separate representatives from Boeing confirmed the production stoppage after a Tuesday Bank of America analyst note suggested production of the company’s best-selling jets had come to a ‘complete halt.’”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
UK’s Civil Aviation Authority to Begin BVLOS Drone Demos by Year’s End
Aviation Week reports, “The UK Civil Aviation Authority plans to begin beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone demonstrations by year’s end and establish routine operations by 2027 under a road map released by the regulator Sept. 24. The road map lays out a plan to enable scalable, specific-category uncrewed aircraft…”
Full Story (Aviation Week – Subscription Publication)
Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 Makes 4th Successful Test Flight
Simple Flying reports, “Boom Supersonic conducted a fourth and successful Boom XB-1test flight, this time reaching an altitude of 16,150 feet and a speed of Mach 0.617 (about 313 knots equivalent airspeed) during tests for flutter, g-forces, handling, and landing gear. The proof-of-concept XB-1 is helping educate Boom Supersonic on how to build and test supersonic aircraft in the lead-up to building Boom Overture.”
Full Story (Simple Flying)