The latest issue of Flight International (22-28 June) has one of our most stunning covers of the year. It shows an Alenia Aermacchi M-346 in flight over the ocean. The M-346 Master is a leading contender for the nine-nation "Eurotraining" initiative and our Italian correspondent Luca Peruzzi takes a detailed look at the package being offered around the platform by bidders Alenia Aermacchi and its partner EADS. Meanwhile, Stephen Trimble examines the big stateside contest to replace the USAF's venerable T-38 trainer. At least five companies are in the mix.
Also, Embraer has gone public on an almost taboo subject for the aviation industry: commercial flights flown with a single pilot. While most experts believe the cockpit environment has advanced to such a degree as to permit solo flying (after all, private aircraft fly all the time with one pilot), there are still huge psychological and practical objections. Our Comment piece - entitled The lonely commander - asks whether it will and should ever happen.
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