Published on the eve of the Farnborough air show, our latest issue checks the health of the commercial aviation sector’s big two manufacturers.
We interview Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury, and assess the scale of the challenge facing Boeing counterpart David Calhoun – and his yet-to-be-appointed successor. Plus, Brazilian airframer Embraer mulls its next programme options.
Don’t miss our report from NATO’s annual summit in Washington DC, as alliance members’ first donated Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters head for Ukraine. And Fokker Next Gen reveals its ambitious plans to develop an all-new, zero-emission narrowbody airliner.
Also this month, our half-year airline safety report details the industry’s notable accidents and incidents – and how a figure of only 11 fatalities could have been much higher due to four alarmingly close calls. Plus: Airbus nears A321XLR certification lift; Boeing’s $1.8 billion future fighter bet; and we mark the 70th anniversary of Lockheed’s C-130 Hercules.
Use the links below to access our latest issue’s content in web-optimised format, and subscribers can view our “page-turner” digital replica of the magazine and download a pdf version at the foot of the page. Subscribers can also access our archived issues by clicking on the filing cabinet drawer symbol next to the search icon.
Poised for certification and due to enter revenue service before year-end, the 4,700nm-capable A321XLR and its crucial range-boosting rear fuel tank have tested Airbus’s engineering mettle.
Boeing has confirmed it will take over US-based aerostructures firm Spirit AeroSystems in an $8.3 billion agreement, including net debt, with Airbus poised to acquire its key programmes from the company.
Despite the uprecented scrutiny of its production processes, leadership uncertainty and a recent guilty plea to fraud charges, there are signs that Boeing could be on the mend.
Speaking at the annual NATO summit in Washington DC, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is seeking formal permission to strike military targets within Russian territory, including with F-16 fighters being donated by NATO member states.
Brazilian airframer maintains it is focused on selling and improving the products it has already developed and further studying conceptual 50-seat aircraft powered by next-generation propulsion systems under its Energia project.
Since taking the reins at Airbus in 2019, Guillaume Faury has seen off several huge challenges – but there are still fires to fight, such as a creaking supply chain, even as the airframer eyes its future commercial product plans. Meanwhile, in the defence business, the manufacturer has embarked one of its most ambitious projects yet.
Fokker Next Gen has ditched plans to modify a Fokker 100 to run on hydrogen power to focus entirely on developing a clean-sheet zero-emission airliner for service entry in 2035.
US advanced propulsion developer Universal Hydrogen has burned through its cash reserves and is folding as a company.
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The first six months of this year saw strong airline safety performance, with 11 fatalities – but a series of close calls could have seen that number spike towards a total akin to during the 1980s.
The US airframer has begun construction of a $1.8 billion advanced combat aircraft assembly facility in St. Louis, at a time when support for sixth-generation fighter programmes appears to be waning at the Pentagon.
The ubiquitous Hercules has been a tactical airlift champion since its August 1954 debut, with deliveries passing 2,700 and production expected to continue through the next decade.
She juggles 12-hour shifts at the ramp, motherhood – and running her own fashion label. Meet Rohaida Haron, a licensed aircraft engineer at Malaysia-headquartered Asia Digital Engineering.
The lighter side of Flight International.
The 5 January near-disaster involving an Alaska Airlines Max 9 has intensified the safety concerns that threaten to overwhelm Boeing – but the incident could also be a catalyst for change.
There may be fears about safety and job security, but if AI in the cockpit is harnessed in the right way it could be a powerful force for good, argues Captain Fahad ibne Masood.
