Jon Hemmerdinger
Jonathan Hemmerdinger is Americas managing editor for FlightGlobal, covering all aspects of aviation, with a particular focus on the companies that make commercial aircraft and their suppliers. He formerly covered business for Maine’s largest newspaper. Before that, he worked at Independence Air
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In depthAlphabet’s Wing division advances unmanned air traffic system
Various companies have in recent years been working to develop underlying air traffic technologies intended to support the expected rapid expansion of the commercial unmanned urban air mobility (UAM) industry.
- News
American Airlines pilots to begin 737 Max training in November
American Airlines’ pilots will begin 737 Max “special training” in November in preparation for the jet’s return to service, with the company’s entire complement of 737 pilots expected to complete the reviews by January 2021.
- News
Hydrogen-powered airliners unlikely in near term: Boeing exec
Boeing’s top product developer doubts hydrogen-powered airliners will be viable in the near future due to technical and regulatory hurdles and remaining technological uncertainty.
- News
Spirit predicts Asco purchase will terminate, describes Bombardier buy as uncertain
Spirit AeroSystems expects not to close its planned $420 million acquisition of Belgium company Asco and has raised uncertainty about closing a planned $500 million purchase of Bombardier’s commercial aviation businesses.
- In depth
US lawmakers propose additional $29bn in airline support for staff
Two US senators have introduced a bill that would provide airlines with another $28.8 billion in funds earmarked for employee expenses incurred through March 2021.
- News
Boeing lays off pilot group that supports service entry of new aircraft types
Boeing is laying off a group of seven “line-assist instructor pilots” whose work includes helping airlines bring into their fleets aircraft types that those airlines have not previously operated.
- News
Can passengers evacuate jets in 90sec? US government report urges FAA to find out
Citing changed passenger demographics and behavior, as well as more seats in aircraft and concerns about carry-on luggage, a US government report urges the Federal Aviation Administration to review whether passengers really can evacuate a packed airliner in the required 90sec.
- News
Boeing’s Allen succeeds Raymond as head of strategy with direct report to CEO
Boeing has named Marc Allen as chief strategy officer, effective 1 October, a move that could signal renewed focus by Boeing on developing an overarching corporate strategy amid an uncertain time.
- News
BAE to design fly-by-wire system for Aerion’s AS2 supersonic business jet
UK aerospace company BAE Systems will develop the fly-by-wire flight-control system for Aerion Supersonic’s AS2 in-development high-speed business jet, adding another high-profile supplier to Aerion’s roster of partners.
- News
Raytheon to cut another 6,500 jobs, bringing tally to 15,000
Raytheon Technologies now intends to cut 15,000 commercial aerospace and general corporate jobs, up from a previous estimate of 8,500 job cuts.
- News
FAA shortcomings and Boeing’s culture contributed to Max crashes: Congressional report
A “culture of concealment” by Boeing and erroneous technical assumptions, combined with insufficient oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration, contributed to the deadly crashes of two Boeing 737 Max.
- News
Ampaire’s second hybrid Cessna gets airborne ahead of Hawaii demonstration flights
Electric aircraft specialist Ampaire has flown a second Cessna 337 Skymaster powered partly by an electric motor, a development coming ahead of planned airline demonstration flights before year end.
- Opinion
Newest start-ups might hold recipe for real tech advancement
In recent weeks, a slew of aerospace start-ups unveiled ambitious plans to develop aerospace technologies aimed at slashing emissions and allowing autonomous flight.
- News
Perlan Project outfits Perlan 2 with new sensors, preps for 2021 flights
After scrubbing a 2020 flight programme due to coronavirus, the Perlan Project team hopes to fly its high-altitude sailplane in the US Sierra Nevada mountains in early 2021 before returning to Argentina in May.
- News
Airbus subsidiary Satair acquires A220 parts service work from Bombardier
Airbus subsidiary Satair is taking over A220 materials servicing from Bombardier, a move that comes several years after Bombardier divested the broader A220 programme to Airbus.
- News
Raytheon slows hybrid-electric airliner project, citing pandemic
Raytheon Technologies has slowed development of a hybrid-electric airliner under an effort called Project 804, though the company insists it remains committed to advancing electric-aircraft technologies.
- News
Avianca secures $370m government loan commitment
Colombia’s government has committed $370 million in aid to Avianca as part of a $2 billion financing package aimed at helping the struggling carrier weather the coronavirus downturn.
- News
United eliminates change fee for US travel, allows free standby
United Airlines has “permanently” eliminated reservation change fees for domestic economy- and premium-cabin tickets and opened free same-day standby to all customers.
- News
Airbus and Boeing to issue joint paper on modernising air traffic management
Airbus has collaborated with Boeing to write a report warning that air traffic management (ATM) technology must be significantly modernised to manage countless new small aircraft that will occupy future airspace.
- News
Acubed works toward single-pilot A320 replacement, begins autonomy-development flights
Airbus innovation arm Acubed has started flights in California to advance autonomous technology that will make the next clean-sheet narrowbody aircraft capable of single-pilot operation.
