Op-Ed Columnists
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OpinionWill harmony continue as GCAP fighter partners discuss workshare terms?
A ‘spirit of equal partnership’ and harmonious relations between Italy, Japan and the UK have given their GCAP fighter effort a smooth start – but can that continue as all-important workshare discussions advance?
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OpinionCan SAF production be scaled to help fuel aviation’s growth?
Although sustainable aviation fuels are seen as a key part of aviation’s decarbonisation roadmap, questions remain about the ability to scale-up their production. However, argues Paul Ticehurst, the industry can overcome these hurdles.
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OpinionAerospace's slow road to a bright recovery
The largest aerospace firms’ latest financials show a muted recovery in 2022 – but long-term there is little to worry about.
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OpinionWhy F-16 ‘fighter coalition’ taking off matters for Ukraine
Ukraine’s journey towards NATO membership has been boosted by a ‘fighter coalition’ offering pilot training for F-16s – but don’t expect a transfer of such aircraft to end the war.
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OpinionParis air show reveals strong demand and a resilient but challenged supply chain
Aerospace suppliers are dealing with a variety of issues in the post-Covid-19 environment, and those issues are challenging their ability to ramp production. Three challenges – involving productivity, pricing and working capital – are most pressing.
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OpinionUS air-travel system failed this week - after airlines insisted they were ready
Over and over this year, executives at US airlines insisted they were taking steps that would ensure their operations run more smoothly this summer. They spoke far too soon.
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OpinionLe Bourget’s Indian summer for mega-orders
Large order commitments for narrowbody products dominated the headlines at Le Bourget, but be in no doubt – the aerospace industry is powering towards a more sustainable future.
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OpinionWill new-look aerospace industry soar as Paris air show returns?
Returning after a four-year absence, the Paris air show will celebrate an industry that has seen seismic changes since the Le Bourget event was last staged: expect issues relating to the supply chain, climate change, and defence to dominate.
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OpinionIn support of the European slot rules - the ‘unsung hero’ of the air traffic system
IATA deputy director general Conrad Clifford argues that over the past 30 years, the European Slot Regulation has enabled huge benefits for travelers and suggests, ’if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’
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OpinionHow can we know when options are exhausted amid the noise over Schiphol?
European legislation is in place to ensure alternatives are explored to mitigate the impact of aircraft noise on communities before flights caps are implemented, but understanding when all such options have been exhausted is harder to judge, writes former director general of air traffic management trade body CANSO, Graham Lake
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OpinionWhy Boeing must halt its recent run of production hiccups
Boeing must hope the latest manufacturing quality issue to hit its commercial portfolio is the last – and not a continuing trend.
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OpinionThe element of doubt around future propulsion
No-one disputes the technical feasibility of hydrogen- or SAF-powered commercial aircraft, but quite where these next‑generation fuels will come from is an open question.
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OpinionHow omission of human failings undermined Ethiopian Max report
Although investigators examining the Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max crash are rightly critical of Boeing, their failure to adequately probe the pilots’ actions leaves us with an incomplete picture.
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OpinionWhat should the expectations from Single European Sky really be?
Former director general of air traffic management trade body CANSO, Graham Lake, argues the much-criticised Single European Sky project deserves credit for what has been achieved, but that better expectations management and fuller accountability for (lack of) progress and investment decisions at a local level is required .
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OpinionWhy sixth-generation combat aircraft programmes are flying high
A tantalising batch of next-generation combat aircraft programmes are powering up for the USA and multiple key allies – now it is critical that such efforts can deliver success.
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OpinionCan Boeing deliver against its ambitious growth targets?
While ambitious goals are commendable, Boeing has a great deal of work to do if it is to clear a path to reaching them.
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OpinionIs the time right to start A220-500 family planning?
Airbus might not have a stretched A220 on its drawing board yet, but given the frequency with which the so-called ‘-500’ is mentioned at the airframer’s briefings, there is a sense that the aircraft is practically being willed into existence by journalists, investors and perhaps one or two airline customers.
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OpinionWhy sustainability push must weigh aviation's impact from design to disposal
Assessment of an aircraft’s environmental performance must be based on more than just exhaust emissions and should also consider how it is built, argues Professor Iain Gray.
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OpinionDoes Aeroflot’s domestic aircraft order mark progress for Putin?
Russian President Vladimir Putin once expressed his dissatisfaction with Aeroflot Group’s fleet choices while grilling then-chief Vitaly Saveliev, who was forced to explain why the flag carrier was overwhelmingly using Western rather than domestically-built aircraft. “I want to understand how many Russian aircraft Aeroflot is going to buy,” Putin told ...
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OpinionWhy aviation sector is struggling to scale up after pandemic woes
Although aviation is cheering the return of customer demand, scaling business up again is proving harder than planned.