Momentum is growing behind the desire for a step-change in rotary-wing performance. More speed is most often mentioned by customers and manufacturers, but range and payload limitations are also seen as holding back rotorcraft from wider use.

Before they move any earth, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) officials are going to have to move a mountain of paper. The airport has launched the multi-year regulatory approval process needed for a major expansion, one of the most important aviation infrastructure projects in the Asia-Pacific region. Built on a 1,250-hectare (4.8-sq.-mi.)man-made island, HKIA was considered an engineering marvel when it was completed in 1998. Now efforts are underway to add another 650 hectares to the north side of the island to accommodate a third parallel runway.

As Tom Enders assumes the role of chief executive of EADS, he finds himself at the helm of an enterprise much changed from five years ago, when he and his predecessor, Louis Gallois, last shared responsibility for running the company. To his credit, Enders agreed to step down to lead Airbus and help simplify the corporate structure. The internecine warfare between French and German factions has eased. Even the A380 appears to be on a solid footing.

With billions being spent in pursuit of fuel savings, closer integration of engines and aircraft may hold the greatest untapped potential for improvement. But extracting synergies from the intermingling of propulsion and airframe design is demanding changes in the way the stove-piped aerospace industry operates.

One of the few promising airlines in Eastern Europe until its near-collapse last year, Air Baltic is slowly returning to financial stability and rebuilding its strategy—and now it faces new competition from Estonian Air.

Aerospace researchers generally agree that step changes in efficiency for future commercial aircraft designs will only be achieved through unprecedented levels of integration between propulsion and airframe.

NASA, Boeing consider technologies that might be in airliners in 2045.

Designers are shaping quiet nozzles and aircraft with soft sonic booms.