Aurigny is first European operator to use satellite approach system

North Korea's successful launch of a satellite in December after 14 years of attempts put the hermit kingdom one step closer toward deploying an intercontinental ballistic missile. And Iran's nuclear weapons program—and the threat of an Israeli attack to cripple it—will keep tensions simmering in the Middle East.

When I began writing this column eight years ago, airlines were reeling as oil prices soared above $50 a barrel. Lockheed Martin was hoping to ramp up production of the Joint Strike Fighter in 2009, and Wall Street analysts were beginning to question whether a run-up in defense stocks had much steam left. Airbus was preparing to launch development of the A350 in response to Boeing's 7E7 (now 787), and the business jet market was embarking on a sales surge that would end in a spectacular crash.

Under fierce pressure to cut costs, even major carriers are turning to independent companies to handle line maintenance at stations where an airline's volume makes in-house support uneconomic. Outsourcing opportunities can involve start-up carriers; or, airlines that simply do not have enough flights at particular airports to justify deploying maintenance staff and infrastructure.

Narrowbody maintenance will be driven by the Boeing 737 over the next three years.

Unmanned-aircraft manufacturers are approaching a crossroads. The wars that fueled the market's dramatic growth are winding down. International demand is growing but bringing with it increased competition. And the civil market is slow to start, and initially focused on small systems that cannot match the military business in sales value.

The aviation industry understands the concept of big data and the need to best employ it. A couple of factors are driving what, and how, the aviation industry will deal with the terabytes, petabytes and exabytes of data that are too hard to comprehend.

The bifurcation of the business jet market is expected to continue in 2013, with strong demand for larger and pricier jets and sluggish sales of small and mid-sized aircraft. A Chinese company's failed bid in 2012 to acquire bankrupt Hawker Beechcraft is unlikely to slow Beijing's bid to become a significant player in the market.