Aviation Week & Space Technology

Scientists involved in exploration of the Pluto system have to take the long view, after waiting almost a decade just to get there.

The spacecraft is fitted out with a payload package of small but powerful instruments, which will have one quick shot to do their job before flying past Pluto.

Failure of the SpaceX Falcon 9 cargo mission is a setback for the company, though the severity of the consequences has yet to be determined.

Airlines change fleet plans all the time—but four current cases reveal deeper industry trends.

Air Canada has turned around its financial performance—now it is ready for major long-haul growth, including adding to its fleet.

AirAsia’s expanding geographic reach is causing some problems, as the financial challenges of its overseas affiliates burden the parent company.

As outgoing CEO Jim McNerney gets ready to hand-off Boeing’s reins, can he claim his legacy as bringing back the giant’s “swagger?”

Russia’s biggest international carrier, the Aeroflot Group, is downsizing its fleet and possibly restructuring its subsidiaries, after a downturn caused in part by Western sanctions.

L​yle Hogg (see photo) has been named president of Piedmont Airlines, Salisbury, Maryland. He succeeds Steve Farrow, who remains CEO and will retire in early 2016. Hogg was most recently vice president of flight operations for US Airways, which, like Piedmont, is part of the American Airlines Group.

Northrop Grumman takes the oldest Global Hawk flying and shows it can be upgraded to take new payloads using an open system architecture, paving the way to refreshing technology in production aircraft.

Testing combined aircraft tug/passenger bus; volcanic ash ingestion engine tests planned; X-56 continues anti-flutter research; BA reducing A320 noise; Darpa looks for non-GPS weapon seeker.

Our editors discuss why there may have been bigger news this week than at Le Bourget, thanks to Jim McNerney, Tom Enders, Charlie Bolden and One Web.

Soft terminology obfuscates; attention to cycles in aerospace is paramount; in praise of Aviation Week covers; advocating for a large-body bomber; more passenger suggestions for improving air travel.

Big ideas, competitive selection, rapid demonstrations, sparse oversight—all characteristics of the first projects selected under a NASA “Shark Tank-like” initiative to bring a more entrepreneurial element to its aeronautics research.

Remarkable growth trajectories are in play at Flexjet and helicopter lessor Milestone Aviation Group.

Electric propulsion is already changing personal aviation. Could a new NASA X-plane pave the way for a revolution in on-demand transport and a rebirth for commuter airlines?

Despite two years of African regulatory headaches and big losses, CEO plans major growth for nascent airline.

Rock star and airline entrepreneur Bruce Dickinson bets on ACMI to establish an airline in Africa.

Defense contractors should emulate practices of leading commercial tech companies.

After years of financial problems, LOT Polish Airlines reveals an ambitious expansion plan aimed at a turnaround.

Two of Africa’s largest airlines face an uphill struggle to become profitable.

The need to invest in adequate and safe airport infrastructure in Africa stems from the threat from terrorist groups as well as a strong forecasted growth in passenger numbers.

Political tensions with Russia and uncertainty over sanctions are not to blame for slow SSJ100 sales, SJI CEO says, and Western sales will pick up as the commercial market improves.

The aerospace and defense giant comes under new leadership, with big decisions waiting that could remake the company as it heads toward its second century.

U.S. grapples with spending to modernize nuclear capabilities, NextGen chief worries privatizing ATC could disrupt progress, administration official warns of Senate cuts to space laser program and the Pentagon boosts spending on space warfare.