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The article discusses the main factors responsible for the success of the Aerotropolis or the Piedmont Triad as a model for North and South Carolina's aviation ambitions. Some of the unique aspects and features of the same are highlighted.

Airbus has launched the A320NEO (New Engine option) and the impact of the same for Bombardier and Rolls-Royce is discussed. Airbus feels that the A320NEO is giving the company time to mature technology and derisks.

The article discusses the challenges and difficulties posed for the people of Puget Sound following Boeing's decision to move its companies out of the area. The impact of the same for Puget Sound's small suppliers is highlighted.

The supplier contracts for Boeing's 787 have led to some of the biggest defense companies in Japan and South Korea expanding their reach as global suppliers in commercial aviation. Details of all the different plants of industries that are working directly for Boeing are highlighted.

The article discusses the risks to intellectual property posed by the emergence of China as the world's second largest economy and a huge market. China's emergence is also expected to lead to a fragmentation of the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing.

Boeing has undertaken an overhaul of its large 100 acre factory in order to ensure that every inch of the area is used efficiently. Some of the changes include energy conservation, environmental impact of the activities undertaken within the huge building as well as allowing for the 30,000 employees to work more collaboratively and safely.

2010 appears to be one of the most challenging and critical years for Pratt & Whitney with key developments looming in commercial and military propulsion. The need is for the company to focus on business fundamentals in order to succeed.

The Delta IV Heavy launcher is now ready for launch following a three year update and modification of the storied Space Launch Complex-6 (SLC-6). Details of other modifications undertaken that were undertaken on the SLC-6 are highlighted.

Boeing for now appears to be focusing all its energies on the 747-8 cargo freighter. The company has introduced new tools and procedures as well as a stretch of its fuselage and a redesign of its wing.

Boeing is all set to revamp the 787 flight-test program by flying the second aircraft following the successful first ZA001 prototype flight test. The hastened buildup is indicative of the confidence that Boeing has in the aircraft's ability of meeting the demanding schedule.

The test flight of the Boeing 787 scheduled for June 2009 has suffered setbacks and the next planned test flight date is unknown. This is due to problems with the composite wing of the aircraft which is believed to have surfaced during the pre-flight stress test.

Boeing Co. has overcome initial setbacks and is ready to ship complete airframes for its 787 aircrafts as part of its global supply strategy.

Boeing's protest of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) source-selection decision regarding the sale of 179 tankers has led Northrop Grumman/EADS receiving a stop-work order. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended the USAF to obtain revised proposals and re-evaluate these proposals and make new source selection decisions.

The renovation work on the United launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex-3 has been completed and the first mission of the Atlas V is scheduled for February 2008.

The large engines developed by General Electric-Aviation have caused an increase in engine production volume that is difficult to handle and has many disadvantages over the small engines. The new manufacturing technology such as use of wireless sensors is thought to overcome the bulkiness.

Global Aeronautics is a joint venture between Vought Aircraft Industries of Dallas and ItalyEs Alenia Aeronautica, with Vought having a long history of making fuselages and parts for Boeing, being one of the outsourcing partners of Boeing. The 787 is Boeing's 'flat-Earth' airplane, with a giant global supply chain which includes many countries like Germany and Turkey involved in making parts of the airplane, all of which are assembled at Global Aeronautics.

GE-Aviation has augmented the industry's drive for lower engine operating costs, better fuel efficiency and better emission controls. GE-Aviation have introduced composite materials in fan blades for the GE90 series and Twin-Annular Premixing Swirler (TAPS) technology in the engine reduces combustion temperature and thereby lowers Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions.

India's workforce being skilled in computing, science and manufacturing as well as its red hot economy has helped it to become one of the major markets in Asia-Pacific mix. Indian Airlines has signed up for 140 new aircraft as its air services spurts at a 25 percent annual clip.

Asian countries like China and India's acquisition plans for the year 2006 include more than 200 additional short-and long-haul aircraft. The International Civil Aviation Organization's forecast expects the Asia-Pacific countries to supplant Europe in 2006 as the second largest aviation region after North America.

The spectacular end to the Stardust's seven-year mission will bring scientists their first sample of comet dust and its 12.8-km.-per-sec. reentry on January 15, 2006 will mimic a meteor's land as the capsule's carbon-based surface ablates, offering insight into how life's molecules first formed on Earth. Launched in February 1999, the capsule will provide the extremes of velocity and heat absorption that a future Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) will experience when bringing astronauts back from the Moon, or even Mars.

Boeing Company is investigating how shape-memory alloys, which make engine chevrons more efficient and noise-absorbing nacelle lip liners, might reduce the need to carry as much noise-absorbing insulation in the fuselage. The two aforesaid noise-killing engine concepts were validated as baseline technology for Boeing's new 787 aircraft, slated to enter service in 2008.

Messier Dowty's selection to provide the main and nose landing gear for the 787 is its first prime contract with Boeing for a commercial aircraft reveals how Boeing is using Life-Cycle Product Teams to work with its suppliers. Messier would pull assemblies from plants in Asia, North America and Europe for the 787 contract.

The inflight entertainment (IFE) industry is giving their Internet savvy passengers a glamorous effect in seatback imagery. However, an insurgency is building since 2003, which is making an effort to convince airlines that their IFE choices can be more portable, less costly and a great source of revenue.

Commercial transport aircrafts account for the share of the airline industry's sales in the Asia-Pacific market, although regional aircraft, executive jet and helicopter manufacturers are developing this market. Asia is considered so important that Airbus and Boeing factor its airlines needs into their planning on any major new program, especially for jets seating more than 200 passengers.

Harry Stonecipher, a manager with decisive and scrupulous regarding accountability, discusses about his priorities and how he views the decision of Boeing in purchasing MCDonnell Douglas, the Chicago-based aerospace company. Boeing is poised to launch a new\w commercial aircraft program, which seems to have reenergized employees.

The article discusses software that enables Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) team to manage it as a 'product' that will receive upgrades for a lifetime.

A new survey by Aviation Week and El Segundo, Calif.-based Computer Sciences Corp. has found that aerospace companies are preparing for a global data networks revolution. The survey also found that the defense and aerospace industries are using e-commerce sites for purchasing, logistics and customer relations.

Airlines find establishing new network-based client/server software is expensive and time consuming even though new software could save time and money in the long term. Smaller carriers are more likely to get new systems.

A Deloitte Consulting and Aviation Week and Space Technology survey, finds aerospace companies are increasingly forming business-to-business relationships. Online services, as part of organizational structure are being utilized to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Eastern Asian nations are using remote imaging systems on geostationary satellites for scientific research, particularly map making or Geographical Information Systems. The East Asian and Australian satellite industries are innovators in satellite-based Earth-imaging technology.

Aerospace companies are implementing information systems to decrease costs, increase access to their products by the customer and to increase employee productivity. Boeing has a new intranet and greater technical abilities in its three dimensional product modeling.

The commercial aerospace market will be market by innovate partnerships between manufacturers and airlines in the next five years. Plans by Boeing and Airbus Industrie are discussed.

The article discusses the different things that scientists are hoping to achieve with the James Webb big infrared (IR) Space Telescope. The construction of flight hardware for the Webb Telescope, if on schedule will allow for the parallel running of the Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, which is very exciting for scientists.

The aviation industry has very little scientific data available on the impact of volcanic ash on an aircraft. Some of the potential dangers that volcanic ash could cause are highlighted.

Development of the European Fighter Aircraft (EFA) has reached a snag because Germany has refused to allocate any more production funds. The British, Italian, and Spanish partners want to go ahead with the original plan, but Germany wants to produce a less expensive EFA.

The drop in U.S. government contracts has led to satellite manufacturers like Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Space Systems/Loral looking at new avenues for work such as replacement voice, data and broadcast satellites. The need to focus efforts to hosting government payloads in order to grow and move ahead is highlighted.

The Lunar Crater Observation Sensing Satellite (Lcross) to be launched with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) will probe for the existence of water near the Moon's poles. This process will be recorded by observatories on the Earth, the LRO and other spacecrafts orbiting in the area.

NASA will launch the 972-pound Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) on February 23, 2009, to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), thus drawing a global CO2 profile that could help tackle global warming. The OCO will be part of the Afternoon Constellation, or A-Train, of Earth-observing satellites funded by NASA, France and Canada.

The U.S. is increasingly looking towards space-based assets to track and assess the military capabilities of spacecrafts of other countries. The Space-based Surveillance Satellite (SBSS) developed by Ball Aerospace is a move to provide in-orbit space intelligence.

The article discusses the capabilities and benefits of the wideband bandwidth being used today by the military for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite has already been in operation for a year and is providing amazing high-bandwidth capacity.

The Boeing Commercial Airplanes' outsourcing strategy has upset nearly 27,000 machinists who have stopped work in protest. The company executives believe that the outsourcing strategy not only strengthens the ability to reach markets but also improves efficiency by shifting work to specialists.

Pat Shanahan, Boeing Vice President and 787 General Manger is worried about the power systems and electric brake monitoring controls as they are proving to be major obstacles to power-on and first flight. Crane Aerospace is supplying the brake control system and the Hamilton Sundstrand is responsible for the power systems.

Exostar will be collaborating with members of the Transglobal Secure Collaboration Program to provide common standards for the international exchange of sensitive electronic information by industry and governments. Exostar will have to make the system secure, easy to use and auditable for contract assurance purposes.

The board of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan's largest aerospace manufacturer has agreed to sell the Mitsubishi Regional Jet to airlines. The jet is being designed to overcome the challenges of rising fuel costs and the reduction of emissions from commercial jets.

The ongoing production delays in Boeing's 787 program that are hampering the final assembly of the airplanes, despite a successful promotion of the 787 flights, are discussed.

The delay in the launch of the Boeing 787 has given more time for the manufacturers to concentrate on improving the 787 systems.

A leadership change in the Boeing 787 program focuses on long-term quality control and performance, besides manufacturing and planning requirements of its clients.