Global Scans · Aviation · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: More than half of the expected new passengers over the next two decades will originate from China, which will displace the US as the world's largest aviation market by around 2029. More than half of the expected new passengers over the next two decades will originate from China, which will displace the US as the world's largest aviation market by around 2029. Sales of consumer and prosumer drones are soaring and the Federal Aviation Authority forecasts there will be more than 1.3 million licensed drone pilots by 2020 in the U.S. alone.

• [New] Skyband Systems, a developer of aviation-grade, PNT-resilient navigation hardware, will integrate the Iridium PNT ASIC into its M100 LRU for business and commercial aviation. Iridium Satellite Communications
• [New] Hydrogen - as a primary energy source for propulsion, either for fuel cells, direct burn in thermal engines or as a building block for synthetic liquid fuels - could feasibly power aircraft with entry into service by 2035 for short-range aircraft. Clean Aviation
• [New] Most eVTOL aircraft seat 2 to 5 passengers, and operators plan to offer both private charter and shared ride options similar to UberPool and Lyft Shared. eVTOL.Travel
• [New] US-based flying taxi operator Archer Aviation will deliver an additional aircraft next year, ahead of the launch of commercial air taxi operations in the UAE. Khaleej Times
• [New] Offsetting all domestic flights and SAF will help JetBlue move toward the lower-carbon economy for which aviation and all sectors must plan. South Pole
• [New] The Asia-Pacific will need 17,000 new aircraft by 2042, worth $3.1 trillion. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The world will need over 600,000 new pilots and 610,000 maintenance technicians in the next 20 years to handle the growing number of planes. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Companies like Rolls-Royce are working hard to develop cleaner technologies, such as electric and hybrid planes, with the goal of cutting carbon emissions to zero by 2050. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Vertical Aerospace has delayed the certification and delivery of its Valo eVTOL air taxi to 2029, a one-year slip from its previous target, attributing it to the rigorous process of certifying a new aircraft class. Flying Magazine
• [New] United Airlines plans to be 100% green by 2050 and is beginning to implement Sustainable Aviation Fuel to reduce CO2 emissions per passenger. Scenic Train Vacations and Packages | Vacations By Rail
• [New] Beyond the engine technologies, Airbus and MTU will continue to foster a hydrogen aviation economy and the associated regulatory framework, which are critical enablers to hydrogen-powered flight at scale. compositesworld
• [New] The K-Smart City project will create a 330-hectare pilot district based on South Korean smart city technologies. The Astana Times
• [New] The commercial aviation industry will need to hire 123,000 aviation maintenance technicians in North America through 2044. NPR
• [New] The International Air Transport Association (IATA) targets 10% of global aviation fuel to be SAF by 2030, and the EU's ReFuelEU Aviation regulation mandates a 2% SAF blend by 2025, escalating to 70% by 2050. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Fastest Growing Segment: The aviation SAF sub-segment is the fastest growing application, driven by EU's ReFuelEU mandates, IATA's 10% SAF target by 2030, and large-scale HEFA-SAF investments by Diamond Green Diesel, Neste, Shell, and TotalEnergies. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Expanding refinery conversion projects, record investments in HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) technology, and growing corporate net-zero pledges from logistics, aviation, and marine sectors are collectively reinforcing robust demand across all major geographies through 2033. Persistence Market Research
• [New] American Airlines will equip more than 500 narrowbody aircraft with Starlink from 2027, bringing high-speed, low-latency inflight connectivity that supports streaming, gaming and real-time collaboration. Future Travel Experience
• [New] Unlike in the Taiwan Strait, there is no arsenal of modern medium-range missiles that could seriously threaten US aircraft carriers. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
• [New] NSPM-11's standards for AI assurance, supply-chain security and interoperability will likely influence the FAA's evolving framework for autonomous aviation as well. Autonomy Global - Industry Insights: Latest in Autonomo

Last updated: 19 July 2026