DefenceTalkCivilian drones are increasingly becoming a “real and growing threat” to the safety of commercial aviation, industry group IATA warned on Monday, calling for regulations to be put in place before any serious accidents occur. Tony Tyler, director-general of the International Air Transport Association, said the threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles is still evolving […]https://www.defencetalk.com/drones-becoming-real-threat-to-commercial-aviation-iata-66727/

DefenceTalkBoeing said Thursday it would cut back production of its freight workhorse 747-8 aircraft by half as the air cargo industry slows. Boeing said it could move from completing one 747-8 per month to one every two months from September. The company said data in November showed air freight had contracted by 1.2 percent over […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-cuts-747-output-as-air-freight-slows-66510/

DefenceTalkWorld nations struck a landmark deal Wednesday on using satellites to track flights, which could prove key to preventing a repeat of the mysterious disappearance of flight MH370 in March 2014. Countries reached an accord at a conference hosted by the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that aimed to improve on the current civilian flight-tracking […]https://www.defencetalk.com/world-nations-reach-landmark-deal-on-satellites-to-track-flights-65824/

DefenceTalkWashington: Owners of recreational drones in the United States will soon have to register them, the government said Monday, as the popular devices become a growing hazard in the skies. As more and more radio-controlled drones appear in American skies, the risk of one colliding with a full-sized airplane — with potentially catastrophic results — […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-to-require-registration-of-drones-65657/

DefenceTalkMetro Aviation of Shreveport, La. has contracted to purchase six EC145e twin-engine helicopters from Airbus Helicopters Inc. Metro is the first North American customer for this new lighter weight and lower cost version of the highly successful Airbus Helicopters EC145. Airbus Helicopters Inc. and Metro have launched an extensive North America demonstration tour to show […]https://www.defencetalk.com/metro-aviation-places-order-for-six-ec145e-light-twin-helicopters-65369/

DefenceTalkThe Army has finished its follow on test and evaluation, or FOTE, on the MQ-1C Gray Eagle and Initial Test and Evaluation on the One System Remote Video Terminal at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, California. Record testing was conducted from May 29 – June 14. The Gray Eagle, already in full-rate production […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-puts-gray-eagle-uas-one-system-remote-video-terminal-through-test-64617/

DefenceTalkNumerous deals have been closed at the 51st International Paris Airshow. But even if they were less than spectacular this year, aircraft manufacturers are calling the event at Le Bourget airport a big success. The Paris-Le Bourget airport will continue to be the mecca of the aviation world until Sunday (06.21.2015), when the 51st International […]https://www.defencetalk.com/paris-airshow-leaves-satisfied-exhibitors-exciting-newcomers-64595/

DefenceTalkNew airport technologies unveiled at the Paris Air Show this week promise robots replacing immigration officers and much faster identification of criminals through their biometric data. French electrical systems company Thales premiered its new equipment designed to speed up passage through airports. In their vision of the future, passengers will no longer deal with check-in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/robot-border-guards-among-new-airport-tech-at-paris-air-show-64592/

DefenceTalkBoeing strengthened its position as the aerospace industry’s leader in innovation and technology at a highly successful 2015 Paris Air Show. “Innovation is the heart of our strategy,” said Boeing Vice Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer Dennis Muilenburg. “It is what differentiates us not only from existing competitors but also from the competitors of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-customers-demonstrate-performance-and-innovation-at-paris-air-show-64569/

DefenceTalkThe spread of portable anti-aircraft missiles in the Middle East and North Africa could pose a threat to aviation security if the weapons fall into the hands of Islamic extremists, a report said on Wednesday. The easy-to-use, lightweight weapons, or man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), are proliferating due to looted stockpiles in Libya, arms trafficking […]https://www.defencetalk.com/aviation-security-endangered-by-spread-of-missiles-study-64457/