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] By 2028, 30% of GenAI pilots that move forward into large scale production will be built versus deployed using packaged applications to lower cost and increase control. Gartner
• [New] The U.S. Department of Energy today officially kicked off President Trump's Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, announcing DOE will initially work with 11 advanced reactor projects to move their technologies towards deployment. Energy.gov
• [New] To help address some of workforce challenges created by AI, Labour and Commerce will rapidly pilot new approaches, which may include areas such as rapid retraining needs driven by worker displacement and shifting skill requirements for entry-level roles. Community College Daily
• [New] If acoustic standards allow overland operations, routes like New York-Los Angeles could shrink to roughly three and a half hours, and transoceanic legs could regain some of the Concorde's ground now with composite materials, non-afterburning engines, and sustainable aviation fuels. AL DIA News
• [New] Global runway safety action plans aim to reduce runway excursions and incursions, while enhanced real-time turbulence monitoring systems will help aircraft operators better anticipate and avoid severe weather. JDA Aviation Technology Solutions
• [New] In part because of cost, sustainable fuel is produced only in small quantities: In 2025, global production is expected to be about 2 million metric tons of the fuel, which is less than 1% of the worldwide demand for aviation fuel. North Country Now
• [New] Boeing has announced that by 2030, all its commercial aircraft will be certified to fly with 100% SAF. Stephenson Harwood
• [New] All Airbus aircraft are already certified to fly with up to 50% SAF which has the potential to reduce lifecycle CO2 emission by up to 80% on average. Stephenson Harwood
• [New] Norway has a blending obligation for aviation fuel suppliers, mandating a minimum 0.5% SAF content, aiming to reach 30% by 2030. Stephenson Harwood
• [New] Austrian Airlines, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, plans to gradually phase out all Embraer E195 aircraft by 2028. Aviation.Direct
• [New] Licensing and pilot services for Low Earth Orbit satellites will begin once registrations complete, with commercial rollout expected late 2025. OpenGov Asia
• [New] Archer Aviation Inc. partnered with a local airline in UK to launch a pilot air taxi service by 2027. Mobility Foresights
• [New] The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, set to revolutionize urban travel, will drastically reduce commute times between major airports and central Tokyo. SasSofia
• [New] The Federal Aviation Authority expects to recruit 8,900 air traffic controllers by late 2028. Just Security
• [New] Several US air taxi developers this week disclosed new business deals, including Eve Air Mobility, which plans soon to begin testing its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with motors supplied by Beta Technologies. Flight Global
• [New] The UAE and India are accelerating their own certification timelines, with Abu Dhabi partnering with Archer Aviation and Delhi planning domestic services by 2026. Ainvest
• [New] By 2026, FAA pilot testing is expected to follow, paving the way for U.S. commercial launches. Ainvest
• [New] Air taxi startup Joby Aviation Inc. expects to have five aircraft in one of the final phases of certification in 2026 as it aims to start commercial flights in early 2026. Transport Topics
• [New] The U.S. Department of Energy's Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge catalyzes a domestic industry capable of producing 3 billion gallons of SAF annually by 2030, supported by tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act. / USA AZoCleantech
• All that fossil-based jet fuel means that aviation accounts for 2.5% of global CO2 emissions today and, if no action is taken, that number is projected to increase to over 20% of global CO2 emissions by 2050 as the aviation industry continues to grow and other sectors decarbonize. Inlander
• While sustainable aviation fuel is still fairly new, it's expected to grow massively in the coming decades, driven by the federal government's target of producing 35 billion gallons per year by 2050. MinnPost
• Dubai's planned launch in early 2026 is now more credible, with Joby shipping its first production aircraft in Q3 2025. Ainvest
• The European Union, through its Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate, ReFuelEU Aviation in official terms, has mandated a 2% SAF blending requirement with an ultimate target of 70% blend by 2050. Global Market Insights Inc.

Last updated: 17 August 2025