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] C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft will support, along with reconnaissance platforms and rotary-wing aircraft. CNN
• [New] Although global sustainable aviation fuel production is expected to increase by more than 26% in 2026 compared to the previous year, it will comprise just 0.8% of jet fuel use. Oils & Fats International
• [New] Polish and Finnish pilots could operate from preexisting NATO bases that hold B61 gravity bombs. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Both China and Russia have publicly demonstrated Unmanned Aircraft (UA) swarming concepts, and the European Union is developing a border protection tool that will operate drones in swarms. Human Rights Watch
• [New] Electra has provided a glimpse of the airliner of 2050 with its hybrid aircraft concept capable of carrying more than 100 passengers while using electrification, advanced aerodynamics, and integrated airframe-propulsion design to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. New Atlas
• [New] Amazon has secured Civil Aviation Authority permission to begin same-day drone parcel deliveries in Britain, and the CAA's Future of Flight roadmap targets routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations by 2027 - the regulatory key to UK deliveries and long-range inspections over towns and villages. North London Drone Surveys
• [New] Neither impediment will plague a new Glydways autonomous transit pilot set to be installed near the world's busiest airport by the end of 2026. Georgia Trend Magazine
• [New] The UK's Jet Zero Strategy outlines how sustainable aviation fuels, new tech, and infrastructure will decarbonise aviation by 2050. Innovation News Network
• [New] American Battery Technology Company has demonstrated direct recycling at pilot scale, with commercial-scale deployments expected by 2027-2028. IMARC Group
• [New] In 2026, robotics will move from exploratory pilots to structured early adoption across the print production floor, driven by rising costs, persistent labour challenges, and growing demand for faster turnaround and 24/7 output. Automate
• [New] Under the Economic Transition Scenario, the combined impact of fleet electrification and fuel efficiency improvements avoids 25.8m b/d of road fuel demand by 2040, four times larger than the oil displacement across aviation, marine and petrochemicals sectors combined. BloombergNEF
• [New] Purdue University is pioneering initiatives to fly nearly 1 million commercial uncrewed aircraft systems throughout the U.S. by 2027. IMARC Group
• [New] Although SAF comprises only about 0.1% of aviation fuel today (U.S Government Accountability Office, 2023), it has the potential to grow substantially by 2040 as investment and adoption increase. GOV.UK
• [New] Airbus and Renault have a joint R&D agreement targeting roughly double current energy densities to enable hybrid and electric medium-haul aircraft by the 2030s. New Atlas
• [New] The next step will be to attach the Pegasus XL to the Stargazer carrier aircraft (the last airworthy Lockheed L-1011 TriStar), which will carry it from NASA's Wallops facility to the Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific Ocean for launch. theregister
• The Transport Resilience And Capacity Kickstart pilot program will support more fuel-efficient freight movements across Australia, which is especially relevant while the conflict in the Middle East continues to affect global fuel supply. Mirage News
• The Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, a vital initiative to combat $1.6 billion in annual damages caused by invasive wild pigs, is extended with new funding through 2031. American Farm Bureau Federation
• A key theme of AUTOMATE 2026 will be the transition of artificial intelligence from pilot programs to full-scale industrial deployment. Metrology and Quality News - Online Magazine
• Air taxi services are expected to launch commercially in select cities within the next 1-3 years, while personal ownership of roadable aircraft is likely 5-10 years or more out. Day Spring Management
• Global SAF production is expected to reach 2.4 million tonnes in 2026, equal to only 0.8% of aviation fuel use. ESG News
• Beta's CX300, a type of aircraft designated cTOL, already has orders from carriers like Air New Zealand and is expected to begin revenue-cargo flights later in 2026 under a Transportation Department pilot program. Business Insider

Last updated: 28 June 2026