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] As airport connectivity eVTOL route services demonstrate commercial viability and operational track record in UK, service expansion to additional point-to-point urban corridor connections will follow progressively as fleet size and pilot familiarity with urban operational environments grow. Mobility Foresights
• [New] As UK aviation regulatory frameworks for eVTOL operations mature and certification standards are formally published and enforced, regulatory clarity will provide the investment confidence and operational permission environment required for commercial eVTOL service launch and fleet scale-up. Mobility Foresights
• [New] Digital air traffic management platforms enabling simultaneous dense eVTOL operations across urban airspace in UK will be a critical infrastructure enabler that regulatory authorities and technology developers are actively developing in parallel with aircraft certification programs. Mobility Foresights
• [New] Nine ongoing USTR Section 232 investigations could lead to more tariffs in 2026 on imports of semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, critical minerals, aircraft, drones, polysilicon, wind turbines, and robotics. The Trust Company of Kansas
• [New] Analysts at MarketGenics project the broader sector will scale from $1 billion in 2025 to $45 billion by 2035, a 43% compound annual growth rate driven by the shift from pilot programs to full-scale enterprise deployment. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] The second plank of European sovereignty is the digital euro, which continues to move steadily towards a pilot launch in 2027. Business of Payments
• [New] A coordinated Canada-Nordic response framework could enable aircraft, icebreakers, and specialized emergency units to operate across national boundaries during crises, improving response times and reducing environmental damage. ArcticToday
• [New] Artificial intelligence could control passenger planes from take-off to landing. ExtraSlice
• [New] While supply challenges remain, OEM supply of new aircraft is slowly improving, although it could take until 2030 or later for supply to fully recover. KPMG
• [New] As airport connectivity eVTOL route services demonstrate commercial viability and operational track record in Taiwan, service expansion to additional point-to-point urban corridor connections will follow progressively as fleet size and pilot familiarity with urban operational environments grow. Mobility Foresights
• [New] As Taiwan aviation regulatory frameworks for eVTOL operations mature and certification standards are formally published and enforced, regulatory clarity will provide the investment confidence and operational permission environment required for commercial eVTOL service launch and fleet scale-up. Mobility Foresights
• [New] Digital air traffic management platforms enabling simultaneous dense eVTOL operations across urban airspace in Taiwan will be a critical infrastructure enabler that regulatory authorities and technology developers are actively developing in parallel with aircraft certification programs. Mobility Foresights
• [New] Bank of America forecasts 90,000 humanoid robot shipments in 2026, rising to 1.2 million by 2030, as Boston Dynamics, Figure AI, and Chinese manufacturers simultaneously cross from pilots to commercial production. TechFastForward
• [New] By 2026, AI will no longer be restricted to pilot jobs or separated automation tools; instead, it will be deeply ingrained in strategic decision-making, client engagement, supply chain orchestration, product development, and workforce improvement. automation-tools.nearshorecentral.com
• [New] The Royal Navy's RFI for long-endurance UAS range clearance suggests a structural vulnerability in UK weapons testing infrastructure, where crewed aviation asset competition with operational commitments appears to be cascading into certification and fleet readiness delays. Drone Warfare
• [New] The Collaborative Combat Aircraft program is accelerating toward a production decision that could reshape manned-unmanned teaming doctrine within a single procurement cycle. Drone Warfare
• [New] Northrop Grumman's autonomous combat aircraft program is advancing toward flight testing at a pace that, if sustained, could accelerate the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft fielding timeline and reshape the ratio of crewed to uncrewed assets in contested airspace. Drone Warfare
• [New] The U.S. Navy is on a credible near-term path to offloading carrier tanking duties from F/A-18 Super Hornets, which would likely extend carrier strike group reach without proportional increases in crewed aircraft risk. Drone Warfare
• [New] Aerospace applications continue adopting lightweight composite seals to achieve fuel efficiency targets, with the Federal Aviation Administration projecting 4.1% annual growth in commercial aviation through 2035. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a new pilot program that will allow flying taxis to be tested in 26 states starting in 2026. The Panther Press
• [New] Achieving aerospace industry net-zero emissions by 2050 requires rapid scaling of sustainable aviation fuel production. EurekAlert!
• [New] As GNSS interference becomes more common, organizations and pilots may develop a higher tolerance for risk. CNN
• [New] Key environmental legislation for aviation is in the spotlight against the backdrop of the Iran conflict and the related fuel crisis, which could be a much-needed catalyst for the lagging industry. Aviation Week Network

Last updated: 10 May 2026