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Inspirational Journey for female engineers at Atkins

25 May 2012

Atkins has joined An Inspirational Journey, an initiative aimed at increasing the number of women working at the senior corporate level in Britain’s boardrooms.
Research points to potential of 'tumbleweed' Mars rovers

25 May 2012

Researchers have developed a computer model to optimise the design of ‘tumbleweed’ Mars rovers that could be used to explore the Red Planet.
Research team sees water as a replacement form of lubricant

24 May 2012

Researchers in Germany believe that water can replace mineral oils as a form of lubrication.
Saudi Arabia gives air training contract to BAE Systems

23 May 2012

BAE Systems has been awarded £1.6bn to support future air-crew training requirements for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).
Polls suggest that UK policies aren't helping manufacturers

23 May 2012

A poll of industry and the public suggests that government policies aren’t helping manufacturers.
Private enterprise in space

23 May 2012

The first launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule to the ISS is a significant achievement, but is it really such a bold new chapter in space exploration as we’re being told?
May CBI survey reveals weaker order books for manufacturers

23 May 2012

UK manufacturers reported weaker order books in May and the pace of expected output growth over the next three months has slowed, according to the CBI.
SpaceX craft aims to dock with International Space Station

23 May 2012

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft have successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, an event that marks the second demonstration mission for NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services programme.
Survey says manufacturing SMEs are looking at growth

22 May 2012

Around 60 per cent of manufacturing SMEs expect further growth between now and the end of the year, according to survey conducted by the Manufacturing Advisory Service.
Oman signs with Airbus for acquisition of C295 aircraft

21 May 2012

The Royal Air Force of Oman today signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of eight C295 aircraft.
Apprentice approval

21 May 2012

Schools must promote vocational courses and apprenticeships in engineering as well as the usual academic options, says Paul Davies
Cancellation for field study in climate-change project

17 May 2012

A field study for a geoengineering project aiming to mitigate the effects of climate change has been cancelled.
Researchers seek to improve design of hypersonic engines

16 May 2012

Stanford University researchers are hoping to improve the design of hypersonic aircraft engines by running simulations on thousands of computers at once.
£2m UK Space Agency funding for Mars exploration projects

15 May 2012

The UK Space Agency has announced it will provide a total of £2m for nine science projects associated with Mars exploration.
Survey points to complexities of current Patent Box rules

14 May 2012

Patent Box rules are too complex and their implementation could mislead some businesses to expect more than they actually get, according to a survey from Withers & Rogers.
BAE Systems begins trials of unmanned aircraft system

14 May 2012

BAE Systems has begun testing technology to enable conventional aircraft to fly safely without pilots, including weather avoidance and emergency landing systems.
All together now

14 May 2012

Industry and government must co-operate to reinvigorate and grow the UK manufacturing industry.
Graham Hawkes, founder and chief engineer of Hawkes Ocean Technologies

13 May 2012

Winged submersible specialist Graham Hawkes has set his sights on making undersea exploration more affordable.
EPSRC announces grants for robotics research projects

10 May 2012

Research that could enable groups of flying or underwater robotic vehicles to work together more effectively has received a £16m funding boost.
Boeing and EVA Air finalise 777-300ER aircraft order

9 May 2012

Boeing and Taipei-based EVA Air have finalised an order for three 777-300ER aircraft.
Goodrich and Rolls-Royce in BA nacelle maintenance contract

8 May 2012

Goodrich Corporation has signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce to provide nacelle maintenance services for British Airways under the engine maker’s Total Care support programme.
Bird-like robot demonstrates perched landing manoeuvre

3 May 2012

Aerospace engineers have demonstrated the soft, perched landing of an autonomous ornithopter micro aerial vehicle.
Europe's cosmic vision centres on Jupiter moon observations

3 May 2012

The European Space Agency announced yesterday that Jupiter’s moons are to be the focus of Europe’s next large science mission.
Manufacturers not expecting imminent economic recovery

2 May 2012

Around 68 per cent of the UK’s manufacturing businesses expect it to be two years or more before a full economic recovery, according to a new survey.
More than half of graduates feel 'unprepared' for work

2 May 2012

Only 43 per cent of engineering graduates believe their university course provides them with the skills they need for work.
Cardiff Aviation leases Twin Peaks hangar for MRO plans

2 May 2012

Cardiff Aviation has taken a lease on the Welsh-government-owned 132,000ft2 Twin Peaks hangar at St Athan to establish a maintenance, repair and overhaul operation.
Dream machines: metalworking at McLaren

30 Apr 2012

McLaren Racing’s partnership with Yamazaki Mazak is helping the team to bring more of its manufacturing in-house, improving its control over design and production of complex components
GKN opens wing components manufacturing facility

30 Apr 2012

GKN Aerospace has formally opened a manufacturing facility designed to help it win a significant portion of the global wing structures market in the next 30 to 40 years.
United Technologies releases first-quarter 2012 results

26 Apr 2012

United Technologies Corporation has released its first-quarter 2012 results, noting that sales are down two per cent on a year-on-year basis.
Layers of manufacturing

26 Apr 2012

The Warwick Manufacturing Group is set to use a bespoke machine for investigating methods of creating lightweight components. Jason Ford reports
Project looks to develop robots for precise machine milling

25 Apr 2012

Industrial robots could be used for more precise machine milling for things such as aerospace components, after recent trials of new technology.
UK manufacturing sector is bouncing back, says CBI

25 Apr 2012

The UK manufacturing sector is showing signs of bouncing back from the fragile conditions seen at the end of 2011 and start of 2012, and sentiment has improved for the first time in a year.
Asteroid mining: disaster movie, or the shape of things to come?

25 Apr 2012

The billionaire-backed venture Planetary Resources, which is planning to mine precious metals on asteroids, seems so fanciful that it could be a science fiction film plot. But it could be another example of private enterprise boldly going where public funding can’t
CERN and UK STFC launch Business Incubation Centre

24 Apr 2012

CERN and the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council have launched a new Business Incubation Centre.
Rolls-Royce set to supply engines for US V-22 aircraft

23 Apr 2012

Rolls-Royce has signed a $598m (£371m) contract to supply 268 AE 1107C engines for US Marine Corps and Air Force V-22 aircraft.
The Dreamliner has landed

23 Apr 2012

Aerospace and automotive dominate this week’s events, with the 787 Dreamliner touring Britain and engineers asking if cars can be green, fast and fun.
Motor will allow small satellites to go beyond Earth's orbit

20 Apr 2012

Engineers in Europe have developed the first prototype of an ultra-compact motor that will allow small satellites to journey beyond Earth’s orbit.
GE announces next-generation fuel injector design project

17 Apr 2012

A new high-performance computing project is aiming to design next-generation fuel injectors for GE’s engine fleet.
Gauging success in measurement and inspection

16 Apr 2012

The Equator tool from Renishaw is boosting product quality and repeatability in a number of sectors.
Management, machining and more

16 Apr 2012

MACH 2012, management skills, and snake-arm robots dominate this week’s proceedings.
Why can't the UK do government-led projects?

16 Apr 2012

What’s behind Britain’s well-known problems with publicly-funded engineering projects? From his (or her) lair behind the broom cupboard, The Secret Engineer tries to unravel the cynicism.
Plans for satellite technology centre take step forward

13 Apr 2012

The government has taken the next step to establish an innovation centre for satellite technology and applications.
Beetle flight patterns set to inform micro aircraft design

13 Apr 2012

Flight patterns of the rhinoceros beetle are being used to inform the design of micro aerial vehicles.
Government provides funding for space-based research

11 Apr 2012

The government is providing nearly £6m to co-fund new British research that will lead to the development of commercial products and services using space technology and data from space-based systems.
Waterjet method cuts complex shapes in very hard materials

5 Apr 2012

Nottingham engineers are pioneering a waterjet milling technique that can cut at precisely controlled depths and self correct to produce complex geometries.
March rounds off positive start to 2012 for UK manufacturing

3 Apr 2012

March rounded off a positive start to 2012 for UK manufacturing, with output and new orders expanding throughout the opening quarter.
Angolan airline orders three 777-300ERs from Boeing

3 Apr 2012

Boeing and Angola flag carrier TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola have finalised an order for three additional 777-300ER aircraft.
Clive Hickman — chief executive of the MTC

2 Apr 2012

Clive Hickman explains how the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry is helping to shape the contours of the UK’s manufacturing roadmap
BAE Systems wins £446m Typhoon support contract

2 Apr 2012

Around 600 jobs will be sustained at BAE Systems’ Warton and Samlesbury sites following the award of a £446m Typhoon support contract.
Express delivery: inside the Bloodhound supply chain

2 Apr 2012

Engineers and suppliers are uniting in the effort to make Bloodhound a reality.
Thermacore Europe secures major accreditation

29 Mar 2012

A Northumberland thermal management specialist is setting its sights on new opportunities in the aerospace and defence sector after securing a major accreditation.
BAE upgrades part production facilities at fighter jet factory

29 Mar 2012

BAE Systems is installing an automated production line as part of its plans to speed up production of parts for the F-35 fighter jet at its facility in Samlesbury, Lancashire.
Why Cameron's Deepsea Challenger is good for engineering

28 Mar 2012

James Cameron’s headline grabbing trip to the deep is the latest example of how private enterprise can help put technology on the front pages
BAE Systems looks to speed up F-35 production with facility

26 Mar 2012

BAE Systems has moved closer towards automated one-a-day production of parts for the F-35 fighter jet by officially opening its extended factory.
Cleantech goes west

26 Mar 2012

British firms heading to California, electric-powered transport, apprenticeships and engineering in titanium are on the agenda this week
Study considers impact of demand for rare earth metals

23 Mar 2012

Demand for two rare earth metals available almost exclusively in China is likely to increase by between 600 and 2,600 per cent over the next 25 years.
In for the long haul

23 Mar 2012

The budget contained some promising initiatives but the government needs to hold its nerve and follow through with a grander long-term vision for UK manufacturing.
Rolls-Royce receives contracts for support of US military

22 Mar 2012

Rolls-Royce has received recent contracts exceeding $275m (£173m) to provide support services for the US armed services.
Cosworth: from motorsport to UAV engines

22 Mar 2012

The Engineer paid a visit to Cosworth to see UK manufacturer’s engines designed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the US military.
Chancellor announces research and development funding

21 Mar 2012

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a raft of measures aimed at supporting and reinforcing successful UK industries.
Consortium looks to develop sustainable aviation biofuel

21 Mar 2012

Airbus has joined a consortium including Virgin Australia to study a new method of producing sustainable aviation fuel from eucalyptus mallee trees.
Report suggests employers will boost their workforces in 2012

21 Mar 2012

A new report suggests that engineering employers will increase their workforces in 2012 and will focus on employee retention to maintain their skills sets.
Making space for an innovation hothouse

21 Mar 2012

Space exploration may seem like a frivolous use of resources in a time of economic austerity, but it’s a valuable lever to accelerate truly innovative technologies that inevitably find uses in wider society.
UK manufacturers have strong expectations for output growth

20 Mar 2012

UK manufacturers’ expectations for output growth are at their strongest for a year, but companies also expect to have to raise prices significantly, according to the CBI.
US team develops robotic lake lander for planetary exploration

20 Mar 2012

An autonomous robotic lake lander designed for planetary exploration has been developed in the US.
Richard Lugg - Aviation entrepreneur

19 Mar 2012

Richard Lugg claims his aircraft design can prevent sonic boom and cut emissions by 80-90 per cent. Stephen Harris reports
US researchers design biplane that could fly faster than sound

19 Mar 2012

Researchers in the US have designed a biplane that they claim could fly faster than sound and reduce sonic boom.
Confined space: the future of collaborative planetary exploration

19 Mar 2012

One of science’s most engaging areas, planetary exploration, has been hit hard by the financial crisis.
GKN Aerospace set to become first UK user of AFP machine

16 Mar 2012

GKN Aerospace is to become the first UK-based user of a machine that can significantly speed up production of complex composite structures.
Airbus assembles rear fuselage using improved technique

15 Mar 2012

Airbus has assembled a lightweight rear fuselage for the A350 XWB jet-airliner using a technique that improves production efficiency and quality.
Threat to technology as solar activity triggers geomagnetic storm

8 Mar 2012

Solar storms heading toward Earth at around six million km/hour could disrupt radio communications, power supplies and GPS navigation systems.
EADS announces record order book results for 2011

8 Mar 2012

EADS has announced its full-year results for 2011, with the company recording an order book record of €541bn.
Prisk suggests UK's vision needs better communication

7 Mar 2012

A minister has suggested that the UK government may have failed to communicate some of its vision for the rebalancing of the economy.
NSTP provides funding to drive British innovation in cubesats

7 Mar 2012

A total of £310,000 has been awarded to 11 UK research projects that are focused on the development of cubesat technologies.
Service set to provide online space weather forecasts

5 Mar 2012

Commercial and independent satellite operators will soon have access to online space weather forecasts based on technology developed by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
Geneva Motor Show plays host to a knee-trembling debut

5 Mar 2012

Briefing may have an automotive theme but there’s still room for science and engineering outreach events, plus a conference that brings business leaders and top politicians under one roof.
NASA leads effort to upgrade GPS satellite location systems

5 Mar 2012

NASA is leading an effort to upgrade the systems that provide location information to GPS satellites.
Air Astana orders seven aircraft from Boeing

2 Mar 2012

Boeing and Air Astana have announced an order for four 767-300ER (Extended Range) aircraft and three 787-8 aircraft.
Airbus Military signs firm contract for military aircraft

1 Mar 2012

Airbus Military has signed a firm contract with Kazspetsexport to supply two C295 military transport aircraft.
Canada renews commitment to International Space Station

1 Mar 2012

Neptec Design Group has welcomed the announcement by the government of Canada that the country intends to join its international partners in renewing its commitment to the International Space Station (ISS) until 2020.
GKN reports sales increases of £683m during 2011

29 Feb 2012

GKN has announced its results for 2011, with all four divisions contributing to an increase in sales of £683m to £6.1bn.
Composite plastics have high conductivity and strength

29 Feb 2012

A London-based start-up company has created composite plastics with both high conductivity and tensile strength.
Birmingham University joins partnership for industry IP

28 Feb 2012

Birmingham University has recently become the first Midlands university to be part of the Easy Access Innovation Partnership, which promotes new ways of transferring intellectual property (IP) to industry.
Europe's Vega space launch vehicle has carbon-fibre shell

27 Feb 2012

ESA’s new Vega launch vehicle could mark a new generation of space launch vehicles that have a shell made from carbon fibre.
Could defence sector help avert GPS disaster?

24 Feb 2012

From ships colliding at sea to stock market crashes, the potential problems of GPS jamming seem to have barely crossed the authorities’ radar. But the technologies to prevent such catastrophes already exist.
NanoBlack coating could soon be used in space applications

24 Feb 2012

Scientists researching the ‘darkest material known to man’ are hoping a new manufacturing process will enable them to create more accurate space instruments.
Aircraft power needs could be met by landing-gear wheels

24 Feb 2012

Engineers at Lincoln University have confirmed the feasibility of employing regenerative braking in commercial aircraft
Plasma thrusters could double the lifetime of mini satellites

22 Feb 2012

Plans to develop plasma thrusters that could double the lifetime of miniaturised satellites have been awarded fast-track government funding.
Palio launches debt-financing model for lower mid-market

20 Feb 2012

Palio is launching a debt-financing model in the UK for the lower mid-market where a significant credit supply gap has been created by the banks’ failure to lend to SMEs.
Positive spin

20 Feb 2012

Eurocopter’s X3 hybrid rotorcraft could enable faster flying in the tight budgets of its customers.
This week in 1952

20 Feb 2012

A chilly maiden flight for the first turbo-rotor helicopter
Researchers propose satellite that cleans up space debris

17 Feb 2012

A proposed satellite designed to clean up space debris could help prevent damage to the hundreds of craft orbiting the Earth.
Thai Airways signs contract with Airbus for A380 support

17 Feb 2012

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited has signed a ‘Flight Hour Services — Tailored Support Package’ contract with Airbus to provide aircraft inventory and maintenance support for its A380 fleet.
BAE Systems reports drop in sales of 14 per cent for 2011

17 Feb 2012

Cuts in defence spending have had a negative impact on BAE Systems, which has reported a drop in sales of 14 per cent to £19.2bn.
Behind the scenes at Astrium Satellite's production line

16 Feb 2012

The Engineer discovers how a satellite wing is made on a behind the scenes tour of Astrium Satellite’s production line in Munich.
Quicker thinking

15 Feb 2012

Motorsport is a vital and unique part of the UK engineering sector, but it needs to be imaginative in the way it transfers its expertise
Team plans faster production of technology for drug delivery

14 Feb 2012

Technology for more controlled drug delivery could be produced hundreds of times faster than with existing methods thanks to new research.
Jakarta-based Lion Air orders 230 aircraft from Boeing

14 Feb 2012

Boeing and Jakarta-based Lion Air have finalised a firm order for 201 737 MAX aircraft and 29 Next-Generation 737-900ER (extended-range) aircraft.
UK announces schemes to boost apprenticeships

13 Feb 2012

Three schemes designed to boost the number of apprenticeships have been announced by UK prime minister David Cameron.
And now for the good news about UK apprenticeships

10 Feb 2012

The news that Rolls Royce is planning to increase the number of apprentices it hires shows that the engineering sector still values traditional apprenticeships.
MTI launches Orion Fund for university spin-outs

10 Feb 2012

MTI has launched the Orion Fund, an investment vehicle dedicated to university spin-outs.
Manufacturing study highlights value of UK-based production

9 Feb 2012

A study on modern manufacturing systems has highlighted the value associated with keeping production activities in the UK.
A380 inspections will check for cracks in wing components

9 Feb 2012

All Airbus A380 aircraft are to be inspected following the discovery of cracks in wing components.
Spanish air travel will almost double by 2030, says Airbus

8 Feb 2012

Air traffic in Spain will almost double by 2030, according to Airbus’s Global Market Forecast.
NASA and Northrop Grumman plan to develop 'space tugboat'

8 Feb 2012

NASA and Northrop Grumman are developing a ‘space tugboat’ to ferry satellites from low-Earth orbit to geosynchronous Earth orbit.
Unmanned aerial vehicles may improve wind-farm deployment

7 Feb 2012

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed to gather offshore turbulence data could optimise the deployment of wind-turbine farms.
Research could make portable power networks easier to run

6 Feb 2012

Research from Strathclyde University could make it easier to run portable electricity networks on oil platforms and in disaster relief camps.
Sherborne Sensors announces record increases during 2011

6 Feb 2012

Sherborne Sensors today announced that 2011 marked a record year for the company, with a 15 per cent increase in turnover and 11 per cent more customers secured compared with the previous year.
Air Namibia purchases two 112-seater Airbus aircraft

6 Feb 2012

Air Namibia, the national airline of the Republic of Namibia, has ordered two Airbus A319 aircraft designed to seat 112 passengers in a two-class layout.
Frazer-Nash set to produce military airworthiness criteria

3 Feb 2012

Engineering consultancy Frazer-Nash, working with Marshall Aerospace, has been awarded a contract by the European Defence Agency (EDA) to produce a harmonised set of European Military Airworthiness Certification Criteria (EMACC).
From the track to the air

3 Feb 2012

In a new series of guest blogs from motorsport and composites specialist Lola, commercial director Paul Jackson explains why multi-discipline adaptability is so important for SMEs, and how it is contributing to Lola’s performance.
Survey shows manufacturing beginning positively in 2012

3 Feb 2012

A joint survey by Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply has revealed UK manufacturing started 2012 on a positive footing.
Consortium set to build eight additional satellites for Galileo

2 Feb 2012

A consortium led by OHB System and Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) will build a further eight satellites for the European Union’s Galileo satellite navigation programme.
Portable satellite dish could assist internet in remote areas

2 Feb 2012

A portable satellite dish that automatically locates transmitting satellites could help roll out mobile internet to remote locations and developing countries.
Adding ridges to rotor blades could improve helicopter agility

31 Jan 2012

Specially designed ridges placed on the leading edge of helicopter blades could allow the crafts to travel at higher speeds with greater agility.
How to engineer a business, and space for vision

23 Jan 2012

Advice for engineers on how to become entrepreneurs and an in-depth look at how space science is contributing to medical imaging head the list of this week’s events.
Scottish sailing engineers have designs on world speed record

23 Jan 2012

Simulation software from Dassault is being used to help a team of engineers get its extreme sailing boat - the V-44 Albatross - off the ground
The fast lane to success

23 Jan 2012

Cutting-edge invention and manufacture is key to getting the UK ahead of the competition and its economy on track, says McLaren’s Ron Dennis
Airbus claims a record number of aircraft ordered in 2011

18 Jan 2012

Last year saw a record number of aircraft ordered from Airbus as it claimed 54 per cent of the market share by volume.
Experiments may serve as microgravity effects model

17 Jan 2012

Recent experiments on levitating fruit flies using diamagnetism could serve as a proxy model for the effects of microgravity in space.
Survey suggests that UK adults undervalue engineering

12 Jan 2012

A cross-sectional survey of UK adults has revealed that the impact of engineering on the economy is undervalued and that misconceptions about the industry persist.
Zooming in on the London Centre for Nanotechnology

12 Jan 2012

The Engineer paid a visit to the London Centre for Nanotechnology to uncover how tiny structures are making a big difference across a range of disciplines.
Flight deck

12 Jan 2012

Aircraft Carrier Alliance guest blogger David Downs visits the UK home of the F35 project at Samlesbury, where the carriers’ main weapon is taking shape
Competition encourages young women to become engineers

12 Jan 2012

Lola has launched a national competition aimed at encouraging young women to pursue further education and careers in science, design and engineering.
Hypersonic tests aim at space

11 Jan 2012

German engineers have recently completed shock tunnel testing of a novel SCRamjet engine which might someday allow better access to space.
Sense-and-avoid systems set to aid UAVs in commercial use

10 Jan 2012

A project team from Queensland University of Technology is to develop sense-and-avoid systems for unmanned aerial vehicles.
Advisory service available to all manufacturing businesses

9 Jan 2012

A national programme to help small and medium manufacturing businesses to grow has officially launched.
Balloon-borne telescope will shed new light on black holes

9 Jan 2012

A balloon-born telescope will shed new light on black holes by looking at the polarisation of X-rays from outside the solar system.
TSB sets up innovation hub for satellite products and services

6 Jan 2012

The aerospace industry has welcomed a centre that will help UK businesses develop satellite technologies.
Bacteria-powered robots could explore other planets in future

6 Jan 2012

The US Navy is investigating the idea of small robots powered by bacteria that could one day explore other planets.
Race for the prize

4 Jan 2012

China’s announcement of plans for a moon mission aren’t likely to trigger a new Space Race; exploration these days is more a matter of collaboration than nationalism
Speed-sailing boat incorporates elements from glider aircraft

4 Jan 2012

The Vestas SailRocket II is aiming to take speed sailing to a new level with a radical design that incorporates elements from glider aircraft.
Self-healing electrical circuit could aid space applications

21 Dec 2011

A self-healing system that restores electrical conductivity to a cracked circuit has been developed in the US.
UK MoD and BAE sign contract for combat air systems

20 Dec 2011

The UK Ministry of Defence has signed a £40m research contract with BAE Systems for combat air systems.
Scientists in Germany create acoustic invisibility cloak

20 Dec 2011

Scientists in Germany have demonstrated an acoustic invisibility cloak made from material that can guide sound waves around an object.
Method enables assessment of fire's effects on materials

19 Dec 2011

Scientists in Spain have developed a way to accurately assess the effects of fire on different materials using infrared technology.
Ghosts of Christmas Presents

19 Dec 2011

The world of conferences and events seems to have ground to a halt so instead The Engineer takes a look at gift ideas for youngsters.
Nanotechnology could improve how hydrogen fuel is stored

16 Dec 2011

Glasgow University scientists believe that nanotechnology could be employed to turn hydrogen into a viable source of energy.
Researchers at NASA start developing comet harpoon

15 Dec 2011

Scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre are in the early stages of designing a sample-collecting comet harpoon.
Foresight will investigate future of UK's manufacturing to 2050

14 Dec 2011

Government advisory service Foresight has started a project to investigate the future of manufacturing up to 2050.
Rapid prototyping helps create aircraft to study atmosphere

13 Dec 2011

Scientists at Southampton University have used rapid prototyping to create an aircraft that will be used to study the Earth’s atmosphere.
PwC survey warns of mineral shortage's harmful effects

12 Dec 2011

A shortage of minerals and metals including beryllium, cobalt and flurospar could adversely impact supply chains and economies, according to a new survey.
'Seeker' navigation system could take Mars rovers further

12 Dec 2011

Future Mars rovers could travel further than ever before without human intervention thanks to an autonomous navigation system being designed in the UK.
Taking telematics on the road to improve automotive safety

12 Dec 2011

This week’s events look at automotive automation, the Make it in Great Britain campaign and an online quiz that tests participants’ knowledge of energy usage.
Device for the avoidance of volcanic ash clouds has trial

9 Dec 2011

A device that could help pilots avoid volcanic ash clouds has been successfully trialled on a small aircraft flying over Mount Etna.
UK business secretary launches advanced manufacturing fund

9 Dec 2011

An initiative worth up to £125m is being established to improve the global competitiveness of UK advanced manufacturing supply chains.
UK innovation strategy means SMEs take centre stage

8 Dec 2011

High-tech small- and medium-sized businesses are at the focus of the government’s newly announced Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth.
Project uses laser sensing to measure gas turbine emissions

8 Dec 2011

A project is aiming to improve the measurement of gas turbine emissions using remote laser sensing.
Satellite set to monitor Earth's atmospheric chemistry

8 Dec 2011

Astrium has signed a €45.5m (£39m) contract to build a satellite that could improve our understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere.
EEF's Q4 outlook survey shows fall in manufacturing activity

5 Dec 2011

Manufacturing activity has fallen back in the last quarter in response to growing economic uncertainty in major markets.
Research team sets out to reduce jet-engine emissions

2 Dec 2011

Manchester University is heading a four-year research project to create a key component in reducing jet-engine emissions.??
Government set to provide funding for British satellites

29 Nov 2011

A British-built satellite constellation is set to receive £21m in funding from the government.
UK graduates must upskill to compete globally, says report

25 Nov 2011

A new report has highlighted the skills graduates need to compete on an international stage and warned that UK graduates aren’t looking beyond the border.
Back to the future with the strangest flying machine

25 Nov 2011

Stuart Nathan confesses his love for the retro-futurist ekranoplan, and looks forward to its possible return at the hands of an aerospace pioneer.
UK MoD research developing integrated aircraft defences

24 Nov 2011

Aircraft defences such as on-board lasers that destroy approaching missiles could become easier and cheaper to install thanks to UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) research.
Arrowsmith targets new orders for precision components

23 Nov 2011

A Coventry-based manufacturer is looking for £4m sales within three years through the supply of precision components for the aerospace industry, Formula One and the energy sector.
Scientists develop anchorless selective laser melting process

23 Nov 2011

Scientists at Sheffield University aim to eliminate the need for ‘anchors’ used in additive manufacturing.
Rippled coating could improve fuel efficiency on aircraft

22 Nov 2011

A coating method for introducing strategic ripples onto the surfaces of aircraft and ships could help improve fuel efficiency.
Engineers help NASA discover if Mars once supported life

21 Nov 2011

European engineers are helping NASA prepare for the first of two missions to discover whether Mars could have once supported life.
Engineless cars, driverless trains and Brits in space

21 Nov 2011

The effects of technology on transport are still causing controversy, while the IMechE honours the best of British manufacturing
Government launches prize to inspire young engineers

17 Nov 2011

An international engineering award has been launched today to celebrate the individuals whose work inspires and advances society.
Hampson Industries announces six-month interim results

16 Nov 2011

Hampson Industries has announced interim results for the six-month period ended 30 September 2011.
Airbus receives a total of 211 orders at Dubai Air Show

16 Nov 2011

Airbus won a total of 211 orders and commitments at the Dubai Air Show worth $20.5bn (£12.9bn).
Researchers assess additive manufacturing for JSF parts

16 Nov 2011

Australian researchers are assessing the feasibility of using additive manufacturing to produce small titanium components for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Qatar Airways selects A320 neo for short- to medium-haul fleet

16 Nov 2011

Qatar Airways has selected the A320 neo as the reference aircraft for expanding its short- to medium-haul fleet and has increased its order for the A380.
Spirit Airlines and Airbus sign deal for 75 single-aisle aircraft

15 Nov 2011

Spirit Airlines and Airbus have signed a memorandum of understanding for Spirit to acquire 75 single-aisle aircraft, comprising 45 A320 neo aircraft and 30 A320s.
Aviation Capital Group makes order for Airbus A320 neos

15 Nov 2011

Aviation Capital Group (ACG), a US-based global aircraft leasing company, has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for 30 A320 neo aircraft at the 2011 Dubai Airshow.
Middle East 'may need more than 2,500 aircraft by 2030'

14 Nov 2011

Boeing forecasts that airlines in the Middle East will need an estimated 2,520 aircraft — worth $450bn — by 2030.
Emirates makes record order for Boeing 777-300ER aircraft

14 Nov 2011

A new contract with Emirates for 50 777-300ER aircraft is set to land Boeing $18bn, rising to $26bn if options are exercised.
High juice: in-flight refuelling for UAVs

14 November 2011

Researchers are using robotic simulators to explore the possibilities of autonomous aerial refuelling.
High society: a new airship paradigm

14 November 2011

UK engineers are at the heart of plans to develop a ’cruiser’ airship that could radically change the way goods and people are transported around the world.
Quietly planning the return of the blimp

14 November 2011

Barely a year goes by without someone heralding the rebirth of the airship. And yet, for many, the fiery demise of the Hindenburg in 1937 continues to cast a shadow over the technology’s credibility.
Government scheme will offer £95m in funding to UK SMEs

11 Nov 2011

Funding worth £95m is to be made available to Britain’s SMEs via a government scheme run by RBS, NatWest and HSBC.
Report points to robotics as a major driver of job creation

11 Nov 2011

A report published in Japan suggests robotics will be a major driver for global job creation over the next five years.
Should Earth's close encounter trigger asteroid avoidance research?

11 Nov 2011

After yet another narrow encounter with an asteroid the size of an airship earlier this week, do we need to pay more attention to technology that could protect our planet and its inhabitants from these turbo-charged cosmic fireworks?
Project works on silicon carbide ICs for high temperatures

9 Nov 2011

Scientists at Raytheon’s Glenrothes facility are working on a project to demonstrate integrated circuits made from silicon carbide that operate at temperatures above 300°C.
Saft wins Thales Alenia Space contract to supply satellite batteries

8 Nov 2011

Saft has been awarded a multi-million Euro contract by Thales Alenia Space to supply 81 on-board Li-ion batteries for the Iridium Next low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation.
Paul Fabrications extends Rolls-Royce components contract

8 Nov 2011

Paul Fabrications has signed a two-year extension to its contract for the supply of fabricated components to Rolls-Royce.
British engineers aid attempt to save German bomber

4 Nov 2011

British engineers are helping to save a Second World War German bomber being retrieved from the English Channel.
Hovering robot uses cameras to navigate through buildings

3 Nov 2011

A flying robot that can zoom to hard-to-reach places and a fleet of eco-friendly robotic farm-hands are under development by Australian researchers.
Leicester University plans vibrometry research centre

1 Nov 2011

Leicester University is to establish a vibrometry research centre to support engineering and manufacturing in the automotive, aerospace and space sectors.
Tractor beam is capable of analysing space debris

1 Nov 2011

NASA scientists are to demonstrate a tractor beam capable of capturing and analysing small-scale space debris.
Lola shows the way in motorsport-to-defence

31 October 2011

The skills needed to win in the world of motorsport are ever more valued by the defence and aerospace sectors.
Motorsport ethos offers value to other sectors

31 October 2011

The UK’s unique strength in the motorsport sector could help many other industries to improve energy efficiency, introduce new materials and streamline their development processes
Cambridge Consultants spin-out seeks to grow wind energy

28 Oct 2011

Cambridge Consultants has announced the spin-out of Aveillant with venture investment from DFJ Esprit and the Aviation Investment Fund Company — the wind industry fund.
Conference discusses role of SMEs in Britain's economy

27 Oct 2011

A conference last week on the future of Britain’s economy saw influential figures discuss the role of SMEs in the economic recovery.
Recycled composites could be re-used in aircraft and cars

27 Oct 2011

New methods for recycling advanced composite materials could allow them to be re-used in non-critical parts of aircraft and cars.
Campaign seeks to encourage young people into engineering

27 Oct 2011

Leading figures in industry and higher education have launched a campaign to encourage more talented young people to pursue careers in engineering.
Report urges UK to lead aerospace development

25 Oct 2011

A report published by IMechE has called on the UK to take steps to lead the way in developing new aerospace technologies.
Make like a tree, make the most of the UK, and make your pitch

24 Oct 2011

Events taking place this week incorporate a demonstration of an artificial tree that captures CO2 and entrepreneurs pitching for funds that will see their innovations flourish.
Rocket carrying Galileo satellite takes off following delays

21 Oct 2011

The rocket carrying the first two Galileo satellites — which will form part of Europe’s version of GPS — has now been successfully launched from French Guiana.
Fuel leak postpones proposed launch of Galileo satellites

20 Oct 2011

The launch of Europe’s first global navigation satellites has been postponed for at least 24 hours due to a fuel leak.
BBA taskforce 'hasn't mended bank/small firm relationship'

20 Oct 2011

Following the launch of the British Bankers’ Associations’ (BBA’s) Business Finance Taskforce, research suggests that it has not yet achieved its aim of repairing the relationship between banks and small businesses.
United Technologies reports rise in third-quarter earnings

19 Oct 2011

United Technologies has reported third-quarter 2011 earnings per share of $1.47 (£1.28) and net income attributable to common shareowners of $1.3bn (£1.1bn).
Researchers work to prevent collisions with space debris

18 Oct 2011

Researchers at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) are developing technology to better track space objects and debris.
UK Space Agency invests in Mars research projects

18 Oct 2011

The UK Space Agency says it is making £1.6m available in support of projects to further explore Mars.
Low-carbon aviation fuel comes from industrial waste gases

17 Oct 2011

Virgin Atlantic has developed an aviation fuel from industrial waste gases that it claims has half the carbon footprint of standard jet fuels.
Magna Parva engineers develop ultrasonic space drill

17 October 2011

A UK-developed ultrasonic drill could help robots collect rock samples from Mars.
This week in: 1954

17 October 2011

Bygone forays into the fraught world of stovl
Training the young will help fill skills gap

17 October 2011

More young people need to receive the right training to enter engineering careers if we are to fill skills gaps in the future, says Paul Jackson.
Service focuses on aiding growth for SME manufacturers

14 Oct 2011

A nationally operated Manufacturing Advisory Service will focus on helping small- and medium- sized (SME) manufacturers to grow, Mark Prisk, UK business minister, announced today.
Eurocopter demonstrates emergency electric motor

12 Oct 2011

Eurocopter has incorporated an electric motor into one of its AS350 helicopters to demonstrate the system as an emergency auxiliary power source.
Analyser will study root causes of space weather disturbances

11 Oct 2011

A team from UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory is finalising the first prototype of the Solar Wind Analyser, which will fly on board the Solar Orbiter mission.
UK manufacturing centre incorporates seven institutions

11 Oct 2011

A high-value manufacturing centre that incorporates seven leading institutions has been declared open for business by the Technology Strategy Board.
Competition will bring space technology to Earth

11 Oct 2011

The government has announced an £8.5m competition to develop commercial products from space technology and data.
Fine-coating process protects surfaces from oxidisation

11 Oct 2011

A fine-coating process that protects conductive surfaces from oxidisation has been developed by chemists at Datum Developments.
Conference convenes in New York to discuss thorium energy

10 Oct 2011

Advocates of a non-uranium based reactor convene this week in New York to discuss thorium energy.
Partnership seeks to deliver highway for space data

7 Oct 2011

Astrium and the European Space Agency have partnered together to design, deliver and operate a new space data highway.
IMechE calls for plan to address UK skills shortages

6 Oct 2011

Large infrastructure projects could be undermined by a lack of engineers, according to a report launched by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Qantas and Airbus finalise contract for 110 A320 aircraft

6 Oct 2011

Qantas and Airbus have finalised a contract for 110 A320 range aircraft.
LDC set to invest in specialist engineering and manufacturing

6 Oct 2011

Private equity provider LDC is to commit £200m of new investment to specialist engineering and manufacturing businesses over the next three years.
Two space missions set to go ahead with UK involvement

5 Oct 2011

Two major new space missions with significant UK involvement have been given the go-ahead.
GKN Aerospace secures follow-on contracts with Boeing

5 Oct 2011

GKN Aerospace has secured follow-on contracts worth more than $850m (£550m) from Boeing Defense Space and Security.
Forum urges government to cut taxes for private lenders

5 Oct 2011

The Forum of Private Business is urging the government to cut taxes for private lenders, as well as equity investors, in order to boost credit conditions for small businesses.
Technology turns gaffer-like plastic tape into rigid tubing

4 Oct 2011

A new technology that turns a strip of gaffer-like plastic tape into a rigid tube has been developed by RolaTube.
Weather-proof satellite capable of imaging any spot on Earth

4 Oct 2011

A satellite capable of imaging any point on the planet regardless of weather conditions has completed its developed phase at Surrey Satellite Technology.
Astrium set to build broadcast satellite for 2014 launch

4 Oct 2011

Astrium has been selected by Eutelsat Communications to build Eutelsat 9B.
ALMA observatory has its sights set on the universe

3 Oct 2011

ALMA, the world’s most complex ground-based astronomy observatory, is ready to start early science observations using around a third of its eventual 66 antennas.
Purchasing Managers' Index registers third-quarter growth

3 Oct 2011

The latest Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index indicates a return to growth for UK manufacturers.
Package Tour: Astrium rover heads to Spain

3 Oct 2011

UK Mars rover Bridget heads to Tenerife for her latest round of tests.
All things green and renewable

3 Oct 2011

Events taking place this week will give attendees guidance on how to maximize their green energy strategies.
Lufthansa board approves additional Airbus order

30 Sep 2011

Lufthansa’s Supervisory Board has approved the purchase of additional Airbus aircraft.
Atkins opens US aerospace engineering operation

29 Sep 2011

Atkins has launched a new aerospace engineering operation in Seattle.
BAE Systems job cuts send unwelcome message

28 Sep 2011

It’s hard to square BAE’s announcement of 3000 ’potential’ job losses with industry’s constant warnings of skills shortages. The message it sends is bleak.
Avianca signs firm order for Airbus A330-200 freighters

28 Sep 2011

Avianca, part of the airline group Avianca Taca Holdings, has signed a firm order for four Airbus A330-200 freighter aircraft.
BAE Systems confirms job cuts

27 Sep 2011

BAE Systems today confirmed that up to 3,000 staff may lose their positions as a result of a slowdown in customer activity.
Composites take to the air, and the road

26 Sep 2011

Bad news from the UK’s defence sector is tempered by Boeing’s first delivery of the all-new composites-laden 787 Dreamliner to All Nippon Airlines.
NASA satellite heads home for the weekend

23 Sep 2011

An out-of-control climate satellite is expected to penetrate the earth’s atmosphere on Friday evening
Materials for solar cells could power instruments in space

23 Sep 2011

Researchers in Arkansas are investigating the use of semiconductor materials in photovoltaic devices that power satellites and other instruments in space.
United Technologies closer to acquiring Goodrich for £18.4bn

22 Sep 2011

United Technologies has reached an agreement to acquire Goodrich for $18.4bn (£11.7bn).
Rolls-Royce wins share of engine order from China

22 Sep 2011

Rolls-Royce has won a share of an order from China Eastern Airlines for V2500 engines to power 50 new Airbus A320 series aircraft.
Project seeks more precision with data on sea conditions

21 Sep 2011

Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) is involved in a project to better characterise sea conditions for real-time ‘nowcasting’.
NWAA India office to aid aerospace expansion

21 Sep 2011

The North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) has helped establish a permanent office in India for use by companies in the aerospace community looking to expand abroad.
Maxwell Technologies opens UK division in Great Yarmouth

21 Sep 2011

Maxwell Technologies, a producer of components for the global space and satellite industry, has opened a UK division in Great Yarmouth.
Boeing is set to develop new technologies for NASA

21 Sep 2011

Boeing has been selected by NASA to design, manufacture and test two lightweight composite cryogenic propellant tanks.
NASA picks space technology projects for future missions

20 Sep 2011

NASA has selected two new space technology projects to develop in conjunction with the agency’s efforts to pursue low-cost revolutionary technology required for future missions.
US adopts ‘first-inventor-to-file’ intellectual property rule

16 Sep 2011

US patent law is to show greater conformity with laws in the rest of the world with the passing today of the America Invents Act.
Researchers study effects of volcanic ash on jet engines

16 Sep 2011

Research being carried out at Leicester University could lead to a better understanding of the effects of volcanic ash on jet engines.
NASA plans first exploration-class vehicle since Saturn V

14 Sep 2011

The first exploration-class vehicle since Saturn V has been announced today by NASA.
Manufacturers are sceptical of politicians' ability, claims report

14 Sep 2011

UK manufacturers remain sceptical of the ability of politicians to reduce tax, red tape and the deficit, according to a new report.
NASA to help ATK develop its Liberty space launch vehicle

14 Sep 2011

ATK and NASA are to work together during the development of ATK’s commercial Liberty Launch System.
Are geoengineering opponents short sighted?

14 Sep 2011

A research project to test the feasibility of geoengineering is inevitably controversial, but should be allowed to go ahead.
Wireless system enables UAVs to communicate with operators

14 Sep 2011

British engineers are preparing to test technology for sending data across an airborne network of civilian unmanned aerial vehicles.
Astrium builds first two Galileo In-Orbit Validation satellites

13 Sep 2011

Two Galileo In-Orbit Validation satellites have been accepted by the European Space Agency as part of its quality acceptance review.
Survey reveals confidence in the UK manufacturing sector

12 Sep 2011

UK manufacturing businesses are one of the more confident sectors regarding prospects over the next 12 months, with the vast majority of chief executive officers of small and medium-sized enterprises surveyed forecasting strong growth.
Model aircraft technology used for hovering reconnaissance

8 Sep 2011

Technology used by remote-controlled aircraft enthusiasts is being employed in a new lightweight, hovering surveillance system designed at Middlesex University for UK troops.
UK teams to develop satellite systems for observing Earth

6 Sep 2011

Contracts to develop new satellite technologies for observing the Earth have been awarded to industrial and academic teams across Britain.
UK manufacturing continues to grow despite uncertain outlook

5 Sep 2011

Britain’s manufacturers are continuing to grow despite the uncertain economic outlook, according to a survey published today by EEF and BDO.
Engineering opportunities in the defence sector

05 September 2011

The UK defence sector is ideally placed to take advantage of the rebalancing of the UK economy.
Development could usher in single-touchscreen cockpits

1 Sep 2011

Future cockpits could use a single interactive touchscreen instead of multiple displays thanks to technology under development by Thales.
Manufacturing conditions in UK 'deteriorated further' in August

1 Sep 2011

Business conditions in the UK manufacturing sector deteriorated further in August, according to the latest seasonally adjusted Manufacturing PMI.
Saft to provide Li-ion batteries for GEO satellite platform

26 Aug 2011

Saft has received a contract from Orbital Sciences to provide lithium-ion batteries for Orbital’s STAR-2 geosynchronous orbit satellite platform.
IET urges school leavers to consider apprenticeships

25 Aug 2011

The Institution of Engineering and Technology is urging young people receiving their GCSE results today to consider apprenticeships as a way into engineering.
ESA research aims to integrate multiple projects on missions

25 Aug 2011

Software engineers in Ireland are working with the European Space Agency (ESA) to better integrate multiple science projects on future mission launches.
CBI report indicates economic boost to UK manufacturing

25 Aug 2011

UK manufacturers this week report that healthy order books and expectations for output growth are above their long-run average.
Motion-tracking system could reduce UAV operator workload

24 Aug 2011

A new development in geo-tracking could reduce the workload for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators.
Boeing to supply 14 Chinook helicopters to the RAF

23 Aug 2011

Boeing is to supply the RAF with 14 new Chinook helicopters in a deal worth $1.64bn.
NASA announces Technology Demonstration Missions

23 Aug 2011

Three space missions have been selected by NASA to demonstrate new technologies in communications, deep space navigation and in-space propulsion.
'Swarm technology' could allow UAVs to work together

22 Aug 2011

Autonomous aircraft could one day work together like swarming insects to complete missions, thanks to technology tested by Boeing last month.
James Webb Telescope moves further towards completion

19 Aug 2011

The imaging system of the James Webb Telescope has completed vital cryogenic testing at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) RAL Oxfordshire.
Engineers welcome rise in A-level students taking science

18 Aug 2011

Engineers have welcomed another rise in the proportion of students taking maths and science A levels.
Don't get carried away by the increase in science A-levels

18 Aug 2011

Young people might be more interested in science, but it doesn’t mean the public has changed its mind on engineering careers
SSTL satellites to help Nigeria monitor its natural resources

18 Aug 2011

Two British-made satellites that are set to help Nigeria monitor its natural resources and aid disaster relief were launched from Russia yesterday.
MAS South East offers access to free business reviews

17 Aug 2011

The Manufacturing Advisory Service South East is offering any business in the region involved in manufacturing production or assembly access to a free review with one of its industry specialists.
Power pack: nuclear power in space

15 August 2011

With plutonium-238 supplies running low, the race is on to find new power sources for spacecraft
Portable surface-capture tool could find use in forensics

12 Aug 2011

A new portable imaging system capable of capturing 3D, micron-level renderings of surface structures could find use in industry, medicine, forensics and biometrics.
Falcon Hypersonic vehicle undergoes final test flight

11 Aug 2011

The US Defense Advance Research Projects Agency will today conduct the second and final test flight of its Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2).
EU's top corporate investors 'will increase R&D spend'

11 Aug 2011

The European Union’s leading corporate investors are to increase investment in research and development, according to a new survey.
NASA picks ideas to transform future space missions

11 Aug 2011

Technology to change the course of orbital debris and a spacesuit that uses flywheels are two ideas that have been selected for the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program.
IET reveals difficulties in recruiting high-level staff

10 Aug 2011

Almost half of engineering companies are struggling to recruit senior-level engineers owing to competition for experienced staff, new research suggests.
Steel, space and sandwiches

8 Aug 2011

Some good news this week comes from Teesside where Sahaviriya Steel Industries is expected to announce that it is hiring over 800 staff.
Radar monitors runways for debris at ground level

8 Aug 2011

A new radar system could increase airport safety by monitoring runways for debris at ground level.
Plan for instruments to create 3D map of galaxy gets funds

4 Aug 2011

Plans to design instruments that will help create a 3D map of the galaxy have received £500,000 of UK funding.
DLR to design extra-terrestrial greenhouse module

3 Aug 2011

The German Aerospace Center has launched a project to design a greenhouse module suitable for possible habitats on Mars or the Moon.
Cobbetts advises entrepreneur over engineering acquisition

3 Aug 2011

The Birmingham office of Cobbetts has advised entrepreneur Andrew Redfern on his acquisition of Coventry-based engineering firm Lightning Aerospace.
Confidence, profit, and a 40-year-old rocket

3 Aug 2011

Imperial Innovations shows us that there’s money to be made from developing and launching companies from university research, but it’s vital that people know about it.
July's top 10 engineering wins

2 Aug 2011

Each month, The Engineer picks 10 of the most notable news stories from our Business Briefs archive.
Budding scientists encouraged to develop nanosatellite apps

2 Aug 2011

Scientists developing a smartphone-powered nanosatellite have launched a public competition to develop applications for the phone to run in space.
Weakest rating since 2009 for Markit/CIPS Manufacturing PMI

1 Aug 2011

Deteriorating operating conditions and a decline in orders has led the Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI to post its weakest rating since June 2009.
Engineers design and fly 'world's first printed aircraft'

29 Jul 2011

Engineers at Southampton University have designed and flown SULSA, a UAV whose entire structure has been printed with a nylon laser-sintering machine.
Manufacturing report highlights lost confidence in economy

28 Jul 2011

UK manufacturers are losing confidence in the economic recovery after two years of growing optimism, a new report says.
Renewable sugarcane jet fuel has its sustainability analysed

27 Jul 2011

Boeing, Embraer and IDB are funding a sustainability analysis of producing renewable jet fuel sourced from Brazilian sugarcane.
Justice for SMEs

26 Jul 2011

Court reforms have reduced the cost of enforcing intellectual property, argues Stewart Cameron.
High speed rail, biofuels, and a manned space-flight retrospective

25 Jul 2011

Transport dominates this week’s proceedings with HS2 taking shape, airlines testing biofuels and manned space flight being celebrated.
Cameron announces fund to support higher apprenticeships

22 Jul 2011

Prime minister David Cameron today announced details of a £25m fund that will support up to 10,000 advanced and higher apprenticeships.
Government sets out cap on immigrant engineers

21 Jul 2011

The number of non-European engineers granted top-level visas to seek work in Briain will effectively be limited to 200 under rules announced yesterday.
Commercialising the Moon: the Lunar X Prize and beyond

18 July 2011

A contest is underway to land a probe on the Moon, with the X-Prize Foundation promising a huge reward for the first team to get there. The goals are not only scientific, but also commercial.
Additive manufacturing video report

14 Jul 2011

The Engineer paid a visit to EADS Innovation Works in Filton to see how additive layer manufacturing is progressing.
Deep-space radio system could boost satellite communication

14 Jul 2011

Satellites orbiting other planets could communicate with Earth up to 20 times faster using a new deep-space radio system from BAE Systems.
Patent protection

14 Jul 2011

The Treasury’s latest consultation document on the Patent Box fills in a number of gaps in the original proposals, and also makes some significant changes says Dehns’ Jason Stevens.
Researchers use atomic layer epitaxy to create silicon chips

13 Jul 2011

Warwick University researchers are hoping to use a new way of creating silicon-based chips to develop electronic cooling systems for spacecraft sensors.
BDO's latest report indicates decline in business confidence

11 Jul 2011

Business confidence in the manufacturing sector has fallen to a two-year low, according to the latest Business Trends report from BDO.
Competition, carriers, and creativity

11 Jul 2011

This week marks the final call for entries in the The Engineer Technology & Innovation Awards whilst those wanting to boost exports are urged to attend a series of seminars.
End of the shuttle, but not the end of humans in space

8 Jul 2011

The final shuttle launch is by no means the end for man’s exploration of space
Grant to ready plasma thruster engine for spaceflight

6 Jul 2011

Engineers at the Australian National University have won a A$3.1m grant from the Australian federal government to make a plasma thruster engine ready for spaceflight.
UK Space Agency pledges support for spin-out projects

4 Jul 2011

The UK Space Agency has pledged support for nine groundbreaking spin-out projects from Europe’s Aurora space exploration programme.
HD camera to provide live video feed of Earth from space

4 Jul 2011

British engineers are to build the world’s first camera to provide a live video feed of the Earth from space.
Space shuttles, airplanes and nuclear new build

4 Jul 2011

A mixed bag of events kicks off tomorrow in London when major players in the nuclear power industry gather to discuss Britain’s nuclear renaissance and the nation’s energy future.
June's top 10 engineering wins

1 Jul 2011

Each month, The Engineer picks 10 of the most notable news stories from our Business Briefs archive. In June there was much movement in the transport sector, particularly in the UK, as well as several high-voltage contracts being signed across the various divisions of the energy industry.
Wingless aircraft could usher in UAVs that enter buildings

30 Jun 2011

A new aircraft that flies without wings or traditional rotors could lead to high-speed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are small and accurate enough to enter buildings.
University initiative offers 'easy access' to IP portfolio

29 Jun 2011

A portfolio of innovations and intellectual property developed by Bristol University can now be accessed free of charge.
Holographic radar may allow for wind turbines near airport

28 Jun 2011

Holographic technology at an airport in Scotland could enable development of wind turbines nearby that would otherwise interfere with radar systems.
Researchers test bomb-proof luggage hold for aircraft

27 Jun 2011

A flexible, bomb-proof luggage hold for aircraft is being tested by a team of international researchers.
Airbus 'sets new world record' by selling 730 aircraft in Paris

23 Jun 2011

Airbus claims to have set a new world record by winning around $72.2bn worth of business selling 730 aircraft at the Paris Air Show this week.
American Airlines is first to test Boeing's ecoDemonstrator

23 Jun 2011

Boeing and American Airlines have teamed up to demonstrate technology for reducing aviation fuel consumption, carbon emissions and noise.
Personal flying vehicles project aims to end road congestion

22 Jun 2011

A ‘future concept’ EU project will assess whether personal flying vehicles could ever be used on city-wide ‘skyways’.
ESA and EDA to co-ordinate space and defence activities

22 Jun 2011

Europe’s space and defence agencies have signed a deal to work more closely together.
EADS biofuel airliner could fly four times speed of sound

21 Jun 2011

EADS has unveiled plans for a biofuel-powered commercial airliner that the company claims could travel at over four times the speed of sound.
Prime time manufacturing

21 Jun 2011

Following Alan Sugar’s now-infamous dig at engineers, the BBC was back on more industry-friendly ground this week with the first episode of “Made In Britain”, a documentary which attempted to debunk the notion that British manufacturing is dead.
Part-biofuel Boeing freighter arrives at the Paris Air Show

21 Jun 2011

Boeing has completed what it said was the first transatlantic flight by a commercial aircraft powered partly by biofuel.
Rolls-Royce to develop higher-thrust Trent XWB engine

20 Jun 2011

Rolls-Royce is to redevelop the engines for the largest of Airbus’s new composite-based airliners, which aim to slash fuel use and CO2 emissions.
Space-delivery truck set to test 'black box' flight recorder

20 Jun 2011

Europe’s space-delivery truck will test out a prototype ‘black-box’-style flight recorder when it burns up re-entering the atmosphere tomorrow.
Hydrogen-powered unmanned aircraft completes set of tests

20 Jun 2011

Boeing’s Phantom Eye, a hydrogen-powered high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft, has completed a set of ground vibration and structural tests.
Career opportunities in the UK aerospace industry

20 June 2011

The UK’s excellent position in the global aerospace industry means a considerable demand for a wide range of skills
Composite class: developing the Airbus A350-XWB

20 June 2011

Europe’s answer to the Dreamliner, the Airbus A350 XWB is beginning to take shape
David Parker, director of space science at the UK Space Agency

20 June 2011

More needs to be done to champion today’s space pioneers, says the UK Space Agency’s science chief
Hydrogen in the air: electric aircraft

20 June 2011

The development of a storage system for fuel cells could signal a step forward for low-emissions aircraft
Landing craft set to deliver exploration robot to the Moon

17 Jun 2011

Private-sector space exploration is a step closer following completion of the structural assembly of a landing craft that will deliver a rover robot to the Moon.
Self-healing sensor measures strain in structural materials

17 Jun 2011

A sensor has been designed that can measure strain in structural materials and is capable of healing itself.
Boeing report predicts $4 trillion market for new aircraft

17 Jun 2011

The market for new aircraft is expected to be worth around $4 trillion over the next 20 years, according to Boeing’s 2011 Current Market Outlook.
A day in the museum

17 Jun 2011

National Instruments’ Aerospace and Defence Forum at the Royal Air Force Museum in London provided a valuable insight into the lifecycle issues involved in developing sophisticated test systems.
Boeing jetliner crosses Atlantic with biofuel and kerosene

17 Jun 2011

Boeing is to make the world’s first transatlantic crossing with a commercial jetliner fuelled with a blend of biofuel and kerosene.
Airbus unveils radical vision of future aircraft design

15 Jun 2011

In advance of the Paris Air Show, aircraft manufacturer Airbus has unveiled a vision of what the company feels its aircraft might look like in 2050.
Boeing increases production rate for Next-Generation 737

15 Jun 2011

Boeing is to increase the production rate for its Next-Generation 737 to 42 aircraft per month.
New Patents County Court law set to benefit SMEs

15 Jun 2011

A new law comes into force this week that will give SMEs easier access to justice to protect their patent and design rights.
Banishing manufacturing stereotypes

13 Jun 2011

Assessing the impact of innovation, doing business with India and banishing outdated stereotypes of modern manufacturing form the backbone of this week’s Briefing.
Facility will help businesses to harness 3D printing technique

10 Jun 2011

Exeter University has taken delivery of a machine that will place its Centre for Additive Layer Manufacturing at the forefront of 3D printing.
Sales boost for UK civil and defence aerospace markets

9 Jun 2011

Sales in the UK’s civil and defence aerospace markets were up 2.1 per cent to £23.1bn in 2010, according to a report released today.
Regrowing our economy is more than just a game

8 Jun 2011

Britain’s involvement in ground-breaking technology highlights the need to be more positive about our economic recovery.
Programme looks forward to automated factories in space

8 Jun 2011

Future space equipment could one day be built in off-planet automated factories, following a new programme by UK firm Magna Parva.
Students, lecturers give views on future of UK engineering

7 Jun 2011

A new report based on a major survey commissioned by GE of nearly 1,000 engineering students and lecturers details their views about the current state of the engineering technology sector.
US military seeks collaborators to create next-generation UAVs

6 Jun 2011

The US military has issued an open call to engineers and innovators to collaborate in the creation of next-generation UAVs.
Survey points to underlying strength in UK manufacturing

6 Jun 2011

Manufacturing firms are driving overall economic growth in the UK with strong export orders leading to a sixth-successive quarter of growth for the sector.
NASA spacecraft to collect samples from asteroid

2 Jun 2011

In 2016, NASA plans to launch a spacecraft to an asteroid, pluck samples from it using a robotic arm and then return the samples to Earth.
Report names Glasgow and Bristol economic 'super-cities'

2 Jun 2011

A new report produced by HSBC claims that Glasgow and Bristol will play an increasingly prominent role on the national and international economic stage, thanks to their strengths in key growth industries.
Pilot website allows the public to examine patent applications

1 Jun 2011

The UK Intellectual Property Office has today launched the nation’s first ‘Peer to Patent’ pilot website that will provide an online hub for members of the public to search and examine pending patent applications.
New award honours businesses selling UK products abroad

1 Jun 2011

Businesses that are helping to lead the economic recovery by selling UK products and services overseas are to be honoured with a new award.
Awards scheme will encourage SMEs to work with universities

31 May 2011

Three UK universities have been awarded funds to create an awards scheme to support companies wishing to work with them for the first time.
Electrically powered aircraft makes its maiden flight

27 May 2011

The eGenius electrically powered two-seater aircraft has made its maiden flight this week in Germany.
NASA's human transporter to be based on Orion aircraft

26 May 2011

NASA’s transportation system to take humans into deep space will be based on designs originally planned for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle.
Australia-NZ biofuels industry could take off, states report

25 May 2011

Commercially viable quantities of aviation fuels derived from non-food biomass sources is a feasible option for Australia and New Zealand, according to a new report.
UK and US leaders agree to strengthen educational links

25 May 2011

Improved sharing of satellite data and modelling to improve space weather forecasting is one of the outcomes of an agreement announced today between the UK and the US.
IMechE director calls for more testing of ash cloud dispersal

25 May 2011

Test flights should be carried out to verify the theoretical modelling of ash cloud dispersal, according to the IMechE’s director of engineering.
Telescope optics set to aid gravitational detection

25 May 2011

A British team is designing the optics for a telescope that will be able to detect the gravitational effects of violent cosmic events.
Skylon development given go-ahead by UK Space Agency

24 May 2011

A report has found that there are no impediments to the further development of Skylon, a reusable spacecraft capable of delivering payloads into Low Earth Orbit.
Energy events put spotlight on transport and nuclear industry

23 May 2011

Energy dominates this week’s events, with hydrogen and fuel cells for transportation plus the aftermath of Fukushima high on the agenda.
Adrian Moore, chairman for the Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster

23 May 2011

The Isle of Man could teach its larger neighbour a thing or two about technology development
CBI survey shows healthy manufacturing order books

19 May 2011

A CBI survey published today shows that British manufacturers expect strong output growth in the coming quarter, backed by healthy order books.
UK researchers win prize for AI-modified flight controller

19 May 2011

UK researchers have won an industry prize for their work examining the application of artificial-intelligence techniques to the flight-control system of the F16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.
Supercomputer upgrade to benefit university engineers

13 May 2011

Engineers at Edinburgh University will have access to one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe from autumn this year.
Software could aid near-Earth object collision response

13 May 2011

A new software system could help disaster response teams if an asteroid were to collide with the Earth.
UK launches national satellite operations base at ISIC

9 May 2011

The UK’s new national satellite operations base has been officially launched as part of a £40m space business and research centre.
Planetary defence and universal exploration

9 May 2011

Day-to-day worries like global warming and geo-political instability will all be rendered mute were an asteroid to slam into Earth.
April's top 10 engineering wins

6 May 2011

Each month The Engineer picks 10 of the most notable contract news stories from our Business Briefs archive. In April there were plenty of companies going green, with large automotive companies investing in electric technology, a carbon-reducing finance scheme launched and further contracts signed in the renewable power sector. The UK in particular has seen much activity in the defence sector.
To boldly go where no budget has gone before

6 May 2011

The US wants the private sector to come up with plans and funding for an interstellar space travel programme. Maybe it could work with the right crazy idea.
Spacesuit allows astronauts to feel as if they're on Mars

6 May 2011

Austrian scientists have tested a new spacesuit that simulates the experience of being on another planet.
Boeing Phantom Ray UAS completes first flight

4 May 2011

The Boeing Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system completed its first flight at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California on 27 April.
Crystal castles in the air

4 May 2011

Deceptively simple, ultrapure quartz crystals are at the heart of almost every satellite in orbit, as our guest blogger Bob Graham explains
System forecasts dangerous in-flight icing conditions

4 May 2011

Aircraft could be safer thanks to a new computer-generated forecast that provides pilots with critical weather information on the likelihood of encountering dangerous in-flight icing conditions.
On track, in orbit, and all at sea.

3 May 2011

From McLaren’s latest GT racer to the UK’s burgeoning space sector there’s plenty on the post bank holiday engineering agenda
ONS reports 1.1 per cent growth in manufacturing sector

27 Apr 2011

Figures released today show that manufacturing increased by 1.1 per cent in the first quarter this year and that GDP is up by 0.5 per cent overall.
Thermal barrier coating could boost efficiency of gas turbines

27 Apr 2011

A spin-out company from Imperial College London has developed a thermal barrier coating for gas turbine parts that can optically feed back its temperature and ageing status even while the engine is running at full speed.
42T to assist in the mechanical design of SKYLON spaceplane

27 Apr 2011

42 Technology has been appointed by Reaction Engines to provide engineering consultancy and to help with the mechanical design of key operational features of the SKYLON.
UK engineers confident of success at WorldSkills 2011

25 April 2011

An international competition to be held in the UK is helping to put engineering skills into sharp focus. David Fowler reports
NASA awards funding to four companies as part of CCDev2

20 Apr 2011

NASA has awarded four Space Act Agreements worth a total of $269.3m in the second round of the agency’s Commercial Crew Development programme.
Notes from a small island

20 Apr 2011

The Isle of Man economy is doing many of the things that the UK seems to be still only talking about, and we could do a lot worse than take a look.
CBI calls for action to get investment into the UK

19 Apr 2011

The CBI has called on the government to improve Britain’s attractiveness to investors, warning that without action, investment and jobs will be lost to other countries.
Trains, planes and down to earth designs

18 Apr 2011

From the challenges of Crossrail to ash cloud avoidance this week’s spotlight falls on the transport industry
Ceramic coatings could protect jet engines from volcanic ash

13 Apr 2011

A new class of ceramic coatings could offer jet engines special protection against volcanic ash damage.
ALM could 'revolutionise' industrial mass production

13 Apr 2011

EADS and GKN have launched a research project to develop additive layer manufacturing for mass-producing aircraft parts.
Space celebrations

11 Apr 2011

Bittersweet space anniversaries dominate this week’s engineering events, while the effects of the Japanese earthquake are being felt in UK industry
Hannover hangover

8 Apr 2011

As the newest member of The Engineer’s editorial team, I was faced with the rite-of-passage that is Hannover Messe – the world’s largest industrial manufacturing fair – which took place this week in Germany.
Space for improvement

6 Apr 2011

The gift of a statue of Yuri Gagarin is a poignant reminder of a more daring attitude to space engineering
Forced landing leads to the inspection of cracks on aircraft

4 Apr 2011

Cracks have been discovered in three Southwest Airlines 737 aircraft subject to inspection following the forced landing of Southwest flight 812 on 1 April.
First jatropha-based biofuel flight ready for take-off

1 Apr 2011

Interjet and Airbus are scheduled to conduct the first jatropha-based biofuel flight in Mexico later today using an Airbus A320 aircraft.
Willetts announces formal launch of UK Space Agency

1 Apr 2011

The UK Space Agency has been formally launched as an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
March's top 10 engineering wins

1 Apr 2011

Each month The Engineer picks 10 of the most notable contract news stories from our Business Briefs archive. March saw several contracts signed in the energy sector, including one, perhaps spurred by the Fukushima crisis in Japan, concerning the monitoring of nuclear plants. As the world watched Western military forces enter the Libyan conflict, major contracts were signed in the defence sector. ...
Festo's biomechatronic bird flies and lands autonomously

1 Apr 2011

A research team at Festo has developed SmartBird, a biomechatronic bird that can take off, fly and land autonomously.
WTO deems that some Boeing US subsidies were illegal

31 Mar 2011

Federal and state subsidies granted to Boeing have been deemed illegal under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.
Spain seeks to develop value chain for aviation biofuel

30 Mar 2011

The Spanish government, Iberia Airlines and Airbus have signed an agreement to develop a complete Spanish ‘value chain’ for sustainable and renewable aviation biofuel.
Bloodhound gang: the team behind the UK's land speed record attempt

28 March 2011

No-nonsense aerospace experts, flamboyant rocketry specialists and an exuberant project leader epitomise the diverse team of engineers working on the UK’s latest land speed record contender
Rolls-Royce's LiftSystem for the Joint Strike Fighter

28 March 2011

As the iconic Harrier heads for the scrapyard, the UK’s vertical lift expertise lives on in the F-35B combat aircraft
Wolfgang Paetsch, head of EADS Astrium's ATV programme

28 March 2011

To boldly cargo: The head of the team behind the ESA’s space truck ponders its possible manned future. Stuart Nathan reports
Biofuel could be an alternative to fossil-based jet fuel

24 Mar 2011

A consortium of companies is to spearhead the commercialisation of a biofuel made from the camelina plant as a substitute to fossil-based jet fuel.
Undergraduates build power system for moon orbiter

24 Mar 2011

Final-year engineering undergraduates from Warwick University are building the power system for a micro-satellite that will orbit the moon in 2014.
Government investment funds space-technology programme

24 Mar 2011

The UK’s space sector has welcomed a £10m government investment through the creation of the National Space Technology Programme.
TSB funding scheme for SMEs could stimulate economy

22 Mar 2011

A new scheme managed by the Technology Strategy Board will offer funding to small companies to enable them to research and develop new products, processes and services that could stimulate economic growth.
Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental completes first test flight

21 Mar 2011

Boeing’s latest passenger aircraft, the 747-8 Intercontinental, has successfully completed its first test flight in the US.
Sky high and down to Earth

21 Mar 2011

Sub-orbital flights present an exciting new dimension for tourists and the UK’s space industry alike but in the here-and-now George Osborne is charged with rebalancing the economy.
Team explores effect of space weather on communications

21 Mar 2011

The first experiment to investigate the effects of plasmasphere disturbances on satellite communications will be launched aboard the UK Space Agency’s maiden CubeSat mission.
Researchers carry out tests in bid to develop quiet appliances

16 Mar 2011

Dyson and Cambridge University are collaborating on a project to investigate flow instability and acoustics with a view to developing high-efficiency, low-noise appliances.
BAE Systems set to support multinational science project

15 Mar 2011

BAE Systems has signed an agreement to provide support to the Square Kilometre Array, a €1.5bn multinational science project.
IMechE chair calls on UK to support engineering students

15 Mar 2011

The chairman of the IMechE has warned the government that it must support engineering students if it is serious about rebalancing the economy.
Images from space reveal effects of tsunami on Japan

15 Mar 2011

The extent of inundation from the tsunami triggered by the earthquake off Japan’s northeastern coast has been revealed in images from an instrument on NASA’s Terra spacecraft.
Facility set to study effects of cosmic radiation on electronics

14 Mar 2011

Around £11m is to be invested in the first dedicated facility outside of the US that will investigate how microchips respond to cosmic radiation.
Talking about manufacturing

14 Mar 2011

Leading industry figures gather in Sheffield this week to discuss manufacturing’s contribution to the economy whilst a new report published today highlights opportunities from so-called ‘manu-services’.
End of an era?

11 Mar 2011

Discovery’s retirement will either put the brakes on our cosmic ambitions or kick-start a new era of commercial space exploration.
Aerospace and Automotive Academy opens in Farnborough

11 Mar 2011

Vince Cable, secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, has opened a new Aerospace and Automotive Academy at the Farnborough College of Technology.
High-altitude autonomous refuelling is put to the test

11 Mar 2011

Autonomous aerial refuelling between two unmanned aircraft has moved a step closer following a test flight conducted in the US.
Animal bone structure analysis aids materials development

10 Mar 2011

Detailed analysis of leg bones from 90 different animal species could aid in the design of tough, lightweight materials for aircraft and cars.
Satellite navigation systems are vulnerable, warns report

9 Mar 2011

A new report warns that society has become ‘dangerously over-reliant’ on satellite navigation just two weeks after such a system was declared safe for guiding aircraft from space.
Collaboration set to design motors for giant solar aircraft

9 Mar 2011

The electric motors that will propel Boeing’s planned giant solar aircraft will be designed by researchers at Newcastle University in collaboration with Qinetiq.
Space project aims to track hazards in the Earth's orbit

8 Mar 2011

The UK Space Agency is spearheading efforts to better track potential hazards in the Earth’s orbit as part of a wider initiative by the European Space Agency (ESA).
Government urged to support manufacturing in UK Budget

7 Mar 2011

The UK government needs to deliver on its promises of supporting manufacturing and upgrading infrastructure in the upcoming Budget, according to engineering bodies.
Low-carbon finance scheme set up to facilitate 'green growth'

4 Mar 2011

The Carbon Trust and Siemens are to provide finance worth up to £550m over the next three years for UK businesses wishing to invest in energy-efficiency equipment.
EADS to join aerospace research effort in Moscow

3 Mar 2011

EADS has signed an agreement that will see the company participate in the Skolkovo Innovation Centre, a high-technology business hub to be built in the Moscow area.
Keeping our eyes on a volatile natural world

March 2011 Online

In the wake of any natural disaster the question of whether technology could have helped to save lives is inevitably asked.
Vital signs: the Disaster Monitoring Constellation

28 February 2011

A constellation of UK-developed satellites is helping to guide relief efforts in New Zealand. Ellie Zolfagharifard reports
Boeing set to supply tanker aircraft to US Air Force

25 Feb 2011

Boeing has been awarded $3.5bn (£2.2bn) to supply the US Air Force with 179 next-generation aerial refuelling tanker aircraft.
Method set to cut scrap rates of aero-engine turbine blades

23 Feb 2011

A new method for repairing aero-engine turbine blades will substantially reduce scrap rates during scheduled engine maintenance.
UK and Russian bodies study fluid behaviour in microgravity

23 Feb 2011

Kingston University and the Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos are to conduct studies into how fluids behave in microgravity.
Satellite system could provide earlier earthquake warnings

22 Feb 2011

As New Zealand recovers from a devastating earthquake, British and Russian scientists plan a satellite system that will monitor seismic activity from space.
Green themes and laser beams

21 Feb 2011

Events taking place this week show that science fiction is slowly becoming science fact in weapons and robotics.
Cargo carrier begins flight to International Space Station

18 Feb 2011

The European Space Agency’s unmanned supply craft Johannes Kepler is en route to the International Space Station after a successful launch yesterday.
Cloudy, with a chance of apocalypse

18 Feb 2011

The recent solar flares have made an upcoming feature in The Engineer unexpectedly topical. If you thought the weather on Earth was bad, wait til you see what the Cosmos can fling at us.
AeroVironment demonstrates hummingbird-like aircraft

17 Feb 2011

AeroVironment has achieved controlled precision hovering and flight of a flapping-wing aircraft that carries its own energy source and uses only the wings for propulsion and control.
Campaign aims to transform fortunes of UK SMEs

17 Feb 2011

A campaign aimed at transforming the fortunes of smaller firms across the UK has been launched by a leading business group.
Brunel University launches manufacturing research centre

16 Feb 2011

Brunel University has launched a centre aimed at giving UK manufacturers a leading edge in the global marketplace.
Royal Society calls for reform of A-level system in England

16 Feb 2011

The Royal Society has called for a reform of the A-level system in England in order to encourage more students to continue with science and mathematics.
Easyjet trials nanotechnology coating on its aircraft

15 Feb 2011

Low-cost carrier Easyjet is to trial a nanotechnology coating on its aircraft aimed at reducing drag and increasing fuel efficiency.
Project focuses on solid-state storage system for hydrogen

15 Feb 2011

EADS Innovation is working with Glasgow University to find a new solid-state storage system for hydrogen.
Engineering bodies call for better careers advice

15 Feb 2011

Plans to change school careers advice could mean fewer young people consider a job in engineering, professional bodies have warned.
Future satellites could be microchip size

14 Feb 2011

Thousands of microchip satellites could one day orbit the Earth and other planets, following an experiment on the upcoming space shuttle mission.
Satellite, or salty chip?

11 Feb 2011

Could swarms of mainly sacrificial, microchip-sized satellites be useful for investigating the atmosphere of Earth and alien planets, or would they add to the existing problem of space junk? And what would happen if one fell on your head? Careful selection of materials and orbits could be the key.
Electric nose wheel could reduce aircraft emissions

10 Feb 2011

Commercial aircraft could cut their on-ground emissions by one quarter with a new hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system, according to its creators.
Forum of Private Business urges SMEs to challenge banks

10 Feb 2011

The head of the Forum of Private Business is urging SMEs to challenge the banks on their assertion that they are committed to lend more.
First flight for unmanned combat aircraft

9 Feb 2011

A stealthy unmanned combat aircraft designed to operate from aircraft carriers has taken its first flight.
Raising the profile of apprenticeships

9 Feb 2011

It’s National Apprenticeship Week 2011, although you could be forgiven for not knowing. It seems like our old adversary, public perception, is once again causing trouble.
Employers urged to set up apprenticeship schemes

8 Feb 2011

Employers are being urged to follow the example of BT and Jaguar Land Rover in creating a new generation of skilled workers through apprenticeship schemes.
Astrium to build launcher for space taxi service

8 Feb 2011

Astrium is to build the launcher for a new crew-carrying service to the International Space Station.
CRESC report highlights UK manufacturing issues

8 Feb 2011

A third of UK manufacturing jobs are in foreign-owned subsidiaries that have ‘limited ambitions’, according to a report by the Centre for Socio-Cultural Change at Manchester University.
Report says UK exports set to benefit from BRIC building

7 Feb 2011

In the next decade UK exports are predicted to enjoy a period of robust growth, driven by a weak pound and exports to BRIC countries.
Renewable grid connections, HS2, and the rise of the apprenticeship

7 Feb 2011

With wind filling the sails of Britain’s green energy revolution and the manufacturing sector performing well, Briefing looks at events that address grid connectivity and skills.
SMEs see improved production with larger cost pressures

7 Feb 2011

The CBI’s latest SME trends survey indicates that production improved in the last quarter for smaller manufacturers but cost pressures persist.
European firms predict double-digit profit growth in 2011

4 Feb 2011

A European study has revealed that managers want to grow profitably, start investing again in capacities and research and development, and press ahead with international expansion.
Time for another giant leap?

4 Feb 2011

Human spaceflight is notoriously expensive. If the UK increased its involvement, however, could it be advantageous for non-aerospace high-tech industries — and what would the human dividend be?
Commission proposes to tackle raw-material challenges

2 Feb 2011

The European Commission today presented what it described as an integrated strategic vision to tackle challenges in commodity markets and raw materials.
Inflationary pressures threaten manufacturing sector

1 Feb 2011

Inflationary pressures still threaten manufacturing despite the sector showing a rise in production for the 20th consecutive month in January.
Clyde Space to expand global position with £1m funding

1 Feb 2011

Clyde Space has secured a funding package worth £1m to support the company’s growth in the global space market.
Growth industries: the future for the UK's emerging technology sectors

31 January 2011

Emerging technologies could be key to Britain’s future as an engineering nation. Stuart Nathan reports
Non destructive testing in the aerospace industry

31 January 2011

The aersopace industry is leading the way in the application of non-destructive testing techniques
Intelligent machine brain understands natural language

28 Jan 2011

Computer scientists have developed an intelligent control system for machines and robots that understands and interprets programming instructions in natural language.
Homemade equipment films the Earth from space

27 Jan 2011

Two Sheffield University students have recorded a video of the Earth from the edge of space, using homemade equipment and on a shoestring budget.
EEDA funds low-carbon research in east of England

25 Jan 2011

Businesses in the east of England could receive a major funding boost through the East of England Development Agency (EEDA)’s Grants for Research and Development programme.
Save the planet, make a packet?

24 Jan 2011

With payday a week away and The Engineer’s lottery syndicate failing to hit the jackpot, Briefing asks: is there money to be made in saving the planet?
Piezo fuel injectors may improve aircraft efficiency

24 Jan 2011

Researchers at Bath University are developing technology for more efficient ‘lean burn’ aircraft engines that will have a lower environmental impact, thereby helping to meet emissions targets for the airline industry.
Manufacturing recovery on track despite inflation

20 Jan 2011

A strong rise in export orders in the past three months is driving sustained growth in the manufacturing sector, which looks set to continue into 2011.
High-tech manufacturers positive about 2011 prospects

19 Jan 2011

A new survey of high-tech manufacturers highlights a UK business sector that is forging ahead and strongly confident about prospects in 2011.
Boeing expects 787 delivery in third quarter

19 Jan 2011

US aircraft giant Boeing said this week that it expects delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner in the third quarter of this year.
Decline in government support for women in engineering

14 Jan 2011

The Institution of Engineering and Technology has voiced concern about falling government support for efforts to increase the number of women in engineering.
ITT Corporation announces three-way split

13 Jan 2011

The board of directors of ITT Corporation plans to split the company into three distinct, publicly traded companies.
GIONET research centre aims to address natural disasters

13 Jan 2011

Leicester University is launching a new €3.5m research centre that will train researchers skilled in using satellite technologies to tackle environmental issues.
Training centres focus on advanced manufacturing

13 Jan 2011

The automotive and aerospace industries in the UK received a major boost today as universities and science minister David Willetts announced the launch of five new centres across the UK to train engineers of the future.
Goonhilly to rejoin deep space communications programme

12 Jan 2011

Goonhilly satellite station in Cornwall is to become the UK’s biggest centre for communicating with deep space missions, under plans revealed yesterday.
Flying forever

12 Jan 2011

I knew that my son would love the Gyro Lite radio-controlled helicopter that I bought him for Christmas and I wasn’t mistaken.
Space photo provides detailed view of the Universe

12 Jan 2011

Scientists have released the largest digital image of the sky ever made, mapping the Universe in more detail than any other image has ever achieved.
AeroVironment UAV completes hydrogen-powered flight

11 Jan 2011

AeroVironment’s Global Observer unmanned aircraft has successfully completed its first flight at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) in California powered by a liquid-hydrogen-fuelled propulsion system.
CMOS camera provides 3D picture of surroundings

11 Jan 2011

Researchers at Nottingham University are developing a 3D camera they hope could become part of Europe’s first Mars rover.
Manufacturing will lead UK's economic recovery, states EEF

10 Jan 2011

The UK’s manufacturing sector is set to lead the continuing economic recovery in 2011, according to a report published today.
High-flying ambition, but short of a plan

7 Jan 2011

The aviation industry has some impressive plans for cutting future emissions but still faces a major challenge if its total carbon footprint is to fall
British Airways orders Rolls-Royce engines

6 Jan 2011

Power systems company Rolls-Royce has won orders to supply British Airways with Trent 900 and Trent 1000 engines for up to 61 wide-body aircraft.
BAE hands over 'look and shoot' Typhoon helmet to RAF

5 Jan 2011

The RAF is preparing to roll out a helmet that allows fighter pilots to aim weapons just by looking at a target.
Telescope link-up opens up the sky

4 Jan 2011

A new international network of radio telescopes will for the first time track astrophysical events as they happen.
New molecule could give rocket fuel a boost

30 Dec 2010

A new molecule could make rocket fuel 20-30 per cent more effective than the best sources today.
Drive to optimise imaging and optical communications

22 Dec 2010

Raytheon BBN Technologies is to develop new theory and experimental techniques that will enable optical communications and imaging systems to operate at their ultimate limits.
Survey spotlights expected rise in R&D spending

21 Dec 2010

R&D spend is set to increase in 2011, according to a survey of 61 professionals with responsibility for intellectual property (IP) management within UK businesses.
Science minister announces funding plans

20 Dec 2010

The government today published its funding plans for science and research from 2011/12 to 2014/15, with £4.6bn per annum ring-fenced during the period of the spending review.
The Engineer's Christmas Wish list

17 Dec 2010

With Christmas just around the corner and the high-street filled with frantic shoppers, The Engineer has rounded up its top 5 last-minute technology gift ideas.
NASA craft crosses into area with zero solar wind

14 Dec 2010

NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft has reached a distant point at the edge of the solar system where there is no outward motion of solar wind.
North Sea helicopter tracking system launched

14 Dec 2010

A new tracking system that helps helicopters to make the hazardous flight to and from North Sea oil and gas platforms more safely has gone live.
More than 1,300 engineering jobs under threat at BAE

10 Dec 2010

BAE Systems looks set to shed 1,307 positions across six of its sites and two RAF bases.
Boeing wins NASA contract to develop eco-aircraft

10 Dec 2010

NASA has awarded Boeing a $5.29m research contract to investigate concepts for airliners that could enter service in 2025.
Dragon spacecraft completes low-Earth orbit flight

9 Dec 2010

SpaceX has successfully launched its Dragon spacecraft from Cape Canaveral into low-Earth orbit atop its own two-stage, liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene-powered Falcon rocket.
Competition seeks to engage small business innovation

9 Dec 2010

The Technology Strategy Board has launched a competition that will see small and micro businesses in the UK receive funding to identify potential areas where they might be able to develop innovative ideas and technologies.
University helps develop X-ray tomography facility

9 Dec 2010

Manchester University has entered into an agreement that will give it unique access to the X-ray Imaging and Coherence beamline (I13) at Diamond Light Source.
Manufacturers expect output to increase, reveals survey

8 Dec 2010

According to the CBI, manufacturers expect production to rise solidly in the next three months on the back of strengthening demand at home and abroad.
£140m cash boost for Imperial Innovations

7 Dec 2010

Imperial Innovations Group today announced fundraising worth £140m that will help it continue investing in spin-out companies.
Continental Airlines to appeal Concorde crash judgement

6 Dec 2010

Continental Airlines is to appeal today’s court judgement that blames the carrier for the crash of an Air France Concorde in Paris in 2000.
Innovation takes centre stage

6 Dec 2010

Innovation, which was celebrated at last week’s Engineer Technology and Innovation Awards, is key to our economic growth according to a new report from the CBI
Project Blackroc: The gold medal-winning skeleton bob

3 Dec 2010

Engineering was a powerful factor in Britain’s 2010 Winter Olympics skeleton bob success
UAV autolanding system

3 Dec 2010

A group led by Roke has developed and demonstrated technology that enables a UAV to land autonomously without any help from the ground
Funding competition for UK space industry projects

3 Dec 2010

The Technology Strategy Board and the South East England Development Agency are launching a £2m competition to fund innovative projects in the space industry.
Qantas initiates legal action against Rolls-Royce

2 Dec 2010

Qantas has taken the first step towards suing Rolls-Royce following the mid-flight failure of one of the British firm’s aircraft engines.
Tax incentive for UK research activity

2 Dec 2010

Government plans to introduce a tax incentive for research and development activity in the UK from 2013 is encouraging news for British industry, according to patent and trademark attornies at Withers & Rogers.
Shake, rattle and launch

2 Dec 2010

Guest bloggerHead of Engineering, EADS AstriumBob’s involvement with the space industry goes back over 30 years. An aeronautical engineer by training, he specialises in stress engineering and the design of lightweight structures.
UK manufacturing output rises for 18th month in a row

1 Dec 2010

Manufacturing output rose for the 18th successive month and at the fastest pace since May, according to a survey of 600 industrial companies.
EPO signs patent translation deal with Google

30 Nov 2010

The European Patent Office has signed a deal with Google that will see the EPO use Google’s machine translation technology to translate patents into the languages of the 38 countries that it serves.
Glasgow University offers free intellectual property

30 Nov 2010

Glasgow University is to offer the bulk of its intellectual property to businesses and entrepreneurs free of charge through a dedicated website called Easy Access IP.
Lufthansa launches first-ever biofuel passenger flights

29 Nov 2010

Lufthansa is launching the world’s first-ever scheduled commercial passenger flights using biofuel in 2011.
UK's top 1,000 companies invest £25.3bn in R&D

29 Nov 2010

The top 1,000 UK companies invested more than £25.3bn on developing new products, services and productivity in 2009 - according to the R&D Scoreboard.
Technology transfer initiative to boost space industry

29 Nov 2010

A new initiative led by the European Science Foundation aims to identify how fast evolving fields such as photonics, nanotechnology, nuclear propulsion and robotics can benefit the space sector.
Cold comfort

29 Nov 2010

With temperatures predicted fall as low as minus 20 this week, Briefing is heartened to bring news of a slight thaw in manufacturers’ access to credit.
University offers vouchers for space technology development

26 Nov 2010

Engineering firms are being invited to apply for grants to help them develop space technologies by ’buying’ services from Surrey University and/or its partners.
Lift off for satellite broadband

26 Nov 2010

If its taken you longer than a few seconds to load this page, then the launch of the Hylas-1 satellite this evening will be welcome news.
Air hybrid system will allow buses to recharge by braking

24 Nov 2010

A regenerative braking concept that uses the energy created when a vehicle decelerates to compress air is being developed for a new breed of bus.
Airbus conducts flight fuelled by sustainable jatropha oil

23 Nov 2010

Airbus has conducted the first jatropha-based biofuel flight in Latin America, using an Airbus A320.
NASA awards space centre contract to Qinetiq

23 Nov 2010

NASA has selected Qinetiq North America to provide engineering services and products at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
EEF report notes flaws in Britain's supply base

22 Nov 2010

Britain risks losing its supply base if the percentage of its large manufacturers continues to lag behind those of close competitors.
Fox jets off to Delhi

22 Nov 2010

Liam Fox is in Delhi this week promoting the Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft in a bid to secure a £7bn contract with the Indian Air Force.
To infinity and beyond

19 Nov 2010

A good mystery can be far more interesting than the truth, especially when UFOs are involved.
EADS and Airbus set up joint US sourcing office

18 Nov 2010

EADS North America and Airbus Americas are setting up a joint US sourcing office, based at Airbus Americas’ headquarters in Herndon, Virginia.
CBI survey shows rise in demand for UK goods

18 Nov 2010

The CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey shows that demand for UK-made goods improved in November and is on a par with levels experienced in the summer.
Consortium wins TAM Airlines V2500 aero-engine order

17 Nov 2010

IAE International Aero Engines has won an order valued at more than $300m with TAM Airlines for V2500 engines to power seven Airbus A321 and three A319 aircraft.
UK-Indian collaboration could encourage low-carbon growth

15 Nov 2010

British and Indian business leaders have called for closer ties to help develop technology that will encourage low-carbon economic growth.
NASA to reveal planetary mystery

15 Nov 2010

Astronomers and UFO bloggers alike have been waiting in anticipation for NASA’s press conference today on the discovery of ’an exceptional object in our cosmic neighborhood’.
Silent flight: Sikorsky's electric helicopter

15 November 2010

An eco-friendly all-electric helicopter could one day change the face of urban transportation
Oil fire said to be likely cause of Qantas aircraft failure

11 Nov 2010

An oil fire was the likely cause of last week’s mid-air engine failure of a Qantas A380 aircraft, according to Europe’s aviation regulator.
Tools of the trade

10 Nov 2010

Problems with the public perception of engineers in the UK persist, despite the professions’ education efforts. Perhaps it’s time to define ourselves by what we do.
Discovery of oil leak keeps Qantas A380s grounded

8 Nov 2010

Qantas is keeping its Airbus A380 aircraft grounded after investigations into a mid-air engine failure found oil leaks in three crafts’ turbines.
Herschel observatory gets close up to distant galaxies

8 Nov 2010

Space scientists in the UK have helped discover a way for astronomers to attain a magnified view of galaxies in the distant and early Universe.
The new age of the train

8 Nov 2010

Organisers of the High Speed Rail World Europe conference in Madrid this week see 2010 as the year of high speed rail.
Airlines forewarned of Rolls-Royce engine issue

5 Nov 2010

Rolls-Royce was warned months ago about the safety of the engine model powering a Qantas aircraft forced to make an emergency landing yesterday.
Aircraft order 'worth more than $5bn to the UK economy'

5 Nov 2010

China Aviation Supplies Holding has signed an agreement to acquire 102 aircraft from Airbus, a deal that is likely to be worth more than $5bn to Britain’s economy.
Airbus and Rolls-Royce help investigate aircraft failure

4 Nov 2010

Airbus and Rolls-Royce are helping investigate the engine failure that forced a Qantas aircraft to make an emergency landing in Singapore earlier today.
Boeing forecasts China to triple aircraft fleet

4 Nov 2010

Boeing predicts that China will require 4,330 new commercial aircraft valued at $480bn over the next 20 years.
BAE Systems opens titanium machining facility

2 Nov 2010

BAE Systems has opened a new titanium machining facility at its Samlesbury site in Lancashire that will produce parts for the F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft programme.
New hi-tech engineering centre for Leicester University

2 Nov 2010

Leicester University has announced the launch of a £1m hi-tech engineering centre that will help industry develop new materials and processes.
October's top ten engineering contract wins

2 Nov 2010

Each month The Engineer picks 10 of the most notable contract news stories from our Business Briefs archive. This month’s selection includes news from the UK’s transport and energy sectors, and contract wins in the international defence and aerospace industries.
Government commits to helping SMEs with funding

1 Nov 2010

The government today announced measures aimed at helping the UK’s 4.8 million SMEs access finance and increase business with the public sector.
NWAA raises £2m for aerospace composites projects

1 Nov 2010

The North West Aerospace Alliance has helped raise £2m in funding for aerospace composites projects in north west England.
Experts say cargo bombs expose gaps in air security

1 Nov 2010

The bombs found on board two US-bound cargo aircraft this weekend demonstrate that current freight-screening technology still cannot guarantee air security, according to experts.
Back to ash

1 Nov 2010

This month sees the conclusion to a transatlantic trade dispute that strains any notion of a ‘special relationship’ between the US and the EU.
Defence cuts 'could benefit' engineering industries

1 Nov 2010

The defence industry is bracing itself for tens of thousands of private-sector job losses following the government’s budget cuts, but some are hoping other industries will gain from the influx of engineers to the market.
Quiet moves herald a new UK space age

1 November 2010

Although not widely acknowledged by the general public, the UK has quietly forged a leading position in space science, and the government seems to be prepared to support it.
Force field: The mission to map Earth's magnetism

1 November 2010

Earth’s magnetic field protects us from solar radiation and could tell us about minerals in the crust and the climate, but it has been a mystery for over 500 years. ESA is about to lauch a mission to discover more
Sir Martin Sweeting, chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology

1 November 2010

SSTL chief maintains his vision to keep Britain at the forefront of satellite communication
Tabletop X-rays: miniaturising the synchrotron

1 November 2010

Scientists have developed a compact X-ray source that could rival the power of large-scale synchrotrons
Warwick University unveils NMR facility

29 Oct 2010

Warwick University has formally launched a nuclear magnetic resonance facility that will give researchers unprecedented insight into materials and medicines.
Leaving on a jetplane. Eventually.

27 Oct 2010

BA’s chairman has called for a reduction in the number of airport security procedures. Can engineers help with this?
Tunnel vision

25 Oct 2010

Is Britain still an attractive place to invest? Do Siemens’ trains breach Channel tunnel safety rules and will London come to a standstill when the latest strike hits the Underground network?
DARPA-funded programme to develop transformer vehicles

22 Oct 2010

A new programme funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) aims to create a new breed of vehicles that will combine the advantages of ground vehicles with those of helicopters.
Campaign aims to lift aerospace sector

21 Oct 2010

The North West Aerospace Alliance has launched a campaign aimed at encouraging young people into the industry.
Collision prevention system to be tested in Dublin

21 Oct 2010

A research project borne out of the concerns of an Aer Lingus pilot who had experienced the risks of aircraft collision first hand is soon to be tested at an Irish airport.
Coalition 'signals desire' to support science research

20 Oct 2010

The government has frozen its science research budget for the next four years under the spending review announced today.
Chancellor reveals government spending targets

20 Oct 2010

Crossrail to proceed, £1bn for CCS and continuity of investment in science and research are some of the highlights from today’s Comprehensive Spending Review.
Demonstration satellite gets grant for design phase

19 Oct 2010

Surrey Satellite Technology has been awarded a grant to commence the design of a national technology demonstration satellite called TechDemoSat-1.
IET pleads against reductions in university funding

19 Oct 2010

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has issued a last-minute plea for the government to re-consider huge reductions to university funding.
Survey eyes more investment in manufacturing technologies

18 Oct 2010

Investment in manufacturing technologies has either stabilised or increased in the past six months, according to a recent Manufacturing Technologies Association survey.
Cuts day approaches

18 Oct 2010

Briefing has adopted the brace position in anticipation of the Strategic Defence Review and Comprehensive Spending Review.
Roundtable debate: What is Advanced Manufacturing?

18 October 2010

The Engineer - in association with the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) - asked a cross-section of leading UK engineers for their views on industry’s latest buzz-phrase
Aerospace

Awards 2010

An autolanding system for UAVs, academic / industry collaboration on space technology, and the development of vehicles that never break down
Technology and Innovation award winners revealed

Awards 2010

The Engineer is pleased to announce the winners of its fourth Technology & Innovation Awards.
RCUK report warns of university research cutbacks

15 Oct 2010

A £1bn cut to government funding for university research could lead to a 10 times reduction in the UK’s GDP.
Wales invests heavily in manufacturing sector

14 Oct 2010

A £26m project to grow the manufacturing industry in Wales has been announced today by Welsh deputy first minister Ieuan Wyn Jones.
Test flights could avoid volcanic ash disruptions

14 Oct 2010

Test flights and data sharing could help avert the kind of extended ban on flying brought about after Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted.
Ricardo’s Wolverine3 takes flight

14 Oct 2010

Ricardo’s Wolverine3 heavy fuel unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engine has completed its first in-flight tests at the US National Nuclear Security Administration’s Nevada site.
Waiting for the axe to fall

13 Oct 2010

It’s difficult to get away from the subject of cuts at the moment. Every public figure seems to be either attacking them or seeking to justify them.
BIS exhibition will promote UK low-carbon products

11 Oct 2010

UK-manufactured low-carbon products that are exported worldwide are being showcased as part of an exhibition at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.
Airbus unveils €39m landing gear test facility

11 Oct 2010

Airbus has opened its €39m A350 XWB Landing Gear Systems Test Facility at its site in Filton near Bristol.
Enterprise takes flight toward space tourism

11 Oct 2010

Virgin Galactic’s VSS Enterprise, designed to carry space tourists on sub-orbital flights, has successfully flown a manned mission over California.
UK industry awaits coalition's defence decisions

8 Oct 2010

While debate rages over the government’s defence review, analysts are concerned the focus on Afghanistan will have the biggest impact on the UK’s defence industry.
RocketRoute receives equity investment

6 Oct 2010

Pilots may soon be able to use the aeronautical equivalent of Sat Nav when flight planning thanks to an online service that has just received £220,000 of equity investment.
Israel Aerospace Industries unveils Panther UAV

5 Oct 2010

Israel Aerospace Industries has taken the wraps off a tilt-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) called the Panther.
Software predicts aircraft CO2 emissions

5 Oct 2010

New software developed by a Manchester University academic can expertly predict the true level of CO2 emissions released by aircraft.
UK manufacturing exports hit 10-month low

1 Oct 2010

UK manufacturing continued to slow in September, with exports orders falling to a 10-month low for the first time in a year.
Aerospace students set out to build human-powered aircraft

30 Sep 2010

Following the news that Toronto University PhD candidate Todd Reichert has taken to the skies in a man-powered aircraft comes the revelation that Bath University students could soon be following in his footsteps.
Ireland launches innovation fund to support enterprise

30 Sep 2010

Ireland has launched a bid to attract investors to the country under a €500m fund to support enterprise.
Space for opportunity

29 Sep 2010

A plan announced by Surrey Satellites to launch three Earth-imaging spacecraft to be hired out to commercial customers demonstrates the UK’s leading position in the private sector space industry.
First flight for 'flapless' UAV

28 Sep 2010

A stealthy unmanned aerial vehicle designed to fly without conventional control surfaces has made its maiden flight over Cumbria.
Will transparent aircraft take off?

24 Sep 2010

Aeroplanes made of transparent materials, giving passengers unparalleled views of local landmarks, could be a reality by 2050.
Snowbird takes flight

24 Sep 2010

An aircraft with flapping wings that are powered by a human being has become the first of its kind to fly continuously.
CBI predicts 1.6 per cent growth in UK economy

22 Sep 2010

The CBI believes the economy will grow by 1.6 per cent in 2010 and is urging the government to focus resources on infrastructure and capital investment to sustain growth.
EADS receives funding for Lunar Lander

17 Sep 2010

EADS Astrium has been awarded €6.5m to develop a Lunar Lander for missions to the Moon.
Space technology finds use in mining application

16 Sep 2010

Technology developed for space applications is being employed to improve safety at mines.
Boeing agrees deal for Space Adventures

16 Sep 2010

Space Adventures has signed an agreement with Boeing that will see the company market passenger seats on commercial flights aboard the Boeing Crew Space Transportation-100 spacecraft to Low Earth Orbit.
Network Rail raises concerns over British graduates

16 Sep 2010

Britain risks producing a generation of graduates largely unready for the rigours of the commercial world, according to Network Rail.
Rise in university fees could boost skills sector

13 Sep 2010

The anticipated rise in university fees to £7,000 a year may prompt a number of school leavers to seek vocational training rather than a university place.
IET survey reveals low confidence in skills base

9 Sep 2010

Less than half of Britain’s businesses believe the UK has the skills base to create a low-carbon economy, according to a survey published today.
BAE Systems announces UK job cuts

9 Sep 2010

BAE Systems’ Military Air Solutions division plans to cull more than 700 employees from its workforce at five of its UK sites following a detailed review of its current business.
Astrium and SpaceX sign launch services agreement

9 Sep 2010

Astrium and Space Exploration Technologies have signed an agreement to provide dedicated launch services to the European institutional very small satellite market.
Bath University to set up business technology centre

9 Sep 2010

Bath University has been awarded a grant from the European Regional Development Fund, the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and industry to set up a business technology centre.
BAE announces Oasys Technology acquisistion

9 Sep 2010

BAE Systems is to acquire Oasys Technology, a privately owned company specialising in the design and manufacture of electro-optical systems and subassemblies.
Cable announces 'rationing' of government research funding

8 Sep 2010

Government research funding is set to be ‘rationed’ to those projects deemed to be most excellent, the business secretary said today.
IET issues Faraday Challenge to businesses

7 Sep 2010

A new campaign aimed at closing the UK’s skills gap is calling for businesses to sponsor events encouraging young people into science and technology careers.
Britain signs copyright agreement with China

7 Sep 2010

Britain and China have signed an agreement on copyright that will see the two countries seek clarification and coordination on copyright issues.
Skylon spaceplane gathers momentum

6 September 2010

A team of rocket engineers could propel the UK to the forefront of commercial space flight.
The rise of inflatable space structures

6 September 2010

Lightweight inflatable structures are set to play a major role in future space exploration.
Innovative project applications double year-on-year

3 Sep 2010

Demand from UK businesses wishing to get new, innovative projects off the ground has almost doubled since last year, according to the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme.
Tiny automobile differential governs flight of aerial robots

3 Sep 2010

Harvard University engineers have created a millionth-scale automobile differential to govern the flight of aerial robots.
Aerobatic Cri-Cri plane completes initial flight

2 Sep 2010

A four-engine all-electric aerobatic plane made its official maiden flight at Le Bourget airport today.
Shape-changing UAV supports maritime operations

2 Sep 2010

Researchers in Cyprus have developed an unmanned aerial vehicle that uses shape-changing technology to support maritime search and rescue operations.
Boeing delays predicted 787 delivery date

27 Aug 2010

Boeing has said that it now expects delivery of the first 787 in the middle of first-quarter 2011.
Rolls-Royce files patent infringement complaint

26 Aug 2010

Rolls-Royce has filed an amended complaint against United Technologies Corporation alleging an infringement of its swept fan blade patent.
Tool induces sensory disturbances for astronauts

25 Aug 2010

A simulation tool developed in the US looks set to give astronauts a realistic idea of the sensory effects experienced when re-entering Earth’s gravity.
Danish firm develops one-man booster rocket

24 Aug 2010

A small Danish organisation funded entirely by sponsorship is developing a rocket to send a man into space.
Not enough students take STEM A Levels, warns IET

24 Aug 2010

The increasing number of students taking science, technology and maths A Levels is not enough to address the UK’s skills shortage, leading engineers have warned.
Innovative businesses invited to compete for funding

24 Aug 2010

Businesses across the UK are being invited to compete for support to develop innovative technologies that could create new growth areas for the UK economy.
Process reduces waste in titanium manufacture

23 Aug 2010

Manufacturing large titanium parts can waste 95 per cent of raw material, but a new technique promises little or no scrap.
Survey shows manufacturing sales maintained in July

23 Aug 2010

July saw levels of orders and sales in the manufacturing technology sector broadly maintained, according to the latest survey from the Manufacturing Technologies Association.
Beginning to see the light

23 Aug 2010

This week’s briefing has excellent news for those of you working in photonics, namely that your industry expected to be worth $243bn by 2021.
CBI survey reveals increased demand for UK-made goods

20 Aug 2010

The CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey shows that demand for manufacturers’ goods continued to improve in August.
Manufacturing acquisitions improve in second quarter

19 Aug 2010

Merger and acquisition deals in the global industrial manufacturing industry showed a marked improvement in the second quarter of this year.
Fuel-cell aircraft set to mask high-performing predecessor

18 Aug 2010

The German Aerospace Centre is expecting to unveil a higher-performing successor to its record-setting fuel-cell powered aircraft in 2011.
Surveillance aircraft completes maiden voyage

17 Aug 2010

The first flight has taken place of a stratospheric unmanned aircraft designed to provide uninterrupted surveillance over any point on the globe.
Simon Howison, engineering director, BAE Systems Military Air Solutions

16 August 2010

Air of Austerity: Despite the challenges facing the defence sector, BAE’s top military aerospace engineer is optimistic
Wireless sensors could reduce aircraft maintenance costs

13 Aug 2010

Aircraft fuselages may one day be fitted with wireless sensors that transmit crucial information on factors such as stress endured during flight.
Aerospace industry shows signs of recovery

12 Aug 2010

A|D|S, the UK’s Aerospace, Defence and Security trade organisation, has published a short report updating figures on the performance of the aerospace sector following the Farnborough International Airshow.
CO2 rocket could fuel return missions from Mars

11 Aug 2010

Hertfordshire University is developing a carbon-dioxide-fuelled rocket that could help solve the problem of how Mars missions return to Earth.
Gyrojet unveils airborne surveillance vehicle

11 Aug 2010

Police may soon operate covert surveillance missions in a restyled autogyro following the development of a Manned Airborne Surveillance platform.
Material difference

9 Aug 2010

Our space industry insider explains why advanced composites are the ideal materials for antenna reflectors, the components which allow them to beam data down to the planet’s surface
Inmarsat satellites will provide high-speed mobile broadband

6 Aug 2010

Inmarsat has agreed a contract with Boeing for the delivery of three Ka-band satellites.
Research shows rise in patent filings for satellite systems

5 Aug 2010

Research by Withers & Rogers suggests that patent applications for satellite-based technologies have doubled in the last five years.
Grant to establish aerospace research facility in Nottingham

4 Aug 2010

Nottingham University has received a grant worth £3.6m to help it establish an Institute for Aerospace Technology.
Report confirms strong UK manufacturing growth

3 Aug 2010

The UK manufacturing sector is on track to post the strongest growth in a sixth-month period since 1994, according to recently released statistics.
Rolls-Royce secures Airbus engine order

August 2010 Online

Rolls-Royce has won a $175m share of an order worth more than $500m from Air Lease Corporation for V2500 engines to power 30 Airbus A320 aircraft.
July's top ten contract wins

30 Jul 2010

The pick of the past month’s most notable contract news stories from The Engineer’s Business Briefs archive.
Manufacturing comes out top in Bibby index

29 Jul 2010

A report from Bibby Financial Services suggests that manufacturing is now the UK’s leading sector, with levels of output stabilising over the last quarter.
Rolls-Royce announces revenue increase

29 Jul 2010

Rolls-Royce has presented its 2010 half-yearly results, which show group revenues increasing to £5.42bn and profit before financing standing at £594m.
BAE wins £500m aircraft supply order

28 Jul 2010

BAE Systems has secured an order worth over £500m with Hindustan Aeronautics to supply products and services that will facilitate the manufacture of 57 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft.
Research shows access to finance is 'worsening'

27 Jul 2010

New research from the Forum of Private Business shows that the situation is worsening for small companies trying to access finance.
Light materials hold hefty potential for UK

26 July 2010

The UK must quickly build on its expertise if it’s to cash in on the growing use of composite materials
Qinetiq solar-powered aircraft set to break endurance record

23 Jul 2010

A solar-powered unmanned aircraft has surpassed previous endurance records today flying day and night for two weeks.
Shock absorber could reduce helicopter fatalities

22 Jul 2010

The loss of life resulting from helicopter crashes may be prevented with a new inflatable shock-absorption system.
Boeing programme to develop eco technologies

21 Jul 2010

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has launched its Eco Demonstrator Program to accelerate emerging environmental technologies in the areas of fuel efficiency, noise reduction and operational efficiency, while readying technologies at a faster pace for aviation applications.
UCL technology analyses Sun's effect on Earth

21 Jul 2010

Scientists at University College London are hoping to learn more about how solar activity affects the Earth by developing technology for Europe’s next space-science mission.
EADS aircraft runs on algae biofuel

21 Jul 2010

EADS demonstrated the flight of an aircraft powered by biofuel made from algae at the Farnborough Airshow yesterday.
Astrium leads observation hub consortium

21 Jul 2010

Astrium is to lead an industry team in the development of an Earth Observation Hub at the new International Space Innovation Centre in Harwell, Oxfordshire.
Fox speech overlooks defence spend issue

20 Jul 2010

Talking at the Farnborough airshow, defence secretary Liam Fox was meant to have outlined government’s big idea for reining in defence spending. The trouble is, he doesn’t appear to have revealed any concrete plans at all.
UK Space Agency fund to unlock secrets of the Sun

20 Jul 2010

The UK Space Agency has awarded £3.65m to help scientists prepare for three new space missions designed to unlock the secrets of the Sun, seek out distant planets that could harbour life and search for dark energy.
Deloitte predicts flat growth in 2010

20 Jul 2010

Deloitte’s global aerospace and defence mid-year outlook report suggests financial performance will remain flat throughout 2010.
Astrium and Cisco to study uses of space-based routers

20 Jul 2010

Astrium Services and Cisco have signed a technology partnership agreement to study the applications of space-based routers.
Raytheon-Navy team tests laser system on UAV targets

19 Jul 2010

Four unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down in flight over the sea by laser beams fired from a combined-beam fibre laser system.
787 Dreamliner makes international debut landing

19 Jul 2010

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has made its international debut landing at Farnborough Airport in support of the Farnborough International Airshow, which begins today.
Lift-off and landings at Farnborough

19 Jul 2010

This week is set to be dominated by the Farnborough International Airshow, with anyone who is anyone in the aviation industry descending upon the Hampshire town.
Airport expansion ban could damage UK's prosperity

14 Jul 2010

A new report has warned the coalition government’s ban on airport expansion in the UK undermines the country’s global connectivity and competitiveness.
UK needs 'better engineering careers advice service'

14 Jul 2010

The UK needs a better careers advice service to tackle the widening engineering skills gap, according to delegates speaking at the Royal Academy of Engineering yesterday.
EcoMotors receives funding for opoc engine

14 Jul 2010

EcoMotors International has secured funding from Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Menlo Park, California-based Khosla Ventures in a move that that will allow the company to complete the engineering and testing of its opoc engine.
Informed decisions

14 Jul 2010

Presenting teenagers with better information about the possibilities of a career in engineering seems like a vital way to address the growing skills gap in the sector.
MoD unveils autonomous unmanned military aircraft

13 Jul 2010

The Ministry of Defence has unveiled a prototype unmanned combat aircraft that could pave the way for Britain’s first autonomous stealth fighter-bomber.
Boeing unveils hydrogen-powered unmanned aircraft

13 Jul 2010

Boeing has taken the wraps off its hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye unmanned airborne system, a vehicle that will stay aloft at 65,000ft for up to four days.
Energy, aviation and water all demand innovation

12 Jul 2010

This week’s Briefing would like to start with a reminder that you have until Friday 30 July to enter The Engineer Technology & Innovation Awards.
Meet LEMV: the first of a new generation of advanced military airship

12 Jul 2010

US and UK engineers have joined forces on the development of an advanced reconnaissance vehicle that could breath new life into the world of airships
Airbus engineering chief Charles Champion

12 July 2010

Flying lessons: Airbus’s top engineer faces the tough challenge of innovating in a conservative industry
Astrium engineers develop tools for asteroid sample return

12 July 2010

Engineers are developing sampling concepts to allow materials from other planets to be studied on Earth.
Flaviir project trials new forms of wing command

12 July 2010

Flapless technology that manipulates airflow could represent a new way to control aircraft.
High flyers: career opportunities in civil aerospace

12 July 2010

This year’s influx of graduates entering the aerospace industry will have the opportunity to work in a diverse range of roles
Innovation is key for future of civil aerospace sector

12 July 2010

There’s a palpable note of relief to the civil aerospace sector’s pre Farnborough posturings
R34 airship makes first trans-Atlantic return

12 July 2010

Experimental aircraft is propelled into action
Willetts proposes new model for funding innovation

9 Jul 2010

The science minister has given his support to state investment in research while calling for a rethink in the spending and assessment model.
Expert Group on course for record year

9 Jul 2010

A Coventry engineering firm is to grow its workforce after landing a series of new contracts.
Report shows steady growth in south east

9 Jul 2010

The latest South East Regional Intelligence Snapshot, prepared by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), has shown increased manufacturing orders in the last three months - the first time since early 2008.
NESTA reports venture capital decline

8 Jul 2010

New research suggests that UK start-ups saw a 40 per cent decline in venture capital activity in the past two years.
Solar Impulse aircraft lands after 26-hour flight

8 Jul 2010

The Solar Impulse aircraft successfully landed this morning at Payerne airfield in Switzerland after spending more than 26 hours in the air.
Astrium to investigate next-generation launcher

7 Jul 2010

Astrium has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to undertake studies that will see the company define a next-generation launcher for satellites.
Boeing announces Argon acquisition

5 Jul 2010

Boeing is to acquire Argon ST, a developer of command, control, communications, computers, combat, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems, for approximately $775m.
Solar aircraft's first flight postponed

2 Jul 2010

The first manned day and night flight of a solar-powered aircraft has been postponed due to technical problems.
Where's my jetpack?

2 Jul 2010

The technological achievements over the last hundred years have created the modern, comfortable life we know, but many of us wonder what happened to the more exciting sci-fi future we were promised.
Terrafugia flying car cleared for take-off

1 Jul 2010

It’s not quite George Jetson’s flying car, but a new roadworthy vehicle capable of deploying wings and taking off down the airport runway will bring to mind the familiar cartoon jingle.
Flying robots could monitor forest-fire effects

28 Jun 2010

Swarms of flying robots may one day soar into blazing forest fires, cling to undamaged trees and deploy crucial sensors and tools to track the inferno and its effects.
Dyson deadline

28 Jun 2010

The plea for goal line technology grew louder yesterday but events taking place this week highlight how technology and innovation can make a real difference to all our lives.
Fairey Rotodyne was the future of aviation

28 June 2010

Aviation Concept more than a flight of fancy
Astrium to develop re-ignitable engines for ESA

25 Jun 2010

Astrium has won a €20m contract to develop technology for re-ignitable engines for the European Space Agency (ESA).
Budget welcomed by engineering bodies

22 Jun 2010

Lower business taxes and a focus on green and infrastructure investment were among the budget measures welcomed by engineering trade bodies today.
EADS unveils four-engine electric aerobatic plane

22 Jun 2010

The world’s first four-engine electric aerobatic plane is set to be unveiled at the Green Aviation Show in France.
EEF urges reform of climate policy

22 Jun 2010

The EEF has released a report ahead of today’s budget announcement that argues for fundamental reform of climate-change policy.
Oxford University launches invention fund

21 Jun 2010

Oxford University has launched a £5m fund to help turn more research ideas into commercially viable technologies.
Football from orbit

21 Jun 2010

Guest blog: EADS Astrium’s head of engineering on how space technology is bringing the world cup into our living rooms
Will Osborne's budget please industry?

21 Jun 2010

All eyes will be on 11 Downing St tomorrow as the chancellor, George Osborne, leaves to deliver a budget likely to be more unpopular than England’s national football team.
Atkins announces fall in pre-tax profit

17 Jun 2010

Atkins, the UK’s largest engineering and design consultancy, has reported pre-tax profit of £96.6m - an annual fall of almost six per cent.
Airship to support US troops in Afghanistan

17 Jun 2010

A new unmanned airship just larger than the length of a football field will take to the skies in just 18 months to aid US troops in Afghanistan.
Boeing increases 737 production

15 Jun 2010

Boeing is to ramp up the production of its Next-Generation 737, taking the production rate from 34 aircraft a month to 35 in early 2012.
UCL scientist develops camera for Mars rover

15 Jun 2010

Scientists at UCL are leading an international team developing PanCam, the ‘eyes’ of the ExoMars rover designed to study Mars.
CBI predicts faster growth for UK economy

15 Jun 2010

The CBI’s latest economic forecast predicts slightly faster growth in 2010 after a strong pick-up in manufacturing activity, but cautioned that the recovery would be hampered by the budget deficit.
Thousands greet Dornier Do X flying boat

14 June 2010

The giant Dornier Do X was the most ambitious flying boat of its time. Dreamt up by Dr Claudius Dornier, it took seven years to design and, when complete, was the largest, heaviest and most powerful aircraft in the world.
Business survey reveals optimistic outlook

11 Jun 2010

KPMG’s latest Global Business Outlook survey suggests there is evidence of the recovery taking hold in many major economies around the world.
Atom-thick aircraft components

10 Jun 2010

Aircraft components could be built using a super-thin material just one atom thick, according to new research conducted at Manchester University.
Engineers build 3D printer for making plastic parts

10 Jun 2010

Engineers at De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester are building what is hoped to be the world’s fastest 3D printer for manufacturing high-performance plastic components.
Hybrid propulsion for helicopters

10 Jun 2010

EADS has presented a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system for helicopters at the ILA Berlin Airshow that promises to make the aircraft more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.
SMEs neglect export potential

9 Jun 2010

SMEs in the manufacturing sector are failing to take advantage of the current favourable export environment, according to a study released by GE Capital.
Hampson reveals preliminary financial results

9 Jun 2010

Hampson Industries, an international aerospace group, has announced preliminary results for the year ending 31 March 2010.
Government must build on engineering feel-good factor

9 Jun 2010

In the desire to slash the deficit it would be a grave mistake to pull the rug from the UK’s burgeoning areas of expertise.
NESTA analyses how to rebalance economy

9 Jun 2010

A report released by NESTA suggests that a recovery based on high technology and innovation offers the best prospect for growth.
Emirates signs for further Airbus aircraft

8 Jun 2010

Dubai-based Emirates Airline has signed an agreement worth $11.5bn (£7.9bn) for a further 32 Airbus A380 aircraft.
Manufacturing survey shows increase in UK output

7 Jun 2010

A new survey from the EEF shows a sharp increase in output and orders for British manufacturers but companies are still holding back investment.
Ash detector trials could help ease flight restrictions

7 Jun 2010

Easyjet is to trial a volcanic ash detector on one of it Airbus aircraft, with tourists and stakeholders hoping it is deployed quickly to put an end to flight restrictions.
EasyJet to trial ash cloud detector

4 Jun 2010

EasyJet are to conduct trials on a new technology that will help airline pilots minimise disruption caused by ash clouds from the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano.
NASA funds aircraft efficiency research

4 Jun 2010

NASA is making funds available to research teams that can identify ways in which large commercial aircraft can be made quieter, less polluting and more economical by 2025.
Yarn passes flame test

4 Jun 2010

Federal-Mogul has developed what is believed to be the world’s first polyethylene-terephthalate yarn to meet halogen-free flame-retardant regulations and ’no flaming drip’ requirements.
Korean Air distributes wingtips

3 Jun 2010

Korean Air Aerospace Division has been selected by Airbus as sole supplier of the new Airbus-designed Sharklet wingtip devices for the A320 line of aircraft.
Study shows A&D's resilience

2 Jun 2010

A study from Deloitte shows that the global aerospace and defence industry remains financially resilient, despite the economic downturn.
UK Space Leadership Council takes shape

28 May 2010

The official members of the council tasked with providing advice to the newly formed UK Space Agency were announced today by Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts.
Hypersonic vehicle achieves aviation history

28 May 2010

The X-51A WaveRider hypersonic vehicle achieved aviation history this week by making the longest-ever supersonic combustion ramjet-powered flight.
£12m plan to support business

27 May 2010

Edinburgh Napier University has announced a £12m plan to support over 3,000 enterprises through the economic downturn.
Bell pays government costs

27 May 2010

Bell Helicopter has agreed to pay an additional $3.7m to resolve civil claims arising from the company’s cost-charging practices on some of its contracts with the US government.
University launches X-ray crystallography service

26 May 2010

A new national X-ray crystallography service is being set up at Southampton University to support and develop research excellence in the physical sciences as well as chemistry and biochemistry.
Ricardo builds UAV engines for military

25 May 2010

Ricardo has announced that it is developing a purpose-built range of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engines for use in civilian and military applications.
EADS Astrium engineering chief Bob Graham

24 May 2010

Bob Graham of EADS Astrium sees a bright future ahead for the UK space industry.
The rise of additive manufacturing

24 May 2010

Dream machines: Systems capable of printing functional components are poised to enter the manufacturing mainstream
Robot butterfly could inspire future aerodynamic systems

21 May 2010

Japanese researchers have built a fully functional replica model of a swallowtail butterfly
Oil spill reaches Loop Current

19 May 2010

Scientists monitoring the US oil spill with the European Space Agency (ESA) Envisat radar satellite say that it has entered the Loop Current, a powerful conveyor belt that flows clockwise around the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida.
Tool samples soil on Martian moon

17 May 2010

The Space Research Centre at the Polish Academy of Sciences (SRC PAS) in Warsaw, Poland, has begun work on a ’geological penetrator’ that will be used to extract a soil sample from one of Mars’ two moons.
ESA rewards satnav innovations

14 May 2010

Entrepreneurs have the chance to win prizes totalling €1m (£860,000) in this year’s European Satellite Navigation Competition.
Third runway or kangaroo farm? You decide

14 May 2010

There’s an argument that the UK’s new coalition government picked the wrong fight this week in the battle against climate change when it announced plans to cancel a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Airbus to announce re-engine decision by end of year

11 May 2010

A decision on replacing the engines on the A320 family of aircraft is likely to be made at the end of this year, according to Airbus chief commercial officer, John Leahy.
Toray signs EADS deal

11 May 2010

Toray Industries has signed a long-term agreement with EADS to supply carbon-fibre pre-impregnated materials (prepregs) for the Airbus until 2025.
Call for consensus on deficit

7 May 2010

EEF and the Forum of Private Business are separately urging all political parties to quickly form a consensus that allows business and innovation to thrive.
K-MAX helicopter conversion success

7 May 2010

A K-MAX helicopter converted for unmanned operation by Lockheed Martin and Kaman has proven in tests that it can re-supply troops with cargo airdropped by parachute.
CBI reports rising goods demand

5 May 2010

The CBI’s quarterly SME Trends Survey shows that demand for goods made by British SMEs is improving at home and abroad, and that production has stabilised also.
PMI forecasts strong second quarter

4 May 2010

Figures from the CIPS/Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index for manufacturing suggest the sector has enjoyed a strong start to the second quarter, with export growth hitting a new peak.
Volcanic ash in aircraft air-con concern

30 Apr 2010

Aircraft throughout Europe may have to make emergency landings as a result of the residual effects of the volcanic ash, according to Leeds University lecturer, Stephen Wright.
EIB signs finance deal for light source launch

30 Apr 2010

The European Investment Bank has signed a €20m (£17.4m) finance contract with Italy’s Sincrotrone Trieste for the completion and launch of the FERMI@Elettra light source.
Advanced cooling system for Saab aircraft

29 Apr 2010

Microtecnica has been awarded a contract worth in excess of €20m to design and supply a cooling system for Saab’s next-generation Gripen NG aircraft.
ATK signs components contract

28 Apr 2010

Alliant Techsystems has received a contract in excess of $240m (£156m) from Lockheed Martin to produce composite components for low-rate initial-production (LRIP) lots of the F-35 Lightning II or Joint Strike Fighter.
Survey to assess technology expectations

28 Apr 2010

Cambridge Consultants has launched a survey aimed at finding out peoples’ true attitudes towards past, present and future technological development.
Unlocking R&D tax relief

28 Apr 2010

Statistics from H M Revenue and Customs reveal that many eligible companies are not taking full advantage of research and development tax relief, which offers a super tax deduction on costs incurred by businesses that innovate.
CryoSat-2 set to shed new light on climate change

28 Apr 2010

Developed in the UK, CryoSat-2’s radar system will probe Earth’s polar regions in unprecedented detail
KCL studies airspace closure effect

27 Apr 2010

Scientists in the Environmental Research Group (ERG) at King’s College London have undertaken research into the effects of the closure of UK airspace on air quality surrounding major airports after the Icelandic volcano eruption.
Ash confusion highlights importance of research

21 Apr 2010

Ash Wednesday: The decision to close airspace while research was conducted into flight safety was sound. Now we need to consider our attitude to research into rare, but potentially catastrophic, phenomena.
Test aircraft fly through ash cloud

20 Apr 2010

Test flights conducted by Airbus on 19 April have shown that an A340 and an A380 can fly through a cloud of volcanic ash without any irregularities.
Semta report warns of engineering skills shortage

20 Apr 2010

An engineering skills council has warned growing UK industries like nuclear will lack a sufficient amount of technically capable workers to fill jobs in the future without urgent action.
Ash clouds continue to affect flights

20 Apr 2010

Airlines including KLM have stepped up the pressure to lift flight restrictions across Europe after operating a total of ten test flights this weekend, including a flight from Düsseldorf to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.
Experts clash over volcanic ash

19 Apr 2010

The inadequacy of technology to provide definitive answers about the threat of volcanic ash has become a central concern for scientists as authorities step up efforts to restore air travel.
EADS is flying high

19 April 2010

EADS Innovation Works has received two awards for its composites technologies.Presented at JEC Composites in Paris, they are for the application of unidirectional braiding technology in the production of composite aircraft frames and a demonstrator for the assembly of composite aircraft structures using structural adhesive bonding.
Mark Chapman - chief engineer, Bloodhound SSC

19 April 2010

Quick thinking: The chief engineer of the Bloodhound SSC faces the challenge of making a car travel at 1,000mph… safely.
SwAF buys Thales’s C2 system

16 Apr 2010

The Swedish Defence Material Administration has awarded Thales Norway a contract to supply the Swedish Armed Forces with a new command-and-control system for helicopter units.
Volcanic ash grounds UK flights

15 Apr 2010

A cloud of ash from Iceland’s erupting volcano has stopped all flights over the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries.
Watchkeeper makes maiden voyage

15 Apr 2010

Thales UK today announced the maiden UK flight of the Watchkeeper unmanned air system (UAS), a multi-sensor UAS designed to provide information to military commanders on the ground.
Obama will announce new strategy for human spaceflight

14 Apr 2010

President Barack Obama will announce tomorrow a new strategy for human spaceflight that increases the NASA budget by $6bn over the next five years.
Cobham to supply carriage systems for SDB

13 Apr 2010

Cobham’s Mission Equipment strategic business unit has been awarded further production contracts by Boeing to supply more than 500 carriage systems for the Small Diameter Bomb programme.
The election trail

12 Apr 2010

The General Election steps up a gear this week with Labour launching its manifesto on the day Parliament is dissolved ahead of the main event on 6 May.
Solar plane completes test flight

7 Apr 2010

Solar Impulse HB-SIA, an emissions-free aircraft that draws its power from solar energy, has made its first test flight, climbing 1,200m after take-off from Payerne airfield, Switzerland.
BAE agrees AJT support contract

7 Apr 2010

BAE Systems has won a four-year contract worth £111m from the Ministry of Defence to support and maintain 28 new Royal Air Force Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft.
Skydiver's space suit and helmet revealed

7 Apr 2010

A space suit and pressure helmet designed to protect Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner in his record-breaking 120,000ft free-fall attempt have been revealed to the public.
Rolls-Royce supports RAF aircraft

7 Apr 2010

Rolls-Royce has signed a service contract worth £690m with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to support the Royal Air Force’s fleet of Tornado aircraft.
Manifesto boosts engineering in UK

7 Apr 2010

Eight of the UK’s leading engineering bodies have launched a manifesto aimed at maximising engineering’s contribution to solving Britain’s biggest challenges
Paul Drayson on Labour's science & innovation policy

7 Apr 2010

Securing the recovery and delivering strong economic growth is Labour’s number one priority.
SATIN project merges haptic and 3D modelling

7 Apr 2010

Industrial modelling could soon move from plastic prototypes to the digital world following the introduction of an augmented reality design system.
Patent box helps firms assess IP

6 Apr 2010

The chancellor’s ’patent box’ initiative is a good opportunity for engineering firms to take stock of whether they are getting the most out of their intellectual property.
CubeSail de-orbiting system

6 Apr 2010

Engineers at Surrey Space Centre are developing a platform to demonstrate the viability of using drag on a sail to de-orbit small satellites and other space debris.
Mobile airport study receives £2m

1 Apr 2010

A £2m privately-funded study is looking into the feasibility of mobile airports, a concept in which aeroplanes could take off and land on aircraft carrier-like runways travelling on the motorway.
Rolls-Royce provides MissionCare services

April 2010 Online

Rolls-Royce has announced a $51m engine production and MissionCare services contract with US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
Funding for Diamond Light Source

30 Mar 2010

Business secretary Lord Mandelson has announced almost £100m in investment in Diamond Light Source’s Phase III development at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
Dreamliner wing test complete

30 Mar 2010

Boeing has completed the ultimate-load wing up-bending test on the 787 Dreamliner static test unit, replicating 150 per cent of the most extreme forces the airplane is expected to experience.
Poll reveals discontent over Budget

26 Mar 2010

A survey from the Forum of Private Business shows that the majority of small businesses were left disappointed by this week’s Budget.
TSB aids innovation centre creation

26 Mar 2010

Lord Mandelson has asked the Technology Strategy Board to guide the development of a network of technology and innovation centres designed to help deliver the industries and jobs of the future.
Budget aims to boost innovation

24 Mar 2010

Alistair Darling has delivered a politically minded budget aimed at boosting start-up technology and innovation businesses and curbing earnings of the wealthy with targeted taxes.
Nothing new under the sun

24 Mar 2010

Could forgotten technologies provide the solutions to some of our most pressing contemporary problems?
UK Space Agency and ISIC created

23 Mar 2010

Britain’s space sector has been given a boost with the creation of the UK Space Agency and a £40m International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC) sited in Harwell, Oxfordshire.
Triumph to buy Vought Aircraft

23 Mar 2010

Triumph Group has announced the signing of an agreement to purchase Vought Aircraft Industries from The Carlyle Group for $1.44bn.
UK recovery 'will remain sluggish in 2010'

22 Mar 2010

The CBI has announced that the UK’s economic recovery is expected to remain sluggish in 2010 and will not quicken until mid-2011.
Busting body bombers

22 Mar 2010

The latest airport-security scanner aimed at combating the threat of suicide ’body bombers’ has been unveiled to government officials.
What's in the bag?

22 Mar 2010

What Alistair Darling carries in his red briefcase is on the minds of many in the engineering community as the chancellor prepares to deliver his Budget statement.
Acting on impulse

22 Mar 2010

Aircraft made of a higher proportion of carbon-fibre composite (CFC) materials could be more vulnerable to damage from lightning strikes.
Aircraft 'catcher' project shows no plane gain for power generation

22 March 2010

I would never wish to discourage research but your news article, ’Landing a new role in power generation’ (The Engineer, 8 March), got me thinking. I find it difficult to believe that the effort and technology involved with such a scheme could possibly be effective.
Study highlights impact of research on output

17 Mar 2010

A study from the Imperial College Business School suggests that £3.5bn a year currently spent on publicly funded research generates an additional annual output of £45bn in UK companies.
Manufacturing ripe for investment

15 Mar 2010

Nearly one-third of private equity houses have ranked manufacturing as one of the top three sectors for investment activity, according to research from corporate finance advisers at BDO.
High fliers, high flying and fast driving

15 Mar 2010

A mixed bag of events this week might have some readers of The Engineer wondering if they are suffering from déjà vu.
Banks restrict SME growth

12 Mar 2010

Sir Ronald Halstead, president of the Engineering Industries Association (EIA), believes the UK’s economic recovery is being undermined by the behaviour of the banks.
Oxsensis raises development funds

12 Mar 2010

Oxsensis has raised £3m in a funding round in which Carbon Trust Investments has joined existing investors Albion Ventures, Seven Spires, Frog Capital and the Rainbow Seed Fund.
UK must adapt to keep research lead

11 Mar 2010

Britain risks being eclipsed by China and India as a leader in science and innovation unless vital changes are made to PhD and masters programmes and research investment.
Northrop opts out of tanker bid

11 Mar 2010

Northrop Grumman has decided not to submit a bid to the Department of Defense to build the US Air Force’s next generation of aerial refuelling tankers, which means that Boeing is the contender likely to win the contract.
UK risks losing advantage

10 Mar 2010

The UK will face decades of slow economic decline unless it invests heavily in research - one of the country’s few genuine areas of economic competitive advantage, according to a report by the Royal Society.
Firms neglect tax breaks

10 Mar 2010

Tax specialists Capitus believes companies involved in any type of R&D across a range of industries could be missing out on substantial tax relief.
Getting graphic detail

10 Mar 2010

Oxford-based image-analysis expert 2d3 has signed three research deals with the Ministry of Defence to improve automated data collection from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
UK could be top high-tech exporter

9 Mar 2010

At the behest of the Conservative party, Sir James Dyson has produced a report setting out proposals to make Britain the leading high-tech exporter in Europe.
Perception filter

8 Mar 2010

Ask a child to define ‘engineer’ and you’ll likely be told that an engineer is everything from the man who fixes the boiler to a bearded eccentric gesticulating wildly in a laboratory.
UAV for nuclear scouting missions

5 Mar 2010

Students at Virginia Tech are modifying a remote-controlled helicopter to fly autonomous missions over and around areas hit by a nuclear attack.
Manufacturers 'confident' about future

5 Mar 2010

Manufacturers are more optimistic about their prospects for the next six months than other industries, despite tightening profits, according to the latest research from Santander Corporate Banking.
Frazer-Nash supports Puma upgrade

3 Mar 2010

Frazer-Nash has been awarded a further contract to support the MoD in its upgrade programme for the Puma helicopter.
Cobham wins CH-53K helicopter deal

2 Mar 2010

Cobham has been awarded a contract worth up to $25m to manufacture advanced composite components and assemblies for the main rotor blades of the US Marine Corps’ CH-53K heavy-lift replacement helicopter.
UK investment concerns academics

25 Feb 2010

The government has announced £200m to support science and engineering businesses, amid criticism that its plans for cutting funds for pioneering academic research will stifle future UK innovation.
AAIB reports landing-gear failure

24 Feb 2010

The guidelines followed by aircraft manufacturers when designing landing gear are not sufficient to deal with crash landings made outside of the runway, according to the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).
Fan blade funding

23 Feb 2010

GKN Aerospace and Rolls-Royce have received £7.4m from SEEDA to help the companies develop lightweight carbon-fibre fan blades for aircraft engines.
Winglet contract

23 Feb 2010

Bombardier Aerospace has awarded contracts to two UK companies for work on Bombardier’s CSeries commercial aircraft programme.
Flying out of a tight spot

23 Feb 2010

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can take off vertically and manoeuvre around the tops of buildings has been proposed for security monitoring at the London Olympics.
Industry lift for helicopters

22 Feb 2010

Global demand for new helicopters will reach 16,400 over the next 10 years, according to the latest forecast by British power group, Rolls-Royce.
Smart grids under scrutiny

22 Feb 2010

Legislation regarding CO2 emissions and the commensurate shift toward installing renewable sources of energy has presented our utilities engineers with a unique set of technical challenges.
The waste of space

22 February 2010

The growing amount of man-made junk orbiting the Earth is prompting calls for a cosmic clean-up.
Turbine of the times

22 February 2010

A new class of intermetallic materials under development may replace superalloys in the hot sections of modern-day jet engines.
Exports behind manufacturers' hopes

19 Feb 2010

UK manufacturing is expected to pick up slightly over the next three months, according to the latest monthly Industrial Trends Survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Laser destroys in-flight missile

17 Feb 2010

A high-energy airborne laser onboard a modified Boeing 747 has been used to destroy a ballistic missile in its boost phase of flight.
BA establishes green jet-fuel plant

16 Feb 2010

British Airways has formed a partnership with the Solena Group to establish Europe’s first sustainable jet-fuel plant that will be used to power part of its fleet from 2014.
Rail investment to head north

15 Feb 2010

The government must urgently shift its transport priorities from London and the South East to the North of England if it is to avoid major bottlenecks in the rail network.
Survey reveals energy worries

12 Feb 2010

Concerns over rising energy prices and higher taxes outweigh those of complying with the latest energy legislation, according to the latest survey of British businesses by the Carbon Trust.
Patent filing declines

12 Feb 2010

Patent filings under WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty fell by 4.5 per cent in 2009 with sharper than average declines in some industrialised countries.
Thermal-imaging UAV tracks thief

11 Feb 2010

Thermal-imaging technology housed in an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has been used by police on Merseyside to arrest a suspected car thief.
Space industry key to UK economy

11 Feb 2010

The UK economy risks losing more manufacturing business overseas if it does not seize opportunities in the space industry.
Soteria to replace SAR helicopters

9 Feb 2010

The Ministry of Defence and the Department of Transport have awarded a contract for replacing the UK’s search-and-rescue helicopters with a single fleet of aircraft.
Bath has fluid plans

08 February 2010

The amount of energy wasted in industries that heavily utilise hydraulic power could soon be reduced as a result of research taking place at Bath University.
Circor wins Airbus contract

3 Feb 2010

Corona, California-based Circor Aerospace Products (CAP) has been selected by Messier-Bugatti to design, develop and manufacture a complete suite of speed sensing and control solutions for the Airbus A350 XWB.
Greener air travel

3 Feb 2010

Carbon emissions from air travel could be reduced thanks to a new collaboration between engineers from the universities of Bristol and Bath and the aerospace industry.
Moon shot

3 Feb 2010

The cancelling of Project Constellation by President Obama wasn’t a surprise.
Sichuan to use V2500 in Airbus A320

2 Feb 2010

IAE International Aero Engines has been awarded $300m (£188m) to supply V2500 engines and related aftermarket support for Sichuan Airlines’ latest fleet of Airbus A320s, currently on order.
Ultra compressors for CF-18

1 Feb 2010

Ultra Electronics’ Precision Air Systems business has won a contract worth more than $8m from the US Navy to supply its HiPPAG airborne compressors for Canadian CF-18 aircraft.
Russia tests stealth combat aircraft

1 Feb 2010

Russia has completed a successful test flight of its much-anticipated fifth-generation stealth fighter plane designed to ‘excel’ against similar Western aircraft.
CBI says small firms' orders rising

1 Feb 2010

Small and medium-sized manufacturers are starting to benefit from the relative weakness of Sterling, with overseas orders stabilising after seven quarters of decline
SMEs deem tax system as 'unfair'

28 Jan 2010

A poll carried out by the Forum of Private Business has found that more than two thirds of owners of small and medium-sized enterprises believe the tax burden placed on them is unfair.
IAE wins $1.5bn deal with Jetstar

28 Jan 2010

International Aero Engines has been awarded a contract worth up to $1.5bn (£0.92bn) to supply Jetstar Airways with V2500 engines to power a new fleet of 50 Airbus A320 family aircraft.
Protected species

26 Jan 2010

On January 10 The Engineer ran an online poll that asked ‘Would legal protection for the job title “engineer” help improve the status of the profession?’. Over 700 of you voted, with 82.9 per cent saying it would.
Ethanol fuel allows half-size engine

26 Jan 2010

Ricardo and Growth Energy are to collaborate on a project to demonstrate that an engine fuelled by ethanol can provide an economic alternative to fossil fuel.
Landing a new role in power generation

25 January 2010

Aircraft landing on runways across the UK could feed electricity into the National Grid by converting braking energy into electricity.
RFID defect spotted in e-passports

25 January 2010

Computer scientists at Birmingham University have uncovered a fault in e-passports that makes it possible for anyone with a tag reader to identify individual passengers.
Transport trepidation

22 Jan 2010

The long march toward a low carbon future has this week taken another twist with airports at the centre of a government-funded study.
Exports support manufacturing growth

21 Jan 2010

Manufacturers have seen output rise for the first time in two years with exports helping to improve figures, according to business lobby group, the CBI.
Eurocopter sees civil orders fall

21 Jan 2010

Eurocopter, the French-based helicopter division of EADS, said that the global economic downturn has led to a slump in civil orders for its light helicopters.
BAE tests Coyote aircraft

20 Jan 2010

BAE Systems, in partnership with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has completed the first successful test flight of its small, electric-powered Coyote unmanned aircraft.
Mission to Mars

19 Jan 2010

ESA and NASA are inviting scientists from across the world to propose instruments for their joint Mars mission, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, which ESA will build and NASA will launch.
Centre to encourage virtual engineering

18 Jan 2010

The aerospace sector in the north west of England is set to benefit from a new centre for virtual engineering at Daresbury Laboratory.
Aircraft testing reaches milestone

18 Jan 2010

Boeing has completed initial airworthiness testing on the 787 Dreamliner, a milestone that will allow extra crew to take part in flights and more aircraft to join the test programme.
Rolls-Royce signs Typhoon service deal

15 Jan 2010

Rolls-Royce has signed a service contract worth £865m with the UK Ministry of Defence to support the Royal Air Force’s fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
Study looks at feather structures

14 Jan 2010

Materials used in the construction, automotive and aircraft industries could be improved following research into previously unrecognised structures in birds’ feathers.
Report forecasts manufacturing growth

14 Jan 2010

A report published today predicts manufacturing to grow by 1.2 per cent this year before picking up to 3.4 per cent in 2011.
Astrium tests cargo spacecraft

13 Jan 2010

The second unmanned European cargo spacecraft for the International Space Station (ISS) is being tested for flightworthiness and functionality as a fully integrated unit for the first time.
Further A400M contributions needed

12 Jan 2010

The chief executives of Airbus and EADS have warned they may cancel the development of the A400M if the military transport’s customers do not make further contributions to the programme.
EC selects satellite consortium

11 Jan 2010

The European Commission (EC) has selected a consortium led by OHB-System and Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) to build and test 14 satellites for the Galileo satellite-navigation system.
Electric avenue to a low carbon future

11 Jan 2010

The North American International Auto Show opens its doors to the press today, and electric vehicles are likely to dominate the resulting coverage
Balloon boss Simon Forse

11 January 2010

Engineering is as crucial in hot-air balloon design as anywhere else in aviation, says Simon Forse.
Plane for all to see

11 January 2010

A next-generation test probe is designed to speed up the inspection of aircraft structures.
Tough year expected for marketers

5 Jan 2010

Nearly half of marketers in the manufacturing and engineering sectors expect the economy and their own company’s business prospects to improve over the next year, despite a drop in anticipated sales figures.
Turkish orders A320-family aircraft

5 Jan 2010

Turkish Airlines has signed a firm order for 20 Airbus A320-family aircraft that will be used to expand domestic and regional routes.
Reaching new heights

4 Jan 2010

Engineers have much to cheer about in the first week of this new decade. The week starts off with the public unveiling of a civil engineering marvel, the world’s tallest building in Dubai.
Lockheed funds defence research

22 Dec 2009

Global defence group Lockheed Martin has awarded a £130,000 grant to Cranfield University to advance its research in the defence and civil sector.
STFC refocuses science strategy

17 Dec 2009

Budget cuts to areas of the government’s science strategy could have severe implications for the country’s research base, according to leading UK academics.
Strathclyde NDE laboratory

17 Dec 2009

A new laboratory to support pioneering engineering research is to be created at Strathclyde University in Glasgow following a funding boost of £1.2m.
Military airlifter takes off

11 Dec 2009

Airbus Military’s A400M airlifter made its maiden flight today from Seville Airport, Spain, following an extensive programme of ground tests.
Good use of space?

11 Dec 2009

Here’s a quick Friday lunchtime brainteaser for you. What UK industry has grown by nine per cent a year since 2000, contributes £6.5bn a year to the economy and supports 68,000 jobs?
Honeycomb reduces crash destruction

10 Dec 2009

NASA aeronautics researchers have dropped a small helicopter from a height of 35ft (10.7m) to see whether an expandable honeycomb cushion, the ‘deployable energy absorber’, could lessen the destructive force of a crash.
United orders wide-body aircraft

9 Dec 2009

United Airlines has ordered 50 wide-body aircraft designed to reduce fuel burn and environmental impact, and increase passenger comfort.
The Engineer Technology and Innovation Awards 2009

8 Dec 2009

The Engineer’s Technology and Innovation Awards returned to The Royal Society last week to celebrate this year’s most successful UK engineering projects.
Aviation growth meets CO2 targets

8 Dec 2009

The aviation industry could grow by 60 per cent while still meeting the government’s CO2 targets if other sectors of the economy make significant cuts to their carbon emissions.
Reducing runway emissions

7 December 2009

Innovative automotive engineering could help aviation reduce its carbon footprint.
Solar flight earns its wings

4 Dec 2009

This week’s Futurescope literally takes off from the Dübendorf Airfield in Switzerland where the first solar powered aircraft designed to fly night and day without fuel achieved its first ‘flea hop’.
Airbus supplies composite flaps

3 Dec 2009

Stork Fokker has secured a contract with Airbus for the development and manufacture of the composite outboard flaps for the A350 XWB line of aircraft.
Skills shortage concern

1 Dec 2009

A report published today says the engineering industry must recruit 587,000 skilled workers by 2017 to meet increased demand in areas such as green energy, aerospace and transport.
Composite materials investment

26 Nov 2009

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson today announced new investment totalling £22m to further advance the development of composite materials.
Tipped to wing it

23 November 2009

Airbus claims that shark-fin-inspired wing-tip devices on its A320 aircraft will help them use less fuel, carry more weight, climb higher at a faster rate and produce less emissions and noise.
CML to provide JSF airframe parts

20 Nov 2009

Birkenhead-based aerospace company CML Group has received an £800,000 order from BAE Systems to manufacture composite airframe components for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Rolls-Royce awarded $1.5bn

18 Nov 2009

Rolls-Royce has won an order worth $1.5bn from Air China to supply Trent 700 engines and service support for 20 A330 aircraft on order with the Beijing-based carrier.
Low-carbon strategy lacks focus

17 Nov 2009

Britain needs to increase its efforts to become a leading location for low-carbon industries if it is to take a share of a £4.5tn low-carbon business opportunity.
Rolls-Royce awarded F-35B contract

17 Nov 2009

Rolls-Royce has secured a $171m (£101.8m) contract with Pratt & Whitney to supply its LiftSystem for nine Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant F-35B Lightning II aircraft.
Are there mechanics on Mars?

16 Nov 2009

NASA’s attempts to free the Mars Rover ‘Spirit’ begin this week; it has been bogged down in sandy soil on the Red Planet for the past seven months.
Nanomaterials get space test

13 Nov 2009

Novel nanomaterials developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are scheduled to blast off into orbit on November 16 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis.
National asset

11 Nov 2009

The phrase ‘decline of engineering in the UK’ has sadly become so well used that it has almost achieved parity with ‘it doesn’t snow like it used to’.
Rolls-Royce engines for air force

11 Nov 2009

Rolls-Royce has received an $8.5m contract from the US Air Force to provide spare engine parts for the Lockheed Martin C-130J military-transport aircraft.
SSTL to manage student Moon mission

10 Nov 2009

The European Space Agency’s Education Office has awarded a contract to Surrey Satellite Technology to manage the development and testing of the first European student mission to the Moon.
Team to create cleaner gas turbines

9 Nov 2009

Rolls-Royce and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council have teamed up with three UK universities to support the development of cleaner and more efficient gas turbines.
Composite wings near to major assembly

9 Nov 2009

Airbus is claiming that the A350 — its first airliner with composite wings and fuselage — will reach airlines in 2013. Siobhan Wagner reports
Collaboration with China is essential

4 Nov 2009

A report published this week should prompt the West to shake off any last shreds of complacency over China’s role in the global industrial landscape.
Air New Zealand orders Airbus A320s

3 Nov 2009

Air New Zealand has ordered 14 Airbus A320 aircraft, with options for a further 11, to replace its domestic fleet of 15 Boeing 737-300s.
THY orders Rolls-Royce engines

2 Nov 2009

Turkish carrier Turk Hava Yollari has awarded Rolls-Royce a $350m contract to supply Trent engines to power five Airbus A330 aircraft.
Cars and climate

2 Nov 2009

The car industry has been boosted by scrappage schemes which defied the doubters by proving successful, but if the recession really is coming to an end, this is where we’ll start to see the evidence.
Composite wings come near to major assembly

November 2009 Online

Airbus is claiming to be on track with the 2013 commercial roll-out of its A350 — its first airliner to be constructed with wings and a fuselage made primarily of composites.
US supports JSF engine

30 Oct 2009

Rolls-Royce and GE Aviation have received funding from the US government for the development of an alternative engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Manufacturing confidence rises

30 Oct 2009

Confidence levels in the manufacturing sector jumped in the third quarter, according to research by BDO LLP that looked at confidence levels in the sector over the next six months.
Trent 700 engines to power A330s

30 Oct 2009

Rolls-Royce has been awarded $720m to supply Trent 700 engines to power 10 Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330 aircraft.
System detects liquids in luggage

28 Oct 2009

Restrictions on carrying liquids on commercial airlines could soon be lifted with the development of a system that can quickly identify dangerous substances in passenger luggage.
UK to lead commercial space travel

27 Oct 2009

The UK could be a world leader in space technology and commercial suborbital flights in 20 years, according to the British space industry’s secretary-general.
Innovators need support package

27 Oct 2009

Knowledge transfer is key to improving the success rate of British research projects, says Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya.
Looking for substance behind the soundbite

26 Oct 2009

Whatever you think of the government's record over the last 12 years, it would be hard to accuse Lord Mandelson of failing talk up the engineering and technology-based economy in 2009
Nimrod MRA4 makes debut at last

26 Oct 2009

The MRA4 Nimrod is about to enter service after long delays. Stuart Nathan gives the end result the once-over.
Stars, cars and feeding the world

26 Oct 2009

While the long-term future of the US manned space programme is far from certain, NASA is currently pressing ahead with tentative plans to put astronauts back on the moon by 2020. A key step on this journey will be taken tomorrow when the Ares 1X Rocket - that will ultimately carry the successor to the Space Shuttle into orbit ...
Climate-change results unveiled

23 Oct 2009

Interim results taken from the first series of instruments designed specifically to measure climate change are to be unveiled at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
UK companies expect to grow

22 Oct 2009

The majority of UK businesses are planning for growth in the next few years, despite predicting that the effects of the downturn will last into 2011.
Rotorcraft mimics maple seed design

22 Oct 2009

Aerospace engineering graduate students at the University of Maryland have mimicked the design of the maple seed to create the world’s smallest controllable single-winged rotorcraft.
Research tackles wind interference

21 Oct 2009

Research to solve radar interference from wind turbines has been launched by the government to help address concerns over the construction of wind farms in the UK.
Computerised airport procedures

19 Oct 2009

Researchers at Nottingham University are developing a computerised approach to airport procedures that they claim will lead to faster and greener operations.
Rolls-Royce to proceed with ADVENT

19 Oct 2009

Rolls-Royce has been selected to proceed with Phase II of its Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology demonstrator programme for the US Air Force.
Learning to fly

19 Oct 2009

London’s exuberant mayor, Boris Johnson, will be in the public eye this week as he attempts to explain why a new airport, based on a floating structure in the Thames Estuary and costing some £40bn, is a good idea. An initial feasibility study, carried out by Hong Kong island airport engineer Douglas Oakervee, is published this week and indicates that the project is ‘technically feasible’; Johnson has now reportedly appointed Sir David King, the former government chief scientist, to carry ...
Continuous communication with Mars

16 Oct 2009

Researchers in Scotland have discovered a way to enable continuous communication from Earth to Mars, making manned missions to the red planet slightly more plausible.
BAE wins Typhoon support contract

16 Oct 2009

BAE Systems has secured a £400m contract to provide radar and sub-systems support on the Typhoon fleets for German, Italian, Spanish and UK air forces.
Building big brother

16 Oct 2009

Futurescope’s vision of tomorrow is typically benign but as we all know - from nuclear fission to robotics - most major advances come with an unwelcome, and often destructive, flip side.
Goodrich signs lean-burn agreement

15 Oct 2009

Goodrich Corporation has signed a research agreement with Rolls-Royce to develop the next generation of fuel nozzles for 'lean burn' combustion technology systems in aircraft.
UAV flies using fuel-cell system

15 Oct 2009

A small unmanned aerial vehicle recently completed 23 hours of uninterrupted flight using an advanced fuel-cell system.
NESTA releases business report

14 Oct 2009

Only six per cent of UK businesses are responsible for the majority of job creation and prosperity, according the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.
TSB funds technology development

13 Oct 2009

The Technology Strategy Board has announced a £39.5m investment to help UK businesses develop technologies that address global challenges over the next six months.
Passenger jet flies on natural gas

13 Oct 2009

A Qatar Airways aircraft has completed the world’s first commercial passenger flight powered by a fuel made from natural gas.
Sikorsky's Marc Poland

12 Oct 2009

Marc Poland of Sikorsky lifts the lid on the safer, faster helicopters of tomorrow.
Whitehall should use spending power to back engineering

12 Oct 2009

The government must use its influence as a customer to help engineering innovation flourish in the UK, says Lord Browne.
Critical composite maintenance

12 Oct 2009

Non-destructive evaluation specialists are set to investigate an advanced ultrasonic evaluation technique that monitors the structural integrity of composite aircraft parts.
Sensor increases target accuracy

9 Oct 2009

Lockheed Martin has completed a successful test of its first 360-degree infrared sensor turret aboard its Desert Hawk III unmanned aircraft system.
Aluminium ice for rocket propellant

8 Oct 2009

Researchers in the US are developing a more environmentally friendly rocket propellant made of a frozen mixture of water and ‘nanoscale aluminium’ powder.
Fuel-cell APU to power future aircraft

8 Oct 2009

Airbus has selected Loughborough-based power systems group Intelligent Energy to provide a multi-functional fuel-cell auxiliary power unit (APU) for on-board power in future commercial aircraft.
Aviation code reduces fuel use

7 Oct 2009

A coalition of aviation experts has published a Departures Code of Practice to help reduce the fuel used by aircraft at airports.
IATA requests global CO2 targets

7 Oct 2009

The director-general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to set global targets for reductions in CO2 emissions.
Plants could create renewable fuel

7 Oct 2009

Boeing has announced that it will begin studying the use of saltwater-based plants for renewable jet fuel in a joint effort with UOP, a division of Honeywell.
EEF survey reveals lack of support

5 Oct 2009

Manufacturers are failing to receive financial support from UK banks, according to the latest survey by the manufacturers’ organisation, EEF.
A little bit of politics

5 Oct 2009

We’ve heard from Labour and the Lib Dems, and now it’s the turn of the Conservatives who gather in Manchester this week for their annual conference.
Survey reiterates credit-access issues

2 Oct 2009

A fifth of small manufacturers have begun to experience an increase in orders and sales, according to a recent survey by UK lobby group, the Forum of Private Business (FPB).
Confidence Index indicates upturn

1 Oct 2009

The latest Santander Corporate Banking Business Confidence Index shows that manufacturing firms are confident of an upturn in business by the end of 2009.
April 1942. The Lancaster Bomber

October 2009 Online

Last week we accepted the invitation of the Ministry of Aircraft Production to see in production and in the air the latest addition to the Bomber Command aircraft, the Lancaster heavy bomber designed and built by AV Roe and Co Ltd. Recently Mr Winston Chu
December 1942. The Rolls-Royce Merlin engine

October 2009 Online

Last week we accepted the invitation of Rolls-Royce Ltd to inspect an example of the firm’s new ‘Merlin 61’ supercharged aero-engine, which is being fitted by the Royal Air Force to the improved Spitfire now operating with Fighter Command.
December 1967. Concorde

October 2009 Online

Concorde 001 was rolled out on Monday with due pomp and ceremony before ministers of state, representatives of Sud-Aviation and British Aircraft Corporation, and representatives of the airlines who have so far placed orders.
July 1969. Apollo 11

October 2009 Online

Millions of words have been written in the last few days as the world awaits the outcome of the Apollo 11 mission. Not surprisingly, the stage has been dominated by the three astronauts who will land on the moon. We join with all men of goodwill in wishin
October 1945. Whittle’s jet engine

October 2009 Online

The main argument against the gas turbine was that the maximum temperatures permissible with materials available, or likely to be available, was such that the ratio of positive to negative work in the constant pressure cycle could not be great enough to a
October 1957. Sputnik

October 2009 Online

There is no question about it! The Russians have sprung a very exciting surprise on the West. It had long been known that they were preparing to establish at least one earth satellite as part of their contribution to the Geophysical Year: and it had been
NASA funds micro propulsion

30 Sep 2009

Five Boise State University engineering professors have been awarded a NASA grant to develop a micro-propulsion system that could enable satellites to maintain position while in orbit.
Golden Gordon?

30 Sep 2009

Yesterday’s Labour Party conference speech by Gordon Brown contained more than its fair share of policy announcements, including a pledge to spend £1bn on establishing a national investment corporation
GTL kerosene approved for aircraft

29 Sep 2009

Standards development body ASTM International has released a specification that approves the use of Gas-to-Liquids kerosene blends for powering commercial aircraft.
UK technology helps BepiColumbo on its way to Mercury

29 Sep 2009

UK space technology will play a major role in helping to solve the mysteries of our solar system’s innermost planet. Jon Excell reports.
Feeling the heat

28 Sep 2009

A fringe meeting at this year’s Labour Party Conference asks ‘Picking winners: can engineering succeed where finance failed?’ Now there’s a question we’d all like to see answered.
Thales agrees airport surveillance

28 Sep 2009

Thales UK announced that it has signed contracts with Belfast International and Cardiff airports for the supply, installation and maintenance of a surveillance radar system.
UK team unveils innovative 'flying saucer' UAV

28 Sep 2009

A UK engineering team is using the Coanda effect to create a novel UAV. Stuart Nathan reports.
Moon water aids space exploration

25 Sep 2009

The discovery of large quantities of water on the moon will have very significant implications for human space exploration, according to an expert at Kingston University.
Airbus tests frugal fuel cell

25 Sep 2009

Airbus has completed the latest stage in its civil aerospace fuel-cell programme by harnessing the by-products of water and heat for use within existing flight systems.Claus Hoffjan, manager of Fuel Cell Development at Airbus, has been heading the research and development of a system which can generate up to 20KW of electrical power. The system, first flight tested in February 2008 to provide energy for backup hydraulic and electric power systems on an A320, works in a similar ...
Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen?

23 Sep 2009

With the spectre of Copenhagen looming ever closer, more and more engineers will find themselves with a new set of goals to reach for.
GTE profits increase

21 Sep 2009

Gas Turbine Efficiency, a provider of cleantech systems for industrial and aviation turbines, has reported a 25 per cent increase in revenue for the first half of the year.
'Boris island' points to watery future for building

21 Sep 2009

Although ‘Boris Island’, London mayor Boris Johnson’s proposed airport in the Thames Estuary, was scoffed at by critics, it reflects a growing trend of aiming to build on seas and oceans.
AirManager cleans cabin air

21 Sep 2009

The global spread of viruses such as swine flu could be slowed by new air-sanitation technology on aircraft, claimed its UK developers.
Party time

21 Sep 2009

Its conference season: that time of year when politicians swap places with holiday makers and flock to the seaside for a few days of drum banging, flag waving and mutual back-patting.
Decoding insect flight

18 Sep 2009

Researchers are one step closer to creating a micro-aircraft that flies with the manoeuvrability and energy efficiency of an insect after decoding the aerodynamic secrets of insect flight.
Airbus forecasts $3.1tn delivery

18 Sep 2009

Around 25,000 passenger and freighter aircraft worth $3.1tn will be delivered between 2009 and 2028, according to Airbus' Global Market Forecast.
ESA Universe results successful

18 Sep 2009

The European Space Agency has released successful initial results from its mission to study the early Universe.
Water test in space

17 Sep 2009

University of Utah chemists have developed a two-minute water-quality monitoring system that has recently started six months of tests aboard the International Space Station.
Fuel cells for UAVs

17 Sep 2009

Protonex, an AIM-listed provider of fuel-cell systems, has received a $598,813 contract from the US Naval Research Laboratory to develop fuel cells for unmanned air vehicles.
Low-carbon opportunities

17 Sep 2009

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, has launched a programme of events to help manufacturing companies capitalise on opportunities in a low-carbon economy.
FPB reveals bank charge increase

16 Sep 2009

Banks are imposing a range of charges, increasing interest rates and demanding personal guarantees for lending, according to research by the Forum of Private Business.
Cut with care

16 Sep 2009

Now that Gordon Brown has used the word in his speech to the TUC, it’s official – cuts are the new investment.
Solar Impulse aims for 24 hour flight

16 Sep 2009

Following six years of development, the Solar Impulse HB-SIA is said to have the potential to become the first manned solar aircraft to fly continuously through the day and night.
AMRC spreads its wings

14 Sep 2009

Boeing and Sheffield University are negotiating the development of a new aircraft manufacturing research centre in Denmark.The facility would be a branch of Sheffield University's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).The multi-million pound centre, located in South Yorkshire's Advanced Manufacturing Park, was built in collaboration with Boeing and opened in 2004. Since then, AMRC branches have opened in Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and India.AMRC ...
Graduate placement scheme

11 Sep 2009

A scheme aimed at placing more graduates into the low-carbon vehicle and marine energy industries has been launched by the UK government.
The end is nigh

11 Sep 2009

To send the reader home for the weekend infused with the warm glow of righteousness, the gaze of the Futurescope is usually fixed on the wondrous future promised by a bold new area of innovation.
UK must make up for more air travel

9 Sep 2009

Sectors of the UK economy will need to reduce carbon emissions by 90 per cent by 2050 to compensate for increased air travel and technological constraints in the aviation industry.
Turbine chief Alan Epstein

9 Sep 2009

Dr Alan Epstein of Pratt & Whitney says new turbofan technology is well on course to meet future environmental targets.
National Grid fears skills shortage

8 Sep 2009

The negative perception of engineering careers could lead to a shortage of skilled workers capable of developing technology for future energy demands.
Industry set for further decline

8 Sep 2009

UK manufacturing is set to contract further despite manufacturers responding better than in previous recessions, according to a report by the Management Consultancies Association.
Offshore surveillance system

7 Sep 2009

The first helicopter surveillance system for offshore operations has been launched for the North Sea by Oil & Gas UK and NATS Services.
Data shows manufacturing decline

3 Sep 2009

The latest Purchasing Managers Index from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply/Markit suggests that manufacturing has fallen back below the neutral 50 mark.
Qinetiq to supply propulsion system

2 Sep 2009

Qinetiq announced today it will supply a solar-electric propulsion system for the European Space Agency’s BepiColombo spacecraft mission to Mercury.
R&D spend to rise

1 Sep 2009

A survey by intellectual property firm Withers & Rogers suggests that a third of UK businesses are preparing to increase spend on research and development in the year ahead.
Dreamliner to fly by year-end

27 Aug 2009

Boeing has announced that the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner is expected by the end of 2009 and the first delivery is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Manufacturers 'out of business'

27 Aug 2009

Around 2,460 manufacturers will go out of business by the end of the year, with output likely to remain below pre-recession levels, according to a recent Industry Watch report.
Wider application for space systems

26 Aug 2009

Advances in space imaging and sampling technologies could soon improve products used in the defence and healthcare markets, according to Leicestershire-based engineering company Magna Parva.
Technological innovation funding

26 Aug 2009

British businesses are being encouraged to bid for a total of £6m of investment in a drive to boost technological innovation across the UK.
WestJet orders Boeing aircraft

25 Aug 2009

Boeing and Canadian airline WestJet have announced an order for 14 additional Next-Generation 737-700s in a deal estimated to be worth between $819m and $973m at list prices.
Aerospace innovators look to nature for inspiration

24 Aug 2009

The way birds change the shape of their wings during flight is inspiring smaller aircraft that are more agile, efficient and stealthy. Stuart Nathan reports
Manufacturing companies freeze pay

21 Aug 2009

Manufacturing pay settlements have fallen very sharply to a new low according to the latest figures from the EEF.
Machine vision

21 Aug 2009

Summer is usually the slacker part of the year for technology stories; university vacations mean that researchers take breaks, like the rest of us. But we’ve seen some intriguing ideas this week. The Israeli project looking at the structure of teeth to inspire new composites for aerospace composites made our jaws drop. A paper from mathematicians describing how a new cloaking method would shield devices that actively generate electromagnetic fields rather than being composed of 'metamaterials' .
Teeth inspire aerospace design

20 Aug 2009

Engineers in Israel and the US are investigating whether the structure of human teeth could inspire future designs of aircraft and space vehicles.
Hampson predicts revenue increase

19 Aug 2009

Hampson Industries has forecast an increase in tooling revenue during the second half of the year but said that trading conditions were likely to remain difficult.
Carbon boost

18 Aug 2009

Surface Transforms has increased its revenue by 34 per cent to £679,284 following a number of significant contract wins for its carbon fibre reinforced ceramic composite materials.
Machining sale

17 Aug 2009

Hampson, a West Midlands-based aerospace and precision engineering group, has sold its aerospace machining subsidiary to Darwin Private Equity for a cash consideration of £23.7m.
Airborne antics

17 Aug 2009

Forget Usain Bolt. Disregard the European Grand Prix. Don’t even think about the fifth and deciding Ashes Test. This week sees the sporting events of the year, foregrounding ingenuity, flair and athleticism. In Savonlinna, Finland, is the World Mobile Phone Throwing Championships, where contestants can compete in freestyle competitions (judged on style and aesthetics) and a ‘traditional over-the-shoulder throw', where pure distance is all-important.
Airbus not alone

14 Aug 2009

Airbus has received £340m in government loans to help secure future A350 XWB activities in the south-west region.
Bigger picture

14 Aug 2009

One week after the launch of the UK-DMC2 satellite, a high-resolution commercial-grade image has been acquired and processed that clearly shows the states of Texas and Oklahoma in the US.
Boeing settlement

14 Aug 2009

Boeing is to pay the US government $25m to resolve allegations that it performed defective work on the entire KC-10 Extender fleet, according to the US Justice Department.
Clouded visions

14 Aug 2009

Expansion of air travel in the UK will not lead to increased emissions because of new technologies in the aviation industry.
Weathering well

14 Aug 2009

If you are reading this with fingers crossed that you will be able to have that family barbecue this weekend without cooking under an umbrella, the subject of this week’s Friday Futurescope will strike a chord.
Aircraft joint venture

13 Aug 2009

Goodrich Corporation and Xi’an Aircraft International Corporation are to form two joint-venture companies to support landing gear and engine nacelle component manufacturing in the Chinese aerospace market.
Flying colours

11 Aug 2009

Researchers at the US Naval Research Laboratory have completed the successful test flight of a fuel-cell-powered aircraft.
Filter forecast

11 Aug 2009

Engineers at Queen's University Belfast have developed a dual-polarised Frequency Selective Surface filter that could lead to more accurate weather forecasts and a better understanding of climate change.
Business boost

10 Aug 2009

The quarterly Manufacturing Institute survey of business challenges among manufacturers in north west England points toward improved confidence despite ongoing conditions remaining difficult.
Debris camera

10 Aug 2009

Vancouver International Airport has installed Qinetiq's day-and-night camera to its Tarsier foreign object debris radar system to increase efficiency of debris retrieval and reduce runway closures.
Food for thought

10 Aug 2009

On this week’s menu is food, specifically how the UK will feed itself in the light of projected huge increases in global demand and the potential effects of climate change on agriculture.The government launches a consultation on the issue today and if anyone believes this is a matter for farmers with little relevance to engineering and technology, think again. As The Engineer highlighted in its feature Growth ...
Partnership aims for thermoplastic solution

7 Aug 2009

Project aims to develop a type of rapid-forming technology for thermoplastic composite materials used in aerospace and other sectors
This week in 1929

7 Aug 2009

Almost a decade before the Hindenburg disaster put people off taking to the skies in airships, there was a great deal of optimism about their potential for transatlantic travel.
EADS Japan

7 Aug 2009

European aerospace and defence group, EADS, has set up a subsidiary in Japan to strengthen its presence in the country and promote long-term business relationships with its aerospace industry.
GKN cuts

6 Aug 2009

GKN has announced that it will cut a further 1,200 jobs over the next two years, following a loss of £16m for the first half of the year.
Launcher components

5 Aug 2009

Meggitt has secured contracts worth £15m for high-pressure and extreme-temperature components for the main stage Vulcan 2 and upper-stage HM7 engines of the Ariane 5 launcher.
Slowing decline

4 Aug 2009

The CBI’s latest quarterly SME Trends Survey indicates that the rate of decline in orders and output among the UK’s SMEs is slowing.
Promising purchasing

4 Aug 2009

Figures from the CIPS/Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index for manufacturing suggest the sector has entered a period of growth for the first time since March 2008.
Barracuda test

4 Aug 2009

EADS Defence & Security has successfully tested its jet-powered Barracuda Unmanned Aerial Vehicle during a series of flights at Goose Bay air force base, Canada.
Cobham contract

3 Aug 2009

Cobham has been awarded a contract worth £18m by Ascent Flight Training for the first phase of the UK Military Flying Training Service.
Positive results

31 Jul 2009

Rolls-Royce has announced its 2009 half-year results, reporting a £2bn order book increase for the first half of the year.
Merlin contract

30 Jul 2009

Frazer-Nash, the Surrey-headquartered systems and engineering consultancy, has been awarded an extended contract by the UK MoD for work on Merlin military helicopters.
Supply and demand

30 Jul 2009

Umeco has announced that it expects its operating profits to fall by at least £1.7m in the first half of the financial year as a result of lowering demand.
Plane planner

30 Jul 2009

Air passengers could enjoy more timely landings through a new planning system developed by researchers at Strathclyde University.
Space strategy

29 Jul 2009

A 12-week consultation has been launched to assess whether the UK’s civil space strategy would be better co-ordinated by a single agency.
Can we have some more please?

29 Jul 2009

Yesterday’s announcement that the government is to invest £151m in “advanced manufacturing” has been rightly and roundly hailed as a good thing. Banish from your minds for a moment the huge volumes of cash that have been pumped into the banks and it even manages to sound like a lot of money.
Factory investment

28 Jul 2009

Rolls-Royce plans to invest more than £300m in four new factories and two advanced research programmes in the UK, with £45m of support from the government.
Profit drop

28 Jul 2009

EADS has announced a drop in its half-year profits following unfavourable foreign exchange rates and low A380 deliveries; however, it said that its outlook remained positive.
Atomic anniversary

27 Jul 2009

Energy is likely to be high in the headlines this week. It’s half-year results time for many major companies, but BP and Shell’s results are reliable indicators of the health of the petrochemicals sector. Is it bucking the recessionary trend, and will its executives be accused of profiteering? With petrol prices going up again, there is certain to be controversy.
Jet fuel switch

22 Jul 2009

A new report from think-tank Policy Exchange claims that the deployment of sustainable bio-jet fuels would result in emission reductions worth £37.41bn in the UK between 2020 and 2050.
Slow recovery

22 Jul 2009

The contraction in manufacturing output is easing, but a return to growth could still be some way off, according to the latest quarterly CBI Industrial Trends Survey.
Money for materials

20 Jul 2009

The Transport Innovation Network (iNet) is releasing almost a quarter of a million pounds to fund research into new materials for use in the aerospace, marine and automotive industries.
Satellite trials

20 Jul 2009

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is testing two disaster-monitoring satellites at its Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire.
Flypast and present

20 Jul 2009

As well as marking the 40th anniversary of the first moonwalk, this week also marks the centenary of an earlier, but, for its time, no less ambitious aerospace milestone: the first powered flight over the English channel.
Fire away

16 Jul 2009

Meggitt has secured a contract to supply its fire protection system on board Bombardier’s new business aircraft, the Learjet 85.
Space Ltd

15 Jul 2009

In the run-up to the fortieth anniversary of the first lunar landing plenty has been written about mankind’s failure to use the Apollo missions as a springboard for manned space exploration.
Rescue vehicle

14 Jul 2009

AirKnight has announced details of its technical solution for the UK’s Search and Rescue Helicopter (SAR-H) service using Eurocopter’s EC225.
Galactic images

14 Jul 2009

The UK-led SPIRE instrument on board the Herschel Space Observatory has made its first astronomical observations, with spectacular results.
Looking for guidance

14 Jul 2009

As a veteran oilman, Lord Browne knows more than most about national assets and how a combination of political will, private enterprise and engineering know-how can exploit them to their maximum potential.
Nazi stealth-plane recreated

9 Jul 2009

Northrop Grumman engineers have recreated a top-secret German plane that could have affected the course of World War II.
Storm warning for aircraft

8 Jul 2009

Researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research are developing a prototype system to provide aircraft with updates about severe storms and turbulence.
Robo-bats

8 Jul 2009

Researchers at North Carolina State University are developing robotic bats to overcome the limitations of existing micro-aerial vehicles.
Soteria unveils helicopter capabilities

8 Jul 2009

The Soteria Consortium has unveiled further details of its bid to provide a single Search and Rescue Helicopter (SAR-H) capability in the UK.
Turkey flights

7 Jul 2009

Turkish carrier Turk Hava Yollari has awarded Rolls-Royce $470m to supply Trent engines for seven Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft that are currently on order.
On the road and in the sky

6 Jul 2009

For those of us not transfixed by the engineering aspects of the Tour de France or the enticing prospect of the start of the Ashes series, there’s a number of intriguing items on this week’s agenda.
Saft cells ready for launch

2 Jul 2009

The world's first hybrid lithium battery system for launch-flight applications has been developed by Saft as part of a European effort to improve power supply systems in space.In a collaborative project with the Russian Institute of Space Defence Engineering (RISDE) and Synertech, the French manufacturer is developing and testing the battery for a new generation of light-class launch vehicles in Europe.Franck Poirier, business ...
Sikorsky search and rescue

1 Jul 2009

Soteria, the consortium bidding for a UK search and rescue helicopter (SAR-H) contract, has chosen the 166mph Sikorsky S-92 as its preferred mission aircraft.
Hailing the Taxibot

1 Jul 2009

Airbus is testing a robotic tractor that could save the aviation industry billions of pounds a year by removing the need to turn on an aircraft's engines during taxiing.Designed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the 'Taxibot' is an automated tow-bar-less tractor attached to an aircraft's front landing gear for use during aircraft dispatch. Unlike existing systems, Taxibot can be controlled by the aircraft ...
Waste of space

30 Jun 2009

The problem of having to transport vast quantities of water and oxygen into space could be solved by a system that recycles an astronaut’s waste. Jon Excell reports
Satellite link

30 Jun 2009

The European Space Agency (ESA) is to build its third deep space ground station in Malargüe, Argentina, in support of the ESA tracking stations network (ESTRACK).
Moving into space

29 Jun 2009

The UK Department for Business Innovation and Skills has launched a group to address the challenges and opportunities facing the space industry.
Space-planes, trains, and automobiles

29 Jun 2009

Increasingly, industries which barely crossed paths in the past, find themselves sat at the same table discussing the future.
This week in… 1944

26 Jun 2009

This report on the use of gliders in the D-Day landings offers a rare and intriguing reminder of the critical role played by engineers throughout the Second World War.
Cost control

24 Jun 2009

Manufacturing pay settlements have fallen to a historic low, according to the latest figures released by manufacturers' organisation EEF.
Ebrake contract

23 Jun 2009

Meggitt has won its first commercial contract for Ebrake: its advanced electric braking system that was successfully flight tested on a Bombardier demonstrator aircraft last year.
Sneak peek

23 Jun 2009

The Herschel Space Observatory opened its 'eyes' on 14 June and the Photoconductor Array Camera and Spectrometer inside it obtained images of M51, the whirlpool galaxy.
Composite contract

23 Jun 2009

Atkins Nedtech has been awarded a contract by Airbus Germany to design composite components for the inboard flap of the new A350 XWB aircraft.
Take advantage

22 Jun 2009

The Society of British Aerospace Companies is encouraging aerospace and defence companies to take advantage of £100m worth of support that will help them improve their supply chain performance.
Altitude compensation

17 Jun 2009

Plextek has launched a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV engine that it claims weighs around 30 per cent less than existing solutions while providing the same amount of power.Using techniques developed by the high-performance automotive industry, the Cambridge-based team believes that the system will allow UAVs and other aircraft to fly at higher altitudes without compromising performance.The technology works by using a mechanically ...
Experimental vehicle

17 Jun 2009

Thales Alenia Space is to proceed with the development of the IXV (Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle) for the European Space Agency (ESA).
Clean Sky thinking

17 Jun 2009

The ‘Clean Sky’ joint technology initiative by the European Commission and the EU has launched its first call for proposals.
Solid fundamentals

16 Jun 2009

Bombardier has released its annual aircraft market forecasts for the business and commercial aircraft industry, predicting strong long-term growth following a period of market uncertainty.
Cabin maker

16 Jun 2009

The Indian company Tata Group has signed a deal with Sikorsky Aircraft that will see Tata subsidiary Tata Advanced Systems Limited manufacture Sikorsky S-92 helicopter cabins in India.
Powering the Airbus

16 Jun 2009

Qatar Airways and Air China have selected International Aero Engines's V2500 engines to power their new fleet of Airbus A320-family aircraft.
Power moves

15 Jun 2009

Rolls-Royce has won a $1.5bn contract with Gulf Air to supply Trent 700EP engines for 20 Airbus A330s currently on order with the carrier.
Airbus on board

15 Jun 2009

Airbus has announced its membership into the SESAR Joint Undertaking as part of plans to create a European air traffic management system.
Weapon team

15 Jun 2009

Eurocopter has teamed up with French airborne systems integrator ATE to design, develop and manufacture a Stand-Alone Weapon System for use in its light and medium helicopter range.
Fall proof

15 Jun 2009

European ambitions to launch missions to the Moon or Mars could take a step closer thanks to a project that will test lander technology on earth by dropping it from a helicopter.EADS Astrium is working with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) to develop and demonstrate a set of equipment for soft landings on planetary surfaces that could one day be used for supply vehicles delivering to a lunar base.The ...

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