Sustainability & Climate Initiatives News

Leeham News • Bjorn Fehrm

Electric Flight at Paris Air Show: How Airbus E-Fan’s ‘Ugly Duckling’ Sparked Zero-Emission Propulsion Debate

At the Paris Air Show this week, Airbus revisited the roots of its zero-emission propulsion strategy, tracing back to the 2014 Farnborough debut of its E-Fan electric demonstrator. Despite its modest performance and unconventional appearance, the ‘Ugly Duckling’ prototype ignited industry-wide debate on the viability of low-emission flight.

2025-06-25T04:11:01.451545-07:00

Leeham News

CFM, rivals back open-fan ‘Plan A’ with conventional ‘Plan B’ in engine R&D

2025-06-22T22:20:45.555727-07:00

Royal Aeronautical Society

Airbus, Leonardo and De Havilland Seal Paris Show Day 2 Orders as FCAS Rift and Embraer’s EU Push Dominate

2025-06-17T21:19:12.432020-07:00

Royal Aeronautical Society

Airbus Nets $17 Billion in Day-One Paris Air Show Orders as Boeing Steps Back

2025-06-16T21:35:20.873316-07:00

Sustainability & Climate Initiatives News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

First FireSat Satellite Captures Inaugural Thermal Images for Wildfire Monitoring The first FireSat satellite, designed to deliver high-resolution thermal imagery for wildfire detection and monitoring, has successfully transmitted its inaugural images from orbit, showcasing its ability to capture detailed heat signatures and support rapid response efforts in fire-prone regions.

2025-06-26T04:03:06.435150-07:00

First FireSat Satellite Captures Inaugural Thermal Images for Wildfire Monitoring

Bloomberg

Syntilay partners with OrbitsEdge and Copernic Space to design in-orbit shoe using AI and blockchain Footwear startup Syntilay is partnering with space firms OrbitsEdge and Copernic Space to design and prototype a shoe in low Earth orbit. The initiative will use on-orbit AI analysis and blockchain validation to drive down the cost and carbon footprint of advanced materials manufacturing.

2025-06-25T17:57:38.111432-07:00

Syntilay partners with OrbitsEdge and Copernic Space to design in-orbit shoe using AI and blockchain

AirInsight

Africa’s SAF Production Lags as High Costs Hinder Net-Zero Aviation Transition Africa’s green aviation transition is hampered by prohibitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) costs and scant infrastructure. With only five SAF projects and a projected capacity of 0.6 Mt by 2030, the continent remains sidelined as global SAF production accelerates.

2025-06-25T11:23:32.601022-07:00

Africa’s SAF Production Lags as High Costs Hinder Net-Zero Aviation Transition

FlightGlobal

Loss-making CAeS bets on surge of business from modular hydrogen fuel cell propulsion Loss-making Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) remains upbeat despite another loss, projecting “a significant volume of incremental business” from its modular hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system under development. CAeS says the plug-and-play design will accelerate adoption of hydrogen-electric power across regional and specialist aircraft segments.

2025-06-25T04:46:08.114509-07:00

Loss-making CAeS bets on surge of business from modular hydrogen fuel cell propulsion

Leeham News

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Electric Flight at Paris Air Show: How Airbus E-Fan’s ‘Ugly Duckling’ Sparked Zero-Emission Propulsion Debate At the Paris Air Show this week, Airbus revisited the roots of its zero-emission propulsion strategy, tracing back to the 2014 Farnborough debut of its E-Fan electric demonstrator. Despite its modest performance and unconventional appearance, the ‘Ugly Duckling’ prototype ignited industry-wide debate on the viability of low-emission flight.

2025-06-25T04:11:01.451545-07:00

Electric Flight at Paris Air Show: How Airbus E-Fan’s ‘Ugly Duckling’ Sparked Zero-Emission Propulsion Debate

Aviation Business News

Airbus A350F Aims to Set New Standard in Emissions-Conscious Freighter Market In a recent Q&A, Oliver von Tronchin, Airbus’s head of A350 freighter development, detailed how the A350F leverages the A350-1000’s architecture to deliver improved payload-range performance, lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions, positioning Airbus at the forefront of the evolving air cargo sector.

2025-06-23T23:03:51.849754-07:00

Airbus A350F Aims to Set New Standard in Emissions-Conscious Freighter Market

Vertical Mag

Volatus Aerospace Joins J.D. Irving’s Drone-Powered Reforestation in New Brunswick Volatus Aerospace will deploy its heavy-lift remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) to haul seedlings and supplies into remote New Brunswick terrain, supporting J.D. Irving’s drone-powered reforestation initiative. The project leverages BVLOS approvals to accelerate planting efficiency and reduce operational costs.

2025-06-23T07:11:37.520957-07:00

Volatus Aerospace Joins J.D. Irving’s Drone-Powered Reforestation in New Brunswick

Leeham News

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CFM, rivals back open-fan ‘Plan A’ with conventional ‘Plan B’ in engine R&D CFM International is positioning its open-fan RISE demonstrator as the prime solution for next-generation narrowbody propulsion, while GE/Safran and competitors are also advancing conventional low-risk turbofan upgrades and geared-turbofan demonstrators to ensure contingency paths for performance, efficiency and emissions targets if open fan integration hurdles persist.

2025-06-22T22:20:45.555727-07:00

CFM, rivals back open-fan ‘Plan A’ with conventional ‘Plan B’ in engine R&D

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