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The article informs that Europe is getting serious about aeronautics-related research and development spending in a bid to close the gap with its global economic rivals. The latest move is an aggressive R&D proposal put forward by the European Commission (EC). The new EC plan, unveiled on April 7, proposes to double European Union spending on R&D to 67.8 billion euros, with aerospace slated to be a major recipient. As part of the proposal, Brussels, Belgium, would implement institutional changes to foster expanded research activity among its members, which on aggregate spend less than 2% of their gross domestic product on future technologies, against 2.6% in the U.S. and 3.1% in Japan.

The article provides information on the launching of the European research program worth 300 million euros, which aims to speed up the development of an all-electric airliner during the Systems for Green Operations Integrated Technology Demonstration (SGO-ITD) meeting. According to the article, the move is due in part to the European Commission's Clean Sky program that intends to reduce the fuel bills and environmental footprints.

Differentiates the aircraft development in Europe and the U.S. Aerodynamics of a monoplane; Placement of aircraft engine; Construction materials of aircraft.

The article reports on the funding complications faced by the European version of the American Global Positioning System (GPS) network, called the Galileo satellite navigation network. The European Commission tried to solicit funding from several aerospace firms with promises of large profits from receiver licenses. After the proposal was rejected, the European Union decided to pay for the project in order to create independence from foreign systems.

The article discusses the development of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) aircraft communication technology and time-based flight profiles by aerospace industries in Europe. Four-dimensional (4D) trajectories, trajectory-based operations (TBO), and air traffic control systems are discussed. The Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) research program is discussed, which will develop ATM modernization until 2020. A test flight of the system in February 2012 is described.

The article compares the U.S. and European aerospace and defense (A&D) industries. While U.S. A&D industries outperform European contractors, European firms spend more of their revenue on research and development. Steve Grundman, an executive at the firm Charles River Associates, says that this focus on research may help these contractors perform well in the future.

The author comments on the collaboration between eight premiere aerospace companies, the European Union and the European Space Agency in the Galileo satellite navigation system. Nothing is being done by the companies and the purposes are not common. The Galileo acquisition started with the funding of four development spacecraft that would produce a Europe alternative to the U.S. Global Positioning System. But negotiations between the consortiums have snagged on business issues.

Europe's homeland defense initiative, tentatively scheduled to take effect next year, could provide a welcome boost to aerospace/defense research and development funding, which has been getting mixed signals of late from some European capitals. The initiative, still in the definition stage, would enhance the efficiency of domestic security actions by combining border patrol, airport surveillance, electronic security, antiterrorism and related activities under a single budget line, as has been done in the U.S. The European Commission (EC) earlier this month created an ad hoc committee made up of representatives from industry, government and academia to review Europe's homeland security needs and come up with a list of priority research tasks needed to underpin it. EC Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin said new and sophisticated security threats are creating the need for better structured research that can draw on the civil sector as well as traditional security sources.

Presents developments in the efforts by the European Space Agency to develop a new generation of ion propulsion technology for space vehicles as of March 2006. Features of the experimental engine called Dual-Stage 4-Grid ion thruster; Comparison between the experimental engine and traditional space vehicle engines; Issues that must be solved before the new engine can fly reliably such as its development into a flight engineering model.

Discusses the possible threat brought by the arguments of the U.S. and Europe in the establishment of a transatlantic defense market, the continuing development of collaborative programs in the aerospace engineering. Names of the collaborative programs; Lists of the differences between the U.S. and Europe; Actions taken by the European Union (EU) organizations to develop an EU defense capability to back up the common foreign and security policy.

Discusses the civil aerospace market in Europe. Status of combat aircraft design in Great Britain; Update on the aerospace policies of France; Percentage contribution of Germany in funding for aerospace programs.

The article reports on the abundant supply of 7,000-series scrap as of August 2011, caused by a busy aerospace sector in North America and Europe. The high supply drastically widened price spreads on some grades, like high zinc aluminum turnings. It notes that secondary aluminum alloy makers in the U.S. have long been consumers of aerospace-grade scrap because they can use between 1- and 3-percent zinc to make the industry's most consumed alloy, A380.1.

The article focuses on the growth of aerospace sector in Europe and this industry is fastest growing sector in Europe and recession-resistant, according to Paul Lowrie, sales director for aerospace in Europe. Article also informs about the functional areas of Exova, a global testing group with lab focused on aerospace, in Bridgewater and Somerset in England and states that major revenue of the company is coming from aerospace.

The article focuses on the Airbus Military A400M from French company Ratier-Figeac. It mentions that the aircraft features giant counter-rotating propellers and a powerful turbo propeller engine. It states that the company is gearing up for a major production of A400M to complete the total of 174 orders from the export customer Malaysia and various countries in Europe. According to general manager Michel Ferey, the manufacture is proceeding without difficulties.

The article reports on the decision of the Space Council to adopt a Resolution that highlights the significant advances in the two initial priorities and flagship space programs of the European Space Policy. It states that the council identified the need to create a plan that provides for sustainable operational funding for Kopernikus. In addition, the resolution addresses the need to strengthen the existing mechanisms for coordinating European expertise and investment in space and to set up mechanisms to improve synergies between civil and defense space programs.

The article focuses on the move of U.S. and European aerospace companies in outsourcing its sophisticated engineering tasks to India. The author mentioned that the Indian firms are increasingly being used for a wide range of non-recurring research and development activities. In addition, defense companies offer a complete outsourcing service, from detailed research through to full concept and prototype manufacture.

The article reports on the planned delivery of Columbus, a European laboratory, to the International Space Station (ISS). At the ceremony held in Bremen, Germany,Chancellor Angela Merkel had emphasized the international cooperation aspects of Columbus and the ISS as an example of world with no boundaries. It also marked the final integration of the laboratory before it was shipped to Cape Canaveral in Florida. It will be flown through a space shuttle to the ISS in 2007.

Reports on the adoption by European ministers on June 6, 2005 of a directive that recognizes all professional qualifications in aerospace engineering. Objective of the directive; Categories into which qualifications are split.

Reports on an appeal being made by the European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI) as of July 19, 2005 that the European Commission open up the protected status of some aerospace jobs in southern European countries. Date when the directive on recognition of professional qualifications was adopted by European ministers; Countries that stipulate membership of national professional engineering bodies to hold key posts; Comment from FEANI secretary general Philippe Wauters about the problem of discipline matching.

Reports on the impact of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on Europe's aerospace industry. Share of exports in turnover; Increase in operating profits; Cost of security in air travel.