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Executive Summary  CCA is accelerating. USAF is preparing Increment II “concept-refinement” awards in early FY-26 after soliciting >20 vendors, while Increment I flight milestones approach in October.   Goal is to select a small number to be put on contracts. Where does CCA stand now? Propulsion deep dive: who’s doing what  GE Aerospace + Kratos: […]

The real battle is durability, availability, industrialization and lifecycle control By O’Day Aviation Consulting Aircraft orders traditionally dominate the headlines coming out of the Farnborough International Airshow. But one of the most consequential stories from Farnborough 2026 was happening deeper in the aircraft value chain. Propulsion is becoming a competition not simply over who can

By O’Day Aviation Consulting For years, the Rolls-Royce commercial aerospace story was complicated.  The company had world-class propulsion technology and a strong widebody franchise, but durability challenges—particularly on the Trent 1000—created significant costs and impact for both Rolls-Royce and its airline customers. In 2026, that story looks increasingly different.  Rolls-Royce is combining new engine orders,

The aerospace industry is experiencing significant transformations driven by technological  progress. So, what are the trends to keep an eye on as we progress through 2025? Key trends shaping the aerospace sector in 2025 include: 1. US Government & Global Political Environment The evolving geopolitical landscape will have a profound impact on the aerospace and

We often hear comments in the aviation industry seeking to compare developing a new commercial aircraft with what SpaceX has achieved…. “we’re doing it the way SpaceX did” or “Elon did it, right”?  It indeed sounds enticing as a marketing talking point and when presenting to potential investors. What SpaceX has already accomplished is unprecedented

Aircraft engine maintenance is critical to ensuring operational safety, reliability, and efficiency for airlines and operators around the world. Traditionally, aircraft engine maintenance has followed a schedule of regular inspections and repairs based on the number of flight hours or cycles. However, the landscape of engine maintenance has evolved rapidly, driven by advancements in technology,

Overall Pressure Ratio (OPR) is a fundamental factor in understanding a jet engine’s efficiency, power output, and overall performance. Overall pressure ratio (OPR) represents the ratio of the total pressure at the exit of the compressor stage to the total pressure at the inlet, indicating the level of compression the air undergoes as it passes

There is a shift underway in the the commercial aircraft market, however, it is one that has been trending for some time. Over the past 40 years, narrowbody aircraft deliveries have grown 2.6X versus  widebody unit delivery growth of 2.0X. The compounded result is that while between 30 and 40 years ago NB deliveries were

I often use this analogy when speaking with clients as we’re evaluating new markets. If  you think about it, every photo like this from the Gold Rush days has one thing in  common… picks, shovels and tools. Someone was consistently getting rich and it wasn’t  always the miners… a few did though, of course, and

Developing, evaluating or selecting an aircraft propulsion system involves a wide range of engineering and design considerations. A propulsion system’s target market and applications are defined by the systems energy output – typically, thrust or horsepower – and by how it generates propulsive force – all-electric, hybrid, piston or jet engine. Designing an aircraft’s propulsion