Engineering news
Airbus alerts suppliers to single-aisle ramp up
The Engineer
Airbus has told suppliers to prepare for a ramp up in production as the commercial aircraft market recovers to pre-COVID levels between 2023 and 2025.
Autonomous shuttles hit the road alongside Cambridge traffic
Professional Engineering
‘First and last mile’ transport company Aurrigo claimed a UK milestone on 27 May as its Auto-Shuttles officially began trials in the university city. The firm is the first in the country to test a custom-made autonomous vehicle on main roads, surrounded by other traffic.
Zero Gravity Fridge for astronauts shows promise in microgravity
New Atlas
Refrigeration in space is a complex engineering challenge but one that would change the game for those living in low-gravity environments. Scientists have just taken a significant step towards this future with the successful demonstration of a zero-gravity fridge in microgravity experiments here on Earth.
Rockets could launch from UK next year as government provides regulatory ‘launchpad’
Professional Engineering
The major milestone for the country’s space industry could be enabled by new regulations tabled in parliament on May 24. Spaceports are planned in Cornwall, Wales and Scotland. Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands, will host the UK’s first vertical take-off port.
Next US Air Force head wants at least 145 B-21 stealth bombers
Aero Mag
The US Air Force wants to acquire at least 145 B-21 Raiders from Northrop Grumman, estimated to cost in excess of $90 billion. President Joe Biden’s nominee to be the next secretary of the air force, Frank Kendall, says that “is a reasonable number, at this point.”
Big Oil net-zero commitments have ‘significant shortcomings’
E&T
Climate and finance think-tank Carbon Tracker has found that the world’s biggest oil companies are trailing behind where they need to be on their decarbonisation commitments, with many being unhelpfully selective in how they define ‘net zero’.
Peter Flinn is appointed 136th President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
IMechE
Peter has been actively involved with the Institution for over 30 years, serving as Trustee and also as Chair of the Manufacturing Industries Division.
Transpennine Route Upgrade, Oxford remodelling and station funding announced
Rail Business UK
A total of £401m in funding for the next stage of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, remodelling at Oxford and three new stations was confirmed by the government on May 26.
‘A pivotal development’: new exhaust system could clear major hurdle for fusion energy
Professional Engineering
A ‘world-first’ concept developed by scientists at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) could clear one of the major hurdles in developing commercial fusion energy. Initial results from UKAEA’s Mast Upgrade experiment in Culham, near Oxford, demonstrated the effectiveness of an innovative exhaust system that could keep fusion power plants operating for much longer.
Winds of change fast approaching for UK’s oil and gas workforce, report claims
Professional Engineering
The majority of the UK’s offshore workforce will be delivering low carbon energy by 2030, a new report has forecast. Roles in decarbonised energy will increase from 20% to 65% of all jobs in the offshore energy sector, according to the UK Offshore Energy Workforce Transferability Review by Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen.
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.