Aerospace Industry Trends for US Companies in the EU

The aerospace industry is continuously developing new technologies and moving forward at a high pace. While digitization, automation, and improved maintenance have been the main drivers in the last few years, trends and innovations keep reshaping the industry. The need for fuel efficiency as well as developments in digitization and new materials, result in increasingly advanced methods and processes.

The aerospace industry's complexity can be challenging, but it also has a lot of potential. Find out about the latest aerospace industry trends and why these could be beneficial for mid-sized companies.

Key Aviation Industry Trends & Developments

The constantly evolving aerospace industry aims to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability. As innovations shape the future of the aerospace industry, whether the global trade, travel, or scientific research, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends to remain competitive in the market.

Digitization

As communication between aircraft and data handling are key areas of development within the aerospace industry, the innovation of software systems is heavily on the rise as a trend. Therefore, digitization plays a significant role in the industry's development. It not only ensures a faster design-to-delivery process but also allows companies in the aerospace industry to stay agile and up-to-date. 

The use of augmented virtual reality and big data enable the aviation industry to manage demand and implement predictive maintenance. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of machine learning offer new insights into materials by analyzing patterns and relations in the data. It can handle problems of high complexity within a fraction of the time a human would need to process information.

In conclusion, improved communication between all stakeholders, optimized engineering processes, as well as data-intensive solutions helps to avoid bottlenecks and increase efficiency, making processes quicker and less expensive.

Innovative materials

In the new age of the Internet of Things (IoT), there is a growing demand for innovative materials in the aerospace industry. The trend is to make them lightweight, strong, and agile. Enhancing chemical solutions for bonding and protection of composite structures as well as 3D printing, are part of this process.

One material that shows the potential to contribute to material innovation is micro fibrillated cellulose (MFC), for example. Studies show that the strength can be tripled when incorporating MFC into polylactic acid (PLA) while staying lightweight. Additionally, it allows the incorporation of sensors into composites and the creation of smart objects, which is integral for the future of IoT.

Electrification and urban air mobility

When it comes to fuel and emissions, there is a high need for efficiency with the ambition to decarbonize the entire aviation industry. Airbus developed concepts for zero-emission aircraft relying on hydrogen as a primary power source. The use of electricity not only reduces the aircraft's carbon footprint but also removes the weight and complexity of traditional hydraulic systems.

Taking developments in this area even further, autonomous flight technologies are a growing aerospace industry trend. The so-called urban air mobility includes air taxis, air metros, and drones that could be used as means of delivery and emergency services.

Aerospace Industry Future Outlook

Aerospace companies look for niche suppliers to keep up with the continuous developments in the aerospace industry and expand their supply chain, presenting a great opportunity for small to medium-sized manufacturers.

Seize this opportunity by staying up to date with trends and taking advantage of all the aerospace industry has to offer. EuroDev can give you the support needed to expand your business to Europe.

Explore the opportunities in the European aerospace industry with our Sales Outsourcing services.