David J. Spanovich

United States

Contributor at Aviation Week

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Articles

Premium Economy Seats Proliferate As Premium Perks

3 weeks ago | aviationweek.com | Paul Seidenman |David J. Spanovich

Features associated with business class are making their way into premium economy seats, such as more sophisticated recline mechanisms. More airlines are offering premium economy seats as an affordable upgrade from those in the typical economy cabin. About 50 airlines are offering a true premium economy service, “something more than just extra legroom or a blocked middle seat,” says Adam Guthorn, managing director of the Alton...
Tips For Better Pre-Buy Aircraft Inspections

1 month ago | aviationweek.com | Paul Seidenman |David J. Spanovich

When considering a preowned business aircraft, the wise purchaser usually opts for a pre-buy inspection (PBI) to gain information about the aircraft’s condition. Also termed a pre-purchase evaluation (PPE) by some MROs, it presents an information resource for negotiating the aircraft’s final purchase price. Though nearly all buyers of preowned aircraft opt for a pre-buy, securing a slot at an MRO could be a challenge, given the number of aircraft changing hands today. Jetnet data from Jan.
Improved Aviation Coatings Promise Greater Protection, Sustainability

2 months ago | aviationweek.com | Paul Seidenman |David J. Spanovich

Airbus is replacing hexavalent chromate compounds, which help inhibit erosion in surface treatments. Coatings and surface treatments are integral to the functionality, reliability and longevity of airframe components. Recent advances in coatings technology are providing greater protection and sustainability alike. Dominic Shore, a specialist in surface technology at Airbus, explains that reducing...
Fuel Tank Design Must Be Recast for Liquid Hydrogen

Jan 23, 2025 | aviationweek.com | Paul Seidenman |David J. Spanovich

Liquid hydrogen could become the fuel for some future aircraft, such as the concept pictured. For liquid hydrogen, the tanks would be fuselage-installed and designed to maintain a cryogenic environment. The EnableH2 project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. With ongoing research into liquid hydrogen as a sustainable aviation fuel for a zero-emission future, fuel tank design would have to undergo considerable changes.
Aircraft Fuel Tank Designers Eye Safety And Sustainability Improvements

Jan 23, 2025 | aviationweek.com | Paul Seidenman |David J. Spanovich

Aloft AeroArchitects fuel tanks are made with high-temperature, adhesive-bonded aluminum honeycomb panels to eliminate the need for a tank bladder. Aircraft fuel tank component system vendors are designing a new generation of equipment in which weight savings, fewer parts, simpler design and less intensive maintenance appear to be the coming trends. Honeywell Aerospace Technologies offers a new onboard inert gas generation system (Obiggs) as an...
Aircraft Paint Companies Tackle Environmental, Composite Challenges

Dec 5, 2024 | aviationweek.com | Paul Seidenman |David J. Spanovich

In the multicolor world of aircraft painting, airlines and independent shops are seeking better performance and optimization, especially with the increasing use of composites and other new materials for airframe applications. For aerospace paint companies, there has been no ebb in pushing the state...
Galley OEMs Improve Retrofit Options And Maintainability

Nov 11, 2024 | aviationweek.com | Paul Seidenman |David J. Spanovich

Galley OEMs are offering a veritable buffet of customized and off-the-shelf designs as changes evolve in onboard service and cabin configurations. From a design and engineering view, consultants, designers and galley OEMs note different trends. “I think the major trend in galleys is toward smaller...
Spruce It Up: Updating Bizav Interiors Without A Full Makeover

Oct 1, 2024 | aviationweek.com | Paul Seidenman |David J. Spanovich

On the left, a Cessna CitationJet interior, showing obvious wear, prior to a partial cabin refurbishment. On the right, the same CitationJet following the refurbishment. Partial upgrades can enhance interior aesthetic appeal and functionality. As business aircraft age, cabin upgrades often come into focus. But for many operators, the spruce-up option makes more sense than a total makeover.
Thrust Reversers Go More Electric, Lighter Weight

Jul 10, 2024 | aviationweek.com | Paul Seidenman |David J. Spanovich

As sustainability goals push more systems toward electromechanical actuation solutions, weight savings and maintenance-efficient designs, thrust reversers are unsurprisingly trending in the same direction. “We expect aircraft entering service during the next cycle to be more electric, with the potential elimination of all hydraulic and pneumatic systems eventually,” says Satish Narayanan, vice president of engineering and technology for advanced structures at Collins Aerospace.
What's Driving Cockpit Upgrades

May 3, 2024 | aviationweek.com | Paul Seidenman |David J. Spanovich

As business aircraft change hands, or owners opt for keeping their aircraft in service longer, the odds are pretty good that an order will be placed for a new avionics package. The business jet cockpit avionics upgrade market is being driven by a combination of factors. One is the constant evolution of technology.