Advances in aircraft technology have traditionally followed advances in propulsion technology; and because propulsion technology itself is the primary enabler, a look at where it is heading also gives us insight into where the aircraft market is heading. Numerous evolutionary and revolutionary changes in power plant technology are driving this change.

“What we have here is a classic example of the new economy mixing with the old. If the sector takes off the way it is expected to, it will prove something more profound, that the software way of doing things with unrealistic hopes, deadlines and expectations, can be duplicated elsewhere, even in as stodgy a field as general aviation,” observes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Sivam Sabesan.

Technologically, most of the advances in aerospace propulsion are quite viable with some players in the commercial market. But market adoption factors will determine whether the airlines and the general aviation sectors would prefer to play it safe with established technology.

The general aviation market is a relatively small sector but it does show enormous variety. New technology here would be of significant interest to consumers who previously had access only to the 1960s technology.

“This century brings about changes that will make past progress appear primitive in retrospect. The million-dollar question is how fast the development cycle can be compressed by application of technology and sufficient funding,” explains Sabesan.

While air travel itself has grown over the years, the convenience initially associated with traveling by airplanes has drastically dropped. The same wars that increase the development of aircraft now threaten the health of the industry as security precautions and costly fuel have started to cut into the incentives. While these arguments do not hold for transatlantic travel, they become increasingly significant for shorter distances.