NewsSAS to take up to 55 more A320neosScandinavian carrier SAS will take 50 more Airbus A320neos plus five options in a commitment split between Airbus and lessors, enabling the airline to transition to a single-type short-haul fleet by 2023. SAS has an existing order for 30 A320neos, of which 17 are already in service. On April 10, SAS announced plans to take a further 35 A320neos plus five options from Airbus, as well as 15 additional aircraft through declarations of intent with lessors.
LinkVirgin Galactic working on cabins and further testingCommercial spaceflight venture Virgin Galactic has been working to design a cabin that works in multiple orientations, although the company is reluctant to put a timeline on its first passenger flight. “We have high expectations—insanely high expectations—from our customers about what the Virgin Space experience will be like,” Virgin Galactic head of design Adam Wells said, speaking at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany April 9.
LinkSTG aims to light up Airbus models STG Aerospace has launched the latest version of its liTeMood retrofittable LED lighting system for installation in the Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft. The cabin lighting specialist is showing the new system in a full-size Airbus cabin mock-up at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany. The first two customers will be Lithuanian leisure carrier Small Planet Airlines and XL Airways France, which will upgrade their A320/321 and A330 fleets respectively with the new system later in April.
LinkHi Fly takes A330-900 from Air Lease Corp.Portuguese wet lease specialist Hi Fly signed up with Air Lease Corp. (ALC) for a medium-term lease of one Airbus A330-900, kickstarting the carrier’s fleet modernization. The aircraft will be delivered to Hi Fly in June 2019, ALC said in an April 9 statement. The lessor did not specify for how many years the aircraft is leased. Hi Fly at present has a fleet of 15 A330s and A340s that it seeks to replace in the coming years. The carrier plans to take ten A330-900s as part of the transition. The model is still undergoing flight tests and is to enter scheduled service with TAP Portugal later this year.
LinkCourt decision could spur US maintenance manual figA US court ruling has determined FAA is not obligated to force an aerospace manufacturer to supply maintenance instructions to a repair station, potentially kicking off a new round of debates between manufacturers and repair stations over so-called instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA). The issue pits Piedmont Propulsion Systems against UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS). North Carolina-based Piedmont repairs Hamilton Sundstrand 568F propellers found on several regional aircraft models. Piedmont has long sought ICA, or maintenance manuals, for a specific 568F procedure, court filings show. In 2014, after "several years" of trying, Piedmont went to FAA.
LinkLATAM works to avert LAN Express cabin crew strikeSantiago-based LATAM Airlines Group management has reportedly offered a last-minute concession to the cabin crew union of its subsidiary LAN Express, in an effort to stave off a strike action called by the union for Tuesday April 10. The Santiago Times said April 9 that LATAM issued a statement saying the airline group “has relaxed its proposal before the negotiating table, accessing the main requirement of the union, which is the work shift system. Although the law in Chile allows for a shift of 10 days worked by four days of rest, the company agreed to offer a shift of seven days of work for four days of rest.”
LinkAmerican Airlines to equip A321s for ADS-B In capabilityAmerican Airlines plans to equip 320 Airbus A321s to display nearby air traffic on the flight deck via automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast In (ADS-B In), spearheading the industry’s next step after the 2020 mandate to equip for ADS-B Out position reporting.
LinkBrussels Airlines to upgrade cabins on A330 fleetBrussels Airlines has engaged London-based JPA Design to create a new cabin interior for its Airbus A330 fleet. The upgrade will cover the entire cabin – featuring business, premium economy, and economy classes – and lavatories.
LinkAirbus to design lower-deck passenger facilities with Zodiac Airbus has recruited Zodiac Aerospace to jointly develop passenger facilities for the cargo decks of A330s and A350s. Under an agreement signed at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg today, the partners will from 2020 offer potential customers a range of different modules – with the same dimensions as regular cargo containers – as "certified solutions", Airbus says.
LinkBoeing's 100th P-8 Poseidon enters final assemblyThe 100th Boeing P-8A Poseidon entered final assembly in Renton, Washington in March. The maritime patrol aircraft is destined for the US Navy in fall 2018 and is part of a string of backorders that Boeing said will keep its P-8 production line running until 2022. The aerospace manufacturer said it has delivered 82 aircraft since the launch of the programme in 2011, and in total has 127 aircraft contracted to the US Navy, Australia, United Kingdom and India.
LinkAAS-equipped P-8A could replace E-8C The US Navy's P-8A Poseidon could pick up a new mission if the US Air Force is allowed to follow through on plans to cancel a replacement for the Northrop Grumman E-8C JSTARS. The navy is buying 117 P-8As to perform anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol missions, but a subset of the fleet is being equipped with Raytheon's Advanced Airborne Sensor (AAS) radar.
LinkRAAF takes its first F-35As with block 3F softwareThe Royal Australian Air Force has taken delivery of three Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters at Luke AFB in Arizona. The three aircraft are equipped with the type’s block 3F software, a more capable version than the 3I software installed in its first two examples, says Australia's defence minister Marise Payne.
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