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Boeing pledges $100 million to 737 Max victims' families
Boeing has pledged $100 million to impacted families and communities who lost loved ones in the two deadly Boeing 737 Max crashes.
The aerospace giant says the funds will provide living and education expenses for affected families, as well as community programmes and economic development in impacted communities.
Link
Garmin G5000 approved for Citation Excel and XLS
Garmin has secured US certification for the G5000 upgrade on the Cessna Citation XLS and Excel business jets, and installation is now under way on the initial batch of superlight twins; European approval should be received within six months.
The modernisation programme was launched in October 2016, in partnership with Cessna's parent company, Textron Aviation.
Link
PICTURE: MA700 forward fuselage completed
AVIC has completed its first MA700 forward fuselage, as it makes progress in assembling the first static test aircraft.
The Chinese airframer says the assembly for the aircraft designated 10001 was manufactured by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation, which is part of AVIC.
Link
PICTURE: Boeing taps 777-200 as flying testbed
Boeing will use a 777-200 to test new technologies under its ecoDemonstrator flying testbed programme.
Technologies the programme will address this year are the improved sharing of digital information between the aircraft and the ground, an advanced electronic flight bag, improved cabin management systems, and cameras that give passengers a better view outside.
LinkAirlines
Toto Holding confirms interest in Alitalia as new deadline approaches
Italian infrastructure group Toto Holding has emerged as the latest possible member of the consortium that will relaunch bankrupt airline Alitalia. Italy has been trying to map out a strategy for the future of the Italian flag carrier, which filed for bankruptcy in May 2017, after falling victim to aggressive competition from LCCs and high-speed trains, but the process has been fraught with complications and delays.
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Royal Jordanian expands codeshare with Turkish, Qatar Airways
Oneworld member Royal Jordanian (RJ) has expanded two codeshare agreements with Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways.
Under the new agreement, RJ add its code on Turkish domestic flights from Istanbul to Dalaman, Gaziantep and Izmir. During peak season, RJ place its designator code on direct Turkish services from Amman to Dalaman and Antalya.
Link
Korean Air to launch new China, Philippines services
Seeing demand from the growing Chinese market, Korean Air has announced that it will launch Incheon-Nanjing, Hangzhou and Zhangjiajie in the remaining months of 2019.
The South Korea flag carrier said it has been granted traffic rights to these routes following successful Korea-China aviation talks in March.
Link
Indonesia’s Citilink mulls A330neo flights to Frankfurt, Jeddah
Garuda Indonesia low-cost subsidiary Citilink is considering long-haul flights to Frankfurt and Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah, after receiving new Airbus A330neos toward the last quarter of 2019.
The announcement also means the LCC will enter the competitive Southeast Asian low-cost, long-haul segment—joining AirAsia X, Philippine LCC Cebu Pacific and Singapore LCC Scoot.
Link
Spain’s Volotea invests $17 million to stabilize operations
Spanish LCC Volotea made a €15 million ($17 million) investment ahead of this year’s summer season to implement measures that include coordinating flight operations with standby aircraft, adding more crews and improving passenger service.
Volotea specializes in point-to-point routes between more than 80 small- to mid-sized cities that are typically too thin to attract major LCCs.
Link
PICTURES: Air Madagascar uses Hi Fly A380 to cover A340 flights
Air Madagascar chartered Hi Fly's Airbus A380 on 30 June and 1 July to cover for unexpected maintenance of its A340s.
The African carrier says it chartered the widebody "in exceptional circumstances" to connect Antananarivo's Ivato International airport with Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Link
PICTURE: BA A350-1000 performs first flight
British Airways' first Airbus A350-1000, one of 18 on order, has conducted its maiden flight from Toulouse.
The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered twinjet, MSN326, lifted off on 2 July at about 12:20.
It operated to altitudes of up to 41,000ft during the sortie, which lasted around 6h.
LinkAirports
Vienna airport trials panel structure to reduce wake vortices
Austrian air navigation service provider Austro Control and German aerospace research centre DLR are testing at Vienna airport specially erected panels near a runway threshold as part of an effort to reduce aircraft wake vortices and shorten separation between arriving flights.
The structure consists of a series of roughly parallel panels – approximately 9m (30ft) long and 4.5m tall – which have been installed in the approach area of runway 16, close to the instrument landing system's localiser antenna.
Link
LJLA awarded the UK’s only 5-star airport rating for flight punctuality
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) beats all other UK airports with the only 5-star on-time performance and punctuality in the UK.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) has been awarded the UK’s only 5-star airport rating by air travel intelligence company, OAG, for flight punctuality.
LinkMilitary
Boeing to produce or remanufacture up to 600 AH-64E Apaches
The US Army plans to grant Boeing a multiyear contract for the production or remanufacture of up to 600 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
The potential contract’s value was undisclosed, though it would consist of a five-year multiyear contract or one-year contract with options from FY2022 to FY2026, according to a US Army notice online.
Link
Serbia outlines Orao modernisation programme
Serbia's defence ministry has detailed a major upgrade programme being performed on its Soko J-22 Orao combat aircraft and NJ-22 trainers, which will significantly enhance the type's operational capabilities.
Speaking at the Partner 2019 exhibition in Belgrade in late June, Nenad Miloradovic, the defence ministry's assistant for defence technologies, confirmed that the modernisation activity – unofficially dubbed Orao 2.0 – will be conducted in two phases.
Link
NATO AWACS base to trial digital tower technology
NATO's main operating base for its Boeing E-3A airborne warning and control system (AWACS) fleet is to trial the use of digital tower air traffic control technology next year, with equipment supplied by Swedish venture Saab Digital Air Traffic Solutions.
Describing the contract as the first of its kind for employment at a military facility, the provider says: "NATO air base Geilenkirchen will use the digital tower for live operations during the refurbishment of the current control tower."
Link
Boeing, Airbus in MoU for future RAAF P-8A sustainment
Boeing Defence Australia and Airbus Australia Pacific have agreed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) related to future sustainment of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF's) Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft fleet.
The pair already deliver an interim sustainment support contract (ISSC), covering the fleet's service entry. The new agreement is aimed at securing a through-life support contract for the type.
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Aviation Quote
Insisting on perfect safety is for people who don't have the balls to live in the real world.
- Mary Shafer, NASA Ames Dryden. Complete text of the newsgroup posting with context.
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