NewsBoeing Tops Quiet Farnborough AirshowThe world's dominant aircraft makers, Airbus and Boeing, left a rain-swept Farnborough Airshow without the order deluge some had predicted, but each claiming victories as they prepare to focus on delivering a huge jet backlog from a dwindling order boom.
LinkAirbus Wins USD$16.9 Bln Of CommitmentsAirbus has won commitments to buy planes worth USD$16.9 billion at the Farnborough Airshow and remains on track with its A350 and A380 models, the European plane maker said on Thursday.
LinkUTair orders 20 A321s Russia's UTair has placed a firm order for 20 Airbus A321 aircraft at the Farnborough air show today. The aircraft will have a single-class configuration with 220 seats and support the growth of the airline's charter network to leisure destinations.
LinkCanada’s Jazz orders six Q400sHalifax-based Jazz Aviation has placed six firm Bombardier Q400 NextGen orders valued at $189 million at list prices. The transaction involves the conversion of six options, announced in April 2010. Jazz will operate the aircraft under the Air Canada Express banner.
LinkTony Fernandes considers CSeries, plus 50-100 additional Airbus aircraftAirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said he is in talks with Bombardier regarding the potential purchase of CSeries aircraft. “We are talking to Bombardier on some things, but we’re pretty much Airbus oriented,” he told reporters at the Farnborough Airshow Thursday, noting that the carrier’s fleet may see additional Airbus aircraft as well. “We are in the final negotiations of taking more aircraft from Airbus,” he said, “between 50 and another 100.” The carrier has also reached an agreement with Airbus for the advancement of aircraft deliveries, increasing the flow to about 20 a year.
LinkSnecma prepares dual fan factories for Leap engines By 2019, Snecma will be producing one CFM Leap engine composite fan blade every 30 minutes, or 32,000 per year, from two identical manufacturing centres of excellence, one in the US and one in France, say company officials. Preparations for the production crush are in full swing, accentuated by the end of June design freeze of the Leap-1A and Leap-1C engines for the Airbus A320neo and Comac C919, respectively. Design freeze for the Leap-1B for the Boeing 737max will occur next year. Snecma is responsible for the fan and low-pressure sections of CFM engines while joint venture partner GE builds the high pressure, or core, sections.
LinkViking evaluates market for DHC-5 Buffalo relaunch "We launched a market study last month to gauge customer demand, determine the potential size of this market globally and to fully assess the feasibility of relaunching this legacy product," says Rob Mauracher vice president of Viking, which owns the Buffalo's type certificate. "We know there is demand from both commercial operators and governments worldwide as we have already received a couple of letters of intent."
LinkST Aerospace expands AirAsia contract to cover all 175 A320sST Aerospace (ST) has won a 10-year component repair management contract with AirAsia (AK) valued at S$102 million ($80 million) to cover 75 Airbus A320s under a maintenance by the hour (MBH) program. ST already supports 100 of AK’s 175 A320s with component repair MBH.
LinkPiaggio to develop maritime patrol Avanti Abu Dhabi Autonomous System Investments (ADASI), a subsidiary of Tawazun, has signed a deal with Piaggio Aero for the development of a new special missions surveillance aircraft, the Piaggio Aero MPA multirole patrol aircraft. The comprehensive contract covers the complete development of the MPA aircraft, including the roll-out of two prototypes with first flight scheduled for 2014. Piaggio is part-owned by Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth investment company, Mubadala.
LinkSaab to open Gripen fighter pilot school in South Africa Current and future pilots of the Saab Gripen fighter will be able to cut their teeth at a new training centre in South Africa from late next year, following Saab's (chalet C33-35) confirmation of funding for the initiative. To be established at the South African air force's Overberg air base, the Gripen Fighter Weapon School will run one two-month course per year in advanced fighter skills. It will initially be open to experienced pilots from the host nation, plus Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Thailand, but any additional Gripen customers will be welcome later.
LinkUnited Airlines announces order for 150 Boeing 737sUnited Airlines has announced its order of 150 Boeing 737s. The order comprises 100 737 MAX 9 aircraft and 50 Boeing 737s. The 737 MAX 9s will be delivered starting in 2018. The value of the order at list prices is $14 billion, although airlines typically receive discounts for large orders
LinkUS Airways CEO and president discuss ancillary servicesUS Airways CEO Doug Parker and President Scott Kirby recently talked about the emergence of ancillary services for amenities such as checked and carry-on baggage. "Airlines are experimenting with what consumers want," Kirby said. He also said US Airways would continue to test different fee structures to find the best system for consumers and the airline. When asked about some families being charged to sit together, Kirby responded, "If there's seats to be paid for, of course families can buy those seats and sit together if they choose. If families don't ... we try to seat them together. We continue to work with some of the groups that are interested in this issue."
LinkBoeing forecasts demand for 460,000 new pilots in 20 yearsBoeing predicts demand for 460,000 new commercial airline pilots over the next two decades in its 2012 Pilot & Technician Outlook. "In many regions of the world, our customers are facing challenges in recruiting personnel due to pilot and technician shortages," said Sherry Carbary, vice president of Boeing Flight Services.
LinkBoeing plans to phase out current generation of 737 by 2019Boeing plans to transition production lines from its current 737 to its updated 737 MAX by 2019, the aircraft manufacturer said this week at the Farnborough International Airshow. Starting in 2017, Boeing will initiate a production slowdown to phase out the 737. Bev Wyse, Boeing 737 program vice president and general manager, said the company would "respond to market requirements" for the pace of the production slowdown.
LinkDreamliner delivery stream is expected to open this monthPat Shanahan, senior vice president of Airplane Programs for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, reports that delivery of the seventh Dreamliner 787 will begin later this month. Delivery has so far been delayed by a backlog of 787s needing reworking, but Shanahan says the company expects this backlog to dissipate and nearly disappear by next year. A cleared backlog may also open up capacity for the production of the new, anticipated 777X.
Link3 U.S. airlines will suspend N.Y.-to-Rome service in winterThree U.S. airlines will service from New York to Rome during the winter. American Airlines, US Airways and United Airlines won't offer nonstop service to the Eternal City during the winter; the flights will resume in the spring. Delta Air Lines will continue to operate flights from New York to Rome through a code-share agreement with Alitalia.
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