CommercialBoeing To Build 777X Wings In EverettBoeing said it would locate a new factory to build the wings for its forthcoming 777X in Everett, Washington, where it builds the current 777. The decision, though widely expected, confirms Boeing's plan to build the carbon-composite wing close to where the full jet will be assembled. It marks a departure from the large-scale outsourcing to overseas suppliers that caused significant delays on the Boeing 787.
LinkArmed Guards Force Six-Hour Airport ClosureSecurity guards forced Benghazi airport in eastern Libya to close for six hours on Tuesday to demand back wages as well as an investigation into the crash of a helicopter which took off from the airport last week, officials said. Members of the armed unit in charge of protecting Benina airport blocked the runway and prevented staff from entering the passenger terminals, according to an airport official who said he was in contact with the group.
LinkPratt, CFM Battle Over Jet Engine OrdersAs the next generation of narrow-body aircraft takes to the skies later this year, makers of the new fuel-efficient engines that power them are battling for market share. Orders worth USD$20 billion are up for grabs in the competition between Pratt & Whitney and CFM International. Pratt also stands to gain market prominence as it makes what some experts describe as an industry comeback. Pratt, a unit of United Technologies and a major military contractor, has had a smaller commercial engine market presence in recent years.
LinkNo rush on A380 re-engine: AirbusAirbus says a re-engining of its A380 superjumbo is something it plans to look at in the longer term, but its main priority is to ensure that the development schedules of the A350 and A320neo remain on-track. Its more immediate focus for the four-engined aircraft, however, is to improve its productivity through the use of higher-density seating configurations, says executive vice-president of programmes Tom Williams in an interview with journalists in Busan. "A lot of airlines' layouts (on the A380) are probably quite generous and now probably they're thinking about how they can make more productive use of the real estate," he says.
LinkAirbus to make A330neo decision this year Airbus says it will clarify its position on the A330 sometime this year, even as it works towards entry into service of its A350 and final assembly of its A320neo in the same period. Speaking to Flightglobal in Busan on the sidelines of the delivery of its 1000th sharklet from Korean Air's aerospace division, Tom Williams, Airbus' executive vice president of programs, says evaluations are ongoing and a decision has not been made on whether it will chase performance tweaks or re-engine the A330. "To put new engines on the wings, it's a big job. It's not a decision you're going to make quickly or easily. It's a significant engineering task," he says. Williams explains that fitting new engines would likely require the wing to be reinforced, design a new nacelle and pylon, and integration with the landing gear, resulting in another set of flight tests.
LinkPratt plans performance upgrade for A320neo enginePratt & Whitney is developing an upgrade for the PW1100G geared turbofan that should reduce fuel consumption by 3% after 2019. The manufacturer and its partners want to raise the aerodynamic efficiency of the Airbus A320neo engine through improved blade profiles and component contours, said MTU chief operating officer Rainer Martens at the German engine specialist’s annual results presentation in Munich on 18 February. The component upgrade is currently under development and should be included in ground tests in 2016. Two years later, the engine manufacturer plans to begin flight tests, with entry into service due to follow “from 2019 onward”, says Martens.
LinkEgyptian Militants Warn Tourists To Leave Or Face AttacksA militant Islamist group has warned tourists to leave Egypt and threatened to attack any who remain after February 20, raising the prospect of a new front in a fast-growing insurgency in the biggest Arab nation. The Sinai-based Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis group, which claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed two South Korean tourists and an Egyptian on Sunday, made the statement on an affiliated Twitter account. "We recommend tourists to get out safely before the expiry of the deadline," read the tweet, written in English, which Egypt's prime minister said on Tuesday aimed to undermine the political process begun after an army takeover in July.
LinkSeveral Injured As United Flight Hits TurbulenceThree cabin crew and a number of passengers were injured after a United Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence as it approached Billings airport, Montana, according to an airline spokesman. One passenger, Bill Dahlin, told Billings television station KTVQ there was a lot of screaming when the plane dropped sharply during its descent and a woman struck her head on the ceiling so hard a panel cracked.
LinkSouthwest CEO: AirTran brand will fly into sunset by end of yearGary Kelly, the CEO of Southwest Airlines, said the carrier plans to retire the AirTran Airways brand by the end of 2014. Southwest merged with AirTran, which has a hub in Atlanta, in 2010.
LinkAmerican partners with universities for pilot trainingAmerican Airlines has entered into partnerships with 20 universities for pilot training, including the University of Oklahoma. "I've always known I wanted to fly all my life," said Scott Shankland Jr., 18. "With the pipeline program, if it was offered at another university and OU didn't offer it, I probably wouldn't have gone." American plans to hire 1,500 pilots over the next five years.
LinkUnited Express E175 flights debut at Chicago O'HareOn May 17, the first United Airlines flights on Embraer E175 jets will take flight under its regional United Express brand between Chicago O'Hare and Washington Reagan National. The 76-seat jet will travel between O'Hare and Boston Logan beginning May 19.
LinkJetBlue to use larger aircraft on service to Ga. airportJetBlue Airways service to Boston and New York has proved popular at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Savannah, Ga. "We started out assigning an Embraer E190, which is a 100-seat aircraft, to Savannah,” said JetBlue CFO Mark Powers. "But because of Savannah and Hilton Head's hard work, the response has been even stronger than we anticipated." JetBlue plans to deploy a 150-seat aircraft by the end of the month.
LinkAirbus researches trends among Asian passengersAirbus surveyed 8,000 Asian consumers for its "The future of comfort 2014: Asia" report. Airbus found the top trends among Asian passengers included wearable technology such as smart wristwatches, and a demand for in-flight connectivity. By 2020, three out of five of the world's largest economies will be located in Asia.
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