NewsCommercial
Boeing insists on ‘level playing field’ with Airbus in Iran developments
Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg has said making sure Airbus and Boeing are held to the same requirements or given the same opportunities in any Iranian aircraft sales will be the top priority now that President Donald Trump is withdrawing from the Iranian nuclear deal.
Link
Aircraft manufacturers expect to lose Iran orders
Airbus expects to be bound by the Trump administration’s new prohibitions against selling US aircraft and parts to Iran even if Europe maintains a more business-friendly approach to the Persian Gulf nation, a top executive said.
Link
Boeing’s April orders led by American’s 47 787s, Utair’s 30 MAXs
Boeing’s April orderbook was dominated by American Airlines’ April 6 order for 47 787s, which helped to lift the US manufacturer’s gross commercial aircraft order total for the year to 321, nearly double the total for Airbus.
Link
EU Commission approves Rockwell Collins sale to UTC after divestitures
The European Commission has cleared the way for United Technologies Corp. (UTC) to buy Rockwell Collins, assuming the divestiture of businesses in actuators, pilot controls, ice protection and oxygen systems.
Link
Drone ID in airspace a key concern, US lawmakers told
US lawmakers, grappling with the rapid proliferation of drones and how to safely integrate them into the commercial airspace, sought expert insight at a Senate hearing May 8.
Link
Airbus’ April orders rebound with first A319neo orders in a year
Airbus doubled its year-to-date commercial aircraft orderbook in April, firming new orders for 68 aircraft from three airlines—Bhutan’s Druk Air, US ultra-LCC Allegiant Air and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)—and two undisclosed customers, valued at approximately $7.3 billion at list prices.
Link
Saab begins building structures plant for Gripen in Brazil
A Saab aerostructures plant now under construction in Brazil to support Gripen fighter production also will expand the capacity of Saab’s global supply chain, the Swedish manufacturer says on 9 May.
Link
Uber reveals new concept and partners for air taxi network
Uber further outlined its vision for a network of air taxis at its second annual Elevate conference in Los Angeles on 8 May, including the unveiling of several new eVTOL aircraft concepts as well as partnerships with NASA and the US Army Research Lab.
Link
EASA certifies new Pitch seat to 16g standard
Europe's safety authority has certified to the 16g standard a new slimline seat design developed by UK manufacturer Pitch Aircraft Seating.
Link
MHI's aviation unit swings to loss with higher MRJ costs
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ (MHI) aircraft, defense and space unit swung to an operating loss of Y15.1 billion ($138 million) in its 2017 financial year, attributed largely to the increase in research and development costs for its in-development MRJ regional jet.
Link
Airline Routes
Link
Aircraft Briefs
LinkAirlines
Emirates Airline doubles profit in 2017-18
Emirates Airline has posted 124% profit growth for its most recent financial year, delivering a AED2.8 billion ($762 million) profit despite “strong competitive pressure across all markets” and higher fuel prices.
Link
Iceland’s WOW Air poised to announce flights to India
Icelandic LCC WOW Air appears to be on the verge of announcing flights to India, firming up plans for a strategic shift toward Asia, as reported by ATW in April.
Link
China Express 1Q net profit up 6.3% growth of business scope, demand
Chongqing-based China Express Airlines reported a 2018 first-quarter net profit of CNY82.3 million ($13 million), up 6.3% compared to net income of CNY77.4 million in the year-ago quarter.
Link
SAS appoints director to oversee growth
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has named hospitality industry executive Thomas Engelhart as head of its growth initiative.
Link
BA seeks go-ahead to wet-lease Qatar A330s amid Trent 1000 issues
British Airways has applied for regulatory approval to wet-lease three Airbus A330s from Qatar Airways in order to overcome schedule disruption caused by Boeing 787 engine maintenance.
Link
Emirates full-year profit rebounds despite continuing pressures
Emirates Group has turned in a full-year profit of Dhs4.1 billion ($1.1 billion), including a profit of Dhs2.8 billion for the Emiratesairline division.
Link
WestJet warns of financially-difficult second quarter
Threat of a pilot strike and higher-than-anticipated transformation costs will push up WestJet's unit costs and pull down unit revenues in the coming quarters.
LinkAirports
India to build second airport in Pune
The Indian government has given clearance for the construction of a new international airport in Pune.
LinkMilitary
First F-16 to receive life extension modifications rolls out of shop
An Air Force Thunderbird jet was the first Lockheed Martin F-16 to have a service life extension – modifications that will add more than 4,000 flight hours to the aircraft’s lifetime.
Link
Indonesia presses pause on K-FX involvment
Jakarta wants to review its involvement in the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) K-FX fighter programme.
Link
Lockheed resumes F-35 deliveries from Lot 10
Lockheed Martin re-affirmed its delivery target for F-35 fighters in 2018 despite a nearly two-month hiatus caused by a contractual dispute.
Link
Aviation Quote
...the United States was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them. This country was conquered by those who moved forward, and so will space.
- John F. Kennedy, 1962
Daily Video
Editor's Choice
Trivia
General Trivia
1. True or false ? During World War 2, a Douglas DC-4 was stripped of its four engines and converted into a cargo-carrying glider?
2. What is it about the Tupolev Tu-4 Bull, a Soviet bomber , that the Americans in particular found so interesting?
3. The eight throttle knobs used by the pilot of the Hughes H-4 Hercules are logically labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Why are the first seven knobs also labeled E, H, E, H, H, H, and E?
4. A non-cantilevered wing has at least one primary strut to provide support. Small or auxiliary struts are often used in conjunction with and to support the main wing struts. What are these called?
5. At 9,927 feet MSL, Leadville, Colorado is the most highly elevated airport in the Untied States. What is the temperature at Leadville when the density altitude there is the same as its elevation (assuming no humidity and an altimeter setting of 29.92 inches Hg?
