Latest from Bill O'Connor
Aircraft
Korea Aerospace Seeks KF-X Partners
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is courting outside manufacturers to participate in its KF-X stealth fighter program.
Aircraft
Schedule for First A350 Delivery Slips Later into 2013
Airbus’s schedule for the A350 XWB has slipped to later in the second half of 2013, reflecting the company’s recognition that the transition from the desig
Maintenance and Modifications
Mid-Continent STCs Lithium Emergency Power
Mid-Continent Instruments has received an approved model list (AML) supplemental type certificate (STC) from the FAA for its MD835 lithium emergency power
Engines
Turboprop Version of GE38 Turboshaft Due Mid-decade
A new General Electric turboprop engine, derived from the 7,500-shp GE38-1B turboshaft engine, could become available by the middle of the decade.
Aircraft
Korean Air Lines Considering RJ Purchase
Korean Air Lines is considering expanding its service on existing routes to China and Japan with 70- to 120-seat regional jets in two years.
Boeing Focuses on Asia-Pacific Transport Market
Boeing has revised its 10-year forecast for the Asia-Pacific air transport market, and its new figure reflects a 37-percent increase over the previous tota
Aircraft
Mitsubishi Leading toward Start of MRJ Production
Mitsubishi’s Regional Jet is entering the production
Aircraft
Terrafugia Announces Production Plans for Its Roadable LSA
Terrafugia is planning to build its new aircraft/auto hybrid, the Transition, in a new facility in Woburn, Mass.
Boeing's Shanahan To Oversee Struggling 747-8
Boeing vice president Pat Shanahan has assumed oversight of the
Fatal Aires Airline 737 Crash Renews Safety Focus on Latin America
Aviation safety is once again under scrutiny in Latin America after the
Aircraft
New F-35 Fire-Control System Begins Flight Testing on CATBird
Lockheed Martin has begun flight testing a new sensor for the F-35's targeting system, developed by the company's missiles and fire-control division.
China To Study Second Beijing Airport
Chinese authorities plan to begin a feasibility study for a second airport to serve Beijing.
Engines
Honeywell Begins Delivery of Upgraded Engines for UK Chinooks
Honeywell has delivered the first batch of 28 T55-L-714A turboshaft engines and fielding kits to the UK's Ministry of Defence for its
Engines
IAE Establishes Fix for V2500 Turbofan
International Aero Engines (IAE) has identified a problem area with some of its
Electric Aircraft Propulsion Technology Surges Ahead
Major airframers and component suppliers have instituted new research programs and initiatives to develop electric propulsion for light aircraft.
PHI And TAM Partner On Offshore Support Initiative
Petroleum Helicopters is negotiating a joint venture with Brazil’s TAM to support the growing Brazilian offshore market.
Aircraft
Gippsland Set To Enter GA Turboprop Market
Australia’s Gippsland Aeronautics is receiving a $20 million infusion from its new owner, India’s Mahindra Group, to develop a 10-seat variant of its GA8 A
African Aviation Safety Initiative Goals Met Ahead Of Schedule
A program put in place to improve the oversight of aviation safety for African countries has completed many of its work goals one year ahead of target.
Korea Aerospace Industries Considering 90-Seat Turboprop
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) could enter the regional turboprop segment as early as next year, if it proceeds with the launch of a 90-seat aircraft it
Thales Investigates Single-crew Flight Decks
Thales Aerospace is following Embraer’s lead in researching single-crew airliners as part of a program called Cockpit 3.0, which is targeted for the 2030 t
Engines
CF34-10E Flight-test Program Passes 500-hour Milestone on ARJ21
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) said its ARJ21 fligh
Engines
Pratt & Whitney’s F135 Breaks Sound Barrier on F-35B
Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine has achieved a first for the Lockheed Martin F-35 program by accelerating the F-35B STOVL version through the sound barri
USAF Expands Biofuel Engine Certification Program
In the interest of diversifying its fuel supply, the U.S.
Engines
Centurion’s New 2.0s Aviation Diesel Earns EASA Certification
Centurion Aircraft Engines’ Centurion 2.0s is now available in Europe as an upgrade through a supplemental type certificate (STC), which covers installing
Engines
Pratt & Whitney Awarded Cleen Contract by FAA
The FAA has awarded Pratt & Whitney a one-year contract under its Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (Cleen) program to develop eng
