The Boeing 747-8 Freighter took to the air for its first flight today from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., at 12:39 p.m. PST, marking the start of a flight-test program scheduled to last until near the end of this year. The first of three 747-8 prototypes built for the program took off some two and a half hours later than originally planned due to a low...
moreAirAsia pilot cadets are to train under a new multi-crew pilot license (MPL) program to be run by Canadian company CAE. The 56-week program will start in March and should lead to the award of Transport Canada MPL licenses to the cadets. They will also gain authorization from the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia before entering AirAsia’s initial...
moreIn an deal valued at $500 million, Turkish Airlines has ordered V2500 SelectOne turbofans to power its A320-family aircraft for which is has placed 20 firm orders and taken options on 10 more. Engine maker International Aero Engines (IAE) is to make deliveries in the 2011-2013 time frame. The firm order covers powerplants for a mix of six A319s and 14...
moreGaruda Indonesia Airlines is in Singapore with one of its new Boeing 737-800s to promote plans to expand its capacity threefold by 2014. Dubbed Quantum Leap, the five-year plan begins in earnest this year, as Garuda takes delivery of 23 new B737-800s and a single A330-200.
“We’re planning to add 10 domestic routes this year, increase frequencies on...
moreAirbus hopes to reach a decision on an engine replacement option for the A320 family in time for this summer’s Farnborough airshow, according to company COO for customers John Leahy. Planning to offer a new engine from either International Aero Engines, which would adapt a version of the Geared Turbofan developed by Pratt & Whitney, or CFM International,...
moreSingapore Airlines (SIA) returned to profitability in the third quarter of the current financial year–hopefully turning its back on two straight quarters of losses. The flagcarrier’s operating profit of the quarter ending on Dec. 31, 2009, was S$323 million, marking a major turnaround after the S$159 million loss suffered in the second quarter. Group...
moreLufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) yesterday signed an agreement with low-cost long-haul carrier Air Asia X for maintenance, repair and overhaul services (MRO) at its Manila facilities. Beginning in March the Malaysia-based operator’s fleet of eight Airbus A330s and A340s will be supported under the three-year contract.According to the agreement, during...
moreCFM International has said its new CFM56-7BE turbofan, which will have a 2-percent fuel-burn improvement over current production engines, is “progressing on schedule” and will start a 150-hour certification block-test to “triple redline conditions” within “the next few weeks.” This will lead to a 50-hour flight test program on General Electric’s flying test...
moreRuag Aerospace Services (Stand K95) is here promoting the Do 228 NG, an upgraded version of the Dornier 228 twin turboprop. “Asia–especially the southeast and Far East–is the most important region for us,” sales director Thomas Imke told AIN. The company sees a lot of local operators using small, remote airfields. “Our aircraft is certified for gravel,”...
moreGeneral Electric has started wind-tunnel testing of multiple one-fifth-scale configurations for its open-rotor engine to identify the optimum blade design. Minimal noise output and minimal specific fuel consumption are primary benefits derived from the two counter-rotating stages of blades.
Ongoing acoustic testing has involved more complex blade...
moreThe Boeing 787-3 program appears all but dead after Boeing vice president of marketing Randy Tinseth yesterday expressed grave doubts about the market viability of the short-range version of the present 787-8. “This is an airplane that is designed for the Japanese market. We have no Japanese customers. We have no customers for it at all,” said Tinseth. “I...
moreSweden’s Nova Airlines has ordered zonal drying systems from humidity control specialist CTT System for installation on three Airbus A321s. The contract calls for CTT to install the systems in the aircraft in April and May of this year.
Eliminating condensation lowers aircraft weight and therefore fuel burn, improves reliability due to the need for less...
moreMiddle East Airlines (MEA) has placed a contract for International Aero Engines to support the V2500 engines that power its Airbus A320 fleet. The long-term deal covers turbofans on six aircraft covered by firm orders and three more that the Beirut-based carrier has optioned. The operator took delivery of the first of these V2500...
moreCFM International continues to work “on a daily basis” with Boeing and Airbus on new engine applications for the 737 and A320 families, according to Eric Bachelet, president and CEO of the General Electric-Snecma joint venture. Offering its new Leap-X series as the basis for any contribution it would make to either of the airframer’s re-engining efforts,...
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