ON THE BOEING FRONT

                                            Boeing 737 MAX 10 Makes Maiden Flight

Under clear skies, Boeing’s Max 10 took off at 10:07 a.m. on June 18 from Renton Municipal airport and landed at 12:38 p.m. at Boeing Field in Seattle.

“The airplane performed beautifully,” said 737 Chief Pilot Capt.  Jennifer Henderson.  ”The profile we flew allowed us to test the airplane’s systems, flight controls and handling qualities, all of which checked out exactly as we expected”.

The largest and last of four Max variants to extend the Max 9’s length by 66 inches.  Other changes include minor wing changes to accommodate the airplane’s levered 777-style main landing gear and a four-inch wider mid-exit door to allow the extra 12 passengers, bringing maximum capacity to 230.

When Boeing officially launched the 737 Max 10 during the first day of the Paris Air show, its direct competitor, the Airbus A321neo, had just a month earlier entered service with its first operator following a period of considerable sales momentum.  At the time, Boeing billed the Max 10 as a lighter, more fuel-efficient answer to the Airbus product, whose larger engines produced 25 percent more thrust than its U.S. rival’s offering; while allowing eventual variants namely the A321LR and A321XLR to provide Atlantic range.  However, Boeing said its prospective airline customers preferred the lighter, shorter-range Max type for 361 examples from 16 customers during the show.

On June 29, 2021, United Airlines announced the carrier will expand its 737 order book by purchasing additional 200 Max jets, including 150 for for the largest member of the family, the 737 Max 10, and 50 for the airplane that serves the heart of the single-aisle market, the 737 MAX 8.

Boeing expects to deliver the first Max 10 in 2023, some three years later than originally anticipated.

Sources: Boeing,United Airlines,Picture Boeing

                      

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                                  Airbus Starts Receiving A321XLR Forward Fuselage Sections

Airbus has received the first A321XLR fuselage sections to be manufactured by aerostructures supplier Stelia Aerospace.  Stelia is responsible for the design and production of all forward fuselage sections of the long-range aircraft, including the cockpit, nose-gear bay, forward passenger exit section, and passenger cabin barrels.

Three of the six sections have been handed over by Stelia following manufacture at the company’s French facilities in Meaulte and Rochefort. Airbus is intending the A321XLR which will have a range of 4,700nm (8,700km) to enter service in 2023.

“The A321XLR requires modifications on all the sections, of the front fuselage, with reference to the previous versions, regarding the structure and equipment support,” adds the firm.

Several Stelia divisions and plants have contributed to the sections, including operations in Tunisia and Morocco, which have provided parts and sub-assemblies.

Source: Stelia Aerospace, FlightGlobal, Picture Stelia Aerospace           

        

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                             RoyalJet adds Privately owned BBJ to its Fleet

RoyalJet, the Abu Dhabi owned and operated private aviation company, has added a privately owned Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) to its growing fleet of managed aircraft.  The aircraft has now been released back into service by Jet Aviation Basel after completion of extensive upgrades and maintenance.  The aircraft will continue to be based in both Europe and/or United Arab Emirates, where it will be operated for the owner and offered for charter to select customers.

The aircraft now has the longest flight range in its category on the market and is able to fly for up to 12 hours or 5000 nautical miles.  This is thanks to its configuration, increased fuel capacity, better wing configuration and reduced weight.

In addition to installing these new systems, Jet Aviation has upgraded the soundproofing to reduce in-flight noise levels, implemented a low cabin altitude modification and added humidifiers to reduce passenger fatigue on long flights, and upgraded various other interior elements.

This is the first BBJ, and possibly the first private aircraft globally to offer such high levels of on board air quality achieved by the new Needle Point BI-Polar ionization system provided by Aviation Clean Air.

Source: Arabian Aerospace, Picture RoyalJet

                                         Dassault Flies Third Falcon 6X

Dassault Aviation now has three Falcon 6x prototypes flying, with  latest example on June 24 having performed its maiden sortie from the airframes’s Merignac site near Bordeaux.

Fitted with a complete interior, MSN003(F-WAVE) made a 2 hour hop from Merignac to Dassault’s Istres flight-test center near Marseille, in the process climbing to 40,000 ft and traveling at Mach 0.85.

Certification for the ultra-widebody business jet is scheduled for 2022.So far, the program has accumulated 130 flight hours with two prototypes at a rate of two to three sorties each week since Falcon 6X’s maiden sortie on March 10.

“This latest flight is yet another sign of smooth progress we have been making with the 6X test program,” says Eric Trappier, Dassault chief executive.

A fourth aircraft will also be equipped with full cabin interior, currently being installed in Merignac.  It will conduct a two-month-long flight campaign to ensure maturity at service entry.

Source: Dassault Aviation,Picture Dassault Aviation                                                                     

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

      Air Arabia to Launch Armenian Budget Carrier with Investment Fund support

Middle Eastern budget carrier Air Arabia is to participate in launching a new low-cost carrier in Armenia, which will be based at the capital Yerevan.  Air Arabia has reached an agreement to form a joint venture company with the Armenian National Interests Fund.

It will use the low-cost business model on which Sharjah-based Air Arabia was built.  The carrier says it will shortly begin work to obtain an air operator’s certificate.

Air Arabia uses a fleet of Airbus A320-family jets.  But no details have been disclosed on the fleet, network or the timeline for initial flights for the Armenian operator.

Its name, however, will be chosen by Armenian citizens who are being invited to submit suggestions from which the successful candidate will be selected.

Armenian National Interests Fund is a state-owned organization which acts as a co-investor with industrial partners on large economy and infrastructure projects within the country.

“Over the course of the past decade, Armenia has recorded some impressive gains as its tourism industry begins to recognize its full potential,” says the fund.  It states that travel and tourism, in 2019, accounted for close to 12% of the pre-pandemic Armenian GDP.

Air Arabia group chief executive Adel Ali says there is “tremendous potential” with the Armenian air transport sector.

“This is an investment program of strategic importance and creates great opportunities for the development of aviation in Armenia”, said Tigran Avinyan Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia.

Source: Armenpress , Picture Armenpress

              Delta to Acquire 29 Used 737s and Seven Used A350s

Delta Air Lines will add 29 used Boeing 737-900ERs and seven used Airbus A350-900s to its fleet as passenger demand returns following the more than year long global health pandemic.

The Atlanta-based airline said on July 13th, that the aircraft will support its sustainability goals and fleet renewal strategy, and provide a better customer experience.  The aircraft are expected to be delivered by the first quarter of 2022.

“These aircraft are an investment in Delta’s future,” says the airline’s chief executive Ed Bastian.   ”As we look past the pandemic, Delta’s disciplined, innovative approach to fleet renewal positions us for growth as travel demand returns, while enhancing the customer experience and supporting sustainability commitments.”

Delta will lease the seven Airbus wide bodies from AerCap.  The lessor says the aircraft will be delivered in the third and fourth quarters of 2021.  All are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines.

The Majority of the 737-900ERs will be purchased outright from funds managed by aircraft financier Castlelake, while two 737-900ERs will also be financed through Castlelake, Delta says.  Those aircraft will be delivered by the first quarter of 2022.  The incoming 737s will bring Delta’s fleet to 159 aircraft.

Source: Delta Air Lines

                     Porter Airlines Acquiring Up to 80 Embraer E195-E2s

Porter Airlines is extending its service to destinations throughout North America with the introduction of up to 80 fuel-efficient Embraer E195-E2 aircraft to its fleet.  The planes have transcontinental range and will enter into service with Porter starting in the second half of 2022.

Porter is Embraer’s North American launch customer for the E2.  The total aircraft order is valued at up to $5.82 billion USD at current list prices, with 30 firm commitments and 50 purchase right options. The aircraft are being acquired by Porter Aircraft Leasing Corporations, sister company of Porter Airlines.

The ability to convert purchase rights to smaller E190-E2s is included in the agreement.  Porter intends to operate the E2s to popular destinations from Ottawa,Montreal,Halifax and Toronto Pearson International Airport and adding service to new North American cities.

Source: Porter Airlines,Picture Embraer

          

      

LATEST NEWS

• Air France-KLM  has launched a tender to renew the medium-haul fleets of Dutch unit KLM and French and Dutch arms of low-cost subsidiary Transavia for about 160 jets.

• Bombardier is rolling out a Certified Preowned aircraft program that will offer customers “meticulously selected, inspected, and updated” Learjet, Challenger and Global jets, the Montreal-based manufacturer announced on July 8.

• WestJet plans to launch a dedicated cargo service and expand its fleet of Boeing 737-800 freighters, the first is expected to be in service by the second quarter of 2022.

• FlyDubai has cut to 172 the number of Boeing 737 Max aircraft it has on order; after cancelling 65 of its firm commitments to the type following a review of its post-pandemic fleet plans.

• Norway’s first P-8A Poseidon rolled out of the paint shop in Renton, in Royal Norwegian Air Force Livery.

• Ravn Alaska regional airline is considering a major expansion using Boeing 757s to launch flights from its home state to Asia and the Contiguous USA.

• India Navy takes delivery of its 10th P-8I maritime patrol aircraft on July 14th.

• Flyadeal has received the first of 30 Airbus A320neos it is taking via an order placed by parent Saudia in 2019.

Sources: Boeing, FlyDubai, WestJet, Bombardier, Air France-KLM

AIR CARGO

                              BBAM Orders Another 12 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters

US aircraft lessor BBAM Limited Partnership has ordered another 12 737-800 converted freighters, throwing further momentum behind the conversion program at a time of heighten air cargo demand.

Including orders and commitments, BBAM now holds agreements to acquire 31 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCFs), pushing Boeing’s total backlog of the type( including orders and commitments ) to more than 200, Boeing says on July 14.

IATA reported in in early July another strong month for  the air cargo segment, with airlines globally carrying 9.4% more cargo volume in May than the same month of pre-pandemic 2019.

BBAM’s order builds on a deal disclosed in January. That agreement included orders by BBAM for six 737-800BCFs, and six options.

Boeing launched the 737-800BCF program in 2016 and delivered the first aircraft in 2018.  The jet has 2,025 nm (3750km) range, 20,600kg (45,400lb) of maximum payload and capacity to carry 12 cargo containers, according to Boeing.

Source: Boeing,Picture Boeing

                         EVA Air to Take Delivery of Three New 777-200LRFs Within the Year

During a shareholders’ meeting on July 16, Eva Air Chairman Steve Lin said the company expects to receive three Boeing 777 freighters in the fourth quarter.

Although passenger volume has dropped significantly since the pandemic broke out last year, EVA Air has been able to shift its focus to the cargo market at a time when international air cargo demand has grown due to the tight capacity of container ships, Lin said.

On the cargo market, Lin expects demand to rise in the fourth quarter because major countries started increasing their economic activities. In addition, the fourth quarter has traditionally been a peak season for the cargo sector and many consumer electronic products, such as smartphones, are usually launched during this time, he added.

Cargo fares will remain favorable as demand for cargo space from Asia to Europe remains high,Lin Said.

Source : EVA Air, Picture EVA Air

OTHER NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Ryanair CEO Calls Boeing 737 Max8-20 Performance ‘Fantastic’

Ryanair Group CEO has described the initial performance of the 737 Max 8-200 as fantastic and said that the aircraft has met with glowing reviews from the airline’s crew and passengers.  The low-cost carrier took delivery of its first two 737 Max jets in June and the pair operated some 20 passenger flights from the group’s bases in London Stansted, Dublin, and Milan Gergamo.  Load factor averaged about 75 percent and not one passenger requested to change flights owing to lack of confidence in the safety of the type, O’Leary said.

“We think they deliver what Boeing promised—4 percent more seats compared with its 189-seat 737-800s but probably a 16 to 17 percent lower fuel consumption per seat and 40 percent less CO2 emissions,” he told AIN.

Ten more of the Max 8 subvariant will join the group’s fleet in July, O’Leary said, acknowledging that the plan marks an exception on its standard practice of not adding new aircraft during the peak summer season.  ”Because of the several delays we wanted to have 12 aircraft in the system before starting the pace of eight deliveries per month from September,” said O’Lear.  ”Between September and April 2022, we are taking delivery of 54 Max Gamechanger aircraft.  We bought three simulators and we trained all our pilots and cabin crew in the use of the new aircraft.  We want to start working them.”

Ryanair has 210 Max 8-200s on firm order.  Deliveries will run over the next four years and take the group’s fleet to around 600 aircraft by 2026 financial year.  The Max jets will fly for three of the four Ryanair subsidiaries namely Ryanair, Malta Air, and Poland based Buzz and feature their respective brands.

Source: Air International News/Ryanair

                         

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

Dassault Flies Third Falcon 6X