ON THE BOEING FRONT

                           2021 Marks the 25-Year Anniversary of Boeing Business Jets

The company established the first BBJ concept in 1996.  The program targeted a rich market of ultra-wealthy customers who wanted bigger, more comfortable business jets.

Boeing has a long history of manufacturing aircraft for commercial and private use but eventually combined the two products into an official line of business jets.

The first Boeing Business Jets concepts were imagined in 1996 by Phil Condit, president of Boeing, and Jack Welch, chairman & CEO of General Electric as a joint venture project.  Their first proposal was based on the Next-Generation 737-700 jet.

The plane could fly over 7,000 miles nonstop, connecting cities like New York to Tokyo and London to Johannesburg & offered ample cabin space.

The Program officially was launched in July 2, 1996, and the first BBJ, a 737-700 aircraft, was rolled out of the production line in Renton on July 26,1998.  The plane took its first flight on September 4th, 1998, captained by Mike Hewett and Mike Carriker and certified by the FAA and EASA on October 30th, 1998.

The First two BBJ737s were delivered the week on Nov. 23, 1998, with one going to General Electric and the other going to an undisclosed customer.  The best selling jets, based on the 737, were offered in the following three variants:

BBJ1 based on the 737-700

BBJ2 based on the 737-800

BBJ3 based on the 737-900ER

In 2014, Boeing launched the Boeing MAX business jet family, which offered lower cabin altitude, advanced-fuel saving systems and enhanced passenger comfort.

The three variants offered were as follows:

BBJ MAX 7 based on the 737 MAX 7

BBJ MAX 8 based on the 737 MAX 8

BBJ MAX 9 based on the 737 MAX 9

Since the launch the BBJ1, Boeing has added many aircraft types to the BBJ line like the 787, 777 and the 747-8.

Source: Boeing,Picture Boeing

                                     More Boeing 737 Max Slowly Returning to Service

Ethiopian Airlines intends to resume operations with Boeing 737 Max 8 jets next month.  The Addis Ababa-based carrier said on December 27th that it is in the “final stage” of returning the type to service, with first flight expected on February 1st.

Cirium fleets data shows Ethiopian has four 737 Max 8 jets in storage, with 25 on order.

Indonesia has lifted the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max, becoming the latest Major Asia-Pacific jurisdiction to clear the type for return to service.

In a December 27th letter to Garuda, Indonesia and Lion Airlines, director general of civil aviation Novie Riyanto said the grounding was lifted, pending modifications to flight controls and indication/recording systems.

“DGCA Indonesia’s decision is an important milestone toward safely returning the 737 Max to service in Indonesia,” says Boeing.  “Boeing continues to work with regulators and customers to return the airplane to service worldwide”.

Sources: Ethiopian, Boeing,FlightGlobal

                      

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

         Airbus Completes Formation of French Aerostructures Business

Airbus has formed a new French aerostructures business called Airbus Atlantic, a part of the airframer’s previously disclosed plan to reorganize its structures-manufacturing operations.

Established on January 1, 2022, Airbus Atlantic encompasses global operations of Airbus subsidiary Stelia Aerospace and Airbus-managed French aerostructures operations in Nantes and Montoir-de Bretagne, which is near Saint-Nazaire, the European airframer said on January 3rd.

Airbus, in April of last year, disclosed its intention to consolidate its aerostructures operations into two companies – one in France and one in Germany.  Airbus Atlantic is the new French operation.

Airbus Atlantic will be an essential element in the group’s value chain and will play a key role with regard to the aero structure supply chain.

Airbus has said the new German entity will combine its operations in Stade and Hamburg with Airbus-subsidiary Premium Aerotec’s operations Nordenham, Bremen and Augsburg.  Airbus assembles A320s in Hamburg, its German headquarters, producing vertical stabilizer and carbon fiber reinforced plastics in Stade. The premium Aerotec division produces fuselage sections, bulkheads and components for doors, floors and landing gears.

Airbus has not disclosed more details about the new German company.

Source: Airbus, picture Stelia Aerospace          

        

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                       Jet Aviation Delivers its First 787-8 VVIP Completion

Jet Aviation handed over its first Boeing 787-8 with a VVIP cabin interior completion to an undisclosed customer.  Finishing the work on schedule, Jet Aviation took delivery of the green Boeing 787 at its completion center in Basel, Switzerland, in October 2019.

The company installed a low-weight, quiet cabin that was conceptualized by an external design studio and included a number of complex features engineered and produced in-house, Jet Aviation said.

“The exceptionally low cabin noise Jet Aviation achieved on this aircraft is a culmination of long-term collaborative research and development between us, universities, OEMs, and partner companies,” said Enrique Garrido Bosch, completion program director for the program.

Jet Aviation was able to keep the aircraft under target weight and maintain its schedule using existing EASA supplemental type certificate (STC) for certifying interior installations on Boeing 787s, added Jeremie Caillet, senior v-p of regional operations EMEA.  The STC was the first of its kind for a  completions center, he added.

Source: Jet Aviation

  

                              Gulfstream G500 & G600 Demonstrate Steep Approach

Both aircraft successfully demonstrated steep-approach landings into London City Airport in England, as well as Lugano Airport and Sion Airport in Switzerland.

The  Milestone demonstrations of low-speed handling and short-field landing capability were celebrated with new city-pair record run.

Following official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) steep-approach certification, anticipated this year, the G500 and G600 will gain access to challenging airports such as London City, which requires the certification due to its short runway and stringent noise-abatement requirements, as well as Lugano and similar airports located in the mountainous region of Switzerland.  Lugano’s short runway, situated in the mouth of a valley, requires an extremely steep approach.

“The takeoff and landing performance we demonstrated in Europe was key in the process of securing customers’ access to even more locations worldwide, saving them even more valuable hours per year,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream.   “ Our customers already benefit from GulfStream’s high-speed performance advantage when flying, the investment we’ve made in flight testing and continuous improvement delivers even more value with increased flexibility.”

Source: Gulfstream, Picture Gulfstream                                                                    

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                                   Emirates Receives Its 123rd A380 Delivery

Emirates was the first airline to announce an order for the A380 at the 2000 Farnborough Air Show when the aircraft was marketed as the A3XX.  This was followed with a firm commitment and additional order for 15 more units at the 2001 Dubai Air Show, a bold statement just six weeks after the events of 9/11 challenged the industry like never before.

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “The A380 is truly special aircraft in so many ways.  For Emirates, it gave us the opportunity to redefine the travel experience, efficiently serve demand at slot-constrained airports and bolster our network growth.  The A380 will remain Emirates’ flagship product for the coming years, and a vital pillar of our network plans.

“The aircraft we are receiving today features our latest cabin products including Premium Economy.  Compare it to our very first A380 delivered in 2008 and you will see a myriad of enhancements and upgrades invested in ensuring that the Emirates A380 experience is unparalleled.  We like to thank Airbus and all program partners for enabling us to push the envelope to introduce many innovative industry firsts, and importantly, deliver the best product for Emirates’ Customers.”

Source: Emirates,Picture Emirates

       CDB Aviation Completes the Deliveries of 15 New Boeing Aircraft To United Airlines

CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., has announced the completion of deliveries of a fleet of fifteen new Boeing aircraft to U.S.-based United Airlines Holdings, Inc. The sale and leaseback transaction covered a fleet of two 787-9 Dreamliners and thirteen 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which were delivered between 2020 and 2021.

The two 787-9s are powered by General Electric GEnx engines and configured in a 257 seat layout with new Polaris and Premium Plus cabins.  As air travel returns, these wide body aircraft are expected to deliver the advantages of lower fuel consumption and efficient economics to open new routes and markets.

The thirteen 737 MAX 8s aircraft, powered by CFM International’s LEAP-1B engines, feature a total of 166 seats in a 2-cabin layout.  The MAXs are operated on the carrier’s short-and medium-haul missions, delivering a reduced environmental impact and an enhanced passenger experience as United advances its long-term strategy to further entrench domestic operations.

Source: CDB Aviation, picture CDB aviation

                           Allegiant Confirms Major Order for Boeing’s 737 Max

Allegiant Travel, parent of US ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air, has ordered 50 Boeing Max jets and took options to acquire a further 50, with deliveries starting in 2023.

The Las Vegas-based company will acquire both 737 Max 7s and 737 Max 8-200s – a high-density variant of the baseline Max 8, Allegiant said on January 5th.

The deal is a major win for Boeing and notable in that Allegiant has aligned itself with the US manufacturer.  Currently, Allegiant Air flies only Airbus A320-family jets.

“Our approach to the fleet has always been opportunistic, and this exciting transaction with Boeing is no exception,” says Allegiant chief executive Maurice Gallagher.

Allegiant has long been known for jumping on attractive aircraft acquisition deals as they arise.  The airline company has not specified how it will split the order between Max 7s and Max 8-200s.  Deliveries will continue in 2024 and 2025, Allegiant says.

Allegiant also contracted with engine maker CFM International to maintain the jets’ Leap 1B turbofans for 12 years, it says.

Sources: Boeing, Allegiant, picture Boeing

                            Garmin Secures Flight Deck for Electric Airliner

Garmin has added electric aircraft developer Heart Aerospace to the list of customers for its G3000 integrated flight deck, making further inroads into avionics supply for new-technology aircraft manufacturers.

The G3000 suite will be fitted into Heart’s 19-seat ES-19 regional airliner, which has a conditional order for 100 aircraft from United Airlines and an option for an additional 100.  With a range of 250 miles, the ES-19 is powered entirely by batteries and electric motors and expected to enter service in 2026.

Headquartered in Sweden at Gothenburg’s Save Airport, Heart has partnered with Spain’s Aero Nova to build the ES-19’s aluminum airframe.  The ES-19 features four propulsion units mounted on a high wing, a T-tail empennage, and retractable landing gear.

The G3000 avionics include high-resolution flight displays and touchscreen controllers that support navigation, communication, and flight sensor solutions and integrates seamlessly into the ES-19, aircraft systems, according to Garmin.

“We are confident in Heart’s practical, market-driven approach to expanding the regional air transport market with the introduction of the first all-electric airliner,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin v-p of aviation and marketing, ”whose lower operating costs have the potential to enable more universal access to air travel and broader network of short-haul flights.”

Source: Heart Aerospace,Picture Heart Aerospace      

      

LATEST NEWS

• HAECO MRO firm has completed cabin reconfiguration work on its first Aeroflot Boeing 777-300ER. The new configuration takes total capacity to 427 seats, up from 402 previously, says HAECO.

• China Regulator says there is still a huge amount of testing to be done for the home grown narrow body C919 aircraft to be certified.

• Finnair Oneworld alliance carrier is to open a new US gateway by operating services to Seattle on June 1st.

• Canada’s Flair Airlines plans to double the size of its fleet over the next two years through the addition of 14 Boeing 737 Max 8s beginning this year.

• Iraqi Airways has taken delivery of its first out of five A220-300 aircraft from Mirabel, Canada. Upon entry into service, Iraqi will become the first airline to operate the A220 in the Middle East region.

• The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has received the last of its nine Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft, with the twinjet having landed at its Lossiemouth base in Scotland on January 11th.

• US Lessor Azorra has signed for 22 Airbus A220s which include a pair of ACJ TwoTwenty business jet variants.

• Airbus, Boeing Deliveries and orders in 2021 Airbus managed to exceed its full-year target after handing over a total of 611 jets last year and Boeing wins the annual jet order on adjusted basis.  Shares in Boeing rose around 2% after the closely watched data showed it ended 2021 with 535 net orders after cancellations and conversations that were partially offset by regular accounting adjustments.  Gross orders were 909.  Airbus sold 771 airplanes in 2021, giving it a total of 507 after cancellations, almost twice its 2020 level.  Boeing largely met analyst expectations on aircraft deliveries, handing over 340 aircraft to customers in 2021, up from 157 in 2020.

• Irkut has secured initial Russian type certification for the MC-21-300 twinjet, four-and-a half years after the aircraft’s maiden flight.The MC-21-300 variant is powered by Pratt &Whitney PW1400G engines.

• Senior plc, an international manufacturer of high technology components and systems announced on January 11 that it was awarded new multi-year contracts from Boeing to supply both floor beam assemblies for the 767 and quadrant assemblies for flight-control systems on the 737 and 777.

Sources:  FlightGlobal,Emirates,Boeing ,Airbus, Finnair, Iraqi Airways.

AIR CARGO

                                                     UPS Orders 19 More 767 Freighters

Express package specialist UPS has ordered another 19 Boeing 767 Freighters, handing another win to the US airframer at a time of robust demand for air cargo.  Deliveries will run from 2023 to 2025.

The orders come in a “record-breaking year for Boeing freighter sales”, Boeing says.  ”In 2021, air cargo demand has surged due to an expansion of e-commerce and express cargo markets.”

Boeing has taken orders fo 80 new freighters and for “more than” 80 passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversions in 2021, it adds.

UPS is among Boeing’s top freighter customers.  The airline’s fleet includes 75 757Fs, 79 767Fs, 12 747-400FS and 26 747-8Fs.  It also operates 42 MD-11Fs and 52 Airbus A300Fs, according to Cirium fleets data.

Demand for freighter aircraft has boomed in recent years, partly because airlines grounded many wide body passenger jets during the pandemic, resulting in less capacity for cargo in the bellies of passenger aircraft.  Boeing predicts demand for air cargo to increase 4% annually over the next 20years.

Sources: UPS, Cirium fleets data, Boeing Picture Boeing

                           Atlas Air Worldwide Orders Another Four 777-LRFs

US air cargo company Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings has ordered four freighters, handing  the airframer another in a string of recent freighter wins.

Atlas expects to receive the first of the jets in November, with the remaining three aircraft to arrive in 2023, the New York-based company said on January 6.

Long-time Boeing customer Atlas, which owns several airlines and an aircraft leasing company, ordered the four freighters in December but waited until this month to dispose the news.

The additional 777Fs will help Atlas “capitalise on strong demand for dedicated airfreight capacity”, says the company’s chief executive John Dietrich.

Also in 2022, Atlas intends to receive from Boeing four new 747-8Fs—the last of that type Boeing expects to produce.

Atlas and its subsidiaries have more than 100 Boeing jets, including 737-800Fs, 747-400Fs, 747-8Fs, 767Fs and 14 777Fs, according to the company and Cirium data.  The carriers also operate Boeing passenger aircraft.

Customers ordering Boeing freighters in recent months include FedEx, Lufthansa Cargo, Maersk and Silk Way West.

Sources: Atlas Air, Boeing, Picture Boeing

                         

   

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian