ALL THINGS BOEING

FAA Clears Higher Takeoff weight for 787-9 And 787-10

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) has certified an increased maximum takeoff weight (iMTOW) for the 787-9 and 787-10. The change gives

Boeing airline customers the option to carry more payload of fly longer routes.

Program leaders say iMTOW upgrades reflect airline feedback and ongoing product development.

“We started this effort after airlines sent Boring a clear message: they wanted

greater flexibility,” said John Murphy,787 chief project engineer.

“ Some wanted the 787-10 to fly longer missions; others wanted the 787-9To carry additional payload with range trade-offs.Boeing designed a solution that delivers both.”

Air New Zealand, the launch customer, will be among the first operators to use

the iMTOW capability.

“It’s incredibly exciting to see our first 787-9 with the increased maximum takeoff weight completing assembly and preparing for its final inspections and flight tests,” said Baden Smith,Air New Zealand general manager of Strategy,Networks and Fleet.

“ This upgrade gives us greater ability to carry additional payload on our ultra long-haul routes an important enabler for our network ambitions, supporting trade, tourism and better connectivity for New Zealand.We’re looking forward to bringing this new airplane into our fleet.”

Source:  Boeing

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

AerCap Places an Order with Airbus For 100 A320neo Family Aircraft

On March 18,2026 AerCap Holdings N.V.( AerCap) has signed a firm order with Airbus for 23 A320neo and 77 A321neo aircraft. This transaction underscores AirCap’s strategy of investing in the world’s most in-demand airCraft aircraft to

Meet the long-term requirements of its global airline customer base.

“This order for 100 A320 Family aircraft reflects our strong belief in the long-term

Demand for these highly efficient aircraft and will help meet the continued demand we see fro our customers for growth and replacement needs,”said Aengus Kelly,CEO of AerCap.

“As the world’s largest owner of commercial aircraft, our strategy is clear:

we invest in the assets that provide our airline customers with best economics and the lowest emissions.This land mark transaction ensures that AerCap will continue to lead the industry in fleet modernization well into the next decade.

Source: Airbus

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Indonesian Defense Ministry Orders 12 Pilatus PC-24s

Indonesia’s ministry of defense placed a firm order fora dozen Pilatus PC-24s to support the Indonesian air force’s air transport, liaison, and transport training requirements, Pilatus Aircraft announced on 30th of March.

The firm order, placed with defense contractor PT E-System Indonesia,also

Includes an option for more of the light twinjets.

Additionally, a letter of intent has been signed for the supply of 24 PC-21 turboprop trainers.

According to Pilatus, The PC-24’s operational flexibility, ability to operate from

Unpaved runways, and single-pilot operation make it “ ideal for a variety of

government missions.”

These include instrument pilot trains, transport, and Liaison duties.

The contract also includes ground support equipment, tooling parts, training and

and technical support.

“Our priority is to support Indonesia in putting the fleet into Service smoothly,”

Said Pilatus Aircraft CEO Markus Bucher.

PilatusV.P. of government aviation Ioannis Papachristofilou added that the Indonesian selection of the PC-24 “ emphasizes the growing interest of government operations” in operating the type. In October,the French Navy became the first European military customer for the PC24,leasing three unit from

Jet Aviation.The Qatar Emiri Air Force has also ordered two PC-24s.

Source: Pilatus Aircraft,Picture Pilatus

Dassault Unveiled Falcon 10 X Ultra-Long-Range Business Jet

Dassault Aviation on10 March unveiled its Falcon 10X large cabin business

Jet, bringing the program one step closer to the first flight Dassault has said could happen this year.

The French manufacturer revealed the jet during the event at its Bordeau-

Mergnac production site, with more than 400 people attending customers and

Suppliers, it says. 

“The Falcon 10X introduces the largest, most-comfortable and most- versatile

cabin ever designed in a purpose-built business jet”, Dassault adds.

The Falcon 10X is Dassault’s answer to ultra-long-range business jet introduced

By competitor in recent years.Those include Gulfstream’s G700 and G800 and

Bombardier’s Global 7500 and 8000.

Once certified expected for 2027 the Falcon 10X will take over as Dassault’s

Flagship from the 6X, an aircraft that entered service in late 2023. 

“The objective is to allow Passengers to experience time onboard the aircraft

As just another part of their everyday life, not as a long interval between origin

and destination.So they arrive feeling refreshed and at their very best,” says

Dassault chief Eric Trappier.

The Falcon 10X’s “all-composite wing” a first for business aviation, according to Dassault “supports the aircraft’s large cabin while maintaining the agility and runway flexibility that Falcon aircraft are known for”.

Powered by twin 18,000lb(80KN)-thrust Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X turbofans, the Falcon 10X will be capable of flying at MACh0925 cruise will give it 7,500nm

(13,890km) of range enough to fly from New York to Shanghai,Los Angeles to Sydney or Sao Paulo to Dubai.

The Falcon 10X will cruise at up to 51,000ft.When flying at 41,000ft, its cabin

Will be pressurized to equivalent of 3,000ft altitude.

Source : Dassault Aviation, picture Dassault Aviation

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Air Algerie to Take a Batch of 737 Max 8s For Fleet Update

Air Algerie is to acquire 10 Boeing 737 Max 8 jets as part of a fleet modernization

program.

Air Algerie is taking the aircraft to support a directive of the Algerian president,

Abdelmadjid Tebboune, aimed at developing civil transport in the country.

The company believes the aircraft will enhance competitiveness and consolidate its position, according to the statement.

Air Algerie already has a fleet of 737-800s as well as a few examples of other 737 variants.

Boeing lists an order for eight 737 Max jets from May 2023 following an agreement by the Carrier to take Max 9s.

These aircraft have yet to be delivered.It is unclear wether the 10 Max 8s are

Supplemental of represent an a judgment to the previous order.

Source: Air Algerie, Picture Air TeamImages

Rolls-Royce Validates F130 Engine Performance in Altitude and Operability tests For US Air Force B-52 Bomber Upgrade Program

Rolls-Royce has completed altitude and operability tests for the F130 engine that

will power the US Air Forces’s future fleet of upgraded B-52J bombers.

The work was conducted at the USAF’s Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) in Tullahoma, Tennessee,Says Rolls-Royce.

Eight F130s will power the upgraded B-22J.

Working with the USAF,R-R validated its F130 engine in mission conditions.

The company tested how the engine will perform in long-duration, high-altitude missions, including with “turbulent-real-world airflow.”

Also tested was the new Integrated Drive Generator, which will provide electrical

power during missions.

“Throughout this F130 engine amain, we gathered essential Dara about how this engine operates across the full spectrum of flight conditions,” says USAF Lt Col Timothy Cleaver, who leads the engine replacement effort for the B52.

“Completing the series of tests at AEDC’s world -class facility gives us confidence

in the engine and associated systems as we proceed into test aircraft modification and flight testing.”

The F completed its critical design review in late 2024, setting the stage for the first flight test engines.

Ultimately eight F130s, derived from the company’s BR725 commercial engine,

will power the B-52J.They replace legacy Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines under the

B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program.

In addition to new propulsion, each of the USAF”S 76 B-52 bombers will receive

Raytheon’s AN/APQ-188 active electronically scanned array radar, updated

communications for both conventional and nuclear missions, new compartments

and improved avionics.

The USAF is expected to reach initial operating capability for the B-52J in 2033

Including both the new radar and F130 engines.

Source: Rolls-Royce,Picture Rolls-Royce

Austrian Details Fuel-Burn Saving From Aerodynamic Film On 777s

The AeroShark film has been applied to four Boeing 777-200ER in the Austrian Fleet.

Austrian states that coating has reduced drag by 0.7%.While this is fractional ,it

translated to a 930t fuel saving and reduction of 3,000t of carbon dioxide.

The Carrier says the four 777s registered OE -LPA,LPB,LPC and LPD had the film applied in three  months to March 2025 and have been in service for the past 12 months.

Austrian began flying the modified-200ERs after AeroShark certification was extended to the variant by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and early last year expected a 2,650 ft savings to 2028.

Lufthansa Technik and BASF developed the film, which uses fine rubles and is derived from analysis of structure of shark skin.

Source: Austrian,Lufthansa Technik

EVA Air Board Approved Boeing Fleet Boost

The Board of EVA Air has approved the purchase of four Boeing 787-9s in a deal valued at 1.94 billion dollars.No details have been released on which engines will

Power the new additions.

EVA Air currently uses both the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and the GE Aerospace GEnx on its existing 787 fleet, which consists of eight 787-9s and 13 787-10s.

Meanwhile, the airline has agreed to extend the leases of four 777-300ERs from

Air Lease Corporation.It also intends to overhaul cabins on six other 777-300ERs.

The cabin modernization programs been valued at up to $152 million.

The move comes as the airline prepares for the first Airbus A350-1000s,

Due to arrive early next year.

EVA Air has 25-1000s on order, which will be used to replace it’s older 

777-300ERs.

Source: EVA Air,Picture Boeing

LATEST NEWS

•  HAECO has secured a three-year Air India contract to provide AirBus A35 and Boeing 777and 787 line maintenance at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

•  Lufthansa Technik was selected by Juneyao Group to perform CFM overhauls at Hamburg, Germany.

•  Yemen’s FlyAden has officially taken delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A320, at Aden International Airport, marking a significant milestone for the country’s aviation sector.

•  Ethiopian Arlines has signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase nine new 787 Dreamliners.The deal, valued at around $2.7bn at list prices covers both the 787-8 and -9 variants.

•  Air India receivesfactory-fresh Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for privatized Air India has been delivered to the airline’s Delhi/Indira Gandhi International base.

•  Allegiant DOT has approved Allegiant Travel Group’s planned acquisition of competitor SUN Country Airlines Holding, positioning the companies to close their deal as soon as 13 May.

Sources: Lufthansa Technik, Ethiopian,Air India,Allegiant,my research

AIR CARGO

Building the 777-8 Freighter : Wing Join,Systems Install Underway

Boeing teams brought the 777-8F’s mid-fuselage together with the composite

wings, which span 235 feet (72 Meters). This production milestone is known as

Wing-body join.

Nearby, teams began outfitting forward and aft fuselage sections with systems

and wiring.

Customers are paying close attention to program milestones.The 777-8 Freighter

Has won 68 orders from customers worldwide.

“We’re building on the success of the legacy 777 Freighter,” said Jens Biemann,

Design engineer lead. This is going to be an airplane that will help customers be

Successful in their businesses.”

The team acknowledged the challenges inherent in building a new airplane, from

coordinating parts to becoming familiar with new installation plans, as they work

across functions on the build.

Source: Boeing, picture Boeing

National Airlines Celebrates Successful Delivery of Its First Boeing 777-200 LRF Aircraft In Everett

U.S based National Airlines proudly marked the successful delivery of its first Boeing 777-200 LRF freighter aircraft at the Boeing Everett Factory on Tuesday,

the 14th April, celebrating a major milestone in the airline’s continued growth and fleet modernization.

The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including National Airlines’

Valued customers, key partners, senior representatives from Boeing.The event

Featured a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by an exclusive guided tour of the aircraft, offering attendees a firsthand look at the capabilities of the 

New freighter.

The addition of the Boeing 777-200LRF to National Airlines’ fleet represents a

significant advancement in its operational capabilities.Renowned for its long-range performance, fuel efficiency, and high payload capacity, the aircraft will

Enable the airline to further enhance its global cargo network and deliver superior

and sustainable services to customers.

The Airline will be taking deliveries of its rest three 777-200LRF freighters in the

coming months.

Source: Boeing,National Air Cargo,Picture Boeing.

 Researched and Compiled by : 

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian