ALL THINGS BOEING

Boeing in Final stages of 737 Max 7 and 10 Certifications

Boeing’s chief executive insists thwarting company is closing in on certification of the 737 max 7 and Max 10, while a new report says the manufacturer could secure approval for the Max 7 as soon as this summer.

Reuters reported the summer timeframe for the Max 7, the smallest variant of the

Narrowbody aircraft family, citing comments by Federal Aviation Administration head Bryan Bedford.The 27 May report said the FAA expects to approve the Max 10, the largest Max variant, before year-end.

Also on 27 May,Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said the Max 7 certification programs are in”final stages”,adding “There’s clearly light at the end of the tunnel here”.

Ortberg, who spoke during an investor conference hosted by financial firm Bernstein was not more specific.Neither Boeing nor the FAA immediately responds to request to comment.

Ortberg adds that Boeing has completed “roughly 80% of the Max 7 and Max 10

certification flight-test programs and received all required FAA flight-test approvals.

“We don’t need any more TIA approvals from the FAA,” Ortberg says refrencing

FAA-issued Type Inspection Authorizations approvals that confirm an aircraft type

Inspection Autorizations approvals that confirm an aircraft type will likely meet

certification standards and that approve flight tests for certification credit.

“It’s just a matter of getting through the flight-test program, and we’re clicking them off as we speak,” Ortberg says.

He confirms Boeing expects to receive the Max 7 approval first, followed by that for for the Max 10, which requires a more-involved certification program owing to design differences specific to that model.

“There’s no question the Dash 10 certification work is a bigger package than our Dash 7,” Ortberg says, adding that approvals will likely come in “close proximity”.

The Max 10 measures 43.8m(143.7ft) long about 1.6m longer than the next largest variant, the Max9,a difference necessitating a longer main landing gear to prevent tail strikes during take-off.

Boeing achieved the extension with a “Semi-leverd” main gear for the Max 10.

The lever allows the gear to extend 241mm(9.5in) upon rotation during take-off.

Ortberg also says Boeing has completed “all the testing” of an engine anti-ice

redesign that has been holding up the Max 7 and Max 10’s certifications. 

Boeing will introduce the anti-ice redesign on new-build Max 8s, Ortberg says.

It also plans to equip new Max 9s and in-service-8s and -9s with the changes.

Source: Boeing,Picture Boeing

Australia Receives Final P-8A Poseidon

    Arrival of the last P-8A brings Australia’s Poseidon fleet to 14 aircraft.

“By integrating advanced sensors, communications, and strike capabilities, the

P-8A Poseidon plays a vital role in supporting Australia’s deterrence-by- denial

Strategy.”

Australia’s Department of Defense adds that the additional aircraft will improve fleet availability and support sustained operations.

The arrival follows Australia’s recent opening of its Deep Maintenance Modification Facility for the P-8 a at RAAF base Edinburgh.Australia’s fleet

will be upgraded to US Navy’s Increment 3 Block 2 standard, enhancing their ability to identify and track submarines.

Source: Boeing,FlightGlobal,Picture Boeing

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ALL THINGS AIRBUS

Qantas Flags Delay in A350 Deliveries as Project Sunrise Preparations takes Shape

The first ultra-long-range A350 will be delivered in April 2027, instead of the end of 2026.

In a prepared statement,Qantas does not reveal the reason for the delays, but media reports point to ongoing supply chain challenges.

FlightGlobal understands that final preparations including local regulatory approvals are required in Australia before the A350-1000ULR can enter commercial service.

The first A350-1000 ULR has completed final assembly and undergoing painting,

Before kicking off two months of flight-testing inToulouse.Pilot training is also going at Qantas’ A350 simulators in Sydney.

‘Project Sunrise’ refer to the Australian carrier’s plans to operate non-stop flights

Fram the east coast of Australia to New York and London.Qantas in May 2022 ordered 12 A350-1000ULRs to operate these flights, which are expected to shave 4h from the duration of current one-stop operations.

The carrier previously targeted to launch these flights in early 2027, but the latest

delays push that timeline to the right. Nonetheless,Qantas confirms that it will

Announce its initial route and launch timeline in June.

The Airline stresses that while its first A350 faces delays, it expects the next four

aircraft  to follow  “in quick succession”.This means it will be back “on our original

Schedule” by November next year.

Source: Qantus, Airbus,FlightGlobal,picture Qantas

Airbus A320-Family Orders Surpass 20,000 After Surge In May

Chinese carriers’ latest agreements contribute to single-aisle family milestone.

Airbus has exceeded 20,000 total orders for its A320 family, following the firming of several agreements during May.

The airframer record orders for 207 A320neo-family jets during the month.

China Southern Airlines accounted for another 102 comprising of 79 A321neos and 23 A320neos while Xiamen Airlines also firmed 35 A321neos. 

These agreements took total orders for the single-aisle family to 20,169 since the first tentative commitments letter of intent from Air France for 25 A320, in June 1981.

Source: Airbus,Picture Airbus

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Lessor Azorra Has signed for Up to 30 More Embraer 195-E2s

Lessor Azorra has signed for up to 30 more Embraer 195-E2s 15 firm and 15 covered by purchase rights a deal taking the airframes total orders for the re-engined E2 program past the 500 unit mark.

Azorra has now ordered 38 E195-E2s and 16 units of the smaller E190-E2.

Embraer says more than 200 Pratt & Whitney PW1900G  powered E2s are now in service with 24 airlines. At the end of March the airframe had delivered 203 of the latest generation E-jets: 169 E195-E2s and 34 E190-E2s.

Source: Embraer

Cessna M2 Gen3 First Flight Advances Cert Program

The Cessna M2 Gen3 prototype completed its first flight on the 2nd of this month.

Advancing Textron Aviation’s next-generation light jet program toward FAA 

certification and service entry in 2027.

Piloted by Andrew Thorson and Tanner Towns, the initial flight lasted 2.7 hours

and focused on evaluating aircraft handling and key systems.The test airplane

Reached a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet and speed of 263 knots.

The aircraft will now enter an expanded phase of light testing.

“With this prototype now in our flight-test program, we are continuing rigorous

Evaluation as we move steadily toward certification,” said Chris Hearne, senior

v-p of engineering and programs at Textron Aviation.

The M2 Gen3 features Garmin G3000 avionics, autothrottle, and Garmin Emergency Autoland the same avionics package introduced on the Citation

CJ4,which is approaching FAA certification this year.

Source: Textron Aviation, picture Textron Aviation

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Construction Underway On Extensive Emirates MRO Facility at Dubai World Central.

Middle Eastern operator Emirates Group has commence construction on an extensive engineering facility being established at Dubai World Central airport.

The company values the facility part  of Dubai South development program at

$5.1 billion.

Featuring hangers with capacity for 28 wide body aircraft, the facility will be

the largest steel structure in the Gulf Co-operation Council and offer a range of engineering capabilities.

These include a dedicated landing-gear workshop and two paint hangers, plus

an  administrative and training center.The company adds that it will also be able

To handle narrowbody models.

Emirates Group chief Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum says the new complexion which groundbreaking has just started, will bring more specialist capabilities “under one roof” and position the carrier as a “ strategic engineering

Partner” for the aviation industry.

Development is being undertaken by infrastructure firm China Railway Construction Corporation and the facility will be completed by mid-2030.

Source: Emirates, picture Emirates

Korean Air To Fully Absorb Asiana Airlines by Year-end

Korean Air  has confirmed it will fully integrate compatriot Asia Airline into operations by December, two years after it successfully acquired the carrier.

Korean Air and Asiana’s boards approved the merger agreement on 13 May

Paving the way for the former to emerge as an”integrated carrier” by the end

of the year.

The formal merger contract went into effect on 14 May, with Korean Air to

“ absorb all Asiana Airlines assets, liabilities, rights, obligations,& personnel”.

The SkyTeam operator will next file a merger application with South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and will seek amendments to standardise Asiana’s aircraft and safety systems under its existing air operator

certificate.

“The integration will elevate Korean Air’s global market presence and establish

Incheon International Airport as a dominant global hub through optimized network connectivity and increased transit efficiency,” Korean Air states.

Source: Korean Air,Picture Korean Air

LATEST NEWS

•  All Nippon Airways(ANA) the Japanese airline does not expect further delays to the 777-9, the first of which ANA expects in its 2027 fiscal year that runs from April 2027 to March 2028.

•  Southwest will introduce the long-delayed jet Max 7 no sooner than six months after certification of the type said operations chief Andrew Watterson.

•  WestJet to retire 737NGs to mitigate fuel impact and replace older Boeing 737-700s with new 737 Max 8s this year.

•  IndiGo Indian budget  carrier returned one of the six Norse Atlantic Boeing 787-9s wet leased owing to network change.

•  EasyJet celebrates delivery of 100th of A321neo means that over one-quarter of the UK carrier’s fleet comprises latest-generation Airbus narrobodies.

•  China confirms an order for 200 Boeing aircraft following Trump-Xi Summit. The order will mark the first major Boeing order from China in nearly a decade.

•  Riyadh Air took delivery of its first two 787 Dreamliner Jets and arrived in Riyadh, a milestone for the airline as it prepares to launch commercial service.

Sources:  Ana,Southwest,WestJet,EasyJet,FlightGlobal

AIR CARGO

Cathay Pacific Extends Order Commitment to A350 Freighter

Chief executive Ronald Lam says the aircraft will provide “greater connectivity”

at its hub and “more choices for customers.

“These highly efficient, new-generation freighters will help further strengthen Hong Kong’s status as the world’s leading international air cargo hub,” the

Company adds.

All A350Fs are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines.

No delivery date has been disclosed for the aircraft.

The twinsets will join a  Cathay Cargo fleet which also comprises 14 Boeing 747-8Fs and dix 747-400ERFs.

Source: Cathay Pacific,Picture Cathay Pacific

National Airlines Continues Strategic Fleet Expansion

National Airlines has marked another major milestone in its continued growth

Journey with the delivery of its second Boeing 777 Freighter (N792CA) from

the Boeing production facility in Everett, Washington.The latest addition further

strengthens the airlines’s long-haul cargo capabilities and reinforces its commitment to providing customized global charter cargo solutions to customers

and industries worldwide.

In April 2026,National Airlines welcomed its first Boeing 777LRF Freighter during a special delivery event attended by the airline’s leadership team, strategic partners, and valued customers.

Source: National Airlines, picture National Airlines

Atlas Air to Take 49% Stake in Air Atlanta

US-based cargo Carrier Atlas Air Worldwide is to take a 49% stake in Icelandic

Wet-lease and aircraft management specialist Air Atlanta.

Under the planned transaction, carried out through its Titan Aviation subsidiary,

Air Atlanta’s, owned widebodies and lease them back to the operator.

Air Atlanta, which has operating platforms in IceLand and Malta, uses a fleet of

 of 14 widebody  freighters, including Boeing 747s and 777s as well as four passenger 777s.

Atlas says the deal enhances its access to widebody capacity in key international

Markets.

“This transaction reflects Atlas’s disciplined approach to strategic growth in a

structurally constrained widebody freighter aircraft market, and it further advances our One Atlas Strategy,” says Atlas chief executive Michael Steen.

The Partners aim to close the deal in the third quarter, subject to regulatory

approvals and closing conditions.

Source: Atlas Air,Picture Atlas Air

Researched and Compiled by : 

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian