ON THE BOEING FRONT

                       Boeing Plans P-8 Deliveries to New Zealand, Germany & South Korea

Boeing says it will complete deliveries of the company’s P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to New Zealand, Germany and South Korea over the next two years.  Boeing says on July 7, that the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will receive its P-8s this year, while South Korea’s will arrive in 2023.  Aircraft destined for Germany will be ready in 2024.

New Zealand committed to purchasing four P-8s to replace the RNZF’s aging fleet of six Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion patrol aircraft.  Across the Tasman Sea, neighboring Australia already operates 12 Poseidons.

Germany plans to buy five P-8s, while south Korea will acquire six; both nations will use the Poseidon to phase out fleets of older P-3 Orions.

On July 7 the newest P-8 took to the skies over Puget Sound, bringing the total number of P-8s delivered to 150.  “There are now 150 P-8s around the world delivering an unmatched capability to our global Customers,” said Stu Voboril, vice president and program manager, P-8 Programs.

Amassing more than 450,000 mishap-free flight hours, the global P-8 fleet includes 112 aircraft delivered to the U.S. Navy, 12 to Australia, 12 to India, 9 to the United Kingdom and 5 to Norway.

Boeing P-8 Program senior manager Perry Yaw said the P-8 production line currently has a backlog stretching until 2025, with a program total of 183 aircraft ordered.

Yaw adds that Canada is Boeing’s next major focus for overseas sales.  In February, the company officially responded to a bid from the Canadian armed forces for a long-range maritime patrol aircraft.

Dubbed the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA), the program aims to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force(RCAF) fleet of Lockheed CP-140 Aurora turboprops.  The CP-140 is based on a P-3 Airframe.  The RCAF operates 15 Auroras, according to the FlightGlobal 2022 World Air Forces guide.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing.

Boeing Orders & Deliveries for June

Boeing won orders for 50 airplanes in June, including 49 MAX, of which 48 were sold to customers not immediately disclosed. The one public purchaser was American Airlines.

On the delivery side Boeing delivered 51 airplanes in June to bring its first-half tally to 216 jets, up 38% from the same period last year.  The deliveries included six wide-body commercial freighters; for the 12th consecutive month, there were no 787 deliveries.

Source: Boeing                  

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                             Airbus & CFM Collaborate on Open Fan Engine Architecture

The Flight Test Demonstrator aims to mature and accelerate the development of advanced propulsion technologies, as part of CFM’s Revolutionary innovation for Sustainable Engine (RISE) demonstration program, on board an Airbus A380.  The test campaign will be performed in the second half of this decade from the Airbus Flight Test facility in Toulouse, France.  Ahead of the A380 test flights, CFM will perform engine ground tests, along with flight test validation at GE Aviation’s Flight Test Operations center in Victorville, CA,USA.

The flight test program will achieve several objectives that could contribute to future engine and aircraft efficiency improvements, including: enhanced understanding of engine/wing integration and aerodynamic performance as well as propulsive system efficiency gains; validating performance benefits, including better fuel efficiency that would provide a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to today’s most efficient engines; evaluating acoustic models; and ensuring compatibility with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuels(SAF).

“ New propulsion technologies will play an important role in achieving aviation’s net aero objectives, along with new aircraft designs and sustainable energy sources,” said Sabine Klauke, Airbus chief technical officer.  ”By evaluating, maturing and validating open fan engine architecture using dedicated flight test demonstrator, we are collaboratively making yet another significant contribution to the advancement of technology bricks that enable us to reach our industry-wide decarbonization targets”.

“The CFM RISE Program is all about pushing the technology envelope, redefining the art of the possible, and helping to achieve more sustainable long-term growth for our industry,” said Gael Meheust, President and CEO of CFM International.

Source: Airbus, CFM International, Image Airbus

Airbus Orders& Deliveries For June

Qantas Airways has firmed its order for a dozen Airbus A350-1000s & secured an agreement for another seven A350 freighters, from an undisclosed customer.  In addition two A350 freighters were recently identified for Silk Way Airline, and a single A330-900 for Delta Air Lines.

As part of its fleet modernization, The Australian flag -carrier has also signed for 20 A321neos and 20 A220-300s.

Airbus recorded firm net orders for 259 aircraft over the first half of the year, with 314 single-aisle jets and 25 A350s.

It delivered a total of 297 aircraft in the six-month period to June 30, among them 29 A350s and 13 A330s plus 230 A320neo-family jets and 25 A220s.

Source: Airbus             

        

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Pratt & Whitney and Embraer have completed the first flight test on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with an E195-E2 regional jet.

The aircraft performed a 70 minute flight from Vero Beach airport, in Florida, with one  PW1900G engine running on 100% SAF.  It follows two days of ground testing at Fort Lauderdale airport, says P&W.

For the test flight, both companies made use of 100% vegetable ail-based HEFA-SPK (hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids synthetic paraffin kerosene)fuel acquired from USA-based World Energy.

P&W engines and Embraer aircraft can operate with SAF blended up to 50%.  Work is ongoing to allow PW1100G-family engines to be able to operate at 100% SAF.  P&W, in March, announced it was teaming up with Air BP on the use of 100% SAF for engine testing and research.  Under the agreement, both parties intend to work together to explore a “viable supply” of full-SAF for engine and propulsion tests through 2024.

Sources: Embraer, P&W, Picture P&W

                        RoyalJet expands Its Five-Star Fleet with a Premium BBJ

RoyalJet Abu Dhabi has added yet another Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) to its fleet taking total number of BBJs to 12.

This makes RoyalJet the largest BBJ Operator in the World. The aircraft was acquired by the group in early 2022 and is now ready for charter after undergoing upgrades and technology enhancements in Basel, Switzerland over the past few months.

This BBJ boasts 23 passengers VVIP interior with forward crew rest area, master bedroom with private lavatory and shoer, and a mid-cabin open-plan lounge.

Source:  RoyalJet                                           

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

  Air Arabia JVs Set for Take-Off

Sharjah-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Air Arabia aims to have its two joint venture (JV) airlines in Armenia and Pakistan flying by the middle of this year.

The company has now allocated two newly leased Airbus A320neos to Fly Arna, while three will go to Pakistan-based Fly Jinnah.

Air Arabia is setting up the new Armenian national carrier, Fly Arna in conjunction with the Armenian National Interests Fund.  While in Pakistan, it is creating Fly Jinnah, with Karachi-based conglomerate Lakson Group.

Air Arabia’s CEO, Adel Ali, said that he hopes Fly Arna will be in the air by May and Fly Jinnah in June of next year.

Armenia has not had a national airline for several years.  Fly Arna has not yet announced its initial destinations, but these are likely to concentrate initially on Central Asia.

Pakistan has shortage of airlines serving its 200 million-strong population; domestic routes will be Karachi-based Fly Jinnah’s first priority before the airline expands internationally.

Air Arabia is looking at acquiring more A321 in the next batch; the airline has a small number of A321LRs at present.

Source: Air Arabia, Picture Fly Arna

                                           Qatar Airways Wins ‘Airline of The Year’

Qatar Airways has won ‘Airline of the Year’ at the AirlineRatings Awards.  It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ and took home the “Best Business Class’ award.

This is the second year running that Qatar Airways has scooped the top prize and the fourth year in a row to take home the ‘Best Business Class’ award.

The AirlineRatings ‘Airline of the year” award acknowledges the best that aviation has to offer, with focus on product innovations strong route network and overall safety.  All AirlineRatings awards are given based on strict assessment criteria put together by industry professionals with extensive expertise and experience in the aviation field.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said:  “ Winning these awards are another ringing endorsement of everything that we stand for as an airline, Qatar Airways is fully committed to providing an unrivaled customer experience.  Our goal is to deliver excellence and once again securing the ‘Airline of the year’,’ ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ and ‘Best Business Class’ demonstrates that we continue to lead the industry as passengers return to the skies.  As we increase our global network to over 150 destinations, we also recently reported our most successful financial results ever with profit of $1.54 billion, confirming the airline as an all-round strong performer that is hugely popular with our passengers.”

Source: Qatar Airways, Picture Qatar Airways

                                  Greater Bay Airlines Gets Airborne in Low-Key Launch

Hong Kong start-up Greater Bay Airlines has officially taken to the skies, though its long-awaited launch was made with little fanfare.

On July 23rd, the carrier operated its inaugural flight to Bangkok, operated by a Boeing 737-800. Greater Bay, which did not issue a media statement to mark its launch, intends to operate twice-weekly flights to the Thai capital, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The launch comes as travel restrictions still persist in Hong Kong, though the city’s government is slowly easing curbs

It also comes nearly half a year after it clinched its operation license, which paved the way for it to start commercial flights.   In October 2021 the carrier clinched its AOC, and stated its intensions to operate to Bangkok, Phuket as well as Singapore.

It had applied and received regulatory approval to operate more than 100 routes across Asia-Pacific, with the majority of them to mainland China.  Other countries include Japan,Thailand and South Korea. Greater Bay currently has two 737s in its fleet and will take a third example this year.

Source:  ch-aviation, Picture Wikimedia Commons

                                Bonza Set For Launch As First MAX Takes Flight

Australia’s newest airline Bonza is step closer to launch, after its first Boeing 737 MAX jet was spotted sporting freshly-painted Bonza livery in Seattle.  Bonza is a new airline based by 777 Partners of Miami that is preparing to launch operations this month to underserved markets in Australia.

Bonza, Australia’s only independent low-cost airlines has thrown out the rule book as they reveal their first-ever uniform.  The ‘wear it your way’ range, featuring Australian aviation’s first-ever-on trend white custom sneakers and cotton t-shirts, allows Bonza legends to let their individual personalities shine with various “mix and match” options.

“ Our brief was clear.  Create a uniform that Bonza legends will wear with pride.  We know airline uniforms are the land that time forgot and we wanted to change that with our partners at total Image Group,” said Carly Povey, Chief Commercial Officer at Bonza.

The airline took delivery of its first Boeing 737 Max 8 in July registration number VH-UJT.  Bonza is gearing up to begin flying on 27 routes to 17 destinations as soon as September.

Sources: 777 Partners, Boeing, Australian Aviation, Picture Boeing      

LATEST NEWS

• Saltchuk Aviation Boeing and Saltchuk Aviation have announced the airline group placed an order for up to four more 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighters.

• BBAM Limited Partnership have announced the lessor is growing its 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) fleet with a firm order for nine more 737-800BCF.

• Armenian & Georgian Airlines Armenia airline and its partner Georgian Airlines from Georgia, have placed an order for three Boeing 737-800BSF as part of the group’s plan to add more dedicated cargo airplanes to its operations in the Caucasus region.

• Alaska Airlines has accelerated the retirement of its remaining A320s in the fourth quarter.  Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett said it during the quarter earning call.

• ANA Holdings Japan’s largest airline finalized an order for 20 737Max 8 and took an option for ten more and selected the 777-8 Freighter.

• Boeing has opened its largest Asia-Pacific distribution center in Brisbane, Australia to support key business areas.  The center is located in Murarrie near Brisbane Airport.

• New Zealand’s first 737NG P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has emerged from the paint shop at Boeing’s Renton facility in Washington.

• Icelandair has entered a pact with Singapore-based lessor BOC Aviation to lease two 737Max 8s.

• Ethiopian Airlines has switched four A350-900 orders to A50-1000; thus becoming the first African operator for the -1000 type.

• Jetstar Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo featuring the airline’s refreshed livery.

Sources: Boeing, Alaska Airlines, ANA, Icelandair,

                                              AIR CARGO

                      Cargolux Commits to Order 777-8 Freighters        

   

Boeing has secured a commitment from freight airline Cargolux to order 777-8 freighters, which the Luxembourg-based carrier intends to use as 747-400 replacements.

Boeing disclosed the deal, which falls short of a firm order, on July 21 during the Farnborough air show.

Boeing senior vice-President of commercial sales and marketing Ihssane Mounir says he hopes to convert the commitment into a firm order in the coming weeks.  “We will be working over the next several weeks to do the documentation for the commitment, and wrap it up,” Mounir says.

Boeing says Cargolux “selected the 777-8 Freighter as a preferred solution to replace its 747-400 fleet”. Neither company has disclosed how many of Boeing’s in-development 777-8F Cargolux might purchase.

“We will work with them to define how many, and when,” Mounir says.  ”I expect in the next several weeks we will firm that up.”

Boeing launched the freighter 777-8F development program in January, with first delivery scheduled for 2027.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

OTHER NOTEWORTHY NEWS

                         Lion Air Group ‘still committed’ to 737 MAX: Chairman

Lion Air Group chairman Rusdi Kirana has reiterated the airline group’ commitment to the Boeing 737 Max, with is Batik Air Malaysia unit set to take its first 737Max9 aircraft in early 2023.

Kirana was speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on July 11, announcing the rebranding of the airline unit Milando Air to Batik Air Malaysia, as well as the official re-entry of Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft into its fleet.

Indonesia-based Lion Air Group, which also includes Lion Air, Super Air Jet and Batik Air of Indonesia, as well as Thai Lion Air, has more than 200 Max aircraft – a mix of Max 8s and Max 9s on order.  Kirana, who was responding to a question from FlightGlobal, says the airline group is looking to continue operations of the type, some of which have already returned to service in Indonesia.

“Boeing did a lot of work to make sure that the 737 Max is safe for travel…we have more than 200 aircraft on order with Boeing, and we will still take delivery of them because…we will need more aircraft as demand comes back…to reduce ticket prices,” Kirana says.

His comments come as Batik Air Malaysia looks to have 17 Max 8s in its fleet by year-end.  The Airline has four in operation now, operating them to destinations farther afield, including Pakistan and Australia.

Indonesia was among the last few countries around the world to re-certify the aircraft following the grounding.

According to Kirana, Indonesia’s Lion Air has about 100 aircraft or about 80% of its operational fleet flying now, including 737 Max aircraft.

Source: Lion Air, FlightGlobalPicture Alfred Chua/FlightGlobal

                      

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ON THE BOEING FRONT

Boeing Business Jets Reveals New President and Announces New BBJ MAX Orders

Boeing Business Jets(BBJ) has a new chief, with newly appointed president Erika Pearson making her EBACE show debut just two days into the role.  Pearson, who moved over from Boeing’s airliner business, says she is delighted by her new post.  “I am really looking forward to taking my experience from commercial aviation and translating it to this unique market segment.  This my first time at EBACE and I am really looking forward to the experience.”

Meanwhile, the company unveiled orders for four new BBJ Max aircraft which were booked in the first quarter on the back of “very strong demand”,  says Alex Fecteau, director of marketing.

“We had a good 2021 coming out of the pandemic and had four new orders at the start of this year and are looking forward to finishing up the last half of 2022 even more strongly.”

To aid future sale campaigns, the manufacturer has built a BBJ Max 7 demonstrator that will arrive in 2023, following certification of the baseline aircraft and installation long range fuel tanks and its interior.

At present, the BBJ family comprises the Max 7, 8 and 9, with no plans and present to extend that to the Max 10.

With more than 260 Boeing Business Jets sold since the group was founded in 1996, BBJs are supported by Boeing’s global service network—the largest OEM provided network of service, parts, and maintenance.

Source: Boeing, picture Boeing

Boeing Orders & Deliveries in May

Boeing delivered 35 planes in May was more than double the 17 jets it handed over the same month a year ago.  The delivery total for the first five months of the year is 165 aircraft, according to the data released on Tuesday, June 14.

The orders for the month included 23 gross orders, 17 of which were for widebody aircraft.  Among those, German carrier Lufthansa ordered seven 787 Dreamliners and seven 777-8F freighters.

Aircraft leasing tie-up Bain Capital ordered five 737 Max jets for Indian carrier Akasa Air in a sale-leaseback deal that saw Akasa cancel the same number of planes from its initial order, and sold American Airlines another 737 Max.

Source: Boeing.

                     

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                        Airbus Embarks on A321XLR Flight-Test Campaign

Airbus has commenced the flight-test campaign for its long-range A321X.   The aircraft, MSN11000, took off from Hamburg-Finkenwerder Airport at 11:05 for a test flight that lasted approximately 4 hours and 35 minutes.  And it has successfully accomplished its first flight.

Airbus intends the aircraft to enter service in early 2024, offering carriers a range of up to 4,700nm.  While Airbus has already developed a long-range variant of the A321neo, known as the A321LR, the XLR will further enhance range capability.  It will feature a substantial modification of its fuel system with the inclusion of a large aft center tank.

Airbus initially unveiled the XLR at the Paris air show in June 2019, and structural assembly of the jet began last year.

Source: Airbus, picture Airbus

Airbus Orders & Deliveries in May

Airbus deliveries in May were 47 aircraft for 27 customers and took orders for 13 aircraft.  The net year to date delivery number of 235 reflects a reduction of 2 deliveries to Aeroflot for which a transfer was not possible due to international sanctions.

Source: Airbus         

        

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

             Gulfstream Plans $55M Appleton Expansion, 200 New Jobs

Gulfstream Aerospace plans to hire more than 200 positions and invest $55 million in expanding its Appleton, Wisconsin site because of increased customer demand and its growing fleet of super-midsize and large-cabin jets.  The Appleton expansion involves the construction of a 73,000-sq-ft (6,782-sq-m) paint facility using a paint booth design developed by the airframer and Wisconsin-based paint booth manufacturer Global Finishing Solutions.  When operational, the facility will have the capability to paint up to 48 aircraft a year and enable the Appleton site to offer entire aircraft completions.  It is expected to open in the third quarter of 2023.

Additionally, Gulfstream has made several enhancements to its Appleton site, an office area for completions customers and pilots, wood finishing area, upgraded shipping and receiving area, and completions hanger with an employee break room and lockers.

The Appleton expansion follows Gulfstream’s expansion in St. Louis completions, as well as new facilities in Fort Worth, Texas and Mesa, Arizona, and expansion of its customer support call center in Farnborough, England.

“Gulfstream continues to make significant investments across the company to address both current demand and future growth in our completions and Customer Support operations,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns.

Source: Gulfstream, Image Gulfstream Aerospace       

                                                                  

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

             Eviation Readies for Alice Maiden Flight as Ground Tests Wrap Up

Eviation is gearing up for the first flight of its all-electric Alice prototype in the coming month having completed ground testing earlier in May.  However, the clean-sheet aircraft developer is staying tight-lipped on precisely when the proof-of- concept Alice prototype will take to the skies, simply saying it will occur “this summer”.

“We have a well-constructed program schedule we are working towards now”, interim chief executive Gregory Davis told FlightGlobal at EBACE business aviation show on May 24.  Davis declines to provide detail but says the results of ground tests convinced it to slow the push towards first flight.

“When we completed the ground-test program we found some things that we needed to tweak and that’s what we are working on as we prepare the aircraft for first flight,” he says.

Low-speed ground testing was wrapped on 2 May, says Davis, with the aircraft having been taken to a maximum speed of 86kt(160km/h). High-speed taxi trials, including the crucial take-off test, will only be performed once the aircraft has secured its experimental permit to fly.

Davis says flights of the first of three certification aircraft will begin in 2024.  This should lead to type approval for the pressurized version from the US Federal Aviation Administration under Part 23 regulations in 2025.  Eviation anticipates cargo operations beginning that same year and passenger flights using the pressurized model starting in 2026.

Eviation continues to develop the supply chain for the Alice, with several key partners already identified; for example, sister company Magnix is providing twin Magni650 electric motors and GKN Aerospace is to build the wing.  However, the manufacturer of the fuselage and T-tail has yet to be disclosed.

Final assembly of the Alice will take place in Arlington, Washington.  Sales efforts for the Alice are meanwhile gathering momentum as Aviation looks to add to its current 87-unit backlog: 12 in a cargo configuration for DHL and 75 of the nine seat commuter variant for US regional airline Cape Air.  More to come on the Alice.

Source: Eviation Aircraft,Picture Eviation

                                 Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 Engine On Home Stretch

Rolls-Royce is wrapping up testing on its Pearl 700 engine for the ultra-long-range Gulfstream G700 and shifting to “production mode” said Colm Golden, Rolls-Royce’s senior v-p for the Pearl program.  The Company has delivered several engine chipsets to the OEM and already has issued two-thirds of the necessary certification reports.

Meanwhile, Golden reports that the test campaign on the Pearl 10X for Dassault’s large cabin flagship is also proceeding well.  Both the Pearl 700 and 10X are rated to produce more than 18,000 pounds of thrust and deliver significant increases in efficiency.

Compared to the Rolls-Royce RB725 that powers the GulfStream G^50 series, the Pearl 700 delivers an 8 percent increase in takeoff thrust, a 12 percent better thrust-to-ratio, and a 5 percent higher efficiency.  Rolls-Royce has achieved these gains by mating advanced materials and manufacturing techniques, including the use of 3D-printed combustor tiles.

Golden stressed that the Pearl’s highly-efficient core is really its secret sauce and that by optimizing it and the parts around it, Rolls-Royce has developed “the most efficient core in business aviation.  Our technology provides new tools to our designers that can really take us to the next level, enabling smaller cores that provide better performance.  With bigger aircraft, cores really need to get smaller,”

Golden said, The “Advance2” core on the Pearl features a 10-stage, high-pressure compressor with six titanium blinks and a 41:1 pressure ratio.

Source: Rolls-Royce, picture Rolls-Royce

IcelandAir Signs Preliminary Deal to Buy Four 737 Max Jets From Boeing’s Built Backlog

IcelandAir has signed a letter of intent to acquire four Boeing 737 Max aircraft from the manufacturer’s backlog of built aircraft.

The aircraft were built in 2018 and are scheduled for delivery in the autumn of this year.  They will take IcelandAir’s fleet of jets to 18.Cirium fleets data shows it has eight Max 8s and four Max 9s in service and a further two Max8s on order that are due for delivery in late June.  Icelandair does not specify the variant of the four jets covered by the Lol.

Iceland Air chief executive Bogi Nils Bogason says: We are pleased to announce a further expansion to our fleet of Boeing 737 Max aircraft on favorable terms.  The Max has proven to be a good fit to our route network and its fuel efficiency contributes positively to our efforts of reducing the carbon emissions from our operations.

“We have been ramping up our operations,” he adds. ”This summer we offer direct flights from Iceland to 44 destinations, up to five times a day.  This addition to our fleet allows us to further increase our services by adding new destinations and increasing frequency to our current destinations.”

Source: Icelandair, Picture Boeing              

LATEST NEWS

• Jin Air has resumed flying its Pratt & Whitney PW 4000-powered Boeing 777-200 ERs becoming the first and only possibly Asia-pacific operator to return the PW4000-powered 777 to service after a year-long grounding.

• Swoop On June 15-SMBC Aviation Capital has announced the delivery of one Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft Swoop airlines.

• Atlas Air took delivery of another 747-8 Freighter, leaving the airframer with just three undelivered 747-8Fs and bringing the Jet’s 50-year-plus production run one step nearer to the end.

• Indian Startup Akasa Air has taken delivery of its first aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8 at a ceremony in Seattle, Washington.

• AerCap the world’s top aircraft lessor said it had decided to stick to an order for up to 68 MAX jets placed by General Electric’s GECAS leasing arm, even though it had the right to cancel it after acquiring GECAs.

• Vietnam’s Vietjet Air has reaffirmed its order for 200 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft, which it had put on hold after the grounding of the type in 2019.

• International Airlines Group(IAG) has confirmed that it has finalized negotiations with Boeing for up to 150 Boeing MAX jets.

• Turkish Airlines acquired originally destined 737 Maxs for Russia’s S7 Airlines is now going to Turkish Airlines and its leisure subsidiary Anadolujet.

• ANA Japan’s All Nippon Airways will apply new lives to a pair of Boeing 787s to highlight its sustainability efforts, and to also research ways to reduce the impact of flying on the environment.

• Norwegian has firmed its deal for 50 Boeing 737 Max 8, which are due to join the fleet between 2025 and 2028.

Sources: Turkish Airlines, IAG, ANA, SMBC, AerCap, Atlas Air,Boeing

AIR CARGO

                       CMA CGM Air Cargo has received its first 2 Boeing 777 Freighters

CMA CGM Air Cargo, a global leader in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, announced on June 9th the delivery of its two first Boeing 777 Freighters and the purchase of two more.  Four Boeing 777 Freighters will join the CMA CGM Air Cargo fleet.

At the ceremony signing held in Everett, WA, CMA CGM Air Cargo took delivery of its second Boeing 777 Freighter, after the reception of its first Freighter on May 31st. These planes both come from the order CMA CGM Air Cargo placed in the spring of 2021.  The purchase of the two Boeing 777 Freighters was the first direct order since the CMA CGM Group announced the launch of its dedicated air cargo transportation division in February, 2021.

CMA  CGM Air Cargo also officially disclosed an order for two additional Boeing 777 Freighters.  When delivered, the new planes will complete a fleet of at least 12 Boeing and Airbus aircraft by 2026.  This additional order means that CMA CGM will have a total of four Boeing 777 Freighters in its fleet.

Source: CMA CGM Air Cargo,Picture Boeing

                       Textron Delivers First Cessna SkyCourier to FedEx

Textron Aviation has delivered to FedEx the first Cessna SkyCourier turboprop, a milestone coming 4.5 years after the Wichita airframer launched the program.

FedEx is launch customer of the clean-sheet SkyCourier, which Textron Aviation markets as a cargo and special-mission aircraft, and as a 19-passenger airliner.

The company, which owns Cessna, disclosed the first delivery on May 9.  FedEx holds orders for 50 of the aircraft, which are powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-655C turbo props.  FedEx also holds options to order another 50 of the type, according to Textron.

The freighter variant of SkyCourier has a range of 940nm(1,741km), with the ability to carry payload up to 2,722kg (6,000lb) and maximum cruise speed of 210Kt(389km/h), according to Textron Aviation.

Source: Textron Aviation,Picture Textron Aviation

                         

  Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ON THE BOEING FRONT

                        Boeing Enters 737 MAX MRO Agreement with Spirit AeroSystems

 The agreement will enhance Boeing support for nacelle and flight control surface removals with more robust MRO footprint; while combining Boeing’s industry-leading asset pool with hands-on repair experience of Spirit AeroSystems.

“With this agreement, Boeing Global Services is strategically positioned to assist all 737 MAX operators by providing lease and exchange programs to respond quickly to unforeseen events,” said Mini Desai, Vice President of commercial spares and managed parts, Boeing Global Services.

“ Our business serves our customer base beyond the sale of aircraft, and now we can expand lease and exchange support for aerostructures with SpiritAeroSystems.”

“ Spirit is thrilled to be selected by Boeing Global Services as its global partner for 737 MAX aero structures repair, including Nacelle and Flight Control Services,” said Kailash Krishnaswamy, senior vice president of aftermarket services for Spirit.

“Over the last three years, we have expanded from a single MRO center in Wichita to five MRO centers on four continents, which will allow us to serve Boeing’s global customers locally. This strategic partnership will allow us to provide customized, high-quality MRO solutions at industry leading turn-around times for our customers’ 737 MAX nacelles and flight controls.” 

Source: Boeing/SpiritAeroSystems/Picture Boeing

                                  Boeing Orders and Deliveries for April

Boeing’s new orders in April included 44 737 Max, including six and nine orders by lessors AerCap and Aviation Capital Group respectively. Unidentified customers accounted for 28 of the orders, together with an order for 737-based Boeing Business jet from an unnamed customer. In addition Boeing took orders for two 777Fs from unidentified customer or customers.

Boeing delivered 35 aircraft in April, including 29 737s. The delivered 737s included one 737NG- P-8 military surveillance aircraft for the US Navy.

Customers that took MAX aircraft during April include 777Partners, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air Lease, Alaska Airlines, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, FlyDubai, Gol, China’s ICBC leasing, Lynx Air, Oman Air, Ryanair, Southwest Airlines and TUI.

Boeing also delivered one 747-8F to UPS, three 777-300ERs to Thai Airways (via lessor BOC Aviation) and two 767-based KC-46 tankers to the US Air force.

Boeing deliveries of 787 remain halted, a result of manufacturing quality problems.

Source: Boeing

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                   Airbus Tweaks A320 Software to Address Go-Around Pitch-Up Issue

Airbus has tweaked the flight guidance software for A320-family jets to address a pitch-up issue which could occur under certain circumstances on go-around.

The modification followed an incident involving an unstable approach by an A321neo during which a go-around was initiated with the autopilot engaged. According to the European Union Safety Agency, the resulting pitch-up attitude led the autopilot to disconnect. EASA says this was traced to the combination of take-off thrust being activated, with the autopilot engaged, and the jet in high-lift configuration, within 50s of full speed brake retraction.

EASA Points out that such a scenario was “never encountered” during actual operations. But it says that pitch-up situation could nevertheless result in higher workload at a critical point of the flight.

In May 2020 the authority issued a directive notifying crews, through a temporary flight-manual revision of the condition and adapting speed brake procedures.

Airbus has since developed new flight guidance software standards and issued installation instructions.

EASA is ordering the upgrade on the affected aircraft models, which include A319s and A320neo-family variants.

Source: FlightGlobal, Picture Airbus

Airbus Orders and Deliveries For April

Airbus’s single-aisle business was lifted by the order for 80 jets from Lessor BOC Aviation, although the drought of twin-mile activity was alleviated only slightly by Air France’s firming of four A350 freighters. 

Air Canada and Iberia  took four and two A321neos respectively, while an undisclosed customer has ordered six A320neo-family jets, including a pair of A319neos.

It delivered 48 jets in April that included five A350s and two A330s, plus four A220s and 37 from the A320neo family.

Source: Airbus            

Regional/Business Jets

                        Platoon Aviation’s Fleet Grows to Four Pilatus PC-24s

German charter operator Latoon Aviation received its fourth Pilatus PC-24 at Aero Friedrichshafen, with the ceremonial handover taking place in the presence of officials from Pilatus and Air Alliance. The latter company is the authorized Pilatus sales center for Germany and Austria.

Hamburg-based Platoon Aviation, which has more of the Pilatus light twinsets on order, took delivery of its first PC-24 in the first quarter 2021.Its all-PC-24 fleet provides charter flights to a plethora of European destinations, including popular summer holiday destinations such as Olbia, Nice, Majorca, and Naples the company said.

“The PC-24 is at the cutting edge of technology and offers passengers the highest level of comfort, flat floorer high-quality workmanship of materials,” said Platoon Aviation managing director Deniz Weissenborn.

Platoon Aviation v-p of general aviation Ignaz Gretener said he is pleased with the rapid growth of the company’s PC-24 fleet.

Source: Platoon Aviation

           Short Take-Off ATR 42 Variant Carriers Out Maiden Flight

Turboprop manufacturer ATR has conducted the maiden flight of a short take-off variant of its ATR 42-600 from Francazal airport near Toulouse.

The 30-to 50-seat, designated the 42-600S, is designed to operate to and from reduced-length runways. 

ATR says the aircraft(F-WWLY) departed at 10:00on May 11th, and that sortie lasted 2h 15 min. It flew several parallel tracksuit various altitudes, just north of the Pyrenees mountain range.

“The crew on board performed a number of tests to measure the upgraded aircraft systems’ performance,” the company states.

Equipment including a new multifunctional computer, autobrake, and ground spoiler system well as adapted take-off capabilities, will be individually tested. ATR will fit a larger rudder, which will form part of the aircraft’s final configuration, towards the end of this year and enter the certification phase in 2023. Customers including airlines and lessors have so far committed to 20 of the short take-off and landing variant.

ATR claims around 500 airports worldwide have runways of 800-1,000m(2624-3280 t) which could support operations with the modified aircraft.

Source: ATR, picture ATR

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                   SMBC Acquiring Goshawk To Create Lessor with Over 700 Aircraft

Japanese-owned SMBC Aviation Capital is to acquire fellow Irish-based lessor Goshawk Aviation under a transaction valued at $6.7 billion. It will create the second-largest lessor worldwide in terms of aircraft numbers, and the largest to be owned by Japanese interests.

SMBC will take over Goshawk following an agreement with NWS Holdings and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises. It will acquire 176 owned and managed aircraft, giving SMBC a total of 709—although any Goshawk aircraft located in Russia will be excluded from the deal.

“Goshawk is a high-quality business with assets and people that complement our own,” says SMBC Aviation Capital chief Peter Barrett. He adds that the agreement is the “right transaction” for the company, enabling it to “better serve” its customers in a “ fast-evolving sector”.

Twenty-four new customer airlines will become clients of SMBC as a result of the deal.

SMBC Aviation Capital shareholder Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and leasing adds that it is” fully supportive” of the proposed acquisition, which will be financed by a combination of debt and equity.

It expects the transaction to close in the second half of this year. The combined entity, with total assets of $37 billion, will be based in Dublin and have a single corporate structure. Over 80% of the portfolio’s net book value will be single-aisle aircraft.

Goshawk confirms that its shareholders, NWS and Chow Tai Took Enterprise, have granted approval for the acquisition.

Source: SMBC Aviation Capital, Picture SMBC Aviation Capital

                         It’s the Wedgetail: Air Force to Buy E7 to Replace AWACS

        The Air Force announced in late April it will replace part of the E-7 Sentry, or Airborne Warning and Control System fleet with Boeing E-7 Wedgetails.

In a release, the service said the decision to go with the Wedgetail was based on market research and that it is “the only platform” that could meet all of the Defense Department’s requirements for tactical battle management, command and control, and target tracking in time to replace the aging E-3, which dates back to the 1970s.

The Air Force plans to award a contract to Boeing in fiscal 2023 for the Wedgetail, which was developed by Australia for its air force.

The service’s proposed 2023 budget calls for retiring 15 E-3s, or about half the fleet, from Tinker Air Force base in Oklahoma. It would provide $227 million in research, development, test and funds for the replacement. The first rapid prototype E-7 would be delivered in 2027.

The Air Force said it plans to fund a second rapid Prototype aircraft in fiscal 2024 and aims to make a production decision the following year on fielding more Wedgetails. The release did not say how many Wedgetails the Air Force might eventually buy.

The E-7 is a heavily modified 737NG.

Source: AirForceTimes

                           Royal Jordanian Achieves Full Compliance of 2022 IOSA

         Royal Jordanian has renewed IATA’s Operational Safety Audit(IOSA) registration for the year 2022. RJ Vice Chairman & CEO Samer Majali said: “Obtaining the IOSA registration is proof of RJ’s continued work to comply with air safety standards and adherence to international practices. This is an achievement attained through the efforts of all employees working diligently to keep an exemplary record.”

The IOSA audit was conducted by a team of Auditors from AQS Audition IATA-accredited audit organization. The Audit was conducted against a checklist of over 900 safety standards and recommended practices for all the operational departments.

The Audit, which is effective until April 14th, 2024, covered several RJ operational areas, including Flight Operations, Engineering and Maintenance, Cabin Operations, Corporate Safety, Corporate Quality Management, Crew Training, Dispatch and operational control, Ground and Cargo Operations, Corporate Security and Human Resources.

RJ’s first IOSA audit was carried out in 2004-being the first airline in the region to obtain the IOSA registration at that time. According to IATA, 437 airlines are IOSA registered today.

Source: Royal Jordanian,Picture Royal Jordanian

LATEST NEWS

• Texel Air Middle Eastern operator is ordering another pair of Boeing 737-800 converted freighters, having received the regions first example in January.
• EVA Air has ordered one Boeing 777 freighters the airline eyes opportunities in a buoyant cargo market.

• CMA CGM French logistics firm is to take up to a 9% stake in Air France-KLM as part of a new long-term partnership under which they will work together their respective air cargo capacity.

• United Airlines has received FAA approval to gradually return its 52 Pratt & Whitney-powered Boeing 222-200s to service.

• Lessor AerCap said it decided to stick to an order for up to 68 Boeing 737 MAX jets placed by General Electric’s GECAS leasing arm, even though it had the right to cancel it after acquiring GECAS.

• Indian Start-up Carrier Akasa Air has unveiled its first Boeing 737 Max in the airline’s livery. The orange-purple color scheme on the jet(VT-YAA) features a stylized A on the fin, with the design inspired by birds, an aircraft wing, and the sun.

• British Airways owner IAG has agreed to order 50 Boeing 737 Max jets. IAG will take delivery of 25 Max 8200 aircraft and a further 25 MAX-10. The deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2023-2027.

Sources: AerCap, CMA CGM, United Airlines, Texel Air,EVA Air,FlightGlobal,

AIR CARGO

                             Lufthansa Orders Seven Boeing 777-8 Freighters

Boeing received a welcome boost to its 777X program on Monday, May 9th, as Lufthansa Group placed an order for seven 777-8 Freighters scheduled for first delivery in 2027. Orders for two of the company’s present-day 777 Freighters and 787-9s accompanied the 777-8F deal, cementing Lufthansa’s commitment to Boeing widebody products. Lufthansa Group signed as launch customer for the 777-9 passenger airplane in 2013. The new deal for 787-9s brings the group’s order total for the Dreamliner family to 32.

The deals come about two weeks after Boeing confirmed it would delay the first delivery of the 777X until 2025; reassessing the time it would need to meet FAA’s stricter certification requirements. Originally expected to win certification in 2020, the 777X has suffered through no fewer than three major schedule delays.

“We continue investing in more fuel-efficient, quieter and more economical aircraft that emit significantly less CO2,” said Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Sphr.

“This enables us to drive our fleet modernization. By purchasing these State-of-the-art aircraft, we again underline Lufthansa Group’s ability to invest in and shape the future. Once again, we are taking the initiative and expanding our leadership role as well as taking responsibility for the environment—with premium products for our customers and a sustainable fleet.” 

Source: Lufthansa, Picture Lufthansa

                      Ethiopian Airlines Emerges as Customer for More 777Fs

Ethiopian Airlines has emerged as the customer behind an order for five Boeing 777 freighters previously attributed to an unidentified operator. The African carrier is already a 777F operator, having previously ordered eight directly from Boeing.

Ethiopian Airlines chief Mesfin Tasew says the additional jets will enable the airline to meet “growing demand” in its cargo operation. While cementing our partnership with Boeing with new orders, the growth of our freighter fleet takes the capacity and efficiency of our shipment service to the next level,” he adds.

Ethiopian Airlines had recently signed a provisional agreement to acquire five Boeing 777-8Fs, based on the 777X aircraft family. “ We always strive to serve our customers with the latest technology aircraft the aviation industry could offer,” insists Tasew.

General Electric GE90 engines are fitted as standard to the 777F, while the -8F will be equipped with GE9X powerplants.

Source: Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines, Picture Boeing

 OTHER NOTEWORTHY NEWS

                                                      Airbus and the Great Rate Wrangle

Faced with backlog for the A320 family that as the end of April was within touching distance of 6,000 aircraft, Airbus has a problem.

Sure, it is a problem born of success, but a problem nonetheless: how does it deliver all those aircraft to customers in a timely fashion?

If Airbus builds 50 of the aircraft per month, it would take almost 10 years to fight through the backlog, and even at rate of 65—to be attained by mid 2023—that only drops to seven and a half years.

While not all those orders will complete—there may well be further cancellations down the road—the broader air travel market, particularly for short-to medium-haul traffic is recovering.

Higher fuel prices are also driving a switch to new-generation aircraft that fly more frugally. And the febrile recovery in long-haul seems to be spurring demand for long-range narrow bodies such as the A321XLR.

Based on those metrics, Airbus clearly sees market demand as supporting its decision for even higher production rates. Accordingly it has taken the decision to advance the thrust levers, confirming a plan to take monthly output of the A320neo family to 75 aircraft or 900 per year by 2025.

But the airframes’s single-aisle backlog is lopsided these days: where once the A320 ruled, now the larger A321neo is King, almost 60% of the order book or 3,447 aircraft is for A321neos. This is a problem not all the airframer’s final assembly lines can currently build the largest of its family members.

Internal reconfiguration is under way to change that — along with a further expansion by mid-2025 at the company’s site in Mobile, Alabama— as is reshaping of Airbus’s aerostructures units in France and Germany to better support its own operation.

However, there are limits to what the airframer can do on its own-it needs the rest of the supply chain to move in lock-step with it in order to achieve those higher rates without encountering production snarls or shortages.

But the aerospace recovery is not uniform. The tier ones are mostly coping, but further down the supply chain there are companies that weathered Covid-19 less well. Shortages of staff, parts, castings and forgings for engines, notably and raw materials are all reported. On top of this, there is rising inflationary pressure.

Airbus says it has canvassed its supply chain about the future rate rise, but it remains to be seen how well it will cope; particularly as Boeing will also be increasing out put of its 737 Max family simultaneously.

The nightmare scenario is a return to the sight of gliders – completed aircraft without engines – cluttering Toulouse or Renton.

It is also worth remembering the fragility of the recovery Covid-19 has not gone away; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sent problems rippling outwards; and sections in large parts of the global economy cannot be ruled out. Airbus’s suppliers will not thank it if output is accelerated, then sharply yanked back  in the face of tepid demand.

In a sense, Airbus is damned if it does, and damned if it doesn’t: it cannot sit on that enormous backlog forever. But its bold move to push production to 75 jets per month is very clearly not without its fair share of supply chain risk.

Source: This article was quoted in its entirety from FlightGlobal and printed on 22 May 2022, Picture Airbus

Researched and Compiled by : 

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian  

ON THE BOEING FRONT

              Boeing Begins Build On New Zealand’s First P-8A Aircraft

Rosemary Banks, New Zealand’s ambassador to the United States, was on hand to witness the keeling and said, ”Today’s keeling ceremony is the beginning of a new era for New Zealand’s maritime patrol and response capability.  Our four P-8A Poseidons will better equip our defense forces to extend their reach into the Pacific and beyond, working with our partners and friends.”

An aircraft keel runs the length of the fuselage belly.  Due to the innovative in-line approach to the build of commercial derivative aircraft pioneered on the P-8A, the keel beam on a P-8A is different from the typical 737 keel beam.  The P-8 keel includes unique aspects of the P-8 configuration, such as the integration of an internal weapons bay.

The panel and other fuselage components will be completed on Spirit’s existing 737 production line.  Spirit will ship the P-8A fuselage to Boeing Commercial Airplanes facility in Renton, Washington, for final assembly.  After that, Boeing Defense, Space & Security employees will install mission systems and complete testing prior to delivery to New Zealand later this year.

In total, four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will eventually replace New Zealand’s current fleet of six aging P-3K2 Orion aircraft, providing advanced capabilities to maintain situational awareness in neighboring waters on and below surface of the ocean.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

                                    Boeing March Orders and Deliveries

Boeing did land notable sales in March.  Those included new orders for 47 737 Max; among them 32 jets ordered by lessor Air Lease, 14 ordered by unidentified customers and one Boeing Business Jet(BBJ), also ordered by an unnamed buyer.  Additionally,Boeing took orders for six 777Fs from DHL in March.

Boeing delivered 41 aircraft in March, including 37 737 Max, one Boeing Business Jet, two 737NG-based P-8 surveillance jets to the US Navy, one P-8 to South Korea’s Navy, one 767F to FedEx, one 767-based KC-46 tanker and one 777F to China Airlines of Taiwan.

Source: Boeing

                      

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                       A380 Testbed Conducts Flights with Wholly-sustainable Fuel

Airbus has used its A380 test aircraft, MSN1, to carry out a flight using wholly-sustainable aviation fuel. The aircraft flew from Toulouse on March 25 with one of its Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines powered by 100% sustainable fuel. The duration of the flight was around 3 hours.

The aircraft was supplied with 27t of the fuel by Total Energies.  It was produced near LeHavre and sourced from hydro-processed esters and fatty acids free of aromatics and sulphur, primarily consisting of used cooking oils well as other waste fats.

Airbus conducted another flight with the same aircraft, operating Toulouse-Nice on March 29, to assess the performance of the fuel during take-off and landing.

This is the third Airbus aircraft type to fly on 100% SAF over the course of 12 months; the first was an Airbus A350 in March 2021, followed by an A319neo single-aisle aircraft in October 2021.

Source: Airbus,Picture Airbus

                             Airbus March YTD Orders And Deliveries

Airbus lost a fifth of outstanding orders for its A330neo long-haul jet in March.  The plane’s largest customer went through restructuring, but it won sales elsewhere for more than 100 of its smaller jets.

AirAsia X cancelled 63 of the A330-900 version of the A330neo an upgrade the long-established A330 widebody models as well as 10 smaller A321neo aircraft.

On April 8 Airbus said it had sold a total of 253 jets in the first quarter or a net total of 83 after cancellations.

Source: Airbus       

        

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                         Bombardier Delivers 100th Global 7500 to Vista Jet

On March 29th, Bombardier celebrated the delivery of the 100th Global 7500 during a ceremony at its Laurent Beaudoin Completion Center in Montreal.   The milestone aircraft was handed over to  VistaJet, which now counts 10 of the 7,700nm twinsets in its fleet and expects to have 17 of them by year end.

“I am thrilled to celebrate the 100th delivery of the global 7500 with our valued customer, VistaJet,” said Bombardier chairman and CEO Eric Martel.

“VistaJet recognized early on that this aircraft would transform the business jet industry and the enormous success of Bombardier’s Global 7500 in transforming the private aviation industry.  I would like to thank our teams in Montreal, Toronto, and Wichita for designing, building, and testing this amazing feat of technology.”

VistaJet founder and Chairman Thomas Flohr said his company will continue to expand its Global 7500 fleet to meet the growing demand for ultra-long-range flights.

“Our enhanced product offering on board the Global 7500 also guarantees that our clients, whether business or leisure travelers, are given the best and most seamless flying experience,” he added.

“We look forward to welcoming more members and supporting the business world as our growing fleet of Global 7500s opens a new era for long-haul private travel.” 

Source: Bombardier, Picture Bombardier

                     FlyExclusive to Purchase Up to 30 Citation CJ3+ Twinjets

Exclusive Jets, operating as FlyExclusive, has entered an agreement with Textron Aviation to purchase up to 30 Cessna Citation CJ+ light twinsets, The Wichita airframer announced on April 6th.  Under the agreement, charter operator flyExclusive expects to take delivery of the first five CJ3+3s in 2023, with an option to purchase more of the type for deliveries through 2025.

According to Textron Aviation, the order is expected to support flyExclusive’s Jet Club, partner, and new fractional program. The Kinston, North Carolina-based Part 135 operator is one of the largest Citation operators in the world.  Fly Exclusive’s fleet of 85 light, midsize, super-midsize, and large-cabin jets include CitationXs, Svereigns, ExelXLSs, CJ3, and Encores.  The list price of a CJ3+ is $9.91 million without customization.

Source: Textron Aviation,Picture Textron Aviation                                                                

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

GE Aviation Achieves 400 Million Flight Hours & 37 Years On-Time-Delivery

GE Aviation recently achieved 400 million flight hours and 37 years of onetime delivery of their navigation database to airlines globally.

GE’s navigation database (NDB) provides worldwide coverage and access to more than 18,000 airports.  Each NDB is customized for the customer and allowed the ability to include their own tailored terminal procedures and company routes from GE navigation database and test them against (flight Management  systems) FMS  flight planning and predictions software.  GE’s experts provide 24 hour per day, seven days a week customer service.

GE’s flight management system (FMS) assists military and airline flight crew in managing and optimizing a flight from takeoff to landing.  Included in GE’s FMS advancements are the TrueCource providing connectivity and new software architecture allowing FMS functions to be developed as modular components for ease of update.

“We are grateful to have the dedicated team, technology and experience to enable us to produce and make 150,000 navigation database deliveries to our airline customers,” said Jeremy Barbour, general manager, Connected Aircraft for GE Aviation.

“This support of our flight management system portfolio provides a range of capability and functionality for an airline’s navigation data requirements.” 

GE Aviation’s flight management software provides increased situational awareness and operation efficiencies on more than 14,000 aircraft – including Airbus A320/330/340/A330 MRTT, Boeing 737(all variants), P-8, E-6B, USAF E-4, C-130, LM-100J and KC-46 certified their flight management system in 1984.

Source: Ge Aviation, Picture GE aviation 

             Avelo Airlines And Collins Aerospace Sign Comprehensive Wheel And Brake Agreement

On March 31, 2022, Avelo Airlines and Collins Aerospace announced an agreement to retrofit Avelo’s fleet of Boeing Next-Generation(NG) 737 aircraft with new wheels and carbon brakes.  The comprehensive agreement includes wheel and carbon brake maintenance services and logistics support for the new airline.

“Collins’ broad capabilities made them the right partner for Avelo,” said Avelo Airlines Head of Technical Operations Gary Martin.

“Delivering a reliable, on-time experience for customers is a top priority.  Avelo’s partnership with Collins ensures we will continue to live up to that commitment.”

Collins’ 737NG brake features the company’s advanced DURACARB carbon friction material that delivers an average of 35% longer brake life over competing carbon materials, allowing for decreased maintenance time and increased cost savings.  Collins wheels and Carbon brakes have been selected on more than 3,000 737NG and 737 MAX aircraft to date.

Avelo currently operates six 737NG aircraft.  Three 737-800s serve the airline’s West Coast network based at Los Angeles’ most popular airport Hollywood-Burbank Airport(BUR).

Additionally, three 737-700s serve Avelo’s East Coast network based at Southern Connecticut’s most convenient airport Tweed-New Haven(HVN).Avelo expects to take delivery of nine additional 737NG aircraft this year, expanding the airline’s fleet to 15 airplanes by the end of this year.

Source: Avelo Airlines, Picture Avelo Airlines

Southwest Airlines Opens New Technical Operations Hanger Facility at Denver International Airport

Southwest Airlines opens new $100 million ,130,000 maintenance hanger at the Denver International Airport.  The new facility was unveiled at a grand opening celebration on March 24, 2022, attended by over 300 people, including Southwest CCO Mike Van de Ven, Denver Mayor Michal Hancock, and Airport CEO, Philip Washington.

The new technical operations center can house up to three Boeing 737 inside with an apron area for an additional eight outside.  The facility was designed to support variable technical operations and network fleet management.

The airline is one of the largest employers in the city with nearly 5,000 based in Denver.  In addition, Southwest will begin moving into the first of 16-gate expansion on C concourse in the next few months.  Once completed, Southwest will have the ability to use up to 40 gates, the most gates it has at any airport it serves.

Source: Southwest Airlines,Picture Southwest Airlines

                    Joramco Announces Maintenance Agreement with Ryanair

Joramco, the Amman, Jordan, based maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider and the engineering arm of Dubai AeroSpace Enterprise(DAE) announced on April 13, 2022, a 5-year heavy maintenance a agreement with Ryanair.   It will see the airline utilizing up to 6 heavy maintenance bay slots at its facility in Amman.  Ryanair uses a mix of internal facilities and external suppliers to conduct its heavy maintenance and this agreement will ensure its requirements are more than met as it grows its fleet to over 600 aircraft over the coming years.

Commenting on the deal, Joramco’s Chief Executive Officer, Fraser Currie said:  “We are delighted that Ryanair has selected Joramco to be its trusted MRO provider as Ryanair grows its fleet.  This long term partnership is a result of Joramco’s world-class expertise and efficient services.  This growth comes after completion of another successful winter season with Ryanair.  This deal is a significant factor in its strategic growth and rod map which is expected to see an increase in Joramco’s footprint.”

Speaking on the impact of this announcement, Ryanair’s Director of operations, Neal McMahon, said: “Our 5-year growth plan will grow our fleet to over 600 aircraft and we are pleased to extend and enhance our agreement with Joramco who have been providing ad-hoc maintenance for our fleet for the past 3 years.  This agreement will allow Ryanair to utilize up to 6 heavy maintenance slots, with aircraft coming in nose to tail for the next 5 winter seasons”.

Source: Joramco

       

LATEST NEWS

• BOC Aviation repossesses a Boeing 747-8 freighter leased to Russia’s AirBrideCargo flown to California from Hong Kong.  A U.S. judge signed an order allowing the lessor BOC Aviation Ltd to repossess it.

• Turkish Airlines will begin uninterrupted service to Istanbul on the 27th of this month from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

• Air Lease, one of the world’s leading aircraft lessors, has ordered another 32 Boeing 737 Max, the deal includes 737 Max 8s and Max 9s.

• Eurowings Lufthansa Group’s low-cost unit has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo.

• BOC Aviation lessor based in Singapore placed an order for 80 Airbus A320neo-family jets, the largest single order placed by the company.

• Air Canada is acquiring 26 Airbus A321XLRs, emerging as the undisclosed customer behind an order for six of the jets in the airframes’s backlog.

• flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, has been recognized at this year’s Aviation Achievement Awards in two categories.  Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer was named CEO of the Year and the carrier was awarded Low-Cost Airline of the Year.

• Air Tahiti Nui will begin flying to Seattle-Tacoma beginning on October 4, 2022, in partnership with Alaska Airlines.

Sources: Boc Aviation, Air Canada, Air Lease, Turkish Airlines, FlightGlobal, Air Tahiti Nui

AIR CARGO

A.P. Moller- Maersk Launches Maersk Air Cargo In Response to Customers, Global Air Cargo Needs

On April 8, 2022, A.P Moller—Maersk announced Maersk Air Cargo as the company’s main airfreight offering serving the logistics needs of its clients with integrated logistics.

At the same time, Maersk chooses Denmark’s second largest airport, Billund, as its air freight hub for Maersk Air Cargo with daily flights creating several jobs in the region.

The new air freight company is the result of existing in-house aircraft operator, Star Air, which has transferred activities into Maersk Cargo, the new carrier supporting existing and new customers and and Maersk’s end to end logistics.

The process of transferring activities has received excellent support from customers, suppliers, employees and the Danish Civil Aviation Authority.

Maersk last operated from Island in 2005.  From the continent, Maersk Air Cargo will progressively deploy and operate a controlled capacity of five aircraft-two new Boeing 777Fs and three Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft.  Three new Boeing 767-300 freighters will also added to the US-China operation, which will be initially handled by a third-party operator.  The new aircraft are expected to be operational from the second half of this year and onwards up to 2024.

Billund Airport looks forward to welcoming Maersk Air Cargo, which will also support the growth of the West Danish business community.

Source: Maersk Air Cargo

                               Air France-KLM Firms order for A350 Freighters

Air France-KLM Group has firmed its tentative order for four Airbus A350 freighters, a deal originally disclosed in December last year.

The aircraft are intended to provide additional cargo capacity at Air France, already an operator of A350 passenger variant.  Air France-KLM is taking up to eight A350Fs, of which four are the of the subject of the firm order.

Air France-KLM brings to four the number of firm customers for the A350F, alongside Air Lease, Singapore Airlines and CMA CGM, and takes the number of jets on order to 22.

Middle Eastern operator Etihad Airways has also signaled that it will acquire the cargo model.

Source: Air France-KLM,Picture Airbus

                                        Other Noteworthy News

                 Clamor for China Eastern Crash Theories Is At Odds with Reality

Few incidents prompt greater focus on the airline industry than a fatal air crash.

Following the tragic loss of a china Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 on Monday, March 21st, the scrutiny-informed or otherwise-has been intense, in general and particularly on social media.

The internet is awash with theories regarding the cause of the crash, notably including those carelessly based on imagery from computer reconstruction of an incident that happened 25 years earlier.  During such times, the commentators worth listening to tend to be those urging people to wait for further evidence to emerge.

So far, aside from flight-tracking data, the few fresh details released via official channels include acknowledgements of failed attempts by air traffic control to contact the aircraft as the incident occurred and of the damaged cockpit voice recorder being recovered.

One certainty is that in China’s huge aviation market, the incident marks the first fatal crash since 2010. And within the wider context of airline safety, the crash has occurred in an industry that has a remarkable safety records was reflected in IATA’s recent summary of 2021 data.  None of that is, of course, any comfort to those who have lost love ones in this crash.

As ever, commercial’s aviation license to connect the world is contingent on it doing everything within its power to establish why catastrophic incidents have occurred, before acting promptly on any recommendations.  The first part of the process may take some time.

As investigators continue their work, many commentators will already be tired of having to post out that the crash is unrelated to safety issues with the 737 Max program.  The requirement to do so undeniably reflects that the latter Program and Boeing’s reputation are still very much in the public consciousness, even as hundreds of Max jets fly without fanfare in markets around the world.

On the latter point, it is not unreasonable to question whether this crash might further extend the long wait for Max jets to fly again in China, on the ground of optics alone.

Source: This article was quoted in its entirety from FlightGlobal written by Lewis Harper on 24 March 2022

                         

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ON THE BOEING FRONT

             ANA Extends Boeing Maintenance Performance Toolbox for Entire Fleet

Boeing announced at the recent Singapore Airshow that All Nippon Airways (ANA) has signed an extension for Boeing’s Maintenance Performance Toolbox for another five years.

Maintenance Performance Toolbox allows operators to simplify their maintenance operations by enabling them to manage, distribute, process and view intelligent maintenance documentation in a uniform digital format through a single interface of aircraft manufacturer or engine type.

“The adoption of Maintenance Performance Toolbox is one example of how we have streamlined our maintenance processes through digital tools,” said  Hajime Kaneko, Vice President of the digital Transformation Portfolio Management Department at ANA.  “It has greatly reduced the complexity of managing maintenance to use the Maintenance Performance ToolBox to take advantage of those benefits.”

Today, nearly 350 airplane operators and their MRO providers rely on Maintenance Performance Toolbox to support their engineering and maintenance operations.  ANA and other airlines have deployed its full-fleet capabilities on maintaining their Boeing and non-Boeing aircraft.

“ANA was a development partner for Maintenance Performance Toolbox and was the first customer to go live with the platform’s full-fleet capability in 2013,” said Duane Wahking, Vice President of Digital Aviation Solutions for Boeing Global Services.   “We look forward to continuing to grow and improve Maintenance Performance Toolbox through our collaboration with ANA in support of streamlining their maintenance operations.”

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

                                                      Boeing Orders And Deliveries

Boeing landed orders for 37 commercial jets in February, including deals from Air Lease Corp for 18 737 Max, 14 from American Airlines and five first-generation 777 freighters from Ethiopian airlines.

Deliveries slowed to 15, broken down as follows: 15 737 Maxs one 777F to DHL and one 747-8F to UPS with no deliveries of 787s.

Source: Boeing                   

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                 Airbus & CFM International to Pioneer Hydrogen Combustion Technology

Airbus has signed a partnership agreement with CFM International, a 50/50 joined company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, to collaborate on a hydrogen demonstration program that will take flight around the middle of this decade.

The program’s objective is to ground and flight test a direct combustion engine fueled by hydrogen, in preparation for entry-into-service of a zero-emission aircraft by 2035. The demonstration will use a A380 flying testbed with liquid hydrogen tanks prepared at Airbus facilities in France and Germany.  Airbus will also define the hydrogen propulsion system requirements, oversee flight testing, and provide the A380 platform to test the hydrogen combustion engine increase phase.

CFM International (CFM) will modify the combustor, fuel system, and control system of a GE Passport turbo fan to run on hydrogen. The engine, which is assembled in the US, was selected for this program because of its physical size, advanced turbo machine and fuel flow capability.  It will be mounted along the rear fuselage of the flying testbed to allow engine emissions, including contrails, to be monitored separately from those of the engines powering the aircraft.  CFM will execute an extensive ground test program ahead of the A380 flight test.

Airbus has a long-standing relationship with CFM and parent companies, GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines; together, the partners have established a great track record of delivering high-performance products that meet the needs of airline customers.

Source: Airbus, Picture Airbus

                                                Airbus Orders And Deliveries

In February, Airbus delivered 55 aircraft to 35 customers.  Single-aisle deliveries in February totaled 40 A320 Family aircraft composed of 37 A320 NEO, plus 4 A220s and CEO.  On the wide body side, 7 were delivered, comprised of 2 A330 and the rest were A350s.  There were no orders registered for the month.

Source : Airbus     

        

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                                 Tradewind Aviation Expands with 20 New PC-12 NGX

Tradewind Aviation has signed an order for 20 new PC-12 NGX, expanding its fleet of Pilatus PC-12 to 38.  The first single-engine turboprop is slated for delivery in the third quarter of this year, with the remaining orders scheduled to deliver over the next five years at a rate of 3 to 4 PC-12 NGX per year.

Tradewind Aviation, the market leader in regional air mobility, announces its firm order of 20 brand new PC-12 NGX single-engine turboprop aircraft.  The company has operated both on-demand private charter and scheduled “Shuttle” service throughout the US and Caribbean since 2001.  In addition to strengthening Tradewind’s long-standing relationship with the leading leading Swiss aerospace manufacturer, the purchase will enable the private aviation company to significantly grow and enhance its Pilatus fleet, benefiting both clientele and crew members alike.

The latest version of the PC-12, the NGX boasts a completely redesigned and modernized cabin, featuring larger windows and versatile BMW Designworks seating, making for a more enjoyable and productive passenger experience.

Its powerful, worldwide proven Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-E-series engine and advanced single-pilot avionics system automate the flight controls allowing for lower fuel burn and less noise.

Source: Pilatus

                           Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 6X Completes Cold Soak Trials

The Falcon 6X completed cold weather testing, passing another major milestone towards certification, expected later this year.

The test team of engineers consisting of technicians and pilots from Dassault Aviation and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada endured bone-chilling temperatures as low as -37 degrees C (-35 degrees F) during the long trial runs in Iqaluit, a tundra town in the far north of Canada.

“The Falcon 6X continues to impress us with its performance and reliability as we move through the certification process,” said Carlos Brent, Dassault executive vice president of Civil Aircraft.

“The aircraft operated flawlessly at the extreme temperatures an aircraft can be subjected in severest climate conditions.  That includes engines, systems and low-temperature maintainability requirements.”

All told, the 6X flight-test completed 50 hours of cold tests, as well as more than 220 flights and 650 flight hours.  Certification of the large-cabin twinjet is expected later this year.

Source: Dassault, Picture Dassault                                                                  

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                           El Al Seals Codeshare With Moroccan Flag Carrier RAM

Moroccan flag-carrier Royal Air Maroc has reached a codeshare agreement with Israeli counterpart El Al, tightening new ties between the two countries.

RAM inaugurated a service between its Casablanca hub and Tel Aviv on March 13.  It operated a Boeing 787 on the route’s flight AT 228, carrying a Moroccan delegation of cultural and economic figures.

The Oneworld alliance member RAM will operate the route four-times weekly initially before it rapidly in- creasing to five, the airline states.  “We offer our customers direct flights between the two countries in less than five hours and a unique travel experience aboard our aircraft,” says RAM chief Hamid Addou.

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has since sealed a codeshare agreement with El Al, which takes immediate effect.

Source: FlightGlobal,Royal Air Maroc, Picture Royal Air Maroc 

                                      Rolls-Royce Ultrafan Reaches Milestone

Rolls-Royce has reached a key milestone in its UltraFan technology demonstrator program as the power gearbox (PGB) is dispatched from the company’s site in Germany.  The power gearbox, which has set a world aerospace power record on test, has been shipped to the UK where the first UltraFan engine demonstrator (UF001) is being assembled.

UltraFan offers a step change in gas turbine sustainability, saving 25% fuel compared with the first generation of Rolls-Royce Trent engines.  Critical to the performance is the PGB, which has planetary design and can transmit more power than an entire grid of Formula 1 cars when running at Maximum power.   On test it has delivered 87,000 horsepower of 64 megawatts-enough to  power a medium-sized city.

Cris Cholerton, President of Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace, said: “This is a tremendous moment for everyone on the UltraFan program as we take another step forward with the dispatch of the power gearbox.  I am proud that we are creating better, more efficient gas turbines which will be an essential part of air travel for decades to come.” 

UltraFan is scalable for narrowbody or widebody aircrafts and is a key element of Rolls-Royce’s commitment to making aviation more sustainable.

Source: Rolls-Royce, Picture Rolls Royce

                                   Emirates Sets June 23 for Tel Aviv Service

Emirates has confirmed that it will be commencing daily services to Tel Aviv from June 23, 2022.  Emirates will operate its three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the route, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class.

Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airlines said: “We look forward to finally welcoming customers onboard our flights to and from Tel Aviv this summer, and offer them substantial connectivity to and through our Dubai hub as COVID Travel restrictions continue to ease around the world and more borders open up.  In addition to unlocking tremendous pent-up demand, Emirates’ debut into Israel will mean more choice for travelers as they return to the skies, and more opportunities for businesses to visit Dubai and beyond to our far reaching network of almost 130 destinations, alongside our signature hospitality and award-winning onboard experience.”

The new service to Tel Aviv will also provide 20 tons of cargo capacity on each flight, providing channels for Israeli businesses and start-ups to export products like pharmaceuticals, high tech goods, fruits and vegetables and other perishables.  The flights are also expected to transport manufacturing raw materials and components, semiconductors and e-commerce parcels into Israel.

Source: Emirates, Picture Emirates

      

LATEST NEWS

• Aviation Capital Group LLC has announced the delivery of 1 new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on long term lease to Icelandair.

• JetBlue Airways Has ordered another 30 Airbus A220-300s to take its firm commitment for the type to 100.

• Volotea will add six more Airbus A320s to its fleet this year as it continues to expand beyond its pre-Covid capacity.

• Flydubai has signed a multi-year agreement for parts provisioning and Quick Engine Change (QEC) kits from Boeing to support all-Boeing Flydubai fleet.

• Griffin Global Asset Management announced the delivery of 1 Boeing 737Max 8 to ultra-low cost airline based in the Dominican Republic.

• Swoop has announced it will grow its fleet from 10 to 16 aircraft with the acquisition of six new Boeing 737Max 8 aircraft

• UPS Airlines made this announcement on March 17th, “Our final Boeing 747-8F, (N633UP), rolled out of the paint shop and will soon enter service after completing a conformity check verification pending FAA approval.”

Sources: Boeing, Flydubai, Griffin Global Asset Management, JetBlue, UPS Airlines

AIR CARGO

DHL & Singapore Airlines Ink New Agreement To Expand Partnership

On March 10, 2022, DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, has entered into a Crew and Maintenance agreement(CM) with Singapore Airlines(SIA) to deploy five Boeing 777 Freighters.

This agreement marks a further step in DHL Express’ expansion of its intercontinental air network to meet customer demand in fast-growing international shipping markets.

Travis Cobb, Executive Vice President Global Network Operations &Aviation, DHL Express, said : “With the deployment of five Boeing 777 Freighters, we can expand our express service linking the Asia Pacific region with the Americas.  Following the pandemic, we see good prospects for strong growth in trans-Pacific trade lanes. By collaborating with Singapore Airlines, we see a unique chance to establish a long-lasting relationship with a long time partner who shares common values and operates at the highest standard.”

Based at Singapore’s Changi Airport and serving DHL’s South Asia Hub there, the freighters, which will sport a dual DHL-SIA livery, will be operated by SIA pilots on routes to the US via points in North Asia. SIA will also oversee the maintenance of these aircraft.

The initial agreement is set for more than four years with the opportunity for an extension.  As part of the agreement, the first aircraft delivery will be in July 2022, with the second in October 2022.  The remaining three aircraft are planned for delivery throughout 2023.

Sources: DHL,Singapore Airline,Pictures SIA

                                  Western Global Ordered Two 777Fs in January

US cargo carrier Western Global Airlines is the previously undisclosed customer that ordered two Boeing 777Freighters in January.  Boeing disclosed the order earlier but had not named the customer until 16 February.  Boeing does not say when it intends to deliver the aircraft to Western Global.

“The addition of 777 Freighters will enable Western Global to continue its growth, providing increased capability and flexibility to its operations,” says Boeing senior vice-president of commercial sales and marketing Ihssane Mounir.

Western Global has also taken an option to purchase one more 777F.  Western Global’s existing fleet includes 21 jets: four 747-400Fs and 17 MD-11Fs, according to Cirium fleets data.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

                         

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ON THE BOEING FRONT

                           Boeing Reaches Record $2 Billion in E-Commerce Sales

Boeing achieved an annual record for e-commerce parts sales last year with more than$2 billion in online orders.  Fueled by investment in digital tools, Boeing Distribution Inc.(formerly Avail), sold nearly 70,000 parts products through its e.commerce site to commercial and government customs, eclipsing pre-pandemic levels.  Commercial orders accounted for $1.5 billion sales, reflecting the continued recovery in the airline industry.

“Our $2 billion closeout to 2021 was a great capstone as the market heads to a stable recovery.” said Ted Colbert, president & chief executive officer, Boeing Global Services, at theSingapore Airshow on February 14th.  ”Our e-commerce capabilities are a great example of the digital solutions we provide to enable industry recovery and growth.  Our focus as always is on bringing value through our products and services, and we will continue to partner with our customers as they navigate the dynamic environment.”

Boeing Distribution Inc.’s online revenue last year was 15 % higher compared to pre-pandemic levels, while orders were 20 % higher.  The stronger sales came as the company rolled out new tools to improve the customer experience, including a new homepage, a live-chat feature, and online knowledge center.

The refreshed e-commerce parts website, which features over 500,000 products, saw five million visits from 50 countries last year.

Source: Boeing Global Services, Picture Boeing Global Services

                                         Boeing Logs 75 More Orders In January

Boeing kicked off 2022 with a positive order momentum, and padded its backlog during the month with orders for 75 jets, including for the Max and newly launched 777-8 Freighter.

Boeing’s deliveries in January came to 32 aircraft 27 737 Max Jets, a 777F plus four aircraft for military programs.  Deliveries of 787s remained paused in January due to manufacturing quality issues.

Source: Boeing                    

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                           Airbus Setting up New Airline to Offer A300-600ST Beluga Fleet

Airbus has set up a new commercial outsize transport service intended to capitalize on the remaining flying life of its A300-600ST Beluga fleets, as it phases out the type from its main internal logistics operation.

The Airbus Beluga Transport service has already carried out its first work, with aircraft F-GSTC lifting a heavy helicopter from Marignane, near Marseille, to the Japanese city of Kobe at the end of last year.  This long-haul operation involved technical stops at Warsaw, Novosibirsk and Seoul.

The airframer is aiming to attract civil or military customers, not only in the aerospace industry, but the energy, space, maritime and humanitarian sectors.

Airbus Beluga Transport project Leader Clement Beaunis says the Beluga will be a complementary offering to the niche outsize market, which is served by aircraft types such as the Antonov An-124.

Beaunis says that, while the AN-124 is “very good at heavy payloads”, the Beluga, which has a 40t capability, can provide a large-diameter fuselage to handle tall and wide shipments, including engines, without the need to dismantle them.

Source: Airbus,Picture Airbus

                     Airbus Orders And Deliveries for January

Two Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1000s have been dropped from the airline’s backlog, the airframer’s latest official figures reveal.

Airbus’s backlog for January 2022 shows the number of Qatar A350-1000s on order has fallen from 42 to 40 leaving total orders for the -1000 from all customers on the A350 at 162.

Qatar Airways has taken delivery of all 34 A350-900s on order, but has only taken 19 A350-1000s so far.

It has listed new orders, including an agreement with US lessor Azorra Aviation, for 22 A220s, plus 14 A320neos and A321neos from two unidentified customers.

But the Qatar cancellations have pushed the airframer’s overall net orders into deficit for the first month of the year.  Airbus delivered 30 aircraft in January, comprising four A350s,24 A320neo-family jets and a pair of A220s.

Source: Airbus

            

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                              8,000th Cessna Citation Delivered to Scotts Miracle-Gro

Textron Aviation has delivered its 8,000th Cessna Citation, the airframer announced on February 15.  The milestone aircraft, a Citation Longitude, was delivered at a special ceremony at the OEM’s headquarters in Wichita to customer Scotts Miracle-Gro. The super-midsize twinjet is the fifth in the lawn-and-garden product manufacturer’s fleet.

“I, along with the members of our flight department, congratulate Textron Aviation on the delivery of its 8,000th Citation aircraft,” said Scotts CEO Jim Hagedom, who personally owns a Citation CJ4 and is a former U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot.  “Reaching this milestone is a credit to the Cessna brand.”

The first Citation 500 was delivered in 1972 to American Airlines.  Since then, more than 30 Citation models have been certified over more than 50-year history of the brand.  Six Citation models are in production, representing the light, midsize, and super-midsize categories of business jets: M2 Gen2, CJ4 Gen2, XLS Gen 2, Latitude, and Longitude.

“A milestone like this wouldn’t be possible without all the owners and operators who love to fly our aircraft,” said Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper.  ”With more than 41 million flight hours across the globe, our customers continue to make Citation jets their aircraft of choice.”

Source:  Textron Aviation

                                                                       

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                                       Korean Air Introduces Its First Boeing 737-Max 8

Korean Air announced that its first Boeing 737 Max 8 was delivered to Incheon Airport on February 13.  The newly introduced Boeing 737 Max 8 is scheduled to begin flying March 1, after undergoing standard safety procedures such as an airworthiness test.

Kicking off with its first delivery of the 737 Max 8, Korean Air is slated to receive a total of six aircraft this year.  In November 2015, Korean Air signed an agreement to acquire 30 737 Max 8s.  Korean will fly the aircraft in a two-class,146-seat configuration, which includes eight premium seats.

South Korean regulators cleared the path to restoring Boeing Max services in November 2021, following the types global grounding.  The 737 Max 8 has demonstrated high operational reliability, with a 99.38% performance over the 898,737 flight hours logged so far.

Source: Korean Air, picture Korean Air 

                                 SIA Places $2.8 Billion Order for GE9X Engines

Singapore Airlines has signed an order for 22 additional GE9X engines, which will power its fleet of Boeing 777-9s.

The contract, announced at the Singapore Airshow, also includes a long-term engine services contract, and adds to an initial order for 40 GE9X first announced in 2017.  It is valued at $2.8 billion at list price, states GE aviation.

SIA has 31 777-9 aircraft on order, and will be the first in the Asia-Pacific region to operate the type.  There are two other Asian operators with orders for the 777X: Cathay Pacific of Hong Kong as well as All Nippon Airways in Japan.

Lau Hwa Peng, SIA’s senior vice president of engineering says: “the cutting edge technologies that have gone into the Boeing 777-9 and GE9X engines will help SIA to increase our operating efficiencies, lower our fuel burn, and materially reduce our carbon emissions.  This will reinforce SIA’s position as a leading global airline, and enable us to capture future growth opportunities.”

Source: GE Aviation, Boeing Picture

               Kenya Airways Signs For Boeing Landing Gear Exchange Services

Boeing and Kenya Airways have signed an MoU for landing gear exchange services.  Boeing will provide nine landing gear chipsets wherever and whenever needed to support the Kenya Airways 787 fleet, enabling more efficient and cost-effective maintenance operations.

“The customer is key in all our operations and this program will help is continue to offer world class customer service.   It will safeguard our operations and minimize disruptions to our guests,” commented Evans Kihara, technical director at Kenya Airways.  ”This allows us to plan our cash outflow in advance and at the same time enables us to work with Boeing to ensure that our network schedule integrity is achieved, bringing the much-desired predictability to our guests.”

“This is just one example of how we can bring value to our customers through solutions tailored to meet their specific needs -in this case, an increase in Kenya Airways’ 787 maintenance efficiency and cost effectiveness.” said Anbessie Yitbarek, vice president of commercial services sales and marketing for Boeing.

“We look forward to implementing these programs with Kenya Airways, and continuing our long-standing relationship for many years to come.”

Sources: Kenya Airways,Boeing,Air International 

      

LATEST NEWS

• Viva Aerobus took delivery of the first of four A321neo leased from AMBC Aviation Capital in Hamburg on February 28th.

• Jaramco Amman-based maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) has extended its agreement with the global delivery company DHL to cover heavy checks on four of DHL’s Airbus A300-600 wide -bodied aircraft.

• Norwegian Scandinavian budget carrier agreed to lease 18 737s, including several Max variants from AerCap to build is fleet over the next two summer seasons.

• How Will Russia-Ukraine Conflict Affect Air Travel? the flights will be longer, the fuel costs will be higher, there will be fewer planes flying.

• Alaska Airlines has switched its 737 Max order, adding the smaller 737Max 8 & the largest 737 Max 10 to its fleet.  The move will see Alaska exercise all its options, bringing the fleet size to 145.  The new breakdown of the fleet will see 60 737 Max 10s,70 Max 9s, and 15 Max 8s.

• WestJet Group & Sunwing announced on March 2nd that they have reached a definitive agreement that WestJet Group of companies will acquire Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines.

• Corendon Airlines of Turkey will take nine Boeing 737 Max jets from US Lessor Air Lease.  The airline will receive five 737Max 8 in the spring of this year and the rest to follow in the first quarter of 2023.

• Etihad Airways has selected Boeing to provide the airline with the Jeppesen FliteDeck Advisor digital solution for the carrier’s 787 Dreamliner fleet.

•   BOC Aviation Limited has announced it has agreed to purchase 11 new Boeing 737 Max-8 from Boeing for lease to Lynx Air.

Sources: Alaska Airlines, WestJet, Norwegian, FlightGlobal, Jaramco, DHL, Boeing, Etihad

AIR CARGO

                        Ethiopian Signs An MOU For Five Boeing 777-8 F Freighters

On March 4th, Boeing and its longstanding customer Ethiopian Airlines, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with the intent to purchase of five 777-8 Freighters, the industry’s newest, most capable and most fuel-efficient twin-engine freighter.

The MOU to order the 777-8 Freighter will enable Ethiopian Airlines to meet the expanding global cargo demand fro its hub in Addis Ababa and position the carrier for long-term sustainable growth.

Boeing launched the new 777-8 Freighter in January of this year and has already booked 34 firm orders for the model, which features the advanced technology from the new 777X family and proven performance of the market-leading 777 Freighter.  With payload capacity nearly identical to the 747-400 Freighter and 30% improvement in Fuel Efficiency, emissions and operating costs, the 777-8 Freighter will enable a more sustainable and profitable business for operators.

Source: Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines, Picture Boeing

OTHER NOTEWORTHY NEWS

                 Italian Prosecutors To Wrap Probe On Boeing 787 Parts by July

Prosecutors investigating suspected flawed parts produced by Italian company for the Boeing787 Dreamliner are expected to wrap up probe by July; when they will say if the alleged defects could threaten the airplane safety, two sources said.

A team of independent experts appointed by the prosecutors in analyzing the components and their impact on the overall airworthiness of the aircraft, the sources close to the matter told Reuters.

The experts are currently focusing on the bigger components, including titanium parts that help secure the aircraft’s floor, which were removed in Italy from around 30 fuselages intended for Boeing 787 airplanes, a third source said.

Boeing said some 787 Dreamliner parts supplied by Italy’s Manufacturing Process  Specification(MPS) had been improperly manufactured, marking the latest in a series of industrial snags to hit the wide-body aircraft.

MPS and its now-bankrupt predecessor company Process Speciali had supplied floor fittings, spaces, brackets and clips to Italian aerospace group Leonardo, which makes two fuselage sections for the Boeing 787 at its plant in Grottaglie, near Brindisi.  Both Leonardo and Boeing have dropped MPS from their Supplier’ list.

In December of last year, prosecutors ordered the seizure of titanium and aluminum parts supplied by MPS and its Predecessor from Leonardo’s Grottaglie plant.

Initial results of the investigation launched by Brindisi prosecutors suggest that MPS and Process Speciali produced more than 4,000 flawed parts between 2016 and 2021 for the Boeing 787, the prosecutors said in a confidential report seen by Reuters in December.

Prosecutors allege that MPS or Process Speciali made parts using titanium and aluminum of different quality and origin from those ordered by the customer, breaching the relevant technical specifications.

Eight individuals, including the former head of MPS and former head of Processi Speciali, are under investigation for fraud and for actions threatening the safety of air transport.

Source: Reuters,Picture of Dreamliner Boeing.

                         

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

                                   ON THE BOEING FRONT

Boeing Launches 777-8 Freighter to Serve Growing Demand for Cargo

On January 31, Boeing launched the new 777-8 freighter and expanded its market-leading 777X and freighter families of jetliners with an order for up to 50 aircraft from one of the world’s largest cargo carriers, Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways will be the 777-8 Freighter launch customer with a firm order for 34 jets and options for 16 more, a total purchase that would be worth than $20 billion at current list prices and largest freighter commitment in Boeing history by value.

Featuring advanced technology from the new 777X family and proven performance of the market-leading 777 Freighter, the 777-8 Freighter will be the largest, longest-range and most capable twin-engine freighter in the industry.

With payload capacity nearly identical two the 747-400 Freighter and 25% improvement infield efficiency, emissions and operating costs, the 777-8 Freighter will enable a more sustainable and profitable business for operators.

As part of the agreement, Qatar Airways will convert 20 of its 60 777x family orders to the 777-8 Freighter. Qatar Airways is also ordering two current 777 Freighters to capitalize on the buoyant air cargo market. Customers from around the world have ordered more than 300 777 Freighters since the program began in 2005.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

                             ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                        Airbus to Lead Creation of Aircraft Lifecycle Center in China

Airbus has signed a memorandum of understanding with Tarmac Aerosave and the city of Chengdu to create the first sustainable aircraft lifecycle service center in China. The agreement will cover activities such as aircraft parking and storage, maintenance, upgrades, conversions, dismantling, and recycling services for various aircraft types.

The sides plan to sign a formal agreement on cooperation in mid-2022, in time to allow the start of operations at the end of 2023, subject to relevant regulatory approvals.

“This is another concrete contribution to the aviation industry’s quest for sustainability, supporting the principle of a circular economy in line with Airbus’ purpose to pioneer sustainable aerospace,” said Airbus Customer Services senior v-p Klaus Roewe.

“This unique center will support the expansion of Airbus’s aviation services while enabling the implementation of China’s Green Industry’ strategy.”

Tarmac Aerosave will bring 15 years of experience in aircraft dismantling to the project. Located in the same center, Airbus subsidiary Satair will acquire aging aircraft and distribute the resulting used parts to complete the full scope of lifecycle services. The facility will cover a surface area of 690,000 square meters and have a storage capacity of 125 aircraft.

Source: Airbus, Image Airbus             

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                       Royaljet Group Expands Its Fleet with BBJ Acquisition

RoyalJet has expanded its growing fleet with the acquisition of another Boeing Business Jet(BBJ). The purchase transaction was completed recently and the aircraft is currently undergoing technological and communications upgrades in Basel, Switzerland. It is expected to enter service with RoyalJet and be available for charter globally in April of this year.

Rob DiCastri, CEO of RoyalJet said “Fleet expansion, renewal and upgrade are integral elements of our ongoing customer experience transformation, allowing us to continue to provide an even more exceptional experience to our guests.” 

This Boeing Business Jet has 23 passenger VVIP interior with forward crew rest area for long journeys, and aft private master bedroom with private lavatory and shoer, and a mid-cabin open plan VVIP lounge. It has been finished with state of the art materials and custom configuration designed for functionality and maximum comfort and can sleep up to 12 in VVIP lie-flat seats and its queen sized bed.

This aircraft will also become the longest range BBJ in RoyalJet’s fleet, with auxiliary fuel tanks giving it the capability to fly non-stop for more than 12 hours and reach almost any destination globally with one short fuel stop. It will be the 14th aircraft in RoyalJet’s fleet, which will now include 11 BBJs— already by far the largest fleet of the type.

Source: RoyalJet, photo RoyalJet                                                                      

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                       

Czech carrier Smartwings has conducted a Boeing 737 Max service to Antarctica, landing the aircraft at the troll airfield on January 26. The airline says the Max 8 twinjet (OK-SWB) is the first from the re-engined family to arrive in Antarctica.  Troll station is sited on the edge of Antarctica closet to southern Africa.

Operated by the Norwegian Polar Institute, it has a 3,000m runway located at 1,232m altitude.

Smartwings says the aircraft departed Oslo, with a stop in the city of N’Djamena in Chad, before proceeding to Cape Town and then onwards to the polar region. 

“The runway surface was specifically prepared, the braking action measured by Norwegian Polar Institute prior to operation,” says the carrier. 

It adds that the crew comprising three experienced captains received continuous weather updates and report’s availability via datalink and satellite phone communications.  “The preparations took many months, the flight and landing went smoothly”, says Smartwings captain and flight director Tomas Nevole. Arctic survival training formed part of the preparatory work. 

Approval had to be obtained from Czech authorities to operate to trolls, it is an isolated airfield with no alternates. Smartwings says the aircraft was parked in Antarctica for 2 hours before taking off for the return journey. 

Sources: FlightGlobal,SmartWings,Picture Smatwings

 

                    ‘Fly Arna’ Armenia’s National Airlines Unveils Visual Brand Identity

The Armenian National Intersts Fund(ANIF) and Air Arabia Group, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) operator, revealed the visual brand identity of ‘Fly Arna’, Armenia’s national airline to be launched by their joint venture company.

The brand name ‘Arna’ is derived from Company’s official name Armenian National Airlines’ with ‘AR’ taken from Armenian, ’N’ from National and ‘A’ from Airlines. Chosen following a public competition, the name ‘Fly Arna’ was identified to be the most inclusive and reflective of the spirit of the joint venture company to transform the aviation sector of the country.

With its colors inspired by the Armenia flag, the ‘Fly Arna’ logo and brand identity was designed to reflect the young, modern and a value-driven national airline that strive to become the most accessible and sensible choice for air travel in Armenia and beyond.

David Papazian, CEO of ANIF, said: ‘Fly Arna’ s brand identity is truly reflective of the inspiring spirit and ethos of Armenia. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “Fly Arna’s visual identity launch is an important progress in the journey towards the launch of the airline”.

‘Fly Arna’ follows Air Arabia Group’s successful low-cost model, taking Zvartnots/International Airport(EVN) in Yerevan as its base. The Airline Operation certificate (AOC) process has started and more details the launch date, fleet, and destination network will be announced in due course.

Source: The Armenian National Interests Fund, picture Fly Arna 

Ethiopian Resumes Boeing MAX Flights

Ethiopian Airlines has today (February 1) brought the 737 Max back into service, almost three years after a fatal crash of one of its aircraft prompted the global grounding of the type. The Star Alliance carrier had at the end of last year said it planned to return the type to service in February.

Ethiopian Airline chief executive Tewolde GebreMariam reiterates that the carrier’s decision to restore services with the Max comes after its recertification by regulators around the world and following the return to service of the type by 36 operators.

US regulators cleared the Max to fly again in November 2020, and Brazilian airline GOL was the first to bring the aircraft back into service the following month. China and Indonesian regulators, two of the jurisdictions to clear the type, have both now paved the way for the Max to return to service.

“In line with our initially stated commitment to become among the last airlines to return the Boeing 737 Max, we have taken enough time to monitor the design modification work and more than 20 months of rigorous recertification process. We have ensured that our pilots, engineers, aircraft technicians and cabin crew are confident of the safety of the fleet,” says GebreMariam.

Ethiopian notes the MAX has carried out more than 349,000 commercial flights and close to 900,000 total flight hours since the resumption of its operation a year ago.

The Airline executives and chairman, as well government officials and Boeing executives, were on board the first flight alongside customers.

Ethiopian Airlines has four Max aircraft in its fleet and further 25 on order-some of which will be delivered this year.

Source: Ethiopian,Picture Ethiopian

LATEST NEWS

• Cayman Airways takes delivery of its 4th Boeing 737 Max-8 on January 20th. The delivery flight was flown by Captain Perry Panton and first Officer Troy McCoy.

• Lynx Air’s first painted Boeing 737 Max 8 has come out of the paint shop at Boeing pending delivery.

• AJW Group an independent aircraft component parts, repair and supply chin solutions provider, and Honeywell, have announced a worldwide sole distributor agreement.

• Caribbean Airlines has carried out its initial revenue flight with the fleet’s first Boeing 737 Max 8 on January 14, 2022.

• US DOT has approved Scandinavian long-haul operator Norse Atlantic Airways’ application to operate scheduled and chartered service between Europe and the USA.

• Southwest Airlines has selected Miami-based iAero Thrust to perform engine MRO and test services on CFM56 engines powering its Boeing 737NG fleet.

• American Airlines Group said on Wednesday, February 2nd, it has agreed to by an additional 23 737 Max 8 aircraft from Boeing by exercising existing purchase options and deferring the delivery of some 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

• Icelandair is to lease another pair 737 Max jets from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise to raise its capacity for the summer season.

Sources: AJW Group, Boeing, FlightGlobal, American Airline, Icelandair, Caribbean, Southwest Airlines

AIR CARGO

                           Airbus Slots A350F Between Twinjet Family’s Passenger Models

Airbus has confirmed that the A350 freighter will be 3m( 9 ft) shorter than the A350-1000 but 4m(13 ft) than the -900. The airframer puts the A350F’s overall length at 70.8m (232ft) compared with the 73.79m (242ft) of the -1000 ,but the wing span remains the same. Diagrams from Airbus indicate that the frame reduction is forward of the wing.

Airbus gives the range of the new freighter as 4,700nm (8700km) and confirms the maximum payload at 109t. The aircraft will have a maximum take-off weight of 319t, matching of the heaviest-1000 weight variant, and a maximum landing weight of 250t.

Its cargo hold will be capable of accommodating 30 AM containers or pallets on the main deck, plus 12 pallets of 40 LD3 containers on the lower deck.

Singapore Airlines, Air France, lessor Air Lease and cargo operator CMA CGM have all signed up either firmly or provisionally as customers for the new aircraft. They will be fitted with an aft cargo door and powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.

“The A350 leverages all benefits of the A350 to help large wide body freight operators make a clean start towards a more sustainable and profitable future,” says Airbus.

Source: Airbus, picture Airbus

Qatar Cargo to Replace Entire ULD Fleet With Safran’s Fire Resistant Containers

Qatar Airways cargo announced that it is replacing its entire Unit Load Device (ULD) with fire resistant containers becoming the first carrier to do so.

This follows the International Air Transport Association(IATA) recent launch of its new industry certification—the Center of Excellence for Independent Validatars (CEIV) Lithium Battery—to improve the safe handling and transport of lithium batteries across the supply chain.

Qatar Airways has taken delivery of the initial batch of containers on September of 2021. The airline will replace its entire fleet of more than 10,000 ULDs with this unique container design, aiming to exchange 70% of the units during 2022, the airline said.

Safran Cabin’s newly developed Fire Resistant Containers are designed to resist a lithium-based fire for 6 hours, and are equipped with an innovative SEN (Secure, Ergonomic, and Non-Velcro) door made of high impact resistant materials and without the use of Velcro, making the container easy to maintain and optimizing the cost of ownership. Pascal Piveteau, EVP Cargo& Catering division from Safran Cabin welcomed the partnership with Qatar.

Sources: Safran Cabin, Qatar Airways, Picture Qatar

                                  China Airlines Orders Four More 777Fs

China Airlines has placed an order for four additional Boeing 777 freighters, with deliveries slated to begin from 2023. The announcement will take the total number of 777Fs in the Taiwanese carrier’s fleet to 10 examples by 2024.

“The ongoing fleet acquisition program will boost operating performance by balancing network development and market movements against the aircraft replacement schedule,” states China Airlines, which also operates 18 747-400 freighters.

The airline took delivery of its first 777F in 2020, and now operates three examples. It states that two more are slated to be relived this year-end, another in 2023.

With passenger travel demanding the doldrums amid travel restrictions, China Airlines has pivoted to what it calls “cargo-centric business model”. In 2021, the airline mounted around 540 cargo flights a month, averaging 120 flights weekly.

Source: China Airlines, Boeing, Picture China Airlines

 Researched and Compiled by : 

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian  

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 

ON THE BOEING FRONT

                        Boeing’s 777X Hitting Performance Goals

Boeing’s 777-9 is meeting performance expectations and the company still expects to begin delivering the jets in late 2023, despite repeated delays and close scrutiny by regulators.

The 777-9 makes its international debut at the Dubai air show; the flight test airplane made a nearly 15-hour nonstop flight from Seattle’s Boeing Field to Dubai. It was the first international flight and longest flight to date for the 777X as it continues to undergo a rigorous test program.

“The airplane is performing well and in-line with our customer commitments,” Boeing chief executive David Calhoun said on October 27. “We will validate these results. Nothing at this moment in time… has suggested that the 777-9 plan isn’t workable,” he adds.

Boeing’s late-2023 timeline reflects the federal Aviation Administration’s closer review of the jet, which has already included what Calhoun calls “pauses”. He says the PAA has taken the position of ”Boeing, get your house in order before we run this test.” 

Boeing remains confident on the current timeline of its 777X. The four-aircraft 777x fleet has now accumulated 1,700h across 600 flights and is “doing well and seeing it performing as predicted”, says pre-Dubai air show briefing Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president for commercial sales and marketing.

Separately, Calhoun says Boeing is “evaluating the timing of launching a freighter version of the 777X”, though he provided no details.

Source: Boeing

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

   A380 Reprieve Would Have Worsened Airbus Pandemic Strain: Faury

Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury believes the airframes’s pandemic-related predicament over the last 18 months would have been far worse had it not independently opted to terminate the A380 program.

Emirates has become the latest to scrap early-delivery aircraft, after tying up with a recycling firm to assist with dismantling its first A380. The jet was delivered in July 2008. Initial aircraft for Singapore Airlines and Air France have also been broken up.

Airbus halted the A380 program in February 2019, one of the final acts of Faury’s predecessor Tom Enders, after Emirates – which was single-handedly keeping the program afloat – slashed its backlog for the type. 

“Honestly, with the benefit of hindsight and it’s always easier to be smart afterwards, we stopped it ahead of Covid, and it was really the right thing to do,” Faury tells FlightGlobal.  “We’d have been in much more difficult spot with the A380 still in full swing in the midst of Covid.”

“I think what was important for the Airbus decision to terminate the A380 was size of the market for that product and the evolution of technology that gives an edge to the long-range twin-engined wide body,” says Faury.

Source: Airbus, FlightGlobal

REGIONAL AND BUSINESS JETS

                GulfStream to Open Mesa Service Center in Arizona

Gulfstream Aerospace plans to build a 225,000 sq-ft service center at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, the Savannah, Georgia airframes’s first facility in Arizona.

Gulfstream officials “have looked long and hard to find the right place to build” such a facility, Gulf Stream president Mark Burns said during an announcement on Tuesday November 9th.

A more than $70 million investment, the new service center will create more than 200 jobs and expand Gulfstream’s MRO capabilities in the western U.S. It follows recent company-owned service center expansions in Savannah; Van Nuys, California; Forth Worth, Texas: Palm Beach, Florida; Appleton, Wisconsin; and Farnborough, England. The Mesa facility is expected to open in 2023. 

The company is working with the airport authority to use green power from the airport’s electrical utility, in addition to installing solar panels. ”In the past decades our fleet has grown, we have invested to create a network of modern facilities to provide customers with outstanding service and support when and where they need it,” said Burns.

Source: Gulfstream Aerospace,Image Gulfstream      

            De Havilland Resumes Dash 8 Work Following Strike 

Following a three-month workforce strike, Canadian airframer De Havilland Canada has resumed Dash 8-400 completion work-but only temporarily.

The Company still intends to move forward with previously announced plan to shatter its Dash 8 manufacturing facility in Toronto, then restart production at a different site when market conditions improve, De Havilland said on November 8th. 

The company has restarted the work of “ completing aircraft currently under production”, it says. The restart comes after members of union UNFor ratified a contract on October 26.

Workers at De Havilland’s site in the Downview section of Toronto started striking in July, a move the union attributed partly to job uncertainty. 

De Havilland’s parent acquired the Dash 8 operation from Bombardier in 2019, but De Havilland’s lease at the site is set to expire this year. Earlier this year, citing the pandemic, De Havilland said it would stop Dash 8-400 production after existing orders are filled. That process is now starting.

De Havilland Canada will also begin the process of decommissioning the facility,” De Havilland said on November 8. The manufacturing equipment will be decommissioned and stored while De Havilland Canada reviews future production opportunities.” De Havilland has not said how much longer the site will remain active or how many undelivered Dash8s it has on hand. Cirium data shows that De Havilland holds unfilled orders for eight Dash 8-400s.

The Company aims to resume new aircraft production at a new site at the earliest possible time, subject to market demand the company adds.

Source: De Havilland, Picture De Havilland

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                            GE9X Clears Dust-Ingestion Test Milestone

GE Aviation has completed dust-ingestion testing on its new GE9X engine for the Boeing 777X, as the propulsion specialist eyes a potential third application for the wide body turbofan.

Performed at the manufacturer’s facility in Peebles, Ohio, the trial saw the 110,000lb – thrust-class power plant run for a total of 1,600 cycles while a stream of dust particles was injected into the engine. 

“We really put it to the test,”says Karl Sheldon, program manager for the GE9X. But borescope inspections of the turbofan after 1,500 cycles”looked really good”, particularly the hot section”. “That is why we were able to extend the test for a 100 cycles beyond what we had planned.”

A full module and component tear-down will be performed over the coming weeks to verify the initial findings, he adds, with the results available in early 2022.

GE obtained US certification  for the GE9X in September 2020 and Sheldon says the next step is a 3,000-cycle ETOPS test at Peebles which should complete in the first half of next year.

In addition, the company continues to work towards european certification for the engine; Sheldon anticipates the milestone in late this year or early next year.

Further out, he sees the likely application for the GE9X on a freighter version of the 777X.

Meanwhile, GE is still waiting for the exact specifications from Boeing for the smaller but longer-range-8 variant of the 777X before defining the exact thrust requirements for the GE9X on that aircraft, says Sheldon. 

Source: GE Aviation 

                             Boeing Delivers Norway’s First P8-A Poseidon 

Boeing delivered Norway’s first P-8A maritime patrol aircraft on 18 November at the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. The Royal Norwegian Air Force has ordered five of the type. The Country’s P-8A scheduled to begin maritime patrol duties from Evenes Air Station in Norway’s high north in two years, says Boeing.

P-8As are submarine-and ship-hunting aircraft that carry a small arsenal of torpedoes, anti-ship missiles and radar for tracking targets.

“Norway is responsible for large maritime areas in a strategically important part of the world, and the new P-8A Poseidon will represent a tremendous improvement in our ability to both protect our sovereignty and understand developments in these areas,” says Matte Sorfonden, director general of the Norwegian Defense Material Agency.

The P-8A has a 737-800 fuselage mated with a 737-900ER wing. Boeing says the aircraft has 86% parts commonality with Commercial 737NGs. Borrowing from the airliner’s supply chain helps keep a lid on support costs.

Many navies and air forces are replacing aging turboprop Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft with P-8As. In the case of Norway, five Poseidons will replace its fleet of six P-3 Orions and two Dassault DA-20 Jet Falcons.  Boeing says Norway’s four remaining P-8As are in advanced stages of production and are scheduled to be delivered in 2022.

Norway’s first P-8A is the 142th example of the type delivered. Other operators include the Indian navy, the Royal Australian Air Force, UK Royal Air Force and US Navy. Boeing says initial deliveries of the Poseidon to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, South Korean navy and German navy will take place in 2022, 2023 and 2024 respectively.

Source: Boeing,Picture Boeing

                           Indian Start-Up Akasa Air Signs for 72 Boeing 737 Max Jets

Indian start-up carrier Akasa Air has placed firm orders for 72 Boeing 737 Max aircraft including some for the higher- density Max 8-200.  The order was announced November 16 at the Dubai air show.

Plans for the carrier first emerged in October, as Akasa outlined its intention to begin flights in the summer of 2022.

Akasa chief executive Vinay Dube says: “We believe that the new 737 Max airplane will support our aim of running not just a cost-efficient, reliable and affordable airline, but also an environmentally friendly company.

“India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world with an unparalleled potential.  We are already witnessing a strong recovery in air travel and see decades of growth ahead of us.”

Dude is the former chief executive of Jet Airways, which operated Boeing 737 Max aircraft prior to its collapse two years ago.  SpiceJet is the only active Max operator in India.

While no specific breakdown has been given on how many of the 737-8s will be the higher density version, Boeing vice-president commercial marketing Darren Hulst said it would be a “significant number” of both.

Source: Boeing

   

    New Canadian Low-Cost Carrier Lynx Air To Launch In Early 2022

A new Canadian ultra-low- cost carrier called Lynx Air is set to launch flight operations the first quarter of 2022.

The Calgary-headquartered company was formerly called Enerjet, which offered charter flights serving Canada’s oil and gas industry.

The carrier says on November 16 that it changed its name, appointed its management team and plans to announce its schedule “soon”. It’s looking to replicate in Canada the low-cost model which has revolutionized air travel across Europe and the United States, offering low fares, flexibility and choice.

“We believe that there are people in Canada who can’t afford travel or travel as much as they would like to, and what to do is to make travel accessible to everyone in Canada,” chief executive Merren McArther said on November 17.

Lynx will launch operations with three Boeing Max 8, which McArther says will be delivered in the first quarter of 2022. The aircraft will have a single class configuration with 189 seats. The carrier hopes to grow to 46 jets in the next seven years.

“ Boeing’s newest 737 aircraft enables the lowest cost operation of any aircraft in its market segment, making it a great fit for Lynx Air’s ultra low-cost business model,” said Brad McMullen, Senior Vice President of Sales, North America, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. ”Passengers can feel confident in Lynx Air’s choice of model fleet, knowing this latest generation of aircraft are designed to offer the greatest flexibility, reliability and efficiency in the single-aisle market.”

McArther says the airline’s goal is not to grab market share from rival carriers. Rather, the company wants to tap into the still pent-up demand following the almost-two-year coronavirus crisis that kept travelers at home.

Source: Lynx Air, Aviation Pros, Picture Lynx Air

LATEST NEWS

• Collins Aerospace has entered into a long-term agreement to support Japan Airlines’ (JAL) fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft through its Dispatch flight hour program. Dispatch guarantees the availability of high-performance avionics and communications assets to customers around the globe.

• Safran has signed agreements with VietJet Air and Bamboo Airways worth $2.3 billion related to engines for 50 Airbus A321neos and thirty Boeing 787-9s.

• Cayman Airways to relaunch the New York route this month using their new Boeing 737 Max 8 jet and retires the last 737-300.

• VietJet Air has confirmed it will lease up to three Airbus A330s, as a part of fleet development plans.

• Singapore Airlines expects to resume 737 MAX flights before the end of this year.

• AerCap has completed its acquisition of US leasing giant GECAS, a transaction which gives General Electric around a 46% shareholding in AerCap.

• Ryanair 737 Max 8-200 fleet stands at 20 jets and exceeds expectations and expects to have over 65 of the new variant in its group fleet by summer of 2022.

  *Flybe takes delivery of its first De Havilland Canada Dash8-400 twin turboprop at its new Birmingham airport home. The aircraft is the first of the type leased from Nordic Aviation Capital.

Sources: Ryanair, Collins Aerospace, Safran, Airbus, Singapore Airlines, Cayman Airways, FlightGlobal.

AIR CARGO

                       ATSG Selects Boeing for Next Converted Freighter

Air Transport Services Group, Inc., the world’s largest lessor of 767-300 converted freighters, has contracted with Boeing for the conversion of four aircraft to 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighters(BCF).

“Our continued confidence in the 767-300 platform, now coupled with the services and support of the OEM, reinforces our commitment to deliver best-in class reliable services to our customers,” said Mike Berger, chief commercial officer of ATSG. ”We’re proud to partner with Boeing as we expand our fleet to meet growing demand and look forward to future growth together.”

The 767-300BCF now has more than 100 orders and commitments around the globe, providing wide body converted freighter capability to meet market demand, and building on a record year for customer orders of Boeing’s family of freighters.

“We are honored that ATSG has decided to make to make the 767-300BCF an integral part of their fleet expansion strategy, supporting customers looking to capitalize on strong e-commerce demand,” said Jens Steinhagen, director of Boeing Converted Freighters. ”As the OEM, Boeing has the original design data, robust supply chains, and dependable delivery schedules that benefit BCF customer such as ATSG. With that OEM advantage, we stand ready to meet ATSG’s needs by bringing forward market-leading 767-300BCFs into its fleet.” 

ATSG is a global leader in cargo leasing, operating a fleet of 106 Boeing aircraft, including more than ninety 767 converted freighter.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

                            CMA CGM Second to Commit to A350 Freighter

French logistics firm CMA CGM Group has become the second customer for the new Airbus A350 freighter after signing a memorandum of understanding covering the purchase of four of the type. The aircraft will be operated by the group’s recently launched cargo unit CMA CGM Air Cargo.

The Commitment, which Airbus expects to be finalized soon, comes days after Air Lease placed the first provisional order for the type during the Dubai air show. Air Lease is taking seven A350Fs.

CMA CGM already operates five A330-200Fs. In September, the French firm also detailed plans to add a pair of Boeing 777 Freighters.

Source: CMA CGM Group

 Researched and Compiled by : 

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian  

ON THE BOEING FRONT

  Boeing 737 MAX Test Flight for China A Success

Boeing Co’s 737 MAX test flight for China’s aviation regulator in August was successful and Boeing hopes a two-year grounding will be lifted this year, the head of Boeing’s china said.

“It went off without a hitch,” Boeing China President Sherry Carbary of the test flight, speaking on the sidelines of Airshow China, the country’s biggest air show. 

Boeing working with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) as it sifts through data and finalists reports before deciding whether the plane can be returned to service, Carbary said.  

The ban, which has been lifted in the West and several Asian countries, could be eased in China around November, people close to the matter have told Reuters.

“We are hopeful it will happen by the end of the year,” Carbary said, declining to be more specific. ”It is up to CAAC. But WE can tell you we are doing all we can to support them and we’re encouraged about how closely they are working with the US.”

The company’s China sales have also been hobbled by U.S. China trade tensions.

Source: Reuters

Boeing Sets up Two 767 Freighter Conversion Lines with GAMECO

Guagzhou-based GAMECO will open two Boeing 767 passenger -to- freighter production lines, becoming the first MRO provider in China to join the Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) program for the 767-300.

The announcement, made during the 2021 edition of Airshow Chinain Zhuhai, will also see GAMECO become China’s first MRO provider to run conversion lines for both the 737-800, as well as the 767-300. 

The Chinese MRO first began work on the 737-800BCFs in late 2019, and steadily ramped up production capacity by opening two more lines in its Guangzhou base.  The 767 conversion lines will also be sited in Gangzhou, says GAMECO chief Norbert Marx. “The introduction of the 767-300BCF program further grows GAMECO’s regional presence and enhances our strategic focus around meeting customer demand. We will open the 767-300BCF conversion lines inner new hanger.” Marx adds.

Source: Boeing,  

                 

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

             Airbus Seeks More Performance and Efficiency from Wings

Airbus confirmed towards the end of September it has been working on what it calls an “extra performing wing” that will be able to adapt its shape, span, and surface during flight. The completely new design of the wing aims to generate additional operating efficiencies and reduce fuel burn and carbon dioxide emissions. A scaled demonstrator integrated on a Cessna VII business jet is scheduled to fly by the middle of the decade, Airbus chief technical officer Sabine Klauke said during the company’s sustainability summit at its Toulouse headquarters.

The project is running in tandem with Airbus’s Wing of Tomorrow (WoT) research program, which focuses on exploring new materials, new technologies in aerodynamics and wing architecture, plus how wing manufacturing and industrialization can be improved to meet future demand. The extra-performance wing demonstrator project focuses on accelerating and validating technologies that will improve and optimize wing aerodynamics and performance for any future aircraft. The two projects are completely complementary, stressed Klauke, noting they both contribute to the company’s decarbonation roadmap.

“Airbus is continuously investigating parallel and complementary solutions such as infrastructure, flight operations, and aircraft structure,” she said. The extra-performing wing technologies are inspired by biomimicry, stimulating the wings and feathers of a soaring. Various technology bricks will be investigated to enable the active control of the new wing, including gust sensors, pop-up spoilers or plates that are rapidly deflected perpendicular to airflow, multifunctional trailing edges that dynamically change wing surface in flight, and a semi-aeroelastic hinge.

Britain’s multi-technology tier one aerospace supplier GKN Aerospace delivered the wing’s composite fixed trailing edge from its UK-based global technology center in Bristol to Airbus’s wing-production plant in Broughton. ”The manufacturing of the first composite fixed trailing edge under the WoT program is great achievement,” said John Pritchard, GKN’s civil airframe president.

“We are proud to be on board of Airbus’ WoT research program. The manufacturing of lighter, stronger, and low maintenance composite wing structures will contribute to the sustainability goals of the aerospace industry and help shape the future of flight.”

Source: Airbus

           

Regional/Business Jets

      Italy Continues Commitment to Piaggio with an Order for Six P180s

Italy has formalized an order for six Piaggio Aerospace P180 Avanti Evo turbo- props for the country’s armed forces. Signed by defense minister Lorenzo Guerni on October 1st, the commitment is valued at $198 million.

The deal also includes the provision of a P180 full flight simulator and continued maintenance of the Rolls-Royce Viper engines powering the The Aeramacchi MB-339s operated by the Italian Force’s Frecce Tricolore display team.

Piaggio Aerospace has been in extraordinary administration—a form of business rescue—since 2018, with a sale process down to a final bidder. Notably, these six aircraft bring the total order portfolio of the P180, including private customers, to 20 units. 

Vincenzo Nicastro, Piaggio Aerospace’s commissioner, says the order shows the Italian government fulfilling its commitment to the company’s turnaround.

Source: Piaggio Aerospace

           Florida-based VIP Completions Refurbished Boeing 767 Business Jet

Florida-based VIP Completions is taking on what it said is its biggest project yet: a comprehensive interior and exterior refurbishment of a Boeing 767 business jet. Delivery of the refurbished aircraft is scheduled before the end of this year.

The Cabin has been divided into six spaces, the cornerstone of which is the main lounge. It is equipped with an 80-inch video monitors DJ station with an “audiophile-caliber” sound system, and a full dining table. Other spaces include a master bedroom with a queen-size bed and a suite bathroom and two lounge areas that can be converted to bedrooms.

With seating for 33 passengers, the cabin sleeps 16. Two galleys, conference room and seating for eight; plus four lavatories, two with showers round out the new cabin. A custom cabin management system controls high-speed controls, high-speed internet, high definition audio and LED lighting. The aircraft’s exterior features a paint scheme of black, white, and pearl colors accented by a carbon fiber effect on the cowlings.

“While we have successfully completed VIP wide body projects in the past, including multiple BBJs, 757s and others; this project is the biggest in our company’s history,” said VIP Completions president Ben Shirazi.

“Beyond its size and the potential that it offers, the 767 stands out from other VIP wide body platforms because of its range, altitude, and speed capabilities.”

Source: VIP Completions, Picture VIP Completions

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                    Tata Confirms Selection As Winning Air India Bidder

Executives from Indian conglomerate Tata Sons have confirmed the group has won the bidding for struggling national carrier Air India.

“I am confident the Tata Group will restore the glory of Air India”, said a gracious Singh SpiceJet founder Ajay Singh who submitted the other bid for the flag carrier.

Statement from Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaren call it “a historic moment, and it will be a rare privilege for our Group to own and operate the country’s flag-bearer airline.” He paid tribute to J.R.D. Tata, whom he called a “pioneer of Indian aviation, whose memory we cherish.”

Air India becomes Tata’s third airline acquisition. It holds a majority stake in full-service Vistara with Singapore Airlines and AirAsia India with Malaysian AirAsia.

Once the sale closes by the end of the year, Tata will get  full its profitable subsidiary Air India Express. 50 percent of its share of the joint venture with Singapore Airport Terminal Services, which provides handling services across airports in India.

Air India’s fleet consists of a mix of 117 wide-and narrow-body aircraft and Air India Express flies 24 Boeing 737-800s. In 2020, Air India flew 63 million passengers, giving it a 26 percent market share on 172 domestic routes. It operates 70 international routes, more than any other Indian carrier. More than two-thirds of its consolidated revenues come from the international market.

Sources: Tata Bros, AIM, FlightGlobal

             Japan Clears ANA to Switch Pilots Between A320s & A380s

Japanese operator All Nippon Airways is introducing mixed-fleet flying between the Airbus A380 and A320 family, enabling crews to switch between long-and short haul operations.

ANA will be the first carrier to bring in the capability between the types, following clearance from the Japanese civil aviation regulator. The carrier has three A380s, which were introduced to operate services to Hawaii, as well as some 40 A320-family jets.

Airbus mixed-fleet flying enables pilots to be cleared to operate more than one type from the airframes’s range-allowing crews to be utilized more efficiently. “It also enables airlines to interchange differently-sized aircraft at short notice without crew-scheduling difficulties, allowing them to better match aircraft capacity to passenger demand,” says Airbus.

Source: All Nippon Airways, Picture Airbus

   Flyr to Take up to 10 Boeing 737 Max-8 Aircraft From Air Lease 

Norwegian start-up has signed a letter of intent to lease six new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft from US lessor Air Lease next year. The first aircraft will be delivered early next year and the carrier aims to have all six aircraft in service during the first half of 2022. Flyr has also taken options on four more aircraft for delivery in 2023.

“The decision to choose the latest generation of brand-new Boeing aircraft is in line with the authorities’ goal of a more sustainable development in aviation,” Flyr chief executive Toje Wikstrom Frislid says.

Flyr launched flights at the end of June, initially on domestic flights, using a Boeing 737-800. The airline in August launched its first international flights, serving Alicante, Nice and Malaga. Cirium fleets data shows the airline operates four 737-800s.

Source: Air Lease Corp., Picture Flyr

LATEST NEWS

• Flair Airline will add four new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to its fleet in April and May 2022. The additional planes should help Flair to grow its spring schedule by 33%, according to the airline’s statement on October 19, 2021.

• Alitalia sells the brand to ITA-Italia Transporto Aereo, including the domain http://www.Alitalia.com  for 90 million euros.

• Icelandair is considering adding up to three more Boeing 737 Max 8s to its fleet to provide additional capacity ahead of next year’s summer season.

• Bonza, a new low-cost carrier named Bonza aims to commence services with Boeing 737 Max aircraft in Australia next year.

• India Navy is continuing to expand its long-range maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare capabilities with the delivery of the country’s 11th P-8I.

• Alaska Airlines to add the former SunExpress Airlines of Germany. The aircraft is 737 Max 9 as the airline elected to cancel its order for any Max aircraft.

• TUI Group travel group to amalgamate its five individual airlines under a single leadership, bundling key functions together in order to streamline operations.

• Gulf Air started direct twice weekly flight from Bahrain to Tel Aviv on September 30th.

• Recaro Aircraft Seating is to equip Qatar Airways with its brand new CL3810 economy class seat. Starting at the end of 2022, twenty shipsets of the CL3810 will be installed on the new A321neo fleet.

• Spirit Airlines is sticking with Pratt & Whitney geared turbofans to power at least another incoming Airbus A320neo- family jets

Sources: Alaska Airlines, Gulf Air, Boeing, Recaro Aircraft Seating, Spirit Airlines

AIR CARGO

                     Europe’s Last MD-11 Exits Lufthansa Cargo Service

Lufthansa Cargo’s last Boeing MD-11 freighter completed its final service with European carrier on October 17, before its sale to US operator Western Global Airlines.

It marks the end of service for the three-engine type at Lufthansa Cargo after more than 23 years in the carrier’s fleet and also likely end of MD-11 operations with any carrier based outside the USA.

“We are very grateful to our MD-11f fleet for over two decades of loyal service,” says Lufthansa Cargo chief executive Dorothea von Boxberg.”The decisive factor for the introduction of the MD-11F at Lufthansa Cargo in the late nineties was significantly better fuel efficiency compared to the wide body freighter previously used.In the future we will rely on the twin-engine Boeing 777F for the same reason.”

The only registered MD11F to a carrier outside the USA a single Saudia freighter which is in storage and due to be retired in December of this year.

With the departure of its final MD-11, Lufthansa Cargo becomes an all-Boeing 777 Freighter operator, with 11 of the type in service, according to Cirium.

Source: Lufthansa, Picture Lufthansa

     CMA CGM to Supplement New Air Cargo Fleet With 777Fs 

French logistics firm CMA CGM Group is supplementing its new air cargo operation with a pair of Boeing 777-200LRFs. The company is to purchase the two General Electric GE90-powered aircraft having previously established the new division with a fleet of Airbus A330-200 Fs.

CMA CGM Air cargo was set up in February this year and started in services in March. It expanded from an initial service on the Liege-Chicago route to include routes to New York,Atlanta and Dubai.

CMA CGM says the 777Fs will give the carrier “flexibility” as its air freight network broadens. Boeing has secured total orders for 272 777Fs.

Source: CMA CGM, Picture CMA CGM Group           

 Researched and Compiled by : 

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian