ON THE BOEING FRONT
The Boeing 787-10 ZC001 in Final Body Join
Boeing in early December began to assemble the first 787-10, the second stretch variant of the family, at its facility in Charleston, South Carolina. The 787-10 has the potential to take a significant slice of the replacement market for the Airbus A330-300s and the 777-200s. With 323 seats, and at the same time, give the twin jet program a strong push toward profitability.
So far, the 787-10 is coming together smoothly and ahead of schedule. Spurred on predominantly by Singapore Airlines in early 2013, Boeing has won orders and commitments for 154 aircraft from nine airlines and leasing companies.
The 787-10 is 18 feet longer than the 787-9; 10ft of that is made up of the midbody, which is extended to 114ft overall. As they are for all 787s, the midbody and aft-fuselage sections for the 787-10 are assembled in South Carolina.
Design work for the 787-10 stayed in Seattle, where the challenge was maximizing commonality with the 787-9. Designers targeted a goal of 90% commonality between the 787-9 and the -10, a big leap over the 50% achieved between the 787-8 and the 787-9.
The first aircraft is expected to make its maiden flight early this year. Following initial checkout, it will be ferried to Seattle along with the other test 787-10s for completion of the certification campaign. The first and third 787-10s will be powered by Rolls-Royce’s new Trent 1000 TEN engine, while the second will be powered by the competing GEnx1B. Flight tests of the TEN began on a 787 early in December, the initial 787-10 is scheduled to enter service with Singapore Airlines in mid-2018.
Source : Aviation week/Boeing/Boeing Picture
ON THE AIRBUS FRONT
Airbus to Slow A380 Production in 2017 in Accord with Emirates
Airbus will put off a dozen deliveries of the A380 plane in the next two years following agreement with Emirates, its largest customer for the model, as demands continues to fade for the A380.
Handovers of six A380s a piece that were originally planned for 2017 and 2018 will be shifted to a year later following an agreement with Emirates and engine supplier Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc. The Toulouse, France-based plane maker said on Tuesday, December 27th, in an e-mailed statement.
Airbus still plans to deliver 12 A380s per year as of 2018, and will seek to accelerate cost savings to minimize the effects on the break- even target for 2017.
Airbus has already been reducing production of the A380, which costs $433 million at list prices, as demand for large airliners has dried up. In the meantime, Emirates and Rolls-Royce reached a settlement earlier in December over the airline’s A380 engine performance and maintenance concerns.
Dubai-based Emirates is by far the biggest buyer and operator of the A380, with orders for more than 140 of the plane. The carrier recently switched to Rolls-Royce engines for its latest batch of A380s, after relying on General Electric Co,’s Engine Alliance venture for the four power-plants that propel the airliner.
Source : Bloomberg/Airbus
REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS
Bombardier Global 7000 Takes to the Skies
Bombardier Business Aircraft has successfully flown its new flagship business jet, the Global 7000. Flight test vehicle 1(FTV1), C-GLBO (c/n70001), took off from the manufacturer’s Toronto Downsview facility on November 4, 2016.
It flew for 2 hrs 27 mins. During the maiden flight, the crew tested the basic system functionality of the jet and assessed its handling and flying qualities.
The pilots conducted a gradual climb to 20,000 ft and the aircraft reached a planned test speed of 240 kts.
All flight controls were exercised during the sortie and Bombardier reports that all systems and aircraft performed as expected. The flight signifies the start of the jet’s flight test program, ahead of scheduled entry into service in the second half of 2018.
Bombardier says the jet will offer a 7,400 nm(13,705km) range at Mach .85 carrying eight passengers.
Source : Bombardier/Photo Bombardier
Boeing Business Jets, GKN Aerospace Introduce Skyview Panoramic Window
Boeing Business Jets announced in early December that it will work with GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business to develop, produce, and offer support for the Skyview Panoramic Window. It is the largest window available on any passenger jet offered today.
The window will be available as a feature on BBJ, BBJ2, and all three members of the BBJ MAX family, including the new BBJ MAX 7 with scheduled entry-into service in 2018.
The Skyview Panoramic Window, measuring approximately 4.5 feet by 1.5 foot(1.4×0.5 m), is created by effectively joining three existing 737 windows together. Situated aft of the wing with multiple potential locations based on the airplane type, it offers customers an unparalleled perspective of the world.
Source : Boeing Business Jets
OTHER AVIATION NEWS
Argentina’s Aerolineas to Buy 11 New Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft
State-run airline Aerolineas Argentinas said on December 19, 2016, that it will buy 11 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and nine 737-800 NG planes in a deal based on revising a sales contract signed by the previous government.
President Mauricio Macri took office a year ago to reduce government spending. The previous administration had signed a contract with Boeing for 20 737-800 NGs, but no payments or deliveries were made under the deal.
“Aerolineas will be the first operator in Latin America to have a 737 MAX, which is a new plane globally,” the airline’s finance chief Pablo Miedziak told Reuters after signing the new contract with Boeing’s vice president for sales in Latin America Van Rex Gallard.
Miedziak said the airline is increasing its capacity by replacing planes with a capacity of 128 seats for new ones that can seat 170 passengers.
Source : Reuters
COMAC C919 Starts Ground Taxi Tests
The COMAC C919 narrow body passenger jet moved under its own power for the first time on December 28, 2016, initiating the last series of tests before the C919’s maiden flight.
The low-speed taxi trials are being carried out from the company’s facility in Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The China-made C919 is scheduled to make its first flight in the first half of 2017.
CFM International, the largest jet engine manufacturer worldwide is the exclusive engine supplier for the C919, the first C919 engines (CFM Leap 1C) last July but run for the initial time until November 9, 2016.
Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines will become the first customer to take delivery of the C919. So far COMAC has received 570 orders for the C919 from 23 customers, including Air China and China Southern Airlines.
Source : China Aviation Daily
LATEST NEWS
- Yangtze River Airlines HNA subsidiary looks toward international expansion in this year. The Shanghai-based carrier plans to take delivery of two Boeing 787 aircraft for that specific use.
- Air Tanzania has been revealed as the previously unidentified customer for a single 787-8 valued at $224.6 million at list prices.
- Philippine Airlines has confirmed an order for five Bombardier Q400 turboprops, with purchase rights for an additional seven aircraft.
- Qatar Airways is in talks with Airbus to convert its order for up to 80 A320neos to the larger A321neos.
- Delta Airlines has cancelled its order for 18 787-8 aircraft, a commitment that it assumed from Northwest Airlines when the two merged in 2008.
- Azur Air Russian charter carrier has taken delivery of its first 189-seat 737-800, which will be operated on routes to Spain and the United Arab Emirates this month.
- Trujet South Indian regional carrier has taken delivery of its first ATR 72-600 turboprop, which is leased from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.
- ANA has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, ANA has six more A320neos on order, and 26 A321neos.
- Gulfstream has kicked-off the certification campaign for its new G600 business jet, following first flight of the large-cabin, long-range twin on December 17, 2016.
- Island Air the Honolulu-based airline will acquire three new Bombardier Q400 turboprops. The aircraft will have 78 seats and enter service early this year.
AIR CARGO
Boeing Selects Evergreen Aviation Technologies for 767-300 Passenger-to Freighter Conversion
Boeing announced on December 13, 2016, that Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp (EGAT) will perform passenger-to-freighter conversions for the 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter(BCF) program. Boeing received 27 firm orders from customers worldwide for the 767-300 BCF. 
The 767-300 BCF conversion entails the modification of a passenger airplane to the cargo configuration. Converted 767-300BCFs have about the same cargo capability as the 767-300 production freighter with approximately 52 metric tons, with structural payload at a range approximately 3,000 nautical miles (5,930 km) and 412,000 lbs (187,270 kg) maximum takeoff weight. There are 24 pallet positions on the main deck.
Evergreen Aviation Technologies has successfully carried our complex airframe conversions that built up the fleet of Boeing Dreamlifters- converted 747 airplanes used to support the 787 program-since 2005, as well as a 747-400 Propulsion Test Platform for GE Aviation in 2014.
Source : Boeing/Boeing Photo
Maintenance & Repair Organization News
ATSG Subsidiary Swoops on MRO and Conversion Firm Pemco
Aircraft conversion firm Pemco has been bought by Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, a subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group (ATSG).
ATSG, which runs an air cargo operation for Amazon through its ABX subsidiary, said the acquisition will allow for a number of strategic benefits by combining operational strengths, expanded capabilities and cost savings related to shared services between the companies.
Services will be offered from multiple locations, including Wilmington and Tampa for heavy maintenance and modifications, and Tampa, Central America and Asia for passenger-to-freighter conversions.
Additional service offerings of aircraft-on-ground field teams, line and turnaround maintenance, component repair and overhaul, engineering repair and design, plus extensive manufacturing and kitting capabilities will be extended from various locations.
ATSG President and chief executive Joe Here said : “Based on PEMCO’s existing domestic and international scale, this acquisition will expand access to maintenance service for customers of ATSG’s expanding fleet of Boeing 767 cargo aircraft.
Source : MRO News
Lufthansa Technik Extends Warehouse Capacities in the USA
Lufthansa Technik AG has now opened a new warehouse in the USA, close to the Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida. This represents a significant expansion of the site, ensuring stable supply for customers in this growing region into the future.
The Fort Lauderdale site serves a connecting point for North, Central and South America. It was therefore chosen as the primary storage facility for the American market and central gateway for the extensive customer supply network in the region.
The state-of-the-art facility, in operation around the clock all year, and the seamlessly integrated transport network allow the company to even better fulfill the high quality expectations of its customers. Customers benefit from the personal contact and from the fact that their contact person is in the same time zone.
The New warehouse has the capacity for around 9,000 components. It also houses more than 10,000 items of consumables and expendables. Various models of aircraft can be supported from the facility.
The warehouse is operated by Lufthansa Technik Component Services(LTCS), making use of the logistic processes and IT systems of Lufthansa Technik Logistik Services.
Source : Lufthansa Technik
Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian
Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com
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