BOC Aviation

by

The Kaplanian Report August 2020

ON THE BOEING FRONT

                    ‘smart pipe’  Technology for New Boeing 777X

Inmarsat and Boeing are delivering digital aircraft transformation through innovative new ‘smart pipe’ technology on board the new Boeing 777X aircraft.

The new advance in communications technology provides fast and secure inflight broadband connectivity, from the cockpit to the cabin, allowing airlines to use multiple third-party applications at the same time.

The brand new infrastructure has been designed to independently allocate connectivity bandwidth to multiple applications. This enables airlines to unlock important operational benefits such as predictive maintenance, route optimization, modernised air traffic management and real time crew communications, while also offering enhanced passenger entertainment, including high-speed internet and live television.

This ‘smart pipe’ functionality means that applications delivered on two of Inmarsat’s award-winning satcom solutions-GX Aviation and SwiftBroadband-safety (SB_S)-are each able to have a unique service level agreement and guaranteed performance levels, independent of other applications that are also operating through the same terminal.

Phillip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “Inmarsat’s GX Aviation and SB_S are already established as the aviation industry’s most advanced global connectivity solutions.”

“The results from initial tests for our ‘smart pipe’ are promising and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with Boeing in preparation for the forthcoming entry into service of its new 777X aircraft.”

Source: Arabien Aerospace/Picture Boeing

                      

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

       Airbus Concludes ATTOL with Fully Autonomous Flight Tests

In completing this project, Airbus has achieved autonomous taxiing, take-off and landing (ATTOL) of a commercial aircraft through fully automatic vision-based flight tests using on- board image recognition technology-a world- first in aviation.

In total, over 500 test flights were conducted.  Approximately 450 of those flights were dedicated to gathering raw video data, to support and fine tune algorithms; while a series of six test flights, each one including five take-offs and landings per run, were used to test autonomous flight capabilities. 

The ATTOL project was initiated by Airbus to explore how autonomous technologies, including the use of machine learning algorithms and automated tools for data labelling, processing and model generation, could help pilots focus less on aircraft operations and more on strategic decision-making and mission management.  Airbus is now able to analyze the potential of these technologies for enhancing future aircraft operations, all the while improving aircraft safety, ensuring today’s unprecedented levels are maintained.

Airbus will continue research into the application of autonomous technologies along  other innovations in areas such as materials, alternative propulsion systems and connectivity.  By leveraging these opportunities, Airbus is opening up possibilities for creating new business models that will transform how aircraft are developed, manufactured, flown, powered and serviced.

Source: Airbus/Picture Airbus            

        

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                         Bombardier Delivers 350th Challenger 350

Bombardier celebrated the 350th delivery of its super-midsize Challenger 350, a milestone reached some six years after the 3,200-nm-range twinjet entered service it announced July 9th.  The Canadian business aircraft manufacturer launched the model in 2013 as an upgraded version of the Challenger 300, with a new wing, more powerful Honeywell HTF7350 engines, larger cabin windows, and redesigned interior.

“The 350th delivery of a Challenger 350 aircraft, reached after only six years in service, speaks volumes,” said Bombardier Business Aircraft senior v-p of worldwide sales and marketing Peter Likoray.  ”This achievement shows the great confidence customers place in this aircraft and demonstrates Bombardier’s production proficiency and strong supplier base.”

As of May 31, the worldwide fleet of challenger 350s has logged more than 648,000 flight hours and more than 383,000 landings.

Source: Bombardier/Picture Bombardier

                 Air China Completes Its Maiden ARJ21 Service 

Air China has completed its maiden flight of a Comic ARJ21 on the domestic routing from Beijing to Xilinhot.

The Star Alliance carrier took delivery of its first of the regional jet on June 28 alongside China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

Last August, the three carriers announced on the same day deals to each purchase 35 ARJ21-700 regional jets from COMAC, with deliveries from 2020 through 2024.

The ARJ21 entered commercial operations four years ago after a lengthy development period and is China’s first domestically manufactured airliner.

Source: Comac/Picture Air China        

                                                             

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                          VIP RAF Voyager Ready for Global Role 

The Royal Air Force (RAF) Voyager “Vespina” has completed its refurbishment to provide a secure, cost-effective and suitably profiled transport for Government Ministers and the Royal Family. The aircraft now proudly displays the Union Flag alongside RAF markings and is ready to represent the UK across the globe.

The smart new paint scheme will promote the UK around the world while transporting Ministers, senior members of the Royal Family and their delegations on trade, diplomatic and other missions.

After weeks of work, the Voyager returned to RAF Brize Norton where it will operate alongside the rest of the RAF Voyager fleet. Alongside its VIP Role, the aircraft remains certified for its original use, including Air-to Air Refueling and personnel transport. It can fly from almost any airport across the world that can take an Airbus A330, and its range allows it to reach much of the world without costly and time-consuming refueling.

The aircraft, known as Vespina is also referred as’ZZ336’ which is its military registration number, was previously visually indistinguishable from the rest of the Operational Voyager Fleet. This external Paint Scheme will better reflect its VIP mission and Contribution to ‘Global Britain’.

Source: RAF News/Picture RAF

           British Airways Took Delivery of Its First Boeing 787-10 

On Sunday June 28, 2020, British Airways took delivery of the first of twelve Boeing 787-10 aircraft.

Aircraft G-ZBLA  landed at London Heathrow after being dispatched from Charleston, South Carolina .

The arrival of the Boeing 787-10 aircraft is some six months later than intended.

BA originally planned to take delivery of six Boeing 787-10s this year, with the first originally due in January and all twelve aircraft delivered by 2023.  The first route was due to be Atlanta, but this may change.

IAG has confirmed that, since Covid-19, it plans to defer the delivery of eleven new long-haul aircraft between now and 2022—some of these include planned deliveries to Iberia.

The Boeing 787-10 will take BA’s fleet of 787 family aircraft to 42. Compared to other Boeing 787 aircraft, the 787-10 is a larger aircraft, with length of 68 m(223 ft) compared to 57m(187ft) for the 787-8 and 63m(206ft) for the 787-9, but with the same height and wingspan.

Other airlines operating the 787-10 include Etihad, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.

For BA, the Boeing 787-10 is configured in four classes with 8 seats in first Class, 48 in Club World (featuring Ba’s new Club Suite), 35 seats in World Traveller Plus and 156 seats in World Traveller.

Source: london travel.com/British Airways/Picture British Airways  

      LATEST NEWS

  • Sino-Russian CR929 Russia has disclosed that the Sino-Russian CR929 wide body program will make its first delivery in 2028-2029, with what appears to be another round of delays in the program’s production time line.
  • American Airlines’ pilot union is now reviewing Boeing’s latest 737 Max pilot training draft—a document the union describes as vastly more thorough than previous drafts.
  • Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Operators of Rolls-Royce powered Boeing 787s are set to be instructed to conduct inspections of Certain Trent 1000 low-pressure turbine discs, over a possible braking risk.
  • De Havilland Canada delivered the first of six Dash 8-400 aircraft to TAAG Angola Airlines, as it builds out its networks to the country’s smaller communities.
  • BOC Aviation has cancelled an order for 30 Boeing 737 Max jets, and intends to defer delivery of others.
  • Airbus delivered 196 aircraft over the first six months of the year, half the figure of 389 it had achieved at the same point in 2019.

  • FAA(the Federal Aviation Administration)  has completed three days of flight tests on the Boeing 737 Max ahead of possible recertification in the coming months.
  • China Southern Airlines launches ARJ21-700 service with an inaugural flight between Gangzhou and Jieyang, a city in eastern Guangdong province. 

  • Helvetic Airways has signed a commitment with Embraer to convert four of their remains firm orders to the larger E195-E2 aircraft.

  • Garuda Indonesia is in talks with Airbus to delay deliveries of four aircraft this year.The Indonesian flag carrier has nine A330neos on order that have yet to be delivered, according to the Airbus order book.

Sources: Airbus, Garuda, BOC Aviation, Embraer, De Havilland Canada, Rolls -Royce, Flightglobal.

AIR CARGO

        Sky Gates Airlines Grows Fleet by Adding a B747-400 Freighter

After launching services between Russia, Europe and the Far East at the end of last year; Sky Gates Cargo airlines is going to increase their freighter fleet with another Boeing 747-400 freighter.

The Boeing 747-400F is an ex-Cathay Pacific aircraft which is currently operated by Silk Way West Airlines who is the partner airline of Sky Gates.

Sky Gates is a Russian all-cargo airline with its European Hub in Maastricht serving Moscow and Novosibirsk on scheduled bases to and from the Fair East.

Senior vice president, Nidjat Babayev explains: “As a startup carrier we are happy to pursue our strategy in increasing our fleet step-by-step.  After having received the 2nd aircraft, the planning of a 3rd 747-400F will start.

“We are motivated by the support of our customers and we are convinced of the huge potential the Russian air cargo market will offer Sky Gates. Not only we do see high numbers of flown hours on our first aircraft, we already do have commitments on the 2nd aircraft.”

Source: Air Cargo Week

 OTHER NOTEWORTHY NEWS

                          British Airways Retires Its Boeing 747s

On July 17th, British Airways said it has retired “with immediate effect” its 31 Boeing 747s, adding that the airplanes have “likely” flown their last commercial service.  The airline attributed the abrupt decision to accelerate the retirements to Covid-19 affects.

For over 50 years, Boeing’s “Queen of the Skies” has been the world’s most easily recognized jetliner with its humped fuselage and four engines.  But its days were already numbered before the pandemic struck earlier this year.

The move by BA comes after Australia’s Qantas Airways said in June it would retire its remaining 747 felt immediately, six months ahead of schedule.

BA’s predecessor airline BOAC first introduced the 747 on London-NewYork route in 1971 after one year delay caused with dispute with pilots over terms for flying the new jet.

Hugh Dibley, a former BOAC captain and racing driver who joined the airline in 1958, said the 747’s introduction marked a new era, but was beset with teething problems with its engines.

Landing and taxiing also took some getting used to, from the cockpit positioned almost 30 feet above the ground-or more when angling the nose higher just before touching the runway.

“It was a delight to fly as it was so stable.  The initial issue was its height from the ground.  It was like landing a block of flats from the 2nd floor,” Dibley told Reuters.

BA’s Jumbos are the 747-400 model, the most-sold version of the jet which was introduced in 1989.  After BA, only a handful of airlines including Rossiya Airlines and Air China continue to operate them, according to Cirium data.

Source: Reuters/Picture British Airways

 

 

                         

Researched and Compiled by : 

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian  

 

 

 

by

Kaplanian Report – June 2020

ON THE BOEING FRONT

    Boeing to Model Potential Spread of Pathogens Inside Aircraft Cabin

Boeing appointed an executive on Thursday, May 14, to lead the company’s Confident Travel Initiative, the plan that intended to help people get back on planes.

Boeing named Mike Delany, currently vice president of digital transformation at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, to the role, which aims to “minimize air travel health risks” in a Covid-19 world.

“As air travel slowly begins to resume and restrictions ease around the globe, health and safety remain our top priorities,” said Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun in the company’s news release.  ”Mike’s deep technical expertise, leadership skills, industry knowledge and great passion for our customers make him uniquely qualified to lead this effort.”

Delany will work with Boeing customers to design and implement policies regarding facial coverings, plane cleaning, and temperature checks.  The checks will have to be completed before boarding, adding another level of complexity for travelers and airlines.

Boeing also referenced its commitment to air quality when announcing the new role.  All Boeing planes are equipped with high-efficiency particulate air, also known as HEPA, filters, ”similar to those used in hospitals and industrial clean room.”  The company says HEPA filters are better than 99.9% effective at removing particulates including viruses.

Air filtration helps, but it doesn’t eliminate the risk of disease transmission. Bacteria and viruses are viable on surfaces—such as seat-back pockets—for some time after being deposited by a cough or sneeze.

Boeing hopes modeling will predict how the virus might spread through aircraft with differing seating configurations.The company hopes to determine how variables such as coughing (with or without masks) and use of hand sanitizer might affect potential contagion.

“We are using science as opposed to anecdote…and emotionally-driven responses,” says Delany, who is also Boeing’s vice-president of digital transformation.

Source: Boeing/Barron’s/Picture Shtterstock

                      

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                   Airbus Opens A220 Hanger in Mobile, Alabama

Airbus celebrated a pair of milestones at its commercial aircraft production in Mobile, Alabama; announcing the official inauguration of production activities in its newly built final assembly line hanger and the start of the first U.S.-built A220 for JetBlue.

The new 270,000-sq-ft hanger, capable of accommodating assembly of both A220-100 and A220-300 aircraft, has officially opened for business after an 18-month construction project.   It houses five primary assembly stations where workers attach major airframe component assemblies for a completed aircraft in a flow line process. Airbus began producing A220 aircraft in Mobile in August 2019, using space in an existing A320 final assembly line hanger, and newly built support hangers.  With the completion of the new hanger, the Airbus production site in Alabama has doubled in size.

Airbus recently welcomed the first component assemblies destined to become an A220 for JetBlue into the new hanger.  JetBlue will become the second customer that takes an A220 from Mobile, following Delta Air Lines.  JetBlue expects to take delivery of the first U.S.-made A220 during this year’s fourth quarter.

“The team is excited to start working in their new facility and welcome a new customer,” said Airbus president of A220 USA Paul Gaskell. “It’s a strong endorsement from JetBlue in this challenging time,” said Paul Gaskell, president of A220 USA and head of A220 Program in Mobile.

Source: Airbus/Airbus Photo

         

        REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                           Cessna SkyCourier Completes First Flight

The Cessna SkyCourier twin-turboprop prototype lifted off on its first flight Sunday morning May 17 from Beech Field at Textron Aviation’s east campus in Wichita. Piloted by senior test pilot Corey Eckhart and chief test pilot Aaron Tobias, the utility twin flew for two hours and 15 minutes.

“We were very pleased with how the Cessna SkyCourier performed throughout its first flight,” Eckhart said.”It was particularly impressive to see how stable the aircraft handled on takeoff and landing. The Cessna SkyCourier already displays a high level of maturity in its flight characteristics, especially for a first flight.”

“We were able to accomplish everything we wanted on this flight, and that’s an excellent start to the flight test program.”

With an initial order from FedEx for 50 copies of the high-wing airplane and options for 50 more, the SkyCourier is capable of flying 200 ktas powered by two 1,100-shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC turboprop engines driving 110-inch McCauley propellers.  It also features a Garmin G1000 NXi flight deck.

Configurable for both cage and commuter operations, the high-wing turboprop is designed to carry a payload of up to 6,000 pounds.  It is equipped with an 87-inch cargo door, a flat floor, and a nearly 70-inch tall and wide cabin to accept three standard LD3 air cargo containers.  In passenger configuration, it will have seating for up to 19 passengers, with a netted cabin area for luggage and equipment.  It also will be available in a mixed passenger/cargo combination.

Source: Textron Aviation

         Boeing Business Jets New Aircraft Development Continues 

As the 737 Max crisis rumbles on, Boeing says it is “staying close to VIP customers” on the re-engines narrow body.

Two examples of the BBJ Max 8 have been delivered green to date, and while Boeing is continuing to work on the -9 and -7 variants, it will not give a delivery timeframe for either model.

The pair were originally scheduled for certification and customer handover in 2020 and 2022 respectively.  Boeing records 14 orders for the CFM international Leap-1B-powered BBJ Max, most of them -8s- though Boeing Business Jet expects the shorter Max 7 to be the eventual favorite, owing to its 7,000nm(13000km)-range:360nm longer than the -8 and 675nm longer than the -9.

Boeing has also expanded its VIP wide body offering with the introduction in late 2018 of the BBJ777X.  The twin-aisle airliner is the updated version of the BBJ 777, of which Boeing has sold 13 examples to date.

Boeing describes the 777X as a “far superior offering”, with GE Aviation GE9X engines and a new, more advanced composite wing.

As of this month two Boeing BBJ Max 8s have been delivered.

Source: Boeing Business Jets/Picture Boeing

                                                                      

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Air France Terminates A380 Fleet with Immediate Effect

Air France has accelerated plans to phase out its Airbus A380 fleet and will retire the aircraft immediately rather than in 2022 as previously scheduled.

Air France grounded its A380s on March 16 as the coronavirus pandemic began to take a toll on operations, before ultimately suspending the majority of its scheduled passenger flights. Air France-KLM announced on May 20 the “definitive end” of the French carrier’s Airbus A380 operations.

“Initially scheduled by the end of 2022, the phase-out of Airbus A380 fleet fits in the Air France-KLM Group fleet simplification strategy of making the fleet more competitive, by continuing its transformation with more modern, high-performance aircraft with significantly reduced environmental footprint,” the group says.

Five of the Airbus A380 aircraft in the current fleet are owned by Air France or on finance lease.  A further four are on operating lease.  Air France-KLM says the impact of the A380 phase-out write down is estimated at $547 million dollars and will be booked in the second quarter of 2020 as a non-current cost/expenses.  The fleet is powered by Engine Alliance GP7200s.

In December Air France-KLM Group said it was ordering another 10 Airbus A350-900s, which would be used to replace the company’s A380s.

Source: Air France/Picture Air France

                                Delta to Retire Its 777 Fleet

Delta Air Lines will retire its Boeing 777 fleet by the end of 2020 as the coronavirus crisis continues to disrupt global travel, creating openings for airlines to permanently streamline fleets and save money by shifting to more-efficient aircraft.  The move will leave Delta with a single type of ultra-long aircraft: Airbus A350s.

The Atlanta-based airline has 18 777s, including 10 of the long-range 777-200LR variant, according to Cirium fleets data.  Nine of these are currently operating and nine are in storage.

Delta’s first 777s joined the fleet 21 years ago, and the airline says it will replace them with its next-generation A350-900s;  which burn 21% less fuel than the Boeing jets. Delta has nine  A350s in service, four in storage and 12 on order, according to Cirium.

In past weeks the airline used 777s for cargo and repatriation flights between North American and cities in Asia,Europe and Australia.

Source: Delta Air Lines/Picture Delta Air Lines 777-200LR

           Airbus and Rolls-Royce Have Axed the E-Fan X Project

Airbus and Rolls-Royce axed the e-FanX demonstrator programs year before the experimental hybrid-electric engine airliner was supposed to fly.  The E-Fan X program was launched to explore electric aviation and involved equipping a BAE Systems Avro RJ100 with a hybrid powertrain.  But Airbus chief technology officer Grazia Vittadini says the airframer is having to “ navigate the realities” of a world impacted by the corona virus crisis, and concentrate on priorities.

She says Airbus and Rolls-Royce have as a result “jointly decided” to “bring the E-Fan X demonstrator to an end”.  “As with all ground-breaking research projects, it’s our duty to constantly evaluate and reprioritize them to ensure alignment with our ambitions,” she adds.

“These decisions are not always easy.  But they are undoubtedly necessary to stay the course.”  Vittadini points out that the effort to decarbonize the aviation industry is “no small feat”, adding: “to achieve this, we need to re-focus all our efforts on technology bricks that will take us there.”  The E-Fan X, launched in 2017, was due to carry out its maiden flight in 2021.

Source: Flightglobal

   Mitsubishi Aircraft to Close all Non-Japan Locations, Shelves M100 

Mitsubishi Aircraft is closing all non-Japan locations and moving all Spacejet activities back to its headquarters in Nagoya, Japan, above coming in response to cost pressure amid the coronavirus aerospace downturn.

As part of the consolidation to Japan, the company will halt flight testing of its 90-seat SpaceJet M100 regional jet and suspend development of its 76-seat M100, Mitsubishi Aircraft says.

Most effected outside Japan is its operations in the US Northwest.  The Mitsubishi Aircraft U.S. headquarters in Renton will close, and flight test operations in Moses Lake will cease operations.

Mitsubishi Aircraft has not announced any change to a plan under which its parent Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will acquire Bombardiers’s CRJ program for $550 million.

Source: Mitsubishi Aircraft/Picture Mitsubishi Aircraft        

      

LATEST NEWS

  • BOC Aviation has signed a purchase-and-leaseback agreement with Southwest Airlines for 10 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.
  • Emirates largest operator of the Airbus A380 axes the aircraft and seen cutting deliveries.
  • Boeing the U.S. Navy received its 100th P-8A aircraft from Boeing on May 14 as the global fleet, which also includes the Indian navy and the Australian and the U.K. airfares approaches 300,000 flight hours.

  • Lauda subsidiary of Ryanair plans to cancel all Airbus deliveries and replace them with ones from Boeing.

  • American Airlines is parking its fleet of Airbus A330-200s in storage until at least 2022, part of the airline’s broader effort to downsize in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
  • Air Lease Corp said it would reduce capital expenditure on new jets in a move likely to restrict its-near-term growth; but still support liquidity’s it faces demands from airlines for rental relief seen as crucial to their survival.
  • United Aircraft of Russia is set to begin mating the tail and engine pylons for the first llyushin ll-96-400M, which is undergoing assembly at the Voronezh-based VSO plant.

  • Saab Aircraft has secured an SKr1.6 billion ($ 165 million) order for an undisclosed number of its Saab 2000 Erieye airborne early warning control (AEW&C) system aircraft.

Source:  Air Lease, Emirates,Saab Aircraft,American Airlines, Ryanair, United Aircraft,Boeing

 

AIR CARGO

     Alaska Airlines Transports  First Copper River Salmon to Seattle

Alaska Airlines teamed with partners to fly the first catch of salmon from Copper River to Seattle on May 15th.  The first to enjoy the fish will be over 200 healthcare workers from the Swedish Medical Center-Ballard.

The first catch of fresh, sustainable Copper River salmon arrived in Seattle on an Alaska Airlines plane.  This is not new for the airline.  Some Alaskan communities rely on Salmon exports for economic success.  In Cordova, Alaska, over 50% of local residents work in the fishing industry.  Thanks to air travel, the fish can end up in markets less than 24 hours after being pulled from the water.

Managing director of cargo for the airline, Torque Zubeck, said the following:  “ Alaska Air Cargo has been a partner of the Alaska seafood industry.  Now more than ever we provide a critical service that directly impacts the economic vitality of the region.  In Cordova alone, more than half of residents are directly involved in the fishing industry or related business.”

Chef Douglas will feature the salmon donated by seafood processors and Copper River Marketing Association to create over 200 meals for Seattle-area medical professionals.  Alaska Airlines will send pilots, flight attendants, and management employees to be part of the efforts after carrying the fish on its planes.

Source: Alaska Airlines/Picture Alaska Airlines

                      OTHER NOTEWORTHY NEWS

            The Planes in Spain Parked Neatly on the Plain

Dozens of passenger aircraft belonging to European carriers stand idled in neat lines in what has become a giant airplane parking lot amid the flat farmlands of eastern Spain.

Teruel Airport specializes in the storage and maintenance of aircraft, and business has boomed since coronaviris lockdowns globally forced airlines across Europe to ground fleets for several weeks.  There is no end in sight for many.

Planes showing the markings of commercial airlines including: British Airways, Lufthansa and Air France stand parked, buffeted by spring wind blowing across the plain.

“Teruel’s climate is dry-semi-desert with more than 250 days of sun per year,” said airport manager Alejandro Ibrahim.

“Also there is very little air traffic congestion which makes it the ideal place for plane preservation and maintenance.”

The airport currently hosts 95 wide-body aircraft, including eight of the world’s largest passenger airliners-the Airbus A380.  The number of planes arriving per week to be parked in the airport has doubled since the start of the pandemic.  The airport, owned by the local government, has not increased its rates since the beginning of the crisis, Ibrahim said.

The sudden stop to air travel has led airlines struggling to find space to store their planes. In Europe, some airlines have grounded their entire fleets and are storing their aircraft by parking them in airports, including on now-unused runways.

Source: Reuters/Picture spainsnews.com

                         

 

 

 Researched and Compiled by : 

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by

Volume 5 Issue 11 The Kaplanian Report

On the Boeing Front

    Max 10 Maintains Family Ties Following Landing Gear Tweak Design

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boeing will introduce a levered main landing gear on the 737 Max10 to overcome the potential threat to commonality with the rest of the narrow body family posed by its longer fuselage. To Preserve commonality in the Max family, Boeing has long been studying different options for the largest member of the Max family, the fuselage of which, at 143 ft (43.8m),is 1.6 m longer than the Max 9.

Boeing picked the levered design which will enable the gear to extend 9.5 in (24.1cm) during takeoff rotation, says Gary Hamatani Max chief project engineer.  “We have put in this new lever that extends down to 9.5 in, to provide us the rotation.”

The design is similar to that of the 777-300, in addition to the lever, the 737-10’s main gear has a steel “innovating shrinking mechanism”, dubbed a “shrink link”, which pulls the inner cylinder as the gear retracts, enabling it to fit in the same wheel well, Hamatani says.                   

“From a pilot’s perspective, there is absolutely nothing different the Max10 landing gear and the existing Max family,” Hamatani adds.

The Max 10 will carry 188 passengers in two-class layout and have a range of 3,300 nautical miles (6110km). The 737Max10 was launched at the Paris air show in 2017.

Source : Boeing /Flightglobal /Boeing Photo

                    

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                             Airbus A330-900 Gains EASA Certification

The Airbus A330-900 has received type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), clearing it for first delivery to launch customer TAP Air Portugal. TAp’s first aircraft served as a demonstrator for route proving, during which it visited 12 countries. Including the two A330-900 flight-test aircraft, the certification campaign logged some 1,400 hours in the air since first flight on October 19, 2017.

Carrying an Airspace by Airbus cabin and powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330neo family consists of the A330-900 and the smaller A330-800.

Airbus launched the A330-900 and -800 simultaneously in July 2014.The company stresses the negligible extra cost of developing the smaller -800 due to the fact that the variants share 99 percent commonality. Fuel efficiency benefits come from a switch from the A330’s Rolls-Royce Trent 700 to the new Trent 7000, the addition of sharklet wingtip devices and the use of composite nacelles.

According to Airbus a result of those changes, both the A330-900neo and the smaller, A330-800neo (based on the A330-200),deliver a claimed improvement of some 25 percent over older generation aircraft of a similar size.

While the fuselages remain unchanged, Airbus specifications show 10 more passenger seats, giving the -900neo a three- class capacity of 287 and the -800 a capacity of 257.

Firm orders for the A330-900 now stand at 224, while the A330-800 lost its sole remaining customer in May, when Hawaiian Airlines canceled its order for six airplanes. Tap Air Portugal has ordered 10 of the-900 and plans to operate a similar number on lease. AirAsiaX by far ranks as the largest customer, having placed an order for 66 A330-900s.(On October 16 Kuwait Airways became the newest customer of the A330-800 with an order for eight aircraft.)

Source : Airbus/Ainonline/Ed’s research

                    

             REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS                     

  Helvetic Airways Firms Up Its Order For 12 Embraer E190-E2 Jets

Helvetic Airways has signed a firm order of 12 E190-E2 jets. This agreement was announced as a letter of intent (LOI) at the recent Farnborough Air Show in July.

The firm order has a value of $730 million, based on current list prices and was   included in Embraer’s 2018 third quarter. backlog.

The contract also includes purchase rights for a further 12 E190-E2, with conversion rights to the E195-E2, bringing the total potential order up to 24 E-jets E2s.

With all the purchase rights being exercised, the deal has a list price of 1.5 billion. The first E190-E2 aircraft will begin replacing Helvetic’s five Fokker 100s and seven E190s, starting in late 2019 and completing in autumn 2021.

The Purchase options for a further 12 aircraft (E190-E2 or E195-E2) will enable Helvetic Airways to grow according to market opportunities.

Source : World Airline News

Zunum Picks Safran for Developmental Hybrid-Electric Commuter 

 

 

 

 

 

Boeing-backed US hybrid-electric aircraft start-up Zunum Aero has selected Safran Helicopter Engines to supply a turboshaft engine to generate electric power propulsion of its in-development 12-seat commuter aircraft.

Safran says it will supply a new variant of its 1,700-2,000shp (1,270-1,500kW) Ardiden engine family—designated 3Z— which will be capable of delivering 500KW in combination with an electric generator.

The 12-seater—internally dubbed ZA10— will also be equipped with battery packs to “supplement” electric power during “key stages of flight and over long ranges”.

The company has received financial support from Boeing’s HorizonX division, JetBlue Technology Ventures and the State of Washington Clean Energy Fund.

Source : Flightglobal /Safran/Safran Picture       

                                                             

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

         ATSG Signed an Agreement to Acquire Omni Air International

US air cargo company Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) has signed an agreement to acquire Tulsa-based charter operator Omni Air International for $855 million in cash.

The move, which remains subject to regulatory approval, will significantly expand ATSG’s global reach and see the company acquire its first Boeing 777s, says Wilmington, Ohio-based ATSG on October 2nd.

ATSG anticipates closing the deal in the 4th quarter. It will fund the purchase with money borrowed through an existing line of credit, the company says in a media release.

In Business since 1993, Omni flies charters and operates wide bodies under aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance(ACMI) agreements. Its customers include the US government. Omni’s fleet includes 13 passenger-configured wide bodies—seven 767-300ERs, three 767-200 ERs and three 777-200ERs.

Acquiring Omni will expand ATSG’s(ACMI) work, diversify its revenue with new customers and enable it to expand globally thanks to the capability of Omni’s 777s, which have more range than anything in ATSG’s fleet the company said.

If the deal closes, Omni will continue operating from Tulsa as an ATSG subsidiary and will be headed by Current CEO Jeff Crippen.

ATSG’s fleet includes some 73 aircraft, including 767-200Fs, 767-300ERFs,757-200Fs and 737-400Fs. Acquiring Omni’s fleet will bring ATSG’s fleet to 90 aircraft.

Source : ATSG

The Jet Travel Era Began in Earnest—60 Years Ago

              This year marks the 60th anniversary of a seminal moment in commercial aviation: the start of transatlantic jet services. While jet travel was nothing particularly new by 1958, the launch of services between the US and Europe in October that year by British Airways (formerly BOAC) and US airline icon Pan Am is a true legacy of what the airline industry represent today. Prior to 1958, the industry’s foray into jet services had been sporadic.

BOAC ushered in the jet travel in 1952 when it began services with the de Havilland Comet 1, powered by four of the company’s Ghost turbojets. The inaugural flight was a multi-hop service from London down through Africa to Johannesburg.

Sadly, the pioneering operations of the Comet 1 came to an abrupt halt within two years when the jet was grounded after a series of tragic accidents subsequently traced to metal fatigue proliferated by design error.

By the time this happened, Boeing was already well advanced with the development of its own jet transport that would become the 707, while de Havilland was working on larger and longer-range Comet variants powered by Rolls-Royce Avon turbojets.

During 1957 and 1958, as de Havilland raced to develop its improved Comet 4, incorporating changes resulting from the inquiry into the 1954 accidents, Boeing was surging ahead with its much more advanced model 707.The Boeing jet, was powered by Pratt& Whitney JT3C turbojets, flew on December 20,1957 with first production Comet 4 taking to the air four months later on April 27,1958.

Both types received their certificate of airworthiness in September that year and the race was on to be the first to inaugurate transatlantic flight, with BOAC championing the British Comet 4 and Pan Am flying the Boeing 707.

There was no turning back after those transatlantic jet inaugurals 60 years ago. While development of the Comet fizzled  out after the Comet 4 series, the development of the 707 and its rival the Douglas DC-8 rapidly provided airlines with longer-range jet transports.

Source : Ed’s Research/Flightglobal/Flightglobal Pictures           

      

LATEST NEWS

  • Air Tahiti Nui has received the first of four Boeing 787-9s it has on order, which will replace its aging Airbus A340-300s
  • BOC Aviation will lease three Airbus A320ceos for Saudia’s LLC subsidiary FlyDeal. All three aircraft will be delivered in 2018.
  • AirBaltic received its 12th Airbus A220-300; two more are expected by the end of 2018.
  • AviaAM Financial Leasing China delivered a Boeing 737-800 to China’s Okay Airways.
  • Airbus has named current Commercial Aircraft CEO Guillaume Faury to replace Tom Enders as chief executive of the entire entity.
  • United Airlines has ordered nine more Boeing 787-9s, bringing its backlog for the type to 13 aircraft.
  • Oman Air took delivery of the fourth of 30 new Boeing 737-MAX 8’s it has on order. By the end of 2018, Oman Air will have taken delivery of five new MAX aircraft and three 787-9s.
  • Scoot has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo out of the 39 jets it has on firm order with Airbus
  • Copa Airlines has unveiled its first 737 Max 9, featuring the first lie-flat seats in business class and new economy extra section                                                                         
  • EVA Air took delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 leased from Air Lease. EVA will begin deploying the type on International routes this month.

 

Source: Ed’s Research

                               

AIR CARGO

    Atran Airlines to Lease two GECAS Boeing 737-800 Freighters                          

Atran Airlines, the scheduled express cargo carrier within the Volga-Dnepr Group, has signed a deal with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) for lease of two passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions.

The aircraft are scheduled to be phased in during the remainder of 2018 and the first half of 2019. The will provide additional capacity to supplement Atran’s all-cargo fleet of three B737-400 SFs.

Aircraft lessor GECAS noted that the B737-800 freighters are “perfectly suited to short and mid-range routes,” which form the basis of Atran’s scheduled network between Russia and Europe. The carrier also specializes in handling growing international e-commerce shipments. Paul Nolan, fleet development director at Cargo Logic Management (a UK-based Volga-Dnepr Group company specializing in management consulting services for international airlines) commented: “these newly converted 737-800 freighters will assist Atran Airlines in achieving its strategic objectives and serving customers in e-commerce and express services on Russia-China routes.”

Atran Airlines was established in 1942 and is among the oldest Russia-based airfreight carriers. It joined the Volga-Dnepr Group in 2011.

Source: Air Cargo News/GECAS

 

Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul News

 Southwest to Invest in New MRO Facility at Baltimore/Washington

Southwest Airlines will co-fund a new $130 million regional maintenance facility at Baltimore/Washington International airport, to better meet its needs at the second busiest airport in its network.

Construction of the (130,000 square feet) line maintenance facility will begin early next year, with completion in 2021. Southwest will invest 480 million, with the Maryland Aviation Administration contributing the remaining $50 million.

The three-bay hanger will be the first of its kind for Southwest in the northeast, complementing six maintenance hangers in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Orlando and Phoenix. The facility will include additional exterior parking spots for eight aircraft well as office space.

Construction of the hanger is expected to create 450 jobs,  but will not significantly grow maintenance employees numbers at the airline. Southwest currently employs more than 120 technical operations staff at the airport, which is its largest line operation and has the most number of Southwest aircraft remaining overnight.

The new facility will provide shelter to these employees in inclement weather, and also provide more space for storage of parts according to Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly and another signal of the airline’s “serious commitment” to Baltimore/Washington.

News of the planned maintenance facility comes as the airline celebrates its 25th year of service at Baltimore/Washington. It employs more than 4,800 staff at the airport.

Source: Flightglobal/Southwest

 

                                      MRO Latest News

  • Lufthansa Technik  has a China Aviation Supplies Co. contract to provide Airbus A350 component support for Air China.
  • AJW Group was selected by Air Mediterranean to provide Boeing 737-400 component support.
  • Turkish Aerospace Industries signed a collaboration agreement with Airbus for research and development of secondary aircraft structures, such as movable parts, for Airbus commercial aircraft.
  • Turkish Technic was selected by India’s SpiceJet to provide Boeing 737 MAX component support.
  • Liebherr wins follow-up component supply deal for current 777s and the 777X.
  • Diehl Aviation cabin interior specialist has won a contract from Boeing to supply     emergency lighting equipment for the 787 program.

Source : Ed’s Research

 

Researched and Compiled by :

                                                      Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

                                                      Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

                                                      Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

by

Volume 5 Issue 7 The Kaplanian Report

On the Boeing Front

                     Boeing Gets Approval for Folding Wings on 777X

Boeing’s 777X will become the first heavily used commercial airliner with the technology. 

While the wings are common on smaller defense aircraft, the FAA had to institute new regulations for Boeing’s commercial plane to avoid mishaps like the wing flaps coming loose during high winds.

Boeing assured the regulator that a locking mechanism would make it impossible for the wings to retract while in flight. The FAA finally gave approval to the 777X on Friday May 18.

Airlines will be able to park the 777X at current gates despite its 235 feet wing, thanks to the 12-foot foldable section.

The wings are made from lighter carbon fiber composites instead of aluminum. ”This airplane will be the most efficient twin-jet overdeveloped in commercial history,” Terry Beezhold, the 777X’s chief project engineer called it “this beautiful wing” in a recent video made by the company. ”This airplane actually will be the most efficient twin-jet ever developed in commercial history.” Beezhold said.

Source : Bloomberg/Boeing 

              Boeing Marks 737 Max Anniversary with 130-Strong Fleet   

Boeing has passed the one year anniversary of the 737 Max with a staggeringly large in-service fleet that has fulfilled promises of improved fuel efficiency. The company delivered 130 aircraft representing two versions of the 737 Max in the 12 months since the first delivery to Lion Air’s Malaysia-based subsidiary last May, the company says in an online blog post.  

The deliveries might have been even higher, but engine supplier CFM International fell several weeks behind on a planned ramp-up of Leap-1B engine production, CFM plans to catch up on deliveries in the third quarter.

So far, the 28 737 Max operators have logged 118,006 hours on 41,797 flights that carried 6.5 million passengers, according to Boeing.

The fleet now stands at a mission dispatch rate of 99.4% and should improve to the 99.7% standard by the end of the year.

Boeing has sold 4,509 firm orders of the 737 Max family with the 737-8 version is by far the most popular.

Source :  Boeing                

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                              Airbus BelugaXL on Track for First Flight

Airbus said the BelugaXL has passed the ground vibration test (GVT), a requirement for certification of the aircraft that paves the way toward its maiden flight this summer.

“The objective of this test is to measure the dynamic behavior of the aircraft and confirm theoretical models of various flight conditions, such as maneuvering, flying in gusty conditions and landing. This test data also helps clear the aircraft’s flight envelope,” Airbus said in a statement.

The BelugaXL was launched in November 2014 to address the transport and ramp-up capacity requirements for Airbus beyond 2019.  The new oversize air transporters are based on the A330-200 Freighter, with large re-use of existing components and equipment. The first of five BelugaXLs will enter service in 2019. 

Source : Airbus/Picture Airbus

          

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                                Air Baltic Signs for 30 More CS300s

Latvian carrier Air Baltic has signed for 30 more Bombardier Series aircraft and taken options for 30 more of the type. Deliveries of the new aircraft are set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Air Baltic has already ordered 20 of the type, eight of which are in commercial service. “In 2017, we successfully executed our fleet modernization strategy, and are excited to further grow our fleet up to 80 CS300 aircraft while phasing out our other types in the next three years.”

The new aircraft will support the next stage of its business strategy, which targets significant route expansion in key Baltic markets Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.

“A critical part of this new strategy is the introduction of a larger and exclusive fleet of all CS300 aircraft, which are the most suitable aircraft for the markets in which we operate,” said chief executive Martin Gauss. 

Source : Reuters/Picture Air Baltic      

      Boeing Business Jets Grows Order Book with New Sales

Boeing Business Jets have won four new orders in 2018 as elite customers continue to favor Boeing’s portfolio of ultra-large-cabin, long range airplanes, the company announced on May 28 at the European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE).

The New Orders this year follow an impressive 2017 in which customers purchased 16 Boeing Business Jets. Two of the new orders this year are for the BBJ MAX airplane, adding to a backlog of 19 airplanes and making the BBJ MAX one of the best-selling business jetliners in history.

“The performance advantage of the BBJ MAX is a big sales driver,” said Greg Laxton, leader of Boeing Business Jets. ”The airplane is perfectly suited for discerning customers who want to fly further without stopping.” 

Source : Boeing Business Jets Communications

                                                                       

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

      SIngapore Airlines To Merge Regional Silkair Unit into Main Brand 

Silkair’s Boeing 737 fleet will undergo a major cabin overhaul pending the unit’s merger with the main Singapore Airlines brand.

The full merger will take place after 2020, which gives the SIA Group time to upgrade the cabins aboard the regional carrier’s narrow body fleet, says SIA. 

“The program will comprise investment of more than $100 million to upgrade the wholly owned subsidiary’s cabins with new lie-flat seats in business class, and the installation of seat-back in-flight entertainment systems in both business class and economy class”, says SIA. “ This will ensure closer product and service consistency across the SIA Group’s full-service network.  

“Singapore Airlines is one year into our three-year Transformation Program and the announcement of May 18 of merging Silkair into Singapore Airlines is a significant development to provide more growth opportunities and prepare the Group for an even stronger future,” says SIA chief executive Got Choon.

Silkair operates 34 aircraft. They comprise of five 737 Max 8, 17 737-800s, three Airbus A319s, and nine A320s. The A320 family aircraft are being phased out in favor of the 737s, of which Silkair has orders for 32 Max 8s. 

Source : Singapore Airlines

                     GE9X Completes First Phase of Flight Testing

In early May, GE wrapped up the first phase of a two-stage flight-test effort on the 105,000lb-thrust GE9X. Phase 1 included 18 flights on board the company’s Victorville-based 747-400 flying testbed, GE9X program manager Ted Ingling said. The 105,000lb-thrust power plant was flown to Evendale, Ohio to prepare for phase 2, which is scheduled to begin in the third quarter.” It will be months of work to bring the engine down and back up again. The majority of the activities are around the instrumentation that we have on this vehicle. There’s over 1,600 pieces of discrete information through sensors that get bundled onto the engine routed into the aircraft,” Ingling says. 

“We want to preserve that instrumentation for the missions that follow. As a result, what would normally be a quick turn-around for incorporation of the hardware changes takes us a much longer time to bring the engine down and back up and make sure all the instrumentation is working,” he adds.

The first phase of flight-testing with the GE9X kicked off on March 13, with engine designated as No.4 within the program lifting off in Victorville. In nearly two months, the 747-400 flying testbed logged 110 flight hours overall during the 18 flights.

“We are very encouraged about the engine. All indications from flight test is that the engine is doing exactly what we want it to do and we’re on track to meet our objectives on performance,” Ingling says. ”The engine is really performing well and we couldn’t be happier with that.”

Source : GE Aviation

      JetBlue Founder Raising Funds for New U.S. Airline, Report Says 

David Neeleman, who started JetBlue Airways Corp.with $100 million in 2000, is raising money to launch a new low-cast carrier focused on secondary airports in the U.S., according to Airline Weekly.

The airline, to be called Moxy Airways, has secured orders for 60 Bombardier CS300 aircraft, the trade journal, citing people familiar with the matter.  The first would arrive in 2020, perhaps a ply on the word Moxie—meaning determination and pep—Moxy Airways reportedly aims to get of the ground in 2020.

The timeline coincides exactly with when Bombardier – and its new partner Airbus – intend to open a Series assembly site in Mobile, Alabama.

Moxy is designed to maximize the economic advantage of the C Series, along with the use of smaller, secondary airports such as Providence, Rhode Island, Forth Worth, Texas, Gary,  Indiana and Burbank, California. Plus the Long Island cities of Islip and Farmingdale, Airline Weekly said. The advanced jetliner reduces fuel burn due to its modern engines and carbon-fiber fuselage.

With 60 CS300 orders, Moxy would become the second-largest C Series customer after Delta Airlines.  Delta is acquiring 75 of the smaller CS100 model and plans to begin service with the plane next year. 

Source : Bloomberg/Ed’s Research

 

    LATEST NEWS

  • IATA downgraded its 2018 profit forecast for the global airline industry, projecting airlines will collectively earn $33.8 billion this year, down 12% from the $38.4 billion predicted in December 2017 as fuel costs rise. 
  • Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker has been appointed the chairman of ATA board of governors. 
  • Ethiopian Airlines has taken delivery of its 100th aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on June 6,2018, once again leading the way in fleet expansion and modernization in Africa.
  • LOT Polish Airlines is acquiring six more Boeing 737 MAX 8s as part of its fleet modernization plans.
  • United Airlines debuted its first passenger service utilizing a 737 MX 9 between Houston and Orlando International Airport on June 7. 
  • BOC Aviation Limited delivered its first Boeing 737 MAX8 aircraft to its newest customer Corendon Airlines based in Turkey. 
  • CDB Aviation Lease Finance delivered two Boeing 737-800 aircraft to Ukraine International Airlines. The aircraft delivered from CDB Aviation order book with Boeing.
  • AirAsia Group received shareholder approval to sell 55 Airbus A320 family aircraft and seven CFM56s on an operating lease to FLY leasing; deal includes options on another 20 A320neos.
  • Vistara the Indian affiliate of Singapore Airlines Ltd has opted for six 787s with an option to buy four more. Vistara is considering between the 787-9 and the 787-10 version. 
  • Xiamen Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737MAX 8, expanding its fleet to 200 aircraft. The air carrier operates an all Boeing fleet of 737s,757s and 787s, with 31 consecutive years of profitability. 
  • Royal Brunei Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo aircraft during an event in Toulouse, France. 

Sources : Ed”s Research From Various Aviation Resources.

 

AIR CARGO

           Lufthansa Cargo Introduces Twice Weekly B777Fs to Chengdu

Lufthansa Cargo has confirmed its latest capacity increase into Chinese cargo market by adding twice weekly B777 freighter services to the city of Chengdu. 

Chengdu in western China has joined Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong as Lufthansa Cargo freighter connections to the country.

Speaking at Air Cargo China in Shanghai, Frank Naeve, Lufthansa Cargo vice president Asia-Pacific, said: “The extension to our network will allow us to offer solutions for booming markets in the west of China”. “These new flights to Chengdu are strengthening our position in China. It is a further investment into the very important Chinese airfreight market,” he declared.

Lufthansa Cargo flew 240,000 tons of cargo from and into China in 2017.

In addition to this news, Lufthansa has ordered two Boeing 777Fs to add to its fleet of five B777Fs, to be delivered in February and March of 2019.

“The Boeing 777F is not only the world’s most powerful, efficient and environmentally friendly freighter, it is a visible sign of our modernization strategy,” said Peter Gerber, chief executive of Lufthansa Cargo.” He added: “With the growth of our B777 freighter fleet, an important milestone has been reached on our way to forming a company for the next generation.”

With a full payload of 103 tons, the B777F is able to stay in the air for ten and a half hours. It covers a distance of more than 9,000 kilometers ( 5592 miles) non-stop.

Source : Aircargonews/Lufthansa/Picture Lufthansa

 

 Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul News

Services May Justify Future Boeing Aircraft: Fitch

 Boeing’s increasing emphasis on services and lifecycle revenue streams for its product is a “key development” for the company, says Fitch Ratings.

The credit rating agency had affirmed Boeing’s long-term rating at ‘A’ with a stable outlook, and says that Boeing’s 4.25 billion takeover of parts supplier KLX Aerospace Solutions—expected to close in the third quarter—will not affect this assessment.

Fitch broadly approves of Boeing’s aftermarket strategy, which it believes could drive growth and margin gains. It also increases the viability of clean-sheet aircraft programs by opening another revenue stream to recoup high development costs.

“Potentially greater services revenues through the life of a program could make some proposed programs more economically viable than if evaluated only on an original equipment basis,” Fitch states.

The obvious potential program in this regard is Boeing’s new midsize aircraft (NMA). Fitch questions whether Boeing’s current setup can provide a business case for the aircraft given development costs, but notes this might change with production system improvements and aftermarket gains.

“Key questions for Boeing over the next year will be whether it raises 737 rates further and whether the supply chain can support additional rate hikes”

Source: Fitch Credit Rating Agency

        MRO LATEST NEWS

  • ST Engineering Aerospace opened a $46 million, 173,500 sq ft maintenance and overhaul facility in Pensacola, Florida.  It’s the third facility in the US.  They have signed UPS as launch customer for Boeing 757s.
  • Boeing & Safran agreed to form a joint venture to design, build and service APUs.
  • Skytech-AIC was appointed by Kuwait Airways to market for sale the airline’s single, low-time, GE-powered 747-400 Combi and its first A340-300 aircraft, delivered new to Kuwait Airways in 1994-1995.
  • Thai Airways & Rolls-Royce signed cooperation agreement over Trent Maintenance.
  • German Asset Manager Dr Peters, on June 5th, disclosed plans to part out two ex-Singapore Airlines Airbus A380s.  Dr Peters executive, Anselm Gehling, estimates that the company can achieve a residual value of about $80 million per aircraft. This is done with  $45 million from parting out airframe, about $4 million from leasing engines over the next 18 months, and $32-$33 million from selling the engines in 2020.    

        

 

 

 

 

Researched and Compiled by : 

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian  

by

Volume 5 Issue 5 May 2018 The Kaplanian Report

On the Boeing Front

                               Boeing Start Assembly of the First 777-9

Major fuselage sections of the first 777X aircraft have entered Boeing’s fuselage assembly center in Everett wide body plant.

In a tweeted photo on March 23rd, (see picture) Boeing showed the first Section 41—the company’s internal designation for the nose and forward fuselage—entered the 40-47 bay of the Everett factory. The first 777-9 version of the 777X family to enter fuselage assembly will be used for static testing on the ground, Boeing says.

Inside the 40-47 bay, Section 41 will be joined to the center and aft fuselage sections, using a new process introduced two years ago on the 777-300ER and 777-200LR programs. Instead of loading the assemblies into a rotating tool fixture, Boeing will mate the 777X using automated upgrade build (FAUB) procession which sections are loaded into movable cradles and are mated together using mostly robots for drilling and fastening.

Later this year, the assembled fuselage will be moved to the final assembly bay for the 777X, where it will be joined with the aircraft’s first new composite wings.  Boeing introduced the first 777-9 wingspan into assembly last year for the static test airplane.

During final assembly, Boeing also mates the fuselage with the wings, onboard systems and the GE Aviation GE9X engines. The 777-9 program is scheduled to enter flight testing in 2019 and enter service with launch customer Emirates in 2020.The longer-range 777-8 will enter service two years later.

Source : Boeing/Flightglobal   

                   

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

      Sections for First All Nippon Airways A380 Arrive in Toulouse

Final assembly of the first A380 for All Nippon Airways is set to start this month.

The main sections of the first A380 for Japan’s All Nippon Airways(ANA) have arrived at the Airbus final assembly line in Toulouse, France via a special convoy, with six subassemblies—the nose, central and aft fuselage sections, the tailplane, and the two wings.

ANA Holdings placed a firm order for three A380s in 2016, becoming the first customer for the A380 in Japan. The first delivery is scheduled early in 2019, and the A380 will initially be operated on the Tokyo-Honolulu route. ANA’s A380 will feature a special Hono Hawaiian green sea turtle livery, symbolizing good luck and prosperity.

Source : Airbus/Picture Airbus            

       

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

      Gulfstream Aerospace Has Delivered a Fourth G650ER to Qatar

Gulfstream AeroSpace delivered a fourth G650ER to Qatar Airways for its Qatar Executive commercial charter service.

With the delivery, Qatar Executive becomes the largest single owner and operator of G650ER aircraft, Gulfstream said.

The delivery will help meet increased demand for a longer-range private air travel by Qatar customers, Qatar Airways said. Gulfstream’s partnership with Qatar Airways began in 2014 when it became the launch customer for the Gulfstream G500.

Since then, Qatar Airways has signed orders and options for up to 30 Gulfstream aircraft that include the G650ER,the G500 and the G600.

Source : Gulfstream/Qatar Airways                                                                                                                                  

                 Cambodia Bayon Airlines Commenced Operations                         with MA60 Domestically

Cambodia Bayon Airlines (Phnom Penh) is a new airline in Cambodia which selected the Xian MA 60 to fly domestic operations between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The airline received its AOC on December 23, 2014.

Cambodia Bayon Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bayon Airlines Holdings which was established in April 2014.

Bayon Airlines plans to introduce 20 MA60 aircraft and 10 Airbus A320 aircraft within five years to build route network which covers Cambodia and services to Japan , China and Korea.

Little bit about the MA60…it is a stretched version of the Xian A7-200A which was produced on the An24 to operate in rugged conditions with limited ground support and short take-off and landing(STOL) capability. The MA60 has not applied for FAA(US) and EASA(Europe) type certification and is not certified for use in the US and the European Union.

Source :World Airline News/Ed’s Research  

                                                               

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

         China Southern Group to Take 309 Aircraft Through to 2020

The China Southern Airlines Group is currently scheduled to take delivery of 309 aircraft over the next three years, with nearly half of those set to arrive this year.

Over 2018 the carrier will take delivery of 115 aircraft, comprising of 61 Boeing 737-800s,39 Airbus A320 family jets,10 787-9s and five A330-300s.It will retire 29 aircraft, thus ending the year with an estimated 840 aircraft-up from 2017’s 754.

2019 will see the addition of 105 aircraft, comprising of 45 Boeing 737-800s, 42 A320 family jets, seven 787-9s, six A350-900s and five 777-300ERs. It will end the year with 916 aircraft, after 29 retirements.

2020 will see 89 additions, again with the 737-800s forming the bulk of the deliveries at 51, followed by 24 A320 family aircraft, six A350-900s, five 787-9s and three 777-300ERs.With 26 planned retirements, it will end the year with 979 aircraft. China Southern is the largest airline group in China by fleet size. Besides China Southern, the group also has stakes in a list of carriers including Xiamen Airlines, Shantou Airlines, Zhuhai Airlines, Guizhou Airlines, Chongqing Airlines and Hebei Airlines.

Source : Flightglobal                                                                                                                                           

                    American Orders 47 787s for Fleet Replacement

American Airlines has ordered 47 Boeing 787s on April 6 and canceling its order for 22 Airbus A350s.The 787 order consists of 22 787-8s to begin arriving in 2020 and 25 787-9s scheduled to begin arriving in 2023 American said.

The 787-8s will replace American’s Boeing 767-300s, while later 787-9 deliveries will replace Airbus A330-300s and older 777-200s.All the 787s will be powered by GE Aviation GEnx-1B engines. The order is valued at $12 billion at list prices, says Boeing.

“This was a difficult decision between the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 and the A330neo and we thank both manufactures for their aggressive efforts to earn more of American’s business,” says Robert Isom, President of American, in a statement. “In the end, our goal to simply our fleet made the 787 a more compelling choice.”

As part of the deal, American is also deferring the delivery of 40 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbodies.

Boeing says that the order is a new deal from American and not an exercise of the carrier’s options for 58 787s.

American will be the largest operator of the 787 in the western hemisphere, with 89 aircraft. ANA, the Japanese carrier that was the launch customer for the Dreamliner, is the largest operator of 787s, while lessor AerCap is the largest 787owner.

So Far Orders for the 787 Dreamliners stand at over 1,365 that is not counting recent announcements from Hawaiian for 10 787-9s and Emirates for 40 787-10. When confirmed will be over 1,400. (EdK)

Source : Boeing/American/ATW/Flightglobal/Ed’s Research

           

                          Ethiopian Airlines Launches Split Scimitar                              Winglet in Northern Africa

Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) announced on March 26 that Ethiopian Airlines has become the first operator in Northern Africa of its Split Scimitar Winglet Technology. The first installation of the System was completed on March 20th,2018 in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian Airlines intends to install the Winglets on its fleet of Boeing Next Generation 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft. Aviation Partners’ latest Winglet design, the Split Scimitar Winglet, uses existing Blended Winglets technology but adds new aerodynamic Scimitar tips and a large ventral strake, further increasing the efficiency of the airplane.

The Split Scimitar Winglet modification reduces Boeing Next-Generation 737 block fuel consumption by up to an additional 2.2% over the Blended Winglets alone. The Split Scimitar Winglet System will reduce Ethiopian Airline’s annual fuel requirements by more than 275,000 liters per aircraft and their carbon dioxide emissions by over 700tons per aircraft per year.

Since launching the Boeing Next-Generation 737 Split Scimitar Winglet program, APB has taken orders for over 1,800 systems, and over 1,000 aircraft are now operating with the technology. APB estimates that its products have reduced aircraft fuel consumption worldwide by over 8.0 billion gallons to date thereby saving nearly 85.0 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions

Source : Aviation Partners Boeing/Ethiopian Airlines/Picture Avimet.cr

     

LATEST NEWS

  • Ukraine International Airlines will take delivery of 10 aircraft in 2018, comprising of four 737-800s, four 777-200ERs and two Embraer E190s.
  • Spirit Airlines agreed to purchase 14 Airbus A319-100s off-lease from AerCap.
  • Avolon delivered one Boeing 787-9 aircraft to Virgin Atlantic. This is the fourth Avolon aircraft on lease to Virgin Atlantic.
  • Jet Airways announced a new order for 75 737 MAX. The new deal is in addition to a similar number of 737 Max 8s of firm orders and purchase rights that was announced at the 2015 Dubai air show.
  • Air Lease has firmed up an order for eight additional Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, valued at almost $939 million at list prices.
  • Royal Jordanian Airlines improved on-time performance to rank third in the Middle East and Africa.                                                                                                                                             
  • Hi Fly Portuguese long-haul wet-lease specialist is to become the latest operator of the Airbus A380, with planes to take delivery of the type around the middle of this year.
  • LOT Polish Airlines received its first 787-9 after a 9h 20 min flight from Everett Paine Field to Warsaw Chopin Airport.
  • Lessor BOC Aviation has signed a purchase agreement with Boeing for six 787-9s, in a deal valued at $1.69 billion at list prices.
  • All Nippon Airways(ANA) has finalized an order for two 777-200LRFs valued at $678 million at list prices. 
  • Gulf Air reveals new branding as it took delivery of its first delivery 787-9 on April 6th.                                                                                                                                                                     
  • Sources : Various Sources Researched by Ed K

 

AIR CARGO

  Air Bridge Cargo Launches Scheduled Freighter Services at Rickenbacker

AirBridgeCargo Airlines(ABC) will become the fifth freighter operator to provide scheduled services at Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus, Ohio.

The Russia-based carrier joins a network of logistics service providers at the US cargo-dedicated airport, which is located within a one-day drive to nearly half of the US population and one third of the Canadian population.

ABC’s inaugural flight landed at Rickenbacker on April 5th, and weekly flights will continue on Thursdays, carrying freight inbound from the airlines global hub in Moscow and returning to Moscow through Liege, Belgium. The carrier will employ its fleet of 747 freighters that provide up to 139 tons of capacity.

ABC joins Cargolux, Cathay Pacific Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo and Etihad Cargo as freight carriers that operate up to 15 weekly international lights at Rickenbacker International Airport(LCK).

Source : aircargonews/Photo ABC                                                                                                                   

       Qatar Airways Signs LOI for 5 Boeing 777-200LR Freighters 

On April 10 Qatar Airways signed a letter of intent(LOI) with Boeing to buy five 777-200LR Freighters, worth $1.7 billion at list prices, the airline said in a statement. Al Baker And Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister met in Doha to sign the preliminary agreement. Qatar has taken delivery of 13 out of 16 Boeing 777 Freighters orders in 2006, and has 60 of the next generation jets on order, according to Boeing’s orders and deliveries website.

The order will be posted on Boeing’s orders and deliveries website once the purchase is finalized the statement said.

Source : Reuters

 

   Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul News

     Rolls-Royce Develops Maintenance Log Reader

Rolls-Royce is preparing to demonstrate part of Intelligent Insights a suite of tools launched under the IntelligentEngine program.

The first of those tools, Technical Insight uses natural language processing techniques to read engine maintenance logs, combining its findings with cloud-based inputs from other data sources.

“Insights are then delivered via visualization tools for the line maintenance environment in an easy-to-use append via the Rolls-Royce portal”, says Rolls-Royce in a statement.

If It works as intended, the tool should make mechanics’ lives easier, removing the need to cross-check various sources of information and presenting important data in an accessible manner.

The main goal is to improve dispatch reliability, but it will also be interesting to see how the new technology contributes to wider aims such as lifecycle management.

Rolls-Royce has not said if Technical Insight was developed with outside help or purely in house.

Source : Rolls-Royce/Rolls-Royce Picture

 

MRO LATEST NEWS

  • Safran Nacelles unveiled the NacelleLife service offering providing complete coverage of its set engine nacelle systems—including thrust reversers.
  • Lufthansa Technik has a total component support agreement with Easter Jet for its Boeing 737NGs.
  • AerFin signed a three-year TrueChoice Material Service Agreement with GE Aviation for serviceable OEM parts, advanced repair and technology upgrades for the CFM56,CF34 and CF-80C2 engines.
  • Wheeltug was selected by Kenya Airways to provide its electric taxi systems for its Boeing 737NGs.
  • Pratt & Whitney was selected by JetBlue Airways to supply GTF engines for another 85 Airbus A320neo family aircraft; the deal includes 15-year EngineWise service agreement.                    

 

 

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian

by

Volume 5 Issue 3 The Kaplanian Report


On the Boeing Front

                                              The 737 MAX Gains Momentum

On February 5th Boeing rolled out the first 737 MAX 7, the third member of the MAX family to come down the line in Renton.

The MAX 7 is slightly stretched compared to the 737-700, giving customers the capacity to fly 12 more passengers even farther. The airplane will have the longest range of any member of the MAX family at 3,850 nm. What’s most impressive about the MAX 7 is its ability to offer exceptional performance at high altitude airports and hot climate.

Global airlines holding orders for the 737 MAX 7, as of January 1, 2017 include Kunming Airlines of China for 10, Southwest Airlines for 30, WestJet of Canada for 23 and Jetliner of Canada for 5.

On February 16th the Boeing 737 MAX 9 has gained FAA certification, clearing the way for the second variant in the MAX family to enter commercial service.

The MAX 9 has a maximum capacity of 220 passengers in a single-class configuration, 10 more seats than the MAX 8.  The MAX 9’s maximum range of 3,335 nm is the same as the  MAX 8, although the -9 needs an auxiliary fuel tank to reach this range.

Boeing is now in the final stages of preparing the MAX 9 for its first delivery to launch customer Lion Air Group.

Finally, Boeing’s MAX 10 reached a major milestone as the MAX program completed firm configuration on the airplane.

Source : Boeing/Boeing Pictures

                     

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                   Airbus Has Commenced the Maiden Flight of the A321LR 

Airbus has commenced the maiden flight of its new long-range A321LR, the aircraft having lifted off from Finkenwerder airfield in Hamburg. It took off from the plant as weather conditions, including an overcast sky and rain, cleared sufficiently for the test.

The test aircraft, powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines, has a new fuselage door configuration which will enable customers to fit up to 240 seats.

The configuration will become the structural standard for future A321neo production.

The aircraft will have a 97t maximum take-off weight and optional additional fuel tanks, giving it the capability of operating on long-range routes up to 4,000nm.

The initial test flight lasted 2h and 30 min.

Source : Flightglobal/Pictures Airbus

        

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                         Dassault Receives Orders for 41 Falcons in 2017 

Dassault Aviation reports receiving orders for 41 Falcon Jets in 2017, up from 33 in the prior year; the termination of the Falcon 5X program resulted in three cancellations.

The French airframer delivered 49 business jets last year, up from a forecast of 45. Meanwhile, the company’s backlog decreased from 63 to 52 and some Falcon 5X cancellations have yet to be entered in the books.

The business jet market has yet to recover from the global financial crisis of 2008.

Source : BCA/Picture Dassault

 

                         Bombardier Enters Final Phase of Global 7000 Testing 

Bombardier has entered the final phase of a 14-month-old airworthiness campaign after the fifth Global 7000 business jet entered flight testing on January 30th.  The debut for flight-test vehicle (FTV) 5 keeps the program on track for gaining type certification in the second half of this year. 

Bombardier has now logged more than 1,300 flight hours in the Global 7000 test campaign and completed fatigue testing on a full airframe, the company says.

The 7,400nm (13,700km) range of a Global 7000 with eight passengers sits between the 7,000nm range of the G650 and the 7,500 range of the G650ER.

The Global 7000 offers more room, with a cabin about 2.5m (8ft 2in) longer than the Gulfstream models.

Source : Bombardier/Bombardier Picture/Ed’s Research       

                                                             

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                               Spirit AeroSystems Ships 10,000 737 Fuselage  

A train carrying the 10,000th 737 fuselage left Spirit AeroSystems’ factory in Wichita, Kansas on February 13, the supplier says. Spirit AeroSystems builds 70% of the 737, including the fuselage.  

The milestone was announced on February 14 by Spirit AeroSystems senior vice president and chief technology and quality officer John Pilla, a speaker at the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance conference in Lynnwood, Washington.

The milestone aircraft is a 737 Max 8 scheduled for delivery to Southwest Airlines, Boeing says.  

When that fuselage is integrated with wings, systems, engines and interiors in Boeing’s final assembly plant, the 737 will become the first aircraft of the jet age to achieve the 10,000th delivery milestone.

The first 737-100 entered service with Lufthansa 50 years and four days ago on February 10,1968. The type has progressed through four generations, including the original 737, classic, Next Generation and Max families. Southwest Airlines flew all variants with the exception of the 737-100.

Source : Flightglobal/Picture Spirit AeroSystems

Meridiana Relaunched As Air Italy   

Meridiana has been relaunched as Air Italy on February 19 in Milan by investors Qatar Airways and Alisarda. Akbar Al Baker pitches the “new airline” as a direct competitor to Alitalia, outlining a rapid expansion program involving several new domestic and international services. 

Air Italy will take 20 Boeing 737 Max 8s plus five Airbus 330s over the next three years, on lease from Qatar Airways “at market rate”. It will also take 20 787s, bringing its fleet to 50 aircraft. The airline will be based at Milan Malpensa airport.

The airline will offer business-class cabins along its economy offering. Qatar Airways took a 49% stake in Meridiana last year and the remainder is held by Alisarda.

Source : Flightglobal/Qatar Airways/Picture Qatar Airways

    Copa Airlines Plans to Expand Fleet in 2018 

Copa Airlines flag carrier of Panama plans to grow its fleet by 25% by 2020 with the first of 71 Boeing 737 MAX arriving in August of this year.

The airline should receive five 737 MAX aircraft this year, followed by 10 in 2019 and 22 in 2022, says Ahad Zamany, VP technical operations, speaking at the Aviation Week Network’s MRO Latin America event. The last of the 71 should arrive in 2025.  

Its Predominant fleet of 737-800s will cap out at 71 this year up from 69 in 2017.

To accommodate the expanding fleet, the Panama-based carrier broke ground on a new maintenance hangar in 2017 that should be finished in the fourth quarter of this year. 

Source : Aviation Week/Picture Copa Airlines   

 

LATEST NEWS

  • China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) placed an order with Airbus for 15 A320neos valued at roughly $1.7 billion.
  • Sichuan Airlines has ordered 10 Airbus A350-900s, on February 9; the aircraft will help facilitate a rapid international expansion plan.
  • Aviation Capital Group took delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX in Seattle.The aircraft, a 737 MAX 8 variant on a long term lease to Aerolineas Argentinas.
  • BOC Aviation will lease seven Airbus A320neo aircraft to Chongqing Airlines, with all aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2018.
  • Oman Air has taken delivery of the first of 30 Boeing 737 Max 8s it has on order.
  • Qantas has released the first pictures of its latest aircraft to bear an indigenous-inspired livery, this time on its fourth 787-9 delivered on March 2nd.
  •   UPS  places an order for 14 Boeing 747-8Fs and four Boeing 767-300 Freighters.
  • Travel Service Airlines has received its first Boeing 737 Max 8, one of 10 the Czech airline is taking on operating lease from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS )
  • Lufthansa  Its new revised livery, first appeared on one of the fleets 747-8is
  • Subaru (formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries) has completed production of the first Boeing 777X center wing box at the company’s Hanada factory.

AIR CARGO

Southwest Cargo Set To Begin International Shipments in May

Southwest Airline announced on February 19th that it will roll out its new Southwest Cargo Suite(SCS) point -of-sale system this month and will begin international cargo shipments to destinations in Mexico in May.

The carrier will kick off its shipments to Mexico, with destinations including Mexico City, Cancun, Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, pending government approvals. Southwest Airlines senior director for cargo and charters, Wally Devereaux, stated at the Air Cargo 2018 conference.

The airline expects to add more routes in Mexico and the Caribbean through this year and build steadily on an international cargo business Southwest expects to be small — at first.

Southwest expects healthy trade units routes between the United States and Mexico, with northbound flights likely moving perishables to the U.S.,while flights to Mexico to transport a variety of cargo, including pharmaceutical products and e-commerce goods.

Source : Southwest Airlines

 

 MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OVERHAUL NEWS 

                                  GE Grows Parts Presence in Singapore 

GE Aviation plans to open a new GE9X components manufacturing facility in Singapore and will draw on ideas and concepts from its existing parts repair center in the city-state.

It will grow its engine components footprint in Singapore after announcing plans to establish a new center to manufacture parts for the GE9X engine powering the Boeing 777X.

Announced at the Singapore Air Show on February 5, the new 50,000 square foot facility located at the City-State’s Seletar Aerospace Park will specialize in high pressure compressor vanes for the wide body engine, which to date amassed 700 orders. In the Asia-Pacific region, Aviation Week’s 2018 Fleet & MRO Forecast has an order backlog of 82 units for the GE9X,a figure not taking into account this year’s Singapore Air Show.

With plans to implement digital and lean manufacturing concepts at the new facility, the engine maker said it will draw on ideas and concepts from existing Singapore repair center.

Investments at the component service center include research into new repair processes’ lean lab for advanced manufacturing and utilizing the latest robotic technologies to drive greater efficiencies. These Commitments were made in anticipation of growing regional demand from engine types such as the CFM LEAP, GEnx and the GE9X.  

Source : GE Aviation

 

                                     MRO LATEST NEWS  

  • Iberia Maintenance has signed a contract to inspect &repair the Rolls-Royce RB 211 535-E4 engines powering DHL Air UK and Blue Dart’s 757 aircraft fleet.
  • Tarmac Aerosave received a second ex-Singapore Airline’s Airbus A380 for storage at its Tarbes, France facility.
  • Triumph Aviation Services Asia was selected by Boeing to provide inspection, recertification and repair support on nacelle and flight control components in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • KLM UK Engineering has a Finnair contract for Embraer E190/Airbus A320 line maintenance at Edinburgh.
  • Spirit AeroSystems unveiled 20,000 sqft center of excellence at Wichita to focus on the fabrication of large, complex soft metal parts for fuselage, pylon and wing structures.
  • Safran Electrical & Power was selected by Boeing to equip its 2018 ecoDemonstrator (FedEX Express 777F) with an electrical channel that includes electric power generation and distribution systems, engine and aircraft wiring, and specific electrical loads (electric fans).

 

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact at  ekaplanian@msn.com

Editor –  Lee Kaplanian

 

by

Volume 4 Issue 9 The Kaplanian Report September 2017

ON THE BOEING FRONT

Urals Boeing Plant to Triple Partners’ Titanium Capacity 

Shipments of Russian-made aerospace parts will exceed $1billion after the new Urals Boeing Manufacturing (UBM) plant begins operations next summer.  Sergei Kravchenko, Boeing president for Russia and CIS, told reporters during a briefing in Moscow a day ahead of the July 18th to 23rd MAKS 2017 airshow.

UBM, a joint venture between the U.S. airframes and Russia’s Roster Corporation officially launched operations in 2009, but the demand for more titanium parts prompted the partners to invest in a second plant to triple the capacity.

The new plant opens “just in time”, said Kravchenko, considering the 18 to 24 month lead time for major 777X parts.

Russian output grew quickly as Boeing 787 production rose from an initial two to 12 per month.  Each Dreamliner coming off the production line uses 56 parts made of Russian titanium, weighing a total weight of 22 tons, including heavily machined components from UBM and raw material supplied directly by Rostec’s VSMPO-Avisma company.

Financial restrictions have proved most damaging, because they make it harder for Russian airlines to buy Boeing aircraft. ”We continue materializing all we had agreed before, but the political instability restricts our ability to launch larger economic projects that would benefit both sides,” he said. ”I want to see sanctions removed.”

Nevertheless, Kravchenko expressed optimism about the potential of Boeing Global Services(GBS).” Kravchenko said “Stan Deal, GBS president and CEO, asked for my assistance…and I shall be working for him while keeping the current position,” he added.

Kravchenko said he sees the recent achievements of Russian airlines – most notably Aeroflot – in the area of digitization as a major contribution to the new division to provide round-the-clock support for airlines. Boeing plans to take advantage of the time zone difference between Moscow and Seattle, employing engineers in those respective cities “as though in two shifts”.

“This way, we can get airline’s requests for services fulfilled quicker and in a more efficient manner,” concluded Kravchenko.

Source : Air Transport

 

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

Airbus Delivers Its 100th A350 XWB

Airbus has delivered its 100th A350 XWB, just some 30 months after the first delivery in December 2014.  The 100th aircraft delivered is an A350-900 for China Airlines.

“The 100th A350 XWB milestone comes as we reach our fastest wide body production ramp-up on track to meet the target of 10 A350 deliveries per month by the end of 2018,” said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus COO and President Commercial Aircraft.

“China Airlines is happy to be receiving the 100th A350XWb,” said Nuan-Shuan Ho, Chairman of China Airlines. To date, the A350 has been delivered to 14 airlines worldwide and is flying with an outstanding operational reliability rate of 99%. ”This is a remarkable statistic at this early stage of the program,” Fabrice Bregier adds.

The A350-1000 is the new member of the A350 XWB family and benefits from its high level of commonality with the A350-900. Scheduled for Type Certification and first Customer delivery in the fourth quarter of 2017, the A350-1000 is currently performing an intensive flight test campaign.

As of July 26, Airbus has recorded a total of 847 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 45 customers worldwide.

Source : Airbus/Airbus Picture

 

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

   Embraer Lauds Services In Q2 Results

Embraer saw a 30% increase in second-quarter sales, due in part to improved revenue from services – an increasingly important business line for the world’s major aircraft manufacturers.

The Brazilian company’s second-quarter revenue rose to $1.77 billion, on factors including higher services sales and increased commercial deliveries.

Embraer delivered 35 commercial aircraft during the quarter, versus 26 in last year’s equivalent period.  It also delivered 24 business aircraft, and noted that its executive jets division had recorded a double-digit growth in services revenue.

Boeing is also pushing its aftermarket product: First-half earnings for its services division unit were up 11% to $674 million and Boeing expects the unit’s operating margin for the full year to breach 13.5%, up from a previous forecast of 12.5%-plus.

And while Embraer’s 2Q trading statement is unclear about services’ contribution to higher revenues within its commercial aircraft division, the manufacturer does offer a full suite of services, including maintenance, modifications, field support, training and materials.

In the first half of 2017, Embraer had invested almost $24 million in parts for its pooling program.  The company also invested in its E2 aircraft program, which is currently running four E190-Es and one E195-E2 prototypes.  The E190-E2, which has 83 firm orders, completed its wing bending test in May and is now more than halfway through its test campaign.

(It is interesting how airframers are now putting more emphasis on the services side of their businesses. As a former spares executive in the car industry and heavy duty Truck industry, I am elated to see the expansion of this business, which handled correctly can generate more profit for airframes)

Source : Embraer/ Embraer Picture

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

 

 ALC Looks to Accelerate Boeing Deliveries As Airbus Delays Mount

Air Lease is looking to accelerate some of its Boeing deliveries to offset delays to certain Airbus aircraft in 2018, as it questions the stability of both airframers’ supply chains.

Delivery delays of Pratt &Whitney powered A320neo family aircraft and Rolls Royce- powered A330-900neos continue and are

“sliding right” month-by-month in 2018, says  John Plueger, chief executive of the Los Angeles-based lessor, during a second quarter earnings call on August 3rd.

Steven Udar-Hazy, chairman of All, calls the delays to the A330neos the “Rolls Royce Situation”, during the call. He adds that the aircraft has not even begun flight tests.

As a result of the delays, the lessor is looking to accelerate some of its Boeing deliveries into 2018 and may temper its aircraft sales program, says Plueger.

The lessor has yet to determine the full impact of the delays on deliveries from its order book and to its sales program, says Plueger when asked by Wall Street analysts.  He adds that it is receiving updates from Airbus on a weekly basis and hopes to have some clarity by the end of summer.  ALC attributes the delays to supply chain issues, particularly with engines, that are impacting Airbus and, to a lesser extent, Boeing.

“We don’t have the production delay problems with Boeing that we have with Airbus,” says Udvar-Hazy, when asked about possible acceleration of Boeing deliveries.” It just seems Boeing has its programs under control,” he adds.

Source : Flightglobal/ALC

 

Norwegian Has Performed Its First Commercial Transatlantic 737 MAX 

Low-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian Shuttle has performed its first commercial transatlantic flights using the Boeing 737 MAX, with two aircraft now in revenue service.

The first Norwegian 737 MAX transatlantic sector was operated July 15 by aircraft named “Sir Freddie Laker,” who is widely recognized as long a long-haul, low-cost pioneer.  The Skytrain executive started long-haul, low-cost flights between London Gatwick and New York in 1977,  with fares starting at $77.

Norwegian’s 189-seat 737 MAX operated between Edinburgh and Hartford, Connecticut; followed by a second rotation from Edinburgh to Stewart International in New York.

The 737 MAX offers longer range compared with older narrow bodies, opening up smaller transatlantic city pairs at an affordable cost and fare price.

Norwegian will take delivery of six 737 MAXs this summer, joining the two it already has in service.

Source : Flightglobal/Norwegian/NorwegianPicture

 

  LOT Polish Airlines Completes Initial Phase of Long-Haul Renewal

LOT Polish Airlines has taken delivery of the final aircraft of its batch of eight Boeing 787-8s, as the Polish national carrier eyes the arrival of the larger-9 model next year.  CEO Rafal Milczarski credits the twin-aisle aircraft as being a factor in the airlines financial turnaround.

The eighth 787-8 will largely be used to increase frequencies on LOT’s Asian routes, notably to Tokyo (from 3X-to 4X-weekly) and Seoul (from 3X-to %X-weekly) beginning this month.  The enlarged fleet will also begin %X-weekly services from Warsaw to Newark Newark, replacing a Boeing 767-300 leased from Portuguese leasing and charter specialist EuroAtlantic Airways.

The final 787-8 will also allow for potential new long-haul services to be launched, even before the arrival of a batch of four 787-9s next year.  That will be used to inaugurate the recently announced Budapest-New York JFK and Chicago O’Hare routes from May.

On the short-haul front, July also saw the deliveries go four 737-800NG completed, while in November, LOT will be one of the early operators of the 737 MAX 8.

  Source : ATW/Picture Norwegian

 

LATEST NEWS

  • Air Lease Corp has finalized an order with Boeing for 12 737 MAX aircraft previously announced at the Paris Air Show.  The agreement also includes two new orders for the 787-9 Dreamliner.

  • Avolon Irish lessor delivered one Boeing 737 Max 8 to Indonesia’s Lion Air.  This is the fourth Avolon aircraft on lease to Lion Air.
  • ICBC, Chinese lessor, has been identified as the customer behind an order for 20 Airbus A320neo placed at the end of 2014.
  • ALAFCO secured a loan from Stellwagen Finance for the first Airbus A320neo for lease to Air India.
  • GE Aviation earned $1.49 billion on $6.53 billion sales in 2Q17 vs $1.35 billion on $6.51 billion in 2Q16.
  • Meggitt aviation component and systems maker has landed a deal with Boeing to provide the airframe with integrated standby flight displays (ISFD) for the 777X.
  • Flydubai Dubai based low-cost carrier (LCC) has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8, becoming the first Middle Eastern carrier to operate the type.

  • Singapore Airlines has dropped its short-haul low-cost carrier (LCC) brand Tingerair, merging the airline into mid-to long-haul LCC Scoot.
  • Saudi Aramco has taken delivery of three new Boeing 737-800s in as many months.

  • New England Patriots has acquired two former American Airlines Boeing 767-300ERs for travel to out-of-town games.  The 767s are owned by a company called Team 125 Inc, operated by New England Patriots LLC and financed by Kraft Group, a company let by Patriots owner Robert Kraft.  The aircraft will be configured in an all-first class configuration and will operate out of TF Green airport near Providence, Rhode Island.
  • BOC Aviation firmed its commitment to order 10 737 Max 10s made at the Paris  Air Show in June.

 

AIR CARGO

Volga-Dnepr Weighs in With Vision for a Larger An-124 

Volga-Dnepr Group has outlined its principal requirements for a future freighter to replace the Antonov An-124-100.

During the MAKS air show in Moscow in July, it outlined its vision of a successor to the Ukrainian outsize-cargo aircraft, developed in the 1970s as a military transport.

“In our view, a new freighter should be 35% to 40% more efficient economically and capable to carry a payload of up to 170t for at least 8,000km to 10,000km (4,300-5,400nm)”, say technical director Viktor Tolmachev.  “This would enable the operator to transport even bulkier cargos on longer-haul routes across the oceans and continents.”

The cargo variant of the An-124 entered commercial service with Volga-Dnepr Airlines in October 1991.  Since then the freighter has undergone several enhancements and modifications, the latest is the-100M-150, fitted with Western avionics and capable of flying 2,430nm with a payload of 150t.

Volga-Dnepr currently uses a dozen An-124s, of which 10 were built 22-27 years ago.

Source : Flightglobal/ Volga-Dnepr Picture

 

 Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul News                         

One-Stop OEM Shopping?

The aviation aftermarket is being jolted by some bold moves from OEMs that could challenge conventional business models.  Or is this simply part of the next wave of consolidation?

Take Boeing Avionics.  The OEM announced on July 31, that it is setting up the avionics unit to develop avionics for both commercial and military platforms.  That means it will compete against some of its Tier 1 suppliers – such as Honeywell, United Technologies Corp. and Rockwell Collins. The latter “saw its share price whacked on the Boeing Avionics news,” says Robert Stallard, an analyst at Vertical Research Partners, who points out Rockwell Collins stock “has since rallied.”

A few days later, on Aug. 4, reports started swirling that United Technologies might purchase Rockwell Collins. Keep in mind Rockwell Collins just finished acquiring B/E Aerospace, the cabin interior product and services company, on April 13th. It had expanded its interiors portfolio and established natural synergies and complementary services in areas such as cabin management, connectivity and communication.

Now that some OEMs aim for more aftermarket revenue, it’s not surprising that they seek greater in-house capabilities for an expanding market, which Aviation Week forecasts to reach $74.3 billion this year.

Expect the market to continue expanding through the year. In Vertical Research Partners’ assessment of the global aerospace and defense market’s second quarter, released Aug. 7, it says the aerospace market grew about 7% slightly higher than the 5% in the first quarter.

While all this is emerging, Stallard also sees “a potential shift in the balance of power between the aircraft OEMs and their suppliers,” some of which “are struggling to keep up with the relentless price and efficiency demands of Boeing and Airbus.”

Source : MRO-Network

 

 MRO Short News

  • Jet Yard was selected by Delta Material Services to perform part outs in Marana, Arizona.
  • ATR extended its global maintenance agreement with Stobart Air for 17 Air aircraft.
  • Czech Airlines Technics was selected by KLM low-cost carrier Transavia for Boeing 737NG maintenance.
  • Zodiac Seats US was selected by Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair to supply Z110 economy seats for Boeing 737 MAXs.
  • Ducommun has a Boeing contract to supply aluminum fuselage skins for the Boeing 737-800BCF.

 

September Puzzler        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August Puzzler Answer :  Allegiant Air the fleet is so old that its most numerous airplanes are McDonnell Douglas MD-80s and -90s, which ceased production 17 years ago. Allegiant also operates a pair of Boeing 757s (out of production since 2004) and about somewhat younger dozen Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft.

 

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ed@kaplanianreport.com

by

Volume 4 Issue 8


ON THE BOEING FRONT

The 777 Best Plane Boeing Has Ever Built

On June 12, 1994, the Boeing 777 takes its first flight, kicking off a career that would revolutionize the airline industry.

Once every few decades, an airplane comes along and simply redefines what a modern airliner is capable of delivering for airlines and its passengers. Boeing did it with its first jet-powered airliner, the 707. Boeing changed the game again, when it launched the 747 and turned the industry upside down and in 1994 Boeing did it again with the 777.

In two decades since its first flight, the 777 became the trusty long-haul workhorse for the world’s international airlines. Through June 23, 2017, Boeing has sold a whopping 1,944 777s, making it the best selling wide body in company history.

The following is a short history of the Boeing 777.

The Boeing 777’s journey began in October of 1990 with an order from United Airlines for a twin-engine wide body airliner larger than Boeing’s 767. Leading the program was its general manager, Alan Mulally. From the start, Boeing knew the 777 would be special. It was

the first airliner to be designed completely using a computer. Using 3D computer graphics, Boeing was able to digitally pre-assemble the 777, foregoing the need for costly and time consuming clay models. To produce the 777, Boeing selected its Everett, Washington production facility.

Even though the 777-200 is smaller than the 747, it is still massive airplane at 209 feet long with a 191-foot wingspan. The jet’s high bypass turbofan engines built by Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and GE are the largest engines ever installed on an airliner.

The 777-200 featured a state-of-the-art two-person digital cockpit. In the back, passengers are treated to a more comfortable and quiet ride with greater in-flight entertainment options.

The resulting aircraft could carry 305 to 440 passengers up to 8,270 miles. The cask 200 could cruise at 615 mph and fly at 37,900 feet. In 1995, the 777-200 entered service with United Airlines marking the start of the plane’s game changing career.

With the 777, Boeing was able to convince the government to give the plane an ETOPS 180 rating. The four-engine jumbo jet was not immune to the market dominance of planes like the 777. Along with the twin-engines Airbus A330, the 777 has decimated four-engine passenger sales.

In 1996, Boeing rolled out a more potent version of the 777 with an even greater range called the 777-200ER for extended range. In 1998, Boeing stretched the 777 to create the 550 seat 777-300. Boeing did not stop here. In 2002, extended the range version of the Dash 300 called 777-300ER. With more than 800 sold, the 300ER is by far the most popular version of the 777. In 2006, Boeing introduced the longer range 777-200LR. The 200LR can carry 301 passengers nearly 11,000 miles. With more than two decades of service under its belt, the 777 is getting ready for a major makeover. In 2019, Boeing will introduce the next generation 777-9 and 777-8.

Source : Business Insider/Ed’s research.

 

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

Rolls-Royce Sends First Trent 7000 Pair to Airbus

Rolls-Royce has shipped the Trent 7000 engines for the first Airbus A330neo toToulouse. The UK manufacturer says the power plants have left its facility in Derby and will be installed on the re-engined twin jet during this summer, following integration with Safran nacelles at that company’s Toulouse site.

Airbus has previously indicated its intent to start test-flying the A330neo toward “end of the summer”, potentially as late as September. The airframe originally planned for the A330neo to enter service in late 2017. Now, spring 2018 is the target for starting deliveries.

Rolls-Royce’s Trent 7000 is the sole engine available for the A330neo.  Airbus rolled out the first two A330neos earlier this year, which have been parked in Toulouse engineless awaiting the delivery of their Trent 7000s (picture shown)

The Trent 7000 with twice the bypass ratio of the Trent 700 powering the current-generation A330, Rolls-Royce says the Trent 7000 cuts specific fuel consumption by 10%.

Source : Rolls-Royce/Airbus

 

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                 Embraer Marks One Year of E190 Operations in Japan                                                 

On June 20, Embraer announced at the 52nd International Paris Air Show, that it has signed an agreement with Japan Airlines for a firm order of an additional E190, after Embraer marks one year of E190 operations in Japan. Japan Airlines’ subsidiary J-Air made its first revenue flight in May 2016. J-Air currently operates seven E190s and 17 E175s – 24 E-jets in total, with an additional eight E-jets on backlog. The firm order has a value of USD $50.6 million, based on 2017 list prices, and will be included in Embraer’s 2017 second quarter backlog.

J-Air’s E190 fleet is based at the airline’s Osaka (Itami) base and features a dual-class arrangement with 95 seats, including the well-received Class J (business class) seats, with Free Video Program services for Wi-Fi devices. J-Air’s E-190s currently fly to seven routes in Japan, including services to Narita from Osaka (Itami) and Sapporo that started from June 8. Network growth will continue to include cities like Tokyo (Haneda).

Source : Embraer/Japan Airlines

 

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

GE Tells Boeing It Won’t Share 797 Engines With Arch-Rivals

General Electric, the world’s biggest jet-engine maker, said it’s not prepared to share turbine production on Boeing Co. planned middle-of-market plane with its two global rivals.

Should Boeing opt for multiple suppliers, ”we’re out,” David Joyce, head of GE’s aero-engine arm, said at the Paris Air Show; adding that his company still carries “scares” from being one of three engine providers on the Airbus A330 two decades ago.

“What happens is, all three of us spend a lot of money to design a brand new engine and then all of a sudden you’re splitting the market,” Joyce said.  “You look at the returns on that, unless you find a bunch more applications for that engine immediately, you end up in a world where it just doesn’t work.”

“Think of the difference between whether you’re sole or not,” Joyce said. ”In terms of how you make the business case and return on investment, it’s no cheaper to build the engine if there’s two of you than if there’s one—but the return on it is a hell a lot different.” GE has already gone through three rounds of submissions on the new Boeing plane, he said.

Divisional chief McAllister declined to elaborate on the likely engine architecture of the plane, saying that “it’s still very early in the game”.

Source : Bloomberg/GE Aviation

AerCap Holdings Signed Lease Agreements for 65 Aircraft in the 2Q

Dublin-based lessor AerCap Holdings signed lease agreements for 65 aircraft in the 2017 second quarter, more than dubbing the 27 leases the company secured in 2Q 2016. AerCap’s signed leases during the quarter covered 18 wide body and 47 narrow body aircraft, the company said on July 12.

AerCap purchased 11 aircraft in the 2Q (eight Airbus A320neos, one A321neo and two Boeing 787-9s and sold 24 aircraft from its owned portfolio and eight from its managed portfolio.

In April, AerCap announced it has signed $7.2 billion in financing transactions during the 2017 first quarter, a figure that, in three months, eclipsed the company’s entire 2016 financing transaction total by $2.6 billion.

Source : AerCap/Rendering of 737 MAX in AerCap livery Boeing

Air Transat To Introduce A321LRs In North America  

Canada’s Air Transat expects to become the first North American operator of the Airbus neoLR after it takes delivery of the first 10 it has agreed to lease for 12 years from AerCap starting in 2019.  Scheduled for delivery between the spring of that year and the fall of 2020, the A321LRs will replace Air Transat’s aged Airbus A310s, which the airline plans to gradually retire.

Air Transat said it will deploy the single-aisle jets on both holiday destinations and transatlantic routes, alongside its Airbus A330s and Boeing 737s. The A321LRS will come configured with 200 seats in dual-class layout.

“The A321neoLRs will perfectly complete our fleet of A330s and Boeing 737s”, Transat  President and CEO Jean-Marc Eustache said. This agreement with AerCap will allow us to continue offering our customers the service and comfort they are used to, at the best possible price.”

Air Transat’s fleet currently consists of 31 permanent aircraft in what it calls a unique flexible-fleet model. This allows it to deploy more wide body aircraft in summer for high transatlantic season, with narrow body aircraft in winter to cover the high season for leisure destinations.

Source : Air Transport

 

LATEST NEWS

  • Delta Airlines took delivery of its first of five A350-900s this year, it is the first US airline to operate the type.

  • SMBC Aviation Capital and Chinese low-cost carrier Lucky Air have entered into an agreement for 4 Boeing 737-8 MAXs.
  • The Civil Aviation Administration of China(CAAC) has approved a production certificate for the ARJ21-700, produced by the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC).

  • AviaAM Leasing delivered an Airbus A321 to Russia’s Aeroflot.
  • Azimuth Airlines Russia’s new regional carrier, took delivery of its first SS100 aircraft on July 7th. The aircraft is leased by State Transport Leasing Co.

  • Sunrise Airways, Haiti based airline, received a new Airbus A320, configured in two classes. The 150-seat aircraft features 12 seats in first class and 138 in economy.
  • BOC Aviation has placed an order for four 787-9s which will be leased to Air Europa of Spain.
  • FLY Leasing purchased 4 new aircraft, including a new Boeing 787 and a new 737 MAX 8, its first of the type. The 787 is on a 12-year lease to a European airline and the 737 MAX 8 is on a 12-year lease to an Asian carrier.
  • Azur Air, the new German airline, has begun operations and launched its first flight from Dusseldorf to Lama de Mallorca, Spain on July 3.

  • Alaska Airlines is launching flights from Paine Field, (PAE) Washington State, to give passengers living north of Seattle a more convenient alternative to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac).

 

AIR CARGO

West Atlantic To Become Launch 737-800BCF Operator

West Atlantic Airlines committed to lease 4 Boeing 737-800 converted freighters from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). This will make it the first operator of the type after taking delivery of the freighter later this year or the first quarter of 2018.

GECAS launched the 737-800 converted freighter program and gave the prototype aircraft to Boeing in 2016. GECAS expects the conversion to take about 3.5 months, or 100 days, per aircraft.

Boeing’s modification facility in Shanghai will do the conversion. The value of the lease to West Atlantic Airlines, a European operator of mail and express freight, was not disclosed, but the carrier did say the aircraft will enable it to expand into new markets, possibly Asia.

Kurt Kraft, Boeing Commercial Airplanes VP modification and conversion services, says Boeing has 60 orders and commitments for the program.  “We predict that demand for the standard-body will continue to be strong and grow more than 40% of demand coming from Asia.”

The 737-800BCF is powered by CFM56-7B engines and will carry 23.9 tons of cargo over 2,000 nm.

Source : GECAS/Boeing

 

 Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul News

American Airlines Honors MRO Employee with 75 Years of Service 

Azreil Blackman celebrated his 75th year of service at American Airlines on July 18th. To put this in perspective, Blackman, who is still actively working for the airline, received the FAA’s Charles E. Taylor Master Mechanic Award for his 50 year of MRO experience 25 years ago.

“When I first started as a junior mechanic, Al was my crew chief and was celebrating his 45th anniversary. I thought to myself, 45 years with one company. That’s amazing,” said Robert Needham, senior manager aircraft line maintenance at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). “Here we are celebrating his 75th, 30 years later, and it’s just mind-blowing.”

The Aviation Maintenance technician crew chief started with the airline (named American Export Airlines at the time) at New York’s La Guardia Airport at age 16 as a sheet metal shop apprentice for $0.50 per hour. The 91-year-old, who moved to New York LaGuardia Airport in the 1960s, has worked on almost all the airline’s aircraft including from the 1940s to today’s aircraft.

American Airline surpassed him during his 75th anniversary celebration by naming a Boeing 777 in his honor (pictured). In addition, The Guinness World Records was present to honor Blackman with the “longest career as an airline mechanic.”

Next month Blackman will turn 92. American noted that his shift starts at 5 a.m, but he usually arrives just before 3 a .m. ”When you like what you do, it’s no work,” says Blackman.

Source : mro-network/American Airlines

 

 MRO Short News

  • MTU Maintenance and Air Burkina have signed an exclusive three-year maintenance agreement. The contract for the airline’s four CF34-8E engines from their Embraer E170 aircraft covers MRO, on-site services and guaranteed spare engine leasing availability.
  • Lufthansa Tecknik has a 15-year El Al, Israel Airlines, contract for Boeing 787 component support.
  • Turkish Technic has signed a Royal Air Maroc contract to perform two Boeing 767 C checks.
  • Boeing Shanghai has an SF Airlines contract to provide Boeing 737F and 767F heavy maintenance.
  • DHL Supply Chain Division began overseeing logistics for 80,000 parts numbers, components and equipment used for airline maintenance for Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon’s aircraft .
  • AAR and FlyDubai signed a long-term contract to provide comprehensive flight-hour components support for its new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The Dubai-based airline is set to take delivery of 100 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft ordered at the 2013 Dubai International Air Show by the end of 2023.

Puzzler of the Month

 Which US airline has the oldest fleet by age?

              

Answer will be given in my September Report.

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ed@kaplanianreport.com

by

Volume 4 Issue 4 April 2017 The Kaplanian Report

ON THE BOEING FRONT 

The Boeing 777 Flies Seven of the World’s Ten Longest Routes

A new list of the world’s ten longest commercial airline routes shows the Boeing 777 maintains its strong position as the world’s favorite long distance aircraft.

The 777 flies seven of the routes and the Airbus A380 flies two. Two newer aircraft, the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350, both fly the 10th route between San Francisco and Singapore. United began service in June 2016 and Singapore followed in October. (this is according to OAG)

Looking ahead, Singapore Airlines has said it will begin a 9,534-mile, eighteen-and-a-half hour Singapore-Newark flight in 2018, using an Airbus A350-900ULR. Singapore previously operated the route with a four engine-A340, but discontinued it in 2013.  Also, in 2018, Qantas plans to operate a 9,009 mile, 17-hour Perth-London flight with a Boeing 787-900.

John Grant, OAG senior analyst, said the two new aircraft types will allow airlines to open more ultra-long-distance routes because the lightweight planes are smaller than their wide body predecessors, but still carry sufficient fuel for trips.

“As more extended range-second generation A350s and 787s come to production and are delivered in the next few years, it will allow airlines to operate more flights in these sectors,” Grant said.

Grant foresees that as airlines begin to operate more ultra-long flights, they may add more first class and business class seating, not simply to boost per-seat revenue, but also reduce the number of passengers and weight of aircraft.

Source : Forbes

        ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

 Airbus A350-1000 Undergoes Low-Speed Take-off  Tests 

Airbus has been carrying out low-speed take-off tests with one of the A350-1000 development aircraft as it heads towards certification later this year.

The first of three A350-1000 test aircraft (MSN59) has a tail bumper installed, enabling its rear fuselage to be dragged along the runway in trials to establish VMU minimum unstick speeds. The tests, which took place in early March at Istres in Southern France, help to verify slat and flap settings and performance criteria.

Airbus is working towards certification of the A350-1000 this year, to clear the way for deliveries of the stretched A350 derivative to begin in the second half of this year with Qatar as the first recipient.

The flight-test trials involve a trio of Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 powered A350-1000s. The third test aircraft (MSN71) recently returned from cold-weather trains in Iqaluit, Canada, where it was exposed to temperatures as low as -37 degrees Centigrade during an overnight soak. The aircraft subsequently undertook high-altitude take-off and landing tests at LaPaz airport in Bolivia.

Source : Flightglobal/Airbus/Airbus Picture

                   

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Third and Final Pilatus PC-24 Enters Flight Testing

Pilatus Aircraft’s PC-24 business jet has entered the final stages of its certification program, following the maiden sortie of its third and final test aircraft.

Pilatus describes the debut flight as another important milestone in the PC-24’s development. It comes 22 months after the arrival of the first prototype kick started the validation program. Aircraft PO2 joined the campaign in November 2015, and the pair have since logged more than 1,350 flying hours, the airframer says.

Pilatus chairman Oscar Schwenk calls the results of the flight-test campaign ”very encouraging” and says the data collected so far indicates that the jet, the company’s first, exceeds published performance figures. These include a maximum cruise speed of 425kt (790m/h), a maximum range with six passengers of 1,800 nm (3,330km), and maximum take-off weight of 8,850kg (17,650lb).

Pilatus has secured 84 orders for the PC-24, equivalent to three years of production and is planning to reopen the order book following certification. PO3 will make its public debut in May at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Geneva. The PC24 was unveiled at the industry gathering in 2013.

Source : Pilatus Aircraft/Pilatus Picture

 

Embraer Rolls Out E195-E2 its Largest Jet Aircraft

Embraer’s second E-Jet E2 variant, the E195-E2, was rolled out on March 7, 2017, marking the unveiling of the largest jet aircraft ever produced in Brazil.

According to CEO John Slattery, he believes the aircraft will be strongly considered as a replacement by mainline airlines flying the Boeing 737s and Airbus A319s and low-cost carriers(LCC) seeking a cost-efficient option.

“The first prototype E195-E2 will be used for aerodynamic and performance tests”, Slattery said. The aircraft’s first flight is officially scheduled for the second half of 2017, but rollout is occurring ahead of schedule. “I would not be surprised if the E-195-E2 does enter into flight testing in the first half of 2017,” Slattery said.

Source : Embraer/Embraer Picture

                                                         

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Argentine ULCC Startup Flybondi to Launch with Boeing 737-800s


Argentine ultra-low-cost carrier, (ULCC) startup Flybondi, has selected the Boeing 737-800 as its launch aircraft and ready to begin negotiations for up to 50 737 MAX 200s.

Giving a March 15 update, Flybondi said it had chosen the 737-800 over the Airbus A320 and honed its launch schedule to September.

The Startup had previously announced a start date in the second half of 2017.

“We are convinced the Boeing 737-800 is the right aircraft to develop the ULCC model in Argentina. We are very pleased with the level of support that Boeing has provided us with.” Flybondi CEO Julian Cook said.

The 737-800s, configured with 189 seats, were selected for their low operating cost. Flybondi also finalized the details of entry into service support agreement with Boeing.

No numbers were specified for the 737-800 acquisition, but Flybondi previously announced plans to operate four aircraft this year, adding six every year after that, to hit 30 aircraft by year five. Cook also said Flybondi will start negotiations for an order of up to 50 Boeing 737MAX 200s very soon.

Flybondi attracted seed funding from a series of well know veterans, including Ryanair board member and ex-COO Michael Cawley, ex-Air Canada CEO Montie Brewer and British Airways City Flyer Express founder Robert Wright alongside a group of Argentinian investors.

Source : ATW

 Southwest Unveils First 737 Max Routes

Southwest Airlines has unveiled its first Boeing 737 Max routes, as it prepares to take delivery of the re-engined jet that it was the launch customer.

The Dallas-based carrier will operate the 737 Max from October, with the inaugural flight departing Dallas Love Field at 7:00 for Houston Hobby. It will then continue to San Antonio before returning to Dallas.

The flight routing is similar to Southwest’s first flight back on June 18, 1971, – except the airline operated the 737-200 then and flown to Houston Intercontinental instead of Hobby. Southwest, along with United Airlines, were the first to operate the 737-200. However, in the case of Southwest, it continued to operate the 737 in all its variants.

Southwest says it will launch nine 737 Max 8 aircraft into operations on October, followed by the tenth about a week later. It will end 2017 with 14 737 Max 8 aircraft in its fleet.

The carrier will retire its remaining 737-300s from service before the 737 Max enters operations.

Source : Flightglobal/Southwest/Southwest Picture

 

 ANA Unveils Special Livery for its First A380

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has unveiled the livery that will adorn its first Airbus A380.

The ‘ Flying Honu ‘ livery , by Tokyo resident Chihiro Masuoka, was picked from an open design competition. It features the Hawaiian green sea turtle, which the airline says is a sign of prosperity and good luck.

The Star Alliance carrier says that it is moving ahead with the interior design of its A380s, which will offer new passenger services when it starts operation on the Tokyo-Honolulu route from the spring of 2019.

ANA has three A380s on order, which are due for delivery in May, June and September 2019 according to Flight Fleets Analyzer.

Source : ANA/ANA Picture      

LATEST NEWS

  • International Airlines Group(IAG) launched its long anticipated low-cost, long-haul carrier on March 17, naming it LEVEL. 
  • CDB Aviation Lease Finance Aviation announced an order for 30 737 MAX 8 airplanes, valued at $3.3 billion at current list prices.
  • Iran Air receives its first new A330-200, the first of 45 A330 family order, which was placed on December 2016.

  • KAIR Airlines New South Korean low-cost carrier has placed a firm order for 8 Airbus A320s and is aiming to launch operations in 2018.
  • Azul Airlines Brazil’s largest operator of the Embraer operator of the current generation Embraer 195, will be the launch operator of the re-engined E195-E2.
  • Aeromexico agreed to lease a second 787-9 from Air Lease Corp. for delivery in June 2018.
  • BOC Aviation took delivery of its 200th Boeing aircraft, a 737-800 for Malaysia’s Malindo Air.
  • Air Lingus will lease seven Airbus A321neos with 97-ton maximum take-off weight from Air Lease Corp.(ALC), with deliveries starting in 2019.
  • GreenPoint Technologies has secured a contract from an unnamed customer for the completion of a Boeing Business JET 787-9. The contract marks the first 787-9 completion project for the Kirkland, Washington-based company.
  • Gulfstream sells a G550 to Beijing 999 the Chinese medical evacuation provider Beijing Red Cross Emergency Medical Center (Beijing 999)
  • BOC Aviation Singapore-headquartered lessor has placed an order for 13 Boeing 737 MAX 8s.

 

AIR CARGO

   Amazon Sends Cargo Started Operations to Lehigh Valley Airport 

Air Cargo traffic at an American airport once classed as an airfreight no-hoper, has since soared since Amazon’s new cargo airline Prime Air began operating flights out of Allentown, PA . (LVIA)

The significant increase in air cargo business resulted in handling of some 57,000 tons of cargo last year, dramatically raising the cargo status of the east coast airport.

The rise in volumes at LVIA is quite remarkable, given it was formerly dubbed as a non-hub by the Federal Aviation Administration.  It managed less than 0.5 percent of the annual passenger boardings of all commercial service in the USA.

Currently, Prime Air operates 40 freighters, including 767-300s, after entering into two separate leasing deals in 2016.  One with cargo lease firm Air Transport Services Group – the parent company of freight airlines ABX Air; the other with Air Transport International – and Atlas Air Holdings.

Atlas Air Worldwide will acquire an additional Boeing 767 passenger aircraft for freighter conversion as part of a contract with Amazon, bringing to 21 the number of aircraft earmarked for service with the online retailer.

Speaking on a full-year earnings call on February 23rd, Atlas chief executive William Flynn said the carrier has signed contracts with Boeing and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to modify the 767s.

Source : Air Cargo Eye/Ed’s Research

 

MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OVERHAUL NEWS

GE CF6-80’s Engine MRO Outlook Strong for a Few Years

The CF6-80’s longevity offers an interesting MRO lessons. Two of the big questions in commercial aviation today are “How long will low fuel prices continue?” and “What effect will they have on the longevity of mature equipment?”.  Only OPEC can answer the first question, but an analysis of the General Electric CF6-80 engine’s situation can provide a great deal of insight into the second.

This is because the GE engine first entered service in 1982, and is still flying on a wide array of senior and mid-life aircraft types. The 52,500-63,500-lb.- thrust CF6-80C2, for instance, is certified for the Boeing 747, 767 and MD-11; as well as the Airbus A300 and A310. Meanwhile, the 67,500-72,000-lb thrust CF6-80E1 has powered current engine options of the Airbus A330 family since 1994.

After a steady decline, the CF6-80C2 fleet stabilized in 2016,and 2,410 CF6-80C2 engines are in service, according to Aviation Week’s 2017 Commercial Aviation Fleet and MRO Forecast.

Most of the CF6-80C2s are flying on Boeing 767 and 747-400 wide bodies, which might offer a dim prognosis because some airlines are phasing out those types. Yet Aviation Week’s forecast data tells a different story, with usage of the CF6-80C2 projected to hold firm at least a couple of years. Subsequently, a slow decline is predicted, with the global CF6-80C2 fleet forecast to shrink by 8% by 2021.

MTU Maintenance is the biggest player in the CF^-80C2 aftermarket behind the engine’s manufacturers,GE Aviation.The German company completed 80 shop visits in 2016,up from 60 in each of the two previous years,and it expects demand to remain at least as strong in 2017.

Source : MRO-Network.com

 

MRO Latest News

  • UTC Aerospace Systems was selected by Lufthansa Technik to provide its Aircraft Interface Device (AID).  Lufthansa German Airlines has initially ordered AID for its Airbus A320 family of aircraft.
  • Ameco  plans to expand its component/landing gear maintenance business at Beijing/Chengdu.
  • GE Aviation selected Nantgarw, Wales, as its MRO facility for the GE9X jet engine.
  • Icelandair signed a TrueChoice Transitions agreement with GE Aviation for its custom-ordered CF6-80C2 spare engine.  This agreement follows a TrueChoice Transition agreement between Icelandair and GE, signed last year for the maintenance of CF6-80C2 engines that power the airline’s four Boeing 767s.
  • AFI KLM E&M has signed an Airbus A320 component support contract with Cambodia Angkor Air.

                      

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ed@kaplanianreport.com

                       

by

Volume 3 Issue 11 Kaplanian Report


ON THE BOEING FRONT

Boeing Plans Performance Upgrade for 737 Max After 2021

Boeing has quietly developed plans to roll-out a performance improvement package for the 737 Max family, five years after the first member of the type enters service.

The undisclosed package will improve maximum range values between 1.69-2.7%, depending on the variant of the 737 Max.

Boeing plans to deliver the first 737 Max 8 to Southwest Airlines in the first half of next year with 3,515nm range. An “improvement performance level” available after 2021 will improve range by 2.7% to 3,610nm.

The 737 Max 9 will enter service a year later with 3.510nm range, but will improve by 2.56% after 2021 to 3,605nm.

Finally, the 737 Max 7 enters service in 2019 with 3,850nm range, including an extra 500nm boost by a 1.83m(6ft) extension of the fuselage unveiled last July.

Its range will improve by 1.69% on the 737 Max 7 after 2021.

More recently, the performance improvement package was cited as part of Boeing’s roll-out of the Boeing Business Jet version of the 737 Max 7 at the NBAA convention in Orlando on October 30th.

Boeing officials decline to elaborate on the details of the performance improvements.

Source : Flightglobal

My United 787-8 Adventure 

In spite  of all the challenges and bad press Boeing faced in building the 787 Dreamliner, the aircraft has surpassed its gestation period and proved its worth to the airlines who fly it.

Visiting family in Jerusalem the week of October 8th, I made sure to fly United’s new route from San Francisco to Tel Aviv on their 787-8 Dreamliner.

The aircraft was powered by GEnx engines and the flight duration to Tel Aviv took 13 hours at a cruising speed of 0.84 mach; the altitude on our route varied between 37,000 ft to 40,000 ft.  Boeing’s decision to have the cabin pressure equivalent to that of an altitude of 6000 feet worked as advertised.

When I disembarked in Tel Aviv the following evening, I did not feel the jet lag.

During take off and landing, the aircraft was surprisingly quiet and smooth, due to the technology  Boeing incorporated in the aircraft.   Technology allows it to sense turbulence and adjusts control surfaces for the smoother ride.

Those of you who are aircraft enthusiasts, I highly recommend flying this aircraft whenever you have the chance.  I have to tip my hat to all the people at Boeing involved in building this aircraft.

(1st in a series)

Ed Kaplanian

                      

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

Airbus Aims to Fly the  A350-1000 This Month

Airbus is aiming to conduct the first flight of the new A350-1000 as early as this month.

The airframer has not disclosed a date for the maiden flight of the stretched aircraft, they are maintaining only that the twin jet is scheduled to fly in the fourth quarter.

But a source with knowledge of progress on the program says the manufacturer’s test flight team is “shooting for November”.

Airbus has recently installed the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines on the first -1000 in the three-aircraft test fleet.

It is carrying out cabin-fit on the second aircraft and finalizing the production of the third.  Airbus has secured orders for 195 A350-1000s, with the first due to enter service in the second half of 2017.

Source : Flightglobal/Airbus   

 

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

   Jet Aviation Basel Takes Delivery of 777-300ER for VIP Fit-Out

Jet Aviation’s Basel completions center has taken delivery of the first of two Boeing Business Jet 777-300ERs for interior fit-out. t was commissioned by Boeing on behalf of a government client in Asia.

The wide body twin jet, which arrived at the Swiss site in October, is the first BBJ 777 VVIP completion for Jet Aviation.

“We know Jet Aviation’s commitment to quality matches our own,” says David Longridge, president of Boeing Business Jets. ”They have a demonstrated capability to fit exceptional wide body interiors that combine beautiful design and craftsmanship with cutting-edge engineering and technology.”

Neil Boyle, senior vice-president and general manager of Jet Aviation’s Basel facility, says: “We have a long history of working together with Boeing Business Jets and are delighted to partner with them on our first BBJ 777-300ER interior completions.”

Source : Flightglobal/Boeing Business Jets

                                                                       

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

 Lufthansa Bids 737 Farewell After Near Half-Century

Lufthansa ended scheduled passenger operations of the Boeing 737 on 29 October, some 48 years after it gave the short-haul twin jet its world debut.

The German carrier, which launched the 737 in its original -100 form in February 1965, with  an order for 21 aircraft. It was Lufthansa that persuaded Boeing to build the 737 because it matched the fuselage diameter of the 707 and the 727.  It launched the twin jet in February 1968.yourfile

The airline’s final 737 services were flown as the 2016 summer schedule drew to a close. Lufthansa’s very last 737 revenue sector, flown by 737-300 D-ABEF Classic, touched down at 19:53 on October 29th at Frankfurt, with 131 passengers on board. After a flight from Nuremberg. Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr was on hand to greet the final arrival.

A final Lufthansa 737 farewell flight was flown on October 31st to Frankfurt from Hamburg.

Foto: Boeing Lufthansa 01.1985 D113-13-305 737-200, D-ABMA Idar-Oberstein

When Boeing decided to put the Pratt & Whitney JT8D-powered 737 into production on February 19, 1965, following an order from Lufthansa, it was the first time that a US manufacturer had launched a new airliner on the strength of an export order.  However, United Airlines quickly followed Lufthansa, but ordered the slightly larger 737-200 variant.  This Version entered service with the US airline in April 1968.

The Original 737-100 variant launched by Lufthansa proved relatively unpopular, with just 30 being built.  After receiving its first -100 in December 1967, Lufthansa became a major operator of the later 737 variants, operating the -200 as well as the CFM International CFM56-powered-300, -400 and -500 Classic versions.

Lufthansa’s fleet peaked in 1992-93 when it operated 110 737s.

Source : Lufthansa/Boeing Pictures/Ed’s Research

 

   P&W Adding Capacity to Accelerate Engine Deliveries

Pratt & Whitney executives say they will open two new factories over the next six months to get delayed geared turbofan engine deliveries back on track. But they also appeared to lower the bottom range for planned deliveries in 2017.

Production capacity and early manufacturing mistakes have plagued shipments of titanium-aluminium fan blades for the PW1100G, for the Airbus A320neo and PW1500G engines for the Bombardier CSeries aircraft family.

As a result, P&W now expects to deliver 150 engines in 2016 or 12.5% fewer than planned. Meanwhile, a lack of engines has forced Bombardier to slash CSeries deliveries by more than half to seven aircraft in 2016.

In September, P&W identified the manufacturing of the hybrid-metalic fan blades as the most critical of five parts causing delivery delays for geared turbofan engines. The unique blades are produced now at a P&W factory in Lansing, Michigan, says Greg Hayes, chief executive of P&W parent United Technologies. In January, P&W’s japan based supplier IHI plans to open a third fan blade factory for the geared turbofan engine, besides the one which produces the same blades in Singapore.

“You’re going to see step-changes in fan blade deliveries through the first half next year,” Hayes says.

Source : Pratt and Whitney

            

Kuwait Airways Unveils New Livery

Kuwait Airways unveiled its new livery on the first of ten new Boeing 777-300ERs that will enter commercial service with the airline over the next 12 months.  At an official launch event held at Boeing Commercial Airplanes,’ a “once in a generation” revision, follows Kuwait Airways’ recent announcement of its new five-year business plan made earlier in September of this year.

The new livery and delivery of the Boeing 777-300ERs mark the airline’s first major steps towards achieving the goals it set out in its “Transformation Strategy”.

Source:  China Aviation Daily/Boeing photo

 

LATEST NEWS

  • Air France first 787 Dreamliner takes to the skies in Everett, on November 9th. This will be Boeing’s 500th Dreamliner.  It is a 787-9.

  • BOC Aviation Limited has taken delivery of a Boeing 777-300ER, the first of five new aircraft to be leased to Air China under a purchase-and-lease back arrangement.
  • Philippine Airlines (PAL) has signed a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire up to 12 Bombardier Q400 regional turboprops.
  • United Airlines first United Boeing 777-300ER rolls out of the paint hanger in Everett.The new 777-300ER will feature the new Polaris cabin.
  • Sibir Airlines of Russia, working under the S7 Airlines brand,has approved the lease of 17 Embraer E170LRs.
  • Avolon, Ireland-based lessor has delivered one Boeing 737-800 aircraft to Malaysia-based Malindo Air.
  • Emirates Airlines will equip its upcoming fleet of 150 Boeing 777X aircraft with Thales’ AVANT inflight entertainment (IFE) system.  Deliveries of the 777X aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2020.

  • Uzbekistan Airways will order three additional Boeing 787s, the Carrier said on November 5th.  The new order is for 787-9s.
  • China Aerospace Leasing ordered up to 40 COMAC ARJ21-700s, 20 firm and 20 options at the Zhuhai Air Show

  • Air Lease Corp. placed 12 new Airbus A321neo aircraft on long term lease to Vietnam Airlines.

 

AIR CARGO

AirBridgeCargo Airlines Launch Freighter Services to Oslo Targeting Salmon Demand


ABCCargo Airlines is the second airline to launch a freighter services from Oslo to capitalize on the seafood market.

The scheduled all-cargo airline will offer two services a week between the Norwegian city and Moscow Sheremetyevo, utilizing a Boeing 747 freighter, which can carry more than 100 tons per week.  The service will also cater for the country’s oil and gas industry.

“Global demand for Norwegian seafood, especially salmon, continues to make a significant and growing contribution to the country’s economy,” the airline said.  Norway now exports 220,000 tons of seafood a year, 600 tons a day, using air cargo services to Asia and North America.

“The fast connections and on-time performance ABC offers via its Moscow Sheremetyevo hub, as well as the temperature-control capabilities of ABCCargo

“Boeing 747-8F fleet means we can offer exporters the network and service options they need to continue to grow their business all over the world.” said Georges Biwer, vice president Europe, Middle East and Africa at AirBridgeCargo.

Source : aircargonews

 

 MILITARY NEWS

            Singapore Selects H225M and Chinook Helicopters

Singapore is to acquire an undisclosed number of Airbus Helicopters H225M and Boeing CH-47F rotorcraft as part of a fleet modernization program.

The two types will respectively replace the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF’s) existing AS332 Super Puma and CH-47SD helicopters.  These have been in service since 1983 and 1994, says the nation’s defense ministry and are “facing obsolescence”.

“The H225M and the CH-47F possess better lift and reach capabilities, They will enable the RSAF to meet the Singapore Armed Forces’ lift requirements more efficiently with fewer helicopters and less manpower,” it says.

Flight Fleets Analyzer lists the service as operating a total of 32 AS332M/ULs, along with 16 Ch-47SDs.

Source : Defense News

                         

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ed@kaplanianreport.com