June 25, 2020 by kaplanianreport

The Kaplanian Report July 2020

ON THE BOEING FRONT

CAAC Leading Industry’s Recovery: Boeing Executive

“The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is playing a leading role in guiding the recovery of China’s aviation industry amid the Covid-19 pandemic”, Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said Wednesday, June 10th.

“It’s important that we reassure passengers and crew through words and action that flying in an airplane is safe and secure. China’s aviation sector is responding to this challenge,” Deal told Xinhua.

“We commend the CAAC for taking a leadership role is putting in place protocols to curb the spread of Covid-119 and encourage the safe resumption of flying,” he said.

The industry at large appreciates the agency’s guidelines for airports, operators and crew members on easing the transition to regular commercial flights, Deal noted.

It is encouraging to see ” domestic traffic in China” reach “70 percent of pre-Covid levels,”

he added.

The aviation industry is facing an unprecedented shock from the pandemic, the speed and scale of which have not been seen in more than a century.

“However, this is a resilient industry that will recover and grow again,” said Deal.

Boeing has launched its “Confident Travel Initiative” to explore technologies to further minimize air travel health risks and heighten public awareness of safeguards already in place.

In China, ”air traffic is beginning the long climb back to pre-Covid levels. People need and want to fly. We are working hard with our industry partners to make sure they can do so,” Deal said.

Source : Xinhua News Agency/Microsoft Azure Translator

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

Last A380 Convoy In French Village Spells End of an Aviation Era

The last convoy of outsize parts for the A380 airliner crawled towards an assembly plant in southwest France late Wednesday, June 17th, was applauded by residents and production workers as Europe’s Airbus prepares to build the last A380.

Trucks carrying three fuselage sections squeezed through the rural village of Levignac on their way to Toulouse, where the final A380 will be assembled before the model ends production in 2021, just 14 years after entering service.

Faced with weak sales of the four-engined airplane, beaten on efficiency by smaller jets like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, Airbus announced the early halt last year.

One truck bore the sign “Goodbye Saint-Nazaire,” the name of the French plant where some sections are pre-assembled.

Airbus had bet billions on its vision of 555-seater jets, but without the A380, executives argued, Airbus would not have been able to knit a consortium of France, Germany, Britain and Spain into one European entity.

Source: Reuters/Picture Airbus

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Netherlands Air Force One

The Netherlands recently acquired a new VIP Boeing Business Jet 737 for top government officials to use.

The Dutch royal family as well as high-ranking officials such as the prime minister, use the aircraft for state business, including traveling overseas for state visits.

King Willem-Alexander, as a licensed pilot, frequently flies the aircraft and it was revealed the royal was flying for fun as a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines co-pilot for 21 years. The royal kept a low profile, never revealing his identity to passengers.

When KLM retired the aircraft he flew, a Fokker 70, it was time for the king to get upgraded to a larger jet: the Boeing 737. Retraining on the new plane meant Willem-Alexander could fly the Boeing 737 from the manufacturer’s Boeing Business Jet facility in Seattle to the Netherlands.

Source : Business Insider/Picture Boeing Business Jet

Gulfstream to End G550 Production

Gulfstream is nearing the end of the line for its workhorse G550 with the announcement that it has taken the last order for the ultra-long-range twinjet. Ending what will be an 18-year production run, final commercial version will be delivered to a customer in 2021.

After a program launch in 2000, the G550 entered service in 2003 with the debut of the airframes’s PlaneView flight dockhand. Its design team earned that year’s Robert J. Collier Trophy for its technological innovations and safety enhancements. The G550 has since been supplanted in the company’s product lineup by the G600, which entered service last year.

“The G550 set the standard for subsequent aircraft and the industry,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. ”With more than 600 in service, the G550 has earned its place as a leader in business aviation.” With a range of 6,750 nm and high altitude capabilities, the up-to-19-passenger aircraft also saw use as a special mission platform.

Source: Gulfstream/Picture Gulfstream

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Sabeti Wain Lets Passengers Sit Safely

Sabeti Wain Aerospace, which dominates the Middle East region with its aircraft seating covers, has developed a seat safety product for airlines to consider.

“The seat safety product is a clear plastic flat packed-so it can be stored in the cabin without taking too much room,” said Paymen Sabeti, director.

The product has been development following the current Covid-19 pandemic to offer safety and peace of mind for both passengers and airlines.

“The seat safety product can be attached behind the headrest on the seat and will over the sides and the top of the passengers head from the passenger sitting next to and behind. It is priced to be affordable and purchased in large numbers for all economy seats in the cabin,” said Sabeti.

Sabeti said the company, which has a facility in Dubai, offers two options; plain plastic or with leather or fabric stitched to the sides and back.

Source: Sabeti Wain Aerospace/Picture Sabeti Wain Picture

KLM Trials Sustainable Taxiing

On May 27 KLM started taking part in a trial at Schiphol to test sustainable ways to taxi aircraft. The trial is being carried out with a Taxibot. This is a hybrid towing vehicle which, unlike the normal pushback trucks, is licensed to tow full aircraft to near the start of the runway, without the aircraft having to start its engines.

This is expected to reduce fuel consumption during taxiing by 50% to 85%. Schiphol Airport has made Taxibot available to KLM, Transavia and Corendon to enable them to carry out joint research into more sustainable ways to taxi.

During the test, an empty KLM Boeing 737 was towed to the runway by the Taxibot. ”It’s important to find out how far we can cut CO2 emissions by using the Taxibot,” explained KLM’s project manager, Jeroen Jaartsveld.

“ We’d also like to know how long it takes to taxi with the Taxibot, what effect this has on aircraft engines maintenance, and how we might introduce sustainable taxiing with Taxibots on a large scale into Schiphol’s daily operations”.

KLM’s sustainability initiative, Fly Responsibly, launched last year, included a commitment to reducing carbon emissions caused by taxiing.

This will contribute to KLM’s ambition to cut its fleet’s total carbon emissions by 15% compared to 2005.

Source: KLM/KLM Picture

S.Korea to Lease Korean Air’s 747-8i as New Presidential Plane

Both Korea signed a five year contract with Korean Air Lines Co. in May to lease a Boeing 747-8i jet as the next presidential plane, the defense ministry said.

Under a 242.3 million US dollars deal, the country’s No.1 air carrier will provide pilots, crew members, mechanics, as well as a back-up plane of the same type for the president’s overseas trips, according to the ministry.

The plane will enter service in November next year after going through remodeling work necessary inspection, it said.

The lease period for the current presidential jet, 747-400, was originally planned to expire in March after a five-year operation, but has been extended until October next year as the government failed to find a new contractor in time.

The new plane will be equipped with various security and communication devices, as well as hardware to improve its defense against outside attacks, such as missiles.

A ministry official said while a purchase option is not currently on the table, the government can consider buying when circumstances are met.

Source: Yonhap News

LATEST NEWS

Southwest & JetBlue top annual list of most satisfying air carriers published by J.D. Power.
United Airlines delivered 7,500 face masks to front line employees at San Francisco International Airport and the airline’s San Francisco Maintenance Base that were made from 12,284 pounds of uniforms United upcycled.
Rolls-Royce Deutschland has delivered the 8,000th engine manufactured at its Dahlewiz, Germany facility.The milestone engine, A BR725 powerplant, went to Gulfstream Aerospace and will be installed on a G650ER.
EasyJet has reached an agreement with Airbus to push back by five years the delivery of 24 aircraft.

Middle East Airlines(MEA) introduces a new livery with its first Airbus A321neo. The company is also celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Textron Aviation has delivered the 250th Cessna Citation M2 entry-level jet on June 15 to Fast Rabbit Aviation in Seattle.

Qatar Airways has finally retaken delivery of its Boeing 787-9s.The four aircraft arrived following a period in storage at Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville.

Source: Textron, Qatar, Rolls-Royce, United airline, Middle East Airlines

AIR CARGO

DHL Orders Freighter Conversion of 767-300ERs

German express carrier DHL has contracted with Israel Aerospace Industries(IAI) to convert three Boeing 767-300ER passenger planes to all-cargo configuration.

The contract, which IAI stated also includes an option for DHL to have IAI to convert a fourth 767-300ER to freighter service.

DHL operates more than 260 aircraft with 17 partner airlines on more than 3,000 daily flights.

In February, DHL received the first of six new Boeing 777-200LR freighters scheduled for delivery this year. The company ordered 14 777-200 LRFs in 2018, with four delivered last year and another four coming in 2021.

Source: DHL/Picture DHL

OTHER NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Alaska Airlines Advances Airbus A320 Retirements

Alaska Airlines is moving forward with plans to retire more Airbus A320s even as it ponders the shape its future fleet amid uncertainty over the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Seattle-based carrier is keeping plans to retire seven of its 49 remaining A320s in 2021, under an updated fleet plan released on Monday June 22nd. In addition, Alaska will retire one 737-800 and hopes to take delivery of 15 737MAX 8s next year.

The move comes as Alaska continues to weigh whether to keep the A320s planned through around 2024, or accelerate their retirement due to the pandemic.

Alaska has retired 12 planes its 10 A319s plus two A320s so far in the crisis. And while the update fleet plan does not show more aircraft retirements this year, the airline noted in a footnote that: “it is probable that the current outlook as stated will change significantly.”

The fate of the classic A320 jets that Alaska inherited from Virgin America has been questioned since their merger in 2016. Alaska was an all 737 mainline operator for nearly a decade prior to the merger, something it touted by emblazoning the slogan “Proudly All Boeing” on the fuselage of its Boeing jets.

The 2021 fleet plan does not outline a long-term decision for Alaska. What it does do to paraphrase Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Linenberg, is confute to make the fleet decision “in real time.”

Earlier in June, Alaska president Ben Minicucci said the airline only plans to fly about half of what it flew in 2019 in August. On the top that, Alaska will be 20% smaller in 2021 than it was last year with revenues down as much as 35%.

Source: Alaska Airlines/Ed’s Research

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

Editor: Lee Kaplanian

April 18, 2020 by kaplanianreport

Kaplanian Report – April 2020

ON THE BOEING FRONT

Boeing Flies 737 MAX on Simulated Airline Runs Despite Shutdown

Amid signs that Boeing is hoping to resume production of the 737 MAX in May, the company says flight tests of the three current versions of the model, the -7 -8 and -9, are continuing despite the general shutdown of its Puget Sound facilities because of the coronavirus.

Although production of all aircraft has been temporarily halted across its northwest facilities, Boeing is still working to finalize changes to the maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) flight control law in the MAX.

To evaluate the changes to the MAX, Boeing is conducting a flight test program called ”operate like an airline”, which closely resembles the function and reliability flights the company runs as a standard part of pre entry-into service checks for all new models.” We have been working with regulators to appropriately address all certification requirements and safely return the 737 MAX to service. This includes operating flights of 737MAX 7, -8 and -9 aircraft to extend testing capacity and ensure a more complete representation of our customer’s diverse fleets and operations,” Boeing said.

On March 25, as part of the program, a 737-8 intended for eventual delivery to Southwest Airlines, was operated from Boeing Field to Spokane, Washington, while a 737-9 built for Alaska Airlines was flown from Seattle to Moses Lake.

“In each of the cases, a small test team on board exercised short-and long-haul engineering flights that will help satisfy specific test conditions for updated software. These are not certification flights,” the company added.

Source: Aviation Week/Picture Boeing

Boeing Wins $1.5bn Contract for 18 P8A Poseidons for South Korea, New Zealand and the US Navy

The US Navy (USN) has awarded Boeing a $1.5 billion contract for 18 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

The deal is for six aircraft for the South Korean navy, four for the Royal New Zealand Air Force and eight aircraft for the USN. Boeing announced the orders on March 30.

New Zealand and South Korea are scheduled to receive their first aircraft in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

The P-8 is based on the commercial 737-800. However the jet’s airframe has been ruggedized, a bomb bay has been installed to drop torpedoes and its wings have pylons for weapons such as a Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The aircraft can also carry up to 129 sonobuoys.

The aircraft is primarily operated by the USN, which plans to order 117 examples in total to replace its aging fleet of Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

Other operators include the UK, Australia, India and Norway.

In January of this year, the USN said in a request for information that it is interested in expanding the capabilities of the P-8A to include the ability to carry new anti-ship cruise missiles, bombs, sea mines and decoys.

Source: Boeing/Picture Boeing

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

Airbus Struggles to Lift Crisis-hit Jet Output

Europe’s Airbus is grappling with labor and supply chain shortages and may only be able to restore aircraft production to some 10-20% of normal levels for now; because of partial shutdowns, industry and union sources said.

Worst affected are wide-body jets, demand for which is expected to come under pressure as the coronavirus crisis hits airlines worldwide, especially in the long haul Asia market.

The European plane maker, whose factories are spread across Europe, restored output at French and Spanish plants a week ago after a four-day shutdown. On Monday, March 30, it announced a new closure of Spanish plants that make tail sections of Airbus jets.

Airbus said it would suspend most production in Spain until April 9 after the Madrid government tightened the Corona virus lockdown. It has also said British and German wings production and assembly would stop for three weeks.

Especially badly hit are the tier-two and tier-three suppliers, which are sub-contractors to larger companies that deal directly with Airbus or its U.S rival Boeing.

France’s Safran, the world’s third largest aero supplier, said it continued to deliver engines to Airbus and had enough parts for 2-to-3 weeks, but its chief executive noted some problems further down its supply chain.

Airbus is also finding it difficult to make deliveries because of logistics of getting foreign pilots to France or Germany and the reluctance of many airlines to take aircraft as they face liquidity problems, industry sources said.

Even such as finding hotels are said to be a problem, forcing Airbus to look at using its own hotel and restaurant in its in-house academy known as Airbus University.

Source: Reuters/Picture Airbus

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Embraer Sees Commercial Orders Deferred, Not Cancelled

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer says it has not had any order cancellations as a result of the current global coronavirus pandemic that has decimated the air transport industry. However, it is seeing some customers ask for deferments of deliveries as airlines reduce capacity for an undetermined period.

“The discussion is dynamic,” says chief financial officer Antonio Carlos Garcia, who was named to his post in November and began in January. “All these discussions are regarding the delivery schedule, but no cancellations. The situation is really changing, we need to know for how long the capacity reductions will last in order to have an accurate assessment.”

Embraer’s revenues for the full year rose 9% to $5.5 billion, up from $5.0 billion in 2019. The company reported an adjusted net loss of $218 million, more than three times that of a year earlier, as it took special charges and impairment costs, as well as costs in relation to the carve-out of its commercial division in preparation of a merger with Boeing.

The Company ended the year with a backlog of $16.8 billion, and says it received 60 new firm orders during the year from the likes of American Airlines, KLM, Azul and United Airlines. Its new generation E2 jet backlog reached 153 firm orders and more than 570 commitments.

Chief executive Francisco Gomes Neto says that Embraer completed the carve-out of its commercial division in January, in anticipation of its planned merger with Boeing, which is expected to close later this year. The transaction has been tied up in regulatory red tape in Europe and executives now expect it to take longer than the original June completion date.

The European Commission’s in-depth review of the deal was prompted by concerns in the single- aisle aircraft market, particularly the 100-150 seat segment. Recent trade squabbles between the United States and the European Union could also delay the transaction’s closing.

Source: Embraer/Flightglobal/picture Embraer

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Aircraft Storage Demand Still Fluid in Europe

After having been thought for a few days to be on a strong upward curve, demand for aircraft storage during the COVID-19 crisis is still unstable, according to specialist Tarmac Aerosave.

“Stabilization is underway, but the situation is fluid,” company CEO Patrick Lecer said. Tarmac Aerosave has been freeing storage space at its sites in Tarbes and Toulouse Francazal, France, as well as in Teruel, Spain.But customer interest is lower than expected to materialize, Lecer noted.

“We have seen a lot of requests’ lot of back and forth, a lot of uncertainties among customers,” he said. And at times, carriers are realizing their needs are changing, Lecer explained.

“Overall, demand is for short term storage,” Lecer said. Tarmec has currently 170 aircraft in storage, up from 140-150 before the crisis.

The company has increased the available space available to 230-250 aircraft depending on their size—a 20% expansion.” We have rearranged some areas to be ready if demand actually grows,” Lecer said.

Source: aviation week/Picture Tarmac Aerosave/Tarmac Aerosave

Lufthansa Retires Big Jets, Says Rebound Could Take Years

German airline group Lufthansa said it was permanently removing some of its large aircraft from service and reducing capacity for the long term. They are saying it will take years for demand for air travel to return to levels before the coronavirus pandemic.

The company said in a statement on Tuesday, April 7th, that it was retiring six Airbus A-380s, five 747-400s and seven A340-600 aircraft, a step that anticipates less traffic long term at its Frankfurt and Munich hubs in Germany.

The company was unable to say what eventually would happen to the planes given lack of demand for the aircraft at the moment; but it was clear they would notify for Lufthansa again.

At the same time Lufthansa will close its Germanwings low-cost airline as part of a broader overhaul including capacity cuts across the group, which also owns the Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Eurowings brands.

Source: Lufthansa

Two Major 747-400 Operators Retire their Aircraft

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines operated its last revenue flight, FLT KL686 from Mexico City to Amsterdam; it was operated with 747-400 PH-BFW on March 29.

KLM introduced the first Boeing 747-200B in 1971 (PH-BUA) named “The Mississippi”, was delivered on January 16,1971. On February 14, 1971, the 353-seat PH-Bua operated its first commercial flight to New York. KLM was the first airline to put the higher-gross-weight Boeing 747-200B, powered by Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines, into service in February 1971.

The Boeing 747 was the queen of the KLM long-haul fleet.

Qantas Airways, due to the coronavirus and sudden downturn in travel, has decided to early retire its remaining Boeing 747-400ER. Previously it was planning to retire the type in February 2021.

Qantas, like KLM, has been an operator of the Boeing 747 since 1971. The first 747-238B(VH_EBA) named “Canberra”, was delivered to the airline on July 30, 1971, and arrived in Sydney on August 16, 1971. The type was introduced on the Sydney-Melbourne-Singapore route.

Qantas has operated the 747-200B, 747SP, 747 Combi, 747-300,747-400 and the 747-400ER.

Source: Ed Kaplanian archival collection

El Al Completes Longest-Ever Flight from Melbourne

El Al Israel Airlines completed its longest-ever flight -17 hours and 15 minutes- between Melbourne and Tel Aviv. It carried 280 Israelis stranded in Australia during the Covid-19 pandemic and wanting to come home. The Outward journey had taken 16 hours and 30 minutes. The crew of 19, which included 8 pilots, did not leave the plane in Australia.

Any Israelis already holding an El Al ticket back to Israel were allowed to board for free, otherwise the fare was $2,480.

El Al had already planned to launch regular commercial flights between Tel Aviv and Melbourne , starting with a series of trial flights starting April 2. But those plans have been put on hold due to the crisis.

Source: Globes,Israel business news/Picture El Al

LATEST NEWS

Kuwait Airways has cancelled 5 airbus A350-900s.

SaudiGulf cancelled 16 Airbus A220-300 orders, these aircraft were initially ordered when A220 was known as Bombardier CSeries.

PNG Papua New Guinea carrier PNG Air will become the launch customer for the ATR42-600S short take-off and landing(STOL) regional turboprop, having signed a deal for three at the Singapore Airshow.

Batik Air has accepted its first Airbus A320neo equipped with CFM LEAP-1A power plants.

ACI Jet has established a California based Bombardier parts depot for Global and Challenger series business jets. It has invested more than $1 million in parts inventory and established a new 5,000sqft. facility at the San Luis Obispo Regional Airport headquarters.

Lessor Avolon is cutting its delivery commitments over the next four years by over 100 aircraft, through a combination of cancellations and deferrals, plus the axing of 75 Boeing 737 Max jets.
EasyJet defers delivery of 24 A320s due for delivery in 2020-2022. EasyJet’s fleet growth strategy envisaged taking delivery of 20 new aircraft in 2020, 12 in 2021 and two aircraft in 2022. It will now receive no new aircraft in 2021 and has the option to defer a further five aircraft due in 2022.
Delta Air Lines has taken over an order worth roughly $3 billion at list prices for 10 Airbus A350 jetliners from Latam Airlines Group.Airbus announced the cancellation of 10 A350 aircraft in a monthly order update for the month of March.It also announced a simultaneous order for 10 A350 aircraft from an undisclosed airline.

Source: ainonline, Flightglobal, Arabian aerospace,ACIJet,AirlinerWorld Reuters,Delta Airlines

AIR CARGO

DHL Express Upgrades Fleet With More 777 Freighters

International courier company DUL Express has received the first of six new Boeing 777-200 LRF freighters scheduled for delivery this year as it ramps up capabilities to serve the rapidly growing e-commerce market.

The new aircraft arrived at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport(CVG), home to DHL’s U.S. operations, the company said Monday March 23 in a press release. The new freighter will be operated by partner airline Kalitta Air on behalf of DHL aviation.

The DHL Express unit uses an assortment of in-house airlines and charter operators to provide airlift for Amazon’s Prime Air, which guarantees on-day delivery for more than 100 million items ordered online .

DHL ordered 14 777-200LRFs in 2018, with four delivered last year and another four coming in 2021 as part of fleet renewal to equip the fleet with more modern, fuel-efficient aircraft. The Boeing 777-200LRF has the longest range—5,717 miles—at full payload (102 tons) of any wide body freighter and reduces emissions by 18%, compared with aircraft it is replacing.

DHL’s capital expenditure for the 777-LRFs is $4.7billion at list prices, according to Boeing; but airlines typically receive discounts for multi-plane purchases. The order doubles DHL’s 777 Fleet.

Source: FreightWave, Benzinga /Picture Boeing

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

Editor: Lee Kaplanian

July 8, 2017 by kaplanianreport

July 2017 The Kaplanian Report

ON THE BOEING FRONT

GE Starts 18-month GE9X Certification Program

GE Aviation has started the 18-month certification program for the GE9X engine that will power the Boeing 777X.

The first round of certification tests will take place in Peebles, Ohio. The certification testing is beginning on the second GE9X engine GE has built; ultimately, there will be eight certification test engines. The next two GE9X engines are currently being built. One of those two engines will be tested in flight on GE’s 747 flying testbed based in Victorville, California, in the second half of 2017.

GE aims to complete the certification program by the end of 2018. The 777X is slated to enter service in 2020.

The start of certification program follows more than a year of testing with the GE9X first engine to test (FETT).

“Historically, the first to test is not separated by the second engine by a year-plus,”

GE9X program general Manager Ted Ingling told ATW. ”That was the intention, that we moved that first engine forward to allow us as a design team to validate the architecture of this new engine, learn, and adapt those learnings into the certification baseline.”

The second engine to test (SETT), which started for the first time on May 16, is the first GE9X certification engine and the first of a series to build to the full-up finalized production standard.

SETT, also known as GE9X test engine 002/1, is the first to incorporate all the design changes from lessons learned during the validation runs of the first engine. In addition, GE will build an engine for ETOPS extended-range certification testing that will be configured with a Boeing-provided nacelle and other external hardware.

From early 2018, GE will also deliver eight compliance engines, plus a pair of spares to Boeing for the four 777-9 flight-test aircraft. The Engine is now officially named the GE9X-105B1.

Source : ATW/GE Aviation/PicturesGE Aviation

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

Airbus Beluga XL Begins to Take Shape

The first of Airbus’ five new Beluga XL air lifters began to take shape, initiating the creation of a new jetliner fleet to transport complete sections of the company’s aircraft from production sites around Europe to final assembly lines in France, Germany and Spain.

Beluga XL’s lower fuselage will be the same as the freighter version of the Airbus’ A330-200 jetliner and is to be built on the A330 final assembly line adjacent to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in southwestern France.

Airbus has taken delivery of the nose section for its first Beluga XL transport aircraft. The nose and cockpit have been constructed by Stelia Aerospace at a French facility in Meaulte. Stelia says several of its production sites, including its Tunisian facility, contributed to the manufacture.

Airbus five Beluga XL twin jets will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.

The airframer is to introduce a series of individual paint schemes for its forthcoming fleet of the five Beluga XL transports, with the lead example featuring an aquatic design based on the white whale the aircraft is named after.

The first flight of the A330-200-based jet is due in 2018, Airbus confirms that each will bear a unique livery. The initial scheme was voted by employees, the airframe says. The Beluga XL will replace its fleet of A300-600ST outsized freighters from 2019.

Source : Air soc/Airbus/Flightglobal

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Deer Jet to Add Second Boeing 787 Dream Jet to its Fleet

Deer Jet announced the building of world’s largest Dream Jet fleet by adding a second one to its managed fleet and brings to Seattle, the birthplace of Boeing, the world’s first 787 Dream Jet for its first display in the US.

The showcase was held at the Museum of Flight. This was the sixth stop for the world’s first Dream Jet after Hong Kong, Shanghai, London, Dublin and Doha; part of the series of exhibitions “Dreams Encounter the World.”

Exclusively for the Seattle exhibition, A collection of Sculptures from artist Dale Chihuly, including its famous Cylinders, created from glass-thread drawings on vessels inspired by Native American textiles, added local style to the 787 Dream Jet cabin.

During the press conference which was held at the end of the display, Mr. Adam Tan, CEO of HNA Group, Deer Jet’s parent company, said:

“Along its 24 years of history, HNA Group has built many milestones for the aviation industry, once a regional airliner, now the 353th of the Global Fortune 500 list and the goal to become one of the top 10 largest enterprises in the world. The first 787 Dream Jet is a masterpiece, after its global success we are very pleased to add a second one as we decided to build the largest Dream Jet fleet in the world. It will also be managed by Deer Jet, the top private jet company in Asia. I believe this will provide the highest quality of premium business travel services to our worldwide high-end customers.”

During his speech at the press conference, Mr Kevin McAllister, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes added :

“Deer Jet is setting the standard for private charter travel, and Boeing is excited to be part of it with the 787, the most technologically advanced and ecologically efficient business jet on the market.”

Source : China Aviation Daily/Deer Jet/Deer Jet Picture

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Boeing Deal with Italian Export Finance Agency

SACE (CDP Group) and Boeing have entered into an important agreement that will support Italian exports in the aeronautical sector in the form of new aircraft delivery financing.

The agreement creates a shared platform for facilitating the financing of aircraft purchases of mutual interest each year, SACE will consider guaranteeing credit lines from third parties for the sale go Boeing aircraft (this year, up to 1.25 billion US dollars), in order to support Boeing’s contracts and subcontracts with Italian firms specialized in precision aeronautical components. SACE’s commitment will be evaluated every year and adjusted accordingly to the supplies that Boeing will allocate to Italian companies.

“The agreement we are announcing strengthens our relationship with an international aerospace giant that has chosen Italy as one of its principal partners. Aeronautics has always been a strategic sector for our economy, where we can be even more incisive and more competitive in the international market”, said Alessandro Decio, CEO of Sace CDP Group.

SACE said it will consider guaranteeing credit lines for airlines or leasing companies that buy Boeing aircraft. From 2015 to 2016, Boeing purchased 2.5 billion dollars of goods and services from Italian companies and, with a solid tie to the national economy, it has helped generate 12,000 jobs along the supply chain.

Source : SACE CDP Group

United Airlines to Offer LAX-Singapore 787-9 Service

United Airlines plans to introduce daily nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Singapore’s Changi Airport, effective October 27, subject to government approval.

According to the Chicago-based carrier, the service will set the distance record for any airline operating a flight to or from the US, at 8,700 miles. (yet another milestone for the 787) Ed Kaplanian commented.

United’s existing service between San Francisco and Singapore started one year ago, June 1, 2016, and “holds the current record of the longest scheduled flight operated by any US carrier, at 8,446 miles,” the airline said in a statement.

Both routes will use 252-seat Boeing 787-9s with 48 Polaris business class seats and 204 economy seats, including 88 economy plus seats.

Flight UA 37 will depart Los Angeles at 8:55 p.m. daily, arriving in Singapore at 6:50 a.m. two days later (all times local). The return flight, UA 38, will depart Singapore Changi Airport at 11:00 a.m. daily, arriving at Los Angeles at 10:15 a.m. the same day. Flying times will be approximately 17 hours, 55 minutes westbound and 15 hours,15 minutes eastbound.

Source : United Airlines/ATW

Hainan Airlines to Add 13 787-9s and Six 737 MAX 8s

HNA Group subsidiary, Hainan Airlines, is raising funds to acquire 13 Boeing 787-9s and six 738 MAX 8s.

China’s Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed Hainan Airlines’ five year plan, paving the way for additional 19 aircraft.

Under the strategy, the Haikou-based carrier will add seven Boeing 787-9s in 2018, followed by another six 787-9s and six 737 MAX 8s between January and August 2019. It currently has 10 787-8s and nine 787-9s in its fleet.

Hainan Airlines valued the order at about $4.19 billion and detailed plans to raise the money through a bonds issue.

The aircraft will be used to strategically grow its fleet and network, in a bid to boost profitability and competitiveness.

According to the carrier’s website, its current fleet of 179 aircraft includes Airbus A330s, Boeing 737s, 767s, 787-8s and -9s.

Source : Hainan Airlines/Boeing picture/ATW

LATEST NEWS

Iran Air has taken delivery of its first four ATR 72-600 turboprops. Earlier this year the carrier finalized a deal spanning 20 firm ATR 72-600s, plus options on another 20.

Arkia Israeli leisure carrier has unveiled a vibrant new livery as it prepares to modernize its fleet.

EgyptAir has taken delivery of the fourth of nine Boeing 737-800 NGs, as part of a fleet modernization plan and expansion strategy.

Delta Air Lines placed an incremental order for 30 firm Airbus A321ceo aircraft.

EasyJet UK budget carrier EasyJet has opted to take the Airbus A321neo,by converting orders for 30 of the smaller A320neo which the airline has on order.

Kalitta Air took delivery of the first of two leased Boeing 747-400Fs from GECAS, adding capacity to Kalitta Air’s fleet of more than 15 wide body freighters.

Scoot Singapore-based low-cost carrier received its 14th Boeing 787 Dreamliner at the Boeing Everett Delivery Center on May 12.

Airbus’ is nearing a major change in its sales organization as its current head of sales, John Leahy, has indicated he will retire soon.

Ruili Airlines China’s low-cost (LCC) Ruili Airlines has agreed to lease three Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from AVIC International Leasing Co. in an effort to facilitate its international expansion.

AIR CARGO

Lockheed Martin’s LM-100J Commercial Freighter Makes First Flight

The first Lockheed Martin LM-100J commercial freighter aircraft achieved a critical milestone with the completion of its first flight in Marietta, Georgia.

“I was proud to fly the first flight of our LM-100J. It performed flawlessly, as is typical of our military C-130J new production aircraft,” said Wayne Roberts, chief test pilot for the LM-100J program. ”This new model will perform many commercial roles in the decades to come, like humanitarian service following natural disasters and others like nuclear accident response, oil spill containment, and firefighting. This aircraft will also enable remote area development such as mining, oil and gas exploration. This day marks the beginning of a tremendous commercial capability that only the LM-100J can deliver.”

This flight followed the same test flight route over North Georgia and Alabama that is used for all C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. The LM-100J will complete initial production flight tests and then begin Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certificate update test requirements.

Bravo Industries LLC, a Brazil-based firm, has agreed to buy 10 LM-100Js. Bravos Logistica division, which consists of Bravo Cargas and MRO, plans to operate the turboprop LM-100J for air cargo operations in Brazil.(Ed)

Source: Lockheed Martin/Picture Lockheed Martin

Russia’s AirBridgeCargo (ABC) Volume Up 17% In First Quarter

Russia’s Airbridge Cargo carried 158.000 tons in 1Q 2017, up 17% year-over-Year, as a result of market growth and special products. Load factor increased to 70% during the first months of the year, the carrier said in a statement on June 1.

The largest Russian cargo airline, which is part of Volga-Dnepr Group, continued to develop its network in Asia, launching a new route to Taipei in April. ABC provides Boeing 747F services to and from Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing and Zhengzhou.

According to ABC, high demand for exports from Europe enabled the airline to grow its tonnage from the region by 22% in Q1 2017; with growth on all its routes, notably to Asia, which recorded a 24% rise in tonnage over the same three months of 2016.

ABC’s services from North America also continued to grow, the airline said, and now operates up to 30 flights a week on its routes serving Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Seattle.

The arrival of the airline’s 10th new Boeing 747-8 F in March increased its total 747 fleet to 17 aircraft, contributed a 7% increase in frequencies network-wide.

Source : ATW/Boeing ABC Cargo picture

MAINTENANCE, OVERHAUL, REPAIR NEWS

Qantas, Jetstar Sign Up for Boeing 787 Parts Support

Australia’s Qantas Airways and its Jetstar Airways low-cost subsidiary have entered into a long-term component services agreement with AFI KLM E&M to cover its Boeing 787 fleet.

The contract covers pool access, repairs and applies to eight future Qantas-operated 787-9s. They are expected to start entering its fleet late this year and eleven 787-8 currently in service with Jetstar.

AFI KLM E&M said the program aims to achieve maximum availability for supported fleet. It will see both airlines gain direct access to the aftermarket provider’s spare pool in Kuala Lumpur, with support from its global inventories and component repair shops.

AFI KLM E&M said the total number of 787s under its parts coverage program now stands at 193 across 15 different airlines.

Fabrice Defrance, senior vice president commercial AFI KLM E&M, said the new contract further strengthens its position in the Asia-Pacific region. It also grows ties with Qantas, as AFI KLM E&M already provides component support on its fleet of Airbus A330s and, through its Spairliners Subsidiary, coverage of its A380 fleet.

Source: mro-network.com/Qantas Picture

MRO Latest News

Lufthansa Technik was selected by Madrid-based leisure carrier Wamos Air to provide Airbus A330 and Boeing component support.

StandardAero was selected to maintain PW 125Bs for six Fokker 50s for Belgium carrier VLM Airlines.

F&E Aircraft Maintenance expanded its GoldCare agreement with Boeing to provide 787 and 737 MAX line maintenance at Denver and Seattle.

Aeronautical Engineers finalized contract with Mexico-based Aeronaves for sixth/Seventh MD-80 freighter conversions for late this year; Commercial Jet will modify one each at Miami and Dothan.

SR Technics expanded its CFM56 component repair agreement with AerFin ,to include-5Bs and -7Bs in addition to -5Cs out of facilities in Zurich, Switzerland and Cork Ireland.

HAECO was selected by Panasonic as an authorized IFEC repair center in China.

Ameco delivered a converted Boeing 757 aircraft to China Postal Airlines. This is the sixth Boeing 757 aircraft delivered by Ameco Chengdu Branch since 2014, while another three 757s are in progress in its facility.

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ed@kaplanianreport.com

May 9, 2015 by kaplanianreport

Volume 2 Issue 5 May 2015

ON THE BOEING FRONT

Boeing Just Patented a “Cuddle Chair” that Could Revolutionize How People Sleep on Airplanes

You know that moment when you are deep into a long distance journey and you just cannot get comfortable enough to sleep? And you’d do just about, or pay just anything for some sort of bed, or sleep support for even a few hours.

Getting quality sleep on a plane can be a great challenge especially when you are stuck in the cramped quarters of economy class. But now upright sleeping seat patented by Boeing may just change things.

Though officially known as the “transport vehicle seat back with integrated upright sleep seat the “cuddle Chair”. The chair features a cushion, headrest, and strap system that could be a crucial development for forward-leaning sleepers, who would no longer have to suffer the indignity of snoozing on their tray table.

As airlines seek to fit as many people as possible into planes, manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus have had to explore some truly unorthodox seating mechanisms.

Source : Business Insider

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

Airbus Upbeat on Jet Market, Still Studying A380 Upgrade

Airbus sees continued strength in the aircraft market and may increase production of its most popular jets above planned rates if the trend continues, the head of the European plane maker said On Friday April 17th.

Fabrice Bregier, chief executive of Airbus Group’s passenger jet division, predicated that Airbus would recapture the global crown from Boeing as deliveries of its new A350 model pick up while adding that market share was secondary to profitable growth.

Airbus expects to deliver 15 of the A350 planes this year told a group of journalists in Paris.

He reiterated that Airbus would not abandon the A380 after a period of weak orders, but would take careful look at the business case for the A380neo upgrade requested by the model’s biggest airline customer Emirates.

Airbus continues to expect more orders than deliveries in 2015, he also told members of the French AJPAE aerospace press association.

Source : Airbus/Yahoo Finance

BUSINESS/REGIONAL NEWS

MRJ First Flight Delayed Again

Mitsubishi Aircraft says the latest slip in the first flight schedule of its MRJ regional jet does not represent “major trouble” in the program.

In response to queries from Flightglobal, the Japanese manufacturer explains that in ground tests conducted thus far, ”a bug” has occurred in a portion of its software. Design changes also had to be made to some system parts.

As a result Mitsubishi has pushed back the first flight of its regional jet to September or October of 2015, from the second quarter.

In January, Mitsubishi started full-scale tests and also performed a first engine run on MSN 10001. It has since performed various ground tests including functional and performance tests for devices of its avionics, hydraulics, air conditioning, lighting and landing gear systems. It has also conducted vibration tests, electromagnetic tests, safety tests and taxi tests.

Source: Flightglobal/ Mistubishi Aircraft

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) to Buy More than 100 Aircraft

The board of the Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has decided to increase the operations of the company under its five year plan from 2015-2020 by purchasing more than 100 new aircraft.

The airline is Saudi’s national flag carrier and director general Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said the plan is meant to strengthen operational efficiency as part of the continuous modernization of the fleet.

The airline previously ordered 90 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus and all but 12 have not been delivered according to a senior official under the condition of anonymity.

Jasser said the arrival of the aircraft within its growing domestic passenger requirements and expand the airline’s international operations.

The five-year plan includes the empowerment of the airline staffs and modernization of the airline infrastructures and strategic units.

The board noted that one of the challenges facing the company is the disruptions of its operations by sandstorms. Airlines have been obliged to delay or postpone their scheduled flights when airports are hit by it due to passenger and aircraft safety.

Many airports are affected by it in Saudi Arabia. Measures to reduce the effects of weather changes were discussed by the board.

Source: Middle East Confidential

Spain’s Air Europa Details Boeing 787 Plans

Spanish carrier Air Europa has launched scheduled flights between Madrid and Miami with its first Boeing 787 as it prepares to take 22 of the new twin jets.

Privately owned Air Europa is bringing in 22 787-8s and 787-9s to completely replace its Airbus A330 long-haul fleet. The airline has acquired the aircraft through two commitments, one for eight aircraft and a follow-on order for further 14, which was announced in January of this year.

Juan Jose Hidalgo, president of Air Europa parent company Globalia corp., previously said

the aircraft will grow the business by around 50%.

Air Europa’s first four 787s will arrive by the end of 2016, doubling to eight aircraft by 2018. ”The airline will have a total of 22 Dreamliners all operational by 2022, completely replacing its long-haul fleet of A330s,” Air Europa said in a statement.

It has been configured with 252 seats, including 18 in business and 21 in Air Europa’s newly introduced premium economy cabin. Air Europia, which has a hub at Madrid Barajas, serves 36 destinations in Europe and the Americas.

Source : ATW/picture Boeing

GTF Leads Pratt to Shift Business Model to Aftermarket Focus

With 80% of the more than 6300 geared turbofan (GTF) engines sold by Pratt and Whitney covered by a long-term maintenance service contract with the engine manufacturer, Pratt is shifting its commercial business model.

The PW1100G powering the Airbus A320neo will launch the GTF family of engines into the market when the re-engined narrow body enters service later this year.

But the transition to the GTF is about much more for East Hartford, Connecticut-based Pratt than the engine’s geared architecture that promises to provide a significant fuel burn improvement. ”We’re transitioning from a purely transitional market to a service market”. Pratt

president-aftermarket Mathew Bromberg told reporters during a briefing in East Hartford.

The sale of the engine is merely the starting point. Pratt now has long-term service agreements on about half of its in-service commercial aircraft engines, but in the future the vast majority of its engines-particularly in the GTF family- will be under such contracts. Pratt will collect “a staggering amount of data” from in-service GTF engines and use this information to manage engine performance for its airline customers, Bromberg said.

Source : ATW/Pratt&Whitney

ANA Reveals Star Wars Livery on Boeing 787-9

All Nippon Airlines (ANA) has unveiled a new “ Star Wars” livery on its latest Boeing 787-9 that marks the start of a five-year tie up with The Walt Disney Company (Japan).

Painted with the iconic R2-D2 character, the plane’s design was unveiled to fans of the popular science fiction franchise in the United States on April 16th.

ANA says the “Star Wars” painted aircraft will take to the skies in the third quarter of 2015, but the routes it will operate on have not yet been determined.

“We’re proud of the innovative R2-D2 design, and we look forward to witnessing the first-ever flight of a passenger aircraft featuring “Star Wars” character. We’re confident that “Star Wars” fans around the world will absolutely love the design,” says Kayleen Walters, vice president of marketing at Lucasfilm Ltd.

The launch of “Star Wars” livery also follows ANA’s earlier announcement that it will launch a Tokyo Narita-Houston service from june 12th, making the carrier’s tenth North American destination.

Source : Flightglobal/ANA Photo.

LATEST NEWS IN BRIEF

United Airlines has converted 10 firm orders for the Boeing 787 to the 777-300ER. The 777-300ER order is valued at $3.3 billion at list prices.

LAN CHILE has inaugurated its Boeing 787 service from Chilean capital Santiago to Auckland in New Zealand.

Boeing Business Jets announced that the company is studying offer ability of a BBJ Combi, allowing customers to have a split configuration of both passengers and cargo at the same time.

Azul Brazilian Airlines has renewed a maintenance agreement under which ATR will provide full aftermarket support to Axul’s fleet of nearly 60 ATR aircraft.

QantusLink will create a Boeing 717 heavy maintenance base in Canberra, creating up to 40 engineering jobs in the Australian capital.
Airbus has selected Korean Air Aerospace Division to supply the new Sharklet wingtip for the A330neo.

EasyJet took delivery of its 250th Airbus A320 family aircraft.

Airbus announced that it has surpassed 1,500 A330 orders with recent orders from Turkish Airlines for four A330-200Fs and ALC for 25 A330-900neos.

KLM has taken delivery of its 24th Boeing 777-300ER at Amsterdam Airport from Everett, Washington.

UTC Aerospace Systems was selected by Qatar Airways to supply wheels and Duracarb carbon brakes for 43 Airbus A350-900s.

Emirates Airlines announced a $9.2 billion order for Rolls- Royce engines as power plant to equip 50 Airbus A380s.

Air Tahiti Nui (ATN), the major carrier of French Polynesia, has confined its order for two 787-9s.

Air Lease Corp. announced a long-term agreement with Aeromexico for one new Boeing 787-9.This aircraft is from ALC’s order book with Boeing is scheduled for delivery in the fall of 2016.

GE Aviation announced the GE90 engine, which was the first jet engine to utilize composite fiber polymeric material on the front fan blades 20 years ago.

AIR CARGO

Cathay Pacific Issues Latest Ban on Lithium Batteries

Cathay Pacific joined Qantas, Delta, United and Virgin Australia in banning the shipment of lithium-ion batteries on either freighters or in the bellies of passenger aircraft. The rule only applies to batteries being shipped in bulk, not those that are being used in laptop computers, mobile phones or similar devices.

747-400 BCF First Flight Takeoff

Cathay’s cargo director, James Woodrow, made the announcement to his staff in the carrier’s monthly newsletter. Woodrow is also the chair of IATA’s cargo committee, where lithium batteries, and their safe transport, were discussed in March at the World Cargo Symposium in Shanghai, and viewed as an industry challenge. The international Coordination Council of Aerospace industry Associations, which represents Boeing and Airbus, called for stronger packaging and handling regulations for batteries being shipped on freighters.

Tests performed by the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) concluded that lithium batteries consistently discharge explosive gases when they overheat or short-circuit. The build-up of gases, mostly hydrogen, can lead to explosions or fire. It’s common for tens of thousands of batteries to be packaged into one shipping container.

Source: Air Cargo World/Cathay Pacific

Atlas Air’s First Quarter Figures Soar From Extra Charters

That which did not sail by sea was sent by air in the first quarter of 2015, and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings was there to reap the benefits. The Purchase, New York based charter airline and aircraft lessor reported net income of US$29 million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $7.9 million during the same period in 2014. This is almost quadruple year-over-year results.

Atlas Air 747-8F Artwork

While commercial cargo demand was clearly boosted by the long-running port congestion problems on the West Coast of the United States in January and February, which led to spike on charter activity. Atlas also said it benefited from a major automobile recall and “better-than expected military cargo and passenger demand.”

The company reported free cash flow of $80.2 million in the first quarter, compared with $36.9 million in 2014.Operating income for the quarter also more than doubled to $57 million, year-on-year. ”We are off to a very good start in 2015 and look forward to a strong year,” said William J.Flynn, president and CEO.”As a result, we now expect our full-year results to increase significantly compared with 2014.”

Atlas said it expected airfreight demand to continue at between 4 and 5 percent, per year, through 2016,and commented that its customers are also performing at above market levels.

Source: Air Cargo World/Atlas Air/Atlas Air Picture

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ed@kaplanianreport.com