November 26, 2017 by kaplanianreport

Volume 4 Issue 12 December 2017 The Kaplanian Report

ON THE BOEING FRONT

Boeing Ceremonially Kicks Off 777-9 Assembly

Boeing marked the official launch of production activity for the first 777-9 test aircraft in a public ceremony on October 23. The company started building the wing spar in the newly-erected composite wing center in Everett, Washington, during the summer. The October 23 ceremony coincided with the drilling of the spar by an automated machine in another building on the campus. The ceremonial launch of production for the 777X family comes about 14 -17 months before the scheduled first flight of the 777-9 test aircraft in the first quarter of 2019. Entry into service with Launch customer should occur about a year after first flight.

Meanwhile, GE Aviation is continuing certification testing of the GE9x engine, while the second engine is to test running on a ground test stand since May.

Combined with GE Aviation GE9X engines, the 777X’s new wing will play a key part in delivering enhanced fuel efficiency. It has been increased in diameter by around 7m (23ft) over the current 777-300ER model, to 71.8m (235ft 5in) with a new wing-fold mechanism of 3.5m (11.4ft) on each side — to enable the twin engine jet to use the same airport infrastructure and taxiways as its predecessor.

Flight testing of the 777X is set to commence in 2019. Boeing expects to deliver the first 777-9 during 2020, with the longer-range -8 model to follow one year later.

“We see a good order backlog — much better than the -300ER had at this time, ahead of production,” Boeing Commercial Airplane chief executive Kevin McAllister told Flight global on September 26. I think you’ll see a very compelling value proposition on that airplane as we go forward.”

Boeing has secured firm orders for 336 of the aircraft—283-9s and 53-8s— since launching the program at the Dubai air show in November 2013 (the last order for 20-9s from Singapore Airlines was finalized in Washington, DC on October 23.)

Other customers include All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa and Qatar.

Launch customer will be Emirates.

Source : Flightglobal/Boeing Picture

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

First A321neo With Revised Door Layout Assembled

The first Airbus A321neo equipped with a modified fuselage and additional cabin exits is nearing completion on the final assembly line in Hamburg. Dubbed the “Airbus Cabin Flex” (ACF) version, this first major variation of the A321 fuselage incorporates up to four over-wing exits instead of the main cabin doors immediately ahead of the wing on existing A321.

The pair of doors immediately behind the wing has also repositioned aft by four fuselage frames (with a deactivation option).

The changes increase in the twinset’s maximum seating from the current 230 passengers to up to 240. Other interior changes include slimmer seats, redesigned rear galley and lavatory module, and a new rating for exit doors.

The A321neo ACF is due to enter service next year and the changes it features will be incorporated into the extended-range A321LR version of the A321neo, which is due to enter service in 2019. This variant features increased weights and up to three auxiliary fuel tanks, to boost range by up to 500nm (925km) to 4,000nm.

Source : Flightglobal/Airbus Picture

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Boeing Business Jets Has Upped Its Sales For 2017

Boeing Business Jets tally for 2017 to 13 aircraft, adding six since the EBACE business aviation in May. In what new BBJ president Greg Laxton calls a “fast and furious” year to date. The orders include a second 737 Max 7, the only narrow body Boeing Business Jet able to fly 7,000nm (13,000km). Boeing secured its first customer for the Max 7 BBJ late last year—a variant Laxton describes as a “game-changer” as it gives the airframe a product with similar range to the Gulfstream G650 or Bombardier 7000.

Boeing also notched up orders for six wide body business jets—Three 747-8s and three 777-300ERs— in 2017, as well as two of BBJ Max 9s, two original BBJs ( 737-700s) and a pair of BBJ 2s (737-800s). There have been four deliveries of green aircraft: three 777-300ERS and one 787-8.

In total, Boeing has orders for the BBJ version of the Max, with first delivery to a completion center—a 737 Max 8—due in the second quarter of 2018.

Source : Flightglobal/BBJ

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Retirement of KLM Fokker Ends Era That Began in 1921

The retirement of KLM Cityhopper’s last Fokker 70, after final flight on October 28, marks the end of an era in Dutch aviation history.

It was all the way back in April 1921 that KLM put its first Fokker into service. KLM’s chief executive Pieter Elbers describes the exit of its last Fokker as “a sad moment”, but also highlights a new beginning for Cityhopper regional unit, which now operates a fleet composed of Embraer E-Jets.

“The replacement of the entire Fokker fleet began nine years ago with the introduction of the first Embraer 190 in November 2008,” Elbers recalls. ”it can be difficult to keep reliability high for the small Fokker fleet, but our maintenance team at Cityhopper has done a fantastic job.”

Special farewell flight between Heathrow and Amsterdam School was operated on the evening of October 28, becoming the last ever scheduled arrival of Cityhopper Fokker 70 at the Dutch hub. The aircraft (registered PH-KZU) was adorned with an image of founding father Antony Fokker on the tail and “Thank you” titles on the fuselage.

Source : KLM Press Room/KLM Picture

American to Say Good Bye to MD-80s in 2019

American Airlines has set 2019 as the year it will retire its MD-80 fleet, replacing the rear-engined aircraft with modern Boeing 737-800s.The MD-80 was the workhorse of American and other US carriers’ domestic fleets from the 1980s through the early 2000s making it an everyday sight at airports around the country. Fort Worth-based America plans to finish this year with 45 MD-80s in its fleet, shrinking to 26 by the fall of 2018. All the carrier’s MD-80s will be based at its Dallas/Fort Worth hub once the ST Louis pilot base closes.

American was the first major US carrier to commit to the MD-80 — if only tentatively at first — when it agreed to “rent” 20 from McDonnell Douglas in 1982.

The airframer essentially leased the aircraft to the airline under a deal that allowed it to return the aircraft after five years with no penalty, or earlier with a cancellation charge.

Initially, American planned to primarily use the MD-80 to replace Boeing 727-100s in its fleet, citing 37% better fuel efficiency for the former compared to the latter. Instead American opted to use the aircraft for growth when it placed what at the time was its largest order ever for 167 MD-80s, including 67 firm and 100 options, in 1984.

With the 1984 deal, American had “firmly pinned its future” on the MD-80.American’s fleet grew to 260 by 1993.

Source : Flightglobal/American Picture

LATEST NEWS

UTair Russian carrier has unveiled a refreshed livery and a slightly-modified Utair brand name.

Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of the first of two Boeing 787-9s on October 27th making it Africa’s first operator of the type.

Aeroflot sizes up Airbus, Boeing for a narrow-body order and considering a “sizable” order of the A320neo and 737 MAX.

Airbus delivered first A320neo assembled in Tianjin to Air Asia. The aircraft, powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines.

Textron Aviation delivered its 100th Cessna Citation Latitude. The delivery went to NetJets.

Emirates Airlines takes delivery of its 100th A380 at Airbus’ Hamburg facility on November 3.

The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) has flown its C919 aircraft for the third time—five weeks after its second flight, and 26 weeks after the first flight.

Comlux signs the first BBJ MAX 8 completion ever, the aircraft will go to Comlux Indianapolis facilities in the 4th quarter of 2018 for redelivery by the fall of 2019

Pratt & Whitney successfully tests next generation Pure Power Geared Turbofan (GTF) as part of the FAA Sustainability Program.

Emirates Airlines kicked off the Dubai Air Show by announcing a commitment to purchase 40 Boeing 787-10s valued at $15.1 billion at list prices.

Air China and Air Canada take delivery of their first 737 Max 8 aircraft. The latest hand-overs raise Boeing’s total count of 737-8s this year to at least 35.

AIR CARGO

Lockheed Flies Second LM-100J Cargo Transport.

The second LM-100 J has joined Lockheed Martin’s flight test program for the commercial freighter derivative of the C-130J military transport. The newly-built aircraft completed a first flight on October 11 from Lockheed’s final assembly plant in Marrietta, Georgia.

The first LM-100J started flying on May 25 to begin Lockheed’s campaign to receive a civil certification of the type from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The addition of the second aircraft “will accelerate our progress to deliver this unique aircraft’s capabilities to civilian operators around the world”, says Wayne Roberts, Lockheed’s chief test pilot for the LM-100J.

Lockheed has announced receiving 25 orders with a total value of $1.6 billion for the converted civil freighter. Externally, the most visible difference between the C-130 J and LM-100J is the absence of windows at the feet of the pilot and co-Pilot in the Cockpit of the commercial derivative. The LM-100J also lacks certain features of the military version, such as the capability to lower the cargo ramp door in flight.

Source : Lockheed/Lockheed Picture

EVA Air Takes First 777-200 LR Freighter

On November 10 EVA has taken delivery of its first Boeing 777-200LR Freighters part of its fleet modernization plan.

It will be put the aircraft was put into service between Asia and North America later that month. says the Taiwanese airline in a statement. It currently operates cargo services to North American points of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and Atlanta.

EVA adds that the General Electric GE-90 powered 777-200LR freighter allows it to operate to any North American destination from Taiwan, with a technical stop in Anchorage.

The carrier has another four of the freighters on order, all of which will be delivered by September 2019. With the deliveries, it will retire its five remaining 747-400 Freighters by the end of 2019.

The airline’s executive vice-president of corporate planning Albert Liao tells FlightGlobal that the carrier’s cargo strategy is to utilize the five 777 freighters as well as the belly hold of its 34 777-300ER aircraft to ensure a “sustainable” cargo in “ good and bad Times”.

Source : Flightglobal/EVA Picture

Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul News

Leap Negotiates Teething Problems

The engine manufacturers predict around 450 Leaps will be produced in 2017. With all the attention paid to Pratt & Whitney’s problems with the geared turbofan this year, some have overlooked the early hiccups with its rival, The CFM LEAP.

“We have observed a premature loss of coating on the high-pressure turbine shroud which is made by our partner in CFM GE on some engines,” said Safran CEO Philippe Petitcolin in a recent earnings call.

Following a problem with LEAP 1B low-pressure turbine(LPT) discs that has nearly been resolved, CFM is now dealing with premature loss of the thermal coating on high-pressure turbine discs on the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B.

However, Petitcolin, says that “most of this issue is really now behind us” and that coating problems should be fully resolved by 2018.He also stresses that the additional headwind is a conservative estimate, and that the extra technical support may not be needed. One question for next year is the production split between CFM56 and LEAP engines, given ongoing strong sales of former powerplant.

Source: mro-network .com

MRO Short News

FedEx orders up to 50 new-build ATR freighters and will become the launch customer for the line-produced ATR 72-600 Freighter, after placing a firm order for 30 aircraft, plus 20 options.

Boeing Asia Pacific Aviation Services has a Singapore Airline Cargo contract to provide fleet engineering services for 747-400Fs via customized solutions from Global Fleet Care portfolio.

Airbus forecasts MRO business in Asia will grow 4.5% annually through 2036(vs global growth of 3.9%) and be worth $ 660 billion over the next 20 years.

Swiss AviationSoftware was selected by Boeing to support its Global Fleet Care services with AMOS MRO software; Norwegian is first customer to use the AMOS-supported service.

HEICO secured $1.3 billion unsecured revolving credit facility to principally fund acquisitions.

Answer to Last Month Puzzler:

TAM of Brazil

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

July 23, 2016 by kaplanianreport

Volume 3 Issue 7 July 2016

ON THE BOEING FRONT

Boeing Selects iPad-Like Touch Screens For 777X Flight Deck

Future Boeing 777X airline pilots will be able to interact with their flight information displays in the same way that they use their smart phones and tablets.

Boeing has decided to integrate a multi-touch interface on the flight deck of the re-engineer wide body due to enter service in 2020, replacing a touch-pad based cursor control device (CCDs) mounted on the aisle-stand of the original 777, says Bob Feldmann, vice president and general manager of the 777X program.

The decision was made so recently that Boeing is not yet able to announce the supplier, as the contract had not been signed as of mid June, Feldmann says.

The new technology will be integrated as Boeing transitions from a standard layout of six displays in the 777 cockpit to the 787’s five display format in the 777X. ”We think we are the first Commercial airplane to really make something that is like all our customers are used to doing in their daily lives,” Feldmann says.

In discussions with our 777X customers, Boeing received a clear preference for making the transition to multi-touch screens, Feldmann says.

The next milestone for the 777-9 development program is a critical design review scheduled earlier next year. Production of the first test aircraft is expected to begin next June, with first flight following in 2018.

Cockpit touch screens are one of several key technologies Boeing is developing for the 777X. The most visible innovation on the 777X is perhaps Boeing’s plan to integrate folding wingtips, a feature normally found on fighters based on space constrained aircraft carriers.

Source : Flightglobal/Boeing

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

Airbus Starting A330neo Final Assembly in October

Airbus is working through some high profile issues with the introduction of the A350 and the A320neo to market, but surely wishes those programs were low-profile as the A330neo. The reengineer A330 program, is progressing more quietly and without major problems that have kept Airbus in the news.

The A330-900, the first reengineer version of the family, is due to enter service by the end of 2017, followed by the smaller -800 a year later. Airbus hopes the program’s lower costs – combined with the fuel burn reduction the new engines are expected to provide and the new cabin designed to align it with the larger A350’s interior – will be sufficient to counter the Boeing 787.

Airbus is well on the way to producing the A330neo subassemblies. The first wing is essentially completed in the Broughton, England facility with only the sharklets missing, and the second is close behind. Along with engines and the new cabin, the wing has seen the most modifications of the major components. At 64 m(210 ft), the A330neo wingspan has grown by 4 m (13.1 ft) over the the A330ceo’s and has been structurally reinforced to accommodate the Neo’s heavier engines. The wing-to-body-juncture also has been redesigned.

In parallel, the first A330neo nose section is completed at the Saint-Nazaire plant in France. Airbus has a total of 186 orders for the two versions of the A330neo,10 for the A330-800 and the rest for the larger -900. Hawaiian Airlines has ordered 6 -800s and 4 for TransAsia Airways

Source : China Aviation Daily/Airbus Photo

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Mitsubishi Starts Final Assembly of First Delivery Jet

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is set to begin final assembly of the first customer aircraft for the MRJ regional jet program, with various sections of the fuselage having been delivered to the MRJ final assembly hanger.In a newsletter, Mitsubishi Aircraft says it will work through the final assembly process, with an eye on delivery to launch customer All Nippon Airways in mid 2018. The Japanese airframe also gave an update of the MRJ flight tests, which are ongoing using two test aircraft. It says valid results have been obtained from FTA-2, which started flying on May 31st, including the confirmation of emergency response measures – such as flying with one engine, activation of emergency power units and stall tests.

Various tests are also being carried out as the program prepares for ferry flight to Moses Lake, Washington State, this summer.

These include the expansion of its flight envelop to it’s design specifications of a maximum speed of Mach 0.78 and a maximum altitude of 39,000 ft, conducting instrument flights,plus checking on terrain awareness, warning system and collision avoidance system.

Its Moses Lake Flight Test Center meanwhile has been conducting flights using a small aircraft, rehearsing for the test missions ahead.

Mitsubishi adds that preparations are underway for FTA-3 and FTA-4 to take their first flights this summer.

Source : Flightglobal/Photo/Mitsubishi Aircraft

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

First CSeries Aircraft is Delivered to SWISS

Bombardier delivered the first CSeries aircraft to Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines(SWISS), at ceremonies in Montreal on June 29th.

The delivery marks an important milestone in an aircraft program beset with technical problems, delays and difficulty securing customers. Swiss originally ordered 20 CS100 and 10 CS300s, plus 30 options, but then converted five 100s to the 300 variant.

The handover should begin a process in which SWISS will receive nine aircraft by year end, taking one aircraft per month this month, August and September. After that, deliveries will increase to two aircraft per month. The first aircraft will enter service this month.

On June 23, Bombardier signed a definitive agreement with the Quebec government for $1billion investment in the CSeries program. The assets, liabilities and obligations of the program have been transferred to the CSeries Aircraft Limited Partnership(CSALP) of which 50.5% is owned by Bombardier and 49.5% by the provincial government through Investment Quebec.

The money will be used for cash-flow purposes, representing half of the $2 billion Bombardier says is required to take the CSeries program to cash-flow positive production in 2020.

The $2 billion includes funds to cover losses on discounted sales to marquee customers, including Air Canada and Delta Air Lines deals which Bombardier will record a $500 billion this quarter to cover “onerous contract provisions.”

The Canadian federal government, meanwhile, confirmed it is continuing negotiations with Bombardier about investing in the CSeries partnership.

Source : ATW/Bombardier Photo

Pratt & Whitney to Invest $65m in Georgia GTF Maintenance Site

Pratt & Whitney will invest $65 million in maintenance site near Columbus, Georgia, where the company maintains and overhauls PW 1000G geared turbofans (GTFs). The investment, which comes as the company embarks on massive GTF production ramp up, will help P&W ensure it has infrastructure in place to meet increasing maintenance demand, P&W said in a media release.

Also, later this year the company expects construction will begin on an additional engine test facility at the site in Columbus, which is about 90 miles(145km) south of Atlanta, P&W says.

The company has orders for more than 7,100 GTFs, executives have said. P&W will manufacture about 200 of the engines this year, but the company forecasts production will hit 400 in 2017, 600 in 2018 and 1,200 annually by 2020, executives have said.

The Columbus maintenance site is also where P&w is modifying a number of in-service PW 1100Gs to address a slow-engine-start issue, P&W aftermarket president Matthew Bromberg has told Flightglobal.

Source : Flightglobal/P&W

Air Lease Corp. Names New CEO; Udvar-Hazy to Be Executive Chairman

Air Lease Corp.(ALC) has appointed John Plueger as president and CEO, effective July 1, as current CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy assumes the role of Executive chairman of the board, a full-time officer role.

Steve Udvar-Hazy started ALC in February 2010, the company owns and manages 268 young and in-demand jet aircraft on lease to 88 airline customers around the world. It has an order book of 386 new jet aircraft to be delivered from Airbus and Boeing through 2023.

Plueger joined ALC as president, COO and board member in March 2010, shortly after the company was formed. Plueger has more than 30 years of aviation experience, 24 of which were with International Lease Finance Corp.

Udar-Hazy said, ”John and I have worked together for over 30 years and I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished in six short years at ALC. I look forward to continuing to partner with John in my new role”.

Source : ATW

LATEST NEWS

Emirates took delivery of its 80th A380 to join the Emirates the A380 fleet and the airline has another 62 on order including 21 to be delivered this year.

Gulfstream G500 business jet program has reached another milestone with the completion of the ultimate load testing on June 16.

Irkut Corporation Russian aircraft manufacturer rolled out its MC-21-300 on June 8 at its factory in Irkutsk.

Chengdu Airline made its first commercial flight with China’s home grown ARJ21 on June 28 with 70 passengers on board. Chengdu is the launch customer for the ARJ21.

Alaska Airlines took delivery of a 737-900 painted in a special livery to celebrated Boeing’s 100th Birthday.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has announced that an unidentified customer has signed a firm purchase order for 10 CRJ900 aircraft. The agreement is valued at $472 million at list prices.

HNA Group (Hainan Airline mother company) will become the biggest customer of both Airbus and Boeing aircraft within the next 10 years. Hainan Airlines welcomed its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on June 10.

Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of the first of 14 Airbus A350 XWBs on June 28, making it Africa’s first operator of the type.

Embraer E190-E2 has achieved first flight in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, earlier than expected.

Xiamen Airlines will be the sixth airlines to fly from Seattle to China using the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The three-times weekly service will connect to Xiamen, a city 360 miles to the northeast of Shenzhen.

Nile Air, Egyptian based carrier, began operations from Cairo to Al Ain international airport in Abu Dhabi located on the Omani border.

AIR CARGO

FedEx’s 270 Boeing Planes

Package delivery company, FedEx Corp, owned 582 airplanes at the end of May 2015 and leased another 65 for a total fleet of 647 planes. Of the planes owned,241 were manufactured by the Boeing Company or by McDonnell Douglas prior to its merger with Boeing in1997. Another 29 Boeing planes were leased, bringing FedEx’s total Boeing fleet to 270 planes.

The most popular Boeing aircraft in the FedEx fleet is now the 757-200, a dual-engine narrow body that Boeing configured as a cargo plane. The plane can carry 63,000 pounds of cargo with maximum range of 3,625 miles. The average age of these planes in FedEx fleet is nearly 25 years. Boeing sold more than 1,000 of the planes and delivered the last new 757 in 2004.(it went to Shanghai Airlines in China)

Boeing had also supplied FedEx with 21 767-300 cargo freighters at the end of May 2015 (the end of the most recent fiscal year for which the company has produced an annual report). FedEx ordered 50 more of the wide body planes last July with an option on 50 more. At list price of $199.3 million per plane, the order was valued at nearly $20 billion.

Why buy an old design? it is simple to replace even older ones and reduce the variety of planes in FedEx’s fleet. FedEx’s 767s average less than three years old. The 767 is also more fuel efficient and shares many parts with the 757s in the fleet; plus it is a great aircraft.

Because Boeing is building the Air Force tanker, The KC-46A, on the 767 airframe, FedEx is assured of spare parts for at lease another 40 years, the expected life of the tanker.

Finally, FedEx reported 27 Boeing 777 freighters in its fleet at the end of November 2015, and in January the company said it had committed to another 16 at a list price of $318.7 per plane,for an order totaling more than $5 billion.

Source : 24/7 Wall St/ Boeing Photo/Ed’s Research.

MILITARY NEWS

China’s New Y-20 Is the Largest Military Aircraft Currently in Production

The Y-20 is China’s version of the C-17 Globemaster. The first Xian Y-20 military transport aircraft was delivered to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) on June 15. Developed by Xian Aircraft Corporation, the Y-20 has an empty weight of 110 short tons, making it the largest military aircraft currently in production – larger than Russia’s Ilyushin Il-76. Boeing’s C-17 Globemaster III is bigger than the Y-20, the C-17’s empty weight is about 60,000 pounds more than the Y-20. Its payload capacity is 25,000 pounds more, but production stopped in 2015, making the Y-20 the biggest that currently rolling out of factories.

The Y-20 has the official codename “Kunpeng” after a mythical Chinese bird, though it is nicknamed “Chubby Girl” for its appearance. The Y-20 is remarkably similar to the C-17. Currently the Y-20 uses four Russian made Soloviev D-30 turbofan engines; however, plans are to replace the engines with Chinese-made Shenyang WS-20 turbofans by 2020 to give the plane short takeoff capabilities and a greater range.

Source : Popular Mechanics/AIN Online

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ed@kaplanianreport.com

June 18, 2015 by kaplanianreport

Volume 2 Issue 6 June 2015

ON THE BOEING FRONT

Boeing Begins Extensive Engine Testing of the LEAP-1B for the 737 MAX

Boeing and CFM International announced that they successfully initiated flight testing of the LEAP-1B engine on April 29th on GE’s modified 747 flying testbed at GE Aviation Flight Test Operations in Victorville, California.

The testing is the next major milestone in a two-year program that will culminate in engine certification in 2016 and delivery of the first Boeing 737 MAX in 2017.The engine performed well and completed multiple aeromechanics test points of various altitudes during the five-hour 30 minute first flight.

“I continue to be really impressed with the LEAP,” said Chief Test Pilot Steven Crane, CFM International. ”These engines are demonstrating maturity that you do not always see in new products. I think our airline customers are going to be pleased with the engine.”

The LEAP-1B engine is the exclusive power plant for the Boeing 737 MAX family and is part of the most extensive ground and flight test certification program in CFM’s history. The first Leap-1B engine began ground testing on June 13, 2014, three days ahead of the schedule set when the program was launched in 2011.

Over the next several weeks, the flight test program will encompass a comprehensive test schedule that will gauge engine operability, stall margin, performance, emissions and acoustics.

“The Leap engine has been incredibly well throughout a very rigorous ground and flight test program,” said Allen Paxson, executive vice president, CFM International. ”Results to date are right in line with what we predicted and where we wanted this engine to be.”

To date, the 737 MAX has accumulated 2,724 orders from 57 customers worldwide.

Source: Boeing/CFM International/Picture Boeing

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

Airbus Turns to Korean Manufacturer to Supply A330neo Sharklet

Airbus has selected Korean Air Aerospace Division, (KAL-ASD),the manufacturing division of Korean Air Group, to supply the new Sharklet wingtip for the A330neo.

KAL-ASD will manufacture the new composite wingtip devices at its Busan facility and supply them to Airbus’s Toulouse final assembly line.

The Sharklets bear a strong resemblance to the aerodynamic devices carried by the A350 and the A330 versions will include a wingspan extension; overall span will increase from 60.3m of the A330ceo to 64m on the A330neo and provide increased lift while reducing drag.

Together with the A330neo’s Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the new wingtips plus other aerodynamic enhancements will give the aircraft a 14% reduction in fuel burn per seat compared with today’s A330ceos,Airbus said.

The first A330neos will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Source : ATW/Airbus Photo

BUSINESS/REGIONAL NEWS

Mitsubishi Releases New Photos of Flight Test Fleet

Mitsubishi Aircraft has released a series of photos of its fleet of five flight test aircraft for the MRJ regional jet program.

The pictures show FTA-1, also known as MSN 10001, and FTA-2 having both completed final assembly and with its Pratt & Whitney engines attached.

FTA-3 with its landing gear attached, has completed wing-to-body join although engines have not been mounted. FTA-4 is still resting on struts and undergoing wing-to-body join. The picture shows that its engines, horizontal stabilizers, rudder, flaps, ailerons and wingtips have also yet to be installed.

The aft fuselage of FTA-5 meanwhile has not been fused. All five airframes have been painted, and FTA-5 appears to bear launch customer All Nippon Airway’ livery.

The Japanese airframe unveiled the pictures at the Regional Airline Association convention in Cleveland on May 12th.

At the convention, it also announced that it has expanded planned flight test and engineering options in the USA with four more sites. Besides a flight test center in Moses Lake, Washington, an engineering center will also be opened in Seattle.

It will also perform high-altitude flight tests at Gunnison Crested Butte Regional airport in Colorado, special runway tests at Roswell International Air Center in New Mexico, and use the McKinley climatic test cell at Eglin AFB, Florida.

Mitsubishi has pushed the first flight of the MRJ to September or October of 2015,but committed to keep to its second quarter 2017 delivery schedule.

Source: Flightglobal/ Mistubishi Aircraft

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Alaska Airlines is the Launch Customer for the B737-700PF Program

Israel Aerospace Industries has launched a B737-700P2F (Passenger aircraft to Freighter) conversion program through its MRO and conversion arm, Bedek Aviation Group. According to Cargo Facts Alaska Airlines is the launch customer for the process with three firm orders plus one option. Bedek says that it expects certification to occur in mid 2016 with redelivery of the first converted aircraft due at the end of 2016.

The US carrier’s cargo fleet currently consists of one B737-400F and four B737-400Ms used on flights throughout rural Alaska as well as to the mainland United States.

Source: ch-aviation

Southwest Adds International Flights, Bigger Boeing Jets

Southwest Airlines Co. is expanding the number of flights it makes to Latin America and changing its order with the Boeing Co. for 31 of the company’s 737-700 jets to the larger 737-800. All 31 planes are scheduled for delivery to Southwest in 2016.

The 737-800 includes 32 more seats than the 737-700 and carries a list price of $93.3 million compared with the list price of the $78.3 million for the smaller plane. Since placing its first order for the 727-200 in 1971, Southwest has ordered 941 new 737s from Boeing and taken delivery of 675.

Southwest claims to have the largest fleet of Boeing airplanes in the world, with currently in active service according to planespotters.net. Of those, 440 are 737-700s and 95 737-800s. By the end of 2016 Southwest expects its fleet to number about 715 aircraft, all some version of the 737.

For 2015, Southwest has 19 firm orders for the 737-800, and intends to take delivery of 19 pre-owned 737-700s. For 2016, the airline currently intends to take delivery of four pre-owned 737-700 aircraft.

The airline also has more 737-700s on order for delivery in 2017 and 2018.Those orders may also be changed to 737-800s depending on the airline’s needs according to CEO Gary Kelly. The last 737-700 that Southwest acquired new was delivered in December 2011.

Source : Wall street.com/Southwest.

TUI Group to Rebrand Five Airlines as “TUI”

TUI Group plans to rebrand its five airlines under a single “TUI” brand as part of its roadmap for growth initiative to be achieved by 2018.

Beginning in the fall 2015, the TUI Group said it will use single branding for its airlines. TUI currently operates around 140 medium-and long-haul aircraft in various markets under different brand names – TUIfly

(Germany), Thomson Airways(UK), Arkefly (Netherlands), Jetairfly (Brussels) and TUIfly Nordic(Sweden).

Each carrier will maintain its separate air operators certificate(AOC) and will remain responsible for its own crew and flight planning, but will operate under “one central organization.” Also, maintenance should be concentrated under one organization.

According to a company statement, crew and fleet would be more efficient when switched between different bases and nations, depending on demand. This should increase effectiveness of the airlines. TUI hopes to deliver operational efficiency improvements worth $57 million per annum by 2018.

TUI Group said the strategy generate more synergies by joining business units and would raise shareholders value.

The week of May 11th TUI Group placed a firm order for a single Boeing 787-9, plus one option, and has switched two of its smaller 787-8s already on order for the larger variant

Source: ATW/ Picture TUIfly Boeing 737-800

Eastern Air Lines Takes Flight from Miami Again with First Revenue Flight

Eastern is back in business at Miami International Airport. The well-known carrier with the hockey stick logo resurrection of the airline that called Miami home for decades lifted off for its first revenue flight on May 28th.The destination for Eastern flight 3145 was Havana, in partnership with HavanaAir Charters.

Eastern Air Lines announced last week that it had signed an agreement with Miami-based HavanaAir to provide lift for the operator’s charter flights to Havana, Santa Clara and Camaguey.

The airline’s Boeing 737-800 will fly twice daily to Havana from Miami and weekly to other destinations, with plans to add service to Cuba from other gateway cities in the U.S. over the next couple months.

Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research in San Francisco, called the contract a “great win” for Eastern that will give the start operational experience, revenue and attention.

“It’ll be good for Eastern in terms of giving it a lot of frequencies and it’s also a high-profile market,” Harteveldt said. ”It’s great visibility for the airline”.

The earlier Eastern filed for bankruptcy protection in 1989 and stopped flying in 1991.The new airline is not affiliated with the original carrier but acquired its intellectual property; shareholders from the old airline also received rights to buy a stake in the new company.

The company has set up shop at Miami International Airport’s Building 5A, the former Eastern operations center. Community appreciation for the airline was evident in December, when the first aircraft arrived and crowds of politicians and former employees gathered to welcome it with cheers.

Source : Miami Herald

LATEST NEWS IN BRIEF

Azul Linhas Aereas have a final agreement for 30 firm orders for the E195-E2 jets. The contract, announced as a Letter of Intent (LOI) during the 2014 edition of the Farnborough International Airshow.

HAECO Component Overhaul has been appointed by Umbra Cuscinetti as its exclusive provider of Authorized Repair Station services in mainland China.

Pratt & Whitney has teamed with Bombardier to develop and implement a data management service for the CSeries, part of the Bombardier Aircraft Health Management System(AHMS) capable of transmitting real-time and recorded data from the aircraft.

Turkish Airlines has taken delivery of the 125th Boeing aircraft-a Next Generation 737-900ER- one of 12 aircraft to be delivered to the Turkish flag carrier this year.

Vietnam Airlines’ new 787-9 has rolled out of Boeing’s paint shop at Paine Field in its new livery.It is now undergoing preflight testing.

Hainan Airlines and Air lease Corp.(ALC) have inked a long-term lease agreement covering a pair of Boeing 787-9s.The aircraft will be sourced from ALC’s current order book, which comprises 46 787-9s and 787-10s due for delivery from spring 2016.

Easy Jet has become the latest airline to commit to a higher-density Airbus A320 layout with the decision to fit 186 seats in the type.

Ruili Airlines has signed an agreement with Minsheng Financial Leasing and AVIC Leasing for 60 Boeing Max aircraft. The agreement was signed on May 18th, which also marks the airline’s one year anniversary. Of the 60 jets, 30 will come from Minsheng and 30 from AVIC.

Transaero On May 2nd Transaero took delivery of it’s Next Generation 737-800.The airplane was sporting a new livery. Transaero was the first private airline in Russia, established in 1991.

Qatar Executive has firmed up its earlier memorandum of understanding for 20 Gulfstream business jets and added an extra 10 aircraft to the order.

Sichuan Airlines has taken delivery of its 100th aircraft. The all-Airbus operator was handed over its latest jet, an A321, in Hamburg on May 22nd.

Vietnam Airlines confirmed the first of its new Boeing 787-9 has completed its first B1 test flight The newly painted Dreamliner took off from Paine field in Everett.
Dassault has rolled-out its falcon 5X at a ceremony at its 60-year old final assembly in Bordeaux-Merignac, southwest France. The ceremony took place on June 2nd.

Nimgxia Cargo Airlines received preliminary approval from the Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) to conduct operations from its base at Yinchuan Hedong Airport in the Ningxia Autonomous Region,900 Km west of Beijing.

AIR CARGO

Emirates Sky Cargo to Start Service to Rickenbacker Columbus Regional Airport.

Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates airline, announced on May 27th that it will begin weekly cargo service to Rickenbacker Columbus Regional Airport.

Fellow cargo companies Cargolux and Cathay Pacific currently fly from Hong Kong to Rickenbacker.

Columbus is “an alternative port to Chicago, where shipments originating or destined to the Midwest can be trucked much more efficiently.” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president, Cargo, in a statement.

Products expected to fly into Rickenbacker on Emirates flights include apparel, pharmaceuticals and electronics, but not all manufactured in the United Arab Emirates. Columbus is Emirates’ 48th destination for air cargo and sixth in the United States, according to the company.

“The new service extends Ohio’s reach into critical market and provides yet another global asset that makes it easier and more profitable to do business within the Columbus region,” said Kenny McDonald, chief economic officer of Columbus 2020, in a statement.

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

Chapman Freeborn, Ruslan offer Support for Armenian Centennial

Heavy, outsized broadcasting equipment cargo from Tianjin, China, was delivered to Yerevan, Armenia, for television coverage of Armenia’s centenary commemorations .The equipment was a gift from the people of China to the people of Armenia.

Air charter specialists Chapman Freeborn’s team in China commissioned the flight and chose to work with Ruslan International, which was formed through a joint venture between Antonov Airline and Volga-Dnepr Airlines. The carrier specializes in outsize and heavy cargo, employing a fleet of 17 Antonov An124-100 aircraft.

The 40 tons of cargo in this shipment consisted of three outside broadcast equipment including a large generator. The height of one of the vehicles was a challenge, but with the use of special flat extension ramp it was loaded smoothly.

“All the loads we carry are important, but this cargo has particular significance due to its role in helping the people of Armenia commemorate the centenary of such a defining moment in their history,” said Alexander Kraynow of Ruslan International.

Source: Air Cargo World/Picture Ruslan International

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ed@kaplanianreport.com

September 22, 2014 by kaplanianreport

Volume 1 Issue 2 September 2014

ON THE BOEING FRONT

Solid Long Term Demand for Commercial Airplanes Will Help Long Term Prospects for Boeing

Contrary to the doomsayers and financial analysts, who keep knocking the company and its stock down, steadily growing global economy, increasing trade and expanding labor force are growing demand for air travel.

Boeing forecasts global airline passenger traffic to rise by around 5% per year through the next 20 years. Boeing anticipates the global airline fleet to rise from around 21,000 airplanes currently to over 42,000 by 2033.

After accounting for airplanes that will retire during this period, the company forecasts that airplane makers will deliver 36,770 airplanes to airlines worldwide. Boeing commercial airplane product portfolio is more extensive and better positioned, than Airbus. Together these two companies control the majority of the global commercial airplane market.

The difference in the portfolios of these two airplane makers stands out most in the wide-body segment, which includes airplanes that seat more than approximately 230 passengers.

In this segment, Boeing offers more airplanes than Airbus. Starting with the 787-8 Dreamliner, it seats 240 passengers in a typical three-class seating arrangement. Boeing offers three variant models of its 787 Dreamliner, three variant models of the 777 and two 747 variants that comprehensively cover the entire wide-body segment.

In comparison, Airbus with its A330, A350 and A380 models, does not cover the entire wide-body segment comprehensively.

The A330 and A350 models from Airbus provide strong competition to Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and the smallest 777-8X model. However, Airbus is yet to produce a competitor to Boeing’s 777-9X which seats approximately 410 passengers in a three-class cabin.

Source : Forbes/Ed’s Research

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

The First A320 neo is Getting Ready for its First Flight

The A320 neo is another step closer to taking flight. The first aircraft is designated MSN6101 in the company’s numbering system is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100-JM engines and is the first in Airbus A320 neo family developmental fleet.

It is equipped with extensive flight test instrumentation for handling quantities, performance and engine tests, along with high-altitude and hot-and-cold-weather campaigns.

In total, Airbus’ NEO flight test fleet will comprise eight aircraft. This includes two A320 neos, one A319 neo and one A321 neo for each of the new engine choices: Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100-JM and the CFM International LEAP-1A.

Source : Airbus/Airbus Photo

BUSINESS/REGIONAL NEWS

Bombardier CSeries customer declines Launch Operator Spot

Swedish company Braathens Aviation has told Bombardier it no longer wants to be the launch operator of the CSeries 100s .

Bratthens’ domestic unit, Malmo Aviation, said it was the planned launch operator. But in its second quarter/first half financial results statement, Braathens said “increased uncertainty” about the CSeries program and the possibility of a further delay of entry into service has prompted it to reconsider.

“An engine-related incident on one of the CSeries test aircraft was reported by Bombardier in late May. It has subsequently emerged that this may cause another delay to the CSeries introduction. We have informed Bombardier that we will not assume the role of formal launch operator of the aircraft type. Due to increased uncertainty, we are discussing other possible changes to the aircraft delivery schedule with Bombardier,” Braathens said.

Finally Bombardier returned the aircraft into the air on September 7th after a 100-day grounding with FTV-2.

Source: ATW

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Turning to New Design and Material for the GE9X Fan Blade

The GE9X engine for the Boeing 777X aircraft will feature fewer and thinner composite fan blades than any GE wide-body engine in service. To do this, GE is designing a new composite fan blade using next generation carbon fiber composite material.

“It has been a decade since GE designed a new composite fan blade for the GEnx engine,” said Bill Millhaem, general manager of the GE90/GE9x engine programs. “Carbon fiber composite material has advanced in those 10 years, and advancements enable GE engineers to design a thinner GE9X blade, which is just as strong as our current composite blades. Fewer, thinner blades will enhance the airflow and make for a lighter, more efficient fan that will help with the GE9X engine’s overall performance and fuel burn.”

The new material incorporates a higher stiffness carbon fiber and new epoxy resin. The leading material will also be modified from titanium to steel alloy to further enhance the blade’s strength.

Last year GE engineers received positive results from material testing on full-sized GEnx blades. Testing of the new material continues in preparation for next year’s testing on the new GE9x blade design.

The first full core test is scheduled for 2015. The first engine will test in 2016 with flight testing on GE’s flying testbed anticipated in 2017. Engine certification is scheduled for 2018.

Source: GE Aviation/ Speednews

Southwest Airlines Unveils New Look for Its Planes

Southwest Airlines put a new paint job on its planes, adding a splash of bright color as it enters middle age and faces many changes.

The airline introduced its new livery on Monday September 8th, during an event in a hanger at its headquarters next to Dallas Love Field.

Blue is still the dominant color, but the planes will also have red, yellow and blue swooshes on the tail and wing tips. Southwest calls it ”Heart One”.

The change comes in a year during which 43-year-old Southwest has begun international flights, expanded in New York and Washington, D.C. and is freed from longtime government limits on its Dallas Schedule.

Source : keranews/Photo Southwest

British Airways to Revamp Its 747s

British Airways is rolling out cabin upgrades across 18 of its Boeing 747-400s, which will be equipped with improved inflight entertainment and modern interiors.

The cabin refresh, which will be performed by British Airways’ engineers in Cardiff, will bring the aircraft more in line with its A380s and 787s.

“Our customers love our new aircraft and we wanted to refresh the 747s in line with them,” British Airways aircraft cabin interiors manager Kathryn Doyle said. ”These improvements will be really noticeable to our frequent flyers.”

Universal power sockets and USB points will be installed throughout the World Traveller Plus cabin, plus the curtains and carpets will be replaced in both World Traveller and World Traveller Plus.

Source: ATW

San Miguel To Sell PAL Stake back To Tan

Philippines conglomerate San Miguel is reported to have signed a USD$1 billion deal to sell its stake in Philippine Airlines (PAL) back to Tan, the group from which it bought the stake more than two years ago.

San Miguel and a group owned by billionaire Lucio Tan have signed an agreement of intent to complete the sale, Reuters news agency reported a person with knowledge of the matter as saying. The deal covers the conglomerate’s industry held shares in the airline,equal to nearly half of the carrier, plus loans and advances.

The agreement is subject to conditions set by San Miguel, including delivery of the total payment amount of USD$1 billion in a week, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

San Miguel owns 49 percent of the parent of listed holding company, PAL Holdings,that in turn controls around 90 percent of the airline, which has a market value of about USD$3.4 billion .

Source : Reuters

China Eastern Airlines Introduces New Livery, Logo

China Eastern Airlines has unveiled a new look after 25 years, which includes a new logo featuring the shape of a swallow consisting of two capital letters, C and E, the initial of the carrier’s name. The design retains the red and blue colors on the carrier’s original logo.

Chief designer Liu Tao said the new logo uses more curves and circles compared to the old one, giving a more international flair.

The Shanghai-based carrier said the new logo and paint job will be applied to a Boeing 777-300 ER to be delivered during this month.

China Eastern is scheduled to take delivery of four 777-300ERs this year and will introduce 10 more between 2015 and 2016. By 2018, it is expected to have 20 of the type,more than any other carrier in China.

The carrier will operate the 777-300ERs on transpacific routes between China and North America, which will be a major market for China Eastern over the next three years.

Source : flightglobal/Photos China Eastern

LATEST NEWS IN BRIEF

Intrepid Aviation and KfW IPEX- Bank have closed a commercial financing transaction for one Airbus A330-300.The aircraft was delivered on Aug.30th and was leased to Cebu Pacific.

Ryanair has taken delivery of the first of 180 new Boeing 737-800 Next Generations on order.

Nok Air takes delivery of the first high-capacity Q400.Nok has firm orders for six Q400s.

Jiuyuan Airlines Chinese low-cost start-up Jiuyuan Airlines has taken delivery of its first two aircraft as it gears towards launching operations.

Irkut MC-21 Russian deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has announced the Irkut MC-21 will begin flight tests in April 2016.

Ryanair European low-cost carrier commits to order 100 737 MAX200 that can accommodate 200 seats.

Air New Zealand on September 12th, AirNew Zealand retired its last 747 with a flight from San Francisco to Auckland.

Air Cargo

Atlas Air Reports Improved Cargo Demand

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings announced adjusted net income of US$15.9 million (11.8 million euros) for the second quarter, compared with US$20.4 (15.2 million euros) for the second quarter of 2013.

“We are off to a good start in 2014. Airfreight demand is improving, and we are encouraged about our full year outlook,” William j. Flynn,president and CEO, said. “Atlas is an entrepreneurial company. Our second quarter results illustrate the positive contributions being generated by the investments we’ve made and the initiatives we’ve undertaken. In the face of an uncertain airfreight market and anticipated decline in military cargo demand, we have diversified our business mix.”

Freighters have played a part on the results of Atlas Air, a provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services. ”Results within ACMI segment are benefiting from modern 747-8 freighters,” Flynn said. “in Dry Leasing, the investments we’ve made since early 2013 in attractive

777 freighters on long-term leases with strong customers are driving a significant increase in contribution from highly predictable revenue and earning streams.”

Profitability in Atlas Air’s ACMI business reflected an increase in 747-8F revenue, but revenues were affected by a decline in block-hour volumes related to the return of three 747-8Fs from IAG cargo in April and early May. This decline was partially offset by the placement of two of the 8F’s with DHL Express in May, the Start-up of ACMI -8F flying for BST Logistics in February 2014 and Etihad in May 2013, as well as the start-up of ACCMI 747-400 flying for Astral Aviation in September2013.

In Dry Leasing, revenue and profitability grew following the addition of three 777F aircraft in January of this year and two in July 2013, which raised Atlas Air’s 777F fleet count to six. Each of these aircraft are leased to customers on long-term basis. Atlas Air said air freight volumes continue to improve.

Source: Air Cargo World/Picture Atlas Air

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact Ed at ed@kaplanianreport.com