Qatar Airways

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Kaplanian Report – January 2021

ON THE BOEING FRONT

               Etihad Inaugurates Boeing 787-10 Used as ecoDemonstrator

The Boeing 787-10 aircraft used in 2020 ecoDemonstrator program has been inaugurated into Etihad’s fleet.  In partnership with Boeing, NASA and Safran Landing Systems, Etihad’s 787-10 was the latest aircraft to be used as a flying testbed for a series of potential technological developments under Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator initiative. 

“As the first 787-10 to take part in the ecoDemonstrator program, this very special aircraft stands testament to the innovation and drive for sustainable aviation that forms a core of Etihad’s values and long-term vision,” states Tony Douglas, chief executive of Etihad Aviation Group.  ”This is in line with the tremendous strides being made by Abu Dhabi, and the UAE, in research and development solutions to combat climate change.” 

To celebrate its launch into commercial service, the aircraft has been fitted with a commemorative plaque, while its fuselage retains some of the ecoDemonstrator flight-testing branding. 

Boeing said in July of last year that the Dreamliner was to be used for the evaluation of aircraft noise in flight, and of landing gear fairings intended to quiet the flow of air around a jet’s gear.

The Boeing 787-10 registered A6-BMI expands Etihad’s fleet of 787s to 39 aircraft.

Source: Etihad, Boeing , Etihad Picture

                          Boeing Retires Vintage T-33 Chase Jets

Boeing retires “Red Bird” and “Blue Bird” chase jets.  These are the names of Boeing’s two Canadair T-33 chase jets Boeing used to follow airliners during test flights.  Now,  Boeing’s T-33 are flying into retirement, after 66 years of life.  According to the FAA, Canadair produced both jets in 1954.

“Boeing confirms the retirement of its two T-33 aircraft.” We are  currently looking into other options to support our flight test activities.”

“T-33’s have been used in many flight-test support roles, including as the safety chase plane for the first flight of nearly every new derivative commercial airplane starting with the 767 in 1981 through today’s 777-9,” Boeing adds.  The decision to retire the T33s reflects “lack of supply chain support to maintain the aircraft”, Boeing says.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

              

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

     Airbus Relieved Over Post-Brexit Deal But Yet to Analyze Details

Airbus is yet to assess the consequences of the newly-agreed future relationship between the UK and the European Union.  But it believes the “potential disruption” which would have arisen from failure to reach a post-Brexit agreement “has been avoided”.

Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury says he “welcomes” the deal, unveiled on December 24, 2020, between the negotiating parties just weeks before the UK-EU transitional arrangement had been due to expire. 

Airbus employs 12,500 people in the UK, at sites including a wing-design site near Bristol and wing-assembly plant in Broughton. Airbus had pressed for the UK to remain a member of the EU, and had warned that it would review investments in the UK if withdrawal undermined its business model.

While it is “pleased” the No deal threat has been averted, the airframer says it will still need to analyze the consequences on its activities.  It points out that a “strong partnership” will “generate benefits right across Europe”. 

Source: Airbus,Picture Airbus         

        

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

        Aerion AS2 Backlog Tops $6.5 Billion with Avion Pacific Deal  

Aerion Supersonic has secured its first commitment for its new AS2 aircraft from China under a marketing and sales agreement with Avion Pacific.   It covers multiple aircraft and pushes the value of the order backlog of the supersonic business jet to more than $6.5 billion.

The agreement was announced on Wednesday, December 9, 2020.  Aerion did not disclose the number of aircraft involved; but the deal is among orders that have helped significantly push up the value of the backlog in 2020.  The company’s backlog was in the $3billion range prior to this commitment.

Aerion plans to begin assembly of the AS2 in 2023, with the first flight coming in 2025 and market entry in the 2027 time frame.  The company envisions building 300 of the Mach 1.4 jets in its first decade of production. Avion Pacific will be among the first customers to take delivery in the expected 2027 service entry date.

Avion Pacific chairman Wu Zhendong  said that “ the AS2 is an aircraft that will shape the future of private aviation in Asia and globally;  we at Avion Pacific wanted to be part of that.”  

Source: Aviation International News

                   Gulfstream Introduces Another G700 Test Aircraft

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced the fifth Gulfstream G700 flight-test, just three weeks after the fourth G700 flew for the first time. 

“The G700 flight-test is progressing exceptionally well,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream.  “Every day, we come closer to our goal of delivering this revolutionary aircraft to our customers.  We are steadily increasing flights, flight hours and completion of numerous company tests, further raising the bar for business around the world.”

The Fifth G700 test aircraft flew 3 hours and 8 minutes, reaching an altitude of 48,000 feet/14,630 meters and a top speed of Mach 0.935.  This aircraft will focus largely on testing avionics.

Since the first G700 flight on February 14, 2020, Gulfstream has made significant progress in company testing -including cold-weather at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida; flutter; aerodynamic stalls; and envelope expansion. The aircraft has also flown beyond its maximum operating speed and cruise attitude, reaching Mach 0.99 and altitude of 54,000 ft/16,459meters.  In typical operations, the G700 has a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925 and maximum climb altitude of 51,000ft/15,545 meters.

Source: GulfStream/Picture Gulfstream                                                             

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

 American Airlines Completed the Boeing 737 Max’s Passenger Flight

American Airlines flew the first scheduled passenger flight of the Boeing 737 Max in the US on Tuesday December 29th, from Miami to New York’s La Guardia following the types ungrounding on November 18th last year.

Since the ungrounding, Latin America carriers Brazil’s Gol Linhas Aereas, Mexico’s Aeromexico.  On the same day, American airlines resumed commercial operations Copa Airlines of Panama resumed operations with its Max fleet flying from Panama City to San Jose, Costa Rica.

The uneventful flight marked the beginning of a new chapter for the aircraft that aims to restore confidence from the traveling public.

United Airlines won’t be flying the aircraft for another month, planning to fly the Max from Houston and Denver starting February 11, 2021.  Southwest as of this writing has not yet announced a start date or loaded the aircraft into its schedule.  Alaska Airlines has a tentative start date of March 1st.

American will fly the plane exclusively between New York and Miami until January 5, 2021, when more routes will see the plane.

Source: American Airlines/Picture American Airlines

                        The GE-90 Engine Celebrates 25 Years of Service

The General Electric GE90, which powers many Boeing 777s, has celebrated 25 years since entering service on the type—it propelled a British Airways flight between London, Heathrow and Dubai on November 17,1995.

The GE90 engine has been among the most reliable in the industry with a world class dispatch reliability rate of 99.97%.  In July 2020, the engine family also surpassed 100 million flight hours.

“We are excited to celebrate another GE90 milestone and would like to congratulate everyone involved in the engines success,” said Mike Kauffman, GE Aviation’s program general manager.  ”We continue to deliver these extremely reliable engines and our dedicated product support team will maintain the GE90 for many years to come, providing maximum value throughout its lifecycle.”

GE has delivered more than 2,800 GE90-94B and upgraded -115B engines to 70 operators around the world. The engine family powers all 777 models and its the exclusive powerplant on the 777-300ER, 200LR and 777 F.

The GE90 engine faces some of the toughest demands daily on a hip-thrust commercial jet engine.  Despite this, the engine has achieved the lowest maintenance burden to date through service bulletin terminating action acceleration and analytics-based field programs.

It’s architecture and mechanical design have influenced every GE and CFM turbofan over the last 20 years. From the popular GEnx and record-selling CFM LEAP engine to the passport for corporate jets and the next generation GE9X engine for the 777X.

The GE90 engine held the world record as the most powerful jet engine for 17 years at 127,900 pounds of thrust – until the newly-certified GE9X engine achieved the new mark of 134,300 pounds of thrust.

Source: GE aviation, picture GE Aviation

                 US Issues Emissions Standards for New Aircraft 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has for the first time missed greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for new aircraft.  The EPA argues, this will ensure “international consistency” and give US manufactures a level playing field with foreign competitors.

The rule mirrors ICAO’s standards and recommended practices for certification of aircraft CO2 emissions announced in 2017.  It limits the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) commercial airliners and business jets can emit beginning in 2018. 

“We anticipate US manufacturers would be at a significant disadvantage if the US failed to adopt standards that are harmonized with the ICAO standards for CO2 emissions,” the agency adds.

Aviation regulator FAA says it welcomes the announcement, adding that US manufacturers can now be sure that they are competing fairly against those in other countries.

On December 28, 2020, Boeing released the following statement:

“We are proud the EPA took this step to finalize the ICAO CO2 standard for aircraft emissions.  This is vital for protecting the environment and supporting the sustainable growth of commercial aviation and the United States economy.  The EPA’s standard will help tackle climate change and ensure that Boeing products will meet the same requirements as our competitors around the world.  The standard is one of the essential pillars of the industry’s strategy to cut net global aviation emissions to half of what they were in 2005 by 2050.  Aviation is one of only two industrial sectors that has adopted global CO2 goals, underscoring our steadfast commitment to our communities and the planet.”

Source: Flightglobal, Boeing,Picture Flightglobal                           LATEST NEWS

  • Air Greenland has formally placed its order for a single Airbus A330-800, nearly a year after disclosing it has selected the twinjet to replace its A330-200.

  • Virgin Australia, which most recently exited administration under new owners, has placed a new order for 25 Boeing 737 Max 10s after cancelling its existing commitments for the type.  The airline had held orders for 48 737 Max, including 23 Max 8s and 25 Max 10s, but had repeatedly pushed back deliveries.
  • Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has delivered the first of 18 Boeing 737 Max 8s to American Airlines as part of Purchase and Leaseback agreement.
  • Royal Jordanian celebrated the 57th anniversary since launching in 1963.

  • JetBlue Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A220-300, built in Mobile, Alabama facility.

  • Qatar Airways is to bring forward the launch of its four weekly flights to Seattle from March 15 to January 29, 2021.  The service will be operated by its Boeing 777.
  • New Calidonian carrier Aircalin has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, the airline has an ordered one additional A320neo.

  • Australia will acquire an additional pair of Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, which will boost its fleet of the type to 14 examples.

  • Icelandair Group is selling a pair of Boeing 737 Max jets under a leaseback scheme, ahead of their delivery this year.
  • European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified the ATR 72-600 freighter.

AIR CARGO

                        Boeing 777LRF Joins the AirBridgeCargo Fleet

Volga-Dnepr Group is phasing in its first Boeing 777-200LRF.  The freighter, which has been recently certified in Russia, will be part of AirBridgeCargo’s (ABC) fleet.

The Boeing 777-200LRF, is to be be deployed on Trans-Siberian route, enabling ABC to offer more optimized delivery options for its customers.  It is the largest twin-engine freighter with up to 106 tons of payload; this complements ABC’s already extensive fleet of Boeing 747Fs and gives more flexibility in terms of special and general cargo transportation.

“We would like to thank our personnel and specialists, partners and customers for this great milestone at the turn of 2021 when airfreight is in high demand, especially for healthcare, commerce and essential cargoes transportations,” Tatyana Arslanova, chief executive officer of Volga-Dnepr Group, commented.

“2020 has put the air cargo at the front, air carriers continued delivering much-needed medical cargoes –PPE, vaccines, medicines, medical equipment and other items to combat COVID-19 spread.

We are positive that the new freighter type within AirBridgeCargo’s fleet will open new opportunities for other carriers operating to/from Domodedovo airport”, mentioned Igor Borisov, Director of Domodedovo airport.

Source: AirBridgeCargo/Aircargoweek/Picture AirBridgeCargo

                    

                       Qatar Receives Three 777-200LRF Deliveries on Same Day

Qatar Airways ended 2020 by taking of three Boeing 777-200LRF freighters, all departing the Boeing  Everett’s delivery center for Doha within about 30 min of one another on December 31,2020.  The aircraft – registered A7-BFV, BFW and BFX.  The milestone also marks the 200th 777-200LRF to be delivered.

With the arrival of the trio of 777-200LRFs, Qatar Airways Cargo now operates 24 of this airplane model along with two 787-8 freighters.  As one of the leading air cargo carriers in the world, Qatar’s dedicated freighter fleet serves more than 60 freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub.  It also delivers freight on the belly-hold deck of passenger aircraft to an extensive network.

“With the arrival of these new freighters, we are injecting more capacity in the market; which is very much required during the pandemic.  The added capacity will also enable us to support the logistics around the COVID-19 vaccination, which is projected to be one of the greatest logistical challenges for the industry.” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Mr Akbar Al Baker.  ”With our investments in innovation and fleet, we are able to fulfill our customers’ logistical requirements and facilitate the continuity of global trade.”

Boeing says customers have ordered a total of 242 777-200LRFs since the program was launched in 2005.

Source: Boeing/Flightglobal/Picture Boeing

                              FedEx Takes First Line Built ATR 72-600 Freighter 

ATR has handed over the first of 30 factory-built ATR 72-600 freighters to launch customer FedEx Express.  The twin-turboprop will make its commercial debut on European routes in 2021. 

FedEx will receive a further six or seven examples in 2021 and the remainder will follow in the period to 2025; at a maximum rate of six aircraft per year, says Scot Stuminger, executive vice-president and chief executive of aviation at the express carrier.

Speaking during an online delivery on December 15, Stuminger said the first aircraft(EI-GUL) will be flown to Season airport for “customisation”, including of an enhanced vision system before it enters service with Irish operator ASL Airlines. 

ATR forecasts a total market for 460 turboprop freighters over the next 20 years, either conversions or new-build example.

Source: ATR, FedEx                     

Researched and Compiled by : 

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian  

by

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 

 

 

by

The Kaplanian Report – February 2019

On the Boeing Front

                                           Boeing Unveils 777X Cabin Design

Boeing has released images of its 777X’s cabin and disclosed design changes that will make the aircraft’s cabin more comfortable than the current-generation 777.

In addition, Boeing is giving 777X customers more flexibility in cabin layout by enabling them to choose from a greater variety of “cabin interior linings”, says the company. Linings include sidewalls, bins and ceilings, and encompass aircraft lighting.                                                              

“We have been able to… create a suite of options for airlines to actually customize aircraft without the typical customization headaches,” says Boeing regional director of cabin experience and revenue analysis Kent Craver. ”Those lining packages allow us to have multiple ceiling treatments, multiple bin options.”

Windows in the 777X will be 16% larger than those of the 777, and they will be slightly higher, giving passengers on the aircraft a better view of the outside.  The top of the passenger cabin windows are about 2.6 in higher than the 777’s windows, Craver says.

The 777’X cabin draws influence from the 787s and the “SKY” cabin found in the newer 737s, Boeing says.                                                                                                                                            

The 777X has enough storage to enable each passenger to stow a bag. Boeing redesigned the sidewalls so that the 777X cabin is 102 mm(4in) wider than the 777’s cabin.

The 777-8 will have an 8,700nm (16,110km) range and a capacity of 350-375 passengers, while the 777-9 will have 7,600 nm (14,075 km) range and the ability to carry 400-425) passengers, Boeing says.

Source : Boeing/Flightglobal)

                      

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

         Airbus Takes Wait and See Response to Boeing’s Proposed NMA

Airbus’s incoming chief executive feels no pressure to scramble in response to Boeing’s concept for a New Mid-market Airplane (NMA).

Rather, Guillaume Faury describes Boeing’s NMA — which remains little more than a proposal—as a potential response by the US manufacturer to a market already controlled by Airbus.

“They are in the situation where they are losing this part of the market because they no longer have the right products,” says Faury of Boeing. “They believe they have to do something about it, and this is on them to make the next move”.

Faury, who spoke in Mobile in January, currently heads the Airbus Commercial aircraft division but is in line to succeed Tom Enders as Airbus CEO in April.

Boeing has taken a very different public approach, with executives saying they see a significant demand for an aircraft with 200 to 270 seats and range of 5,000nm (9,300km).

“This airplane is a big opportunity for us,” Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief executive Kevin McAllister said last year.

Meanwhile, Airbus had made inroads by squeezing more range from its A321neo. The European company has developed a long-range A321LR and speculation abounds that even longer-range derivative, known as the “A321LRX”, might be in the works.

Fauey declines any comment about the XLR, but insists Airbus’s products already meet airlines’ needs.”We don’t have this gaps we don’t feel under pressure to react even before Boeing has moved. We will wait and see and observe,” he says.

Source : Airbus/Flightglobal             

        

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                  AMAC Secures Its First BBJ Max 9 Completion Contract

Swiss firm AMAC Aerospace has secured its first BBJ Max 9 completion contract and plans to take delivery of the re-engined narrow body at its Basel facility in September.

Bernd Schramm, AMAC chief operating officer, says the design team has already started work on a mock-up of the interior, which he describes as “very special and unique”.

The completed aircraft is scheduled for re-delivery to its unnamed customer in 2021.

AMAC is now working on three green completions projects in Basel—two narrow bodies and a Boeing BBJ 747-8I—and is preparing to accept its first BBJ Max 8 in the fourth quarter.

Boeing, meanwhile, holds 19 orders for the BBJ Max family: 12 Max 8s —the first

two units were delivered green in 2018—three Max 9s, and four Max 7s. Three orders remain on backlog for the original BBJ, based on the 737NG airframe. Boeing also holds an order for a BBJ 787-8 wide body. 

Source : Boeing Business Jet /AMAC

                                                                  

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

          JetBlue Sees Delays to A321neos, Pushes Out A220 Deliveries

JetBlue Airways expects delays to the delivery of up to seven Airbus A321neos this year-end and says it has postponed deliveries of its first A220-300s to allow more time for the airline to choose suppliers of the aircraft’s interiors.

The New York-based airline now expects to take six A321neos “minimum” in 2019, down from 13 deliveries previously, says chief financial officer Steve Priest in an earnings call on January 24. ”We’ve been officially notified by Airbus of widely-known delays in neo deliveries,” says Priest.

JetBlue continues to expect that its first A321neo will enter service in mid-year.

The airline has orders for 85 A321neos. In 2020, JetBlue will receive only one A220-300, instead of five it initially planned for. Priest says two of the four postponed deliveries will shift to 2021, the other two to 2025. An updated fleet plan shows the airline will take delivery of six A220-300s in 2021, up from four previously.

Priest says the order book changes have no impact on the airline’s capacity plans for 2019 and 2020, or cost guidance. The carrier expects first quarter capacity to grow 7.5% to 9.5%,and full-year capacity to rise 5-7%. 

Source : JetBlue/World Airlines

                   British Airways will unveil BOAC 747-400 RetroJet

British Airways will unveil a Boeing 747-400 “retrojet” this month adorned in the colors of its predecessor airline BOAC, as part of the airline’s centenary celebrations.

The UK carrier says that one of its 747-400s—registration G-BYGC— will arrive at Heathrow from the printshop on February 18 in the BOAC scheme, and that will remain in place until it retires in 2023.

Tantalisingly ,it says that the 747 will be the “first aircraft to receive this design from British Airways’ past with more details of further designs to be revealed in due course”.

“So many British Airways customers and Colleagues have fond memories of our previous liveries, regularly sharing their photos from across the globes it’s incredibly exciting to be re-introducing this classic BOAC design,” says Alex Cruz, British Airways (BA) chairman and chief executive.

Source : British Airways/Picture British Airways

            Trent 1000s Start Receiving Approved Redesigned Blades

Rolls-Royce has started installing a redesigned intermediate pressure compressor blade design on certain Trent 1000 engines, following approval from European and US regulators.

The new blades, for the Package C version of the Boeing 787 powerplant, have obtained European Aviation Safety Agency and US FAA certification.

Boeing and Rolls-Royce started issuing bulletins to customers in December 2018, Rolls-Royce adds. The Package C engines are fitted to some 170 Boeing 787s.

Rolls-Royce says the first engine to receive the new blades is “currently being serviced” at the company’s overhaul facility in Derby.

The blades have also been flown on an airborne testbed aircraft in Tucson.

“As testing proved the design, Rolls-Royce began making new sets of blades, ready for introduction, in anticipation of regulatory approval,” says the company.

It adds that the new blades are part of a program of activity intended to minimize disruption to 787 operators.

Source : Rolls-Royce

            

LATEST NEWS

  • Air Premia South Korean startup carrier has selected the Boeing 787-9 to form the basis of its fleet, with deliveries to start in 2020.                                                                     
  • Saudia is to introduce Boeing 787-10 this year, the largest variant of the twinjet family.   
  • Aeromexico will receive its first Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft this year, allowing the carrier to add seats at constrained airports with its network.                                                               
  • Cayman Airways has received the first of four Boeing 737-8s. The four Max 8s will replace the airline’s existing 737-300s.
  • American Airlines has taken delivery of its first A321neo, making it the latest US carrier to add the re-engined narrow body to its fleet.                                                                          
  • United Airlines took delivery of their 1,600th brand new Boeing aircraft since deliveries first began with the 707 in 1959.  The 737 MAX is the carrier’s 12th of the new fuel-efficient jet.                                                                                                                                      
  • Qatar Airways converts 10 of its 50 Airbus A321neo on order to the longer- range Airbus A321LR.                                                                                                                                     
  • Royal Air Maroc has signaled that it is preparing for an extensive fleet expansion possibly involving upwards of 50 aircraft.                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

Sources : Royal Air Maroc, Flightglobal, Air Lease, Qatar Airways                                                       

AIR CARGO

                                     Delta Cargo, Virgin Atlantic Cargo to Move                                   Into a New Facility at LHR

Delta Cargo, Virgin Atlantic Cargo are to move into a new purpose-built dnata City East, London Heathrow’s most state-of-art cargo facility.

The move to the new facility is scheduled for the second half of this year and will ultimately increase the size of Delta’s cargo and Virgin operation at Heathrow to 335,000 square feet, and see customers benefit from greater automation and faster truck and cargo handling times.

The Carriers’ facility at the off-airport data City Set building will be located opposite the Heathrow Cargo Terminal and adjacent to the airport’s southern perimeter road, which will provide quick access to the airport’s operational areas.

The Purpose-built facility will deliver the highest levels of service, security and automation.

The New location will also include temperature-controlled services for biopharmaceuticals and life science products, as well as a space for perishables and an enlarged center for live animals.

Source : AirCargoAirports/Delta Cargo                                                                                                   

Lufthansa Salutes The Boeing 747

The 747 turned 50 on February 9th.  Lufthansa salutes the aircraft by releasing a picture of one of their freighters a Boeing 747-230F, taken in 1972.  Nickname:”Beetle Swallower”, as it had space for 72 VW Beetles.

Source:  Lufthansa

 

      Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul News

                                     Parts Providers Step Up 777 Teardowns

The Boeing 777 maintenance market will be worth north of $110 billion over the next 10 years;  with about a quarter of that spend earmarked for components, according to Aviation Week data.

Accordingly, several parts suppliers are stepping up efforts to source 777 material, buying aircraft from carriers that are upgrading their fleets.

The latest example is GA Telesis, which at the end of January announced the consignment of four 777s from Cathay Pacific for disassembly in the U.S. and the UK. The first disassembly has already begun and the aftermarket company has committed to take five 777s in 2020.

A significant chunk of the components salvaged could be bound for Asia, which is forecast to account for more than a quarter of 777 maintenance demand over the next 10 years—the largest any region.

However, the Middle East carriers will operate the largest number of 777s by 2027, when it will be home to roughly 800 of nearly 2,000 77s in service by that year, according to Aviation Week data.

Across all regions, meanwhile, engine maintenance will be the most important part of the 777 aftermarket, generating more than a third of overall demand.

Source : MRO network/Aviation Week data

 

    

 

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

                   

by

Volume 4 Issue 11 November 2017 The Kaplanian Report

ON THE BOEING FRONT

Boeing Shanghai Completes Base Maintenance and Wi-Fi                      Modification for First Chinese Customer- Xiamen Air’s 787

Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services Co., Ltd (Boeing ShangHai) and Xiamen Air celebrated the completion of the first 787-8 base maintenance check, also known as a C-check and Wi-Fi modification at Boeing Shanghai’s hanger at Shanghai Pudong Airport.

A C-check is an extensive check of the airplane’s systems and components that can require several days to perform.

“The successful completion is a testament to Boeing Shanghai’s capability in the 787 maintenance and modification market. We are very grateful for the confidence Xiamen Air has placed in our team.” said Dermot Swan, CEO of Boeing Shanghai. ”Xiamen Air is an important and prestigious 787 carrier and we look forward to a long, mutually rewarding relationship with them.”

Established in 1984 and based in Xiamen, China, Xiamen Air operates scheduled passenger flights to major cities in Chin as well as international routes to Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and North America. Currently Xiamen airlines operates an all-Boeing fleet consisting of 9 787s, four 757s and about 140 Next generation 737s.

Boeing Shanghai is a joint venture between Boeing, Shanghai Airport Authorities and China Eastern Airlines.

Source : Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services

 

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

Airbus Inaugurates Its A330 Completion & Delivery Center In China        

Airbus has inaugurated its A330 Completion & Delivery Center (C&DC) in Tianjin, China, taking additional steps in the expansion of its global footprint and strategic partnership with China. At the same time, the first A330 to be delivered from The C&DC was handed over to Tianjin Airlines.

Located at the same site as the Airbus Tianjin A320 Family Final Assembly Line and the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Center, The A330 C&DC covers the aircraft completion activities including cabin installation, aircraft painting and production flight tests well as customer flight acceptance and aircraft delivery. Some 150 Chinese staff members of the C&DC were trained by Airbus experts in Toulouse. The A330 C&DC in Tianjin will employ more than 250 people and is ready to deliver two aircraft per month by early 2019.

“The inauguration of our A330 C&DC in Tianjin, together with first of many deliveries, marks a new milestone for Airbus’ international footprint and underlines the strong spirit of cooperation with our Chinese partners,” said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus COO and President of Commercial Aircraft.

To date the A330 Family has attracted nearly 1,700 orders and over 1,300 Family aircraft are currently flying with more than 110 operators worldwide.

Source : Airbus

 

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

 India’s SpiceJet Firms Order for Up to 50 Bombardier 90-Seat Q400s

Indian LCC SpiceJet firmed its order for up to 50 Bombardier Q400 turboprops September 29,                 the largest single Q400 order to date, valued at $1.7 billion if all purchase rights are optioned.

Notably, the aircraft is in the Q400’s new 90-seat configuration, and on delivery will make SpiceJet the world’s first operator of a 90-seat turboprop.

SpiceJet signed its initial Letter of Intent (LOI) for 25 Q400s plus purchase rights for an additional 25 aircraft at the Paris Air Show June 20. At the time, the order was for the 86-seat extra-capacity NextGen variation of the Q400, which are being flown by Philippine Airlines (in a dual-class configuration) and Thailand’s Nok Air.

The Airline is looking to expand coverage of India’s domestic and international regional market and hopes the 90-seat Q400 will meet increasing passenger demand.

With SpiceJet’s order, Bombardier said the Q400 firm order total has reached 610 aircraft.

Source : ATW/Picture Bombardier

 

Bombardier Flies Fourth Global 7000

Bombardier’s Global 7000 program has taken another step forward, with the debut flight on September 28 of the fourth flight test vehicle (FTV$) —the first to be equipped with full production interior.

The ultra-long-range business jet serial number 70004, with registration C-GLBR made its maiden sortie from the airframes’s Downview, Toronto manufacturing plant.

Two days later, FTV$ made a 3 hour journey to Bombardier’s flight-test center in Wichita, Kansas, to begin certification testing.

The aircraft, dubbed “the Architect”, will be used to validate the Global 7000’s interior, and to confirm what Bombardier calls “its unparalleled comfort, connectivity and productivity”.

Bombardier launched the Global 7000 first flight-test campaign on November 4,2016 with the maiden flight of its first prototype. The aircraft is powered by GE Aviation Passport engine the fleet so far has flown more than 500h. The lead trio FTV1, FTV2 and FTV3 have been used to evaluate the Global 7000s propulsion, avionics, electrical and mechanical systems.

They will be joined in Kansas shortly by a fifth and final aircraft, FTA5, which will serve as the entry-into-service validation aircraft.

The Global 7000 remains on track for certification in the second half of 2018, says Bombardier. The aircraft is priced at $73 million.

Source : Flightglobal/Bombardier/Bombardier Photo

 

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

 Southwest Places Nine 737 MAX 8s into Service

Southwest Airlines launched the Boeing 737 MAX 8 into revenue service on its network Oct.1, flying from Dallas Love Field to Houston Hobby Airport for its first official flight with CFM international LEAP-1B-powered aircraft.

Southwest chairman and CEO Gary Kelly called the MAX 8 “the future of the Southwest fleet.” The Dallas-based carrier launched nine 737-MAX8s into service Oct.1 and will add five more to its fleet by the end of 2017.The airline plans to have a fleet totaling 707 aircraft by the end of 2017 comprised entirely of 737-700s,737-800s and 737 MAX 8s; all of its 737 Classics have been retired.

The airline’s 737 MAX 8s are configured with 175,32-inch pitch seats in a single-class layout.

Southwest, which Boeing has said played a pivotal role in helping design the aircraft, becomes the first North American airline to operate the aircraft, which entered service with Malaysia’s Malindo Air in May 2017.

Southwest has orders for 200 737 MAX aircraft, a combination of the 7 and 8 models.

Source : ATW

 

Hainan Airlines First Airline in China to Order                                                 Aviation Partners Boeing Split Scimitar Winglets

On September 14 Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) announced that Hainan Airlines has committed to install Split Scimitar Winglets on 36 of its fleet of Boeing Next Generation 737-800 aircraft.

Hainan was the first airline in China to operate with APB’s Blended Winglet technology, and now will be first airline in China to Operate with APB’s latest product, Split Scimitar Winglets.

Split Scimitar Winglets confirm Hainan’s commitment to providing exceptional value to its customers, through the implementation of efficient technology.

Hainan’s aircraft will be modified during routine maintenance visits at Hainan Airlines’ maintenance facility, HNA Technology, in Haikou.

Installation tasks can be performed concurrently with most maintenance activities, allowing for a very efficient shop visit. Once installed, the Split Scimitar Winglets can reduce lock fuel consumption by up to an additional 2.2% in addition to fuel savings and reduction carbon dioxide emissions.

Source : Aviation Partners Boeing/Hainan Airlines Photo

 

      GE Aviation Retired Their Veteran 747-100 Testbed

GE Aviation bids farewell  to their Boeing 747-100 testbed. The oldest jumbo in active service after making her final sortie at the engine company’s flight-test center in Victorville, California.

The aircraft rolled off the assembly line in October 1969 and made the first flight with Pan Am in March the following year. Named Clipper Ocean Spray, the aircraft flew in Pan Am colors for 21 years accumulating 86,000 flight hours before the engine maker acquired it in 1992.

After a series of modifications, removing seats, strengthening the left wing and tailwind installing data systems, the testbed began operations with GE in 1993.

The aircraft notes GE notes, provided flight data on 11 distinct engine models including the GE90,Leap and Passport engines. The aircraft was kept in impeccable shape for a testbed, I

had the privilege to go on board the aircraft, when GE was testing the GE90 engine the exclusive engine for the 777-300ER and 777-200LR .

In 2015, it got a new livery, with the old GE Aircraft Engines paint scheme being replaced with GE Aviation.

The 747-100’s place has been taken by a 747-400, acquired from Japan Airlines in 2010 and converted to GE’s Propulsion Test Platform.

Source : Ed’s Research/Picture GE Aviation

               

LATEST NEWS

  • Qatar Airways announced an order for two 747-8 Freighters and four 777-300ERs valued at $2.16 billion at list prices. The orders were previously unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website.(Picture Boeing)
  • SilkAIr Singapore Airlines’ regional arm has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8. The aircraft arrived in Singapore on October 1, with two more expected by year end.
  • Cathay Pacific is converting six of its Airbus A350-1000s to the smaller -900 and deferring delivery of five other-100s by year end.
  • Japan Airlines announced an order for four 787-8 Dreamliners. The order, which was previously listed on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website.

 

  • United Air Lines conducted its last Boeing 747 flight on the 7th of this month from San Francisco to Honolulu.

 

  • CFM International continues to lead rival Pratt &Whitney in the race to power Airbus A320neo-family aircraft by 524 to 439 aircraft.

 

  • American Airlines took delivery of its first 737 MAX 8 late last month the first of four that American plans to take delivery of this year.

 

  • Gulfstream Aerospace Gulfstream Aerospace’s fleet of G280 super-midsize business jets has accumulated more than 100.000 flight hr in less than five years. The first model entered service in November 2012.

 

  • UPS took delivery of its first of 14 Boeing 747-8 freighters jets the shipper ordered a year ago, two more -8’s will arrive this fall in time for the peak holiday season starting at Thanksgiving.

  • Boeing has rolled out the first production version of the 787-10 a few months ahead of a planned certification milestone for the new aircraft and delivery to launch customer Singapore Airlines next year.(Picture Boeing)

  • Airbus the first A330neo took off from Toulouse for its first flight on October 19 for a 4 hour maiden flight.(Picture Airbus)

 

AIR CARGO

       SF Airlines’ Opens First Cargo Flight to Hanoi

SF Airlines’ made its first flight from Chengdu to Hanoi in late August, marking the first direct cargo flight from China to Hanoi, Vietnam. Operated by 767-300BCF freighter twice a week, the regular flight facilitates the transportation and communication between Chengdu and Vietnam.

SF Airlines affiliates SF Express. In recent years, the cargo carrier has been operating charter flights to Osaka, Inchon, Katmandu, Dhaka and Phnom Penh, completing its air logistics channels from China to other Asian countries.

The 767-300BCF, exclusive to SF airlines, suits the electronic product transport of its charter customer perfectly, which makes this cooperation quite profitable, meaning the opening of the new route enhances the air logistics between Chengdu and Hanoi and benefits the cargo distribution and trade communication between the two areas.

SF Airlines started in 2009 and right now its all-cargo aircraft fleets have outnumbered other domestic cargo airlines with 40 full-cargo airplanes and 37 national destinations.

Source : China Aviation Daily/Picture SF Airlines B767

 

 

 Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul News

Boeing To Broaden Vertical Integration, Canaccord Predicts

Boeing in-sourcing strategy likely will see the OEM continue to broaden its vertical-integration efforts into areas with substantial aftermarket upside, further pressuring large suppliers, analysts and Canaccord  Genuity believe.

“Considering the expectations for future cost reductions on the 787, and the growing focus on the commercial aftermarket, we believe Boeing will look to expand its vertical integration into other areas, and this is a major risk for the supply chain,” Canaccord analyst Ken Herbert wrote in a recent research note based in part on a Boeing investor event.

Herbert believes UTC products, such as wheels and brakes could be particularly vulnerable as Boeing sees as a lack of benefits from the proposed UTC Rockwell Collins union. He added Boeing’s ramping up of its avionics development is likely a preemptive strike along these lines, as avionics specialist Collins has been a sought-after target for some time.

Herbert noted that following UTC’s last major supplier acquisition-Goodrich, in 2012 Boeing pulled in nacelle production and changed 777 landing gear suppliers, costing Goodrich work.

The New gear supplier,  Horous-Devtek, will not see aftermarket revenues from 777 and 777X gear it supplies. Herbert also expects Boeing to make a “major” push into used serviceable materials, expanding an already formidable new-parts business.

“We believe Boeing proprietary parts are the highest margin piece of the BCS segment,” Herbert wrote. (as a long career parts Vice President with various car and heavy duty truck companies I concur with Mr. Herbert prognosis in this area) Ed .

Source : Canaccord Genuity

 

 MRO Short News

  • Lufthansa Technik was selected by NEOS to provide Boeing 787 component support.
  • Turkish Tecknic  was selected by Shaheen Air to perform S-checks on four A330s.
  • Airbus took delivery of the 50th shipset of major A320 family component assemblies, including fuselage sections, vertical/horizontal tailplane, and wings, at its US Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama.
  • HAECO was selected by Finnair for Airbus A350 heavy maintenance.
  • American Airlines was approved by Brazil for new $100 million aircraft maintenance center in Sao Paulo.
  • Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg has a flyby contract to provide E-Jet landing gear overhaul.
  • Stelia Aerospace delivered 3.1 ton cargo door for the first Airbus Beluga XL.
  • FEAM Aero has an Emirates Airlines contract to provide Boeing 777 line maintenance at Chicago.

 

Puzzler of the Month

Which airline uses or had used the slogan on its nose?      

                                The Magic Red Carpet

 

 

Answer to Last Month’s Puzzler:  UPS First 747-8 Freighter

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

by

Volume 4 Issue 1 January 2017 Kaplanian Report

ON THE BOEING FRONT

The Boeing 787-10 ZC001 in Final Body Join 

Boeing in early December began to assemble the first 787-10, the second stretch variant of the family, at its facility in Charleston, South Carolina.  The 787-10 has the potential to take a significant slice of the replacement market for the Airbus A330-300s and the 777-200s.  With 323 seats, and at the same time, give the twin jet program a strong push toward profitability.

So far, the 787-10 is coming together smoothly and ahead of schedule. Spurred on predominantly by Singapore Airlines in early 2013, Boeing has won orders and commitments for 154 aircraft from nine airlines and leasing companies.

The 787-10 is 18 feet longer than the 787-9; 10ft of that is made up of the midbody, which is extended to 114ft overall. As they are for all 787s, the midbody and aft-fuselage sections for the 787-10 are assembled in South Carolina.

Design work for the 787-10 stayed in Seattle, where the challenge was maximizing commonality with the 787-9. Designers targeted a goal of 90% commonality between the 787-9 and the -10, a big leap over the 50% achieved between the 787-8 and the 787-9.

The first aircraft is expected to make its maiden flight early this year. Following initial checkout, it will be ferried to Seattle along with the other test 787-10s for completion of the certification campaign. The first and third 787-10s will be powered by Rolls-Royce’s new Trent 1000 TEN engine, while the second will be powered by the competing GEnx1B. Flight tests of the TEN began on a 787 early in December, the initial 787-10 is scheduled to enter service with Singapore Airlines in mid-2018.

Source : Aviation week/Boeing/Boeing Picture

                     

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

Airbus to Slow A380 Production in 2017 in Accord with Emirates

Airbus will put off a dozen deliveries of the A380 plane in the next two years following agreement with Emirates, its largest customer for the model, as demands continues to fade for the A380.

Handovers of six A380s a piece that were originally planned for 2017 and 2018 will be shifted to a year later following an agreement with Emirates and engine supplier Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc. The Toulouse, France-based plane maker said on Tuesday, December 27th, in an e-mailed statement.

Airbus still plans to deliver 12 A380s per year as of 2018, and will seek to accelerate cost savings to minimize the effects on the break- even target for 2017.

Airbus has already been reducing production of the A380, which costs $433 million at list prices, as demand for large airliners has dried up.  In the meantime, Emirates and Rolls-Royce reached a settlement earlier in December over the airline’s A380 engine performance and maintenance concerns.

Dubai-based Emirates is by far the biggest buyer and operator of the A380, with orders for more than 140 of the plane. The carrier recently switched to Rolls-Royce engines for its latest batch of A380s, after relying on General Electric Co,’s Engine Alliance venture for the four power-plants that propel the airliner.

Source : Bloomberg/Airbus

                   

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

  Bombardier Global 7000 Takes to the Skies 

Bombardier Business Aircraft has successfully flown its new flagship business jet, the Global 7000.  Flight test vehicle 1(FTV1), C-GLBO (c/n70001), took off from the manufacturer’s Toronto Downsview facility on November 4, 2016.

It flew for 2 hrs 27 mins. During the maiden flight, the crew tested the basic system functionality of the jet and assessed its handling and flying qualities.

The pilots conducted a gradual climb to 20,000 ft and the aircraft reached a planned test speed of 240 kts.

All flight controls were exercised during the sortie and Bombardier reports that all systems and aircraft performed as expected. The flight signifies the start of the jet’s flight test program, ahead of scheduled entry into service in the second half of 2018.

Bombardier says the jet will offer a 7,400 nm(13,705km) range at Mach .85 carrying eight passengers.

Source : Bombardier/Photo Bombardier

Boeing Business Jets, GKN Aerospace Introduce Skyview Panoramic Window

Boeing Business Jets announced in early December that it will work with GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business to develop, produce, and offer support for the Skyview Panoramic Window. It is the largest window available on any passenger jet offered today.

The window will be available as a feature on BBJ, BBJ2, and all three members of the BBJ MAX family, including the new BBJ MAX 7 with scheduled entry-into service in 2018.

The Skyview Panoramic Window, measuring approximately 4.5 feet by 1.5 foot(1.4×0.5 m), is created by effectively joining three existing 737 windows together.  Situated aft of the wing with multiple potential locations based on the airplane type, it offers customers an unparalleled perspective of the world.

Source : Boeing Business Jets

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Argentina’s Aerolineas to Buy 11 New Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft

State-run airline Aerolineas Argentinas said on December 19, 2016, that it will buy 11 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and nine 737-800 NG planes in a deal based on revising a sales contract signed by the previous government.

President Mauricio Macri took office a year ago to reduce government spending. The previous administration had signed a contract with Boeing for 20 737-800 NGs, but no payments or deliveries were made under the deal.

“Aerolineas will be the first operator in Latin America to have a 737 MAX, which is a new plane globally,” the airline’s finance chief Pablo Miedziak told Reuters after signing the new contract with Boeing’s vice president for sales in Latin America Van Rex Gallard.

Miedziak said the airline is increasing its capacity by replacing planes with a capacity of  128 seats for new ones that can seat 170 passengers.

Source : Reuters

 

COMAC C919 Starts Ground Taxi Tests

The COMAC C919 narrow body passenger jet moved under its own power for the first time on December 28, 2016, initiating the last series of tests before the C919’s maiden flight.

The low-speed taxi trials are being carried out from the company’s facility in Shanghai  Pudong International Airport. The China-made C919 is scheduled to make its first flight in the first half of 2017.

CFM International, the largest jet engine manufacturer worldwide is the exclusive engine supplier for the C919, the first C919 engines (CFM Leap 1C) last July but run for the initial time until November 9, 2016.

Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines will become the first customer to take delivery of the C919.  So far COMAC has received 570 orders for the C919 from 23 customers, including Air China and China Southern Airlines.

Source : China Aviation Daily

 

LATEST NEWS

  • Yangtze River Airlines HNA subsidiary looks toward international expansion in this year. The Shanghai-based carrier plans to take delivery of two Boeing 787 aircraft for that specific use.
  • Air Tanzania has been revealed as the previously unidentified customer for a single 787-8 valued at $224.6 million at list prices.
  • Philippine Airlines has confirmed an order for five Bombardier Q400 turboprops, with purchase rights for an additional seven aircraft.
  • Qatar Airways is in talks with Airbus to convert its order for up to 80 A320neos to the larger A321neos.
  • Delta Airlines has cancelled its order for 18 787-8 aircraft, a commitment that it assumed from Northwest Airlines when the two merged in 2008.
  • Azur Air Russian charter carrier has taken delivery of its first 189-seat 737-800, which will be operated on routes to Spain and the United Arab Emirates this month.
  • Trujet South Indian regional carrier has taken delivery of its first ATR 72-600 turboprop, which is leased from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. 
  • ANA has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, ANA has six more A320neos on order, and 26 A321neos.
  • Gulfstream has kicked-off the certification campaign for its new G600 business jet, following first flight of the large-cabin, long-range twin on December 17, 2016.
  • Island Air the Honolulu-based airline will acquire three new Bombardier Q400 turboprops. The aircraft will have 78 seats and enter service early this year. 

 

AIR CARGO

Boeing Selects Evergreen Aviation Technologies for 767-300                                             Passenger-to Freighter Conversion

Boeing announced on December 13, 2016, that Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp (EGAT) will perform passenger-to-freighter conversions for the 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter(BCF) program.  Boeing received 27 firm orders from customers worldwide for the 767-300 BCF. 

The 767-300 BCF conversion entails the modification of a passenger airplane to the cargo configuration. Converted 767-300BCFs have about the same cargo capability as the 767-300 production freighter with approximately 52 metric tons, with structural payload at a range approximately 3,000 nautical miles (5,930 km) and 412,000 lbs (187,270 kg) maximum takeoff weight.  There are 24 pallet positions on the main deck.

Evergreen Aviation Technologies has successfully carried our complex airframe conversions that built up the fleet of Boeing Dreamlifters- converted 747 airplanes used to support the 787 program-since 2005, as well as a 747-400 Propulsion Test Platform for GE Aviation in 2014.

Source : Boeing/Boeing Photo

     

  Maintenance & Repair Organization News

ATSG Subsidiary Swoops on MRO and Conversion Firm Pemco

Aircraft conversion firm Pemco has been bought by Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, a subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group (ATSG).

ATSG, which runs an air cargo operation for Amazon through its ABX subsidiary, said the acquisition will allow for a number of strategic benefits by combining operational strengths, expanded capabilities and cost savings related to shared services between the companies.

Services will be offered from multiple locations, including Wilmington and Tampa for heavy maintenance and modifications, and Tampa, Central America and Asia for passenger-to-freighter conversions.

Additional service offerings of aircraft-on-ground field teams, line and turnaround maintenance, component repair and overhaul, engineering repair and design, plus extensive manufacturing and kitting capabilities will be extended from various locations.

ATSG President and chief executive Joe Here said : “Based on PEMCO’s existing domestic and international scale, this acquisition will expand access to maintenance service for customers of ATSG’s expanding fleet of Boeing 767 cargo aircraft.

Source : MRO News

 

Lufthansa Technik Extends Warehouse Capacities in the USA

Lufthansa Technik AG has now opened a new warehouse in the USA, close to the Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida. This represents a significant expansion of the site, ensuring stable supply for customers in this growing region into the future.

The Fort Lauderdale site serves a connecting point for North, Central and South America.  It was therefore chosen as the primary storage facility for the American market and central gateway for the extensive customer supply network in the region.

The state-of-the-art facility, in operation around the clock all year, and the seamlessly integrated transport network allow the company to even better fulfill the high quality expectations of its customers. Customers benefit from the personal contact and from the fact that their contact person is in the same time zone.

The New warehouse has the capacity for around 9,000 components. It also houses more than 10,000 items of consumables and expendables. Various models of aircraft can be supported from the facility.

The warehouse is operated by Lufthansa Technik Component Services(LTCS), making use of the logistic processes and  IT systems of Lufthansa Technik Logistik Services.

Source : Lufthansa Technik

                         

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@msn.com

by

Volume 3 Issue 8 August 2016


ON THE BOEING

        Boeing Details Range-Boosting 737-7 Redesign

     Boeing decided to stretch the 737-7 by two seat rows and added major elements of the 737-8.  It is the first major tweak to the 737 Max line-up in more than five years after launching the program.

     In a sign of the shifting dynamics in the single-aisle market, the 737-7 has attracted just 60 aircraft orders from three customers. It gives the formerly 126 seat variant less than 2% of the overall backlog for the three member 737 Max family.  The original of the aircraft, the 737-300 Classic, outsold two larger sister variants by a wide margin.

     In an overall market segment from 120-240 seats with more thanks 8,000 aircraft on backlog; a total order book of 465 aircraft on firm order does not appear encouraging. The 465 aircraft on firm order includes the A319neo.  In the end, Boeing decided to stretch the 737-7 by two seat rows and added major elements of the 737-8.

      Boeing does not expect the addition of up to 12 more seats in a typical two class seating configuration to significantly drive new demand into the low end of the single-aisle sector. The move appears to be driven to satisfy new requirements imposed by the two 737-7’s two largest customers, namely Southwest and WestJet.

     “We have now assessed the market.  The customers have said that the bigger airplane is something we would like with that range,” says Keith Leverkuhn, vice-president and general manager for the 737.

     The 737-7 and 737-8 share the same wingspan, but the latter has a thicker wing that can carry more fuel.  The modified 737-7 wing will have more fuel capacity to compensate for the greater weight of the lengthened fuselage and add 500 nm more range”, says Leverhuhn. The fuselage itself is lengthened by 1.17 m (46 in) forward of the wing and 76 cm aft of the wing, he says.  The maximum take-off weight rises from 70,300kg (155,000 lb) requiring the use of the strengthened landing gear of the 737-8.

Source : Flightglobal/ Line Drawing Boeing

                      

ON THE AIRBUS FRONT

                 Airbus : Delivery of P&W A320 Engine Imminent

     Airbus stated that the delivery of the revamped Pratt and Whitney PW 1100G is imminent by the time this report is out for distribution Lufthansa is supposed to have received the first A320neo with the revamped engine.

     Deliveries have been held up by efforts to correct engine start-up times, as well as other minor technical issues, leaving Airbus with some 25 undelivered A320neos at its production sites.  Airbus Group chief Tom Enders, speaking as the airframe disclosed its first-half results, said the first upgraded ”golden engine” would be delivered to the German flag-carrier Lufthansa.

     P&W parent United Technologies’ chief Greg Hayes, speaking during a briefing on July 26th, said the technical problems were “in the rear-view mirror”  and that the manufacturer was “exactly” aligned with the production plan submitted to Airbus earlier this year.

       He says the geared turbofan power plant, which also powers the Bombardier CSeries, Mitsubishi Aircraft MRJ and other types, has accumulated 5,000 hrs in service with four operators, with a 99.8% dispatch reliability.

    Hayes says the engine is “meeting commitments” on fuel-burn, noise and emission levels. The manufacturer expects to build 140 geared-turbofans engines in the second half of 2016, having produced 60 in the first half of 2016, with 36 delivered to various aircraft platforms to meet a target of 200 for the year.

Airbus has also just started delivering A320neos with the rival CFM International Leap-1A power plant,with the first going to Turkish carrier Pegasus Airlines.

Source : Flightglobal/Airbus/Pratt and Whitney

             

        

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

     E-190-E2 Is Ahead of Schedule But Not Rushing Delivery

     Embraer has no plans to rush the timeline for delivering the first E190-E2 regional jet, even though the flight test program remains ahead of schedule.  The first flying prototype made a debut appearance at the Farnborough air show only after six weeks after achieving first flight.

     The second E190-E2 entered the flight test campaign on July 8th, and the overall program so far has consumed less of the buffer the company built into the schedule,says Luis Carlos Affonso, senior vice-president of operations and chief operating officer for Embraer’s Commercial Aviation unit.

     Embraer will not accelerate the delivery schedule of the first E190-E2, even if the program stays ahead of schedule, Affonso says.  The company will focus on increasing the maturity of the new technologies packed into the E190-E2, including the Embraer developed fly-by-wire control system and Pratt & Whitney PW1900G geared turbofan engines.

    Though summarized often as re-engining project,the E2 version of the E-Jet is a bold project.  In addition to the engines, Embraer is installing a new, high-aspect ratio wing, re-inventing the flight control system and tweaking the cross section.

“ It’s not a re-engining. It’s a new plane,” Affonso says.

Source : Flightglobal/Embaer/Embaer Picture

                                                                       

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

             Cayman Airways a New Customer for the 737 Max

    The Caribbean carrier, a longtime Boeing customer, will replace four 737-300s that are approaching 25 year of age.  The new aircraft, which will come from lessor Air Lease Corp (ALC), will begin arriving in December 2018 through 2020.

       After retiring the -300s, “the logical progression would have been to go to 737 NGs,” Cayman Airways’ president and CEO Fabian Whorms said, but the lease structure put together by ALC swayed them to go with the newer design. The leases will be run for a minimum of nine years.

      Going from a -300 to a MAX8 will save the airline  20% in fuel costs alone. ”In fact, it will be more than that,” Whorms said.  The MAX’s will also be able to carry 40 more passengers than the existing aircraft and their faster cruising speed will save 15-20 minutes on the four hour flight to New York.

Source : ATW/Picture Boeing

                       Gulf Air Chooses Trent 1000 to Power its 787-9s

Bahrain-based Gulf Air selected the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine to power its Boeing 787-9s in a deal valued at $900 million.

Gulf Air announced in January that it is ordering 16 787-9s. The contract with  Rolls covers Trent 1000 engines to power 10 787-9s, plus options for additional Trent 1000s to power six more 787-9s. The agreement also includes long-term service support by Rolls-Royce.

( An interesting sidebar, Gulf Air’s long range fleet  was comprised of 22-24 767-300s which the airline used from 1988-2007.  Boeing’s 787-9 meant to be a replacement to the 767-300 with a wider fuselage 168 diameter for the 767-300

with seven across seating vs the 787-9 with a wider diameter fuselage of 226 inches with 8-9 across seating) Ed K

Source : ATW/Gulf Air Picture

   American Defers A350 Deliveries by More Than Two Years

     American Airlines has deferred the deliveries of all the 22 Airbus A350-900s on order. It is working to reduce its capital expenditures and manage capacity through 2018.  The Fort Worth-based carrier will take its first A350 in late 2018 instead of the spring of 2017, American said in a quarterly financial report.  Deliveries will continue through 2022, two years later than originally scheduled with an average deferral of 26 months.

     American will take two A350s in 2018, five in both 2019 and 2020, the remaining ten in 2021 and 2022, the filing shows.  It previously planned to take four in 2017, ten in 2018, six in 2019 and two in 2020.

     The deferral will reduce capital expenditures in 2017 and 2018 and provide capacity flexibility, the airline says.     Aircraft capital commitments are $4.06 billion in 2017 and $2.2 billion in 2018, the filing shows.  This is down from $4.58 billion and $2.89 billion, respectively, that American reported in April.

Source : Bloomberg/American           

      

LATEST NEWS

  • Herous-Devtek Canadian supplier has completed its first set of 777-300 ER main landing gear for delivery to Boeing, ahead of its contract to make the 777X main landing gear.
  • Azerbaijan Airlines is considering buying 10 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, the carrier has announced.
  • Tara Air the Nepalese regional carrier has signed a purchase agreement with Viking for three Twin Otter Series 400S.
  • Kalstar Aviation, an Indonesian regional operator, signed a firm order for five E190-E2s. The value of the order has an estimated value of 582 million dollars.
  • Arkia Airlines signed a letter of intent (LOI) for up to ten E195-E2 jets, consisting of six firm orders and four purchase rights.
  • Porter Airlines, a Canadian regional airline, has signed a firm purchase agreement for three Bombardier Q 400s, valued at $93 million at list prices.
  • Xiamen Airlines officially launched its first ever trans-Pacific flights to North America on July 25, using 787-8 aircraft.
  • Thai Airways International first A350-900 has entered flight testing.  Thai Airways, which confirms the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered jet has carried out its first flight.  Thai has four of the type on order.

  • Fly Leasing has bought five Boeing aircraft.  Three 787-8s were purchased in a sale and lease back transaction with a leading flag carrier.
  • Avolon, the Irish lessor, delivered one Boeing 787-9 to China’s Hainan Airlines. This is the Fourth Avalon aircraft on lease to Hainan Airlines.
  • Qatar Airways doubled its deal for Boeing 777-9Xs on Wednesday July 13th, firming a previous commitment for 50 aircraft and adding new purchases for an additional 50 of the wide bodies.  

  • Allegiant Air  Las Vegas based airline has ordered 12 Airbus A320s from the airframe, in its first purchase of new aircraft.

 

AIR CARGO

           Cathay Pacific Expands Cargo Presence to Portland, Oregon  

     Cathay Pacific Airways announced an expansion of its freighter service in the Americas with the addition of a twice-weekly scheduled service to Portland International Airport (PDX). It will launch on November 3, 2016, subject to government approval.  Portland will be Cathay Pacific’s 18th cargo station in the Americas.

   The new Portland service will operate on a Hong Kong-Anchorage-Los Angeles-Portland-Anchorage-Hong Kong routing every Thursday and Saturday. They will use Cathay Pacific’s newest and biggest freighter, the Boeing 747-8F.

     The Boeing 747-8F aircraft offers more cargo space to carry the anticipated high volumes of semi-finished foot ware and apparel, electronics and perishables from Portland and its catchment area into Asia. Portland is also one of the fastest-growing hubs for e-commerce related shipments in the Pacific Northwest region.

     Cathay Pacific was the first Asia Pacific airline to take delivery of the Boeing 747-8F in 2011 and currently has 13 of this type in its cargo fleet. The Boeing 747-8F employs innovative technologies to bring about significant improvements to the airline’s ultra-long-haul freighter services, particularly on North America routes,while reducing the environmental impact of its operations.

   “We could not be more pleased with the commitment byCathay Pacific to launch Portland-Hong Kong service this fall,” said Keith Leavitt, Port Chief Commercial Officer.

Source : China Aviation Daily/Picture Cathay Pacific

       

MILITARY NEWS

                         KC-46 Completes Required Flight Tests

     The KC-46 Pegasus program completed all flight tests required for the Milestone C production decision on July 15, offloading 1,500 pounds of fuel to an A-10 Thunderbolt II.

   The successful A-10 mission was the last of six in-flight refueling demonstrations required before the tanker program can request approval from Frank Kendall, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, to award production Lots 1 and 2, totaling 19 KC-46A aircraft.

      “It is great to see the KC-46 boom back in action and the program moving forward to a production decision”, said Col. John Newberry, the KC-46 system program manager.

   The other five required air refueling demonstrations were the C-17  Globemaster III and F-16 Fighting Falcon using the air refueling boom.  The Navy’s F-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II were also using the centerline and wing drogue systems, and the KC-46 a receiver aircraft.

      This test would not have been possible without contributions from the 412th Test Wing, 23rd Fighter Wing, 355th FW, 124th FW, the 896th Test Support Squadron and  40th Flight Test squadron which all provided aircraft manpower and equipment.  The milestone C decision to begin low-rate initial production is expected this month.

Source : Aero News Network/ Images provided with USAF news release

                         

Researched and Compiled by : Ed Kaplanian

Commercial Aviation Advisor

Contact – ed@kaplanianreport.com