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