Air Seychelles took delivery of its fifth 767, a GE-powered, 220-seat -300ER on lease from ILFC. Executive Chairman David Savy said the aircraft "will primarily be a backup aircraft to our fleet, and also will assist during heavy maintenance checks of other aircraft so as to avoid costly leases. In the eventuality of opening up new routes, it will be able to assist and also add capacity when needed in peak times."

AWAS delivered a 737-400 to Air Dominicana, a Santo Domingo-based startup scheduled to launch flights in September.

Bombardier said Friday that Transport Canada, US FAA and EASA granted final approval to adjust the line maintenance intervals for CRJ700/705/900 NextGen and Q400 aircraft from 400 flight hr. to 600 flight hr. "Previous schedules required CRJ700/705/900 and Q400 aircraft to undergo line maintenance checks every 2.2 months on average," the company said. "Under the new revisions, the intervals are extended to 3.3 months." It said that as a result, operators will experience reduced direct maintenance costs over the life of the aircraft.

Two flight data recorders were recovered but reportedly were badly damaged at the site of the Caspian Airlines Tu-154M crash Wednesday morning that killed all 168 onboard (ATWOnline, July 16). A third recorder has not been located. A spokesperson from Armenia's General Dept. of Civil Aviation told RIA Novosti that the aircraft underwent a full maintenance check last month and was cleared to fly until year end.

US National Transportation Safety Board said "no significant corrosion or obvious pre-existing mechanical damage" was found on the Southwest Airlines 737-300 that developed a hole in its fuselage Monday while flying from Nashville to Baltimore (ATWOnline, July 15). SWA is repairing the aircraft in Charleston, W.Va., where it landed following a "rapid decompression." NTSB said the hole measured approximately 17 in. by 8 in. and that its investigation will continue.