Air Transport Aircraft & Propulsion
Sep 01, 2007
COMPANY CULTURE IS EVERYTHING, and at Southwest Airlines, especially in flight ops, that culture is consummately conservative. The carrier "has always prided itself on the way our guys [hand-fly] the airplane," says Senior Director-Flight Operations Jeff Martin.
Aug 31, 2007
Norwegian ordered 42 new 189-seat 737-800s with blended winglets worth $3.1 billion at list prices, it announced yesterday, adding that it secured purchase rights for an additional 42 of the type. The new airplanes will supplement the 11 -800s Norwegian ordered in May and will be delivered in the 2009-14 period at a rate of about 10 per year. The airline said it secured US Export-Import Bank financing of 85% of the purchase price and has entered into hedging agreements to cover "a large part" of the dollar/kronor exposure related to the acquisition.
Aug 30, 2007
Airbus has filed for 380 patents for design features on the A380. The manufacturer said that since the program was launched in December 2000, new technologies have been tested rigorously and "significant breakthrough innovations have been achieved in aerodynamics, cabin design, engine integration, flight controls, aircraft systems, manufacturing techniques and the extensive use of advanced lightweight composite materials." Among innovations for which Airbus has filed applications is the Zero Splice Inlet integrated into the engine nacelles. The ZSI consists of a single 360-deg.
Aug 30, 2007
TAM placed an order for four additional 777-300ERs, taking its commitment to the type to eight. Its first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in June 2008. Boeing said the order pushed all-time sales of the 777 past 1,000.
Aug 30, 2007
US FAA ordered Bombardier to correct potential flap failures on some 684 CRJ100s/200s operated in the US by Air Wisconsin, Atlantic Southeast Airlines and SkyWest Airlines. "The Bombardier CL-600-2B19 airplanes have had a history of flap failures at various positions for several years," the agency said. "Flap failure may result in a significant increase in required landing distances and higher fuel consumption than planned during a diversion." Thus far, no fatal accidents have been attributed to flap failures.
May 22, 2014
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called on FAA to “reevaluate” the risk of an “internal short circuit” in lithium ion batteries currently operating on in-service Boeing 787s.
May 22, 2014
Honeywell is moving ahead with development of its Electric Green Taxiing System (EGTS) for narrowbody aircraft and is talking to COMAC about potentially making the system an option on the C919.
May 21, 2014
Bangkok-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Nok Air has finalized an order for eight Boeing 737-800s and seven 737 MAX 8s.
May 21, 2014
SriLankan Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary Mihin Lanka will take two Boeing 737-800s from Air Lease Corp. to test a potential switch from Airbus to Boeing.
May 21, 2014
Emirates Airline would consider ordering more A380s if Airbus revamps its existing A380-800 with improved fuel efficiency and newer engines, much like the A320neo.
May 21, 2014
Singapore Airlines regional affiliate SilkAir has retired two Airbus 320 aircraft, marking the next phase of its transition from an all-Airbus to an all-Boeing 737 fleet.
May 20, 2014
Pratt & Whitney has delivered the first PW1100G engines designated to power the Airbus A320neo to Airbus, which is expected to begin flight testing the re-engined narrowbody later this year.
May 20, 2014
Airbus has predicted German airlines will operate a collective fleet of 1,821 aircraft by 2032, according to its latest Global Market Forecast (GMF).