AerCap, the Dutch aircraft lessor, signed a firm order with Airbus yesterday for an additional 10 A330-200s valued at $1.6 billion, bringing to 30 the number of the type it has on order. "Since AerCap ordered 20 new [A330-200s] in December last year, we have already lined up customers for 13 out of the 20 aircraft," CEO Klaus Heinemann said. "The order for an additional 10 aircraft will help us to further expand our portfolio in the attractive market for modern, smaller widebody aircraft."

CFM President Eric Bachelet reiterated his confidence that Pratt & Whitney's initiative to develop replacement parts for CFM56-3 engines will not affect its business. "We don't fear competition, we're used to it," he told ATWOnline. "We've [been] competing for 30 years and we're continuously adding value. We have invested $1.5 billion in upgrading the technology and customers know this." He also maintained that CFM is not interested in launching a similar initiative to produce replacement parts for its competitor's engines. "We are very clear: We will not do that," he said.

Embraer delivered the first of eight E-190s to Mandarin Airlines, its first to a Taiwanese carrier. The aircraft are being leased from GE Commercial Aviation Services and will replace F50s and F100s.

CFM International said its CFM56-7B and -5B Tech Insertion program is on track, noting that the first aircraft powered by the -7B engines with the feature, a 737-900ER, was delivered to Jakarta-based Lion Air at the end of last month. Entry into service of the CFM56-5B variant for A320 family aircraft is planned for the 2007 fourth quarter. "We expect the [Airbus] aircraft certification during the third quarter," confirmed Executive VP Francois Planaud at a briefing in Helsinki last week that focused on the OEM's commitment to produce environmentally friendly engines.

Boeing said three large 787 composite fuselage sections, one forward and two aft, arrived Friday at its Everett plant, where final assembly of the Dreamliner will take place. The all-composite forward section, 21 ft. in diameter and 42 ft. long, was manufactured by Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita. Its landing gear is installed. The two aft composite sections were manufactured and joined by Vought Aircraft Industries in Charleston, S.C. One section is 23 ft. long and 19 ft. in diameter while the other is 15 ft. long and 14 ft. in diameter. The sections were delivered via the Dreamlifter.