Current Articles | Categories | Search | Syndication

Friday, May 30, 2008 Bell's 429 EMS Helicopter Makes Impressive Debut at Air Med 2008 By FlyingNews @ 10:11 AM :: 187 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters Last week Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, showcased its latest emergency medical helicopter, the 429, to a receptive audience at the international Air Med conference held last week in Prague, Czech Republic. Sandy Kinkade, Market Segment director for Bell Helicopter and a former flight nurse stated, "It was very gratifying to see first hand how well received this helicopter is by the very community that had a hand in its design. We spent literally hundreds of hours talking with our EMS customers asking what features they would like to see in a helicopter and, based on the response we got from this audience, I think we were able to deliver on most of those features." Read More..

Thursday, May 29, 2008 Pilatus Business Aircraft, Ltd. delivers first PC-12 NG to Customer By FlyingNews @ 11:28 AM :: 282 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Pilatus is proud to announce the start of PC-12 NG customer deliveries. At the delivery ceremony in Broomfield, Colorado, this important milestone was celebrated by Pilatus employees and the exclusive PC-12 Sales and Service Center for the northwestern United States, Western Aircraft of Boise, Idaho. During the 2006 National Business Aircraft Association convention, Pilatus announced that they would launch a completely revised version of the legendary PC-12 aircraft. The PC-12 NG features a number of significant improvements over its predecessor, including a fully integrated Honeywell Primus Apex avionics system, a completely revised cockpit designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, and a more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine. Read More..

Thursday, May 29, 2008 Cessna’s Orders at EBACE Total $750 Million for 88 Aircraft By FlyingNews @ 11:16 AM :: 161 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, wrapped up the eighth annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) last week in Geneva, Switzerland, with 88 new aircraft orders totaling nearly $750 million. During the three-day event, Cessna took orders for 70 Citation business jets, 14 Caravans and four single-engine pistons. These orders include two announced on EBACE’s opening-day – 24 business jet orders from Austrian charter giant JETALLIANCE and 20 Citation Mustangs from Russian air taxi operator Dexter. The orders also include those from Air Alliance GmbH, one of Europe’s most active Cessna Caravan Authorized Sales Representatives. Air Alliance ordered six 208B Grand Caravans, a 172 Skyhawk and 182 Skylane. Read More..

Thursday, May 29, 2008 Boeing, Cathay Pacific Airways Celebrate First 747-400ERF Delivery By FlyingNews @ 11:15 AM :: 146 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Cathay Pacific Airways celebrated the delivery of the airline's first 747-400ERF (Extended Range Freighter) last Friday. The airplane, the first of six Boeing 747-400ERFs to be delivered to Cathay Pacific, was unveiled last week at a pre-flight ceremony at the Boeing Delivery Center in Everett, Wash. Among those present were Cathay Pacific's Ron Mathison, director and general manager for Cargo; senior managers from Cathay's North America and Hong Kong cargo team and invited senior cargo industry executives. Read More..

Thursday, May 29, 2008 Eurocopter to acquire Motorflug Baden-Baden GmbH to extend its MRO Capabilities By FlyingNews @ 11:10 AM :: 158 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters On May 26th, Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH signed an agreement to acquire Motorflug Baden-Baden GmbH. The German specialist for helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) with bases in Baden-Baden, Rheinmünster and Schönhagen near Berlin will become an integral part of Eurocopter’s service and support business and will complement Eurocopter’s maintenance, repair and overhaul apabilities in the civil helicopter market. The acquisition of Motorflug will enable Eurocopter to offer even more comprehensive services to its customers while assuring the flexibility and reactivity its customers need. Read More..

Thursday, May 29, 2008 KD Avia commits to 25 Airbus A320 Family aircraft By FlyingNews @ 11:06 AM :: 175 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers KD Avia, a fast growing Russian airline, has placed a commitment with Airbus for the purchase of 25 A319s, thus becoming a new Airbus customer. The agreement was signed at the International Berlin Airshow taking place from 27th May to 1st June. KD Avia’s A319s will feature a spacious and comfortable cabin layout. The aircraft will be operated on the airline’s extended network of domestic and international routes out of its Kaliningrad hub. The choice of engines has not yet been made. Read More..

Saturday, May 24, 2008 Vector Helicopter Services offers World’s 1st S61 Glass Cockpit By FlyingNews @ 7:54 AM :: 483 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services-North America (Vector) has made history in announcing the company has successfully test-flown the world’s first Sikorsky S61 equipped with a fully-integrated “glass cockpit,” or Integrated Cockpit Display System (ICDS) from SAGEM Avionics. The historic first test flight of the Carson Helicopter’s S61 took place on May 20, 2008 at the company’s Langley, British Columbia avionics facility, and will be supported by a comprehensive flight test and certification program conducted from Langley Airport over the next several weeks. Read More..

Thursday, May 22, 2008 Boeing Flies A160T Hummingbird Unmanned Rotorcraft for 18 Hours By FlyingNews @ 12:47 PM :: 176 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Helicopters The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] successfully flew its A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft for 18.7 hours May 14-15, claiming an unofficial world endurance record for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) weighing between 1,102 and 5,511 pounds (500 to 2,500 kilograms). "We didn't set out to establish a world record, but it was a great accomplishment," said Jim Martin, Boeing Advanced Systems A160T program manager. "This 18-hour endurance flight is the culmination of thousands of hours of systems, ground and flight testing. The aircraft performed flawlessly, flying un-refueled longer than any other current unmanned rotorcraft. Our customers are excited about this important flight, the needs the A160T fills and the many options it gives warfighters." Read More..

Thursday, May 22, 2008 X-48B BLENDED WING BODY FLIGHT TESTS ENTER SECOND PHASE By FlyingNews @ 9:58 AM :: 244 Views :: 0 Comments :: NASA NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center and The Boeing Co. are expanding the flight envelope for the X-48B blended wing body research aircraft. Flight tests with the 500-pound, remotely piloted test vehicle are now in a second phase involving higher speed regimes. The 21-foot wing span test aircraft is flying without its slats deployed. Slats are flight control surfaces on the leading edges of wings which, when extended, allow an aircraft to take off, fly and land at slower speeds. X-48B flight testing is taking place at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. NASA Dryden is providing critical support to a Boeing-led project team that also includes the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, and Cranfield Aerospace Ltd., of Bedford, England. Read More..

Thursday, May 22, 2008 Comlux The Aviation Group Purchases Pair of Bombardier Global Express XRS Jets By FlyingNews @ 9:50 AM :: 232 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Flying, Business Aircraft Manufacturers Comlux Aviation the VIP Charter division of Comlux The Aviation Group, today signed a firm order for two ultra long-range Global Express XRS jets. The aircraft will increase Comlux Aviation’s young and modern fleet to a total of nine Bombardier business jets – including two widebody Challenger 605, two Challenger 850, two Global Express XRS jets – now available for private, business and group charter – and a high-speed Global 5000 jet. Read More..

Thursday, May 22, 2008 Boeing Celebrates the Debut of the New 777 Freighter By FlyingNews @ 9:44 AM :: 235 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers, Air Cargo The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today debuted the new 777 Freighter. Employees, suppliers, airline customers and community officials celebrated the world's most capable twin-engine cargo airplane during two debut events. "We are excited to debut the newest member of our 777 and freighter families," said Larry Loftis, vice president, 777 program. "Today is a tribute to the dedication and hard work our employees, customers and suppliers put into making this airplane a reality. The 777 Freighter's unmatched range, efficiency and capacity as a twin-engine cargo airplane will build on the Boeing leadership in the cargo market." Read More..

Thursday, May 22, 2008 Sasemar Orders Three More AW139 Helicopters By FlyingNews @ 9:41 AM :: 164 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that Sasemar, the Spanish Marine Safety Agency, has placed an order for three more AW139 medium twin turbine engine helicopters. These aircraft will be used for a range of roles including SAR and water pollution detection. This latest purchase increases the number of AW139 helicopters ordered by Sasemar to eight having previously ordered three in 2006 and two in 2007. Three AW139 helicopters have already been delivered and are operating from bases in Reus, Gijón and Tenerife. The progressive expansion of Sasemar’s AW139 fleet demonstrates the customer’s satisfaction with the most advance search and rescue helicopter in its class and the its ability to meet Sasemar’s operational requirements. The acquisition of the latest in SAR-dedicated rotorcraft technology is providing Sasemar with enhanced life saving and environmental protection capabilities. The aircraft will be equipped with a dual rescue hoist, Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) camera, search/weather radar, emergency flotation system and a four-axis autopilot complete with SAR modes. With the largest cabin capacity of any helicopter in its weight class and exceptional performance the AW139 is ideally suited for SAR operations both over water and over land. Graham Cole, Managing Director - Business, AgustaWestland said “This new order confirms that Sasemar, like many other operators around the world, recognize the AW139 as the best search and rescue helicopter in its class. We are proud to see the AW139s already delivered enhancing the operational capabilities of Sasemar, which provides a vital service to the Spanish nation." Read More..

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 First A380 commercial flight lands at Tokyo's Narita Airport By FlyingNews @ 8:36 AM :: 407 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Japan's Narita Airport is the A380's newest commercial destination, with the first scheduled flight of Singapore Airlines arriving on 20 May from the carrier's Singapore home base. The 21st century flagship touched down at 12:35 p.m., and was welcomed by a traditional firemen's salute with water canons before taxiing to Narita's Gate 46 - where passengers disembarked through three boarding bridges, including one to the upper deck. Read More..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Jetalliance Group orders more Airbus ACJ family aircraft By FlyingNews @ 12:00 PM :: 162 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers, Business Aircraft Manufacturers The Jetalliance Group of Vienna has placed a repeat order for one Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) and two A318 Elites, adding to the orders that it has previously placed for the family. Like its other aircraft the new Airbus ACJ will feature a VIP cabin and be powered by CFM International CFM56-5 engines. Read More..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Today the Sukhoi Superjet 100 - the All-New Russian Aircraft - Successfully Completed Its Maiden Flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur By FlyingNews @ 10:17 AM :: 201 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers The SSJ100’s debut flight was captained by Alexander Yablontsev, Chief Pilot of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, and a test pilot Leonid Chikunov. The crew spent 1 hour and 5 minutes in flight. In due accordance with the launch flight mission, the new Russian aircraft gained the height of 1,200 meters. During its premiere flight, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 successfully took off, flew over the takeoff runway the expected four times at different heights, completed a box pattern span and successfully landed. The pilot crew confirmed the high thrust-to-weight ratio and the sustainable operation of the aircraft engines and main systems. "I am happy! At last, after so many years we are here. We did it. I am very delighted that we are the first who have taken the new Russian jet off. This aircraft is a real success, and I can surely state that it is as easy to pilot as Airbus or Boeing’s planes I had previously captained," distinguished Alexander Yablontsev, SCAC’s Chief Pilot. Read More..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Pratt & Whitney F135 Team Receives STOVL Flight Qualification By FlyingNews @ 10:13 AM :: 235 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Aircraft Engines Pratt & Whitney received a statement of qualification for the F135 short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) propulsion system from the F-35 Joint Program Office. This statement certifies Pratt & Whitney’s F135-PW-600 STOVL propulsion system for up-and-away flight operations. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company. “This certification letter is a step on the critical path to flying the aircraft and brings us closer to powering the first flight of the F-35 Lightning II STOVL variant this spring,” said Bill Gostic, Pratt & Whitney vice president, F135 engine programs. Read More..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Honda Aircraft Company Begins European Sales of HondaJet With Plans for Exclusive Regional Sales and Service Network By FlyingNews @ 10:11 AM :: 158 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., began European sales of the HondaJet advanced light jet at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) by introducing its first customer in the region – F-1 race driver and business entrepreneur, Jenson Button. To provide sales and service support to its customers in Europe, the company announced that it will establish a new European network of three HondaJet-exclusive sales and service centers. Honda Aircraft Company also announced an expansion of its relationship with FlightSafety International, the world’s leading pilot training company, to provide its customers with flight training in Europe. Further, Honda debuted a new in-flight entertainment (IFE) system concept with cutting-edge features. Read More..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Hawker Beechcraft Receives More Than 70 Commitments for New Premier II By FlyingNews @ 10:09 AM :: 210 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today revealed that the number of commitments for the recently announced new Beechcraft Premier II has grown to more than 70 positions, including more than 40 firm orders. “The customer response has been fantastic. Those who have experienced a Premier know that they are flying or operating a true breakthrough aircraft,” said Brad Hatt, Hawker Beechcraft president, Commercial Aircraft. “The Premier’s unmistakable comfort, now combined with a phenomenal boost in performance, makes the Premier II an airplane pilots and companies can’t wait to own and operate.” Read More..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Cessna Announces Citation Mustang Order from Russia’s Dexter By FlyingNews @ 10:06 AM :: 162 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) an order for 20 Citation Mustangs from Russian air taxi operator Dexter. “Dexter’s order is a strong sign of the strength of the business jet market in Eastern Europe, particularly within Russia,” said Roger Whyte, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing for Cessna. “It is also a sign of the strength of the Mustang program – great economics, great performance and great production. We designed the Mustang to be every bit as reliable and robust as any other Citation in the stable, and that makes it quite suitable for the high utilization operations it will see at Dexter.” Read More..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Vistajet Orders and Secures Options for a Total of 60 Bombardier Business Jets By FlyingNews @ 10:04 AM :: 155 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Bombardier Aerospace today announced a significant business jet order as VistaJet of Switzerland, placed a firm orders for 11 Challenger 605 jets, 13 Learjet 60 XR aircraft, and 11 new Learjet 85 aircraft, for a total of 35 firm orders with options for an additional 25 aircraft. The total value of the order, if all options are exercised will be approximately $1.2 billion U.S., based on the 2008 list price of typically equipped aircraft. In addition to the aircraft order, Bombardier also announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with VistaJet for the sale of Bombardier Skyjet International, its pioneering charter program. Read More..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Work Begins on First Boeing Business Jet 3 By FlyingNews @ 10:03 AM :: 146 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Boeing has begun work on the first Boeing Business Jet 3 (BBJ 3). The BBJ 3 is a new, larger business jet based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-900ER (extended range), which entered commercial service and was certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in April 2007. Certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency occurred in April 2008. The BBJ 3 was launched in October 2006, and will enter service in 2009 with an unidentified customer. The jet is 138 feet, 2 inches long (42.1 meters) and has 1,120 square feet (104 square meters) of floor space. Read More..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 MAZ Aviation commits to six Airbus A350 XWB Prestiges By FlyingNews @ 9:59 AM :: 219 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers, Business Aircraft Manufacturers MAZ Aviation has placed a commitment for six Airbus A350 XWB Prestiges to serve its customers, in what is the first deal for the type in the Middle East. The deal is also the largest single deal ever for Airbus corporate jetliners, and comprises one A350-800 and five A350-900s. All six Airbus A350 XWBs will feature VIP cabins, and be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. The choice of cabin outfitters has yet to be announced. The Airbus A350 XWB Prestige is the world's newest airliner and, in its VIP version, offers unmatched widebody space and comfort - as well as the range to fly non-stop to the world. It has the widest cabin, greatest floorspace and longest range of any aircraft in its class. Read More..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Cirrus Aircraft Announces Garmin® Integrated Flight Deck Selected for SR22-G3 By FlyingNews @ 9:55 AM :: 276 Views :: 0 Comments :: Small Aircraft Manufacturers, Aircraft Avionics Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that Cirrus Aircraft will offer Cirrus Perspective™, Garmin’s all-glass, fully-integrated flight deck tailored for the Duluth, Minnesota, based aircraft manufacturer and its SR22-G3. “Cirrus and Garmin have worked together since the development of the first SR20 in the late 1990s when the GNS 430 was selected for the SR20’s panel, and we are very excited to expand our relationship,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “Both companies are equally committed to bringing customers a safe and quality aircraft, and we are confident Cirrus pilots will enjoy flying with Garmin’s industry leading, all-glass integrated flight deck.” Read More..

Monday, May 19, 2008 First Boeing 777 Freighter Leaves Paint Hangar By FlyingNews @ 4:26 PM :: 242 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers, Air Cargo Adorned in the Boeing [NYSE:BA] livery, the first 777 Freighter was moved from the Everett, Wash. paint facility to Everett field this morning, bringing the airplane one step closer to its world debut. The 777 Freighter is based on the 777-200LR Worldliner (Longer Range) passenger airplane and will fly farther and provide more capacity than any other twin-engine cargo airplane. On May 21, Boeing will debut the 777 Freighter at employee celebration events in the Everett factory where the airplane is built on the same production lines as all other 777 models.

Monday, May 19, 2008 Cessna Teams with Dallas Airmotive to Offer Engine Program for JT15D-equipped Citations By FlyingNews @ 10:16 AM :: 239 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers, Aircraft Engines Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) that it has teamed with Dallas Airmotive to offer a program for owners of Citation business jets powered by Pratt & Whitney JT15D engines. The EngiNEWity Citation Engine Program controls costs and guarantees a 45-day turn time for overhauls designed to enhance JT15D performance, efficiency and reliability. Read More..

Monday, May 19, 2008 Execujet Orders Six Learjet 85 Aircraft By FlyingNews @ 10:14 AM :: 145 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Bombardier Aerospace today announced that ExecuJet Aviation Group of Zurich, Switzerland has placed firm orders for six Learjet 85 aircraft. Bombardier announced the sale of the all new fully-composite jet in conjunction with a Learjet 85 performance briefing, at the ongoing European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland. The order is valued at approximately $103 million U.S., based on the 2008 list price of typically equipped aircraft. "The Learjet 85 program was met with tremendous customer approval from the start, when we first began introducing it to customers last fall. From the very beginning, ExecuJet was keen to invest in this exciting new platform," said Bob Horner, senior vice-president, sales, Bombardier Business Aircraft. "We are encouraged by ExecuJet's interest in our newest Learjet model, and their continued interest in our wide range of business jets." Read More..

Monday, May 19, 2008 Boeing Begins Firing High-Energy Laser Aboard Advanced Tactical Laser Aircraft By FlyingNews @ 10:11 AM :: 162 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has fired a high-energy chemical laser aboard a C-130H aircraft in ground tests for the first time, achieving a key milestone for the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program. The successful laser firing occurred May 13 at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. "First firing of the high-energy laser aboard the ATL aircraft shows that the program continues to make good progress toward giving the warfighter an ultra-precision engagement capability that will dramatically reduce collateral damage," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. Read More..

Monday, May 19, 2008 Vought Wins Contract Valued at $1 Billion To Build Wings for Cessna Citation Columbus Business Jet By FlyingNews @ 10:03 AM :: 143 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Vought Aircraft Industries is proud to announce its selection as the provider of wings and slats for the Model 850 Cessna Citation Columbus business jet. The contract, with a potential value of more than $1 billion, covers engineering design, tooling and production work. Vought has a proven track record of developing and manufacturing aerostructures of superior quality and value for military and commercial use worldwide. “This contract is just the latest affirmation of the high-quality production we do at Vought,” said Dennis Orzel, vice president and general manager, Vought Integrated Aerosystems Division. “The Cessna Citation Columbus is an innovative, world-class business jet, and we are honored to share our expertise and competitive advantage with this industry leader.” Read More..

Saturday, May 17, 2008 U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters Issues Recommendations to Help Avoid Future Abrupt Aircraft Groundings By FlyingNews @ 7:40 AM :: 234 Views :: 0 Comments :: FAA, NTSB Citing lessons learned from reports submitted by the Federal Aviation Administration and American Airlines in response to last month’s grounding of hundreds of MD-80 aircraft, the Secretary called on the FAA and airlines to better ensure mutual understanding of what constitutes compliance with an Aviation Directive. Secretary Peters added that the FAA and airlines need to review and improve procedures for understanding the process, timing and criteria for requesting and approving alternative solutions for safety directives, known as Alternate Means of Compliance. Read More..

Saturday, May 17, 2008 Diamond Aircraft offers upgrade path to latest Garmin functionality, including Synthetic Vision Technology, to DA40 owners By FlyingNews @ 7:31 AM :: 362 Views :: 0 Comments :: General Aviation, Aircraft Avionics Diamond Aircraft today announced the introduction of major avionics upgrades available to owners of G1000- equipped Diamond DA40s. Upgrades include electronic charts, WAAS capability, as well as Garmin’s latest safety-enhancing functionality, Garmin Synthetic Vision Technology. “At Diamond, we focus on safety, and on maintaining resale value of our aircraft for owners. We are excited that working with Garmin, we are yet again able to provide access to the latest avionics to our installed base, without making obsolete their investment,” explained Heike Larson, VP of Sales and Marketing at Diamond. “We are pleased that not only were we the first to offer Garmin’s SVT certified on a new aircraft, but that we are also the first to make this major safety-enhancing technology available to our DA40 installed base.” Read More..

Friday, May 16, 2008 Pratt & Whitney Canada and Helicopters of Russia Sign MOU to Produce PW127TS for Russian MI-38 Helicopter By FlyingNews @ 9:10 AM :: 215 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters, Aircraft Engines Pratt & Whitney Canada and Helicopters of Russia have signed today in Moscow a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to produce the PW127TS engine for Russia’s new generation, twin-engine medium helicopter MI-38. Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is a United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) company. Under the agreement with JSC "Helicopters of Russia", JSC "Ufa Engine Industrial Association" (UMPO) and the Central Institute of Aviation Motors (CIAM), P&WC will be responsible for developing a turboshaft version of its PW127 engine and having it certified to Transport Canada and Russian standards. Read More..

Friday, May 16, 2008 United Airlines Offers Inter-Island Hawaii Flights with New Hawaiian Airlines Codeshare Agreement By FlyingNews @ 9:05 AM :: 173 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines United Airlines customers may visit the Hawaiian Islands more easily this summer through a new codeshare agreement with Hawaiian Airlines, complementing United's 18 flights daily between Hawaii and the mainland – more than any other carrier. Through the codeshare service on Hawaiian Airlines' inter-island Hawaii flights, United's Mileage Plus® members will also have the opportunity to accrue and redeem frequent flyer miles on the flights. "United customers value the numerous options we provide to reach the islands, and this agreement gives more flexibility to connect or island-hop in Hawaii,” says Michael Whitaker, United's senior vice president – Alliances, International and Regulatory Affairs. ”Mileage Plus members will also enjoy earning frequent flyer miles on these flights so they can more quickly redeem their miles for another Hawaiian vacation.” Read More..

Friday, May 16, 2008 EMBRAER’S ERJ 145 FAMILY OBTAINS FINAL RUSSIAN CERTIFICATION By FlyingNews @ 9:02 AM :: 158 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Embraer received final approval from Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) for the 37 to 50-seat ERJ 145 regional jet family, comprised of the 37-seat ERJ 135, the 44-seat ERJ 140, and the 50-seat ERJ 145. These regional jets are now have the way open to operate in all of the CIS, which, besides Russia, includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. In its most recent Market Outlook, Embraer foresees strong opportunities in the Russian airline market, because of the need to replace an ageing fleet of Eastern European-built commercial aircraft. The average age of the Russian fleet is 23 years. Slightly more than 50% of these models are over 20 years old and there is an urgent need to replace the smaller capacity aircraft. Read More..

Friday, May 16, 2008 Airbus chooses Spirit AeroSystems for A350 centre fuselage frame By FlyingNews @ 8:19 AM :: 158 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Airbus has awarded the contract for the design and manufacture of the lower composite centre fuselage frame of its new A350 XWB aircraft to U.S. company Spirit AeroSystems of Wichita, Kansas. The contract is one of many announced recently for the newest member of the Airbus fleet, and is further evidence of Airbus' commitment to growing its development and manufacturing activities around the world. Airbus has restructured its industrial set-up to focus on core activities. As a result, the company is optimizing its global foundation by developing and consolidating its robust supply chain. For the A350, around 50 percent of the aero-structures work will be outsourced to risk-sharing partners. Airbus is awarding large work packages to tier-1 suppliers, such as Spirit, in return for a better distribution of future investment, risks and opportunities. Read More..

Thursday, May 15, 2008 Embraer lands at Melbourne International By FlyingNews @ 12:39 PM :: 154 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer plans to spend $51 million to build a manufacturing plant at Melbourne International Airport. The planned 149,500-square-foot building, the company's first U.S. factory, will be dedicated to final assembly, painting, delivery and customer care center operations for Embraer's Phenom business jet aircraft. The factory is expected to employ about 200 people by 2011. They will be working in jobs that include aircraft assembly, production planning, logistics and quality, aircraft interior design, corporate administration, engineering, aircraft testing, delivery and flight testing. You can read the entire article here.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 House panel eyes subsidy review on tanker deal By FlyingNews @ 12:37 PM :: 192 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Government The House of Representatives Armed Services Committee conditionally called for a review Thursday of any illegal subsidies' role in a $35 billion refueling-aircraft contest lost by Boeing Co. The House panel mandated an Air Force review of the tanker's selection process if the World Trade Organization finds fault in a subsidy dispute pitting Boeing against Airbus, its rival in the commercial aircraft market. On February 29, the Air Force picked a team of Northrop Grumman Corp and Airbus parent EADS, rather than Chicago-based Boeing, to start building a new fleet of 179 tanker aircraft based on Airbus's A330 aircraft. You can read the entire article here.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 Composite Aircraft Wing research gets underway at GKN Aerospace By FlyingNews @ 12:31 PM :: 261 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aerospace GKN Aerospace teams at the Company’s Composites Research Centre, Cowes, UK and at the Ice Protection Facility in Luton, UK, have commenced work on the three year ‘Next Generation Composite Wing’ (NGCW) research programme aimed at revolutionizing technologies that will improve future wing design and manufacturing processes in the UK. NGCW is an Airbus, UK-led collaboration between 17 leading British organisations, both industrial companies and research organisations, and is jointly funded by the UK Technology Strategy Board (TSB), a number of Regional Development Agencies (RDA’s) and the industrial partner companies. Read More..

Thursday, May 15, 2008 European Launch of the PC-12 NG By FlyingNews @ 10:06 AM :: 156 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Pilatus Aircraft Ltd selected EBACE (European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition) for the official European debut of the newest version of its flagship business turboprop, the PC-12 NG. The PC-12 NG features a number of significant improvements over its predecessor, including a fully integrated Honeywell Primus Apex avionics system, a completely revised cockpit designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, and a more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P engine. Through these revisions the PC-12 continues its presence as the world’s best selling business turboprop. In March of this year the company’s reputation for precision engineering and attention to detail was rewarded with concurrent EASA and FAA certifications. Read More..

Thursday, May 15, 2008 EMBRAER CONFIRMS TWO EMBRAER 170 JETS OPTIONS FOR RÉGIONAL By FlyingNews @ 10:03 AM :: 143 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Embraer and Régional, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air France, signed a contract for two additional EMBRAER 170 jets, confirming options originally placed in August 2007. The value of the transaction, at list price, comes to US$ 63 million. Both aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2009. This deal is already included in Embraer’s 2008 first quarter firm order backlog as “undisclosed”. “This is great news for Embraer and a ringing endorsement of the E-Jets by the Air France/KLM Group,” said Mauro Kern, Embraer Executive Vice President, Airline Market. “It is especially gratifying to see our largest customer in Europe, once again, place its trust in the E-Jets family, as it further expands its network.” Read More..

Thursday, May 15, 2008 Boeing Resumes Chinook Operations in Philadelphia By FlyingNews @ 10:00 AM :: 160 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Helicopters The Boeing Company's [NYSE: BA] Rotorcraft Systems division in Philadelphia today resumed operations on the H-47 Chinook helicopter production line. All employees are reporting to work on their regularly assigned shifts. Boeing will continue to cooperate with the Defense Contract Management Agency to close this incident. Boeing Rotorcraft Systems employees have worked to resolve the issues as quickly and efficiently as possible. Boeing remains committed to delivering products that meet or exceed stringent quality standards and operational requirements to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and its allies.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 Alternative fuel partnership teams Airbus with Honeywell, IAE and JetBlue By FlyingNews @ 9:58 AM :: 167 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers In its continuing efforts toward eco-efficiency - and to help the whole aviation sector prosper with less impact on the environment, such as reducing emissions from aircraft operations - Airbus has teamed with Honeywell Aerospace; UOP, a Honeywell Company; International Aero Engines (IAE); and JetBlue Airways to pursue development of a sustainable second-generation biofuel for use in commercial aircraft. The companies' joint activity will help develop renewable energy technology to convert vegetation - and algae-based oils into aviation fuels and to evaluate the challenges for obtaining approval for this fuel by standards organizations. Such non-food-crop biomass fuels are known to provide a better fuel-to-emissions lifecycle than current kerosene. Read More..

Thursday, May 15, 2008 Diamond records a very robust Q1 2008 By FlyingNews @ 6:42 AM :: 144 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Against a backdrop of lagging overall piston sales - down 28% according to a recently released report by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) - Diamond delivered 101 units in the first quarter of 2008. Read More..

Thursday, May 15, 2008 Boeing Delivers 300th Jetliner to GECAS for Lease to XL Airways By FlyingNews @ 6:39 AM :: 151 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) on Tuesday celebrated the delivery of the leasing company's 300th Boeing jetliner, a Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplane, that GECAS customer XL Airways will operate under lease. The airplane, shown here during a test flight, is equipped with performance-enhancing Blended Winglets, which improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 4 percent, and will be the first 737-900ER to join the XL Airways fleet. GECAS, the U.S. and Irish commercial aircraft financing and leasing businesses of GE, ordered its first Boeing airplane, a 767-300ER, in August 1995, and has ordered 433 Boeing airplanes to date including 737 Classics, Next-Generation 737s, 747s, 757s, 767s and 777s. Currently, it has a fleet of 1,475 owned aircraft it leases to more than 230 airlines in 70 countries. Read More..

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Dart Helicopter Services announces Transport Canada approval of DART's Interior Panels for Eurocopter AS350 / AS355 model aircraft By FlyingNews @ 6:47 AM :: 178 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters Dart Helicopter Services has announced that their affiliated partner, DART Aerospace Ltd., has received Transport Canada approval of their Interior Panels for AS350/355 series helicopters. FAA and EASA approvals are still pending. DART Interior Panels are constructed of high quality impact resistant aerospace grade plastic selected specifically to minimize warping, cracking and discoloration. Particular attention has been paid to ensure quality of fit. Currently DART is offering panels for the overhead and the aft bulk head where sagging and breaking are most common. The overhead panels come untrimmed for compatibility with a variety of ceiling mounted modifications. DART's panels are available in light grey color to match OEM panels. Read More..

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Boeing and Jeppesen Technology Expand China Market for China Eastern Airlines By FlyingNews @ 6:45 AM :: 237 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers, Aircraft Avionics A China Eastern Airlines (CEA) Boeing [NYSE: BA] Next-Generation 737-700 today completed a flight into China's Lijiang Airport to validate the capability and benefits of an advanced navigation method known as Required Navigation Performance (RNP). RNP uses global-positioning satellites and onboard flight-management systems to guide airplanes along precise flight paths with pinpoint accuracy. RNP flight procedures provide operators a highly effective tool to enable safe and efficient operations in challenging terrain and weather conditions, such as those at Lijiang, in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. Advanced arrival procedures like RNP will allow airlines to significantly save on fuel and reduce flight delays by enabling airplanes to fly the most direct route to the runway. Read More..

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 New York Airspace Redesign Causing Pilot Confusion By FlyingNews @ 5:04 PM :: 234 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, FAA An FAA airspace redesign project designed to reduce delays and congestion at airports within the Northeast corridor is creating pilot confusion that could result in safety problem. The vice president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association in Newark says there have been several incidents on the ground there that can be attributed to the new procedures. In one, a United Airlines jet turned the wrong way prior to departure, and in another, a JetBlue pilot communicating with a controller admitted to not knowing how the new procedures worked. Two minutes later, another pilot radioed the tower with questions about the new process. In both cases, the planes were only minutes from takeoff. You can read the entire article here.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Aerospace Employment Climbs Steadily By FlyingNews @ 4:59 PM :: 222 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aerospace Aerospace employment increased in March to 651,700, a slight increase over the 2007 year-end average of 645,600. "This is good news for aerospace manufacturers and for workers looking for good jobs because the opportunities will continue," said AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey. "While overall manufacturing employment has declined, our civil, defense and space sectors are strong with a record backlog of orders fueled by major export growth." Read More..

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Helicopter that crashed lacked some safety gear By FlyingNews @ 12:37 PM :: 242 Views :: 0 Comments :: Flying Accidents, Helicopters A medical helicopter that crashed in Wisconsin did not have two pieces of safety technology the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended to prevent crashes, company officials said Monday. Mike Allen, senior vice president at Denver-based Air Methods, said the helicopter was not equipped with a computerized voice system to warn of approaching terrain or night vision goggles for the pilot. His company leased the helicopter to the University of Wisconsin Hospital for its Med Flight program that crashed Saturday night after dropping off a patient at a La Crosse hospital. There were no survivors in the crash that killed a surgeon, nurse and pilot. You can read the entire article here.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 WW2 German fighter pilot saved U.S. bomber crew By FlyingNews @ 12:28 PM :: 248 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Warbirds "I do remember being inverted (and then) pulling up over the trees," Brown, who now lives in Miami, told CTV's W-FIVE. "At this point (we were) totally helpless." Brown's four-engine bomber was badly damaged. Three engines weren't working, there was hardly anything left of the tail and seven of 10 crew member were injured. Brown had a bullet fragment lodged in his shoulder. You can read the entire article here.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Bombardier Aerospace Selects Pratt & Whitney Canada’s Pw307b Engine To Power Its All-Composite Learjet 85 Aircraft By FlyingNews @ 7:07 AM :: 215 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers, Aircraft Engines Bombardier Aerospace today announced its all-composite Learjet 85 aircraft – the next generation in Learjet excellence – will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PW307B engines. The Learjet manufacturer also announced it selected Innovative Power Solutions’ (IPS) advanced DC Brushless Starter/Generator (BS/G) System as the engine starter solution for the new midsize jet. At 6,100 pounds of take-off thrust, the PW307B engine incorporates a suite of advanced technologies, including a TALONTM low-emissions combustor, an advanced shock-management fan for increased flow capacity, and powdered-metal, high-pressure turbine disks for improved efficiency. The result is superior performance, better fuel consumption and improved operating economics, together with Pratt & Whitney Canada's trademark dependability. Read More..

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Boeing, El Al Israel Airlines Finalize Order for Four 777-200ER Jetliners By FlyingNews @ 7:05 AM :: 177 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and El Al Israel Airlines have completed an order for four 777-200ERs (Extended Range). The Israeli airline has secured options for two additional 777s and holds conversion rights for the 777-300ER, a larger version of the 777 with increased payload and range capability. The order is valued at $850 million at list prices. Read More..

Monday, May 12, 2008 Studies show hike in EMS aircraft crashes By FlyingNews @ 11:01 AM :: 244 Views :: 0 Comments :: Flying Accidents The NTSB had launched a special investigation into EMS operations and accidents after 55 air ambulances, helicopters and fixed-wing craft crashed between 2002 and 2005 -- a level not seen for 20 years, authorities said. Recurring safety issues identified in the study included: less stringent requirements of EMS flights without patients on board; a lack of flight risk evaluation programs for EMS operations; and no requirements to use terrain awareness or night-vision technologies to enhance safety. You can read the entire article here.

Monday, May 12, 2008 New Zealand Orders Five AW109 LUH Helicopters By FlyingNews @ 6:50 AM :: 227 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence has signed a contract for five AW109 LUH multi-role light twin turbine engine helicopters plus a dedicated flight simulator. The contract value is worth approximately 57 million Euro. These helicopters, scheduled to enter service in 2011, will be operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force to perform basic as well as advanced and operational conversion training tasks. New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence selected AgustaWestland as the preferred tenderer in October 2007 following a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process for the supply of training-light utility helicopters to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), immediately starting contract negotiations. Read More..

Friday, May 09, 2008 Diamond Aircraft selects Mecaer America Inc. to provide D-JET landing gear By FlyingNews @ 7:33 AM :: 215 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Mecaer America Inc., a Mecaer Group Company, has been officially selected by Diamond Aircraft to provide the landing gear system for the series production of the D-JET personal jet. Mecaer America's scope of work includes design, certification testing, manufacturing and after-sale support of the nose and main landing gear. "We are very pleased to announce our long-term agreement with Diamond Aircraft on the D-JET program," Armando Sassoli, Mecaer America President and CEO said. "This is a very important step in Mecaer's quest to become the world's leading landing gear company in the light aircraft market niche." Read More..

Friday, May 09, 2008 Boeing, Asiana Airlines Finalize Order for Two 777-200ER Jetliners By FlyingNews @ 7:31 AM :: 176 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Asiana Airlines have completed an order for two 777-200ERs (Extended Range). The order is valued at $438 million at list prices. The South Korean airline holds rights to substitute the larger 777-300ER which features increased payload and range capability, if needed, in the future. Read More..

Thursday, May 08, 2008 GE Aviation Expects its CF34 engine fleet for regional aircraft to double in 10 years By FlyingNews @ 7:20 AM :: 244 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aircraft Engines With more than 4,000 CF34 engines powering regional aircraft, GE Aviation expects the engine fleet to exceed 8,600 by 2018 - based on the strong demand being forecast for GE-powered regional aircraft. (With 1,400 CF34 engines powering Bombardier Challenger business jets, the total CF34 fleet for regional and business aircraft is expected to reach 11,000 engines by 2018.) Read More..

Thursday, May 08, 2008 1st Boeing P-8A Poseidon Gets Its Wings By FlyingNews @ 7:16 AM :: 178 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Boeing [NYSE: BA] joined the wing assembly and fuselage of the first P-8A Poseidon for the U.S. Navy on May 1 in Renton, Wash. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) and Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) are working together to build the P-8A, a military derivative of the 737-800, on a new final assembly line. The factory's third line takes advantage of the proven efficiencies, manufacturing processes and performance of the highly reliable Next-Generation 737. The next major P-8A assembly milestone will be engine installation this summer. The Boeing-led Poseidon industry team remains on track for delivery of the first test aircraft to the Navy in 2009. Under the current System Development and Demonstration contract, the team will build five test vehicles: three flight-test and two ground-test aircraft. Read More..

Thursday, May 08, 2008 DAC GEN-X EFB STC GRANTED TO ABX AIR FOR B767 AIRCRAFT By FlyingNews @ 7:11 AM :: 674 Views :: 0 Comments :: Air Cargo, Aircraft Avionics ABX Air, a leading cargo airline based in Wilmington, Ohio, has been granted a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to allow the installation of the DAC International GEN-X Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) on B767 aircraft. The STC paves the way for B767 operators to efficiently install the GEN-X EFB as a Class 2 device on their aircraft. Read More..

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 First Flight Successful for Cessna’s Citation CJ4 By FlyingNews @ 7:11 AM :: 192 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, completed first flight of its Citation CJ4 business jet prototype today. “It was an outstanding first flight,” said Cessna Senior Engineering Test Pilot Dan Morris, who flew the aircraft with Engineering Flight Test Manager Dave Bonifield as co-pilot. “We tested quite a number of the systems on the aircraft, including the autopilot, and all performed very well. The FADECs operated just as we expected, and along with the four displays of the Pro Line 21, this is a very pilot-friendly aircraft. Operators will transition easily into the CJ4.” Read More..

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Bombardier and Iraq Hold Ceremonial Signing For CRJ900 NextGen Airliners By FlyingNews @ 7:10 AM :: 196 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Bombardier Aerospace participated in a signing ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq on May 4, 2008 to formally recognize two recent orders placed by the Government of Iraq. The firm orders were announced on March 13 and April 14, 2008 for a total of ten CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. The Government of Iraq also holds options on an additional 10 CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. The Government of Iraq’s delegation at the ceremony was led by Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, and included key ministers and advisors. Margaret Huber, Canada’s Ambassador to Iraq was also present. Read More..

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Boeing Delivers First 737-900ERs to GECAS for Lease to Futura International Airways By FlyingNews @ 7:08 AM :: 172 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] last week delivered Europe's first two Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplanes to GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) and its leasing customer, Spanish carrier Futura International Airways, based in Palma de Mallorca. "We are very satisfied to take delivery of the first Next-Generation 737-900ER for Europe through our lessor GECAS," said Román Pané, CEO of Futura. "Our experience in operating the 737 will be expanded with this new aircraft model, allowing us the longest range possible for our international fleet." Read More..

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Air Force officials release findings on F-15 accident By FlyingNews @ 7:06 AM :: 269 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Flying Accidents Pacific Air Forces officials here released the results of its investigation May 6 of the F-15D Eagle crash that occurred approximately 60 miles off of Oahu Feb. 1. The accident investigation board, convened by PACAF officials, determined that there was no clear and convincing evidence to determine a root cause for the mishap. Read More..

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Erickson Air-Crane Signs 8.5-year, 200-million Euro Civil Protection Aircraft Lease Contract with the Government of Italy By FlyingNews @ 7:02 AM :: 415 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated, manufacturer and worldwide operator of S-64 Aircrane helicopters has, through its affiliated company European Air-Crane S.p.A. (www.european-aircrane.com), signed an 8.5 year aircraft lease contract with the Italian Department of Civil Protection (Protezione Civile Italiana, www.protezionecivile.it) totaling over 200 million Euro for what is the largest aircraft lease in the history of the company. European Air-Crane Chief Executive Officer, Gian Franco Blower, and his team signed the contract with Protezione Civile Italiana on April 28, 2008, guaranteeing the continuity, under the new contract, of the four S-64F Aircranes already in Italy on duty for Fire Suppression, Civil Protection, and Disaster Relief roles throughout the mainland and islands of Italy. “This new contract underlines the mutual respect and excellent working relationship that has come to being between our companies (Erickson Air-Crane and European Air-Crane) and Protezione Civile Italiana,” said Gian Franco Blower. “They, in fact, underlined that our services have provided total excellence in support by means of our S-64 helicopters,” he added. Read More..

Tuesday, May 06, 2008 First Production Cessna SkyCatcher Completes First Flight By FlyingNews @ 7:11 AM :: 287 Views :: 0 Comments :: General Aviation, Small Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, completed the first flight of the first production model SkyCatcher May 1, about eight weeks after the first prototype SkyCatcher flew. The 30-minute SkyCatcher flight departed Cessna Aircraft Field Airport adjacent to McConnell Air Force Base and consisted of flight maneuvers evaluating the controllability and stability of the aircraft. The SkyCatcher, flown by Cessna Engineering Test Pilot Dale Bleakney, returned to Cessna Field (KCEA) as scheduled where it will continue development testing. Read More..

Tuesday, May 06, 2008 Boeing and Iraq Announce Airplane Order, Discuss Support for Aviation Modernization By FlyingNews @ 7:08 AM :: 172 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the Government of Iraq today announced an order for 30 Boeing 737-800 commercial airplanes, the first step in re-establishing that country's scheduled commercial aviation operations. Iraq has also contracted options for 10 additional 737s. Valued at $2.2 billion at current list prices, the order was previously accounted for on Boeing's Orders & Deliveries Web site attributed to an unidentified customer. In addition, Iraq and Boeing are finalizing an agreement for 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which will allow an Iraqi national airline to provide longer-range commercial service. The 787s will be added to Boeing's order book when the contract is completed. Read More..

Monday, May 05, 2008 World’s Airlines Meet to Review Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan™ Engine Development By FlyingNews @ 6:53 AM :: 233 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers, Aircraft Engines More than 50 representatives from airlines and leasing companies around the world gathered to review Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan engine development program during the company’s Next Generation Technology Symposium in West Palm Beach, Fla. At the three-day conference, airlines received comprehensive technical briefings on the engine’s design, performance and development progress and viewed the full-scale Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine during ground runs at the company’s advanced test facility. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX). Read More..

Monday, May 05, 2008 EMBRAER DELIVERS FIRST EMBRAER 190 JET TO FLYBABOO By FlyingNews @ 6:50 AM :: 218 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Embraer delivered the first EMBRAER 190 jet to Swiss carrier Flybaboo S.A., last Wednesday. The Geneva-based airline, which previously flew a dedicated turboprop fleet, will begin operating the EMBRAER 190 in 2008 under a leasing agreement with M1 Travel Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lebanon’s M1 Group. The EMBRAER 190s leased to Flybaboo will support the airline’s current network and also enable it to expand to new destinations. Flybaboo has selected the steep approach option for its E-Jet, allowing the airline to operate out of London City Airport, as well as key existing destinations at Lugano, in Switzerland, and Florence Vespucci, in Italy, downtown airports, all with short runways. Read More..

Sunday, May 04, 2008 Cracks found in Hercules wings threaten to scupper vital military training exercises By FlyingNews @ 8:23 AM :: 206 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation Up to five of the planes – more than a 10th of the fleet – have developed the potentially dangerous defect, according to documents leaked to The Sunday Telegraph. The report adds that with a further five C130s being retired from service this summer, the future for military training exercises is "bleak". It is understood that the faults were found last month during routine maintenance at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, where the majority of the aircraft are based. The disclosure comes two days before an inquest is due to start into the deaths of 14 servicemen in Afghanistan in 2006 when an RAF Nimrod exploded following a fuel leak. You can read the entire article here.

Saturday, May 03, 2008 NTSB faults pilot for maneuver that injured flight attendant By FlyingNews @ 8:17 AM :: 238 Views :: 0 Comments :: Flying Accidents A federal report is faulting a corporate jet pilot for an incident in which a flight attendant broke her leg during a landing at Teterboro Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board found that the pilot engaged in an "excessive maneuver" after being notified of another plane nearby. The plane's sudden movement caused the flight attendant to fall and break her left leg. In the October 2006 incident, the pilot of the Bombardier jet flying from Dulles International Airport was notified about the other plane while approaching Teterboro. You can read the entire article here.

Saturday, May 03, 2008 IAF aircraft hits pigs on airport runway By FlyingNews @ 7:28 AM :: 256 Views :: 0 Comments :: Flying Accidents A transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) hit two pigs during landing at the runway of the city's international airport, killing them on the spot, sources said. The incident occured on Wednesday night. The airport ground staff found caracass of two pigs lying on the runway, apparently hit by a Russian made il-76 aircraft which was on a routine sortie, sources said. You can read the entire article here.

Saturday, May 03, 2008 Bankruptcy court lets Frontier sell four aircraft By FlyingNews @ 7:26 AM :: 177 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines Frontier Airlines can now move forward with selling four of its Airbus aircraft for $106 million, according to a decision made Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. During the first court hearing of Frontier's Chapter 11 case, the court granted the airlines permission to sell two A319 and two A318 aircraft for a total of $106 million. Frontier will use $68.5 million to pay the loans on the aircraft, which translates into a net gain of $37.5 million for the low-cost carrier. You can read the entire article here.

Saturday, May 03, 2008 Boeing Delivers 50th 777 to Air France By FlyingNews @ 7:15 AM :: 189 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Air France reached a historic milestone this week with the delivery of Air France's 50th 777. The Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) is the carrier's 25th of that model type and joins a fleet of another 25 777-200ERs that together comprise the core of the airline's long-haul fleet. "This is truly a great day for Air France and Boeing," said Pierre Vellay, senior vice president of New Aircraft and Corporate Fleet Planning for Air France. "The 777 is the mainstay of our long-haul fleet and elemental to our success and future growth plans. We look forward to further integration of this exceptional airplane later this year, when Air France takes delivery of the world's first 777 Freighter." Read More..

Saturday, May 03, 2008 Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company 172, 175, 180, 182, 185, 206, 207, 208, 210, and 303 Series Airplanes By FlyingNews @ 7:10 AM :: 258 Views :: 0 Comments :: FAA SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) 172, 175, 180, 182, 185, 206, 207, 208, 210, and 303 series airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect the alternate static air source selector valve to assure that the part number identification placard does not obstruct the alternate static air source selector valve port. If the part number identification placard obstructs the port, this AD requires you to remove the placard, assure that the port is unobstructed, and report to the FAA if obstruction is found. This AD results from reports of improper installation of the part number identification placard on the alternate static air source selector valve. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent erroneous indications from the altimeter, airspeed, and vertical speed indicators, which could cause the pilot to react to incorrect flight information and possibly result in loss of control. Read More..

Saturday, May 03, 2008 Air Force identifies pilots killed in Sheppard T-38 crash By FlyingNews @ 7:08 AM :: 537 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Flying Accidents SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Sheppard officials have identified the pilots killed when their T-38C Talon crashed during a May 1 training mission. Maj. Brad Funk, 35, a 90th Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, and 2nd Lt. Alec Littler, 23, a student pilot in the 80th Flying Training Wing's Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program, died when the aircraft crashed on approach during a training mission at about 7:55 a.m.

Friday, May 02, 2008 Structural failure cited in plane crash By FlyingNews @ 7:21 AM :: 275 Views :: 0 Comments :: Flying Accidents, Ultralight Investigation - Structural failure is being blamed for an airplane crash that killed a Granum man last week. Transportation Safety Board investigator Barry Holt said the right wing of the ultralight aircraft being piloted by 60-year-old Donald Berruth failed during the flight on April 22. Berruth, the only occupant of the plane, died after crashing into a field near Granum, about 150 kilometres south of Calgary. You can read the entire article here.

Friday, May 02, 2008 Yob blinds pilot with laser pen.. but gets caught by thermal camera By FlyingNews @ 7:16 AM :: 195 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters A police helicopter pilot blinded by a laser pen bravely kept flying and tracked down the yob who aimed it at his cockpit. Mark Westwood was briefly unable to see after Dean Bottomley shone the powerful green beam from his bedroom as a "prank". You can read the entire article here.

Friday, May 02, 2008 Hang glider survives crash and tumble; skis away By FlyingNews @ 7:10 AM :: 304 Views :: 0 Comments :: Flying Accidents, Gliders A hang glider who crashed immediately after takeoff and tumbled several hundred feet down a steep snowfield yesterday afternoon is fine except for a few lacerations, according to authorities. Witnesses saw the hang glider at the top of 11,700 Loge Peak — the high point above the Aspen Highlands ski patrol headquarters and the top of the Loge Peak chairlift — with a few other people, apparently waiting to fly, as long as an hour before the accident. You can read the entire article here.

Friday, May 02, 2008 Subcommittee Examines NASA’s Aeronautics R&D Program By FlyingNews @ 7:02 AM :: 244 Views :: 0 Comments :: Government, NASA Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to review NASA’s current Aeronautics R&D program and discuss ways to make it more relevant to the nation’s needs. This hearing is part of a series of oversight hearings to review the major programs and to provide input to the Committee’s NASA reauthorization legislative activity. Among other topics, the hearing examined the R&D challenges related to the environmental impacts of aviation, safety, and development of the nation’s next generation air transportation system. Read More..

Friday, May 02, 2008 Air Force officials suspend training flights of T-38C aircraft By FlyingNews @ 6:49 AM :: 216 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Flying Accidents Air Education and Training Command officials suspended flights of T-38C Talon aircraft May 1 following a fatal crash at Sheppard AFB, Texas. The crash was the second in two weeks involving a T-38, following an April 23 accident in which two pilots were killed when their T-38 crashed at Columbus AFB, Miss. Read More..

Thursday, May 01, 2008 LCAL Purchases GEnx Engines for Boeing 787 Aircraft By FlyingNews @ 7:13 AM :: 204 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers, Aircraft Engines LCAL has agreed to purchase GEnx engines to power up to 13 of its Boeing 787 aircraft. The engines are valued at more than $350 million list price. The Dubai-based aircraft leasing company was established in 2005 with its business based exclusively with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Royal Jordanian will lease three of LCAL's GEnx-powered 787 aircraft to be the first airline in the Middle East to operate the aircraft when they are delivered. Read More..

Thursday, May 01, 2008 Cessna 400 Headlines Company's Participation at Athens Airshow By FlyingNews @ 7:10 AM :: 298 Views :: 0 Comments :: General Aviation, Flying Events, Small Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today it will bring its new Cessna 400 to headline its participation at ICARUS Aero Expo Athens 2008 in June during the 24th International Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association world assembly. Other Cessna aircraft joining the Cessna 400 at the show will include a 182 Skylane and 208B Grand Caravan. Cessna will be supporting its Athens-based Authorized Sales Representative at the show, Kostas Karayannis, S.A. Read More..

Thursday, May 01, 2008 First Boeing 777 Freighter Leaves Factory By FlyingNews @ 7:07 AM :: 257 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers, Air Cargo Progress continues on the first Boeing 777 Freighter as the company's newest cargo airplane was towed out of its factory in Everett, Wash. and onto the flight line Tuesday night. Work will continue on the 777 Freighter to prepare for flight test this summer and to paint the airplane in the Boeing livery. Read More..

Thursday, May 01, 2008 Kaan Havacilik Takes Delivery Of Its First Two AW109 Powers By FlyingNews @ 6:57 AM :: 179 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that Kaan Havacilik of Turkey has taken delivery of its first two AW109 Power light twin turbine engine helicopters. The aircraft handover has been performed during an official ceremony held at AgustaWestland Vergiate plant today. These two helicopters are provided with a 6 seat and an exclusive 5 seat Elite VIP/corporate transport configuration respectively. The 6 seat-configured helicopter will be operated by leading Turkish company Halikarnas. AgustaWestland has experienced a significant growth in the Turkish commercial helicopter market in recent years and has a longstanding presence in the country through both its products and commercial as well as industrial relationships with Turkish companies. Several AgustaWestland commercial helicopters of different types have been ordered in Turkey by various customers so far. Major results in the commercial helicopter market have been achieved for VIP/corporate transport and EMS applications. Read More..