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Boeing-Upgraded French AWACS Operational
Initial operating capability (IOC) of the modernized French Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet has been achieved with Boeing's delivery of the second of four upgraded aircraft and completion of the operational tests and evaluations. The upgrade is part of a Foreign Military Sale between the French Defense Procurement and Technology Agency (Direction générale de l'armement - DGA) and the U.S. government. "With the declaration of IOC, the French Air Force is able to utilize the new capabilities of the Mid-life...Read More
GE Aviation, Woodward Combine Fuel Systems Expertise For New Joint Venture
Woodward has announced a strategic 50/50 joint venture for fuel systems for GE's large commercial aircraft engine lines. The new joint venture will design, develop, source, supply and service the fuel system, including components from the fuel inlet up to the fuel nozzle, for the GE90, GEnx, GE9X and all future large commercial engines developed by GE Aviation. Woodward will be the preferred supplier to the joint venture."The fuel systems are a key component to GE's advanced technology aircraft engines, and Woodward has a strong...Read More
American Fighter Aces Receive Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal was presented to the American Fighter Aces collectively Wednesday during a ceremony in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. The medal was awarded to the American Fighter Aces in recognition of their heroic service to the United States throughout the history of aviation warfare. American Fighter Aces are military pilots credited with destroying five or more confirmed enemy aircraft in aerial combat during a war or conflict in which the U.S. Armed Forces have participated...Read More
Airbus Launches ACJneo Family With Order From Acropolis Aviation
Airbus has launched the ACJneo (New Engine Option) Family with an order for an ACJ320neo from Acropolis Aviation of Farnborough, near London, which is the first to order the new aircraft. Delivery of Acropolis' ACJ320neo, which will seat 19 passengers, is planned for the fourth quarter of 2018. Cabin outfitting details and engine choice will be decided later. Airbus' ACJ320neo features new, more efficient, engines, wingtip-mounted Sharklets, and a more comfortable cabin. Together, these improve fuel burn, range and performance...Read More
Flying Airbus's Most Technologically Advanced Airliner
Airbus and Boeing are betting their futures on a new generation of long-range widebody twins with better fuel efficiency, lower operating costs and reduced noise and emissions compared with today's two- and four-engine widebodies.
The A350 is Airbus's largest, longest-range, highest-flying and fastest-cruising twin. The A350-900, the first version now entering service withQatar Airways and other carriers, is a larger aircraft than Boeing's 787. With nine-abreast economy seating, the A350 can fly 315 passengers 7,750 nm at Mach 0.85...Read More
Embraer Confirms Firm Order From Tianjin Airlines
Embraer S.A. and China's Tianjin Airlines, a subsidiary of the HNA Group, have signed the final agreement for the sale of 22 aircraft. The contract, with an estimated value of $1.1 billion at current list prices, comprises 20 E195s and two E190-E2s, making HNA Group Tianjin Airlines the first Chinese airline to order the E-Jets E2s. The agreement between the two companies for 40 aircraft was previously announced during Chinese President Xi Jinping's State visit to Brazil, in July 2014. The remaining 18 E190 E2 will be part of a...Read More
Embraer's Legacy 500 Sets 4 New World Speed Records
Embraer Executive Jets has announced that the Legacy 500, its new midsize business jet that just entered the market, has already set four new world speed records for its class, this year. "These speed records validate the Legacy 500's game-changing performance. Having achieved or exceeded each of its design goals for certification, this revolutionary aircraft is now demonstrating all of its operational capabilities, including oceanic missions," said Marco Túlio Pellegrini, President & CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. "The Legacy 500 is...Read More
Gulfstream Delivers 500th G550
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently delivered the 500th Gulfstream G550. The customer, global health care company Abbott, headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois, has taken delivery of the aircraft. "The Gulfstream G550 is one of the most capable and dependable business jets in the skies today," said Scott Neal, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Gulfstream. "With an average NBAA Dispatch Reliability rate of 99.9 percent, the G550 consistently proves its mettle as a vital business tool, allowing companies to advance their business around the world effectively and efficiently... Read More
U.S. Marine Corps Begins F-35B Operational Trials
Six U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II jet aircraft arrived Monday evening aboard the USS WASP off the coast of the United States' Eastern Seaboard to mark the beginning of the first shipboard phase of the F-35B Operational Test (OT-1). The at-sea period will continue aboard USS WASP for the next two weeks, with fleet representative aircraft and maintenance personnel from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons 13 and 31. OT-1 will assess the integration... Read More
American Airlines To "Compete Aggressively" To Protect Market Share, Says CEO
American Airlines Group Inc. will "compete aggressively" against discount carriers that are piling on added seats and then cutting fares to keep planes full, Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker said. "We're not going to lose customers on price," Parker said Tuesday in an interview at Bloomberg's New York headquarters. "We're not going to give anyone else an advantage and allow them to expand at a rate that takes away customers and is not good for our shareholders...Read More
American Airlines Looks To Improve Operations In 2016
American Airlines is looking to make more investments next year to improve operations and systems that had been put on hold during the merger with US Airways. President Scott Kirby said some of those improvements will include the unbundling of some products and changes to the frequent flier program...Read More
Farewell West Virginia Galaxies
The West Virginia Air National Guard's final C-5A Galaxy airlifter flew to the boneyard last week, completing the 167th Airlift Wing's conversion to the C-17 Globemaster III, unit officials announced. Lockheed Martin saluted the conclusion of a 52-year partnership with the wing, spanning the C-121 Super Constellation, C-130 Hercules, and finally the C-5, during the ceremony marking the transition to a Boeing aircraft. "Today we pause to celebrate a sustained and successful era of iron and partnership, but it is the people who move...Read More
Boeing Exec Says Hiring Could Surge In Coming Years
Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO for commercial airplanes Ray Conner says the company could hire as many as 30,000 workers in the Puget Sound region over the next few years as older workers in the area retire from the company. To that end, the executive said, a major recruitment effort will be undertaken in local area high schools. That was just one aspect of the business discussed by Conner in an interview with The Seattle Times. Conner (pictured) defended his tough negotiations with union employees...Read More
Cessna Citation Latitude Exceeds Performance Expectations
Cessna announced Monday at EBACE that the Citation Latitude will enter the market with final range and runway performance specifications that exceed previous projections. The improved specifications will be part of the aircraft's imminent FAA certification. With the full flight test program now complete, the aircraft performance has yielded further improvements in aircraft range and runway performance: 2,850 nautical miles at long-range cruise, an increase of 150 nautical miles, and improved takeoff distance of 3,580 feet compared to the previously projected 3,660 feet...Read More
Never Forget: Memorial Day 2015
Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces of the sky;
Be with them traversing the air
In darkening storms or sunshine fair.
Thou who dost keep with tender might
The balanced birds in all their flight,
Thou of the tempered winds, be near,
That, having Thee, they know no fear....Read More
Software Cut Off Fuel Supply In Stricken A400M
The crash of an Airbus A400M airlifter that killed four people on May 9 may have been caused by new software that cut off the engine-fuel supply, industry sources have said. Four company personnel, including both test pilots, died when the aircraft-which had been destined for the Turkish air force-crashed on agricultural land north of Seville San Pablo Airport shortly after takeoff on its first flight. Two flight-test engineers were pulled...Read More
No Plan B Yet On F-35 Maintainers
The Air Force still doesn't know where it will find some 800 maintainers it needs for the F-35 fighter, service F-35 integration chief Maj. Gen. Jeff Harrigian said Thursday. Speaking at an AFA Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies event in Arlington, Va., Harrigian-recently minted as the Chief of Staff's "single point of contact" between USAF and the F-35 Joint Program Office-said the service still "has some work to do" to identify an F-35 maintainer pool. The plan was to harvest A-10 maintainers freed up by retiring that airplane...Read More
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