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Boeing Begins Final Assembly Of First 737 MAX
Boeing employees in Renton, WA have started final assembly on schedule of the first 737 MAX 8, the first member of Boeing's new, single-aisle family."We continue to meet our plan on the 737 MAX program thanks to the dedication of our employee team and our suppliers," said Keith Leverkuhn, vice president and general manager, 737 MAX program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We have a lot more work still ahead of us but we're very pleased with our progress to date." After the first fuselage arrived on Aug. 21 from Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita, Kan, mechanics began... Read More
Boeing Plans To Boost 767 Production
To fill a major order placed by FedEx Corp., Boeing says it will crank up assembly of 767s by 25 percent in 2017. The door-to-door delivery company recently ordered 50 of the airplanes, and to meet that demand, Boeing said Wednesday that it would increase production to 2.5 767s per month, according to a report from Reuters. In an internal memo, Boeing VP and general manager Brad Zaback said "We are confident the market will support a long-term future for the 767." Boeing currently produces 1.5 767s per month. That will grow to two per month in the first quarter of... Read More
Boeing, Thai Airways International Enter Into Pilot Training Agreement
Boeing has entered into an exclusive pilot training agreement with Thai Airways International (THAI) that will provide training for nearly 50 crews by the end of the year. Under the agreement, Boeing Flight Services, a business unit of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, will provide flight training for THAI's 787-8 fleet at Boeing's Singapore campus. "THAI's customers demand and deserve the highest quality service, which is why we chose Boeing Flight Services to train our pilots as we grow our 787 fleet," said Capt. Parinya Ounrean, Director, Flight Deck Crew... Read More
British Airways Crew Commended By AFA
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), is proud to applaud the life-saving action of the crew of British Airways flight 2276. Pilots acted quickly to abort take off of the Boeing 777 due to an engine fire and flight attendants executed a safe evacuation at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport before the aircraft was completely consumed by flames."Early reports indicate that the flight attendant crew conducted a text book evacuation, saving nearly 200 hundred lives that could have been lost in the fire," said Sara Nelson, International President of... Read More
Failed Engine Type On BA 777 Was Subject To 2011 AD
The FAA issued an Airworthiness Directive for the type of engine on a British Airways 777 that suffered an uncontained failure on takeoff from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas last week, though GE, the engine's manufacturer, disputes that the particular engine was covered by the AD. AD 2011-15-06 for General Electric Company GE90-76B; GE90-77B; GE90-85B; GE90-90B; and GE90-94B Turbofan Engines required initial and repetitive fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) and eddy current inspections (ECIs) of the high-pressure compressor rotor (HPCR)... Read More
Air National Guard Will Not Negotiate A New Lease In Des Moines
The Air National Guard has notified Des Moines International Airport (KDSM) that it will not get an appraisal that would be required to renegotiate its lease at the airfield in the latest round of a dispute over how much that lease should be. In 2012, the Department of Defense cut the F-16s that had been stationed at KDSM, and that triggered the debate. In order to receive FAA grants, the airport must charge "fair market" rent for all of its tenants except military units with an aeronautical mission. If that were to be enforced, the Air National Guard's rent would... Read More
Report: Business Jet Market Value Worth $21 Billion In 2015
The market for business jets has recently begun to gain momentum in light of the recovery following the 2008 economic crisis, according to a new report from ASD Reports. Driving this growth is the increase of GDP in emerging markets and continuing economic recovery in mature markets such as the United States. The high net worth population, the primary customer base for business jets, has also demonstrated greater resilience to the adverse market conditions in recent years, according to the research. The global market for business jets is expected to... Read MoreLockheed Martin Announces Plan To Develop Training Center
Lockheed Martin is responding to increasing global demand for C-130J military and LM-100J commercial flight training with a new International Training Center (ITC) to be located at the corporation's Marietta, Georgia, Aeronautics facility. Featuring academic classroom space and simulator facilities to support the full spectrum of aircrew training, the center will support training needs including initial qualification, refresher courses, instructor qualification and mission training. The center is currently under construction and will open in 2018. The ITC is co-located with the... Read More
Scorpion Jet Returns to Washington, D.C.
Textron AirLand will bring its Scorpion ISR/Strike tactical jet to Washington, D.C. on September 15 and 16 at the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference. The aircraft will be displayed at Signature Flight Support Terminal, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), a short distance from the conference center. This will be Scorpion's second fly-in to the Nation's Capital, and caps off a four-month, multi-national tour that included rigorous demonstrations for air forces in South America and Europe. The interactive exhibit will... Read More
F-35C Detachment Makes First Visit To NAS Fallon
F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft assigned to the "Grim Reapers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101, homeported at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nevada, Sept. 3. The evolution is part of a 12-day VFA-101 detachment focused on the integration of F-35C with the Fallon Range Training Complex. This visit will also allow coordination among VFA-101 and the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center to refine tactics, techniques and procedures of F-35C as it prepares to join the carrier air wing. "F-35C... Read More
Boeing Sees Greatest Demand For Pilots, Technicians In Asia Pacific Region
Boeing reports that over the next 20 years the Asia Pacific region will have the greatest demand for commercial airline pilots and maintenance technicians worldwide with approximately 40 percent of the global need - more than North America, Africa and Europe combined. The 2015 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook, an industry forecast of aviation personnel demand, anticipates 226,000 new commercial airline pilots and 238,000 new technicians in the Asia Pacific region through 2034. "The demand for 464,000 new pilots and maintenance technicians is a large number...Read More
Zero-G 727 Makes Precautionary Landing At Jacksonville, FL
Zero-G's Boeing 727 G-Force One made a precautionary landing Tuesday at Jacksonville International Airport (KJIA) in Jacksonville, FL Tuesday. The plane was undergoing a proving flight, according to a report from television station WJAX. Only FAA personnel were on board for the flight. During the flight, an annunciator in the cockpit indicated a problem with one of the airplane's three engines. That engine was shut down, and the plane landed safely. Airport officials said the plane was able to taxi under its own power. Zero-G said the plane was being examined... Read More
Spatial Disorientation Led to Fatal F-16 Crash
An F-16C pilot lost visual contact with the lead aircraft in his formation and suffered from spatial disorientation during maneuvers, which led to the fatal crash of the fighter into the Gulf of Mexico on Nov. 6, 2014, according to a new Air Combat Command accident investigation board report, released Sept. 8. The pilot, Matthew LaCourse, performed a series of dynamic maneuvers during intercept training with another fighter that stimulated fluid in his inner ear canals, states a release summarizing the report. These fluids are crucial to human...Read More
Three Top Execs, Including Jeff Smisek, Out At United
United Continental Holdings on Tuesday announced the sudden departure of three top executives, including CEO Jeff Smisek. Smisek stepped down as the federal government continues to investigate the relationship between the carrier and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Along with Smisek (pictured), Nene Foxhall, United's executive vice president of communications and government affairs, and Mark Anderson, a senior vice president with government-affairs responsibility, also stepped down. In a statement, United said that the departures "are in connection...Read More
Rolls-Royce Trent 700 Engines Will Power New Airbus Beluga XL Transporter
Rolls-Royce has been selected by Airbus to provide Trent 700 engines and long-term TotalCare engine service support, worth $700 million for five new Beluga XL air transporter aircraft. The aircraft will replace the current Airbus Beluga fleet, which is powered by engines from another provider. The Beluga XL, based on the A330 design, was launched in November 2014 to address the A350 XWB ramp up and the transport capacity requirements for other programmes. Compared to the... Read More
Elbit Systems Of America Solutions Allow USAF Pilots To Own The Weather
Elbit Systems of America, LLC's solutions allow USAF pilots and copilots to own the weather, not succumb to it. With high technological solutions giving clarity during bad weather and low light conditions, the probability of mission success increases. Elbit offers an array of solutions for enhancing capabilities during poor weather conditions. From digital mapping to head up displays to enhanced vision systems, their solutions provide improved situational awareness to missions that would otherwise be threatened not only by the enemy, but the weather... Read More
The National Transportation Safety Board today blamed the deadly crash of a Gulfstream IV last year in Bedford, Massachusetts, on pilot error, saying the crew exhibited a "long-term pattern" of failing to complete preflight checklists that contributed directly to the accident. At a hearing in Washington, D.C., this morning, the Board said that the GIV's gust lock was still engaged as began its takeoff roll, preventing the pilots from rotating. The gust lock keeps the flight controls from moving or being damaged by winds while the airplane is on the ground... Read More
Airbus Starts Production Of First A330neo
Airbus' first A330neo is coming to life one year after the program was launched, with the first 'cutting of metal' underway at its production facilities in Toulouse and Nantes. Machining of the first engine pylon started during the summer at Airbus' facility in Saint-Eloi (Toulouse), while Airbus' Plant in Nantes began production of the first A330neo center wing box... Read More
Airbus Officially Opens US Manufacturing Facility
Airbus is now officially manufacturing airliners in the United States. In a much-anticipated ceremony Monday in Mobile, Alabama, Airbus inaugurated operations at its first ever U.S. Manufacturing Facility. The plant, which assembles A319, A320 and A321 airplanes, is officially open for business, with a skilled team of more than 250 Airbus manufacturing employees now at work on the first U.S.-made Airbus... Read More
Aerojet Rocketdyne Makes $2 Billion Bid For ULA
Sacramento, CA-based Aerojet Rocketdyne has reportedly made a bid to purchase United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing. ULA is a launch contractor for NASA, the Department of Defense, and other government agencies. The Sacramento Bee reports that the bid was first reported by Reuters and the Wall Street Journal. Aerojet Rocketdyne already supplies rocket engines to ULA. While Lockheed and Boeing officials are said to be "looking" at the offer, there has been nothing resembling official talks between the parties...Read More
ANA Announces Two New Star Wars-Themed Planes
ANA, Japan's largest airline, today announced that two more of its planes will be decorated with Star Wars characters as part of an agreement with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. BB-8, a brand new character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens scheduled for theatrical release in December 2015, will be displayed on the livery of the BB-8™ ANA Jet, a Boeing 777-300ER. ANA also announced the Star Wars™ ANA Jet, which will showcase both BB-8 and R2-D2 on the... Read More
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