Aerospace

787 pushed back to mid-Q1 2011

Boeing has pushed back the delivery of the first 787 to launch customer ANA to the middle of the first quarter 2011. Full article

Cathay goes for A350-900/777-300ER fleet backbone

Cathay Pacific has signed a letter of intent to buy 30 Airbus A350-900s and says it intends to exercise existing purchase rights for six Boeing 777-300ERs,...Full article

Rolls-Royce wins Asian deals

Nearly half of the US$1.7 billion of engine orders Rolls-Royce announced at the Farnborough Air Show came from the Asia-Pacific region. Full article

Lessors dominate at Farnborough

Asian carriers have been making headlines at Farnborough with Hong Kong Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Garuda and Thai Airways all signing deals – but it’s the leasing industry which is hogging the limelight. Full article

Sukhoi wraps up Asian commitments

Sukhoi has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with Orient Thai Airlines for 12 Superjet SSJ100/95B aircraft, with an option for twelve more. Full article

Farnborough orders role in

The Farnborough Air Show got off to a strong start in terms of orders, with leasing companies to the fore.Full article

MAS details engine/broadband deals

Malaysia Airlines has announced two big deals as the industry enters Farnborough week, covering engines and broadband connectivity. Full article

Embraer Creates Chinese Subsidiary

Embraer has established its first fully-owned subsidiary in China, as it invests US$18 million in a market where it has long sought a larger market share. Full article

Vietnam Airlines orders CAE A320 simulator

Vietnam Airlines has ordered an Airbus A320 FFS from flight simulator manufacturer CAE in a deal that includes a contract with the CAE Global Academy for the provision of 40 pilots. Full article

Air China orders 20 737-800s

Air China is to purchase 20 Boeing 737-800s for delivery from 2013-2015, adding some 5% to its fleet capacity. The aircraft will mainly be used on domestic routes. Full article

N3 gets Trent 900 Certification

N3 Engines Overhaul Services, the joint venture between Lufthansa Technik and Rolls-Royce, has been certified to maintain the Trent 900 engine that power the Airbus A380. Full article

Boeing ups 737NG production rate again

Boeing plans to up its production rate for the 737NG to 35 per month from early 2012 – one more than it said as recently as May.Full article

Emirates places massive A380 order

Emirates has placed a massive order for 32 Airbus A380s, taking its total for the superjumbo to 90 – or nearly 40% of the total A380 orderbook.Full article

Boeing passes another 747-8 test milestone

Boeing has received expanded type inspection authorization from the FAA for the 747-8 Freighter. Full article

Qatar Takes First 777 Freighter

Qatar Airways took delivery of its first Boeing 777 freighter on May 17.Full article

Boeing ups 737 Production

Boeing is to step up production of its 737NGs by 2.5 units to 34 a month from early 2012.Full article

Korean Air Aerospace to build “Sharklets”

Korean Air Aerospace has been selected as the sole supplier for the new range of fuel saving wing tip “sharklets” being developed by Airbus for the A320 family.Full article

Qatar Takes First 777 Freighter

Qatar Airways took delivery of its first Boeing 777 freighter on May 17.

Qatar Airways ordered three 777 Freighters in May 2006, for deployment on Far East and European routes. Full article

Boeing ups 737 Production

Boeing is to step up production of its 737NGs by 2.5 units to 34 a month from early 2012.

Boeing says the planned rate increase is aimed at satisfying continued strong demand for the Next-Generation 737. Boeing says,... Full article

ANA Pilots Fly 787

Boeing and two ANA pilots flew the Boeing 787 for the first time in mid-May. The aircraft they flew is the first of six flight-test airplanes. Full article

ATR 42-600 Flight Test Begins

ATR’s sole 42-600 prototype has taken to the air for the first time as it starts its 75 hour flight test programme in Toulouse. Full article

Boeing says 787 Ultimate Load Tests Successful

Boeing says that all test requirements were successfully met during the 787 Dreamliner’s ultimate load wing and fuselage bending test. Full article

747-8F completes maiden flight

Boeing has carried out the first flight of its 747-8F. The aircraft flew for 3 hours 39 minutes from Paine Field, near Seattle. Full article