Boeing, encouraged by the strength of developing markets, is sticking with its bullish aircraft demand forecast despite the uncertain nature of the economic recovery, Commercial Airplanes Marketing Director Drew Magill said Wednesday.

Ryanair is contemplating an order of up to 300 aircraft from either Boeing or Airbus, CEO Michael O’Leary told the Financial Times.

Boeing said Friday that four of its five operating 787 flight test aircraft were in the midst of conducting "remote test operations" away from Seattle, enabling the manufacturer to measure Dreamliner performance in a variety of conditions. Flight test aircraft ZA001 is conducting a week of testing in Roswell, N.M. that will include rejected-takeoff conditions. ZA001 has actually been on remote deployment to Edwards Air Force Base in California for several weeks "with a focus on takeoff- and landing-performance conditions," according to the manufacturer.

Airbus said it secured 301 gross aircraft orders through the first eight months of 2010, more than double the 147 orders it received in the year-ago period. It delivered 335 aircraft through Aug. 31 compared to 330 in the equivalent 2009 period.