COMPANY CULTURE IS EVERYTHING, and at Southwest Airlines, especially in flight ops, that culture is consummately conservative. The carrier "has always prided itself on the way our guys [hand-fly] the airplane," says Senior Director-Flight Operations Jeff Martin.

Norwegian ordered 42 new 189-seat 737-800s with blended winglets worth $3.1 billion at list prices, it announced yesterday, adding that it secured purchase rights for an additional 42 of the type. The new airplanes will supplement the 11 -800s Norwegian ordered in May and will be delivered in the 2009-14 period at a rate of about 10 per year. The airline said it secured US Export-Import Bank financing of 85% of the purchase price and has entered into hedging agreements to cover "a large part" of the dollar/kronor exposure related to the acquisition.

Airbus has filed for 380 patents for design features on the A380. The manufacturer said that since the program was launched in December 2000, new technologies have been tested rigorously and "significant breakthrough innovations have been achieved in aerodynamics, cabin design, engine integration, flight controls, aircraft systems, manufacturing techniques and the extensive use of advanced lightweight composite materials." Among innovations for which Airbus has filed applications is the Zero Splice Inlet integrated into the engine nacelles. The ZSI consists of a single 360-deg.

TAM placed an order for four additional 777-300ERs, taking its commitment to the type to eight. Its first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in June 2008. Boeing said the order pushed all-time sales of the 777 past 1,000.

US FAA ordered Bombardier to correct potential flap failures on some 684 CRJ100s/200s operated in the US by Air Wisconsin, Atlantic Southeast Airlines and SkyWest Airlines. "The Bombardier CL-600-2B19 airplanes have had a history of flap failures at various positions for several years," the agency said. "Flap failure may result in a significant increase in required landing distances and higher fuel consumption than planned during a diversion." Thus far, no fatal accidents have been attributed to flap failures.