Smiths Aerospace and Isothermal Systems Research announced a strategic alliance. "Smiths' industry leading electronics coupled with ISR's SprayCool technology means Smiths is taking aggressive steps to provide customers with even greater performance avionics that can only be enabled by the most modern thermal management solutions," the companies said in a statement. Smiths is developing the Common Core for the 787.

Air France exercised options for three additional CFM56-powered A318s seating 123 in a single-class layout. AF launched the model in 1999 with an order for 15. It brought its first A318 into service in October 2003 and currently operates nine fitted with seating for 34 passengers in business class and 72 in coach. It will take delivery of nine more, including the three newly ordered aircraft, between now and spring 2007.

Boeing now sees a possible go-ahead decision on the 747ADV program in early December. In the meantime, the manufacturer continues to make refinements to the design. It re-lofted the outboard section of the wing and opted for single-slotted outboard flaps. Inboard, double-slotted flaps replace the current triple-slotted devices. Boeing also has decided to use the slightly larger 777 windows.

Taca took delivery of the first of five A321s Sept. 23, becoming the first operator of the type in Latin America. It also was the region's first operator of the A319 and A320.

Boeing's aircraft assembly lines could be back in operation as early as Friday after the company and striking workers represented by the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract covering approximately 19,000 employees in the Seattle area, Wichita and Portland, Ore.