Boeing and Air France reached an agreement to turn three 747-400 Combis into full freighters as part of the 747-400 Special Freighter program. According to Boeing, AF is the first carrier to announce plans to convert its former Combi aircraft, which are currently in all-passenger configuration. For the conversions ordered by AF, Boeing said the aircraft will receive a strengthened main-cabin floor, a full main-deck lining and provisions for a new cargo handling system with an upgraded flightdeck. AF expects to receive its first modified aircraft in June 2007.

The lack of a successor for CEO Noel Forgeard, who is earmarked to move up to the position of co-CEO of parent company EADS, is starting to create a sense of unease at Airbus. "We need a compass," Executive VP-Operations Gerard Blanc said at the end of a two-day Technical Press Briefing held last week in Toulouse. "We need a new heading. We have a strong management team, we know that. We also know we're changing our heading; however, we don't know how."

"All-new" A350-800 could take to the skies in mid-2010 and the dash 900 at the end of 2010, head of A330/A340/A350 Program Olivier Andries said.

While Boeing's 787 does away with pneumatic bleed air as a power source for many aircraft functions, the technology of electromechanical actuation has not advanced sufficiently to take the place of hydraulic power on transport aircraft. This was the conclusion of several system experts speaking on ATW's "More Electric Aircraft" webcast earlier this week.

British Airways CEO Rod Eddington watered down Airbus Chief Commercial Officer John Leahy's suggestion that it is "not a matter of if but of when" BA will order the A380.