Aircraft News-Sept. 15, 2015

Alaska Airlines will turn some of its passenger aircraft into full freighters, as part of a larger strategy to retire its aging fleet of Boeing 737-400s.

Inmarsat has published the results of evaluation trials conducted earlier this year with Australia’s air navigation services provider (ANSP), Airservices Australia, to demonstrate oceanic flight tracking using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract (ADS-C) to meet ICAO’s new global standard of a minimum 15-minute reporting interval from the end of 2016.

Boeing has begun final assembly on schedule of the first 737 MAX 8 at its Renton, Washington, facility, the US manufacturer said in a statement.

Embraer has confirmed the 18 E-175s SkyWest Airlines is adding to United Express service are new firm orders

The R2-D2 All Nippon Airways (ANA) Boeing 787-9 rolled-out from the Boeing Everett Factory for the first time Sept. 14.

SkyWest Airlines and United Airlines have amended their Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) to add 18 Embraer E-175s to SkyWest’s United Express service.

The Bombardier Q400 has gained Brazilian type certification, enabling the aircraft to operate in the South American nation.