Boeing announced Tuesday that China Southern Airlines has agreed to buy 10 777-300ERs, pending Chinese government approval, to meet growing demand in Asia/Pacific and China.

CFM International owners GE and Safran have formed a joint venture with Japan’s Nippon Carbon Co. to make and sell silicon carbide (SiC) continuous fiber.

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. (SCAC), which received its European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certificate A-176 Friday, will deliver 10 Sukhoi Superjet 100s to customers in Southeast Asia and Latin America in the second half of this year, SCAC president Vladimir Prisyazhnyuk said.

Estonian Air (OV) has ordered three E-175s and one E-190 as it transitions to a fleet of Embraer E-Jets. Delivery is scheduled for the second half of 2014.

New Accra-based regional Starbow (S9) has acquired two additional BAe 146s for its regional and domestic routes, Falko Regional Aircraft announced.

A Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine, the powerplant for the new Airbus A350, made its first flight on an A380 test aircraft in Toulouse, France. The aircraft flew with one of its four Trent 900 engines replaced by the Trent XWB.

Pakistan International Airlines (PK) signed a firm order for five Boeing 777-300ERs, plus five options, in deal valued at nearly $1.5 billion at list prices, Boeing said.

US President Barack Obama spoke Friday to workers at Boeing's Everett, Wash., manufacturing plant, touting rising commercial aircraft sales as a sign that US manufacturing is on the rebound.