A Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 freighter crashed on landing at Riyadh yesterday, catching fire and breaking apart. The two pilots were able to escape via the emergency slide and were being treated at a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries. LHC said in a statement it had spoken with both pilots by phone.

US FAA issued airworthiness engine certifications for GE's GEnx-2B powering the 747-8 and the CF34-10A for the ARJ21, GE Aviation said.

Aviation Partners Boeingannounced orders from both Allegiant Air and Air China for blended winglets. Installations have begun for Allegiant's six shipsets of 757-200 blended winglets; delivery of Air China's 30 737NG blended winglets will begin in 2011. It additional said that Hainan Airlines has committed to install winglets on all future 737-800 deliveries (it currently has 45 on order).

Flybe announced it has brought forward the delivery of the first of its 35 E-175s to Spring 2011 to place the aircraft on an eight-times-daily Guernsey-London Gatwick service. “We’ve pulled out all the stops with Embraer … to bring forward the delivery of the first of our new E-175 jets so that we can base an aircraft in Guernsey,” CCO Mike Rutter said.

Turkish Technic reached a maintenance services contract with ULS Cargo to provide C checks on three A310Fs through the end of the year. PPG Aerospace introduced redesigned windshields for the A320 family that improve moisture resistance. The windshields incorporate new PRC sealants, a different interlayer and an improved electrical system, said PPG Aerospace Global Director James Romano. Egyptair will switch aircraft on Cairo-New York JFK flights from a 777-200ER to a 777-300ER on Jan 1.

Air Berlin and Air Lease Corp., a new leasing company led by former ILFC Chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy, signed a sale/leaseback agreement for one A320-200, one A321-200, two 737-800s and one used A320-200. All are equipped with CFM engines. The first delivery, which took place May 19, was for the A320-200. Delivery of an A321 and a used A320 took place in June. Delivery of the two 737-800s is scheduled for later in the year and early 2011.

Turkish Airlines introduced a new Comfort Class to its offerings of economy, business and first class.

Uzbekistan Airways received its first A320, configured in a two-class cabin layout seating 150 passengers, 12 in business and 138 in economy. It is the first of 10 A320s ordered directly from Airbus as part of the carrier’s strategic fleet modernization program. The A320 will make its first commercial flight today from Tashkent to Baku.