Cathay Pacific Airways captain and first officer are being lauded after successfully overcoming apparent erratic power surges in the A330 they were operating and landing at an unusually high speed at Hong Kong International Tuesday afternoon. Problems started for the crew of CX Flight 780 en route to HKG from Surabaya when the aircraft, with 309 passengers and 14 crew aboard, was on descent about 20 min. from Hong Kong. Its two Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines began to behave erratically with significant variations in thrust. When the A330 touched down at 239 kt.--109 kt.

Bombardier Aerospace announced that Pluna Lineas Aereas Uruguayas signed a follow-on firm order for three CRJ900 NextGen regional jets and has taken options on an additional six. The Montevideo-based airline already operates seven of the type from an order announced in July 2007. Based on the list price for the aircraft, Bombardier valued the order at approximately $120 million, rising to $370 million should all six options be exercised.

An AeroUnion A300B4-200 freighter crashed on approach to Monterrey at around 11 p.m. local time Tuesday, hitting a roadway leading to the airport and striking a car, killing all five crew and a motorist on the ground. Flight 302 operated by the Mexico City-based cargo carrier was en route to Los Angeles via MTY after originating at MEX. According to the Aviation Safety Network, it had been cleared to land but came down about 2 km. short of the runway threshold and "burst into flames."

MTU Aero Engines completed the first high-speed low-pressure turbine for the PW1524G slated to power CSeries aircraft. Pratt & Whitney VP-Next Generation Product Family Bob Saia said the component's completion "ensures the test program for the PW1524G engine continues on schedule." The turbine will be dispatched to Pratt, which plans to put the first PW1524G test engine through its paces later this year on a test stand at its West Palm Beach facility.

Virgin Blue Group canceled two 777-300ERs on firm order for its V Australia subsidiary scheduled for delivery next year, converting the order to two options for 2012 delivery. The company said the move is designed to allow new CEO John Borghetti an opportunity to review fleet strategy. One option under consideration is to take a few "early 787s that have become available," sources tell ATWOnline. Last month, Virgin Blue ordered up to 100 737s for its domestic, New Zealand and regional international flights.

Precision Conversions will provide Shenzhen-based SF Airlines with a 15-pallet 757-200PCF. The 1992 ex-Air China aircraft recently purchased by SF will undergo modification at the TAECO maintenance facility in Xiamen.

Pratt & Whitney Canada and FlightSafety International last week announced a long-term collaboration agreement under which FlightSafety will manage daily operations, develop and produce courseware material and provide Learning Management System capabilities. P&WC will oversee the global customer-training program. For the duration of the agreement, P&WC customers and employees will gain access to FlightSafety's learning facilities and training curriculum for the full range of P&WC engine products.

Fokker Services and R&D Dynamics signed a 5-year contract renewal for the development and distribution of PMA parts for use in Boeing, Airbus, Fokker and Bombardier air cycle machines as well as the CRJ100/200 starter. The partnership, formed in 1998, is "currently working towards the development of new PMA's for use in other aircraft components," Fokker said in a press release.