US FAA is issuing an Airworthiness Directive this week mandating a software fix for autopilot flight director computers on 777s to prevent runway overruns on takeoff, Boeing confirmed. "Boeing had received operator reports of flight crews inadvertently engaging the autopilot while on the ground," the company told the

Air Berlin yesterday announced the cancellation of 10 firm 787 orders worth a combined $1.7 billion at list prices, along with five options, "to account for a change in market conditions and in order to meet. . .specific operative requirements."

AWAS delivered a fifth A330-300 to Singapore Airlines. Aircraft will serve Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Male and Kuwait City beginning this month, with Fukuoka and Taipei added in April and Colombo in May.

FAA issued an emergency Airworthiness Directive calling for operators of 737-600s, -700s, -800s, -900s and -900ERs to inspect elevator tab control mechanisms following "severe elevator vibration" on a Ryanair 737-800 that made an emergency landing in Brussels this month.

Fourth 787 joined Boeing's flight test fleet and completed its first flight Sunday partially equipped with passenger cabin fittings. ZA003 departed Paine Field in Everett at 10:55 a.m. Sunday morning and landed at Boeing Field at 2:01 p.m. In addition to demonstrating that the interior meets certification requirements, ZA003 will be used to conduct tests on systems, noise performance, flight-deck operations, avionics, electromagnetic effects, high-intensity radio frequency response and ETOPS. ZA001 has completed 57 flights, ZA002 37 flights and ZA004 one flight. Total combined hr.

Second 747-8 freighter completed its first flight Sunday. Test Program Manager Andy Hammer said the aircraft "performed well" on a 2.5-hr. flight on which it reached an altitude of 27,000 ft. and an airspeed of 240 kt. before landing at Boeing Field. The second aircraft will conduct tests focused on community noise, environmental control systems and extended operation performance (ATWOnline, March 12).

Spirit Airlines took delivery of the first of four new A320s scheduled to arrive this year and placed it into service Sunday on its Fort Lauderdale-Washington National service. It now operates 26 A319s, two A321s and the new A320, which seats 178 passengers.

AAR Corp. won a contract to design and manufacture composite flap track fairings for wings on the CSeries. Deal could be worth more than $90 million over the life of the program, AAR said.