Babcock & Brown Air reported an $89.1 million profit in 2009, up 85.1% from earnings of $48.1 million the prior year, on a 30.2% lift in revenue to $307.5 million. The lessor said its aircraft portfolio "performed strongly with an annual lease utilization factor of 98%" last year. As of Dec. 31 it owned 62 Airbus and Boeing aircraft (10 A319s, 17 A320s, one A330, 19 737s, one 747, 12 757s, one 767 and one 777). It said it "expect[s] airline and financial market conditions to improve in 2010 and we will continue to evaluate aircraft acquisition opportunities."

CFM International said the new CFM56-7BE now is undergoing a 150-hr. block test and is on schedule to begin a 50-hr. flight test program in the second quarter in California. Engine certification is planned for mid-year, with flights on 737NGs set for early 2011 and entry into service by mid-2011. CFM said 737NGs equipped with the new engine will realize a 2% improvement in fuel consumption and up to a 4% reduction in maintenance costs.

ATR 42-600 flew for the first time last Thursday on a 2-hr. flight over Toulouse. Aircraft was powered by PW127Ms and underwent tests of its engines, avionics, flight data recording, automatic pilot system, hydraulic and electrical systems, among others. EADS said the flight test campaign will last just 75 hr. in part because of the "high degree of commonality" with the ATR 72-600, which began flying last July (ATWOnline, Oct. 2, 2009).

Qatar Airways took delivery of its 15th 777, a -300ER, and 80th overall aircraft, it said yesterday. It has 17 more on order. It is scheduled to launch service from Doha to Copenhagen (March 30), Ankara (April 5), Tokyo Narita (April 26) and Barcelona (June 7). Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium will add a seventh A320 configured with 180 seats in May.

Atlas Air said it reached an agreement with Boeing to take over operation of the manufacturer's four 747-400 Dreamlifter freighters "toward the latter part of this year." Boeing uses the Dreamlifters to ferry major assemblies for production of 787s. It expects to deliver the first 787 to ANA in the fourth quarter and then begin ramping up Dreamliner production. Atlas and the manufacturer signed a nine-year contract under which the cargo carrier will operate the four Dreamlifters to support the 787 supply chain.

Somon Air of Tajikistan placed an order for two 737-900ERs worth $163 million at list prices, Boeing announced yesterday. The order represents the Dushanbe-based carrier's first direct order from the manufacturer and Boeing's fourth confirmed purchase this year. It also has sold 25 787-8s to United Airlines, 10 737-800s to Ethiopian Airlines and 20 more 737s to an unidentified customer.

Boeing announced the delivery of two 777 freighters to Southern Air, which will operate them on an ACMI contract with Thai Airways. Southern also operates 16 747Fs. Aeronautical Engineers Inc. yesterday delivered its first completed 737-400 converted freighter to Istanbul-based MNG Airlines, which plans to use the aircraft on routes connecting Istanbul Ataturk to Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Luton and Cologne. The aircraft, converted at AEI's Miami facility, can carry a maximum payload of 47,100 lb.

Airbus will defend its presence in the under-150-seat market targeted by Bombardier with its CSeries, Head of Marketing Communications Alan Pardoe said yesterday. Speaking at the 24th Annual SpeedNews Commercial Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., Pardoe noted that an aircraft seating 138 passengers, the configuration chosen by Republic Airways in its recent order for up to 80 CSeries 300s, directly impinges on the A319 market (ATWOnline, Feb. 26).