Navtech signed a five-year extension to its agreement with British Airways for Aerad aeronautical charts.

Air Seychelles took delivery of a second 767-200ER. Aircraft is leased from ILFC.

International Aero Engines, the consortium led by Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce that builds the V2500 engine for the A320 family, expects to produce nearly as many engines this year as it did in 2008, although CEO Jon Beatty said he would not be surprised if both Airbus and Boeing "have some rate rationalization" in 2010.

CFM International, the GE Aviation/Snecma joint venture, is beginning testing on its first demonstration LEAP-X engine core as it aggressively develops a powerplant for a potential next-generation narrowbody entering service by 2018 (ATWOnline, May 15). The LEAP-X does not feature an open rotor design, but GE and Snecma nevertheless are engaged actively in testing the technology first conceived in the 1980s.

Emirates A340-500 tail strike at Melbourne on March 20 was caused by an apparent computer input error, according to Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators (ATWOnline, April 14). The preliminary factual report on the incident, issued yesterday in Canberra, found that despite five levels of cross-checking (as recommended by Airbus), an incorrect takeoff weight for the A340 with 257 passengers and 14 crew aboard was entered into the computers that calculate the takeoff speed and thrust.

Thales was awarded a contract by DFS, the German air navigation service provider, for the delivery, installation, training and commissioning of the PAM-FRA1 wide area multilateration system.

Boeing is completing final 787 static testing in advance of launching an aggressive flight test program later this quarter to gain FAA type certification within 8.5-9 months of first flight, 787 VP and Chief Project Engineer Mike Delaney said yesterday.

Boeing is targeting a 2% reduction in 737NG fuel consumption by 2011 through a combination of airframe and engine improvements.