Boeing on Friday said it had completed "initial airworthiness testing" on the 787, "a milestone [that] will enable more crew members to take part in flights" and allow more Dreamliners to join the flight test program. Since the first 787 flight on Dec. 15, 15 flights have occurred, accumulating nearly 60 hr. in the air (ATWOnline, Dec. 23, 2009). The aircraft has been flown to an altitude of 30,000 ft. (9,144 m.) and a speed of Mach 0.65. Initial stall tests and other dynamic maneuvers have been run.

Lufthansa Systems signed a five-year contract with Cimber Sterling for deployment of its Lido/RouteManual and Lido/TakeOff solutions.

Aeroflot announced the retirement of its last Tu-154. The aircraft flew for the final time on Dec. 31 from Yekaterinburg to Moscow Sheremetyevo, according to RIA Novosti, and will be replaced with an A320. SU once operated 23 154s.

FedEx said it has deployed the first of 30 777Fs it is slated to receive by 2019 on Shanghai-Memphis service. It did not reveal flight frequency. The express giant said it will be operating four 777Fs between Asia and the US by April.

Virgin Atlantic Airways cancelled its outstanding order for six A340-600s, according to Airbus's orders and deliveries list. The airline firmed its commitment for six purchased and four leased A330-300s last month (ATWOnline, Jan. 12). It currently operates 19 A340s. There now are seven A340s in Airbus's order book, five -500s and two -600s. The VS cancellation first was reported by Air Transport Intelligence.

Rockwell Collins said EgyptAir selected a suite of avionics for eight 737NGs including dual MultiScan Hazard Detection System configuration, Head-up Guidance System, TCAS and Multi-Mode Receiver. Aircraft are scheduled for delivery in September 2010-August 2012.

Tiger Airways brought forward the delivery of five A320s to 2010-11 from 2016, it said in a statement cited by press reports from Singapore. It currently operates 17 A320 family aircraft.

AVIC's Commercial Aircraft Engine Co. yesterday began construction of its CNY3.23 billion ($472.5 million) Shanghai research and development facility, which is scheduled to be completed in 2013 and will include and R&D center and an airworthiness testing center as well as engineering, liaison and customer service facilities.