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.

Navtech signed with Norwegian to provide aircraft performance software products supporting the EFB Class 1 and 2 environment on DY's 737s. Suite includes Aircraft Performance, Mass & Balance, eCharts, Seamless ENC and FMS Navigation Data products.

Embraer delivered 122 commercial aircraft in 2009 compared to 162 in 2008, comprising seven ERJ-145s, 22 E-170s, 11 E-175s, 62 E-190s and 20 E-195s. The Brazilian manufacturer delivered 244 aircraft overall, a 19.6% surge from the record 204 delivered in 2008, as deliveries of executive aircraft like the Phenom 100 and Legacy 600 nearly doubled.

Boeing took orders for four 737s from an unidentified customer during the week ended Dec. 31 and also recorded cancellations of commitments for two 747s and one 777. Guggenheim Aviation Partners confirmed to ATWOnline that it canceled orders for two 747-8Fs. It still has two on order. That left the manufacturer with a full-year gross order total of 263 aircraft (197 737s, five 747s, seven 767s, 30 777s and 24 787s) and a net total of 142 aircraft (178 737s, two 747s, two 767s, 19 777s and -59 787s).

Airlink leased four ERJ-135s from Embraer subsidiary ECC Leasing, the manufacturer announced. Delivery of all four aircraft is scheduled to occur this month. They will seat 37 and will be based at Johannesburg. Airlink CEO Rodger Foster said they will replace the regional's "oldest turboprops" and will "meet the growing demand of our domestic and intra-regional markets."

Airbus said Virgin Atlantic Airways' contract for six A330-300s was signed Dec. 30. The airline announced the order, plus the lease of an additional four A330s from AerCap for 12 years each, last June (ATWOnline, June 23, 2009). VS currently operates 19 A340-600s and six A340-300s and has six A380s on order. Airbus is scheduled to release its year-end order and delivery numbers today in Seville.

Boeing said it is assessing the "market viability" of the 787-3 after ANA converted its order for 28 of the shorter-range Dreamliner variants to the standard 787-8, leaving no -3s in the manufacturer's backlog.

RwandAir put two CRJ200s purchased from Lufthansa into service last week. Aircraft will operate to Johannesburg, Entebbe and Nairobi.