Boeing said it has started making the upper wing join area fix on the first flight test 787 and the static test Dreamliner to address the structural weakness identified in June that led to the program's latest delay. The manufacturer said in August that first flight "is expected by the end of 2009" with first delivery to launch customer ANA pushed back to the 2010 fourth quarter, and insisted that the wing join area modification is relatively simple (ATWOnline, Aug. 28).

China expects to secure the launch customer(s) for the new C919 large commercial aircraft sometime in the first half of 2010, Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Marketing Director Chen Jin told reporters at this week's Aviation Expo/China event in Beijing. "A lot of airlines and aircraft leasing companies have applied to be the launch customer for the C919, but since launch customers can get a favorable price, the number of launch customers is limited," Chen said. He said the initial order could number as many as 90 aircraft.

DHL Express introduced two new 767ERFs into its fleet. Aircraft are operated by DHL Air (UK) on flights from Nottingham East Midlands and Leipzig to New York JFK and Cincinnati. A third new 767ERF will enter into service on the EMA-CVG route next month, with three more joining the DHL fleet by 2013. The aircraft will replace shared capacity on MD-11Fs secured through a joint venture with Lufthansa Cargo. They offer payload capacity of 59 tons.

AVIC this week strengthened its international OEM relationships with the announcement of a significant agreement with Safran covering the design, production and support of landing gear systems and engine nacelles that also will pave the way for extensive Franco-Chinese cooperation on China's C919 150-seat commercial transport.

Aeroflot took delivery of its fifth A330-200 on lease from AerCap. The Trent 772-powered aircraft seats 34 in business class and 207 in economy. SU currently operates the type to Beijing, Havana, Vladivostok and London Heathrow and said it will fly the new aircraft on both international and domestic routes. It said it plans to take delivery of five A330-300s and one more -200 before year end.

Aircraft Management Technologies announced that Jet2.com will install its Flightman electronic flight bag software on its 737-300s and 757-200s.

Cabot Aviation arranged the sale of two BAe 146-300s from KLM cityhopper to Cologne-based WDL Aviation, which will operate the aircraft on ACMI and charter contracts.

FedEx yesterday took delivery of the first of 30 777 freighters on order. By April 2010 it plans to have four 777Fs flying between Asia and the US. It said flight time will be 1-3 hr. faster than the MD-11. Deliveries will continue through 2019.