AWAS delivered a 737-400 to Air Dominicana, a Santo Domingo-based startup scheduled to launch flights in September.

Bombardier said Friday that Transport Canada, US FAA and EASA granted final approval to adjust the line maintenance intervals for CRJ700/705/900 NextGen and Q400 aircraft from 400 flight hr. to 600 flight hr. "Previous schedules required CRJ700/705/900 and Q400 aircraft to undergo line maintenance checks every 2.2 months on average," the company said. "Under the new revisions, the intervals are extended to 3.3 months." It said that as a result, operators will experience reduced direct maintenance costs over the life of the aircraft.

Two flight data recorders were recovered but reportedly were badly damaged at the site of the Caspian Airlines Tu-154M crash Wednesday morning that killed all 168 onboard (ATWOnline, July 16). A third recorder has not been located. A spokesperson from Armenia's General Dept. of Civil Aviation told RIA Novosti that the aircraft underwent a full maintenance check last month and was cleared to fly until year end.

US National Transportation Safety Board said "no significant corrosion or obvious pre-existing mechanical damage" was found on the Southwest Airlines 737-300 that developed a hole in its fuselage Monday while flying from Nashville to Baltimore (ATWOnline, July 15). SWA is repairing the aircraft in Charleston, W.Va., where it landed following a "rapid decompression." NTSB said the hole measured approximately 17 in. by 8 in. and that its investigation will continue.

Copa Airlines signed up for 13 additional 737-800s yesterday, an order worth approximately $1 billion at list prices, while Boeing said it has inked orders for eight more 737s from unidentified customer(s). The Copa commitment also includes eight options and brings to 27 the number of 737NGs the Panamanian carrier has on firm order. Delivery of the 13 new aircraft is scheduled to run from 2012 into 2015, with the eight options available between 2015 and 2017. Aircraft will be outfitted with Boeing's Sky Interior, designed to mimic the more modern cabin of the 787.

Juneyao Airlines took delivery of its first purchased A320, Airbus announced. The Shanghai-based carrier also operates two leased A319s and eight leased A320s, with 10 more due to join the fleet through lease and purchase by 2013. Juneyao ordered six A320s from Airbus in June 2007. Aircraft is powered by CFM56 engines and will seat 158 passengers across two classes.

A Caspian Airlines Tu-154M crashed yesterday morning shortly after takeoff from Tehran, killing all 156 passengers and 12 crew onboard in the fourth major fatal commercial accident this year and the third in just a little over six weeks. Caspian Flight 7908 was on its way to Yerevan but slammed into the earth near Qazvin some 16 min. after takeoff, creating a 10-m.-deep crater, according to the Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety Network. The 22-year-old aircraft "exploded on impact and disintegrated," it said.

US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an incident in which a Southwest Airlines 737-300 flying Monday from Nashville to Baltimore made an emergency landing in Charleston, W.Va., owing to "a 1 ft. hole. . .discovered in the top of the fuselage" that caused cabin depressurization. There were no injuries reported. SWA said yesterday it had inspected its more than 180 -300s following the incident and found no similar structural problems.