Thales was selected by Airbus to supply the head-up display for the A350 XWB as a customer option. Thales said its HUD will support features such as Enhanced Vision Systems "and potentially Surface Guidance Systems and Synthetic Vision Systems." The new HUD has been redesigned with improved head clearance, "and the graphical generation is embedded within the Display Units, allowing a simplified architecture for the overall cockpit solution." This higher level of integration means a weight saving of around 16 kg. in a dual installation, it said.

Horizon Air revealed that it is in discussions with Bombardier about pushing back deliveries of the 15 Q400s it ordered in April 2007 that were originally scheduled to begin delivering last month. Parent Alaska Air Group said in a regulatory filing that it is interested in "retiming" deliveries owing to capacity cuts; its 2009 first quarter capacity is expected to be down more than 14% year-over-year and full year 2009 capacity is slated to be 9% lower.

Electromagnetic interference from the powerful VLF transmitters at the Harold E. Holt US Communication Base near Exmouth in Western Australia, along with passengers' portable electronic devices, are the focus of investigators looking into the violent midair upset of a Qantas A330-300 that injured 70 passengers last month (ATWOnline, Oct.

Air China Cargo took delivery of a Tu-204 freighter, the first Russian-built aircraft to enter China's civil aviation market since the 2000 withdrawal, CA said. It will operate the aircraft from Tianjin to Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.

Air Arabia firmed options for 10 A320s, Airbus announced, following up on the order for up to 49 aircraft signed at last year's Dubai Air Show and saying said it needs the additional planes to support expansion and its new Moroccan base scheduled to open next year.

Eastern Airways will lease two additional 50-seat Saab 2000s from the manufacturer with deliveries scheduled for Dec. 3 and 15. It currently operates six of the type, along with 23 Jetstream 41s. It serves 18 destinations and will launch six-times-weekly Aberdeen-Oslo service on Jan. 12 aboard a Saab.

LAN Airlines signed a contract for four 767-300s for delivery in 2012 plus two options, according to a Nov. 10 stock market filing cited by both Reuters and the Associated Press. Neither Boeing nor the carrier confirmed the order, which LAN said was worth approximately $636 million. It has 26 787s on order.

China Aviation Industry Corp. Group, the result of the merger of AVIC I and AVIC II, launched formally last week, VP Tan Ruisong told reporters, with registered capital of CNY64 billion ($9.36 billion).