GE Aviation is working with NASA on a wind-tunnel test program to evaluate counterrotating fan-blade systems for an "open rotor" engine design that hearkens back to their joint efforts a quarter of a century ago. Testing will begin at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Ohio in early 2009 and continue into mid-year, GE said. The company noted that "this is not a full engine test, but a component rig test to evaluate subscale fan systems using GE's and NASA's advanced computational tools and data acquisition systems."

International Aero Engines announced an order from Grupo TACA for V2500 SelectOne engines to power an additional 15 A320 family aircraft. Contract includes the V2500Select aftermarket agreement and is valued at $400 million at list prices. TACA currently flies 37 V2500-powered aircraft and is awaiting delivery of four more, giving it a 19-aircraft backlog with IAE.

Spirit AeroSystems won a contract with Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. to design and build the pylon for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet. Financial terms were not disclosed. First delivery of the MRJ is slated for 2013.

Croatia Airlines ordered four A319s, Airbus announced. New aircraft will be powered by CFM56-5s and seat 132 in two classes. It already operates eight A320s. No delivery date was announced.

United Technologies Corp. announced that Hamilton Sundstrand President David Hess will succeed Stephen Finger as president of Pratt & Whitney on Jan. 1 when Finger retires. Alain Bellemare, currently president of Pratt & Whitney Canada, will succeed Hess at Hamilton Sundstrand. Hess and Bellemare will report to UTC President & CEO Louis Chenevert. Hess, 53, joined UTC in 1979 and has been with Hamilton Sundstrand since 1995. He has held his current position for three years.

The Russian government is moving ahead with forging a state-owned airline alliance to replace defunct AiRUnion, with the first board meeting of the new nine-carrier grouping scheduled for Nov. 11. The company will be 51% owned by Russian Technology Corp., a source close to the negotiations confirmed to ATWOnline, with Russia Airlines (or some derivative thereof) reportedly the preferred name. RIA Novosti reported that the Moscow city government will hold the remaining 49% (ATWOnline, Oct. 2).

Tianjin-based Okay Airways became the first Chinese carrier to operate the domestically produced MA60 as the company completed a successful inaugural flight on Oct. 19. The 50/60-seat turboprop's other customers are from Latin America, Africa and elsewhere in Asia. The aircraft has received 136 orders so far. China's first LCC, Okay has increased its focus on the regional market in recent years (ATWOnline, March 17). Last year it signed a lease deal with China Aviation Industrial Leasing Co.

Ryanair exercised options for 10 737-800s under terms of its 2005 agreement with Boeing (ATWOnline, Feb. 25, 2005). Three aircraft are scheduled for delivery in October 2010 and seven the following month. Separately, the LCC said it has asked the UK Office of Fair Trading to investigate Air BP's alleged attempt to increase the delivery cost of aviation fuel at Belfast City and Glasgow Prestwick by more than 50%.