Bombardier delivered the first of four Q400s ordered by Croatia Airlines, which holds options on two additional aircraft.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 took to the skies yesterday at Komsomolsk-on-Amur in southeast Russia, completing its inaugural flight in 65 min. and performing four circuits of the airfield at various altitudes up to 1,200 m., the manufacturer announced. "While much remains to be completed on the way to certification, I am certain that we are well prepared for them and that the aircraft will enjoy the success it deserves," Sukhoi Holdings DG Mikhail Pogosyan said (ATWOnline, May 14).

US Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), concerned that his state will lose air service if the Delta Air Lines-Northwest Airlines merger is approved, last week attempted to attach amendments to nonaviation legislation aimed at making approval more difficult, a legislative tactic that ultimately failed but that could be attempted again by lawmakers opposed to the merger, Politico.com reported. US Dept.

"Our people are energized and it's fun to be here," Boeing VP and GM-787 Program Pat Shanahan said yesterday when summing up the state of the Dreamliner production line at the company's Everett, Wash., facility. Addressing a gathering of global media, Shanahan said Boeing is on track for power-on for the first aircraft next month. "Systems are complete in the wing and forward fuselage is only hours away, while aft body is almost done," he declared. The company expects the mid-body systems and wiring to be complete in June as well.

Frontier Airlines employees will have salaries reduced 1%-10% based on salary range as the carrier tries to manage its way through the Chapter 11 restructuring process. In addition to the pay cuts, Frontier is suspending for now its match to employee 401k plans. In an internal memo obtained by Denver television station 9NEWS, CEO Sean Menke told workers that the pay cuts are needed to reduce the overall cost structure and attract new financing. "As a point of necessity, we are going to have to reduce our labor and benefit expenses very quickly," he said.

Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems will design and produce the composite center fuselage frame section for the A350 XWB under an agreement with Airbus announced last week. The structure, which will be approximately 64.7 ft. (19.7 m.) long and weigh around 8,990 lb. (4,078 kg.), will be manufactured in a new assembly plant to be built in North Carolina, Spirit said.

Regional, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air France, converted two options for E-170s to firm orders. The transaction is valued at $63 million.

The new union ostensibly representing US Airways' 5,000 pilots voiced its opposition to a potential merger with United Airlines Friday, stating that unresolved issues relating to the merger of the former US and America West Airlines must be addressed first.