Boeing began final assembly on the fifth 787, which is the third flight-test aircraft. It said the first aircraft scheduled to fly "is on track for 'power on' in June." It also said that the first 777 freighter was towed from its Everett factory onto the flight line late Tuesday. Flight testing will begin this summer.

MANUFACTURERS OF REGIONAL aircraft experienced another good year in 2007 as orders for turboprops and large regional jets more than offset the absence of sales for 50-seat RJs. The transition to 70/90-seat jets meant plenty of business for Bombardier and Embraer, while soaring fuel costs helped push sales of ATR 42/72 and Q400 turboprops to record levels. Poised to enter the regional market within the next 12-24 months are new offerings from Russia and China, while Mitsubishi plans to have its 70/90-seat Mitsubishi Regional Jet in service in 2013.

AS HE LOOKED AT THE LAST remaining Yun-10 resting in the corner of a Shanghai aircraft manufacturing factory last year, Cheng Bushi, deputy chief designer of China's first domestically designed and manufactured large civil jet transport, recalled that he didn't expect he would have to wait more than two decades for Beijing to respond affirmatively to his pleas to build a successor.

Pratt & Whitney last month announced the launch of the second phase of ground testing for its Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine. Tests analyzing engine performance, acoustic characteristics and the nacelle system took place at Pratt's facility in West Palm Beach.

Royal Jordanian posted a JOD2.9 million ($4.1 million) loss in the first quarter, a 22% improvement on the loss incurred in the year-ago period. Operating revenue rose 31% year-over-year to JOD140 million, reflecting a 17% increase in passengers carried and a 2-point improvement in load factor to 68%. Separately, President and CEO Samer Majali conceded that RJ's long-haul fleet modernization will be affected by the 787 program delays.

Tunisair reached agreement with Airbus for the purchase of three A350 XWB-800s, three A330-200s and 10 A320s, the manufacturer said yesterday. No delivery dates were announced for the order. "This acquisition is part of a major fleet development that will allow Tunisair to prepare for the future and take up the market opportunities that exist for our airline," President and CEO Nabil Chettaoui said.

Italian Prime Minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi yesterday threatened to re-nationalize Alitalia if the European Commission continues to question the €300 million ($469.1 million) bridge loan the outgoing government granted the virtually bankrupt company last week (ATWOnline, April 28). "If they continue whining, we could take a decision in which Alitalia could be bought by the state, by the state railways," Berlusconi was quoted as saying.

Boeing last Friday said it moved the 787 static test airframe from its Everett final assembly facility to its nearby structural test rig. Some assembly remains and will be completed concurrently with test set-up, the manufacturer said. Assembly on the third 787 will begin this week (ATWOnline, April 10).