Embraer 195 received type certification from US FAA, the manufacturer announced Friday. The 110-seat aircraft, Embraer's largest, received ANAC and EASA certification last year.

787 first flight's timing is the subject of speculation, with some media suggesting an October date rather than late September. However, Boeing Chairman Jim McNerney hinted at the delay late last month during the announcement of the company's second-quarter results. If the 787 does fly in mid October--say Oct. 15--it will be 99 days after rollout, the same time lapse for the A380 but way ahead of the first 747, which flew 132 days after its rollout date of Sept. 30, 1968.

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft will lease a third Avro RJ70 to India's MDLR Airlines, which launched operations in March. Delivery of the two-class, 70-seat aircraft is scheduled for the end of next month. MDLR flies to Delhi, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Ranchi and plans to start flying to Jaipur and Surat.

ALMA de Mexico signed an order for two CRJ900 NextGens, Bombardier said. The aircraft are worth $74.4 million at list prices. Delivery date was not announced. ALMA operates 15 CRJ200s to 25 domestic destinations.

Astar Air Cargo reached agreement to purchase two DC-8-73 freighters in its current fleet that it had been leasing from Bank of America. The aircraft are dedicated to Astar's DHL operation.

Rolls-Royce Trent 1000, launch engine for the 787, received its joint airworthiness certification from Europe's EASA and US FAA, becoming the first engine to be validated concurrently under new regulatory procedures. The certification comes as scheduled and just 18 months after the engine's first ground run. Nine development engines have been used in ground testing and a further 10 will support inflight testing on four 787s.

Chinese airlines are expected to expand their collective fleet by 12% annually and reach 1,550 aircraft by 2010, a CAAC source revealed. China's registered fleet numbered 1,039 at the end of 2006, up 15.6% from the year before. As competition increases in the domestic market, Chinese airlines typically are looking to solidify or enhance their competitive positions through aircraft purchases (ATWOnline, July 13).

Cathay Pacific Airways exercised options on five GE90-115B-powered 777-300ERs, increasing its commitment to the model to 23 aircraft. The conversion is part of CX's December 2005 order for 16 (with 12 directly purchased from Boeing and four leased from ILFC) plus 20 options. Last year it exercised rights for two more aircraft (ATWOnline, June 2, 2006). Its first -300ER will be delivered next month and it will have five by year end. They will be introduced on the Hong Kong-New York JFK route from Nov.