Guggenheim Aviation Partners yesterday became the third customer for the A330-200F (ATWOnline, Jan. 17), finalizing an October letter of intent for six on behalf of one of its investment funds. Deliveries are expected to begin in early 2010. "Guggenheim Aviation Partners is making a significant investment in the acquisition of medium-range and long-haul freighters as we believe this is a market that is currently underserved and is expected to benefit from near-term industry growth," MD Paul Newrick said.

Northrop Grumman began testing and evaluation of its laser-based Guardian counter-Manpad missile defense system this week aboard an MD-10 at Los Angeles International. FedEx is the likely operator of the aircraft. Testing will run through March 2008 and will include eight other MD-10s in revenue service. The Guardian system is designed to detect shoulder-fired missiles and direct a nonvisible laser to the seeker head that will disrupt its guidance and cause it to miss the aircraft.

Hong Kong Airlines, the former CR Airways, took delivery of its fourth 737-800.

Calling the problems associated with A380 production "a major shock for Airbus and a major disappointment to all our stakeholders," EADS co-CEO and Airbus President and CEO Louis Gallois yesterday said the manufacturer "most probably" will report negative EBIT for 2006 and will trail Boeing in aircraft orders for the first time since 2000.

ARINC signed a contract with Cathay Pacific Airways to provide an Iridium-based voice telephone solution for seven CX 747-200 freighters. CX is the Iridium service's first commercial airline customer.

Airbus said it reached agreements this week to sell 26 A330-200 freighters, with 20 going to US lessor Intrepid Leasing and six to India's Flyington Freighters, marking the first sales of an aircraft type launched last summer.

Embraer said yesterday that it delivered 25 commercial aircraft in the fourth quarter, bringing its total to 98 for full-year 2006 led by 40 E-190s. The Brazilian manufacturer took 67 firm orders for its commercial segment during the quarter, increasing its firm order backlog 11.3% over the previous quarter to $14.8 billion. It also raised its delivery guidance to 165-170 in 2007 including executive and defense/government aircraft. Its total deliveries for 2006 were 130. It did not break down projected 2007 deliveries by segment.

GE said it will acquire Smiths Aerospace for $4.8 billion in cash, combining its aircraft engine business with Smiths' broad array of avionics equipment and components, under terms of a blockbuster agreement announced by the companies Monday. "The acquisition will broaden GE's offerings for aviation customers by adding Smiths' innovative flight management systems, electrical power management, mechanical actuation systems and airborne platform computing systems to GE Aviation's commercial and military aircraft engines and related services," GE said in a statement.