US FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency certified Sunday's A380 evacuation trial in Hamburg during which 853 passengers and 20 crew exited the aircraft in 78 sec. with one serious injury, a broken leg (ATWOnline, March 27). "We have passed a major milestone on the road to certification," Airbus COO and A380 program head Charles Champion said.

GE Commercial Aviation Services and Boeing announced an order yesterday for 30 firm and 30 option 737NGs, a deal worth approximately $4 billion at list prices.

Boeing is predicting "another phenomenal year" for the 787 in 2006, with Mike Bair, VP and GM of the Dreamliner program, telling ATWOnline that there are another 30 offers out to airlines for 500 787s on top of the 28 customers who have committed to 386 aircraft.

Bombardier signed a contract with Petroleum Air Services of Egypt for a Q300. PAS previously ordered four Q300s. Baltia Airlines, a startup that will serve St. Petersburg and the Baltics out of New York JFK, said it has secured one 747 for use beginning later this year.

TAME of Ecuador took delivery of its first two 76-seat Embraer 170s. It also has an order for a 104-seat 190 and options on an additional four aircraft from the 170/190 family.

Qantas will convert four 737-300s to freighters for domestic operator Australian air Express. Work will commence next month and be completed by January, with the aircraft entering service as they are completed from August. The program will use conversion kits developed by Israel Aircraft Industries' Bedek Aviation division. The 737s will replace a fleet of 727-200s. Australian air Express is owned jointly by Qantas and Australia Post.

Excel Airways, a UK-based charter carrier, will purchase 10 Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglet shipsets for its fleet of 737-800s, four of which are leased from ILFC and six owned jointly by GE Commercial Aviation Services and Royal Bank of Scotland. APB said Excel will save more than 115,000 gal. of fuel per aircraft per year using the winglets.

Boeing is in final negotiations with Emirates for up to 50 787-10s, which will become the fourth model of the fastest-selling twin-aisle aircraft in history. Mike Bair, VP and GM of the 787 program, told media yesterday in a global conference call, "It's not a matter of if but when we are going to do it. We have three versions and there have been a few customers, most notably Emirates, that have asked us for a stretched version with 300 seats." He indicated that up to a dozen carriers are in discussion with Boeing about the model, which would be ready for service late 2012.