Aer Lingus signed a letter of intent to purchase two A330s for delivery in mid-2007. They will be powered by GE CF6-80E1s. Aer Lingus already operates seven A330s, four of which are leased. It continues to evaluate "new-generation long-haul fleet opportunities," according to CEO Dermot Mannion.

Icelandair selected the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 to power its 787s. It placed an order for two firm aircraft and five options in February 2005 for delivery in 2010. The engine order is worth up to $650 million at list prices and includes a lifetime maintenance agreement. The Trent 1000 will run for the first time this month and is scheduled for its first flight on the Rolls-Royce flying testbed in the first quarter of next year.

Airbus received orders for 19 aircraft in January comprising one A319, nine A320s, five A321s, two A350-800s and two A350-900s. The orders for the A320s and A321s were placed by the same unidentified customer. ILFC ordered the A350s and the A319 order came from a private customer. Figures were down 50% on the year-ago month, when it booked orders for 38 jets--18 A320 family aircraft, four A330-200s, six A330-300s and 10 A340-600s.

Bombardier said Ryukyu Air converted an option held on a Q100 into a firm order for a 50-seat Q300.

Pratt & Whitney and MTU will collaborate on a "technology readiness program" to develop high-pressure compressors for the next generation of mid-thrust engines powering eventual successor aircraft to the A320 and 737. Ground rig testing of the new compressor is scheduled for this fall in Munich. "Development of a whole new generation of single-aisle, medium-range aircraft will depend to a large degree on the availability of extremely efficient new engines," Pratt Senior VP-Engineering Paul Adams said.

PSA Airlines, a US Airways Express partner, chose AeroData's ACARS Performance and Weight & Balance System for use by its pilots aboard its 49 CRJ200s and CRJ700s.

CFM International completed a 63-hr. flight test program on its CFM56-5B/CFM56-7B Tech Insertion package, paving the way for certification in June and EIS in 2007 on the A320/737NG. The program incorporates technologies developed and validated as part of Project TECH56 and includes improvements to the high-pressure compressor, combustor and high- and low-pressure turbines. According to CFMI, the package will provide operators with longer time on wing, about 5% lower maintenance costs, 15%-20% lower NOx emissions and better fuel burn.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes may not surpass the 1,002 jets sold in 2005, but it already is off to a fast start compared to last year. According to the Boeing website, the company received gross orders for 39 aircraft from seven customers in January, all of which were for 737s. By comparison, it booked orders for 20 aircraft--also all 737s--in the first month of 2005.