Search for MH370
A Boeing 777-200ER vanished on Mar. 8, when Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared from radar over the Gulf of Thailand. MH370 has yet to be located, but industry is now on a path to ensure aircraft cannot be lost without a trace.
Credit: Royal Australian Air Force
Credit: Royal Australian Air Force
CSeries Grounded
Bombardier’s CSeries test fleet was grounded for 100 days following the uncontained failure of a Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofan. Flying resumed in September.
Credit: Bombardier
Credit: Bombardier
Boeing 787-9 Certified
The first major derivative of the 787 was awarded U.S. and European type certification in June, clearing the way for delivery to launch customer Air New Zealand.
Credit: Air New Zealand
Credit: Air New Zealand
Airbus Launches A330neo
Airbus launched the A330neo at the Farnborough Air Show. The reengined widebody will enter service at the end of 2017, and likely signals the end for the A350-800.
Credit: Airbus
Credit: Airbus
MH17 Shootdown
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, a Boeing 777-200ER en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on Jul. 17, was presumed shot down at 33,000 ft. by a surface-to-air missile fired by Ukraine rebels. Better alerts for airlines on conflict-zone risks will be one result.
Credit: Reuters/Landov File Photos
Credit: Reuters/Landov File Photos
C919 Assembly Begins
China’s Comac began final assembly of the first C919 narrowbody airliner in September, aiming for a first flight late in 2015 and first delivery in 2018, 10 years after launch.
Credit: Comac
Credit: Comac
A320neo Takes Flight
With over 3,000 firm orders for the A320neo family, Airbus flew the first Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered aircraft on Sep. 25. The CFM Leap-1A-powered version is to fly in 2015.
Credit: Airbus
Credit: Airbus
Airbus A350-900 Certified
Ten years after its formal launch, the Airbus A350 widebody received type certification from EASA and FAA, clearing the way for delivery to launch customer Qatar Airways.
Credit: Airbus
Credit: Airbus
Mitsubishi MRJ Debut
The first Mitsubishi Regional Jet was unveiled in Nagoya on Oct. 18. Japan’s first commercial jet, the 92-seat MRJ-70 is expected to fly in the second quarter of 2015. Credit:
Mitsubishi Aircraft
Mitsubishi Aircraft
Future of the A380
Confusion reigned after Airbus Group’s CFO in December raised the possibility of ending A380 production. Airbus’s CEO moved to calm investors – and largest A380 customer Emirates – saying Airbus “will one day launch an A380neo and a stretched A380.”
Credit: Airbus
Credit: Airbus
From the highs of Airbus A350 certification and A320neo first flight to the lows of the MH370 and MH17 losses, here is a review of commercial aviation in 2014.
