General Electric aircraft lessor GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) confirmed a 2013 order previously listed as coming from an unidentified customer for 40 737s split evenly between the MAX and 737-800 versions. Carrying a list-price value of $3.9 billion, the order hikes GECAS commitment for the 737 MAX to 95 aircraft and the current-production 737 family to 387, making it the most for both models by any leasing company in the leasing industry.
Strong fourth-quarter and full-year financial results are a sign of things to come at Delta Air Lines, its executives believe, as key developments—including strong business traveler bookings and a favorable response to the carrier’s joint venture with Virgin Atlantic—have executives bullish on 2014.
China has begun flight testing a high-bypass ratio turbofan that will greatly improve the performance of the Y-20 heavy airlifter and potentially power the C919 commercial aircraft. The engine is the WS-20, according to local media that have published photographs of it in the left inboard position of an in-flight Ilyushin Il-76 used as a testbed. WS-20 is believed to be the military name of the powerplant, which has also been called SF-A for civil purposes.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) says its preliminary data shows that 2013 was the “safest year ever recorded” for fatalities on scheduled international passenger and cargo air transport operations for turbojets and turboprops weighing more than 12,500 lb.
BAE Systems won EASA certification to use a 3-D printed part on its BAe 146 regional airliner. The component—a plastic window breather-pipe used as a vent to stop cabin windows from misting—is now being produced by the company using a printing technique known as additive manufacturing.
Jan. 21-22—MRO Latin America, Windsor Atlantica, Rio de Janerio, Brazil Feb. 4-6—MRO Middle East, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE Feb. 10—Air Transport World’s 40th Annual Airline Industry Achievement Awards, Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, Singapore Mar. 4-5—Defense Technology & Affordability Requirements, Hilton Arlington, Arlington, Va Mar. 6—57th Annual Laureates Awards, National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. Apr. 8-10—MRO Americas 2014, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Ariz.
Introducing the Aero 100 Airfare Benchmark Index Designed for anyone with risk on the future level of airfares – for example Airlines, Banks/Credit Card Companies, Corporate Travel Managers, etc. The Aero 100 Airfare Benchmark Index tracks daily airfares within the domestic airline market. The Aero 100 delivers financial risk mitigation and protection against constant fluctuation of airline ticket prices by providing the price settling mechanism for Commodity Futures Contracts.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Melbourne - Sydney, January 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Melbourne - Sydney, January 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way
Despite a year of turnover within the Transportation Security Administration’s General Aviation branch, TSA has slowly built up the number of approved gateways that provide direct access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and has progressed on other initiatives to increase business aviation operations there.
A European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) order to inspect Airbus A380 belly fairings could disrupt maintenance schedules for about 110 aircraft because of its tight compliance window. The airworthiness directive (AD), issued January 17, mandates checks along the belly fairing leading edge for fatigue cracks and, if necessary, repairs.
In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in the U.S., Aviation Daily will not publish a Jan. 21 issue. The next issue will be dated Jan. 22. Aviation Week Intelligence Network subscribers can visit www.aviationweek.com/awin for continuous news updates.
The U.K. Airports Commission is calling for more detailed proposals on the four options selected as potential solutions to increase airport capacity to serve London. The commission is also asking for the promoters of an airport in the Inner Thames Estuary on the Isle of Grain to provide more information, so that all the capacity growth options can be examined with the same set of specific data.
In overwhelming and rapid-fire motion—both unusual characteristics of the 113th Congress—U.S. lawmakers have passed the fiscal 2014 omnibus appropriations bill. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill before Jan. 19, averting another government shutdown and funding the government through September.
Airbus has completed modification work on fewer than one-quarter of the in-service A380 fleet, fixes that are required to strengthen wing rib-feet and ribs. Moving all 122 aircraft through the retrofit program will likely take until the end of 2015.
Airbus hopes to wrap up a new contract with its Chinese final assembly line (FAL) partners this year, potentially extending its remit to A320neos, and is progressing towards the operational opening of its new U.S. facility in Mobile, Ala. The Airbus A320 FAL in Tianjin, China, is a joint venture with a Chinese consortium, including Tianjin Free Trade Zone (TJFTZ) and China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC). It began line operations in September 2008 and delivered its first aircraft in June 2009, becoming the airframer’s first FAL outside Europe.
A project to provide a remote U.K. territory with an airport is entering its most critical year. Work to build an airport for the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic hit the halfway mark in November, with contractors making significant progress on the Dry Gut program to fill a valley with rubble to support the construction of the airport’s 1,550-meter (5,085-ft.) runway.
The budget bill making its way through Congress comes with language—but not dedicated funding—that calls on FAA to evaluate the pros and cons of mandating deployable flight recorders on airliners.
A U.S. effort to provide public-private financing for NextGen equipage is making significant progress, with access to a fund specifically for general aviation users to be provided in the spring.
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