A program to convert Bombardier CRJ200 passenger aircraft to freighters with a large cargo door is just “a few weeks away from a formal launch,” says Robert Convey, VP-sales and marketing for Aeronautical Engineeers (AEI). AEI, a Miami-based conversion company, in October reached an agreement with Bombardier Aerospace to “explore market interest” in large cargo door-inclusive conversions of CRJ200s.
New rules this year on private lending and export credit agency financing, coming as airlines look to finance large, high-value orders for new aircraft, will pressure carriers to find new sources of reasonably priced funding. “Airlines are already having to work a lot harder and start much earlier to arrange funding,” PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) says in an aviation finance report released this week after the company interviewed CEOs and CFOs of airlines, aircraft lessors, European banks and other financial institutions in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
An established aviation-maintenance college has been acquired by a private equity firm that sees opportunities to build partnerships with airlines, aircraft manufacturers and MRO providers, enhance the school’s Tulsa, Okla., campus and open new campuses. “We’re particularly excited about the opportunity to develop deeper partnerships with the industry,” says Jason Rosenberg, a principal with Chicago-based, private equity company Sterling Partners.
U.K. based engineering and aerostructures company GKN Aerospace has appointed a new CEO for its engine systems business, formed by the takeover of Sweden's Volvo Aero. Michael McCann will become CEO of GKN Aerospace–Engine Systems, while his former role of senior VP-business development and strategy for GKN Aerospace will be filled by Charles Paterson.
China has declared its Beidou satellite navigation system fully operational, although the service remains limited to the Asia-Pacific region. The operating office says it is “accelerating” construction of the system but repeats its long-standing commitment to achieve global coverage by about 2020; no possible earlier date is mentioned.
U.S. government agencies are quietly making “direct arrangements” with airborne Internet providers to obtain certain information flowing through broadband Wi-Fi systems for data and voice in airline passenger cabins. The actions were revealed in the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Dec. 28 “report and order” that, in part, streamlines the approval process for airborne Internet providers by establishing technical and licensing rules for a new category to be called Earth Stations Aboard Aircraft (ESAA).
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is taking steps to increase traffic through its PreCheck program. Passenger, airport and airline groups alike have consistently praised PreCheck, which exempts approved passengers from removing their shoes, laptops from bags and other security procedures at 35 domestic airports. But the groups share the same complaint: not enough flyers use the program.
European industry has outlined its proposal for a larger follow-on the Clean Sky civil-aviation research public-private partnership, which reached its half-way point in 2012. Industry is seeking €1.8 billion ($2.3 billion) in EU funding for the proposed Clean Sky 2 program, which would run 2014-2024. This would be matched by €1.8 billion in industry research and development funding, for a total program budget of €3.6 billion, compared with €1.6 billion for Clean Sky, which runs to 2017.
Ukrainian airline AeroSvit is struggling to maintain a regular flight schedule as it begins bankruptcy proceedings, after cancelling several services, including a flight to New York, from its Kiev Boryspil International Airport base.
NASA has selected eight technology demonstrations for Phase 2 of its Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) project to reduce the fuel burn, noise and emissions of commercial aircraft that could enter service by 2025. The eight integrated technology demonstrations (ITDs) include active flow control to cut drag, stitched composites to save weight, ultra-high-bypass engines to save fuel, fuel-flexible combustors to minimize emissions and redesigned flaps and landing gear to reduce noise.
Pratt & Whitney on Jan. 9 appointed Paul Adams to the newly created position of chief operating officer. As COO, Adams will lead an operations strategy across all the engine maker’s business “to ensure the readiness of the company’s global supply chain.” Adams previously led the company’s engineering and operations unit. He reports to Pratt & Whitney President David Hess.
Improved demand for larger regional jets and sustained sales of its Q400 turboprop helped Bombardier post the highest level of annual regional aircraft net orders since fiscal 2007. The 138 sales recorded in calendar 2012 compare with 54 net orders recorded in fiscal 2011 and exceed all annual sales since the airframer posted a record 238 orders in fiscal 2006.
If the Jan. 7 fire on a Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 787 at Boston Logan International Airport proved anything to Boeing it was that no amount of exhaustive pre-service testing can guard against the unexpected.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers - Hong Kong, Jan 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers - Hong Kong, Jan 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Departures Airport Share ASMs (mil) Airport Share Seats /Dept.
Embraer has selected Pratt & Whitney’s PW1000G geared turbofan to power its soon-to-be-launched, second-generation E-Jet family, which is scheduled to enter service in 2018.
Bangladesh startup NovoAir yesterday operated its first flights with a schedule to three cities from its Dhaka base. The carrier, which operates two pre-owned Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft, is serving Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Jessore at least daily and says more services will soon be announced. NovoAir Managing Director Mofizur Rahman says the airline plans to connect key cities in the country. The airline also is the 13th operator of Embraer commercial aircraft in Asia Pacific.
A 2015 mandate for controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC) in European airspace above 28,500 ft.—Flight Level 285—will represent the most lucrative opportunity in the airline retrofit market in 2013 for avionics makers.
Lockheed Martin’s decision to open an engine shop in Montreal started out as an asset acquisition effort to bolster the company’s existing capabilities but quickly grew in scope when company executives saw greater opportunity in starting a stand-alone operation, a company executive tells Aviation Week.
