Air Transport

Boeing and others note that while the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System is new, emergency procedures did not change.

Boeing’s top executive is defending how the company handled communicating details about a new system on the 737 MAX as more operators acknowledge the new information they are learning is prompting them to update manuals and training.

South Korean LCC Jeju Air has confirmed plans to order up to 50 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, as the airline looks to upgauge some routes and expand its network range.

Boeing has rolled out the first high-density seating minor-model derivative of the 737 MAX 8 aircraft, modified with an additional set of passenger cabin exit doors to seat up to 200.

Allied Pilots Association (APA), the union representing 15,000 American Airlines pilots, announced Nov. 19 it had formally requested to enter negotiations with the airline’s management on a new contract.

Swiss civil aviation authority BAZL (Bundesamt für Zivilluftfahrt) ordered the two Junkers Ju 52s operating in Switzerland to be temporarily grounded over significant safety concerns.

The airframe of the first Boeing 777-9 flight test aircraft has been completed in the company’s Everett, Washington, facility marking a key milestone towards rollout and first flight of the initial 777X family variant in early 2019.

UK budget carrier easyJet said summer 2019 bookings were slightly ahead of the prior year despite ongoing uncertainty over the effect Brexit will have on air transport.

In spite of the draft withdrawal agreement, huge uncertainty remains for aviation in general as Brexit deadline approaches.

By October, 17 months after the first flight, two C919s had flown for less than 150 hr. The program reportedly needs a total of 4,200 hr.

The two congressional committees charged with overseeing transportation issues in the U.S. will each undergo a series of leadership changes when the next Congress commences in January.

Airbus commercial aircraft orders made a significant rebound in October as the Toulouse-based manufacturer reported firm bookings for 85 aircraft, valued at about $13.4 billion.

A working group of fatigue experts from airlines, labor groups, and academia has released a best-practices guide to controlled rest (CR) on the flight deck—part of an effort to provide data-supported guidance on how to create and improve pilot-napping programs.

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works has cut metal on the X-59 QueSST, beginning manufacture of the first part for NASA’s low-boom flight demonstrator.

Hong-Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways is optimistic about its commitment to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), even though the product continues to be much pricier than conventional jet fuel. The airline aims to achieve carbon-neutral growth by 2020.

Airspace Technologies, a Southern California-based startup pitching proprietary software for time-definite logistics in air cargo, said it has raised $20 million in Series B venture capital funding.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has given preliminary approval for setting up a China Southern Airlines subsidiary at the new Beijing airport that will open in 2019.

The first ACJ320neo successfully completed a two hour and 40 minute first flight from Hamburg on November 16.

Airbus two-tail concept; Coflow-jet boosts lift; TsAGI container transporter; Unlocking distributed propulsion; Hypersonic Hexafly advances; Flyability boost.

NTSB’s investigation of the Southwest flight 1380 engine failure focuses on fan blade, inlet test and certification requirements.

CFM International signed two $1 billion contracts at the Bahrain International Air Show Nov. 15 involving Bahrain flag-carrier Gulf Air and Dammam, Saudi Arabia-based SaudiGulf Airlines.

The CEO of U.S. independent carrier JetBlue Airways has called for greater scrutinization of large airline joint ventures (JVs), warning they can harm competition and innovation.

Canadian carrier WestJet’s ULCC subsidiary Swoop, which launched in June, is planning to grow from six to 10 Boeing 737-800s in 2019 and will consider its further fleet expansion after that.

IATA hopes to simplify the relationship between airlines and technology providers with a platform similar to Apple’s App Store called Travel Grid.

Gulf Air is reconsidering an earlier plan to retire its Airbus A330-200 long-haul aircraft as the Bahraini flag carrier’s new Boeing 787-9s are placed into service.