Aero Instruments & Avionics has purchased the Teradyne Spectrum CTS, an advanced ATE solution for commercial aviation, replacing the ATS-182a, which it currently operates. The solution is designed to perform complete diagnostics on the avionics systems of the Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 737NG and 777. It also offers future capability to support the 787 and 747-8. Bombardier has released "Aircraft Diagnostics Solutions (ADS) Plus" for Dash 8/Q-Series 100/200/300 aircraft.
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras took delivery of the first ATR 72-600 be delivered to a Latin American customer. Fast-growing carrier Azul has placed orders for a total of 30 -600s, with 10 options. In addition to the turboprops, Azul operates a jet fleet of Embraer 190s and 195s.
China Eastern Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing 737-700NG outfitted with the high-altitude/high-temperature airport operations feature package and the new sky interior. China Eastern Airlines Sichuan Co. will operate the aircraft at high altitude airports in western China. GECAS delivered two new Boeing 737-800s to Skymark Airlines.
Ducommun AeroStructures has been awarded a contract to manufacture fuselage skins for the Bombardier CSeries aircraft. Ducommun will deliver the fuselage skins, composed of advanced aluminum alloys, to Bombardier's China-based supplier and partner Shenyang Aircraft Corp. The initial contract will extend through 2015. Austrian Airlines completed the retrofit of its Airbus A320 family aircraft fleet, adding lighter seats and a new cabin interior.
Alcoa has developed new aluminum-based sheet, plate, forgings and hard alloy extrusion solutions for the aerospace market, which it said will provide "dramatically lighter and lower-cost short-range airplanes" than their "composite-intensive" counterparts. The new aluminum-based products combine new alloys and advanced structural technologies, and could increase fuel efficiency by up to 12%, the company estimated—even up to 27% when combined with new engines.
Rockwell Collins said its AHS-4000 Attitude and Reference Heading System is now certified for use onboard Bombardier CRJ1000s. It also announced its FMS-4200 Flight Management System is certified and will be standard on CRJ700/CRJ900/CRJ1000 aircraft.
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres won a five-year contract with Icelandair Technical Services to supply new tires and provide retreading for a fleet of 16 Icelandair aircraft and 12 757-200s "flown by airlines in the Nordics and Russia," it said.
Jetairfly based a new Boeing 737-800 at Charleroi Airport, lifting its aircraft based at CRL to three narrowbodies supporting 18 destinations. The Belgian airline subsidiary of TUI Travel deploys a fleet of 16 aircraft on 120 routes. AmSafe Industries won a contract by to supply cargo restraint nets for Sukhoi SuperJet 100s. Aigle Azur took delivery of a new Airbus A320.
Airbus announced it received the first set of A350 XWB main landing gear produced by Messier-Dowty at its test facility in Filton. Delivery of this MLG set for the A350-900 follows the arrival last month of the nose landing gear ( ATW Daily News, April 15), which will soon be installed together into the landing gear systems test rig, paving the way for integration testing to begin toward the end of 2011, said Airbus.
Garuda Indonesia took delivery of one new Airbus A330-200 from Dublin-based aircraft lessor AWAS. Recaro Aircraft Seating received an order from Malaysia Airlines for Recaro Comfort Line 6510 seats for its Airbus A330-300 fleet. The carrier took delivery of its first aircraft equipped with Recaro seats on April 14. Messier-Bugatti inked a contract with Copa Airlines to supply wheels and carbon brakes for 86 new or retrofit Boeing 737NG aircraft.
AFI KLM E&M was selected by Air Europa to modify the full-economy class of one recently acquired Airbus A330 to a dual-class cabin. Driessen-Zodiac Aerospace signed an agreement with Airbus to “progressively” introduce galleys as “Seller Furnished Equipment” on A320 family aircraft. The SFE approach will begin with deliveries from mid 2012 on, it said.
Michelin Group was selected by COMAC to develop and supply tires for the C919. The tire manufacturer said the contract will require it to increase production capacity in Asia. Michelin said the C919 will use its Air X radial tire. KfW IPEX-Bank said it will provide loans to Hawaiian Airlines to finance two new Airbus A330-200s to be delivered this month and in March 2012.
Elbe Flugzeuge Werke in Dresden said it will start converting one Airbus A320 passenger aircraft into a freighter this fall. The company expects to convert approximately 50 A320/321s into freighters by 2016. Air Works India Engineering was appointed by Rockwell Collins as an authorized dealer for its products and services.
Air Castle Ltd.delivered one new Airbus A330-200 to South African Airways. The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 772B engines and is the first of six scheduled for delivery this year.
AAR Distribution was named exclusive distributor in North America and Asia for ADS/Transicoil, an aftermarket manufacturer of custom avionics, LCD displays and motion control products for the commercial aerospace market.
Rockwell Collins was selected by Vietnam Airlines to provide a suite of avionics including its MultiScan Threat Detection System and Multi-Mode Receiver Global Landing System, for 36 new Airbus A321-200s. Deliveries will begin in 2011 and continue through 2014.
Rockwell Collins was awarded a contract to develop components for the COMAC C919 aircraft simulator program by Xian Aviation Science and Technology Co., an AVIC subsidiary. The simulator will be used by COMAC to support the C919 aircraft development. Under the terms of the agreement, Rockwell Collins said it will utilize elements of its most advanced full flight simulator technology for the C919 simulator.
Aircelle and Xi'an Aircraft International Corp. formally signed a contract to produce and assemble nacelle components in Xi'an for the C919 and potentially other aircraft. XAIC is a subsidiary of AVIC. The nacelle for the C919 is being developed by Nexcelle, which is jointly owned by Aircelle, a Safran Company and GE Aviation's Middle River Aircraft Systems. Signing the contract at the Zhuhai were Aircelle Chairman and CEO Vincent Mascre, and XAIC Chairman of the Board Wang Xiangyang.
COI Ceramics won a contract from Boeing Research & Technology for the development and demonstration of a Ceramic Matrix Composite exhaust nozzle for US FAA's Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise program. CLEEN program technologies are slated to be flight tested aboard two aircraft, one Boeing 737 in 2012 and a yet-to-be-determined twin-aisle airplane in 2013. COI is a subsidiary of ATK.
Spirit Aerosystems announced it inked an agreement with British Airways to supply thrust reverser, fuselage and wing components for its fleet of Boeing aircraft. Separately, it announced the opening of a new sales office in Shannon, Ireland to serve customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Rockwell Collins was selected by COMAC to provide the "cabin core system" for the C919 under a letter of intent signed Tuesday. The CCS will allow flight attendants" to control all subsystems on the aircraft including in-flight entertainment, passenger connectivity, lavatory, heating/cooling and lighting." RC said it will team with Shanghai Aero Measurement-Controlling Research Institute, which will provide design, development and integration support, and Cobham, which will supply the public address system.
Estonian Air signed a contract for the delivery of three CRJ900NGs between early 2011 and 2012. The contract replaces the original agreement with Bombardier that was announced in March 2008.
AJW Aviationexpanded its power-by-the-hour contract with Danish carrier Jet Time to include a seventh 737-400. GECASyesterday announced the delivery of one new 737-800 to Japan Airlines under a sale and leaseback transaction.
