Weaker demand and program delays have created a perfect storm for Boeing’s widebody business, which continues to see downward pressure on 777 and 787 production rates and a slower-than-planned ramp-up of the 777X.
In the most visible personnel move yet during the 737 MAX crisis, Boeing named longtime executive Stan Deal to take over its Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) unit, removing Kevin McAllister and turning the reins of the company’s largest business over to a seasoned leader with significant supply-chain and customer-support experience.
FAA administrator Stephen Dickson said mistakes made during the development of the Boeing 737 MAX highlight the need for a “more integrated approach to human factors” during the aircraft design process.
Air Tahiti Nui (ATN) has completed the transition of its widebody fleet from Airbus A340s to Boeing 787-9s, and the carrier anticipates significant operational benefits from the switch.
Electric aircraft developer Ampaire is studying the feasibility of modifying the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter to hybrid-electric propulsion under a NASA contract.
The UK is looking to form a mobile national counter-drone capability to respond to “challenging drone security incidents” such as the shutdown of London’s Gatwick Airport around the 2018 Christmas holiday.
The prospects of Boeing cutting or halting 737 production have grown, financial analysts and others said Oct. 21 after an internal Boeing pilot conversation over the MAX and the maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) became public.
Telecommunications provider Nokia has sold its air-to-ground (A2G) aviation connectivity assets through a management buyout, leading to the creation of a new company called SkyFive that will play a key role in the worldwide roll-out of A2G.
Boeing is countering accusations that it hid key information about development of the 737 maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) from regulators, insisting that it kept officials in the loop as the design changed, and regulators were briefed on its final configuration “multiple” times.
Wing Aviation and FedEx Express on Oct. 18 completed the first scheduled package delivery by drone to a house in Christiansburg, Virginia, FedEx announced.
China’s Colorful Guizhou Airlines will receive its first Airbus A320neo in October, stepping up from the regional jet operations for which the carrier was established in 2015.
Southwest Airlines has removed all Boeing 737 MAX flying from its schedule to early February, later than other US carriers that have yet to revise their estimates from an early January return-to-service.
In a move that significantly challenges Boeing’s new-build large freighter dominance, aircraft lessor and financier GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) is teaming with IAI of Israel to launch a freighter conversion of the 777-300ER.
Airbus confirmed it is offering a version of the A350-1000 in the Qantas ultra-long-haul competition around its Project Sunrise initiative that would enable the airline to launch nonstop flights from Australia’s east coast to London and New York, among others.
South Korea’s new startup Hi Air is looking to get 10 ATR 72 turboprops as it awaits approval of an air operator’s certificate (AOC) from Korean regulators.
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) canceled around 100 flights Oct. 15 and 16 after the carrier decided to return its entire fleet of 28 Airbus A220s to home base for engine inspections following a third engine-related diversion on Oct. 15.
Rolls-Royce has selected a Boeing 747-400 formerly operated by Australian carrier Qantas Airways for conversion to a flying testbed as part of preparations for developing its UltraFan and other next-generation commercial and business jet engines.
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) decided to return its entire fleet of 28 Airbus A220s to home base to make engine checks following another engine-related diversion on Oct. 15.
A new alliance of government, aerospace and manufacturing organizations is promoting creation of a commercially operated civilian supersonic corridor to allow developers of supersonic transports to flight-test their aircraft over land.
