Aircraft & Propulsion

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) will reportedly hand over the first C919 narrowbody airliner to its first client by the end of 2021, according to COMAC general engineer Yang Zhigang.

As the UK launches a series of projects under its Future Flight Challenge, a new study highlights the potential socio-economic benefits of an integrated aviation system built on freight-carrying drones, urban air taxis and hybrid-electric regional aircraft.

Olivier Andries, who succeeds Philippe Petitcolin, will have to watch the financial health of Safran’s suppliers.

As part of broader company efforts to meet future emission reduction goals by 2050, Boeing has revealed plans to certify all its commercial aircraft for operation on 100% sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) by 2030.

Customers of TransDigm Group expect to pay roughly 2% higher prices this year from the key aerospace and defense parts provider, compared with an average of just 0.8% more across the whole aerospace supplier base, according to new survey results from Jefferies analysts.

The program continues to be bogged down by post-production inspections and customers’ hesitance to take new widebody aircraft amid an historic demand downturn.

Europe’s safety regulator goes beyond FAA requirements in lifting the flight ban, a move that illustrates EASA’s bigger role.

Turkmenistan Airlines has placed an order for two A330-200 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) converted aircraft, shopping with Airbus for the first time.

AirAsia is planning to raise MYR455 million ($113 million) in a private placement to raise cash, pay off debts and cover expenses.

Universal Hydrogen wants to enable zero-emissions commercial aviation by tacking the two biggest challenges: creating a distribution infrastructure and kick-starting demand for hydrogen.

Airbus plans to raise single-aisle production rates later in 2021, but the ramp-up will be slower than previously planned “in response to the market environment.”

Norwegian startup Flyr has outlined a strategy to fly domestic and short-haul international routes using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Transporting passengers between London City and London Heathrow Airports is one potential application of urban air mobility in the UK that will be studied by a consortium led by Eve, the spinoff from EmbraerX.

By the end of 2021, Spirit Airlines looks to surpass its 2019 size as a steady stream of expected aircraft deliveries will expand the ULCC’s fleet.

U.S. lessor BBAM has placed a firm order for six more Boeing 737-800 Converted Freighters (737-800BCFs), with options on a further six, increasing its commitment to 15 of the type.

MagniX and Eviation set up base in Washington state, focused on enabling “middle-mile” air transportation using electric aircraft.

Airbus expected to raise single-aisle production rates late 2021; Boeing resumes MAX deliveries. Concerns over widebody demand persist.

The FAA has flagged a subset of Boeing MAX-family aircraft as needing post-production re-work after the manufacturer discovered a sealant was not applied to certain components during manufacturing.

Olivier Andries has to helm the super-Tier 1 manufacturer as it navigates a still-turbulent environment while longer term Safran will have to offer new concepts to decarbonize commercial aviation.

Boeing’s 2021 challenges extend beyond the MAX.

EASA plans to issue its Airworthiness Directive (AD) detailing the conditions for the ungrounding of the Boeing 737 MAX next week, EASA executive director Patrick Ky said Jan. 19.

Leading Tier 1 supplier Spirit AeroSystems and the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) have inaugurated a new kind of federally backed, discounted-rate lending for aerospace suppliers—beginning with a $40 million transaction based on receivables from Spirit’s lower-tier providers.

A prototype of Russia’s new Irkut MC-21-300 narrowbody passenger aircraft skidded off the runway at Zhukovsky Airport near Moscow on Jan. 18.

Budget carriers have been taking steps to secure their activities—but they need bookings to pick up soon.

Norwegian is dropping long-haul in a bid to survive. But if Europe’s short-haul LCCs are faring better, they still need more bookings.