Aircraft & Propulsion

Gear-driven compressor concept could enable path to hybrid “eco” upgrade of current-generation turbofan-powered single-aisle airliners.

JetBlue Airways, providing an early boost to the newly rebranded Airbus A220 line and delivering a notable blow to Embraer, has placed an order for 60 A220-300s—previously known as Bombardier CS300s—and earmarked them as E190 replacements.

Low pass of Airbus A220

Airbus hopes to secure “several hundreds of additional orders” for the newly renamed A220 this year, according to Airbus CCO Eric Schulz.

Supersonic airliner developer Boom Technologies has narrowed the choice of candidate powerplants to derivatives of existing low-bypass-ratio turbofans.

Airbus A330 marketing manager-customer affairs Silvia Ustupska talks about the A330neo after a route-proving flight from Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield July 7.

Gulf Air has canceled its order for 10 Bombardier CS100 regional jets.

Confusion surrounded the status of Gulf Air’s order for Bombardier CSeries regional jets July 6, as reports on several European aviation sites suggested the Bahraini carrier had canceled the deal.

Airbus is continuing its route-proving program toward A330neo certification, completing a 2-hr. leg from Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield July 7.

Airbus CEO Tom Enders has accused the British government of having “no clue, or no consensus” of how to achieve Brexit—when the UK leaves the European Union (EU)—without severe harm.

Airbus has started reducing the number of A320neo family “gliders” awaiting engines at its facilities in Toulouse and Hamburg.

The A350-1000 is Airbus' latest widebody and the manufacturer has high hopes the aircraft will be a big sales success. Aviation Week & Space Technology evaluation pilot Tim Wuerfel was given the opportunity to test-fly the aircraft from the company's Toulouse base.

The aircraft proves easy to fly manually and brings a new level of safety-enhancing automation to the airliner cockpit.

Following months of negotiations, Boeing and Embraer have signed an MOU to set up a joint venture (JV) comprising Embraer’s commercial aircraft and services business.

Cambodian startup airline KC International Airlines took delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A320, July 2.

Chinese airline Okay Airways received its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 July 2. The new aircraft, registered B-1485, departed Seattle July 1 and arrived in Beijing to join Okay’s all-Boeing fleet.

Aircraft News-July 3, 2018

Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 July 2.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes is holding discussions with Airbus about confirming A330neo deliveries, and he signaled the carrier may be interested in further Airbus orders.

Airbus and Bombardier confirmed the transaction transferring majority control of the CSeries program to Airbus was completed as scheduled July 1.

European turboprop manufacturer ATR is applying to US authorities for a new license that will allow it to deliver the remaining aircraft from its order from Iran Air.

Franco-Italian turboprop manufacturer ATR seems to be anticipating considerably lower sales this year than in 2017, following a briefing in London June 29 ahead of the Farnborough Air Show in mid-July.

Philippines flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is introducing four new domestic routes within the archipelago, operating from Clark International Airport.

Airbus has rolled out the first BelugaXL outside load freighter from the paintshop in a special livery designed to make the aircraft resemble the species of whale after which the aircraft is named.

European aviation industry groups have given a cautious welcome to news that the ICAO has agreed on a set of standards for the planned CORSIA global aviation carbon emissions offsetting scheme.