Aircraft & Propulsion

Indonesian LCC Lion Air has discovered cracks on two of its Boeing 737NGs, each aircraft having fewer than the 22,000 flight cycles stipulated by FAA’s threshold for inspection since cracks were discovered on other airline aircraft.

Airbus believes the A220 will be an attractive platform for carriers in Cambodia as it brings the regional airliner to the seventh leg of an Asia-Pacific demonstration tour.

United Airlines will ensure passengers know their flight is operated by a Boeing 737 MAX when it returns to service and allow them to change flights if they are uncomfortable boarding the aircraft.

A smaller new airplane might make more sense for Boeing.

The FAA’s delegation process did not provide the agency with enough visibility into the MAX certification and testing.

Lion Air has made changes to address training and maintenance shortcomings.

Rolls-Royce said its timetable to fix problems found in the TEN version of the Trent 1000 engine will be delayed after evaluations revealed that proposed modifications would not deliver a “sufficient level” of enhanced durability.

Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has withdrawn three of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft from service after the discovery of cracks located between the aircraft’s fuselage and wing.

Rolls-Royce will lead development of a hybrid-electric flight demonstrator with funding from the German state of Brandenburg. The distributed-propulsion testbed will be based on the i-5 aircraft designed by APUS, an aviation engineering company based in Strausberg.

Airbus is expanding its industrial presence in China by adding A350 completion work at its Tianjin plant.

French aerospace firm Safran’s board has chosen the CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines, Oliver Andries, to be group CEO from January 2021.

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg’s testimony last week before a US House panel raised “a litany of new questions” about the development of the 737 MAX, two top committee members said in a letter to House lawmakers.

Air France-KLM has detailed plans to simplify its fleet and hopes to decide between Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s to replace its A380s in the coming weeks as the company sets out a new long-term strategy to better compete in a tough European operating environment.

Future UltraFan variants could incorporate starter generators as part of more-electric push.

Aerostructures supplier Triumph Group is to cooperate with Embraer to demonstrate a thermoplastic primary structure in flight.

Philippines LCC Cebu Pacific Airways has inked a firm order with Airbus for 16 A330-900s, solidifying the MOU signed at the Paris Air Show in June this year.

French aerospace firm Safran reported an unexpected dip in CFM56-7B shop visits in the 2019 third quarter, citing airlines pushing their Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft as long as possible before required maintenance to help offset not having 737 MAXs.

South African Airways (SAA) has taken delivery of the first of four new Airbus A350-900s, which is expected to improve both its customer offering and commercial prospects.

Vietnamese LCC Vietjet Air has inked a contract with Airbus for 20 A321XLRs, with the first aircraft expected to be delivered in 2023.

International Airlines Group (IAG) has been forced to reconsider its network plans, potentially through to early 2021, because of delivery delays impacting the Airbus A321neo.

Qantas grounded three of its Boeing 737NGs after discovering hairline structural cracks in the aircraft during inspections.

Trans States Holdings has canceled an order for up to 100 Mitsubishi SpaceJet aircraft, in the latest setback facing the Japanese manufacturer’s long-delayed regional jet program.

Swiss regional carrier Helvetic Airways has taken delivery of its first Embraer E190-E2, starting a period of significant growth for the niche airline.

Swiss regional carrier Helvetic Airways has taken delivery of its first Embraer E190 E2, starting a period of significant growth for the niche airline.

Patrick Ky talks with Aviation Week about EASA's return-to-service process for the MAX. Added training requirements could be an unwelcome burden for Boeing and customers.