Aircraft & Propulsion

Southwest Airlines will keep the Boeing 737 MAX off its flight schedule through Nov. 2, joining fellow US-based MAX operators American Airlines and United Airlines in making another adjustment in the wake of uncertainty over when the aircraft will return to revenue service.

El Al Israel Airlines will retire its remaining three Boeing 747-400s by the end of October, the carrier said July 16.

Central and Eastern European airline Wizz Air will reduce frequencies on some routes from Kiev (Ukraine) and Warsaw (Poland) in August because of an aircraft delivery delay.

Aircraft Briefs-July 16, 2019

Irish LCC Ryanair will shrink or close poorly performing bases and cut staff as a direct result of the lack of Boeing 737 MAX deliveries, the company said July 16.

UK startup Vertical Aerospace sees Honeywell fly-by-wire as a differentiator in crowded eVTOL market.

UK-based lessor Falko Regional Aircraft recently closed on its Falko Regional Aircraft Opportunities Fund II (FRAOF II) after attracting commitments of $650 million.

United Airlines has removed Boeing 737 MAXs from its schedule through Nov. 3, saying it expects to see 5,000 flight cancellations in September and October as a result.

Aircraft Briefs-July 11, 2019

Air China has ordered 20 Airbus A350s, adding to 10 in service and providing potential replacements for carrier’s oldest long-haul aircraft.

Over the past 100 years, GE Aviation has grown into a global leader in aerospace propulsion.

Airbus A380 operators affected by a new inspection requirement are not anticipating any disruptions resulting from the checks, nor have early results turned up any new issues.

The German aerospace cluster of Berlin-Brandenburg plans to fly a technology demonstrator for low-emission hybrid-electric propulsion systems for future 19-seat regional airliners.

Swiss regional carrier Helvetic Airways has sold its five remaining Fokker 100s, as well as spare engines, parts and tooling, to Alliance Aviation Services Ltd., operator of Australia’s Alliance Airlines.

Some airlines may try to use the Boeing 737 MAX grounding to cancel orders because circumstances changed unrelated to the aircraft itself.

Boeing delivered 90 aircraft in the second quarter and 239 in the first half of 2019, as the 737 MAX grounding and related delivery suspension cut into the manufacturer’s totals.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) continues to upgrade its widebody fleet as the Japanese carrier recently took delivery of two Airbus A380, Boeing 787-10 and 777F aircraft for international passenger and freight services.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will inspect four Airbus A380s following proposed airworthiness directives (ADs) published July 5 by Airbus and EASA.

The Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) has completed the forward fuselage section for the static test airframe of the MA700 turboprop airliner, as the program works toward rolling out the first prototype in September.

The leadership of the US House Transportation Committee has called on the US Department of Transportation to hasten its regulatory process to require that drones be capable of being identified from the ground.

Reports of nuisance stall warnings triggered by frozen angle-of-attack (AOA) vanes has led FAA to mandate replacement of the parts on Boeing 757s, 767s and 727s.

Airbus and EASA are developing an inspection program for A380 wing outer rear spars after reports of cracks on in-service aircraft.

UK long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic will take delivery of four Airbus A350-1000s in 2019, with the type set to make its commercial debut between London Heathrow and New York JFK on Sept. 10.

Aircraft briefs-July 8, 2019

Saudi Arabian LCC flyadeal has announced an order for 30 Airbus A320neos, plus 20 options, reversing a commitment with Boeing for 30 737 MAX 8s, plus 20 options.