Aircraft & Propulsion

Russia’s United Engine Corp. (UEC), a part of state-owned Rostec, is ready to equip Ilyushin Il-114-300 aircraft with turboprop engine TV7-117ST, UEC said in a statement Feb. 16.

Icelandair is to undertake a modification program on its Boeing 757-200 fleet, through fitting them with Aviation Partners Boeing’s Scimitar Blended Winglets (SBW).

Boeing rolled out the first 787-10, the third and largest Dreamliner variant, from its plant in North Charleston, South Carolina, the exclusive final assembly site for 787-10 aircraft.

Virgin Australia will defer its Boeing 737 MAX orders for one year as it confronts weaker demand in the Australian domestic market.

China’s Juneyao Airlines has finalized order for five Boeing 787-9s, valued at about $1.32 billion at current list prices, according to the US-based manufacturer.

While significant ongoing structural changes in the industry cannot be denied, broad alliances among European low-cost carriers will not likely be a major theme, except in specific circumstances.

Bombardier ended 2016 with higher revenues, margins and aircraft deliveries than forecast.

Boeing South Carolina (BSC) workers have voted to reject the International Association of Machinists’ (IAM) attempt to unionize the North Charleston site.

Aircraft News-Feb. 15, 2017

East Hartford, Connecticut-based Pratt & Whitney will invest another $386 million in its Columbus, Georgia maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) site, including building a 200,000-sq.-ft. facility to overhaul geared turbofan (GTF) engines.

The airline is looking to expand its South Pacific network, spurred by forthcoming bilateral talks.

The airframer is entering the busiest phase yet of its new-generation twin development plan.

CFM International booked orders for 2,677 engines in 2016, a 25.4% increase over 2,135 engines ordered in 2015.

Airbus is working on a redesign of its A320 Sharklet wingtips as a result of developing a new design manufacturing process for the foil of a high-speed yacht competing in this year’s America’s Cup race.

Rolls-Royce Holdings reported £915 million ($1.1 billion) in underlying profit before finance charges and tax for the full-year 2016, down 45% year-over-year, on underlying revenues of £13.8 billion, down 2%.

Boeing plans to roll out the first 787-10, the third and largest variant of the 787, Feb. 17 at its manufacturing facility in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Korean Air reported a consolidated net loss of KRW642 billion ($565 million) in the fourth quarter of 2016, reversed from a profit of KRW132 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Norwegian regional airline Widerøe will become the first airline to operate the Embraer E190-E2, when it receives its initial aircraft in the first half of 2018.

Beset by sagging profits brought about by intensifying competition, many of Europe’s airlines, old and new, are revising their tactics.

Air Astana is conducting a fleet study that may result in taking Embraer E2, Bombardier CSeries or Airbus A319neo aircraft, according to president Peter Foster.

Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) has signed an agreement with Ilyushin Aviation Complex to modernize the Ilyushin Il-96.

Three airberlin Airbus A320s operating in Eurowings colors launched Feb. 10 from Hamburg to Manchester, Stuttgart and Nuremberg.

Boeing recorded firm orders for 10 commercial aircraft in January, valued at approximately $1.6 billion at list prices, besting rival Airbus’ January order tally by six aircraft and over $500,000 in sales.

Canada’s WestJet continues to consider adding more widebody aircraft, but it appears the industry will have to wait at least a few more months to see how it will execute that strategy.

Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) completed its long-haul fleet harmonization process Jan. 24, after taking delivery of the final Boeing 787-8 out of an order for seven.