Aircraft & Propulsion

Airbus will delay delivery of the first A330neo by over six weeks, postponing to March 2018 delivery of the aircraft to launch customer TAP Portugal, as reported by the Wall Street Journal Dec. 16.

Mexico City-based Aeromar took delivery of its first ATR 42-600, out of a contract for eight firm ATR -600s (six 72-600s and two 42-600s) and options for six additional 72-600s announced in November.

Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, which it plans to place into regular revenue service in mid-January.

HNA Group subsidiary Yangtze River Airlines looks toward international expansion in 2017 as China’s outbound passenger travel continues to grow.

Embraer is in discussions with the Brazilian government about the possibility of challenging the Québec provincial government’s $1 billion investment in Bombardier’s CSeries program through the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to Embraer CEO Paulo Cesar Silva.

Germany’s Lufthansa Group and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Aviation Group have finalized a codeshare deal and wet-lease agreement for 38 airberlin Airbus A319/A320 aircraft operating for Eurowings and Austrian Airlines.

The design of Amazon’s delivery unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV), or drone, has evolved since CEO Jeff Bezos revealed the company’s Prime Air concept in December 2013.

Bombardier issued the company’s 2017 guidance Dec. 15, aiming for consolidated EBIT before special items in the $530 million-$630 million range, a 50% increase over 2016, in the coming year.

The Airbus A320neo with Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G-JM engines received joint type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and FAA Dec. 15.

The Bombardier CS300 has gained type validation by FAA, meaning both variants of the CSeries have been certified by Transport Canada, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and FAA.

French Caribbean airline Air Caraïbes took delivery of its first ATR 72-600 Dec. 14, the first of an order of three placed in 2014.

Utah-based SkyWest Inc., parent of regional carriers SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines, announced Dec. 13 the company has entered into a termination agreement with Bombardier covering the Canadian manufacturer’s residual value guarantee (RVG) agreements on 76 CRJ200 aircraft owned by SkyWest Airlines and American Airlines.

Dubai-based Emirates Airline is expected to take delivery of its first Rolls-Royce Trent 900-powered Airbus A380 later this week following what the carrier is referring to as a last-minute technical glitch with the engine.

Qatar Airways is considering switching at least some of its current order for Airbus A320neos to the larger A321neo model, the Gulf carrier has confirmed.

Dar-es-Salaam-based Air Tanzania has been revealed as the previously unidentified customer for a single Boeing 787-8, valued at $224.6 million at list prices.

Boeing has informed employees that the 777 production rate will be reduced from seven per month to five per month in August 2017, meaning the program’s production rate will be cut twice in 2017.

Order totals as of Nov. 30, 2016. Source: Boeing.

Aircraft Briefs-Dec. 12, 2016

Aerojet Rocketdyne rotating detonation-engine study takes a big step toward boosting gas turbine efficiency through pressure-gain combustion.

IATA’s first look into 2017 is sobering, given that the airline industry has only recently been able to reach margins common in many other sectors.

Qantas announced it will launch Perth-London Heathrow nonstop service in March 2018 using the Boeing 787-9 for the 9,000 mile, 17-hour flight.

Boeing announced Sunday it had firmed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed with Iran Air earlier this year for 50 narrowbody and 30 widebody aircraft in a deal valued at $16.6 billion at list prices.

Boeing booked firm orders for 13 commercial aircraft from six customers in November, valued at approximately $1.7 billion at list prices.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft deliveries for 2016 year-to-date, sorted by most-recent delivery date.

Aircraft & Engine Briefs-Dec. 8, 2016