Aircraft & Propulsion

Uber’s recent report outlining its vision for the potential of autonomous flying cars has captured the imagination of city dwellers and commuters worldwide. Who wouldn’t enjoy care-free flying in 10 years that eliminates gridlock at 200mph?

UAE-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia has converted five options for Airbus A320s into firm orders, the airline said Nov. 23. The order, for the current A320ceo version, is worth $485 million at book value.

Fiji Airways has committed to ordering five Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to replace its narrowbody fleet of four 737-800s and one 737-700.

In any Iran commercial aircraft deals, financing remains the unanswered question, and a new U.S. House bill makes the options clearer.

The fourth Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. MRJ90 flight test aircraft made its first flight in Japan Nov. 22.

Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) is planning to launch a cargo carrier soon in an effort to boost sales of the MA600 turboprop freighter.

In its latest market outlook, Boeing projects demand for 3,860 new commercial aircraft in southeast Asia through 2035, valued at $565 billion.

Boeing has named GE Aviation Services president and CEO Kevin McAllister the new president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, replacing Ray Conner.

The Airbus A350-1000, the larger variant of the A350 slated to seat 366 passengers in a typical three-class configuration, will fly for the first time Nov. 24, according to an Airbus statement.

EgyptAir has denied reports it has asked Boeing to defer delivery of a batch of 737-800s.

New Omani startup SalamAir has received the first of three aircraft, an Airbus A320 leased from South America’s LATAM Group, as the low-cost carrier (LCC) prepares to begin services by the end of the year.

A second Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. MRJ90 flight test aircraft has arrived in the US, where the Japanese manufacturer is planning an accelerated flight test program in an effort to achieve first delivery to All Nippon Airways (ANA) in 2018.

The Latin America region will experience big traffic growth in the next 20 years, much of it from LCCs.

Singapore Airlines is pushing for a stretched version of the Airbus A350 to be launched, but the manufacturer is not yet convinced the time is right.

Aircraft Briefs-Nov. 18, 2016

British Airways plans to speed up its move toward “densifying’ its fleet with changes to its Boeing 777-200s.

Halifax-based Chorus Aviation announced Nov. 18 the delivery of the first of four Bombardier CRJ1000 aircraft Chorus is leasing to Spanish regional airline Air Nostrum.

Germany’s Lufthansa has confirmed it will take delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 on Dec. 19, 2016.

Malaysia Airlines has confirmed plans to reconfigure and reassign its six Airbus A380s to a new carrier unit dedicated to transporting Hajj pilgrimage passengers.

Aeroflot Group’s LCC Pobeda is expanding rapidly and will make it harder for other low-cost airlines to enter the market.

Japanese low-cost carrier (LCC) Peach Aviation has signed a firm order for 10 Airbus A320neos and three A320ceos, it was announced Nov. 18.

Dubai-based Emirates Airline has begun taking delivery of new generation Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, according to a Nov. 15 statement.

Three cases of close encounters between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and airliners heading for London Heathrow Airport were recorded in three consecutive days in July, according to the UK Airprox Board.

UK-based engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce said it is making “significant progress” in its transformation program to improve the company’s financial outlook, against a background of mixed markets.

Facilitators of an Asia-Pacific initiative that brings together turboprop aircraft operators in the region to share safety issues and best practices hope to bring in more airline and manufacturer participants in 2017.