Aircraft & Propulsion

Vietnam Airlines (VNA) is considering nonstop services to the US west coast, but must wait for ultra-long range aircraft to become available for nonstop transpacific flights from Vietnam.

China’s XiamenAir has committed to purchase 150 CFM LEAP-1B engines and MRO support for 20 engines, valued at $2.05 billion.

The FAA’s national drone registry has surpassed 1 million recreational and commercial small unmanned aircraft users, US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said.

China’s Hainan Airline Holding Co. and CFM International have signed an MOU for the purchase of LEAP-1A engines to power 55 Airbus A320neo aircraft.

AirAsia achieved its goal of adding 22 more aircraft to its fleet by Dec. 31, 2017 as the multinational LCC group ramps up its growth.

Boeing HorizonX, which the manufacturer set up to pursue potentially disruptive ideas inside as well as outside the company, has flown a prototype electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) unmanned cargo aircraft.

Airbus plans to ramp up A320 family production rates at its Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) in Tianjin, China beginning in 2019, according to a framework agreement signed by Airbus and its Chinese partners Jan. 9.

Garuda Indonesia has achieved its aim of deferring the arrival of its remaining Boeing 737 MAX orders, with the next deliveries now scheduled for 2020.

As Airbus takes control of the Bombardier C Series, there is no clarity about the manufacturer’s next moves.

Aviation Week predicts that the global engine MRO market will increase in value by nearly one-third during the next decade, with strong demand anticipated from the Asia-Pacific region.

Boeing delivered 763 commercial aircraft in 2017, led by placements of 529 single-aisle 737s—including 74 re-engined MAX variants—and received 912 net orders, valued at nearly $135 billion at list prices.

CFM International has finalized an agreement with China’s LCC Spring Airlines for the purchase of 120 LEAP-1A engines to power its 60 Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Airbus has rolled out the first structurally complete airframe for its new BelugaXL transporter from its assembly hangar in Toulouse, France.

Chinese carriers introduced 424 aircraft—407 passenger aircraft and 17 freighters—in 2017, expanding their total fleet to 3,261 aircraft (3,118 passenger aircraft and 143 freighters) at year-end.

On Jan. 8, Boeing announced a Turkish Airlines order for three more 777 freighters the carrier placed in December 2017.

Visitors to Bell Helicopter’s booth at the CES consumer electronics show in Las Vegas will get a taste of flying in an air taxi.

Aircraft News-Jan. 5, 2018

Turkish Airlines has signed an MOU with Airbus to acquire 20 A350-900s, plus five options.

Airbus has assembled the first A321neo ACF (Airbus Cabin Flex), a version of the re-engined narrowbody that allows for higher seating capacity.

Hong Kong-based lessor China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) has signed a purchase agreement for 15 A320neos, valued at $1.63 billion at list prices.

Airbus has acquired Aurora, Colorado-based Strategic Simulation Solutions, expanding its North American flight training footprint.

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. (SCAC) produced 34 Sukhoi Superjet 100s (SSJ100) in 2017 and delivered 30 of the type last year, the Russian manufacturer said in a statement.

Kazakhstan’s Air Astana has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo, which is on an operating lease from Dublin-based lessor AerCap.

While the commercial helicopter industry appears to be on a slow road to recovery, industry’s coffers are being filled with a glut of military orders.

Southwest Airlines has exercised 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8 options while deferring 23 737 MAX 7 deliveries, a fleet adjustment the Dallas-based carrier said was driven by the tax bill passed in late December by the US Congress.