Aircraft & Propulsion

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.

Air Canada has unveiled a new livery for its entire fleet of 300 mainline and regional aircraft, which are being repainted in a “bold black and white design that highlights its iconic red maple leaf encircled ensign, or ‘rondelle,’ that returns to the tail of the flag carrier’s fleet after an absence of 24 years,” the airline said in a statement.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft deliveries for 2017, sorted by most-recent delivery date.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft gross orders for 2017, sorted by most-recent date of order placement with manufacturer.

Chicago-based United Airlines experienced a five-hour technological problem the morning of Feb. 8, causing delays to “less than 10%, under 500 flights” of its daily schedule, according to a spokesperson.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has committed to 20 Boeing 777-9s and 19 787-10, in addition to its previous order for 30 787-10s.

While building up facilities to service its Leap engines, CFM reaffirms commitment to aftermarket competition.

Engine retirements are slowing, and ramp-up in certain engine overhauls is increasing, which puts pressure on serviceable material supplies.

Helicopter engine manufacturer Safran studies hybrid power systems as a way to reduce turbine engine size and fuel burn.

In the wake of Canada announcing more support for Bombardier, Brazil has requested consultations with Ottawa at the World Trade Organization over alleged subsidies benefiting the C Series program.

Aircraft Briefs-Feb. 8, 2017

Brazil has formally taken its case against government financial investment in the Bombardier CSeries to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

China Southern Airlines will eventually base 200 aircraft at the new airport being built in Beijing’s southern suburbs.

Canada’s federal government is to provide Bombardier with C$372.5 million ($282.4 million) in repayable support for its Global 7000 business-jet and CSeries airliner programs.

Airbus will retire four of its test aircraft and donate them to the Museum of Air and Space in Paris-Le Bourget and Aeroscopia in Toulouse.

Russia’s state-owned Rostec Corp. has approved a strategy to develop an aviation cluster—comprising manufacturers of engines, helicopters, avionics and accessories—to increase their global market share to 5% and Russian aircraft market share to 75% by 2025.