ACSS said that on Feb. 3 it "became the first avionics supplier to certify Change 7.1 software," a functional enhancement for TCAS systems. According to ACSS, Change 7.1 offers two enhancements: "Reversal logic and new aural alerting for Adjust Vertical Speed."
First flight test 787, ZA001, suffered an "uncommanded loss of thrust in one of the [Trent 1000] engines" last Friday during flutter testing and executed an unplanned landing at Grant County International in central Washington State, VP-Marketing Randy Tinseth said on his blog. "Teaming with Rolls-Royce, we determined that the issue had to do with a pressure-sensing component within the engine," he wrote. Parts were sent out and the aircraft returned to Everett Sunday morning. Tinseth said ZA001 "will soon return to flutter testing. .
GKN Aerospace said it was selected by Bombardier Aerospace to design and manufacture the winglet for the CSeries, with first delivery scheduled for next year and entry into service expected in 2013. GKN said the contract "could be worth" more than $100 million and covers the period to 2025.
Southern Air Holdings, parent of Connecticut-based ACMI freight carrier Southern Air, took delivery of two 777-200LRFs yesterday that will be operated on behalf of Thai Airways. The aircraft are the first of the type to join the Southern fleet, which consists of 16 747Fs.
Russia's United Aircraft Corp. reported 2009 revenue of RUB114 billion ($3.81 billion), an 18.1% increase from the prior year, as sales of commercial aircraft rose 8.7% to RUB12.5 billion. It manufactured 17 commercial aircraft last year and delivered 14, comprising four Il-96s, five Tu-204s, three Tu-214s and two An-148s. Customers included Rossiya, Transaero Airlines, Polet Airlines, Cubana de Aviacion and Air Koryo. The other three aircraft are new Sukhoi Superjet 100s that are involved in the ongoing testing and certification process. UAC delivered nine commercial aircraft in 2008.
Esterline CMC Electronics' PilotView Class 2 electronic flight bag was granted an STC by EASA for the A320. STC was developed by Aeroconseil in Toulouse. Launch airline is Air Mediterranee.
Finnair Flight AY022 from Delhi to Helsinki today is the airline's final scheduled passenger flight aboard an MD-11. The type served Finnair for nearly 20 years and flew some 400,000 hr. on more than 50,000 segments. It became the first airline to operate the MD-11 in December, 1990 and had up to seven at one time. It now uses A330s and A340s on its long-haul routes. It has two owned MD-11s up for sale and is considering using the aircraft for cargo operations.
ILFC announced the following aircraft lease deals: Two new A320-200s to Air France for six years each (delivery in May and June); one 737-500 to Georgian Airways for three years (delivered in January); one used 767-300ER to GMG Airlines of Bangladesh for six years (delivery in March); two 737-400HGWs to Enter Air of Poland for three years each (delivery in March and April).
Airbus announced the appointment of Executive VP-Quality Didier Lux to executive VP-customer services effective April 1. He will succeed new Executive VP-Engineering Charles Champion and will in turn be followed by Pilar Albiac Murillo, who was named head of quality and lean improvement.
First new production Twin Otter in more than two decades made its initial flight this week. The aircraft, MSN 845, is a DHC-6-400 manufactured by Viking, which announced the production re-launch of the 18/20-passenger regional airline and utility turboprop in 2007. Viking, a unit of Westerkirk Capital, provides OEM support for the worldwide fleet of de Havilland heritage aircraft (DHC-1 through DHC-7). The Series 400 is powered by twin PT6A-34s and fitted with a Honeywell Primus Apex avionics suite. Canadian certification is expected shortly.
CIT Aerospace announced the delivery of two V2500-powered A320-200s to Cyprus Airways. A third is scheduled for delivery in May. BAE Systems said it will offer 13 former Lufthansa Avro RJ85s that are scheduled to be returned from next March through year end to Russian carriers operating aging aircraft such as Tu-134s and Yak-42s.
Boeing placed its fourth and final "Dreamlifter" 747-400 freighter into service Tuesday. Modified aircraft flew from Everett to Wichita, returning equipment used to transport a forward fuselage section for the 787.
Midex Airlines, an Al Ain-based cargo carrier, said it plans to take delivery of two 747-200Fs on March 30 and four 747-400Fs later this year. It currently operates six A300-200Fs and three 747-200Fs, according to its website. It also announced the appointment of George Ibrahim as COO.
Aircell named Centennial Communications CEO Michael Small president and CEO. Former Chairman Ron LeMay took over those roles last July and now will return to his previous position.
Recaro Aircraft Seating said it signed a contract with Airbus to offer its CL3620 economy class seats on the A350. Under the contract, Airbus will include the seat in its A350 catalog "upon successful qualification." Recaro said it was its first agreement reached directly with the manufacturer to supply seats as an Airbus Contracted Supplier.
Air Algerie took delivery of the first of four 66-seat ATR 72-500s ordered in December ( ATWOnline, Dec. 9, 2009). The remaining three also will be delivered this year, lifting the size of its 72-500 fleet to 12. ATR said it will provide assistance to the Algerian flag carrier with the installation, commissioning and operation of a new flight simulator, which is part of AH's plan to open a pilot training center in Algeria.
Moscow-based LCC Avianova said it signed a lease contract with Aviation Capital Group for two V2500-powered A320s. It currently operates two of the type and will take delivery of its third next month and the fourth in April. The airline is transferring from Vnukovo to Sheremetyevo in late March ( ATWOnline, Jan. 28). It plans to launch service to Ufa on March 5 and Perm on March 6 and already serves seven destinations from Moscow.
Messier-Bugatti has begun retrofitting 36 AeroMexico 737-700s/-800s with carbon brakes. It said the program marks the "first actual replacement" of steel brakes on in-service 737NGs.
AWAS delivered the fourth of six A330-300s to Singapore Airlines. It is acquiring 19 of the type overall. The new 285-seat, two-class aircraft will operate to Australia and Japan.
Koito Industries of Yokohama was ordered this week by the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau to re-test some 150,000 aircraft seats installed on around 1,000 aircraft operated by 32 airlines worldwide and make fixes if necessary. JCAB accused the company of falsifying data from tests on the seats' fire and shock resistance and Koito, which is 20% owned by troubled automaker Toyota Motor Corp., later admitted to the wrongdoing.
Rolls-Royce Group returned to profit in 2009, reporting a £2.22 billion ($3.47 billion) surplus that compared to a £1.35 billion loss in 2008. Revenue rose 14.7% to £10.41 billion, with the civil aerospace segment accounting for 56% of that total. The company said it expected 2010 results to be "broadly similar" to last year's. Rolls delivered 844 engines for civil aircraft last year, down from 987 in 2008. Underlying revenue in the segment dipped 0.5% to £4.48 billion while underlying profit before financing was down 12.9% to £493 million.
Malev Hungarian Airlines withdrew its five F70s from service and now is operating a fleet comprising 18 737NGs and four Q400s. The F70s will be returned to AWAS over the next six months. "This simplified fleet structure means a significant reduction in our company's maintenance and operational costs, the positive impacts of which will be apparent even in 2010," CEO Martin Gauss said.
Aeronautical Engineers Inc. announced formal launch of an MD-80SF passenger-to-freighter conversion program focusing on modification of MD-81, MD-82, MD-83 and MD-88 series aircraft. It expects initial certification by summer 2011 and plans to certify the program with FAA, EASA, and CAAC. According to AEI, the MD-80SF will offer up to 12 88x108-in. ULDs including a custom 108-in. container, 47,000 lb. of upper deck cargo capacity and up to 4,400 cu. ft. of main deck volume. Conversions will take 75 days.
