Category: Top Stories

Caribbean Airlines orders 12 737 MAX 8 jets

Caribbean Airlines selects the 737 MAX to renew its fleet ©Boeing

Caribbean Airlines has chosen to enhance and renew its single-aisle fleet with the 737 MAX 8. The carrier, which has long operated the Next-Generation 737, will take delivery of 12 MAX airplanes in the coming years. The airline commemorated the selection of the MAX during a ceremony featuring national dignitaries, including the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honorable Keith Rowley, and Caribbean Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Garvin Medera. “Boeing has been by our side since Caribbean Airlines was founded twelve years ago using the 737-800. The 737 MAX allows us to continue offering a safe and comfortable experience Read more

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First Boeing 777X flight test airplane comes together

777X final body join ©Boeing

Boeing has brought together the major fuselage sections to form the first 777X airplane that will take to the skies in 2019. In a major production milestone called ‘final body join,’ Boeing teams connected the airplane’s nose, mid and aft sections in the company’s factory in Everett, Wash. The jet now measures 252 feet long (77 meters) from nose to tail, making it the longest passenger jet the manufacturer has ever produced. The 777X builds on the market-leading 777 and the 787 Dreamliner to offer airlines the largest and most-efficient twin-engine jet in the world. The airplane provides 12 percent Read more

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easyJet orders additional 17 A320neo

easyJet orders additional 17 A320neo aircraft ©Airbus

Airbus has reached an agreement with easyJet that extends the airline’s fleet plans into 2023, exercising purchase rights to firm orders for 17 A320neo. This takes its combined order for the NEO to 147 (including 30 A321neo) and means easyJet has ordered 468 A320 Family aircraft to date. The aircraft are configured with 186 seats in a single class configuration and powered by Leap CFM engines. easyJet currently operates a fleet of 316 A320 Family including 17 A320neo and three A321neo, making it the world’s largest airline operator of Airbus’ single aisle aircraft. easyJet serves over 130 European airports in Read more

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Airbus to build two new HOTBIRD satellites for Eutelsat

Eutelsat selects Airbus to build two HOTBIRD new generation telecommunication satellites ©Airbus

Airbus has announced it has been selected by Eutelsat, one of the world’s leading satellites operators, to build two HOTBIRD new-generation telecommunication satellites to replace current spacecraft and enhance capacity at Eutelsat’s premium broadcasting position at 13° East, improving performances over the European and Middle-Eastern footprint, reinforced by a powerful European Superbeam. The new satellites will ensure full service continuity over the operational 102 Ku-band transponders/frequencies, secure deployment and capacity redundancy; the The HOTBIRD fleet forming one of the largest broadcasting systems in Europe, which broadcasts over 1,000 television channels to more than 135 million homes in Europe, North Africa Read more

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Sale of U.K.’s Flybe sparks interest from multiple directions

©AirTeamImages

After issuing a profits warning, citing fuel costs, weakening demand and currency woes as major contributors, Exeter-based Flybe has put itself up for sale, though a merger with another airline may not be out of the question. In March this year Dublin-based Stobart Air withdrew its bid for the regional carrier after months of negotiations, though it continued with its franchise agreement with Flybe. Stobart Air has not excluded the possibility of making a further bid – aviation sources have indicated that it would be a sensible strategic move by Stobart Air as it looks to expand operations from London Read more

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Aurora Flight Sciences Unveils Odysseus – a Solar-powered Autonomous Aircraft

Odysseus ©Aurora Flight Sciences

Headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, Aurora Flight Sciences (Aurora) has unveiled Odysseus, the company’s solar-powered autonomous aircraft, now the world’s most capable aircraft of its type. Combining advanced solar cells with lightweight materials, Odysseus is an ultra-long endurance, high-altitude platform which can effectively fly indefinitely, powered solely by clean, renewable energy. “Aurora was founded by the idea that technology and innovation can provide powerful solutions to tough problems that affect all of humankind. Odysseus was an idea born out of Daedalus [a 1988 human-powered 72-mile flight] that is now a real solution to advancing the important research around climate change and Read more

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40% jump in fuel price overshadows SIA’s progress in revenue

©Singapore Airlines

The SIA Group has reported an operating profit of S$426 million in the first half of the 2018/19 financial year, a decline of S$336 million (-44.1%) from last year’s restated profit of S$762 million. Excluding one-off items of S$175 million, however, the drop in operating profit would have been S$161 million (-27.4%). The decline was a consequence of a S$379 million (+20.4%) increase in fuel costs. Flown revenue for the Group rose by S$422 million, contributed by passenger flown revenue (+S$346 million or +5.8%) and cargo flown revenue S($76 million or +7.4%). Passenger flown revenue was lifted by an 8.8% Read more

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Fatal Lion Air crash suggests need for further training on 737 MAX

As the investigation continues into the full reasons why a Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX crashed on October 29, killing all 189 passengers and crew on board, Indonesian investigators and the FAA have suggested the need for further training. The focus of attention remains on the likelihood that a false data report forced the plane to adopt a steep downward trajectory and the pilots had insufficient training or experience to deal correctly with such a scenario. It would appear that no information is contained within the aircraft’s flight manual. The investigation also wants to expand to the clarity of U.S.-approved Read more

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Bombardier announces intention to cut 5,000 jobs – focus now on business jets

At the same time as releasing third-quarter 2018 figures, Bombardier, the Canadian plane and train manufacturer, has announced its intention to streamline the business in an attempt to reduce annual expenditure by US$250 million at full run rate through the loss of up to 5,000 jobs by 2021. According to the company, this will be achieved through “a company-wide restructuring initiative focused on optimizing production and management processes, flattening management structures.” Bombardier will achieve this through the launch of “a new enterprise-wide productivity program to further streamline, lean out and simplify the Company. The initiative includes two actions. First, with Read more

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FAA and Boeing updating airlines on 737 Max sensor issue after Lion Air crash

On October 29 a Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 189 passengers and crew on board. The focus of the investigation has turned to the flight data sensor and possible incorrect readings. According to Bloomberg News, “under some circumstances, such as when pilots are flying manually, the MAX jets will automatically try to push down the nose if they detect that an aerodynamic stall is possible.” The concern is that the data sensors can incorrectly show that a stall is possible. Boeing has consequently issued a safety bulletin Read more

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