Aircraft and Equipment Channel

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Paris Memories

By Perry Flint

ATW's guide to the 48th International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget.

Retrofitting the Future

By Geoffrey Thomas and Aaron Karp

Airlines are turning to cockpit retrofits to enable older aircraft to take advantage of new PBN capabilities. Southwest Airlines is undertaking the largest such project.

CSeries is a long time coming

By Sandra Arnoult

Patience and persistence have marked Bombardier's new jet program

Working Through the Downturn

By Perry Flint

Rolls-Royce Pursues Open Rotor

By Geoffrey Thomas

Open rotor engines will bring substantial environmental benefits if the technological issues can be solved.

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ATW Daily News

Emirates committed to A380 despite growing pains

Friday March 12, 2010

Emirates President Tim Clark told ATWOnline yesterday in Berlin that the airline's A380s have been a success with passengers and on the balance sheet but that "there are still problems with the reliability of the aircraft. And when we fix snags, we find new ones. I am trying to be kind to Airbus, but they have to solve the problems." The operational reliability of EK's seven in-service A380s is 90%-95%, which he said is not good enough, although he added that the manufacturer "gives us good support." EK plans to take seven more A380s and six 777-300ERs this year.

Meanwhile, Clark said the airline will report a 20% increase in passenger numbers for the year ending March 31. "We will have a good story to tell" when the full-year results are released later in the spring, he said. During the past year EK has been able to raise fares step-by-step by as much as 35%, but yields remain under pressure although load factors across the network have climbed to 83%-84%. It has no plan to reduce the number of premium seats on offer like some other carriers, particularly Qantas and Lufthansa. "Sure we took a hit in our premium classes. But the aviation industry is making the wrong decision. The more they reduce, the better it is for us. I don't believe that F and C class will not come back," he said.

Friday March 12, 2010

Boeing completed initial airworthiness testing on the 747-8 freighter, enabling test engineers to be onboard during future flights and allowing two additional 747-8Fs to begin test flights. "The airplane is performing as expected in the initial stages of flight test," it said. "Since the first flight in early February, the program has conducted 13 flights, achieving several key accomplishments. Pilots have taken the airplane to an altitude of 30,000 ft. (9,144 m.) and a speed of Mach 0.65. The program has completed approximately 33 hr. of flying. Initial stall tests and other dynamic maneuvers have been run" (ATWOnline, Feb. 10).

Friday March 12, 2010

Volga-Dnepr Airlines said it will take delivery of a third new-generation IL-76TD-90VD next month, taking Volga-Dnepr Group's investment in the modernized aircraft to more than $90 million. VI said it predicts its investment in the 50-tonne-capacity ramp-loading freighter "is likely to double as more new aircraft join its fleet to meet global demand for the IL-76TD-90VD's unique operating capability." It signed a contract for another two aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2011.

Thursday March 11, 2010

United Airlines firmed its order for 25 A350-900s, Airbus announced yesterday. Aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWBs. UA, which will take delivery of the aircraft in 2016-19, signed a contract for 25 787-8s two week ago (ATWOnline, Feb. 26).

Thursday March 11, 2010

EgyptAir took delivery of the first of six 777-300ERs on lease from GECAS. Remaining five are due before the second half of 2011. The -300ER seats 346 and features 49 lie-flat beds.

Thursday March 11, 2010

Flybe reached a three-month agreement with Gulf Air to provide assistance with integration of the Bahraini carrier's two new E-170s. Deal covers flight deck and line engineering, training support and acceptance/delivery services.

Airbus to increase A320 production despite souring financials

Wednesday March 10, 2010

Despite reporting a €763 million ($1.04 billion) net loss in 2009, reversed from a €1.57 billion surplus the prior year, Airbus parent EADS yesterday announced an increase in the monthly A320 family production rate from the current 34 to 36 in December thanks to "continuing demand" and a "record backlog." [more]

LaHood: White House has 'an interest' in funding NextGen aircraft equipage

Wednesday March 10, 2010

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, speaking yesterday at the FAA Aviation Forecast Conference in Washington, said President Barack Obama's administration will "soon" make a decision on whether to allocate federal funds to equip commercial aircraft with NextGen ATC technology such as ADS-B. [more]

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