India to Buy Additional Fighter Jets from RussiaIndia is negotiating a new military contract with Russia to buy 42 additional Su-30MKI fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF).....[continue]
Republic orders 40 CSeries and options 40 moreUS-based Republic Airways Holdings has ordered 40 Bombardier CSeries aircraft and placed options on 40 more....[continue]
BA to use biofuel from planned new conversion plant British Airways is to assist in establishing a biofuel plant from which it has tentatively agreed to acquire all the fuel the project produces.....[continue]
Vietnam to buy 12 Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jetsVietnam has signed a deal to buy 12 Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets from Russia for about $500 million, Russian media reported on Thursday, citing industry sources. "A contract to deliver SU-30MK2 (jets) was signed by (state arms export monopoly)....[continue]
STOVL Jet is 5th LM F-35 to Enter Flight Testing(Fort Worth, Texas, February 2, 2010) -- A Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter today became the fifth F-35 to begin flight operations....[continue]
Hong Kong Airlines to Order 6 A330-200s(February 4, 2010) -- Hong Kong Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for six A330-200 aircraft. The latest commitment will increase the number of A330s ordered by the airline to 23. Hong Kong Airlines intends to use the A330-200s to develop new services to destinations across the Asia-Pacific....[continue]
Shanghai Engine Center Delivers 1st Heavy CFM56 Engine Overhaul(Singapore, February 4, 2010) -- The Shanghai Engine Center, a joint venture of Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), and China Eastern Airlines, delivered its first heavy overhauled CFM56(r) engine. The new center has capacity to overhaul up to 300 engines annually and is one of the largest CFM56 engine overhaul shops in Asia....[continue]
Boeing Moves 787 Dreamliner Fatigue Test Airframe to Testing Rig(Everett, Wash., February 2, 2010) -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) on Sunday moved the 787 Dreamliner fatigue test airframe to its structural test rig. The test rig is located in the northwest corner of the Everett, Wash., site....[continue]
Indonesia Plans to Buy Super Tucano FightersThe Indonesian Air Force plans to buy 16 Brazilian-made Super Tucano jet fighters to upgrade its fleet....[continue]
Sukhoi's PAK FA fighter completes first flight Sukhoi has conducted the first flight of its prototype PAK FA fifth-generation fighter, with the aircraft having conducted a 47min sortie this morning...[continue]
Airbus to Showcase Latest Products at Singapore AirshowAirbus will have a major presence at this year's Singapore Airshow, showcasing both its commercial and military transport products. The highlight will be the first public presentation of the new A330-200F Freighter....[continue]
Lockheed Performs First F-35B In-Flight STOVL TestLockheed's fifth-generation F-35B Lightning II aircraft has successfully performed its first short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion system in-flight test....[continue]
China to build world's highest airport in 2011 China plans to build a commercial airport at an altitude of 4,436m (14,544ft) in Tibet, making it the world's highest airport. Construction at Nagqu prefecture in northern Tibet is due to commence in 2011....[continue]
Mechanical fault forces A380 to be grounded A new Airbus A380 super jumbo has been grounded at a South Korean airport due to a mechanical fault, the latest in a series of glitches for the world's largest airliner....[continue]
Airbus lays groundwork for A320 re-engining Airbus has moved closer to launching a revamped A320 family after signing agreements with CFM International and Pratt & Whitney which will lay the groundwork for re-engining the twinjet.....[continue]
USA issues new security directives for inbound flights The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has mandated new security measures covering inbound flights to the USA effective 4 January....[continue]
Boeing Delivers Four Next-Generation 737-900ERs to Lion Air Boeing delivered four Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplanes to Lion Air in December....[continue]
World air travel falls record 3.1 percent in 2009 MONTREAL, Dec 18, 2009 (AFP) - World airline passenger traffic fell 3.1 percent in 2009, the biggest drop in aviation industry history, fueled by the global financial downturn, the International Civil Aviation Organization said Friday....[continue]
Hong Kong airport posts 0.4% dip in passenger traffic Hong Kong airport posted a 16.4% growth in cargo traffic in November, but passenger numbers fell 0.4%. Total passenger numbers dropped 0.4% to 3.8 million from 3.81 million a year ago, says the airport...[continue]
Jetstar and AirAsia in talks for JV Australia's Jetstar and Malaysia's AirAsia are in talks about a potential cost-saving joint venture between the two low-cost carriers. "Qantas confirms that its wholly owned subsidiary...[continue]
A400M, world's most advanced airlifter, completes first flight The first Airbus Military A400M military airlifter has landed back in Seville, Spain today at 14:02 local time (13:02 UTC) after completing a successful maiden flight lasting 3h 47min....[continue]
Boeing 787 Dreamliner Completes First Flight 787 Dreamliner took to the sky for the first time today, ushering a new era in air travel as it departed before an estimated crowd of more than 12,000 employees.....[continue]
Boeing 787 Dreamliner Program Completes Static Test Analysis (Everett, Wash., December 10, 2009) -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) today completed the review and analysis of the static test that was conducted Nov. 30 to validate the side-of-body modification made to the 787 Dreamliner. "I am happy to report that the program has validated the airplane structure for the 787 Dreamliner," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program.....[continue]
Thais detain plane with weapons from North Korea  Thai authorities seized a cargo aircraft carrying tons of weapons from North Korea during a refueling stop in Bangkok, a government official said. The pilot told Thai authorities the aircraft was headed to Sri Lanka, but its final destination was unknown, according to Panitan Wattanayagorn, a spokesman for the Thai prime minister....[continue]
Thai saves 10.3bn baht on non-fuel expenses Thai Airways International has saved 10.3 billion Thai baht ($310 million) on non-fuel expenses in the first three quarters of this year, as the airline works to reduce its debt. It expects to achieve 11.84 billion Thai baht in savings, or a 15% reduction in costs, in the whole of 2009, says the carrier....[continue]
New Thai Joint Venture (December 3, 2009) -- Saab has entered into a partnership with Thai company Avia Satcom Co. Ltd., to form a joint venture for developing high technology products within aviation and defence. The new company, Avia Saab Technologies, will initially focus on the development of a National Tactical Datalink....[continue]
Air Force To Expand PlayStation-Based Supercomputer The U.S. Air Force is looking to buy 2,200 Sony PlayStation 3 game consoles to build out a research supercomputer, according to an document posted on the federal government's procurement Web site...[continue]
Alenia Aermacchi delivers MB-339CM trainers to Royal Malaysian Air Force Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company controlled by Alenia Aeronautica, officially delivered the eight MB-339CM to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in a ceremony held yesterday...[continue]
IAI, EADS discuss adapting A320 for airborne early warning Israel Aerospace Industries and EADS are in advanced discussions on teaming up to offer an airborne early warning system installed on a member of the Airbus A320 family...[continue]
First Flight for Airbus A400M in 2 Weeks Airbus’ long-delayed A400M military transport will make its first test flight during the week beginning Dec. 7, “weather permitting”...[continue]
Thai to replace 4-6 747s with leased 777-300ERs  Thai Airways International plans to get four to six Boeing 777-300ERs to replace its older 747...[continue]
Thai Airways reported third quarter loss of $119. million Thai Airways reported a THB4.03 billion ($119.5 million) loss in the third quarter, reversed from a THB426.2 million profit in the year-ago period that was the product of a large foreign exchange gain. Revenue dropped 27.7% year-over-year ...[continue]
First Air France A380 reaches New York The world's largest airliner, an Air France A380, touched down in New York on Friday after completing the superjumbo jet's first Atlantic crossing from Europe to the United States. The Airbus plane, carrying 538 passengers, left Paris earlier in the day and landed at 1:07 p.m. (1807 GMT) at J.F. Kennedy Airport, several minutes ahead of schedule, under crisp blue skies...[continue]
P&W Delivers 1st F100-229 EEP Engine Pratt & Whitney has delivered the first ever F100-229 Engine Enhancement Package (EEP) Engine for installation in a Republic of Korea Air Force F-15..[continue]
Saab Signs Contract with United Arab Emirates for Airborne Surveillance System Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract for the sale of an airborne surveillance system to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The contract is worth approximately 1.5 billion SEK..[continue]
Airbus launches A320 wingtips to cut fuelburn European aircraft manufacturer Airbus launched on Sunday its fuel-saving "Sharklet" large wingtip devices for its A320 family....[continue]
Sikorsky and Tata Create JV in India to Manufacture Aerospace Components Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) today announced the signing of an agreement creating a joint venture that will manufacture aerospace components for Sikorsky in India, including components for S-92(r) helicopter cabins...[continue]
Air India must cut costs to qualify for bailout minister NEW DELHI, Nov 13, 2009 (AFP) - A panel of Indian ministers has told flagship state-run airline Air India that it must cut costs in order to qualify for a government bailout. "If the recovery (in the airline's performance) is visible, the support from the government will also be visible," Civil Aviation Minister Praful...[continue]
Boeing Receives Contract to Develop Miniature Weapon Technology The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] received a $500,000 U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory contract on Sept. 30 for the first phase of a program to demonstrate miniature weapon technology for use on unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV)...[continue]
UK could arm its Watchkeeper UAVs The UK could integrate a lightweight weapon with its Thales UK/Elbit Systems Watchkeeper 450 tactical unmanned air vehicles, operations of which should begin from late next year. "We are conducting analysis to investigate the contribution that an armed Watchkeeper UAV system could make in current and future operations,"...[continue]
ANA and Continental sign alliance agreement  Star Alliance carriers All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Continental Airlines have signed an alliance agreement. The deal covers codesharing, lounge access and frequent flyer programmes, says ANA. Continental joined Star on 27 October. ANA says its passengers will be able to earn and redeem points on Continental flights and vice versa, and that Star Alliance gold members will have complete access to the lounges of both carriers...[continue]
Australian competition watchdog targets Thai for alleged price-fixing Australia's competition watchdog has taken legal action against Thai Airways International for alleged price-fixing of cargo services. A hearing in the country's federal court has been set for 26 November, says the Australian Competition Consumer Commission (ACCC)...[continue]
Thai AirAsia to increase focus on international markets Thai AirAsia plans to increase its proportion of international services due to relatively few growth opportunities within Thailand. The low-cost carrier has a 50:50 split between international and domestic services, but that will increase to 70:30 in favour of the international services within the next five years, says CEO Tassapon Bijleveld. This is because the domestic market is saturated, he adds....[continue]
Gripen NG Demo Returns to the Skies he Gripen NG Demonstrator has been modified with a number of tactical systems: AESA radar, a new satellite communication system, an electro-optical missile warning system as well as activation of the increased internal fuel...[continue]
Continental officially joins Star  Continental in a ceremony later today at its Newark hub will formally enter into the Star Alliance, completing an 18 month transition from the SkyTeam Alliance, and becoming the 25th airline to join first global airline alliance. The impetus for Continental's move was the merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines that was unveiled in April 2008...[continue]
The Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master makes its 1,000th flight The new M-346 Master advanced trainer designed by Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, has reached the symbolic 1,000-flight milestone....[continue]
KLM to make demonstration flight on bio-fuel KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will be the first airline in the world to make a demonstration flight on bio-kerosene with a select group of passengers. This will also be the first ever flight in Europe on bio-kerosene. On 23 November 2009...[continue]
Boeing plunges into the red in 3Q, reiterates 787 will fly by year-end Costs and charges associated with Boeing's delayed 787 and 747-8 programmes pushed the airframer deep into the red for the third quarter. For the three months ended 30 September, the manufacturer incurred a net loss of $1.6 billion compared to a $695 million profit in the year-earlier period...[continue]