News Archive
Archive of industry news from the global aerospace industryNews By Date
May 2013
Top
Cessna completes first production flight of Turbo Skylane 182 JT-A aircraft
Cessna Aircraft, a Textron company, has completed the first production flight of its single-engine Turbo Skylane 182 JT-A at its facility in Independence, Kansas,...
Oman Air places firm order for three A330-300s aeroplanes
Oman's state-owned carrier Oman Air has placed a firm order for three A330-300s, which will be an addition to the airlines' existing three A330-300s and four A330-200s in...
Eurocopter receives firm order for EC225 and AS350 B3e helicopters from China
Eurocopter has received a firm order from China's leading helicopter operator in the power and electricity sectors, State Grid General Aviation Company (SGGAC), for one EC225 and two AS350...
Rolls-Royce wins contract to supply Trent engines for Airbus aircraft
Rolls-Royce has secured a contract from US leasing company CIT Aerospace to supply Trent XWB engines and Trent 700...
Honeywell receives EASA and FAA certification for Primus Epic-based EASy II integrated cockpit
US-based Honeywell has announced that its Primus Epic-based EASy II integrated cockpit has received EASA and FAA certification for deployment on the Dassault Falcon 2000S, Falcon 2000LXS and...
GE Honda Aero Engines close to completing FAA certification testing on HF120 engine
GE Honda Aero Engines is close to completing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification testing on its HF120...
Bombardier Aerospace unveils mid-size Challenger 350 business jet
Bombardier Aerospace has unveiled the mid-size Challenger 350 aircraft, a new addition to its leading Challenger family of business...
Embraer Executive Jets sells enhanced Legacy 600 in Germany
Embraer Executive Jets has sold the first super-midsize Legacy 600, featuring new cabin interior and Honeywell Primus Elite avionics, to Germany-based business charter operator Air...
Boeing wins contract to build ViaSat-2 satellite
Boeing has been awarded a new satellite contract to design and deliver a 702HP high-power spacecraft to ViaSat in...
China Eastern Airlines takes delivery of first A320 equipped with Sharklets
China Eastern Airlines has taken the delivery of its first A320 equipped with Sharklets, becoming the first airline in China to operate the fuel-saving...
Eurocopter opens Systemhaus helicopter development centre in Germany
Eurocopter has officially opened its new Systemhaus helicopter development centre at its Donauwörth site in...
Deliveries of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft resume
Boeing has resumed deliveries of its wide-body, twin-engine 787 Dreamliners, a development which ends nearly a four month-long grounding of the...
Turkish Airlines finalises $6.9bn firm order for Boeing jetliners
Turkey's flag-carrier Turkish Airlines has finalised a firm order for 40 737 MAX 8s, ten 737 MAX 9s and 20 Next-Generation 737-800 jetliners, which are valued at $6.9bn at list...
a2e Venture Catalysts completes acquisition of aerospace engineering firm BHW
UK-based private equity firm a2e Venture Catalysts has acquired aerospace components manufacturer BHW for an undisclosed...
BioFuelNet, Airbus and Air Canada partner to develop sustainable aviation fuels
BioFuelNet Canada has entered into an agreement with Airbus and Air Canada for the production of sustainable alternative jet...
First pilotless aircraft makes maiden flight in UK airspace
An unmanned BAE Systems' Jetstream aircraft known as 'The Flying Test Bed' has successfully completed its maiden flight, becoming the world's first unmanned flight across the UK shared...
UK's GKN Aerospace creates composite wing structure using new processes and technologies
UK-based GKN Aerospace has created a composite wing structure using out-of-autoclave (OOA) processes and materials, as well as PI-shaped woven preforms, as part of its composite manufacturing...
Kuwait Airways close to deal for 25 Airbus jetliners
Kuwait's flag carrier Kuwait Airways is close to place a firm order with Airbus for the purchase of 25 aircraft, which includes ten wide-body A350-900 jetliners and 15 A320neo, worth an...
Boeing rolls out first 787 jetliner built at increased production rate
Boeing has rolled out the first wide-body, twin-engine 787 Dreamliner manufactured under the increased production rate of seven aeroplanes a...
ILFC delivers first A330-343 jetliner to AirAsia X
International Lease Finance (ILFC), a wholly owned subsidiary of American International, has delivered the first of six A330-343 aircraft to AirAsia X, a low-cost long-haul affiliate carrier...
Aerospace firm Terrafugia to develop hybrid-electric flying aircraft
US Aerospace firm Terrafugia has started feasibility studies on a four-seat, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) plug-in hybrid-electric flying car aircraft, the...
Honeywell International receives $6bn firm orders for HTF7000 turbofan engines
US-based Honeywell International has secured a $6bn contract from undisclosed aircraft manufacturers to supply its HTF7000 turbofan...
Bombardier expands maintenance capacity for Q-Series aircraft in Arizona
Bombardier has expanded its maintenance capacity for Q400 and Q400 NextGen turboprops with three new lines at its aircraft service centre in Tucson,...
L-3 MAS delivers test pylon for Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1100G-JM engines
L-3 MAS has delivered a fourth experimental engine pylon to Pratt & Whitney Canada for deployment on Boeing 747SP aircraft to flight test the new PurePower PW1100G-JM engines, which are designed...
FAA approves new platform approach system for Sikorsky S-92 helicopters
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved a new platform approach system for the Sikorsky's S-92...
Qatar Airways in talks to acquire 15 Airbus A330 jetliners
Doha-based carrier Qatar Airways is in talks with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to purchase up to 15 twin-engine A330 passenger airliners in a deal estimated to be worth...
Eurocopter receives firm order for 17 EC135 from Turkey
Eurocopter has received a firm order for 17 twin-engine EC135s from the Turkish Aeronautical Association's THK Gökçen Aviation commercial arm, which will use the helicopters to perform...
German researchers develop new technology to track flights using satellites
Researchers at German Aerospace Center, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt (DLR), have developed a new receiver and antenna to track aircraft from...
NetJets receives first Signature Series Phenom 300 aircraft
US-based private jet operator NetJets has received its first Phenom 300 jetliner, the first light cabin NetJets Signature Series aircraft, from Embraer Executive Jets' customer and delivery...
CFM International completes design freeze of Leap-1B engine
CFM International has completed the design freeze for the Leap-1B engine, the sole powerplant for the Boeing 737 MAX aeroplane that is scheduled to enter service in...
AgustaWestland to establish final assembly line for AW169 helicopter in US
AgustaWestland is set to establish a final assembly line for the new generation twin-engine AW169 helicopter at its facility at Northeast Philadelphia Airport in the...
Airbus completes lightning strike testing for A350 XWB jetliner
Airbus has announced that it has completed lightning strike testing for the A350 XWB at its Clément Ader facility in Colomiers,...
LaserMotive unveils aircraft system powered by laser over optical fibre
LaserMotive has unveiled the world's first tethered vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS), InvisiTower, which is powered by laser over optical...
United Airlines signs deal for 70 Embraer 175 jetliners
United Airlines has entered into an agreement with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer for the purchase of 30 Embraer 175 regional jets for the United Express fleet, with options for...
April 2013
Top
ATK completes preliminary design review of solid rocket booster for launch system
ATK has completed the preliminary design review (PDR) for the solid rocket booster with Nasa for the new Space Launch System (SLS)....
Nepal Airlines signs deal for Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklets
Nepal Airlines (NAC) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the purchase of two A320 aircraft equipped with...
France sells 2.1% stake in Airbus parent company EADS
The French Government has completed the planned sale of its 2.1% stake in the European Aeronautic Defence & Space (EADS), the parent company of Airbus, for €707m...
Turbomeca completes first rotation of TECH800 turboshaft demonstrator
France-based Turbomeca, a subsidiary of Safran, has announced the completion of the first rotation of its TECH800 turboshaft demonstrator in Bordes,...
China signs $8bn deal for 60 Airbus aircraft
China Aviation Supplies (CAS) has entered into a General Terms Agreement (GTA) with Airbus for the purchase of 60 aeroplanes, including 42 single-aisle A320 family airliners and 18 wide-body...
Eurocopter delivers AS350 B3e and EC120 B helicopters in the UK
Eurocopter has delivered three rotorcraft – two AS350 B3e, which are the evolved members of Eurocopter’s Ecureuil family, as well as an EC120 B, to undisclosed customers in the...
US and Australia sign space situational awareness data sharing agreement
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has entered into a space situational awareness (SSA) international sharing agreement with the Department of Defence of Australia, making it the...
EIAST launches first satellite project to be completed in UAE
The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) has launched a new strategic project for the Earth-observation satellite DubaiSat-3, the first satellite that will be...
Ducommun gets contract from Boeing for Next-Generation 737 spoilers
US-based electronics manufacturing services company Ducommun has received a long-term supply contract from Boeing to continue manufacturing spoilers for the Next-Generation 737...
IAG and British Airways sign deal for A350-1000 jetliners
UK-based International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) and British Airways have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 18 larger A350-1000 airliners, with options for...
Orbital Sciences completes test launch of first Antares rocket
Orbital Sciences has successfully completed the test launch of its new Antares rocket as part of its preparation to deliver supplies to the International Space Station...
Bombardier appoints Harrods Aviation of Luton maintenance facility for business jets
Bombardier has appointed Harrods Aviation of Luton as an authorised service facility (ASF) for business aircraft customers based in or flying to...
FAA approves Boeing's redesigned battery system for 787 Dreamliner
US aviation regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Boeing's design for modifications to the 787 Dreamliners battery system, a development enabling 787s to return to...
Wizz Air signs deal for eight Airbus A320 aircraft
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air has entered into a pre-delivery payment financing and sale and leaseback agreement with ICBC Financial Leasing for eight new Airbus single-aisle A320...
Bombardier strengthens business aviation training capabilities for Global 5000 and Global 6000 jets
Bombardier has expanded its training network for business aircraft customers worldwide with the inclusion of a Level D full-flight simulator (FFS) for Global 5000 and Global 6000 jetliners...
Turkish Airlines finalises deal for 117 A320 medium-haul aircraft
Turkey's flag-carrier Turkish Airlines has signed a deal for 117 planes with Airbus, making it the largest order in the country's civil aviation...
Daimler makes exit from Airbus parent company EADS
German car manufacturer Daimler has sold its remaining stake of 7.5% in European Aeronautic Defence & Space (EADS), the parent company of Airbus, for...
FAA one step closer to restoring Boeing 787 Dreamliner service
US aviation regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is one step closer to giving its approval to a key document, called Project Statement of Compliance, which would possibly allow...
Lockheed Martin-built GPS satellites to participate in civil navigation capability tests
Lockheed Martin-built GPS satellites already in orbit are set to take part in testing of a new L2C signal civilian navigation message (CNAV) capability this summer, which is expected to boost...
Autonomous aeroplane sensors undergo first flight test
A project to develop autonomous sensors to monitor aircraft's structural health has taken off, with EADS and Vienna University of Technology stating the first test flight to be a...
FAA orders inspection of more than 1,000 Boeing 737 aircraft
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered an inspection of more than 1,000 Boeing twin-engine narrow-body 737 airliners for a faulty potential faulty part on the tail plane,...
Nextant Aerospace receives initial order for 18 aircraft from China
Nextant Aerospace, a US-based manufacturer of remanufactured Nextant 400XT business aircraft, has received an initial order worth $89m from the Chinese market for 18...
First UK school-built light aircraft makes maiden flight
Yateley School in Hampshire has successfully completed the first flight of a two-seat aeroplane, making it the first school in the UK to build and fly a light...
Pratt & Whitney completes ground testing of A320neo's first test engine
US-based Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has completed ground testing of its PurePower PW1100G-JM test engine, designed to power the Airbus A320neo aeroplane, at the company's test facility in West...
Bell Helicopter signs deal to provide two 429s to Delaware State Police
Bell Helicopter has entered into an agreement with Delaware State Police to supply two light twin-engine Bell 429...
Porter Airlines enters into purchase agreement for Bombardier CSeries jetliners
Canada's Porter Airlines has entered into a conditional purchase agreement with Bombardier for the purchase of 12 CS100 airliners, with options for 18 additional CS100...
Honeywell Aerospace and Boeing to develop in-flight wireless connectivity technologies
US-based Honeywell Aerospace and Boeing have entered into a technical services agreement to research and develop new wireless technology for Boeing airliners, including the 787, 777, 737NG and 747-8....
Rockwell Collins to provide in-flight entertainment system to South African Airways
South African Airways has selected Rockwell Collins' PAVES 2 in-flight entertainment (IFE) with embedded Airshow 3D Moving Map, including connecting gate information, for deployment in its 20...
New carbon fabric could substantially lower aircraft weight
Sweden-based Oxeon has developed a new carbon fabric known as TeXtreme, which could substantially reduce the weight of existing aircraft and help airlines achieve significant savings in fuel...
Boeing to develop Phantom Phoenix small satellite prototypes
Boeing is developing a new line of small satellite prototypes, called Phantom Phoenix, which can perform missions ranging from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to planetary...
Embraer signs deal to sell two E190 jets to Austral Lineas Aéreas
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has entered into an agreement with Austral Lineas Aéreas, a subsidiary of Aerolineas Argentina, to sell two E190...
Boeing completes certification testing of 787 redesigned battery system
Boeing has completed a 787 certification demonstration flight on line number 86, a production aircraft built for LOT Polish...
Sberbank signs deal to acquire 12 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft
Sberbank of Russia and its wholly owned subsidiary Sberbank Leasing have entered into an agreement with Boeing to purchase 12 Next-Generation...
Mandala Airlines to buy 18 Airbus A320 aircraft
Indonesia's low-cost carrier Mandala Airlines plans to purchase 18 Airbus single-aisle A320 aircraft worth $1.6bn by 2014 to meet increasing demand for middle class travel in South East...
Delta Air Lines to equip MD-88 and MD-90 fleet with enhanced flight deck technology
US-based Delta Air Lines is set to equip its fleet of 182 MD-88, MD-90 airliners and flight simulators with enhanced glass cockpits and GPS...
Final tests on Boeing's 787 battery to be conducted in the next week
Boeing has finished about half of the testing on the redesigned battery system for its wide-body, twin-engine 787 Dreamliner, with the remaining ground and flight tests expected to be conducted...
IAG places $4bn firm order for long-haul 787 Dreamliners
UK-based International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) has placed a $4bn firm order with Boeing for 18 long-haul 787 Dreamliner jets, which will be used to replace British Airways' current fleet...
Embraer Executive Jets delivers first Phenom 300 business jet
Embraer Executive Jets has delivered the first Phenom 300 light business jetliner made in the US to an undisclosed...
China Eastern Airlines selects Rockwell Collins’ Head-up Guidance System for Boeing 737 aircraft
China Eastern Airlines has selected Rockwell Collins to provide its Head-up Guidance System (HGS) for the carrier's 58 new Boeing Next-Generation 737...
IAG in talks with Airbus to purchase A350 aircraft
UK-based International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) is in talks with Airbus to purchase the new long-range A350 jetliner for its British Airways unit and may place an order as soon as this...
Saab Sensis to develop verification and validation methods for NASA's aviation safety research
Radar and passive sensors provider Saab Sensis has been awarded a contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aviation Safety Program (AvSP) to develop verification...
Nordic Aviation Capital signs deal to purchase four Q400 NextGen turboprop jets
Danish aircraft lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) has signed a firm purchase agreement with Bombardier to purchase four Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners in a deal worth $134.77m, based on...
March 2013
Top
Bombardier powers on electric distribution system of first CSeries flight test vehicle
Bombardier Aerospace has successfully completed the first full 'powering on' of the main electrical distribution system on the first CSeries flight test vehicle (FTV1)....
Business jets demand in UK soars by 70% through 2007-11, says CTC Aviation
Demand for executive jets in the UK surged by 70% between 2007 and 2011, compared with 2002-2006, according to research by aviation training and management solutions provider CTC...
UK awards £1.6bn contract to Bristow for privatisation of search-and-rescue helicopter service
The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded a £1.6bn contract to Bristow Helicopters to provide civilian search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter services nationwide, ending 70 years of...
Hawaiian Airlines places firm order for 16 A321neo jetliners
Hawaiian Airlines has placed a firm order with Airbus for 16 A321neo aircraft, with an option for an additional nine...
Embraer conducts maiden flight of Legacy 500 business jet's third prototype
Embraer Executive Jets has announced that the third prototype of its mid-size Legacy 500 business jet has made its maiden...
Boeing conducts first test flight of 787 Dreamliner with redesigned battery
Boeing has conducted the first of two test flights to demonstrate that the new lithium-ion battery system complies with regulatory safety standards on its wide-body, twin-engine 787...
FedEx to buy 14 Boeing 757 aircraft from United Airlines
Courier delivery services firm FedEx will purchase 14 Boeing narrow-body 757 jetliners from United Airlines and plans to convert them into freighters, as part of its efforts to reduce fuel...
Japan Airlines mulls purchase of 20 Airbus A350 jets
Japan Airlines is considering buying 20 Airbus A350 aircraft for approximately JPY400bn ($4.23bn), a development that would reduce its reliance on...
Harris and NOAA develop new tracking tool for weather satellite operations
Telecommunications equipment provider Harris and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have developed and successfully deployed a new tool that is designed to help track...
Fujitsu unveils automated identification technology solution for aircraft components
Japanese information and communication technology firm Fujitsu has expanded its automated identification technology (AIT) solution for aircraft parts suppliers...
American Airlines selects Airbus's cockpit technology for A320 jets
American Airlines has selected Airbus's Runway Overrun Prevention System (ROPS) technology for all of its A320...
Malindo Air receives Boeing Next-Generation 737-900ER aircraft
Malaysia-based Malindo Air has received a new Next-Generation 737-900ER (extended range) jetliner from...
Airbus receives €18.4bn firm order for 234 A320 jetliners from Lion Air
Airbus has finalised a firm order with Indonesia's budget carrier Lion Air for 234 A320 aeroplanes, including 109 A320neo, 65 A321neo and 60 A320ceo jets, in a deal estimated to be worth...
Ryanair signs deal to buy 175 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft
Ireland-based low-cost carrier Ryanair has entered into an agreement with Boeing to purchase 175 narrow-body Next-Generation 737-800 jetliners, as part of its efforts to increase its fleet by...
UK announces £2bn investment in aerospace industry
The UK Government and aerospace industry have announced a long-term collaboration, involving about £2bn being invested to support the growth of the aerospace...
Turkish Airlines signs deal for 117 Airbus A320 aircraft
Turkish Airlines (THY) has entered into an agreement with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for the purchase of 25 A321ceo, four A320neo and 53 A321neo, with an option for 35 additional...
Pratt & Whitney to provide AeroPower's APU for Embraer E-Jets
Aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has been awarded a contract to provide AeroPower's APS2600[E] auxiliary power unit (APU) for Embraer's second generation...
Swiss International Air Lines to buy six Boeing 777-300ER jets
Switzerland's flag carrier Swiss International Air Lines (Swiss) has made a commitment to order six Boeing 777-300ER (extended range) aircraft as part of its fleet renewal programme....
German researchers implement first project to measure helicopter engine noise
Researchers at German Aerospace Center, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt (DLR), have conducted a first acoustic measurement campaign in order to obtain noise measurements inside...
Saab to provide component support to BMI Regional's Embraer jets
Swedish aerospace firm Saab has entered into a five-year contract British Midland Regional airline (BMI Regional) to provide component maintenance and the repair services for the carrier's fleet...
WheelTug receives firm order for 135 aircraft drive systems for 737NG aircraft
UK-based WheelTug has received a firm order from an undisclosed Boeing 737NG operator for 135 aircraft drive systems, which allows an aeroplane to be electrically driven from the terminal gate...
Boeing to deliver 777X jetliner by 2019
Boeing is planning to move ahead with its goal of delivering the first of two new versions of the 777 jetliner to customers by...
Cebu Pacific Air receives second A320 equipped with Sharklets
Philippines budget carrier Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) has taken delivery of a second A320 equipped with Sharklets from the Airbus facility in Hamburg,...
FAA approves Boeing's plan to fix 787 Dreamliner battery issues
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Boeing's certification plan for the redesigned 787 Dreamliner battery system, a move which accelerates Boeing's efforts to end a...
Boeing and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines demonstrate advanced technologies to optimise flight
Boeing and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have started a series of test flights that will demonstrate the role of advanced technologies, fuels and concepts in improving operational efficiency,...
AviancaTaca selects CFM engines to power Airbus aircraft
Latin American airlines AviancaTaca has placed a firm order with CFM International for Leap-1A and CFM56-5B engines to power its 33 Airbus A320neo and 18 Airbus A320ceo aeroplanes...
GE Aviation delivers first production wing components for Airbus A350 XWB aircraft
GE Aviation has delivered its initial production wing fixed trailing edge components for the first A350 XWB, marking a critical programme milestone before its maiden...
Avincis signs deal for ten Eurocopter EC145 T2 helicopters
UK-based aerial services provider Avincis has entered into a global framework agreement with Eurocopter for the purchase of ten EC145 T2 helicopters for emergency medical service (EMS)...
AgustaWestland unveils electric-powered tilt rotor technology demonstrator
European helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland has unveiled the world’s first completely electric-powered tilt rotor technology...
Turbomeca introduces Arrano turboshaft engine for helicopters
France-based Turbomeca, a subsidiary of Safran, has announced the launch of its latest turboshaft engine, Arrano, which is designed to power 4t to 6t...
Bristow signs deal for 26 Sikorsky S-76D helicopters
Helicopter services provider Bristow has signed a deal with Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies, for up to 26 S-76D helicopters, which will be used to perform offshore...
FAA likely to approve Boeing's proposal to fix 787 Dreamliner battery issues
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is likely to approve Boeing's plan to resolve the battery problems on 787 Dreamliners within a few days, a move which will allow the company to...
Rolls-Royce introduces M250 engine variant for commercial and military helicopters
Rolls-Royce has announced the launch of a new variant of its M250 engine, M250-C47E, which is designed to power commercial and military...
GE Aviation begins assembly on first Passport development engine
GE Aviation has started assembly on the first Passport development engine to power the Bombardier Global 7000 and Global 8000 business...
Italy's Livingston Compagnia Aerea signs deal for WheelTug Aircraft Drive Systems
Italian airline Livingston Compagnia Aerea has entered into slot purchase agreement to lease WheelTug aircraft drive systems for installation on its fleet of Airbus...
Cathay Pacific Airways places firm order for three 747-8 aircraft
Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has placed an order with Boeing for three 747-8 Freighters aircraft, with an option to purchase five additional 777s, in a deal valued at...
Nasa commences flight research campaign on DC-8 airliner using alternate aviation fuel
Nasa has started a series of flights using a four-engined narrow-body DC-8 airliner to study the effects of alternate biofuel on engine performance, emissions and aircraft-generated contrails...
Air Lease places firm order for ten Boeing 777-300ER aircraft
US-based Air Lease (ALC) has placed a $3.2bn firm order with Boeing for ten twin-engine, long-haul 777-300ER (extended range)...
Boeing and University of British Columbia collaborate on composite materials research
Boeing has announced that it has become the founding industrial member of the University of British Columbia's composites research network (CRN), a development, which will help Canadian...
Honeywell Aerospace to provide IntuVue 3D upgrade to Pegasus Airlines
US-based Honeywell Aerospace has secured a deal to provide a IntuVue 3D weather radar hazard display update V1.0 to Turkey's budget carrier Pegasus...
February 2013
Top
Fuel produced from discarded plastics to be used by Cessna 172 jet
Fuel that has been produced entirely from 'end-of-life plastic' plastic waste will be used in a single-engine Cessna 172 aircraft, which will fly a 10,500-mile trip from Sydney to London in...
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University deploys full-flight simulators in US
US-based Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has deployed new sophisticated motion-based full-flight simulators to provide training to students in its flight programmes, in line with new...
Airbus mulls additional assembly line for A350-1000 aircraft
Airbus are considering adding another assembly line for its new wide-body A350-1000 aircraft, as part of its efforts to cater to the increasing demand for the largest version of the...
Boeing delivers first 777 jetliner built at increased production rate
Boeing has delivered the first long-range wide-body 777 Freighter constructed at a increased production rate of 8.3 a month, or 100 aeroplanes annually, to South Korea's flag carrier Korean...
Rockwell Collins to provide rudder/brake pedal assembly for Airbus A350 XWB jetliners
Communications and aviation electronics solutions provider Rockwell Collins has been awarded a contract by European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to supply the rudder/brake pedal assembly for...
United Launch Services to provide Delta II launch services for Nasa’s ICESat-2 mission
United Launch Services (ULS) has been awarded a contract by Nasa's launch services programme to launch the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) 2...
Japanese probe identifies cause of 787 Dreamliner fuel leak problems
Japanese regulators have identified the reasons for the fuel leaks and other problems that occurred on Japan Airlines' (JAL) 787 Dreamliner jets in January but are still investigating...
Bell Helicopter delivers two Bell 429s to Nigeria
Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of American industrial conglomerate Textron, has delivered two Bell 429s to Nigeria, which marks the first delivery of the aircraft in...
Pratt & Whitney receives type certification for PurePower PW1500G engine
Aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has been awarded type certificate from Transport Canada for its first PurePower Geared Turbofan PW1500G engine, which will power...
UTC Aerospace Systems to provide components for Thai Airways' 777-300ERs
US-based UTC Aerospace Systems has been selected by Thailand's flag carrier Thai Airways International to provide wheels and carbon brakes for its new fleet of 14 Boeing 777-300ER...
Russia’s Ilyushin Finance signs deal to purchase up to 42 CS300 aircraft
Russian leasing firm Ilyushin Finance (IFC) has signed an agreement with Canadian plane manufacturer Bombardier to buy up to 32 CS300 aircraft, with an option to purchase a further ten....
Boeing and Istanbul Technical University collaborate on aerospace technology research
Boeing and Istanbul Technical University (ITU), an aerospace engineering and technology institution in Turkey, have formed a new aerospace research...
Malaysia Airlines places order for up to 36 ATR 72-600s
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has placed an order with Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) for up to 36 ATR 72-600s, in deal worth more than...
Jetstar Japan takes delivery of its first Sharklet-equipped A320
Jetstar Japan, a Japanese low-cost carrier, has received its first A320 aircraft fitted with Sharklet fuel-saving wing-tip...
Saft expects limited financial impact after Airbus drops lithium-ion batteries
French battery manufacturer Saft expects limited financial impact over Airbus's decision to drop the use of lithium-ion batteries in its wide-bodied A350 XWB...
Boeing may offer short-term fix to 787 Dreamliner battery problems
Boeing is likely to propose a temporary solution for batteries of its grounded 787 Dreamliner to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this...
Airbus drops lithium-ion batteries for A350 XWB jets over safety concerns
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has decided not to use lithium-ion batteries for its new A350 XWB (eXtra Wide Body) jetliner amid concerns that their use could lead to delays in the...
Rostec in JV talks with Bombardier to build Q400 aircraft in Russia
Russian state-owned industrial and defence firm Rostec is holding negotiations with Canadian aeroplane manufacturer Bombardier over a multi-million dollar joint venture to construct Q400...
LifeFlight Eagle signs deal for two Bell 407GX helicopters
US-based air ambulance services provider LifeFlight Eagle has entered into an agreement with Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of American industrial conglomerate Textron, for...
Icelandair places $1.6bn firm order for 16 Boeing 737 MAX jets
Iceland's flag carrier Icelandair has finalised a $1.6bn firm order with Boeing for 16 single-aisle 737 MAX aircraft with an option to acquire an additional eight...
BAE Systems to provide component support to Eastern Airways' Jetstream 41 turboprops
UK-based BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has signed a materials and components repair and overhaul (MACRO) rate-per-flying-hour programme agreement with regional airline Eastern Airways to...
Colombia's Avianca becomes first Latin American airline to use A320 with Sharklets
Colombia's flagship carrier Avianca has received its first Airbus A320 equipped with Sharklets, becoming the first Latin American airline to operate the fuel-saving...
Bombardier plans to sell CSeries jets to Japanese airlines
Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier is planning to sell its new CSeries aircraft, which is expected to enter service in 2014 with All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines...
Boeing conducts further 787 Dreamliner tests after battery failures
Boeing has conducted the second test flight of a 787 Dreamliner in Seattle, US, as part of its ongoing efforts to investigate the reason behind recent battery...
FAA and Spain partner to promote sustainable alternative fuels
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has signed a declaration of cooperation with the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency (AESA) to work jointly for the promotion of...
Lockheed Martin completes final assembly on NASA's MAVEN spacecraft
Lockheed Martin has completed the final assembly for NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft, which is scheduled for launch in November...
Eurocopter receives new EC135 helicopter order from India
Eurocopter has received a firm order for one EC135 helicopter from Ghodawat Industries following the recent Aero India 2013 event at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bangalore,...
Rolls-Royce receives EASA certification for Trent XWB engine
Rolls-Royce has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for its Trent XWB engine that will power the Airbus wide-body, twin-aisle A350 XWB...
Pilatus PC-21 aircraft to receive advanced avionics from Esterline CMC
Switzerland-based Pilatus Aircraft has selected Esterline CMC Electronics (CMC) of Canada to provide advanced avionics for its fleet of PC-21 turboprop training...
Avincis takes delivery of first Sikorsky S-92 helicopter
Aerial services provider Avincis has taken delivery of its first Sikorsky S-92...
Indamer to provide maintenance support for Embraer Executive Jets in India
Private aircraft manufacturer Embraer Executive Jets has entered into memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indamer (ICPL) to provide maintenance support for mid-size Legacy 500 airliners in...
Turkish Airlines places order for five Airbus A330-300 aircraft
Turkish Airlines (THY) has placed an order with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for two A330-300 passenger jets with an option for an additional three airliners, as part of its growth...
Boeing seeks FAA approval to conduct 787 Dreamliner test flights
Boeing has sought approval from US regulators to conduct test flights of its 787 Dreamliner as part of its efforts to investigate the reasons behind recent battery failures in the...
Air Lease signs $9bn deal for A350 XWB and A321neo jets
US-based aircraft leasing firm Air Lease (ALC) has placed orders worth a total $9bn with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for 25 A350 XWB airliners and 14 A321neo...
Honeywell to provide Primus Epic 2 avionics system to Embraer
US-based Honeywell Aerospace has secured a $2.8bn deal to provide Primus Epic 2 integrated avionics system for Brazilian aeroplane manufacturer Embraer's second generation...
Alternative options for A350 XWB lithium-ion batteries in place, says Airbus
Airbus is ready to implement alternative options to the lithium-ion jet batteries for its new A350 XWB (eXtra Wide Body) jetliner if the regulatory authorities conclude the use of these...
Myanmar’s Air KBZ receives first ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft
Myanmar-based carrier Air KBZ has taken delivery of its first ATR 72-600 jetliner from European turboprop aircraft manufacturer...
Embraer to provide component support for Republic Airways' E-Jet fleet
Embraer has signed a $250m flight hour pool programme agreement with Republic Airways to provide component support services to the airline's fleet of E170, E175, E190 and ERJ-145...
Boeing selects GE Aviation to provide flight management system for 737 Max airliners
Boeing has selected GE Aviation to provide the flight management system for the twin-engine 737 Max aircraft, which is scheduled to be delivered in...
Indian carrier GoAir receives Airbus A320 equipped with Sharklets
India-based Go Airlines (GoAir) has received its first Airbus A320 equipped with Sharklets, becoming the second Indian carrier to operate the fuel-saving wing-tip after low-cost carrier...
January 2013
Top
Pratt & Whitney breaks ground on aircraft engine components facility in Singapore
Aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has started construction on its first manufacturing plant in Singapore, which will produce fan blades and high-pressure turbine disks for...
SpaceX to launch Spacecom's AMOS-6 communication satellite
Communications satellite operator Space Communication (Spacecom) has signed an agreement with Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) to launch its AMOS-6 satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9...
Boeing ramps up production of Next-Generation 737 aircraft
Boeing has announced it has started construction of the first twin-engine narrow-body Next-Generation 737 airliner at its assembly facility in Renton, US, at an increased rate of 38 aeroplanes...
India's IndiGo receives first Airbus A320 equipped with Sharklets
India-based low-cost carrier IndiGo has received its first A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklets from Airbus, becoming the first Indian carrier to use the fuel-saving...
Nasa demonstrates practical mantaray-shaped hybrid wing design
Nasa has demonstrated a new manufacturing method to produce a practical mantaray-shaped hybrid wing, which could dramatically reduce fuel...
Bombardier Aerospace appoints ExecuJet Nigeria maintenance facility for business jets
Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace has appointed ExecuJet Nigeria as a line maintenance facility (LMF) for the Challenger 300, Challenger 604, Challenger 605, Global 5000, Global 6000,...
MHI to set up aircraft manufacturing facility in Japan
Japan-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) plans to set up an aircraft manufacturing facility in Aichi Prefecture as part of its strategy to boost the production of next-generation...
Air Arabia becomes first Middle East airline to operate A320 with Sharklets
UAE-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia has taken the delivery of its first Airbus A320 equipped with Sharklets, becoming the first Middle East airline to operate the fuel-saving...
United Technologies completes testing of Bombardier CSeries' geared-turbofan engine
United Technologies has completed testing of its geared-turbofan engine, which will power Bombardier's CSeries airliner, clearing an important step for the delayed Canadian...
Republic Airways Holdings signs deal for 94 Embraer 175 jets
Republic Airways Holdings has signed a contract with the Brazilian aeroplane manufacturer Embraer for the purchase of 47 Embraer 175 jetliners, with an option for an additional 47 of the...
Century Flight Systems receives FAA certification for autopilot system
Century Flight Systems has been awarded supplemental type certificate (STC) from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for installation of its Century 4000 Autopilot in Cessna 182...
UK's GKN Aerospace joins Manufacturing Technology Centre as tier-one member
GKN Aerospace has announced that it has become a tier-one member of the UK's Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) as part of its strategy to strengthen and share its research into...
Snecma selects Unison's air-cooled oil coolers for Leap-1B aircraft engines
France-based Snecma has selected Unison Industries to provide patent pending air-cooled oil coolers for the newly developed Leap-1B jet...
Kenya Airways takes delivery of Embraer E-190 jet
Kenya Airways has taken delivery of an E-190 airliner from Brazilian aeroplane manufacturer Embraer, making it the largest operator of the aircraft in...
Boeing halts deliveries of 787 Dreamliners over technical issues
Boeing has announced that it has suspended planned deliveries of its 787 Dreamliners until all battery issues have been...
Cebu Pacific Air receives first A320 equipped with Sharklets
Philippines budget carrier Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) has taken the delivery of first Airbus A320 equipped with Sharklets in Manila, becoming the first operator of the fuel-saving wing tip in the...
Ireland's Aldus Aviation places firm order for 20 Embraer E-Jets
Irish aircraft leasing firm Aldus Aviation has placed a firm order with Brazilian aeroplane manufacturer Embraer for the purchase of 20 E-Jets, comprising five E-175s and 15 E-190s, with an...
Qantas Airways to purchase three Q400 NextGen turboprop jets
Australian carrier Qantas Airways has placed a firm order with Bombardier Aerospace for three Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft in a deal worth $98m, based on list...
Airbus loses to rival Boeing in 2012 orders
Airbus has announced it received 914 gross orders, worth $109bn, exceeding its target of 650 in fiscal 2012. However, the European plane maker's rival Boeing received 1,339 total...
Caribbean's LIAT places firm order for ATR-600 aeroplanes
Caribbean carrier Leeward Islands Air Transport Services (LIAT) has placed a $100m firm order with European turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR for three ATR 42-600s, with an option for...
Europe and other nations join US in grounding Boeing 787 Dreamliners
Europe, Japan and India have followed the US in issuing a grounding order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners due to safety concerns, after battery problems caused Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) jet...
BOC Aviation signs deal for 50 A320 family aircraft
BOC Aviation, the Singapore-based aircraft leasing subsidiary of Bank of China, has entered into an agreement with Airbus for the purchase of 50 A320 aeroplanes, including 25 neo...
Two dead as helicopter collides with crane in Vauxhall, London
A helicopter has crashed into a crane in London, UK, killing two people and injuring a reported nine...
Tunisia's Syphax Airlines selects CFM engines to power Airbus aircraft
Tunisia-based Syphax Airlines has placed a firm order with CFM International for Leap-1A and CFM56-5B engines to power its three Airbus A320neo and three Airbus A319/A320ceo airplanes...
Indonesia's Citilink places firm order for 25 A320neo airliners
Citilink, the low-cost subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, has agreed to buy 25 Airbus A320neo aircraft, as part of its efforts to meet increasing travel demand in...
FAA orders additional checks on Boeing's 787 Dreamliner
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a comprehensive review of the design and manufacture of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, following a series of...
GKN Aerospace delivers first composite winglet set for Bombardier CSeries jetliner
UK-based GKN Aerospace has delivered first set of winglets to Bombardier Aerospace for the new CSeries...
Boeing ramps up production of 777 jetliner
Boeing has completed construction of a long range wide body 777, the first jetliner from the increased production programme that was announced in October...
Singapore Airlines places firm order for 25 Airbus aircraft
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has placed a firm order with Airbus for 25 additional wide-body aeroplanes, which include five A380s and 20...
Ireland's Avolon places firm order for 20 A320neo jet liners
Irish aircraft leasing firm Avolon has placed a $1.9bn firm order with Airbus for 20 single-aisle A320neo...
Snecma selects Ametek's pressure sensors for Leap-1B aircraft engines
France-based aircraft engine manufacturer Snecma has selected Ametek Sensors & Fluid Management Systems (SFMS) to provide pressure sensors and transducers for the newly developed Leap-1B jet...
Middle East Airlines places firm order for ten A320neo aircraft
Lebanon's flag carrier Middle East Airlines-Air Liban (MEA) has placed a firm order with Airbus for five A321neo and five A320neo...
InterSky becomes first Austrian carrier to receive ATR 72-600 aircraft
InterSky has taken the delivery of first ATR 72-600 aircraft from European turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR, making it the first airline in Austria to add the variant to its...
Lockheed Martin to acquire engine MRO assets from Aveos Fleet Performance
Lockheed Martin Canada has agreed to acquire certain assets of the engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business of Aveos Fleet Performance for an undisclosed...
Embraer selects Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower Engines to power E-Jets
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has selected Pratt & Whitney's PurePower Geared Turbofan engines to power its second generation...
Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft delivery in China delayed over CAAC certification
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner has yet to receive approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), which has delayed the delivery of the mid-size wide-body, twin-engine airliner to...
Hawaiian Airlines to acquire 16 A321neo aircraft
Hawaiian Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the purchase of 16 long-range, single-aisle A321neo airplanes between 2017 and 2020, with an option to acquire...
Arianespace to launch Earth observation satellite for Vietnam
European commercial launch services provider Arianespace has signed a contract with Astrium to launch the VNREDSat-1A, the first Earth observation satellite for...
GE Aviation and SeaCast form JV to develop aircraft engine components
GE Aviation and SeaCast have entered into a 50-50 joint venture (JV) to manufacture jet engine components at SeaCast's facility in Butte, Montana,...
CIT places $2.8bn firm order for ten Airbus A350-900 aircraft
US transportation finance services provider CIT has placed a $2.8bn firm order with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for ten mid-size long-range Xtra Wide-Body A350-900...
Boeing receives $6bn firm order for 60 737 MAX aircraft
Boeing has received a $6bn firm order for 60 737 MAX aeroplanes from Aviation Capital (ACG), an aircraft leasing and asset management services provider in the...
Aeromexico finalises $1.46bn order for Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft
Mexican airliner Aeromexico has placed an order worth $1.46bn with Boeing for the purchase of six mid-size 787-9 Dreamliners, with an option for four additional...
FLYHT to provide automated information reporting system to Nigerian airline
Data communication systems provider FLYHT Aerospace Solutions has secured a two-year contract from an undisclosed Nigerian carrier to provide its automated information reporting system (AFIRS)...
FAA seeks additional inspections of Boeing 737 aircraft
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered additional inspections of Boeing 737-300, 737-400 and 737-500 series aeroplanes in order to detect and rectify cracks along the top of...
Bombardier receives order for six Learjet 75 business jets
Bombardier Aerospace has announced that an undisclosed customer has placed a firm order for six Learjet 75 business...
December 2012
Top
Ariane 5 launches Skynet 5D and Mexsat Bicentenario satellites
European commercial launch services provider Arianespace has launched two telecommunications satellites, Skynet 5D of the UK and Mexsat Bicentenario of Mexico, aboard Ariane 5 ECA from the...
Latvia's airBaltic to acquire ten new Bombardier CSeries aircraft
Latvian flag carrier airBaltic has placed a firm order with Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier for ten new CS300 airliners, marking the airline's transition to 'green flying' as part of...
Malaysia Airlines signs deal for 36 ATR 72-600 jets
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has entered into an agreement with European aircraft manufacturer ATR to buy 36 turboprop ATR 72-600 jets for MYR3bn...
Bombardier receives order for 30 CSeries aircraft from American carrier
Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace has announced that an undisclosed airline based in the Americas has signed a letter of intent (LOI) to purchase 12 CS100 jets with an option...
Turkey's Pegasus Airlines places firm order for 75 A320neo jets
Turkey's budget carrier Pegasus Airlines has placed a firm order with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for 58 A320neo aircraft and 17 A321neo jets, with an option to add another 25...
Northrop Grumman provides navigation system for Sikorsky's S-76D helicopter
US-based aerospace technology company Northrop Grumman has supplied its Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) for Sikorsky's medium-sized, twin-engine S-76D...
Iraqi Airways takes delivery of first Boeing jetliner for 30 years
Iraqi Airways has taken delivery of twin-aisle B777-200LR, the first from 30 jets ordered, as part of its efforts to rebuild the airlines...
Korea Aerospace’s second sale attempt fails due to lack of bidders
A proposal to sell a 41.75% stake in Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, has collapsed for the second time after Korean Air Lines pulled out from the...
SkyWest places firm order for 100 MRJ90 aircraft
US-based SkyWest has placed a $4.2bn firm order with Japan-based Mitsubishi Aircraft for 100 next-generation MRJ90 airplanes, with an option to add another 100...
AirAsia places $9.4bn firm order for 100 A320 aircraft
Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia has placed a $9.4bn firm order with Airbus for 64 A320neo and 36 A320ceo aircraft as a part of its efforts to further expand its network of international...
Heathrow quieter landing efforts kick off with launch of 787 Dreamliner service
Heathrow's commitment to reducing the impact of aircraft noise moves a step further with the launch of Qatar Airways-operated Boeing 787 Dreamliner service, which produces 60% less noise than...
Parker Aerospace and GE Aviation form JV to develop fuel nozzles
Parker Aerospace and GE Aviation have signed an agreement to form a new 50-50 joint venture (JV) to develop and manufacture fuel nozzles for commercial aircraft...
Finnish firm SHT takes delivery of four EC135 helicopters
Finland's emergency medical services provider Skargardshavets Helikoptertjanst Ab (SHT) has taken delivery of four new twin-engine EC135s from France-based Eurocopter as part of its...
Japan's Starflyer takes delivery of first A320 aircraft
Japan's low-cost carrier Starflyer has taken delivery of its first directly purchased single-aisle A320 from Airbus at a ceremony held in Toulouse,...
PinPoint launches tool and asset management systems for aerospace industry
PinPoint, a US-based technology company, has launched a line of tool and asset management systems for aerospace manufacturers, maintainers and operators....
American Airlines becomes first US carrier to receive 777-300ER jetliner
American Airlines has taken delivery of its first twin-aisle twin-engine B777-300ER airplane, making it the first airline in the US to add the variant to its...
B/E Aerospace secures four aircraft cabin interior contracts
B/E Aerospace, a US-based manufacturer of aircraft cabin interior products and distributor of aerospace fasteners and consumables, has secured four contracts worth approximately...
Turkish Airlines finalises firm order for 15 B777-300ER aircraft
Turkish Airlines has finalised its firm order worth $4.7bn with Boeing for 15 twin-engine 777-300ER airplanes, making it the airline’s largest order by value. ...
Bombardier receives order from Delta for 40 CRJ900 NextGen regional jets
Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace has received a firm order for 40 CRJ900 NextGen regional jets from Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, with an option to add another...
WestJet Airlines receives its 100th Boeing Next Generation 737
Canada-based low-cost carrier WestJet Airlines has taken delivery of its 100th Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 single-aisle...
India approves plans for six nuclear plants in Maharashtra
The government of India has given approval to build six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur, Maharashtra in partnership with France-based...
Icelandair signs deal to acquire 12 Boeing 737 MAX jets
Iceland's flag carrier Icelandair has signed a deal with Boeing to purchase 12 single-aisle 737 MAX jets with an option to acquire an additional 12...
EADS overhauls shareholding structure, with Germany to get direct stake
European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS), the parent company of Airbus, has announced a restructuring in its ownership that will allow direct involvement from the German Government,...
China Southern Airlines signs $1.9bn deal to buy ten A330-300s
China Southern Airlines has signed a deal with Airbus to buy ten A330-300 aircraft for $1.9bn, as part of its efforts to maximise operational...
Northrop Grumman provides navigation system for Embraer Legacy jets
US-based aerospace technology company Northrop Grumman has supplied its Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) for integration with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics...
Qatar Airways converts firm order to larger wide-body A350s
Doha-based carrier Qatar Airways has signed an agreement with Airbus, converting its existing firm order for A350s to larger and wide-body A350 XWB...
FAA orders inspection of Boeing 787 Dreamliner after fuel leaks
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered Boeing to conduct inspections on the entire fleet of its in-service wide-body, twin-engine 787 Dreamliner jets due to a technical issue...
Boeing restructures commercial aeroplane division to boost production
Boeing has split the production and design units at its commercial aeroplane division as a part of its efforts to ramp up production by more than 25% over the next 18 months and better compete...
Germany's MTU Aero Engines to shift 30% of production to low-cost countries
Germany-based aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines is shifting 30% of its production to low-cost countries and is adding more suppliers as part of its efforts to boost profits and...
Fadec International, GE’s new JV to supply digital systems for aircraft engines
Fadec International and GE Aviation have formed a new joint venture to develop, manufacture, and support the full-authority digital electronic control (FADEC) and related technologies for...
Nasa selects Astrium to build two research satellites
Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California has selected France-based Astrium to develop two new research satellites, which will be used to measure the Earth's gravity...
November 2012
Top
Airbus raises A330 variants' takeoff weight and fuel capacity
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has increased the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) capability of A330 aircraft to 242t and improved fuel capacity option for the larger A330-300...
NetJets receives first Signature Series Global 6000 aircraft
US-based private jet operator NetJets has received the first Signature Series Global 6000 aircraft from Bombardier's Global Completion Centre in Montréal,...
Swiss Aviation Training uses CEFAsim tool on A320 simulator
Swiss AviationTraining has adapted CEFAsim simulator flight data visualisation tool on an Airbus A320 simulator in order to make flight training debriefings more efficient and...
Reaction Engines receives ESA validation for SABRE engine’s pre-cooler technology
UK-based Reaction Engines has received validation for its pre-cooler heat exchanger technology for its SABRE engine, which could potentially enable aeroplanes to fly to the opposite corner of...
Business jet demand in central Europe soars by nearly 300% in five years, says Hawker Beechcraft
Demand for executive jets in central Europe surged by 291% between 2007 and 2011, compared with 2002-2006, according to research by aircraft manufacturer Hawker...
VistaJet inks deal for 142 Bombardier Global jets
Switzerland-based business jet operator VistaJet has entered into an agreement with Bombardier for 142 Global business jets worth approximately $8bn, eclipsing the Canadian aircraft...
Boeing to take time to seek board approval for 787-10 Dreamliner programme
Boeing intends to take forward its 787-10 Dreamliner plan but has said that more efforts were required to get approval from the board of directors for an official launch of the...
TransAsia Airways takes delivery of A330-300 aircraft
Taiwan's TransAsia Airways has received the first of two wide-body A330-300 aircraft ordered from Airbus at a ceremony in Toulouse,...
Embraer to establish aircraft service centre in Nairobi
Embraer, a Brazilian manufacturer of E170 and E190 regional jets, is planning to set up its first African servicing hub in Nairobi in 2013, in partnership with its leading customer in Africa,...
China Eastern Airlines to purchase 60 A320 aircraft
China Eastern Airlines has agreed to purchase 60 A320s from Airbus for $5.39bn as a part of its strategy to expand its fleet to serve domestic...
UK and US partner to discuss unmanned civilian flights
The National Aeronautical Centre (NAC), located at West Wales Airport in the UK, is collaborating with the Oklahoma State University’s Multispectral Laboratory (UML) to boost the operation...
ILS Proton rocket launches EchoStar XVI satellite to geostationary orbit
Communication satellite EchoStar XVI has been launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard the International Launch Services (ILS) Proton...
Royal Jordanian receives medium-range A320 aircraft
Jordan's flag carrier Royal Jordanian (RJ) has announced the addition of a new medium-range A320 aeroplane to its fleet, marking the completion of its medium and short-haul fleet...
GE Aviation acquires two precision manufacturing companies in US
GE Aviation has acquired two precision manufacturing companies, Morris Technologies and its sister company Rapid Quality Manufacturing, for an undisclosed...
Nexcelle completes preliminary design review of GE Passport engine nacelle
Nexcelle has completed the preliminary design review for the nacelle that will form part of GE's Passport engine, an integrated propulsion system (IPS) to power the Bombardier Global 7000 and...
Bombardier Learjet 85 business jet receives first wing
Bombardier has announced the first wing shipment for its Learjet 85 business jet has reached the Wichita final assembly line in the US and will be installed on the fuselage of Flight Test...
GE Aviation's H75 and H85 turboprop engines receive EASA certification
US-based aircraft engine manufacturer GE Aviation has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for its H75 and H85 turboprop engines, which are based on the H80 engine...
French space agency breaks ground on Galileo Security Monitoring Center
French space agency Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) has broken ground on the Galileo Security Monitoring Center (GSMC) in Saint Germain en Laye,...
Ethiopian Airlines receives dual class Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft
Addis Ababa-based Ethiopian Airlines has become the first carrier to take delivery of Q400 NextGen turboprop jetliners fitted with a dual-class...
Colombia's Avianca Airlines places order for three 787s
Colombia's flagship carrier Avianca Airlines has placed a $620m firm order with Boeing for three 787 Dreamliners as part of its expansion...
GKN Aerospace, China's SAMC extend MoU for COMAC 919 airplane
UK-based GKN Aerospace and Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Company (SAMC) have extended their memorandum of understanding (MoU) and entered into further agreements for the intellectual...
Singapore's SilkAir places order for 54 Boeing 737s
Singapore's SilkAir has placed a $4.9bn firm order for 54 single-aisle Boeing 737 aircraft, which includes 23 737-800s and 31 737 MAX...
Mexico’s Interjet signs purchase order for 40 A320neo aircraft
Mexican airline Interjet has signed an agreement with Airbus to purchase 40 single-aisle A320neo aeroplanes as a part of its network expansion strategy and to replace some of the ageing A320s...
Gulfstream Aerospace opens flight operations department in Hong Kong
Gulfstream Aerospace, a US-based manufacturer of G150, G200, G280 business jets, has set up a flight operations department in Hong Kong to support its customers in the Asia-Pacific...
Libya's Afriqiyah Airways places order for four A350-900 aeroplanes
Libya's flag carrier Afriqiyah Airways has placed a firm order with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for four wide-body A350-900 jets as part of its efforts to expand its fleet of A350 XWBs. ...
Bombardier strengthens strategic collaboration with China’s COMAC
Canada-based Bombardier and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) have strengthened an existing strategic collaboration to jointly develop common features for their respective...
EU suspends extension of aviation emissions trading scheme
The European Union has suspended the planned extension of its emissions trading scheme (ETS) to flights to and from non-EU nations, which would have forced international airlines to pay for...
Arianespace places two communication satellites into orbit
Arianespace has launched two telecommunications satellites, Eutelsat 21B and Star One C3, aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from the European Spaceport in French...
Qatar Airways becomes first Middle East airline to receive 787 Dreamliner
Doha-based carrier Qatar Airways has taken delivery of its first mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet Boeing 787 Dreamliner, becoming the first airline in the Middle East to receive the...
Boeing set to surpass Airbus's aircraft orders in 2012
US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing has so far secured more than 1,000 new orders this year, placing it on track to surpass its rival Airbus for the first time since...
Precision Air Services takes delivery of ATR 42-600 aircraft
Tanzanian carrier Precision Air Services has taken delivery of its first twin-turboprop, short-haul jet ATR 42-600 from the ATR Delivery Centre in Toulouse,...
Bombardier postpones first CSeries aircraft flight to 2013
Canada-based Bombardier has pushed its scheduled date for the first flight of its CSeries aircraft back by six months to June 2013 due to supplier delays in the delivery of...
TransAsia Airways places order for six more Airbus A321neo aircraft
Taiwan's TransAsia Airways has placed a firm order with Airbus for an additional six single aisle A321neo aeroplanes as part of the carrier's fleet expansion programme to serve new...
Serbia to initiate talks with Airbus to modernise Jat Airways fleet
Serbia is to begin discussions with Airbus on a deal to buy and lease aeroplanes as a part of its efforts to turn its loss-making Jat Airways...
Boeing to convert three 767s to freighters for Guggenheim
US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing has signed a deal with leasing firm Guggenheim Aviation Partners to convert three 767-300ER passenger aircraft into...
Aeromexico finalises $6bn order for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
Mexican airliner Aeromexico has placed a $6bn firm order for 60 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 variants, with an option to purchase an additional 30...
ESA develops revolutionary new lightweight alloy for aircraft
The European Space Agency (ESA) has helped the 'Intermetallic Materials Processing in Relation to Earth and Space Solidification' (Impress) project in developing a new lightweight...
Microsemi unveils transient voltage suppressors to protect aircraft from lightning strikes
US-based semiconductor solutions provider Microsemi has introduced two transient voltage suppressor (TVS) devices to protect aircraft from lightning...
United Airlines becomes first US carrier to fly Boeing 787 Dreamliner
United Airlines has become the first US airline to fly passengers on the composite plastic fuselage aircraft Boeing 787...
General Atomics demonstrates drones can share airspace with passenger planes
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA ASI), manufacturer of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) and electro-optic surveillance systems, has successfully demonstrated that drones used in warzones...
Kuwait's ALAFCO orders 20 Boeing aeroplanes in $2bn deal
Kuwait aircraft leasing firm ALAFCO has placed a firm order for 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aeroplanes in a deal worth...
Russian carrier Aeroflot receives 100th Airbus aircraft
Russian national carrier Aeroflot has taken the delivery of long-haul A330-300 from Airbus, marking its 100th aircraft from the manufacturer to enter...
Eutelsat to lease capacity on two RSCC satellites for 15 years
The Russian Satellite Communication (RSCC) has signed a 15-year agreement for Eutelsat to lease capacity for broadcasting and IP services on two RSCC satellites being launched in 2013 and...
Boeing delays delivery of 787 Dreamliner aircraft to United Airlines
Boeing has missed the proposed delivery date of two 787 Dreamliner aircraft to US-based United...
Pratt & Whitney Canada to supply PT6 engines to Viking Air
Aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has signed a ten-year agreement with Viking Air to supply PT6 engines, including the PT6A-34 for the company's Twin Otter...
October 2012
Top
Hawker Beechcraft outlines bankruptcy exit strategy
US-based aircraft manufacturer Hawker Beechcraft has outlined plans to emerge from chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which would see senior lenders taking control of the...
Aviation Capital Services commits to buy 35 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
Aviation Capital Services, an aircraft leasing unit of Russian Technologies State Corporation (Rostech), has agreed to purchase 35 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for $3.5bn, the first such sale to...
Boeing to deliver next-generation TDRS on schedule
Boeing has announced that it is on schedule to deliver the next-generation series of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) to...
Pratt & Whitney completes assembly of A320neo's first test engine
US-based Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has completed the assembly of a PurePower PW1100G-JM test engine, designed to power the Airbus A320neo...
Rockwell Collins and CETCA form JV to support COMAC C919 programme
Rockwell Collins has set up a joint venture (JV) with China Electronics Technology Avionics (CETCA) for the development and production of communication and navigation systems for the...
Bombardier unveils NetJets' first Global 6000 aircraft
Bombardier has introduced NetJets' first Global 6000 aeroplane at Orlando Executive Airport, US, which will be showcased at the 2012 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention to...
Boeing predicts $820bn market in North America by 2031
Boeing has predicted that airlines in North America will take delivery of approximately 7,300 new aircraft by 2031, valued at...
Singapore Airlines to purchase 25 airplanes from Airbus
Singapore Airlines has announced plans to buy five A380s and 20 A350-900 aircraft from Airbus for...
HEET to lead Boeing-COMAC technology centre's sustainable jet fuel project
Boeing-Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China's (COMAC) energy conservation technology centre has chosen Hangzhou Energy Engineering & Technology (HEET) to lead its first research project...
L-3 MAS to manufacture overwing exit doors for Bombardier Global jet programme
France-based Aerolia has awarded a contract to aircraft support services provider L-3 MAS to design, manufacture and deliver the overwing exit doors for the Bombardier Global 7000 and Global...
Airbus opens A350 XWB final assembly line in France
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has opened a new production premises in Toulouse, France, to assemble the company's new wide-body, twin-aisle A350 XWB...
Boeing’s partner GE Aviation enlists Brazilian aerospace firms to strengthen future support base
Boeing Super Hornet partner GE Aviation has signed memorandum of understandings (MOUs) with several Brazilian aerospace companies to become potential suppliers for the company's global supply...
RwandAir receives Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft
RwandAir has received the first of two Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aeroplanes from the jet manufacturer's CRJ Series facility in Quebec,...
Turkish Airlines to order 15 Boeing B777-300ER
Turkish Airlines (THY) has made a commitment with Boeing to order 15 B777-300ER aircraft as a part of its expansion...
Hawker Beechcraft decides to restructure business after Chinese deal fails
Aircraft manufacturer Hawker Beechcraft has announced plans to come out of bankruptcy protection by the first quarter of 2013 as an independent company and restructure its...
Airbus to double annual purchasing from US suppliers by 2020
Airbus is intending to double its annual spending for the procurement of parts and services in the US to $24bn by 2020, supported by an international backlog of more than 4,400...
Boeing confirms 2014 delivery schedule for first 787-9 Dreamliner
Boeing's 787-9 Dreamliner will be delivered to its first customer on schedule in 2014, with its maiden flight planned in the second quarter of...
AAR to provide airframe maintenance services to Air Canada
Aviation services provider AAR has signed a letter of intent (LOI) and is finalising the terms of a five-year deal with Air Canada to provide airframe maintenance services for the...
Five aerospace and defence firms collaborate over environmental issues
Finmeccanica, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Saab are collaborating to work across sectors to tackle global energy and environmental...
SkyLife Air Ambulance receives NVG training gear from Night Flight Concepts
In-flight medical service provider SkyLife Air Ambulance has received a comprehensive night-vision goggle (NVG) training module from provider Night Flight...
ESA installs orbital debris test radar in Spain
The European Space Agency (ESA) has installed the first orbital debris test radar in Spain, which will be used to develop early warning services to help European satellite operators manoeuvre...
Sikorsky’s S-76D helicopter receives FAA certification
Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies, has received type certificate for its S-76D medium-twin helicopter from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week following...
Assembly of Bombardier CSeries FTV1 moves ahead
Canada-based Bombardier has announced that the cockpit and all fuselage sections for its CSeries aircraft's first flight test vehicle (FTV1) have arrived at the Québec facility, signalling...
ESA's second pair of Galileo satellites launched into orbit
The European Space Agency's (ESA) second pair of Galileo navigation satellites, Flight Model 3 (FM3) and Flight Model 4 (FM4), have been launched from the European Spaceport in French Guiana...
ILS Proton rocket launches Intelsat 23 satellite to geostationary orbit
Telecom satellite Intelsat 23 was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 14 October aboard the International Launch Services (ILS) Proton...
Thales Alenia Space to build EUTELSAT 8 West B Satellite
Eutelsat Communications has selected Thales Alenia Space to manufacture a EUTELSAT 8 West B satellite, to boost its broadcasting capacity in the Middle East and North...
Saudi Arabia calls for setting up international internet censorship body
Saudi Arabia's move follows posting of anti-Islam movie posted on...
Alaska Airlines places firm order for 50 Boeing 737s
US carrier Alaska Airlines has placed a $5bn firm order for 50 Boeing 737s, as part of its plan to replace most of its single-aisle aircraft fleet in the next 12...
United Cargo selects Cubic’s tracking devices for 700 aircraft
US cargo carrier United Cargo has opted for the installation of GS-5L, GS-5B and RSU-3 advanced tracking and monitoring devices in cargo compartments of its fleet of 700 aircraft from...
SpaceX's Dragon capsule successfully attaches to ISS
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) unmanned Dragon cargo spacecraft has been successfully attached to the International Space Station (ISS) by Expedition 33 crew members using the...
SES selects Boeing to develop communication satellite
Luxembourg-based commercial satellite operator SES has chosen Boeing to manufacture communication satellite SES-9, which will serve the Asian...
Europe and Russia collaborate on Lunar Polar Sample Return mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian's Roscosmos are collaborating to send an unmanned mission Lunar Polar Sample Return (LPSR) to bring frozen soil samples from the Moon to Earth...
SpaceX rocket fails to place secondary payload into planned orbit
Space Exploration Technologies' (SpaceX) Falcon 9 rocket, launched on 7 October from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, has failed to place a telecommunications satellite into the...
Turkish Airlines places order for 15 Airbus A330-300
Turkish Airlines (THY) has placed an order with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for 15 long-haul A330-300 aircraft as part of its expansion plan....
Australia’s CSIRO develops ASKAP radio telescope to explore universe
Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) has developed the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope, enabling astronomers...
Bombardier chooses CAE for Global 7000 and 8000 development programme
Bombardier has selected CAE for the design and manufacture of engineering development simulators for its Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft...
SpaceX launches first NASA-contracted cargo flight to ISS
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has launched the first NASA-contracted cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral...
NASA to trial rotor system to replace parachutes on spacecraft
NASA is testing a rotor system that could replace parachutes on spacecraft to control landing when returning to Earth's...
ISS partners to begin first year-long endurance mission in 2015
Space agencies involved in the International Space Station (ISS) plan to embark on the first experimental year-long endurance mission in March...
ISS changes orbit to avoid Japanese satellite debris
The International Space Station (ISS) has been manoeuvred into a different orbit in order to avoid a possible collision with debris of a Japanese spacecraft, according to the Russian...
GECAS finalises $8.4bn order for 85 Boeing 737 airplanes
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has placed a $8.4bn firm order for 85 Boeing 737 jets, which includes 75 737 MAX 8s and ten Next-Generation...
ESA's second pair of Galileo satellites set for launch on 12 October
The European Space Agency's (ESA) second pair of Galileo navigation satellites, Galileo Flight Model 3 (FM3) and Galileo Flight Model 4 (FM4), are ready for launch aboard a Soyuz ST-B vehicle...
Astrium UK developing harpoon technology to pull old satellites from space
Astrium UK, a division of France-based Astrium, is developing a technology to harpoon redundant satellites out of...
AirSprint to buy nine Cessna Citation CJ2+ business jets
AirSprint Private Aviation has agreed to purchase nine Cessna Citation CJ2+ aircraft from Innotech-Execaire, Cessna's authorised sales representative in Canada, for...
Brazil's GOL orders 60 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
Brazilian low-cost carrier GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes has placed a $6bn firm order for 60 Boeing 737 MAX...
Philippine Airlines to buy ten more Airbus A330 aircraft
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has agreed to purchase ten new A330 airplanes, in addition to the 54 aircraft ordered in August, from European aircraft manufacturer...
Korean Air Lines and Hyundai Heavy Industries bid for stake in Korea Aerospace
Korean Air Lines and shipbuilding company Hyundai Heavy Industries have both made bids to acquire a 41.75% stake in Korea Aerospace Industries...
September 2012
Top
Taiwan's UNI Air receives first ATR 72-600 aircraft
UNI Air, a Taiwan-based airline and subsidiary of EVA Air, has received the first of ten ATR 72-600 aeroplanes from European turboprop aircraft manufacturer...
Japan's MIH to begin satellite launch services using H-IIB rockets
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has signed an agreement with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to begin satellite launch services using H-IIB...
US weather satellite GOES-13 fails and replaced with a backup
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-13 (GOES-13), which monitors weather conditions in the eastern part of US, has been temporarily shutdown due to technical problems and...
ISS in danger of debris from old Russian satellite
The International Space Station (ISS) may have to be manoeuvred out of its path in order to avoid collision with two pieces of debris from an old Russian satellite and a fragment from an...
Lockheed Martin completes design review of Iridium NEXT satellite application software
Lockheed Martin has completed the critical design review (CDR) of the application software designed for the Iridium NEXT constellation of global communication...
Airbus delivers 100th A320 assembled in China
Airbus has delivered the 100th A320 aircraft assembled at its Final Assembly Line China (FALC) in Tianjin to Air...
ANA to add 11 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft to fleet
Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) has agreed to purchase 11 additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, as a part of a strategy to cut costs by expanding its fuel-efficient aircraft...
Airbus and Sinopec to develop aviation biofuel in China
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has partnered with China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) to develop and promote a renewable aviation biofuel called '1#...
Ireland's Avolon places $2.4bn order for Boeing 737 airplanes
Irish aircraft leasing firm Avolon has finalised a firm order for ten Boeing 737 MAX 8s, five 737 MAX 9s and ten Next-Generation 737-800s...
Arianespace to launch ASTRA 2F and GSAT-10 on 28 September
European commercial launch services provider Arianespace is now set to launch two communication satellites, ASTRA 2F and GSAT-10, on 28 September from the spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana...
SpaceX to launch first contracted cargo flight to ISS in October
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is set to launch its first NASA-contracted cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station (ISS) on 7 October from Cape Canaveral Air Force...
Boeing to deliver 787 Dreamliner to Air India next week
Boeing plans to deliver a 787 Dreamliner to India's flag carrier Air India next week, having received certification from US Federal Aviation...
AviancaTaca receives ninth Airbus A330-200
Latin American airlines AviancaTaca has received the delivery of its ninth A330-200 aeroplane from Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France....
NASA's Curiosity rover set to study first Martian rock
NASA's Curiosity rover will examine Martian rock for the first time tomorrow after landing on the red planet more than a month...
Arianespace postpones launch of two satellites over technical issue
European commercial launch services provider Arianespace has postponed launching two communication satellites GSAT-10 and ASTRA 2F from a spaceport in Kourou in French Guiana after it found...
Boeing unveils prototype ecoDemonstrator aircraft with fuel-efficient technologies
Boeing has unveiled a new prototype aircraft equipped with fuel-efficient technology in collaboration with American Airlines and the US Federal Aviation...
European weather satellite MetOp-B launches into orbit
Europe's latest meteorological satellite MetOp-B has been launched by a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in...
NTSB recommends frequent GE engine testing following safety concerns
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) carry out frequent inspections on General Electric aircraft engines, GEnx-1B and...
Austrian carrier InterSky buys two ATR 72-600 aircraft
Austrian carrier InterSky has signed an agreement with European turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR to buy two ATR 72-600...
FAA and Germany partner to promote sustainable alternative fuels
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has signed a declaration of cooperation with the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS) to work jointly to...
Japan's HTV-3 cargo ship unberths from ISS
Japan's unmanned H-2 Transfer Vehicle 3 (HTV-3) cargo freighter unberthed from the International Space Station (ISS) on 12 September, marking the end of its seven-week...
Mars rover Curiosity to take its first major drive today
NASA's Curiosity rover will begin its first major drive across the Mars surface today and begin surveying rocks in order to understand if the planet was once...
SpaceX to launch three more SES satellites
Luxembourg-based commercial satellite operator SES has signed an agreement with Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) to launch an additional three satellites on SpaceX's Falcon 9 or Falcon...
Lockheed Martin begins final assembly on NASA's MAVEN spacecraft
Lockheed Martin has started the assembly, test and launch operations (ATLO) phase of NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft, which is scheduled for launch in November...
Orbital hands over HYLAS 2 operational control to Avanti
US satellite manufacturer Orbital has handed over the operational control of HYLAS 2 high-throughput broadband satellite to UK-based Avanti Communications, following the successful completion...
Bombardier to freeze discretionary spending in aerospace division
Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier is exercising stricter control over its discretionary spending in its aerospace division in order to preserve funding for its C-Series and Learjet 85...
HISPASAT chooses Arianespace to launch two satellites
Spanish satellite fleet operator HISPASAT has selected European commercial launch services provider Arianespace to launch its two satellites, Amazonas 4A and HISPASAT AG1, in...
Meteorology satellite MetOp-B set to be launched into space
Europe's latest meteorology satellite MetOp-B will be launched into space from Baikonur Cosmodrome, an operational space launch facility in Kazakhstan, on 17...
AirAsia close to deal for 100 Airbus jets
Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia is close to a deal to buy up to 100 Airbus A320 jets as a part of its efforts to expand...
Air India receives first Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Air India has taken delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner at Boeing's final assembly facility in South Carolina, ending a lengthily dispute between the Indian flag carrier and US aircraft maker...
Raytheon AGM-88 HARM missile completes test flight
Raytheon's upgraded AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) has successfully completed a flight...
New brazing alloys to improve thermal barrier in jet engines
The aerospace industry is looking for new options to run gas turbine engines longer and hotter in order to save operating costs by reducing the use of compressor...
NTSB recommends anti-collision aids for large aircraft
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a safety call to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to equip large commercial aircraft with collision-avoidance equipment...
Intelsat selects Boeing 702MP for its first Intelsat EpicNG satellite
Satellite operator Intelsat has selected Boeing 702MP platform for its 29e satellite, the first of the company's EpicNG next-generation...
Airbus predicts global aircraft demand will soar
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has predicted a need for an extra 28,200 passenger and freighter aircraft valued at almost $4tn over the next two...
GKN gets EU approval to acquire Volvo’s aero engine unit acquisition
GKN, a UK-based component manufacturer for Airbus jets, has received clearance from the European Commission (EC) to acquire Volvo Aero, the aero engine division of Swedish truck maker AB Volvo,...
Bombardier to supply six more Q400 NextGen aircraft to Eurolot
Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier Aerospace has received a $190m firm order from Warsaw-based Eurolot for six additional Q400 NextGen...
LAN Airlines gets its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Chilean carrier LAN Airlines has become the first airline in the Americas and fourth in the world to take delivery of a 787 Dreamliner aircraft from...
Sukhoi set to revive Su-80 aircraft programme
Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi has announced that it is ready to revive its nearly forgotten Su-80 aircraft programme, which was put on hold a few years...
NASA launches first RBSP dual-spacecraft mission
NASA has successfully launched its first dual-spacecraft mission radiation belt storm probes (RBSP) into orbit aboard an Atlas V 401 rocket from the Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral...
Lack of bidders halts Korea Aerospace stake sale
A shareholders plan to sell a 41.75% stake in Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), South Korea's only aircraft manufacturer, for KRW1.05trn ($925m) has failed due to a lack of...
August 2012
Top
Airbus delivers first A330-200F aircraft to MNG Airlines
Airbus has delivered the first of four A330-200F aircraft to Turkey's freight operator MNG Airlines, which will support the company's services expansion...
NASA’s Orion spacecraft successfully completes maximum parachute test
NASA's Orion spacecraft has successfully completed its latest round of parachute trials at the US Yuma Army Proving Ground in...
China seals $3.5bn deal for 50 Airbus A320 jetliners
China’s Industrial & Commercial Bank (ICBC) leasing arm has placed an order with Airbus for 50 A320 jetliners in a deal worth around...
Air Zermatt receives its first Bell 429 EMS helicopter
Switzerland’s Air Zermatt has received its first Bell 429 configured for emergency medical services (EMS) from Bell Helicopter, marking the first delivery to a European customer....
NASA plans android powered smartphone nanosatellite launches
NASA is planning to develop prototype smartphone-operated nanosatellites powered by Google's Android...
UTair to power its new A321 fleet with CFM56-5B engine
Russia's UTair Aviation (UTair) has opted for CFM International's CFM56-5B engine to power its new fleet of Airbus A321 single-aisle passenger...
Airbus wins $7bn aircraft order from Philippine Airlines
Airbus has won an order for 54 aircraft from Philippine Airlines (PAL) in a deal worth $7bn, which will allow the airlines to more than triple its...
Demand for aviation personnel to soar in Asia Pacific says Boeing
Boeing predicts that the demand for aviation personnel in the commercial airline industry will increase substantially in the Asia-Pacific region over the next two decades, to support...
Orbital selects Ruag GPS receivers for ICESat-2 mission
Orbital Sciences has selected Vienna based Ruag Space to deliver two space-hardened GPS receivers to be equipped on Nasa's ICESat-2 Earth observation...
NASA’s CCiCap programme completes first milestone
NASA's commercial space partners, which include Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Sierra Nevada (SNC), have successfully completed their first milestone as part of the agency's...
Aerojet successfully completes hot-fire test of LEO-7 rocket motor
Aerojet, the rocket motor division of GenCorp, has successfully completed a hot-fire test of its new low earth orbit (LEO)-7 second stage rocket motor at the Air Force Research Laboratory...
NASA Curiosity rover begins test drive on Mars
NASA's Curiosity Rover has begun a test drive from its launch site on Mars, which combined forward, turn and reverse segments, marking its first movement on the Martian...
Qantas cancels $8.5bn aircraft order following annual loss
Australian carrier Qantas has scrapped its order with Boeing for 35 B787-9 aircraft, following its first full year loss since privatisation in 1995, citing high fuel costs and increasing...
ESA's fourth Galileo satellite prepares for launch
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Galileo Flight Model 4 (FM4) satellite has been delivered to Spaceport in French Guiana, marking the commencement of the satellite’s prelaunch preparations for...
Lockheed Martin to build InSight for Nasa's Mars mission
Nasa has selected Lockheed Martin Space Systems to build the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) spacecraft, to support its next...
Asia Pacific Jets orders ten Nextant 400XT aircraft
Singapore-based Asia Pacific Jets has placed a $45m order with Nextant Aerospace, the aircraft manufacturer that converts Beechjet 400A/XP planes into corporate jets, for ten Nextant 400XT...
Astrium delivers SES’s first ASTRA 2F satellite
The first of four Astrium-built Astra satellites for SES, ASTRA 2F, has been sent to Kourou, French Guiana, and is all set for launch aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle by the end of September...
MIT researchers develop new micro propeller for small satellites
Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US have developed penny-sized 'microthrusters' that could propel 2lb satellites through...
Sea Launch successfully launches Intelsat 21 satellite
Sea Launch has successfully launched the Intelsat 21 satellite aboard a Zenit 3SL launch vehicle from the Odyssey mobile platform, in the equatorial Pacific...
Boeing and COMAC open new technology centre in Beijing
Boeing and Commercial Aircraft of China (COMAC) have opened the new Boeing-COMAC Aviation Energy Conservation and Emissions Reductions Technology Center in Beijing, China, to study...
Honeywell unveils upgraded IntuVue 3-D weather radar
Honeywell has unveiled its upgraded IntuVue 3-D weather radar, designed to enhance the in-flight situational awareness and decision-making capabilities of pilots in adverse weather...
Purdue University researchers develop new method to predict solar flares
Researchers at Purdue University in the US have developed a new method to predict solar flares prior to their occurrence, further allowing authorities to adopt protective measures to...
Ball Aerospace to demonstrate green propellant technology for NASA
A team led by Ball Aerospace has been selected by NASA to demonstrate a high performance green propellant alternative to the toxic fuel hydrazine, currently used for fuelling rockets, as part...
TITAL to build civil aircraft component manufacturing facility in China
TITAL, a titanium and aluminum investment casting firm, has started construction on a new facility in China to manufacture aluminum castings for the civil aircraft...
Arianespace to perform prelaunch verifications for Galileo FM3 satellite
Arianespace is conducting prelaunch verifications for Europe's Galileo Flight Model 3 (FM3) satellite, ahead of its launch along with FM4 on the next Soyuz mission from French Guiana,...
GSAT-10 satellite completes solar panel deployment test
A GSAT-10 telecommunications satellite has successfully completed a solar panel deployment test at the spaceport in French Guiana as part of its pre-flight preparations, before its launch...
Boeing JV secures retrofit contract from China Southern Airlines
Aviation Partners Boeing (APB), a joint venture (JV) formed between Aviation Partners and Boeing, has received a contract from China Southern Airlines to retrofit an additional 40 Boeing...
USAA, Cambridge Development break ground on residential project in San Antonio, US
USAA Real Estate Company and Cambridge Development have broken ground on The Residences at La Cantera, a new apartment community in San Antonio,...
NASA readies for Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission launch
NASA has started final preparations to launch a pair of spacecraft into orbit on 23 August as part of its Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission to study the extremes of space...
NASA firms up JPSS-1 mission contracts
NASA has confirmed contracts for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1) operational polar-orbiting satellite, planned to be launched...
Orbcomm's OG2 spacecraft completes environmental testing at Sierra Nevada
Orbcomm's Generation 2 (OG2) prototype spacecraft has successfully completed random vibration and thermal vacuum testing at Sierra Nevada (SNC) Space Systems facility in Colorado,...
ESA receives Galileo satellite
The European Space Agency (ESA) has taken delivery of a Galileo navigation satellite from Thales Alenia Space at its spaceport in French Guiana, marking the next phase of preparations for a...
AirAsia X to lease six Airbus A330-300s from ILFC
AirAsia X has signed a letter of intent with American International Group subsidiary International Lease Finance (ILFC) to lease six Airbus A330-300...
Rockwell Collins autopilot system performs successful autonomous test flight
Aurora Flight Sciences optionally piloted twin-engine aircraft, the Centaur, equipped with Rockwell Collins Athena 411 control system, has successfully completed the first fully autonomous...
Sharp signs license agreement with Microsoft to use exFAT file technology in its smartphones
exFAT eases the transfer of larger files between personal computers and other electronic...
Icon and Cirrus collaborate on production of ICON A5 sport plane
Icon Aircraft and Cirrus Aircraft have collaborated for the production of Icon A5 amphibious light sport aircraft...
Russia stops launches aboard Proton-M rocket
Russian Space Agency Roscosmos is planning to halt satellite launches aboard its Proton-M rocket launchers powered by Briz-M boosters, following the malfunctioning of a launcher carrying...
NASA’s Curiosity rover successfully lands on Mars
NASA's 1t Curiosity rover has successfully landed on the Mars, marking the end of a 36-week flight and the start of a new mission to investigate the...
NASA awards space taxi development grants to Boeing, Sierra Nevada and Spacex
NASA has awarded a collective grant worth $1.1bn to Boeing, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Sierra Nevada for the design and development of a next generation manned...
EL AL orders two additional Boeing 737-900ER aircraft
Israeli national carrier El Al has confirmed an order for two additional Boeing Next-Generation 737-900 Extended Range aircraft, adding to the airline's four aeroplanes ordered in March...
Xiamen Airlines to purchase 40 Boeing Next-Generation 737s
Xiamen Airlines, a subsidiary of China Southern Airlines, is to buy 40 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft to support international expansion and serve increasing passenger demand in...
Boeing ships second 702MP satellite to Intelsat
Boeing has delivered the second of four 702MP satellites to Intelsat (IS), paving the way for a late 2012 launch for the company's newest medium-power...
Arianespace launches two telecom satellites on Ariane 5
Arianespace has successfully launched two telecom satellites aboard its Ariane 5 V208 launcher from the Kourou space centre in French Guiana, marking the launcher's 50th consecutive launch since...
WestJet orders 45 Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft
Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet Airlines has firmed up its order with Bombardier for up to 45 Q400 NextGen aircraft, following the signing of letter of intent in...
Aeroloft receives its ninth SSJ100 aircraft
Russian Airlines Aeroflot has taken delivery of its ninth SSJ100 aircraft from JSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC), which also marks the manufacturer's tenth production aircraft, following...
Conviasa Airlines places order for six Embraer E-190 aircraft
Venezuelan carrier Conviasa has placed an order for six Embraer E-190 aircraft, worth $271.2m, as part of plans to refurbish the airline...
ATK unveils new small satellite spacecraft platforms
ATK has unveiled its new product line of small satellite spacecraft platforms for use in missions for civil, national security and commercial...
July 2012
Top
Alabama University to research thermonuclear propulsion system
A new rocket propulsion system, 'Charger-1 Pulsed Power Generator', is being developed by researchers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, US, from nuclear weapon testing device...
Cebu Air to sell Airbus A319 aircraft fleet to Allegiant Air
Philippines budget carrier Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) is planning to sell its entire fleet of ten Airbus A319 aircraft to Allegiant...
AeroPearl receives two Beechcraft King Air 350 Turboprops
AeroPearl has taken the delivery of two new King Air 350i turboprops from Hawker Pacific, which will be used to support AeroPearl's flight inspection contract with Airservices...
Lockheed’s aeroshell to protect NASA’s MSL mission
Lockheed Martin Space Systems designed aeroshell is expected to play a major role in protecting NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) during its entry, descent and landing (EDL) on...
Nippon receives first Boeing 747-8 Freighter
Narita-based Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) has received its first of 14 Boeing 747-8 Freighter, marking the aircraft's debut in...
NASA completes major agency review of Space Launch System
NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) programme has successfully passed its system requirements and definition reviews, marking the completion of the its concept development...
GE to launch two new turboprop engines
GE Aviation is planning to launch two new turboprop engines, the H75 and H85, which are from the same line as its recently certified H80...
Aeromexico to purchase 100 Boeing aeroplanes
Aeromexico has committed to buy 100 Boeing single and twin-aisle aeroplanes, comprising a blend of 737 MAXs and 787 Dreamliners, to help stimulate the airline's expansion...
Solar Impulse completes historic transcontinental flight
The sun-powered experimental aircraft Solar Impulse HB-SIA has returned to its base in Payerne, Switzerland, following the completion of its historic maiden transcontinental...
Ex-Im Bank approves $1.2bn for US satellite exports to Mexico and Australia
The Export-Import Bank of the US (Ex-Im Bank) has approved two separate deals worth more than $1.2bn to fund the export of US-made telecommunications satellites to Mexico and...
Korean Air places order for two Boeing 777-300ERs
Korean Air has firmed up its order for two Boeing 777-300 Extended Range (ER) airplanes, worth $596m based on the company's list...
NASA tests prototype of hypersonic inflatable heat shield
NASA has successfully tested a new inflatable heat shield equipped on the Inflatable Re-entry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE-3) spacecraft for its survival during its re-enterering Earth's atmosphere...
GE to provide fuel and carbon solutions for AirAsia
GE Aviation has been awarded a contract by AirAsia to provide fuel and carbon solutions to reduce its fleet's fuel consumption and...
Russia launches five satellites aboard Soyuz-FG launcher
Russia's Soyuz-FG launcher has launched five spacecraft, including the Russian satellites KANOPUS-V1 (Canopus-B) and MKA-PN1, and Canada's exactView-1 satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome...
Maryland State Police exercises options for three AW139 helicopters
Maryland State Police Aviation Command has exercised its option to purchase three additional AW139 medium twin helicopters from AgustaWestland, replacing the old Dauphin...
NASA to launch an earth-observing camera system to ISS
NASA is planning to launch a remote-controlled Earth-observing camera, the International Space Station SERVIR environmental research and visualisation (ISERV) system, aboard the Japan...
NASA’s Orion space vehicle completes another parachute test
NASA has successfully completed another airdrop test of the Orion crew vehicle's parachutes at Yuma Proving Ground, south-western Arizona, marking the fifth such test of 18 in...
Garmin unveils GWX 70 weather radar for general aviation aircraft
Garmin International has unveiled the new Doppler-enabled GWX 70 weather radar for use on general aviation aircraft, providing pilots with accurate, real-time weather analysis in the...
ATK completes programme status review of Liberty spacecraft
ATK has successfully completed the programme status review (PSR) of the Liberty space transportation system, under a space act agreement (SAA) with NASA for the commercial crew...
Boeing receives new service contract from Norwegian Air Shuttlec
Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle has awarded a fourth landing gear exchange contract covering an additional 15 Next-Generation 737 aircraft, making the airline Boeing's largest landing...
CANEUS consortium to develop less-wire and fly-by-wireless capabilities
A consortium led by the Canada-Europe-US-Asia (CANEUS) aerospace network have collaborated to develop less-wire and fly-by-wireless (FBW) capabilities, which would enhance safety and...
African mining boom to boost demand for business aircraft
The booming mining market in Africa is expected to boost demand for business aircraft in the continent, leading to the region being labelled as one of the best development prospects in the...
Boeing bags United Airlines $14.7bn order at Farnborough 2012
Boeing has secured an historic order from United Airlines for 737 aircraft in a deal worth up to $14.7bn at list prices, bringing the company's orders for the model to...
Ulan-Ude Aviation delivers three Mi-171 helicopters to UTair
Ulan-Ude Aviation, an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of Russian Helicopters, has delivered three Mi-171 aircraft to UTair...
Virgin Galactic unveils new satellite launcher at Farnborough 2012
Virgin Galactic has unveiled a new air-launched rocket, known as 'LauncherOne', which is designed to send small satellites into orbit, at the ongoing Farnborough International Air Show 2012 in the...
UK Government introduces airspace restrictions for safe Olympic Games
The UK Government is preparing to launch a series of airspace restrictions around London and the south-east of the country tomorrow in a move to ensure a safe and secure 2012 Olympic Games,...
Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower engine completes first flight test
Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1200G engine has successfully completed its first flight test programme on the stub wing aboard the company's Boeing 747SP flying test...
CALC commits to purchase 36 Airbus A320 at Farnborough 2012
Hong Kong-based China Aircraft Leasing (CALC) has committed to purchase 36 of Airbus's A320 aircraft at the 2012 Farnborough International Airshow currently taking place in the...
XCOR to set up new Commercial Spaceflight R&D Center
XCOR Aerospace and Midland Development (MDC) have teamed up to set up a new Commercial Space Research and Development Center Headquarters at Midland International Airport (MAF) in Texas,...
GECAS places 100 Boeing aircraft order at Farnborough 2012
GE Capital Aviation Service (GECAS) has placed an order with Boeing for 75 of its LEAP-1B-powered 737 MAX8 aircraft and 25 CFM56-7B-powered Next-Generation 737-800s at the 2012...
Bombardier receives CSeries aircraft order
Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier Aerospace has received a conditional order from an undisclosed customer for 15 of its CSeries Airliners, made up of five CS100 and ten CS300...
Boeing lands $7.2bn Air Lease order at Farnborough 2012
Boeing has secured a $7.2bn order from Air Lease (ALC) for 60 of its 737 MAX 8 and 15 of its 737 MAX 9 at Farnborough International Airshow, which takes place this...
Lockheed’s VINASAT-2 satellite begins service for VNPT
Lockheed Martin's VINASAT-2 telecommunications satellite designed and built for the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has been set in...
easyJet extends MRO contract with Goodrich
British airline easyjet has extended the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) contract with Goodrich's Aircraft Wheels and...
GKN acquires Volvo’s aero engine unit
UK-based component manufacturer for Airbus jets, GKN, has signed a £633m agreement to acquire Volvo Aero, the aero engine division of Swedish firm AB...
Human and technical failures responsible for Air France 447 crash
Human error and technical failures were responsible for the crash of the Air France flight 447 into the Atlantic Ocean as it travelled from Paris from Rio de Janeiro in June 2009 killing...
Global airplane fleet to double in size by 2031, says Boeing forecast
Boeing's 2012 current market outlook (CMO) revealed that growth in emerging regions, such as China and India, will allow them to lead in total airplane deliveries during the 2012-2031...
Virgin Australia places order for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
Virgin Australia has placed an order for 23 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, making it the first airline in the country to order the...
Qatar Airways to debut its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Farnborough 2012
Doha-based carrier Qatar Airways will unveil its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner at the upcoming 2012 Farnborough International Air Show, which runs from 9-15 July in the...
NASA receives Lockheed Martin built Orion spacecraft
NASA has received the first Lockheed Martin-built space-bound Orion spacecraft crew module at its Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, US, before its...
FedEx Express to acquire additional Boeing 767-300F aircraft
FedEx Express has agreed to purchase 19 additional B767-300 aircraft from Boeing to enhance the efficiency and technology of its air...
Airbus to set up first A320 manufacturing facility in US
Airbus has confirmed plans to establish its first manufacturing facility in the US, the home market of its rival Boeing, which will be used to assemble and deliver single-aisle A320...
WestJet orders 20 Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft
Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet Airlines has placed a $683m conditional order with Bombardier Aerospace for 20 Q400 NextGen...
ULA launches NROL-15 spy satellite
United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched the US National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO) NROL-15 spy satellite aboard the upgraded Delta IV Heavy rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air...
June 2012
Top
Northrop tests NASA's Webb Telescope sunshield
Northrop Grumman has successfully completed the testing of preflight template sunshield layers installed on NASA's James Webb Space...
Astrium and ATK complete tests on tank structures of Liberty launch vehicle
Astrium and ATK have successfully completed tests on liquid-fuelled tank structures of the second stage of the Liberty commercial launch vehicle, further progressing towards production of...
Afreximbank to fund Kenya Airways aircraft purchase
Kenya Airways has selected Cairo-based Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to organise financing for its purchase of 20 new...
Russia’s Aviation Capital orders additional Irkut MC-21 aircraft
Russian Technologies State has placed a $2.32bn order with JSC Irkut for 35 additional MC-21 aircraft in a bid to create a new short-mid range line of commercial aircraft for the Russian...
Boeing’s CST-100 spacecraft completes thruster tests
Boeing's commercial space transportation (CST) 100 spacecraft has successfully completed a series of attitude control engine hot fire test on its thrusters at NASA White Sands Test Facility in...
WheelTug tests electric drive system on Boeing 737NG aircraft
WheelTug has successfully completed the installation and testing of its in-wheel electric drive system, a fully integrated ground propulsion system for an aircraft, on a Germania 737-700...
Orbital to build two Amazonas satellites for HISPASAT
Orbital Sciences has been awarded a contract by Spanish satellite fleet operator HISPASAT to build two new satellites, Amazonas 4A and Amazonas 4B, which will allow the operator to meet...
Spacecom selects IAI to build AMOS-6 satellite
Israeli satellite fleet operator Spacecom Satellite Communications has selected Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to build the AMOS-6 communications satellite and ground control systems, as well...
NASA selects Michigan varsity-led team to study hurricane winds
NASA has selected a team of researchers, including US-based Southwest Research Institute, to develop the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), which will assist in...
China’s Shenzhou-9 completes first manual space docking
The Shenzhou-9 spacecraft has successfully completed manual docking with orbiting space laboratory Tiangong-1, marking China's first docking mission with a manned spacecraft and setting the...
NRL Scientists research new technique to clean LEO debris
The US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) plasma physics division and the Naval Center for Space Technology's physicist and engineers are researching a technique for cleaning space junk at a low...
Transaero firms up order for four A380, plus six SSJ aircraft
Russia's second-largest airline Transaero has confirmed a $1.7bn deal with Airbus to purchase four A380 jets and placed a $212.4m order with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) for six Sukhoi...
ANA swaps Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner order for 787-9s
Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) has swapped its order for four Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, scheduled to be delivered during 2013, with a larger variant in the...
ICAO launches biofuel flights to support Rio+20 global initiative
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has launched a series of connecting flights powered by sustainable alternative fuels in support of its Rio+20 global initiative, 'Flightpath...
Pilotless plane to debut in UK airspace
An unmanned BAE Systems Jetstream aircraft known as 'The Flying Test Bed' is currently undergoing extensive flight trials before its maiden flight in shared airspace this...
SES-5 satellite launch delayed over steering system issue
The launch of an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton Breeze M launcher, carrying the SES-5 communication satellite, has been delayed over a problem with the steering system of the...
NewSat receives $280m offshore funding from Ex-Im Bank
Australian satellite company NewSat has received $280m from the Export-Import-Bank of the US (Ex-Im Bank) for the launch of the first of two planned satellites before the end of...
Active Space to develop actuator for helicopter blades
Active Space has received a €300,000 contract from Joint Technology Initiatives - Clean Sky to develop an actuator prototype used to run helicopter...
ESA’s Galileo satellites complete thermal vacuum testing
The European Space Agency's (ESA) third and fourth Galileo navigation satellites have successfully completed thermal vacuum testing, bringing them closer to their scheduled launch in late...
ABS selects Kratos for ABS-2 satellite system programme
Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) has selected Kratos Integral Systems International (ISI) to provide command and control systems for the company's ABS-2 satellite system...
Bombardier to deliver Learjet 75 aircraft for London Air
Bombardier has received a $65m order from Canada's London Air Services (LAS) for five Learjet 75 aircraft, making LAS the first Canadian launch customer for the...
NASA receives first flight instrument for Webb telescope
NASA has received the first of four instruments, the mid-infrared instrument (MIRI), for the agency's James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) at Goddard Space Flight Center, following an...
Orbital launches NASA’s NuSTAR satellite
Orbital Sciences has successfully launched NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) satellite aboard Pegasus rocket from the Ronald Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll in the...
Eurocopter X3 hybrid to demonstrate its capabilities in US
The Eurocopter X3 hybrid aircraft, completing its trans-Atlantic crossing from France's Istres Flight Test Center, has arrived in the US to demonstrate its operational capabilities for both...
Boeing and PetroChina to perform second biofuel flight test
Boeing, in collaboration with Air China and PetroChina, is planning to go ahead with a second biofuel test during the third quarter of...
Debt crisis to double losses for European Airlines in 2012: IATA
The debt crisis in Europe is expected to double the combined net losses for the continent's airlines to $1.1bn in 2012, according to...
Norwegian confirms deal for 100 A320neo aircraft with Airbus
European low cost airline Norwegian has confirmed an order for 100 A320neo aircraft with Airbus, in a deal worth £6.5bn, following the signing of a commitment in...
NetJets strikes $9.6bn aircraft deal with Bombardier and Cessna
US aircraft company NetJets has placed a $9.6bn order for 425 aircraft from both Cessna and Bombardier, marking the biggest deal in the private...
China to launch first manned space docking mission this month
China is planning to launch its Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft carrying three astronauts, in mid-June 2012, to perform its first manned space docking mission with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space...
AirAsia Japan receives first Airbus A320 aircraft
AirAsia Japan, the low-cost joint venture between AirAsia and All Nippon Airways (ANA), has received its first Airbus A320 aircraft at the French aircraft maker's facility in Toulouse,...
NASA receives two powerful declassified military spy telescopes
NASA has received two spy telescopes from US space intelligence agency, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which are claimed to be more powerful than the Hubble Space...
Harris completes CDR of GOES-R satellite’s Ground Segment
Harris has successfully completed the critical design review (CDR) of Ground Segment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Geostationary Operational...
Pratt & Whitney and Irkut finalise MC-21 aircraft engine deal
US jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney has confirmed it is offering its PurePower PW1400G engine to power Irkut's MC-21 aircraft family, in a deal expected to be worth $1.1bn....
Solar Impulse HB-SIA completes maiden intercontinental test flight
An experimental solar-powered plane has successfully completed its maiden transcontinental flight by landing at Rabat Sale airport in...
ALC receives its first Boeing 737-800 airplane
US-based aircraft leasing company Air Lease (ALC) has received its first Boeing 737-800 airplane, which will be operated by Korean...
Nigeria grounds all aeroplanes of Dana Air
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has cancelled the license of Dana Air and grounded its fleet following the crash of one of its aircraft in a Lagos suburb, killing 153 people on...
SpaceX strikes first Falcon Heavy rocket launch deal with Intelsat
Space launch company Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has signed the first commercial contract for Falcon Heavy rocket with satellite communications provider...
ATK and ULA test GEM-60 motor for Delta IV launchers
ATK and United Launch Alliance (ULA) have successfully completed a cold-temperature ground test of a graphite epoxy motor (GEM-60) solid rocket unit, marking an important milestone in...
May 2012
Top
Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser begins full scale flight test programme
Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser space system has successfully completed its captive carry flight test, marking the beginning of its full-scale flight test...
NASA’s GRAIL spacecraft completes major mission
NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission has collected detailed information on the internal structure and evolution of the moon, completing its mission to study the moon...
Mahindra Satyam unveils new delivery centre in Toulouse, France
Mahindra Satyam has launched a new delivery centre in Toulouse, France, to enhance the company's relationships with regional aerospace...
Malaysia Airlines receives its first A380 aircraft
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has received its first Airbus A380 aircraft from the manufacturer's facility in Toulouse,...
SSTL uses Xbox Kinect for twin-nanosatellite mission
Scientists at the University of Surrey and Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) are making use of the Xbox Kinect to develop a twin nanosatellite mission to perform in-orbit...
SKA telescope to be deployed in Australia and South Africa
SKA Organisation has agreed to deploy the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope following majority support for dual-site implementation...
South Korea to launch climate monitoring satellite in 2018
South Korea is planning to launch its own climate monitoring satellite into a geostationary orbit by 2018 to conduct atmospheric environmental research over the Korean peninsula and north-east...
Airbus offering A320s with wider seats for US air carriers
Airbus is offering a new version of its A320 aircraft to US airlines, featuring extra-wide seats for obese...
Air Asia likely to place $4bn A320 jet order
Malaysia-based low-cost airline Air Asia is likely to place an order for an additional 50 Airbus A320 aircraft worth $4bn at list prices, following the delivery of its 100th A320...
Bombardier commissions Hydraulic system for CSeries Aircraft test rig
Bombardier Aerospace has commissioned the hydraulic system on its new CSeries Aircraft 0, the company's on-the-ground systems test rig, which will allow aircraft to operate actuation systems...
Boeing’s CST spacecraft completes software preliminary design review
Boeing's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev-2) initiative has successfully completed its software preliminary design review (PDR, marking the completion of 45 milestones in support of...
Brazil's Passaredo airline orders 20 ATR 72-600 aircraft
Brazilian carrier Passaredo Linhas Aéreas has signed a $450m contract with ATR to purchase ten ATR 72-600 aircraft, which also includes the option for an additional ten, following the...
Jet Airways may place aircraft order worth $3.75bn
Indian airline Jet Airways is likely to place an order for 100 narrow body aircraft valued at $3.75bn in 2012-13, to replace its old aircraft and support its increasing market share, according to...
Airbus, EADS and ST Aerospace finalise A330 jet conversion agreement
European aircraft maker Airbus has finalised an agreement with ST Aerospace and EADS EFW to collaborate for the launch of the wide-bodied A330 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion...
Bombardier to provide aircraft maintenance for Republic Airlines’ Q400 fleet
Bombardier Aerospace has signed an exclusive contract with Indianapolis-based Republic Airlines to offer heavy maintenance for its fleet of 32 Q400...
Siguiri Mining to acquire stake in Guinea property
Siguiri Mining Guinea, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siguiri Gold Mining will acquire an 80% interest in a mineral property located in Guinea from Samaranta...
Eurolot receives first Bombardier Q400 aircraft
Polish carrier Eurolot has taken delivery of a Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner, the first of eight that have been ordered, marking the aircraft's entry into the Polish...
SS/L delivers SES-5 satellite to Baikonur launch base
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has delivered the SES 5 satellite to the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan, where it will be processed for launch aboard International Launch Services' (ILS)...
SpaceX aborts launch of Dragon capsule to ISS
SpaceX has aborted the launch of its Dragon capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, following problems related to high pressure within an engine combustion...
Safran, Honeywell test electric green taxiing system
Honeywell and Safran have successfully tested their electric green taxiing system on German airliner TUIfly's Boeing Next Generation 737-800 aircraft in Montpellier, France, marking a step...
UK space sector doubled in size over last decade
The UK space sector is thriving after official figures show turnover has more than doubled over the last...
Building a spaceport could send UK's space tourism industry into orbit, IoD report
Building a spaceport could provide a welcome boost to the British economy, operating as a hub for tourism and space exploration, according to a new report from the Institute of...
ESA launches two telecommunications satellites
The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully launched two telecommunications satellites into orbit, aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from the Kourou space centre in French...
Airbus ACJ318 and ACJ319 jets receive FAR approval
Airbus's ACJ318 and ACJ319 corporate jets have received eligibility certification from EASA, FAA and GACA, paving the way for them to participate in federal airworthiness regulation (FAR) part...
GE finalises engine design for Bombardier Global 7000 and 8000 aircraft
GE Aviation has confirmed the architectural design of its 16,500lb thrust GE Passport 20 engine for the Bombardier Global 7000 and Global 8000 series aircraft, leading to the detailed design...
Rockwell’s Venue system to be installed on Bombardier Global Express
Jet Aviation St Louis will install Rockwell Collins's Venue cabin management and HD entertainment system on a Bombardier Global Express XRS aircraft for the first...
Bombardier launches two new Learjet business jets
Bombardier Aerospace has launched its new Learjet 70 and Learjet 75 aircraft, which will replace the previous Learjet 40 and 45...
Cessna selects Northrop navigation systems for new latitude business jet
Northrop Grumman's fibre-optic inertial navigation systems / global positioning systems (INS/GPS) have been selected by Cessna Aircraft for its new Citation Latitude business...
Thomas Cook agrees to sell and lease 17 aircraft
UK-based tour operator Thomas Cook Group (TCG) is expecting to raise £182.9m through the sale and lease back of its fleet of 17...
Pratt & Whitney launches new diagnostic solution
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has launched a new diagnostic solution, flight data acquisition storage and transmission system (FAST), for real-time monitoring of aircraft performance...
Urgent calls for EC225 Eurocopter Super Puma inspections follow North Sea ditching
The UK Institution of Mechanical Engineers has called for all operators who use EC225 and AS332L2 Eurocopter Super Puma helicopters to carry out full and thorough inspections after an...
ATK develops Liberty commercial crew transportation system
ATK has developed the new Liberty commercial crew transportation system, which includes the spacecraft, abort capabilities, launch vehicle, as well as ground and mission...
Boeing develops new flight data delivery solution
Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen and Boeing Information Services have jointly developed the new application data enhanced loading (ADEL), a new flight data delivery solution for...
Pilot error suspected after Sukhoi SuperJet deemed fit to fly
The Sukhoi SuperJet which crashed into Mount Salak, killing all 45 people on board, had experienced no technical problems and was in full compliance with international...
Sukhoi SuperJet sales suspended in Indonesia as bodies found at crash site
Potential sales of Sukhoi's SuperJet 100 aircraft in Indonesia will be suspended pending the results of a flight crash investigation, with bodies found at the site of the crash near Mount...
ESA delivers JWST’s Mid InfraRed instrument
ESA has delivered the first instrument for the James Webb space telescope (JWST) to NASA, which will replace the ageing Hubble...
Rolls-Royce’s upgraded Trent 1000 engine achieves new milestone
Rolls-Royce's upgraded version of the Trent 1000 Package C engine has successfully completed its first run on a test bed in Derby, UK, and is scheduled to conduct an extensive test programme...
Sukhoi SuperJet crash wreckage found on Salak mountain
Indonesian authorities have spotted what is suspected to be the wreckage of a Sukhoi SuperJet 100 that went missing during a demonstration flight...
Sukhoi SuperJet disappears over Indonesia during demo flight
A Sukhoi Superjet 100 has disappeared during a demonstration flight over Indonesia with 44 people on...
Hawker Beechcraft tests new engine powered 400XPR aircraft
Hawker Beechcraft has successfully completed the first flight of the upgraded Hawker 400XPR aircraft, powered by new Williams International FJ44-4A-32...
EVA Air to purchase three Boeing 777-300ERs
Taipei-based EVA Air has agreed to purchase three 777-300 extended range (ER) aeroplanes and has finalised the order with Boeing, which also includes options for the purchase of an additional...
Kazakhstan orders eight additional EC145 helicopters
Eurocopter has received an order from the Kazakhstan Government for eight additional EC145 helicopters, as part of an earlier agreement for 45 of...
Airbus loses Ethiad’s $2.2bn aircraft order
European planemaker Airbus has lost a $2.2bn order from Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways for seven of its twin-engined long-range A350-1000...
Aerojet performs hot-fire test on AJ26 flight engine
Aerojet has successfully completed a full-duration hot-fire test of its AJ26 engine at NASA's Stennis Space Center in support of the Orbital's Antares rocket...
Boeing’s CST-100 space capsule completes full landing test
Boeing’s Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft has successfully conducted its second parachute test, safely demonstrating its complete landing system through a 14,000ft descent on to...
Boeing unveils new winglet design concept for 737 MAX
Boeing has unveiled a new winglet design concept for the re-engined 737 Max aircraft to give MAX customers a fuel-burn reduction of up to...
ESA approves Jupiter exploration mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) has approved a €1bn space mission to explore the icy moons of the planet...
Lockheed completes integration on GeoEye-2
Lockheed Martin has successfully completed the integration of the spacecraft bus and imaging payload for GeoEye's next-generation, high-resolution imaging satellite, the...
McCain and Phoenix Pacific to upgrade traffic signals in Hawaii
McCain has partnered with Phoenix Pacific to upgrade local intersection control software in Honolulu, Hawaii, US....
Boeing to buy Airbus A340 to secure deal with China
Boeing has agreed to acquire five Airbus A340 planes from China Eastern Airlines in a move to secure the airline's order for 20 Boeing 777 jets worth around...
WestJet to fly Bombardier Q400 for new regional airline
Bombardier's Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft has been selected by Canada's WestJet for its new regional airline, which is expected to be operational in the second half of...
ALC to lease additional Boeing Dreamliner to Vietnam Airlines
US-based leasing firm Air Lease (ALC) has ordered eight new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which could be worth $1.8bn at list prices, marking ALC's longest lead time for a lease placement so far....
China launches two Beidou-2 GPS satellites
China has successfully launched two navigation satellites into space for its Beidou global navigation and positioning network from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the south-western...
April 2012
Top
Astrium to build Solar Orbiter spacecraft for ESA
Astrium has been awarded a €300m contract by ESA to build a Solar Orbiter (SolO) spacecraft, which will explore the Sun much closer than...
China Eastern Airlines to purchase Boeing 777-300ER
China Eastern Airlines has agreed to purchase 20 777-300 Extended Range (ER) aircraft from Boeing, subject to Chinese Government...
Bombardier begins tests on its CSeries aircraft
Bombardier has begun the first set of systems tests and simulations for its CSeries aircraft at its Mirabel, Quebec facility, which will continue all through the year to ensure continued...
Airbus unveils first Sharklet equipped A320 aircraft
Airbus has unveiled its first A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklet wing tips, designated as MSN 5098, at its facility in Toulouse, France, which is one of seven newly-built A320 Family...
Northrop, ATK complete flight backplane structure for Webb Telescope
Northrop Grumman and ATK have completed the centre section of the primary mirror backplane support structure (PMBSS) that will fly on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, marking the completion...
India launches its first indigenous Radar Imaging Satellite
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the country’s first indigenous Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-1) aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle...
SNC completes Dream Chaser’s wind tunnel testing
Sierra Nevada (SNC) Space Systems has completed the wind tunnel testing of Dream Chaser orbital crew vehicle prototype in Oran W. Nicks Low Speed Wind Tunnel at Texas A&M University in Texas,...
Starbow receives third BAe 146 aircraft
Ghana-based airline Starbow has received the third BAe 146 aircraft, which marks the beginning of its direct air services from Accra to capital cities of neighbouring West African...
Qantas orders LEAP-1A engines for its A320neos
Qantas Group has placed an order worth $2bn with GE Aviation in Australia for the supply of advanced LEAP-1A engines and spare engines to power its fleet of 78 Airbus A320neo aircraft currently...
OHI orders six additional Eurocopter EC225 helicopters
Omni Helicopter International (OHI) has placed orders for six additional Eurocopter EC225 helicopters, after delivering the first helicopter from an initial contract for four EC225 helicopters....
Boeing, NASA collaborate to support CST-100 mission
Boeing and NASA’s Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) at Johnson Space Center have collaborated to provide mission planning, training and flight operations for its reusable...
SSTL delivers first satnav payload for Galileo FOC satellite
Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) has delivered the first of 14 Galileo ‘full operational capability’ (FOC) navigation payloads to prime contractor OHB System in Germany for...
Honeywell and Inmarsat collaborate to enhance in-flight connectivity
Honeywell has signed an agreement with satellite-operator Inmarsat to provide equipment for in-flight connectivity for airlines using Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band satellite broadband...
Astrium to design CarbonSat for ESA
Astrium is designing a new climate satellite, CarbonSat, for the European Space Agency (ESA), with work set to be performed over the next 22...
Porter Airlines launches first commercial biofuel powered flight
Canadian airliner Porter has launched a Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft powered by a 50/50 blend of biofuel and Jet A1 fuel, marking its first biofuel-powered revenue flight in...
UAE’s Y1B satellite set for launch next week
United Arab Emirates (UAE) based Al Yah Satellite's (Yahsat) second communications satellite, Y1B, is set for launch aboard ILS Proton launch vehicle from Baikonur in Kazakhstan on 24 April...
Lockheed completes power-on testing of GeoEye-2 spacecraft
Lockheed Martin has completed power-on testing for the GeoEye-2 spacecraft bus, GeoEye’s new commercial Earth-imaging satellite, demonstrating initial electrical integration and validation of...
Boeing, ANA conduct 787 Dreamliner's first biofuel flight
Boeing and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have been successful in conducting the 787 Dreamliner’s first sustainable biofuel flight in a move that demonstrated the aircraft’s environmental performance....
Ball Aerospace extends its support for STPSat-2 spacecraft
Ball Aerospace & Technologies has been awarded a one year extension contract by the US Air Force (USAF) Space and Missile Systems Center, Space Development & Test Directorate (SMC/SD) to...
Schiebel’s S-100 Camcopter performs first unmanned aerial cinematography
Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS), incorporated with a Cineflex camera to perform aerial cinematography, has completed its first...
Passengers injured as smoke fills Virgin A330 cockpit
A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330 bound for the US was unable to take off at Gatwick airport in London UK yesterday after smoke filled the cabin forcing passengers to evacuate....
Qantas launches first commercial biofuel powered flight
Australian airliner Qantas has launched its first commercial flight powered by a 50:50 mixture of biofuel derived from conventional fuel and refined cooking oil on Airbus A330 aircraft, marking...
VectorNav to develop ground-based simulation system for clearing space debris
NASA has awarded the phase one Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract to VectorNav to develop a ground-based simulation platform model for addressing space debris removal...
BroadWorks platform to power Telekom Slovenia's IP Centrex application
IP Centrex service will enable Telekom Slovenia to support integrated communications for multi-location...
Boeing unveils final design plan for 737 MAX aircraft
Boeing has unveiled the final design plans for its upcoming 737 MAX aircraft in a bid to enhance the performance of the new engine...
Lockheed Martin delivers JCSAT-13, VINASAT-2 satellites for launch
Lockheed Martin has delivered its 100th and 101st commercial geostationary communication satellites, JCSAT-13 built for Japan’s SKY Perfect JSAT and VINASAT-2 for Vietnam Posts...
Garuda Indonesia confirms $2.5bn Airbus A330 aircraft deal
Indonesia's flag carrier Garuda Indonesia Airlines has confirmed a $2.5bn order with European aircraft maker Airbus for 11 A330 jets, which will be used for operating on longer-haul routes in...
Airbus extends Saab’s Aileron contract
Airbus has extended Saab's contract for the supply of ailerons used on A320-family aircraft throughout the life of the aircraft development...
Boeing and Embraer collaborate for aircraft safety and research
Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer and Boeing will collaborate to work on three main aviation aspects including enhancing aircraft safety, operational efficiency, productivity and...
Astrium to continue development of Ariane 5 ME
The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a contract to Astrium to continue the development of its Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution (A5 ME) launch...
Roscosmos and ESA collaborate for robotic Mars research
Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos has agreed to collaborate with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the ExoMars project on Mars exploration following NASA's decision to withdraw as a...
Transaero Airlines orders four Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners
Russia's Transaero Airlines has confirmed its $744m order for four Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, which will be used to operate on the airline’s domestic and international...
ESA, NASA team up to measure Arctic sea ice
The scientists from NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have joined in a collaborative mission, known as CryoVEx, to measure ice sheets along the Arctic sea....
Boeing’s CST-100 spacecraft completes parachute drop test
Boeing's Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft system has successfully completed a parachute drop test at the Delmar Dry Lake Bed near Alamo, Nevada,...
NASA, ATK complete first flight control test for SLS booster
NASA and ATK have completed the first flight control test (FCT-1) of rocket booster avionics as part of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) booster programme at ATK's Utah, US test...
GE to power Kenya Airways’ Boeing 787 fleet
GE Aviation’s GEnx-1B engine has been selected by Kenya Airways to power its fleet of nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners currently on order, with an option for four additional aircraft, which will...
Bangladesh plans to launch its first communication satellite
Bangladesh is planning to launch its first satellite, called Bangabandhu, under an estimated $150m project to enhance its broadcasting and communications...
Boeing receives TAAG order for three 777-300ER aircraft
Angola’s flag carrier TAAG Linhas Aereas de Angola has placed an $895m order for three additional extended range (ER) Boeing 777-300 aircraft, which also comprises purchase rights for...
AVWest orders five Bombardier Global 6000 Jets
AVWest of Australia has placed a $292.5m order for five Bombardier Global 6000 ultra long-range jets equipped with the new Vision Flight Deck, which will be operated for long-haul business...
Swiss designed micro motor to cut space exploration costs
Scientists at Switzerland's Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) has developed a new micro ionic motor for powering satellites called MicroThrust, which they claim will cut the cost...
March 2012
Top
ILFC to Lease additional Boeing 787-8 aircraft to Aeromexico
American International’s subsidiary International Lease Finance (ILFC) has signed an agreement with Grupo Aeromexico to lease two additional new Boeing 787-8 aircraft. increasing Mexican...
China Eastern Airlines swaps Boeing 787 Dreamliners order with 737s
China Eastern Airlines (CEA) has swapped its earlier order placed with Boeing for 24 787 Dreamliners with a new order for 45 single-aisle 737...
Astrium to build two satellites for RSCC
European space company Astrium has received two contracts from Russian Satellite Communications (RSCC) to build two telecommunication satellites, Express AM4R and Express AM7, as part of...
Airbus plans to invest €2bn in R&D this year
European aircraft maker Airbus is planning to invest about €2bn in environmental research and development (R&D) in 2012. ...
Boeing delivers two 787 Dreamliners to Japan Airlines
Boeing has delivered the first two 787 Dreamliners to Japan Airlines (JAL), after a three year delay due to various problems with the aircraft's development and...
AMPAC-ISP, Orbital complete pre-ship review of hydrazine propulsion module
American Pacific’s (AMPAC) in-space propulsion (ISP) subsidiary, AMPAC-ISP, has completed the pre-ship review of its Hydrazine Propulsion Module (HPM) in collaboration with Orbital Sciences....
Boeing to build phased array antenna system for Yahsat
United Arab Emirates (UAE) based Al Yah Satellite (Yahsat) has awarded a contract to Boeing to design and build electronically steered phased array antenna systems for aircraft which will...
Russia launches Intelsat-22 satellite aboard Proton-M rocket
Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos has launched International Launch Services' (ILS) Proton-M rocket, carrying US telecoms satellite Intelsat-22 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in...
Boeing, Airbus, Embraer collaborate on aviation biofuel development
Aircraft makers Boeing, Airbus and Embraer will collaborate on the development of affordable aviation biofuel that reduces carbon...
ESA launches ATV3 to ISS
The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched its third Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-3) to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Ariane 5 launcher from Europe's Spaceport in...
Atlantic Airways receives new Airbus A319
Airbus has delivered a new 144 seat A319 aircraft to Faroe Islands’ national carrier Atlantic Airways....
Airbus joins Virgin to develop aviation biofuel in Australia
Airplane maker Airbus has joined a consortium which includes Virgin Australia to study ways to produce sustainable aviation fuels from eucalyptus...
Bombardier, COMAC collaborate for CSeries aircraft commonalities
Bombardier and Commercial Aircraft of China (COMAC) have signed an agreement to collaborate on establishing commonalities between Bombardier’s CSeries and COMAC's larger C919...
ESA to launch MetOp-B weather satellite in May
European Space Agency (ESA) is planning to launch a second weather satellite, MetOp-B, aboard a Soyuz rocket with a Fregat upper stage from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 23 May...
RwandAir orders two CRJ900 NextGen jets from Bombardier
Bombardier has won an $89m order from RwandAir for two CRJ900 NextGen regional...
KAI wins $1.2bn wing parts production order from Airbus
South Korean aviation parts and equipment maker Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has won a $1.2bn contract to supply wing parts to...
Newsat signs additional Jabiru satellite capacity deal
Australian satellite operator NewSat has signed a five year, $32.4m deal with a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) company for the sale of transmission capacity aboard the Jabiru...
Eurocopter wins three helicopter orders in India
Eurocopter’s Indian subsidiary has received orders for three helicopters including an AS350 B3e, an EC135 and an EC155 from corporate customers at the 2012 Aviation show in Hyderabad....
Norwegian signs future 787 Dreamliner maintenance agreement with Boeing
Boeing has signed a 12-year agreement with Norwegian Air Shuttle to provide maintenance services for its future fleet of six Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner long-haul...
India will require 1,043 aircraft worth $145bn by 2030: Airbus
Indian air carriers will require 1,043 aircraft worth $145bn by 2030 to meet a surge in passenger demand in the country, according to a report published by...
Europe calls for radio astronomy collaboration with Africa
The European Parliament (EP) has called for greater collaboration with Africa in the field of radio astronomy following its implementation of Written Declaration 45 on science capacity building...
NASA tests sub-scale solid rocket motor for SLS
NASA has tested a sub-scale solid rocket motor designed similar to its Space Launch System (SLS) booster design at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama,...
Boeing wins contract for four all electric satellites
Boeing has won a contract to build four all electric 702SP satellites for a joint venture between Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and Satélites Mexicanos...
Arianespace to launch Jabiru-1 satellite
NewSat has finalised a deal with Arianespace for the launch of Jabiru-1 satellite from the Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana during the fourth quarter of...
Pratt & Whitney completes hot-fire test on engine for CST-100 spacecraft
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has completed the full-mission duration hot-fire test on a launch abort engine (LAE) for Boeing’s Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft in the California...
Arianespace to launch EUTELSAT 25B1 / Es’hail 1 satellite in 2013
France-based satellite operator Eutelsat Communications and Qatar-based Es’hailSat have selected Arianespace to launch their Eutelsat 25B1 / Es’hail 1 satellite in the second quarter of 2013...
Intelsat selects Sea Launch for launching Intelsat 27 Spacecraft
Intelsat has selected Sea Launch for the launch of the Intelsat 27 communications satellite early next...
Turkish National Police orders 15 Bell 429 helicopters
US-based Bell Helicopter has received an order from Turkish National Police to supply 15 Bell 429 helicopters with the deliveries expected to begin by May...
Rockwell Collins unveils engine control unit for LSA
Rockwell Collins has unveiled the new electronic dual-channel engine control unit (ECU) at the BRP-Powertrain factory in Gunskirchen,...
Eurolot orders 20 Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft
Polish regional carrier Eurolot has signed a firm order with Bombardier Aerospace to acquire eight Q400 NextGen airliners for $246m on list prices as part of its fleet renewal and route...
ESA to launch MSG-3 satellite in June
The European Space Agency is planning to launch the third Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite, MSG-3, from Kourou, French Guiana in June this year to improve weather...
Lockheed Martin space fence radar begins tracking space junk
A prototype of a new radar system developed by Lockheed Martin, dubbed the Space Fence, has started tracking the space objects and debris orbiting the earth, following several...
Astrium wins Helios ground system maintenance contract extension
Astrium has won a $267m Maintenance en Condition Opérationnelle (MCO) contract extension from French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) to maintain and upgrade the ground-based user segment for...
Rolls-Royce plans to build aerospace component plant in US
Rolls-Royce is planning to invest $42m to build an advanced manufacturing facility at Crosspointe in Indianapolis, US to produce high-precision turbine blades for aircraft engines....
Boeing, COMAC collaborate for fuel-saving research
Boeing has signed an agreement with Chinese plane maker Commercial Aircraft of China (COMAC) to collaborate on research into fuel-efficient...
Evektor selects CMC SmartDeck integrated cockpit for EV-55 Outback aircraft
Czech Republic-based Evektor has selected Esterline CMC Electronics’ SmartDeck integrated avionics suite for its multipurpose EV-55 Outback...
Meggitt wins three aerospace component contracts
UK based aircraft parts maker, Meggitt has received three contracts from aerospace companies to supply components for Pratt & Whitney PurePower engines, sensors for the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1C...
Air Arabia receives ninth A320 aircraft
Low cost carrier Air Arabia has received its ninth A320 aircraft of the 44 ordered from Airbus in 2007, bringing its total existing fleet to 30...
Ball Aerospace delivers microwave imager for NASA's GPM mission
Ball Aerospace and Technologies has delivered the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) to Goddard Space Flight Center, to be incorporated with a NASA...
Lockheed Martin to launch future Athena rockets from Kodiak Launch Complex
Lockheed Martin has selected Alaska’s Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC) as its West Coast launch facility for future Athena rocket launches, which will utilise expanded medium-lift launch capabilities...
Lockheed Martin tests military communications satellite
Lockheed Martin has completed on-orbit testing of the first advanced extremely high frequency (AEHF) military communications space vehicle (SV-1) which was launched aboard a United Launch...
China breaks ground on new domestic aircraft engine assembly centre
China has broken ground at its first aircraft engine assembly and testing centre in Shanghai, in a bid to develop a domestic aviation engine industry by...
ESA set to launch ATV-3 from Kourou spaceport
The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch its third automated transfer vehicle (ATV-3) cargo ferry, Edoardo Amaldi, aboard an Ariane 5 launch system, to the International Space Station on...
SCAC delivers sixth Superjet100 to Aeroflot
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) has delivered the sixth Superjet 100 MSN 95013 to Aeroflot after receiving type certification from European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)....
February 2012
Top
Lockheed Martin delivers second military communications satellite to USAF
Lockheed Martin has delivered the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications satellite to US Air Force’s (USAF) Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, set to...
StandardAero to provide engine maintenance services to NordStar ATR 42-500 fleet
StandardAero has signed an agreement with Russia’s Taimyr Airlines, the parent company of NordStar Airlines, to carry out engine maintenance on NordStar’s new fleet of five ATR 42-500...
ULA launches Atlas V rocket with US Navy MUOS-1 payload
United Launch Alliance has launched the Atlas V rocket with mobile user objective system-1 (MUOS-1) communications satellites for the US Navy from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force...
Estonian Air orders Embraer E-jets to revamp its fleet
Estonian Air has signed a contract with Embraer to buy three E175 aircraft and one E190 to revamp its entire fleet of narrow-body and regional...
Thales Alenia Space signs $1.8bn deal with ESA to develop MTG satellites
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a $1.8bn satellite construction contract for six Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellites with Thales Alenia...
Safran reports 27% rise in profit
French aircraft engine manufacturer Safran has reported a 27% rise in full-year net profit to €644m in 2011 in comparison to €508m recorded in...
Future aircraft could tap energy from landing wheels say UK researchers
Researchers from the University of Lincoln in the UK have assessed the feasibility of harnessing energy from the wheel rotation of aircraft landing gear to generate...
Cebu Pacific Air to lease A330-300 aircraft from CIT
Philippines’ budget carrier Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) has signed an agreement with CIT Aerospace, a subsidiary of US-based CIT Group, to lease four new Airbus A330-300...
Boeing to convert committed 737MAX aircraft orders to firm contracts
Boeing is expecting to convert all committed orders for its single-aisle 737MAX aircraft into firm orders this...
ESA to develop 3D imaging sensor for deep space exploration
The European Space Agency (ESA) is planning to develop a smaller and more powerful sensor as a navigation aid for deep space planetary...
Pakistan International Airlines finalises $1.5bn order for Boeing 777-300ERs
Pakistan's national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has finalised a firm order for five Boeing 777-300ER airplanes worth $1.5bn at list prices....
NewSat finalises Jabiru-2 satellite capacity deal with Measat
Australian satellite company NewSat has finalised an agreement with Malaysian satellite operator Measat to acquire satellite capacity on the Jabiru-2 satellite in a deal that is expected...
QinetiQ embarks on Boeing 737 MAX final wind tunnel testing
UK-based defence company QinetiQ has begun the final phase of wind tunnel testing on Boeing's 737 MAX programme at its Farnborough facility in the UK as a final milestone in the...
NuSTAR mated to Pegasus XL rocket
NASA's explorer mission Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) spacecraft is being attached to the Pegasus XL rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base in central California,...
Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine makes maiden flight on A380 test aircraft
The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine, which will power Airbus A350 aircraft, has made its maiden flight aboard the A380 'Flying-Test-Bed'...
Cebu Pacific selects Rolls-Royce TotalCare service for Trent 700 engines
Philippines airline Cebu Pacific has signed a $280m deal with Rolls-Royce to provide long-term TotalCare service support to eight A330 aircraft fleet equipped with Trent 700...
Airbus expects new aircraft demand in Asia Pacific to rise to $1.3tn in 20 years
The Asia Pacific region is expected to require 9,370 aircraft worth $1.3tn over the next two decades, accounting for 34% of new aircraft entering into service worldwide, according to a forecast...
Switzerland to launch new satellite to clean up space debris
Swiss Space Center scientists at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) are planning to design and launch a new janitor satellite to clean up space debris by grabbing old...
ALFACO orders 35 more A320neo family jets
Kuwait-based Aviation Lease and Finance Company (ALAFCO) has finalised its order with Airbus for an additional 35 A320neo family aircraft in a deal worth $3.4bn based on list...
Pratt & Whitney wins $1bn engine deal from Go Airlines
India-based low-cost carrier Go Airlines (GoAir) has signed a $1bn deal with Pratt & Whitney for the delivery of 144 PW1100G-JM engines to power its 72 A320neo...
Bond Aviation orders 16 Sikorsky helicopters
Bond Aviation, the British helicopter operator and subsidiary of World Helicopters Group, has signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft to buy 16 S-92 helicopters to expand its offshore oil and...
Boeing signs $22bn deal with Lion Air for 230 737 jets
Boeing has finalised an order for 230 737 jets with Indonesian budget carrier Lion Mentari Airlines in a deal worth $22.4bn, which the company claims is the largest ever commercial airplane...
Korean Air orders PW4000 Advantage70 engines from Pratt & Whitney
Korean Air has ordered ten PW4170 Advantage70 engines from Pratt & Whitney for $200m to power its five new Airbus A330...
Bombardier wins order for 24 CRJ1000 NextGen jets
Bombardier Aerospace has won an order for 24 CRJ1000 NextGen regional jets from an unidentified airline, including an option for a further 18 aircraft for $1.32bn if all options are...
Four dimensional air traffic management technology trialled in Europe
Airbus has trialled a four dimensional optimised and upgraded air traffic management (ATM) technology on its A320 test aircraft, flying from Toulouse in France to Copenhagen, Denmark and...
Russia to invest $12bn on Glonass satellite navigation system
Russia is planning to invest RUR346.5bn ($12bn) on its Glonass satellite navigation system during 2012-2020, which is creating a navigation programme that is independent of the US...
Europe’s new launcher Vega makes first flight
The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully launched the new lightweight rocket Vega, carrying nine test payloads from the Kourou bases in French...
EASA orders wing checks on entire A380 fleet
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has ordered checks for possible cracks inside the aircraft's wings on the entire global fleet of Airbus A380 superjumbo jets under its...
NASA explores alternative green propellant technology
NASA is seeking new technology proposals from companies for a green propellant alternative to the highly toxic fuel...
Space Systems/Loral wins Australian satellite contract
Australian Government-owned National Broadband Network (NBN) has awarded a $620m contract to US-based Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) to design two next-generation Ka-band 1A and 1B...
PTC to support Mitsubishi’s Regional Jet programme
Mitsubishi Aircraft has chosen PTC as a strategic partner for developing a reliable and maintainable management platform for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) next-generation aircraft...
Korean Air receives first Boeing 747-8, 777 Freighters
Korean Air has obtained its first Boeing 747-8 and 777 Freighters to expand its cargo fleet making it the first airline in the world to operate both the 747-8 and 777...
Air Namibia orders two Airbus 319 aircraft
Air Namibia, the African country's national carrier, has ordered two new A319 aircraft from Airbus to replace the existing two Boeing 737-500s in its fleet, in a deal worth $161m at list...
NewSat signs satellite capacity deal with Measat
Malaysian-based satellite operator Measat has signed a 15-year contract worth $180m with Australian satellite company NewSat to acquire capacity on the Jabiru-1 satellite, which will...
Estonian Air to lease 12 Embraer E-Jet family aircraft
Estonian Air, the government owned national carrier of Estonia, has selected Embraer's 170-Jet aircraft to replace the existing Boeing model and to serve new destinations, dropping its plans to...
ESA orders additional eight Galileo satellites
European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a contract to a consortium led by OHB System and Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) to build and launch a further eight satellites for its...
AirAsia to add 275 A320s aircraft in next 14 years
Asia-Pacific's low-cost airliner AirAsia has unveiled a plan to add 275 Airbus 320 aircraft over the next 14 years as part of its fleet...
Spirit Airlines confirms 75 A320 jet order
US-based Spirit Airlines has confirmed its order for 75 Airbus single-aisles comprising 45 of the upgraded fuel-efficient A320neo aircraft and 30 A320 jetliners, following the Memorandum...
Air Astana orders 15 aircraft worth $1bn
Kazakhstan's flagship carrier Air Astana has ordered 15 new planes in a deal worth over $1bn to expand and modernise its...
Northrop to develop solar electric propulsion flight concepts for NASA
Northrop Grumman has received a four-month study contract from NASA to study high-power solar electric propulsion flight system technology for the space agency's future deep space and...
Embraer delivers 1,200 ethanol fueled Ipanema aircraft
Embraer has delivered the 1,200th Ipanema aircraft, which is the first in a series of agricultural aircraft certified to run on ethanol (hydrous...
Cebu Air to lease eight Airbus 330-300s
Philippine budget carrier Cebu Air (CEB) is planning to lease up to eight Airbus A330-300 aircraft to serve flights to the US, Middle East, Australia and Europe in 2013....
Moller completes new Skycar design
Moller International (MI) has completed the initial design phase of two new Skycars which are anticipated to meet the requirements of US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Light...
January 2012
Top
Honda to unveil first business jet in 2013
Japanese car maker Honda Motor is planning to unveil its first seven-seater small business jet in 2013 and is anticipating to get at least a quarter of the market share....
GE leases three Boeing 737-800s to Royal Air Maroc
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing unit of GE, has delivered three new Boeing 737-800 aircraft leased to Royal Air...
AviancaTaca finalises 51 A320 aircraft order
Colombian airline AviancaTaca Holding (AV) and its Ecuadorian subsidiary, AeroGal, have confirmed their order for 51 Airbus narrow-body A320 jets with Airbus in a deal worth...
Russian cargo ship Progress M-14M docks with ISS
A Russian cargo spacecraft carrying 2.6t of cargo of fuel, water and food supplies, as well as scientific equipment has docked at the International Space...
Thales Alenia Space completes integration of ATV4 module
Thales Alenia Space has completed integration of the fourth Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC), which is the service module for the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) being built for the European...
NEC starts system design for second Hayabusa asteroid explorer
NEC has begun the system design of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) second Hayabusa Asteroid Explorer under the Hayabusa 2...
Norwegian orders 222 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus for $21.5bn
Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) has signed deals worth $21.5bn to buy 222 planes from Boeing and Airbus including models equipped with fuel-efficient...
Airbus delivers first A320 aircraft to Hong Kong Airlines
Airbus has delivered a long-range, single-aisle A320 aircraft to Hong Kong Airlines, the first of 30 aircraft ordered by the airline....
Hawaiian Airlines extends maintenance agreement with Goodrich
Goodrich and Hawaiian Airlines have extended their current Prime Solutions nacelle maintenance agreement in order to include three Boeing 717-200 aircraft inducted into the airline's fleet...
Saudi Arabian Airlines orders eight Boeing 777-300ERs
Saudi Arabian Airlines has ordered eight Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a deal worth $2.4bn....
Indian Government to fund civilian aircraft development project
The Indian Government’s Planning Commission is expected to allocate Rs50bn ($995.6m) in the 12th Five Year Plan for the development of a 90-seater regional transport aircraft...
EASA orders checks on one third of A380 fleet
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) relating to one third of the current Airbus 380 fleet following reported cracks inside the wings of the...
ULA launches fourth WGS satellite
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) has launched the Boeing-built Wideband Global SATCOM 4 (WGS-4) satellite on board an unmanned heavy-lift Delta IV rocket from Space Launch Complex 37 in...
Cathay Pacific Airways orders six Airbus A350-900 jets
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways has signed a $1.6bn order with Airbus for six A350-900 wide-body long-haul aircraft intended to serve European destinations....
Boeing to build eighth and ninth WGS satellites for USAF
The US Air Force (USAF) has given authorisation to Boeing to build and launch the eighth and ninth wideband global SATCOM (WGS)...
Etihad cancels six Airbus A350-1000 aircraft orders
Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi Government owned airline, has cancelled six Airbus A350-1000 of its original order of 25 aircraft, but retained the option to buy wide body...
Five countries join US in Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) project
Canada, New Zealand, Denmark, Luxembourg and the Netherlands will contribute $620m towards the ninth satellite in a new US military communications system costing about $1bn. ...
BE Aerospace wins $800m Boeing contract
BE Aerospace has won an $800m contract from Boeing to manufacture the modular lavatory systems for Boeing’s 737 Next-Generation family of aircraft and the 737 MAX, which is expected to launch...
Iran to launch new satellite, unveil maritime patrol aircraft in February
Iran is planning to launch a new satellite into space and unveil its maritime patrol aircraft in...
RBS sells aviation asset to SMFG, Sumitomo
Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) and Sumitomo have signed an agreement with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to acquire RBS's aircraft leasing business, RBS Aviation Capital,...
Jet Airways orders additional Boeing 737s
Indian private air carrier Jet Airways has placed orders for an additional 17 mid-range, single-aisle 737-800 aircraft with Boeing by converting its options contract into a purchase...
Starta wins Airbus A350 XWB work package
Strata Manufacturing, Mubadala Aerospace’s advanced composite aircraft structures plant in Al Ain, UAE, has won a work package to provide wing flap track fairings for the new Airbus A350...
Lockheed Martin wins GPS satellite contract from USAF
The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a $238m contract to Lockheed Martin to build two more next-generation global positioning system (GPS) III satellites....
Eurocopter delivers three helicopters to UTair Aviation and one to Kenya
Eurocopter has delivered the first three of 20 AS350 B3e helicopters to Russia’s UTair Aviation and one to Kenya Police...
Boeing expects rise in demand for 737 jets
Boeing is expecting demand for its narrow-body 737 to increase along with its upcoming Next-Generation 737 MAX, which offers improved fuel efficiency....
Etihad Airways finalises engine leaseback agreement
UAE’s Etihad Airways has finalised a $367m deal with Sanad Aero Solutions (SAS) and Engine Lease Finance Corp (ELF) for the financing of its 23 spare engines in a sale and leaseback...
Air France-KLM confirms order for 25 Boeing 787s
Air France-KLM has finalised a $5.7bn order for 25 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as part of its plan to expand its fleet, announced in September last year....
AEDC tests Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine
Arnold Engineering Development Center’s (AEDC) Aeropropulsion Systems Test Facility C2 test cell in the US has been conducting simulated altitude performance and operability tests on...
ESA set to launch Vega rocket in early February
The European Space Agency (ESA) is planning to launch its new Vega rocket on 9 February 2012 from the Guiana Space Centre (GSC) in Kourou, French...
B/E Aerospace to acquire UFC Aerospace
US-based B/E Aerospace has signed an agreement to purchase aerospace supply chain management and inventory logistics company UFC Aerospace for approximately $400m....
China launches Ziyuan III civilian remote sensing satellite
China has launched the first of a new series of high-resolution civilian remote sensing satellites, Ziyuan III, onboard the Long March 4B (Chang Zheng-4B -Y26) launch vehicle from the...
Hong Kong Airlines finalises A380 order with Airbus
European passenger jet maker Airbus has finalised a $3.8bn deal with Hong Kong Airlines (HKAIRZ) to deliver ten superjumbo double decker A380...
Boeing wraps up 2011 with 805 commercial aircraft orders
US aerospace giant Boeing booked 805 net commercial aircraft orders in 2011, an increase of about 530 from the previous...
Bolivia’s first satellite set to be launched in 2013
China will launch Bolivia's first telecommunications satellite, Tupac Katari, into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China's Sichuan province in December 2013....
Malta University and QuAreo to develop Clean-Flight take-off and landing system
A team of scientists from the Electronic Systems Engineering Department of the University of Malta (UoM) and Malta-based QuAreo are developing a system that will reduce fuel burn during...
NRC approves ISRO reusable launch vehicle design
India's National Review Committee (NRC) has approved the design of the winged Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation...
Boeing to shut down Wichita facility in US by 2013
US-based plane manufacturer Boeing has decided to close its 83-year-old defence, space & security (BDS) facility in Wichita, Kansas, US, by the end of...
Elbit wins Hermes 900 UAS contract in Americas
Elbit Systems has been awarded a $50m contract by an unidentified country in the Americas to supply Hermes 900 Unmanned Aircraft Systems...
Nasa seeks funding for private spacecraft development
Nasa is planning to hold a competition in February of this year for a third round of private funding for the development of a private spacecraft, which will ferry astronauts to the...
GECAS orders two additional ATR 72-600s
General Electric’s commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has ordered two additional ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft with the Alenia and EADS joint...
Air India to lease eight Boeing-777 aircraft
Air India (AI) has offered to lease eight Boeing 777-200 planes for 8-10 years to raise money as a part of a plan to cut its debt by...
Nasa’s second GRAIL spacecraft enters into lunar orbit
Nasa has placed the second of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft, GRAIL-B, into orbit to study the moon’s inner core....
December 2011
Top
Eurocopter to supply EC225 LP helicopters to China’s COHC
Eurocopter has been awarded a contract by China’s CITIC Offshore Helicopter (COHC) to supply seven EC225 LP long-range helicopters that will allow the company to carry out its airlift duties...
China to launch five satellites in 2012
China is planning to launch five commercial satellites for unidentified foreign customers in...
Precision Air to buy five ATR-600 series aircraft
ATR, a consortium of Alenia and EADS, has won a $98m order from Tanzania’s Precision Air Services for four 50-seat ATR 42-600s and one 68-seat ATR 72-600 turboprop...
China launches NigComSat-1R satellite
China has launched a Nigerian communications satellite, named NigComSat-1R, on a Long March 3B (LM-3B) launch vehicle from the Xixhang Satellite Launch Centre in south-west...
Hebei Airlines receives two Embraer 190 jets
China's Hebei Airlines has received two Embraer 190 (E190) jets from Embraer....
Etihad Airways selects GEnx-1B engines to power Boeing 787 and 777 jets
GE Aviation has secured a $900m contract from Etihad Airways to deliver its GEnx-1B engines to power ten Boeing 787 Dreamliners and two Boeing 777 freighters....
Lion Air plans to place new aircraft order in February 2012
Indonesia-based Lion Air is planning to place another aircraft order in February 2012 to upgrade its fleet following a $21.7bn contract with Boeing to buy 380 737 aircraft in November...
Arianespace launches six satellites
Arianespace has launched the Pleiades 1A, Elisa and SSOT satellites from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) in French Guiana for French space agency CNES, Astrium and the French and Chilean...
JetBlue orders 86 Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines for A320s
JetBlue Airways has signed a $1.03bn agreement with Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies, to purchase 86 PW1100G-JM engines to power 40 Airbus A320neo...
Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental receives FAA certification
Boeing has received certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its 747-8 Intercontinental passenger aircraft, clearing the way for deliveries early next year....
FedEx orders 27 767-300 freighters
FedEx Express has signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 27 767-300 freighters worth $4.7bn to replace its less efficient, medium wide-body cargo...
Arianespace to launch MEASAT-3b satellite in 2013
Arianespace has secured a contract from the satellite operator MEASAT Global to launch the MEASAT-3b...
Astrium to manage the ISS on behalf of ESA
Astrium has secured a €240m contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to manage the continued operation and exploitation of the European components of the International Space Station (ISS)...
Southwest Airlines confirms 208 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft order
Southwest Airlines has agreed to buy 208 Boeing 737s to modernise its all-Boeing...
Six satellites built by Astrium ready for launch
Astrium has built six satellites, ready for launch on 16 December on the second Soyuz flight from the Kourou space port in French...
Russia launches two telecommunication satellites
Russian space agency Roscosmos has launched two telecommunication satellites, AMOS-5 and Loutch-5A, onboard a Proton-M carrier rocket from the Baikonur space centre in...
Bel Air to buy two AW189 helicopters from AgustaWestland
Bel Air of Denmark has signed a contract with AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, for two AW189 helicopters, which will be used for offshore oil and gas transport missions in the North...
Etihad Airways to buy ten Boeing 787-9 and two Boeing 777 aircraft
Etihad Airways has signed a $2.8bn contract with Boeing to buy ten 787-9 Dreamliners and a pair of 777...
Air Lease finalises order for Boeing 787-9s and 737-800s
Air Lease has confirmed a $1.2bn order with Boeing for four 787-9 Dreamliners, with an option to buy four Next-Generation 737-800s, marking the completion of an agreement announced during the...
Sampoerna to get AgustaWestland's GrandNew helicopter
Sampoerna is set to receive AgustaWestland's GrandNew light twin engine...
Weststar Aviation to buy ten AgustaWestland helicopters
Weststar Aviation Services of Malaysia has signed a $150m contract with AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, to purchase ten...
Iran to launch three domestically built satellites
Iran Space Agency (ISA) is planning to launch three indigenously built satellites, named Navid (Herald), Fajr (Dawn) and Kavoshgar (Explorer...
NewSat to launch Jabiru-1 satellite in 2014
NewSat has signed a contract with Arianespace to launch its Jabiru-1 satellite in the second half of...
SFS Aviation signs contract for AW139 helicopter
SFS Aviation has signed a contract with AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, to buy an AW139 medium twin...
Avation to buy five ATR72 aircraft
Aircraft leasing company Avation has signed a contract with ATR for the purchase of five additional ATR72 aircraft, which will expand its ATR72 fleet to...
Allegheny Technologies signs supplier contract with Goodrich
Allegheny Technologies has secured a long-term sourcing contract from Goodrich to supply aerospace forgings used for landing gear...
China to launch Turkmenistan communications satellite in 2014
China is planning to launch a communications satellite in 2014 for the Turkmenistan Government on a Long March-3B carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in south-west China's...
Arianespace to launch Pleiades 1 satellite on 16 December
Arianespace is preparing to launch the Pleiades 1 Earth observation satellite along with five co-passengers on a second Soyuz flight from French Guiana on 16 December...
Transaero Airlines orders eight Airbus A320neos
Transaero Airlines has confirmed an order for eight A320neo aircraft following a memorandum of understanding signed in August...
China to develop Fengyun-series weather satellite
China will develop a third-generation Fengyun-series weather satellite to observe meteorological changes, enabling the country's scientists to collect climate change...
Airphil Express receives Airbus A320 aircraft from GE Capital Aviation
Airphil Express has received a new Airbus A320 aircraft from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of GE, to expand its...
US and Canada require 6,315 aircraft by 2030: Airbus
The US and Canada will require 6,315 new aircraft worth $648bn between 2011 and 2030, according to Airbus' Global Market Forecast...
CAE wins LTSA contract from US Airways
CAE has secured a five-year long-term support agreement (LTSA) from US Airways to assist the airline with simulator planning and engineering for six Airbus A320 and A330 full-flight...
Kalitta Air finalises purchase of new Boeing 747-400ERF aircraft
Kalitta Air has finalised the purchase of a new Boeing 747-400ERF aircraft to enhance its international cargo...
China launches tenth navigation satellite
China has launched its tenth navigation satellite, named Beidou or Compass system, to reduce dependence on the US global positioning system...
Rolls-Royce to provide Trent 700 engines to Hawaiian Airlines
Rolls-Royce has secured a $350m contract from Hawaiian Airlines to deliver Trent 700 engines for five Airbus A330...
Boeing to build TDRS-M satellite for Nasa
Boeing has secured a $289m contract modification from Nasa to build a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite...
Boeing opens interiors fabrication facility in South Carolina
Boeing has opened its new interiors fabrication facility in North Charleston, South Carolina, US, which manufactures interior parts for Boeing's...
Airbus conducts sharklet-equipped A320 flight test
Airbus has completed the first flight test equipped with sharklet wing-tip devices on its A320 development aircraft (MSN 001) to gather data to fine-tune the aircraft's flight...
European Space Agency prepares new technologies for future launchers
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the DLR German Space Centre have launched a Texus 48 rocket from the Esrange Space Centre near Kiruna in northern Sweden to demonstrate new technologies...
Goodrich to install electronic flight bag system on Monarch Airlines' Airbus fleet
Goodrich has secured a contract from Monarch Airlines to provide the upgradeable SmartDisplay Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) system for Airbus A300, A320, A321 and A330...
CPI Group to buy AgustaWestland's AW119Ke helicopter
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has secured an order for one AW119Ke single-engine helicopter from Czech Republic-based CPI...
GE to lease two Airbus A330-300s to China Airlines
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing unit of GE, is planning to lease two new Airbus A330-300 aircraft to China Airlines to further expand its...
Indra to build ground system for Paz satellite
Indra has secured a contract from INTA, an organ of the Spanish Ministry of Defence, to provide the ground control segment for the Paz Earth Observation...
China launches Yaogan XIII satellite
China has launched the remote-sensing satellite Yaogan XIII on a Long March 2C carrier rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in the northern province of...
Globalstar to launch six new satellites on 25 December
Globalstar is planning to launch six new second-generation satellites on 25 December 2011, which will be the third launch of its second-generation constellation...
Senior acquires Weston Group
UK-based engineering group Senior has acquired commercial aerospace parts-maker Weston for £54m....
November 2011
Top
AeroMechanical to install AFIRS 220 for Nigerian airline
AeroMechanical Services (AMA) has secured a contract from a Nigerian airline to install the Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) 220 on six Fokker 100...
Russia launches Glonass-M navigation satellite
Russia has launched another Glonass-M navigation satellite on a Soyuz carrier rocket from the Plesetsk space centre as part of its Glonass global navigation...
SIA Engineering wins TSP contract from Airbus
SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) has secured a six-year tailored support package (TSP) contract from Airbus to maintain Singapore Airlines' (SIA) additional fleet of 15 A330-300 aircraft, which...
Hebei Aviation orders ten ARJ21 jets
Hebei Aviation Investment Group has signed an agreement with Commercial Aircraft of China (Comac) to buy ten Comac ARJ21 regional...
Nasa launches car-sized rover to explore Mars
Nasa has launched the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), which carries a car-sized rover named Curiosity, on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the US...
UK opens national composites centre
The UK has opened a 8,500m² National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol at a cost of £25m....
Kazakhstan receives six EC145 helicopters from Eurocopter
The Republic of Kazakhstan has received the first of six EC145 helicopters out of a total of 45 ordered from...
AsiaSat launches AsiaSat 7 satellite
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat) has launched AsiaSat 7, a new communications satellite, on an ILS Proton Breeze M launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in...
Flybe secures funds for aircraft finance deal
European regional airline Flybe has secured $500m of funding from the Brazilian Export Development Bank (BNDES) to buy 20 new Embraer E175 regional jet...
Nigeria to launch NigComSat-1R satellite on 19 December
Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) is planning to launch NigComSat-1R to replace NigComSat-1, which was lost in orbit on 10 November 2008....
Thales Alenia Space to build Turkmenistan telecommunications satellite
Thales Alenia Space has secured a contract from the Turkmenistan Government to build a telecommunications...
Volvo to divest aero engine parts business
Swedish group Volvo is planning to sell its aerospace engine component business to streamline the group towards commercial...
China Bank of Communications orders 30 Comac C919s
Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has secured an order for 30 C919 aircraft from China Bank of Communications' leasing...
Nordic region requires 424 aircraft by 2030: Airbus
The Nordic region will require 424 new passenger aircraft between 2011 and 2030 worth $38.6bn, according to an Airbus global market...
Thales to provide software for Globalstar second-generation satellite
Thales Alenia Space has secured a contract from Globalstar to develop software to enhance operations of Globalstar second-generation...
American selects CFM56-5B and V2500-A5 to power A319 and A321
American Airlines has selected the CFM56-5B engine from CFM International for its A319 aircraft, and V2500-A5 engines from International Aero Engines (IAE) for its A321 aircraft, as part of...
BOC Aviation orders 15 Embraer 190 aircraft
BOC Aviation has signed an agreement with Embraer to buy 15 E190 aircraft, powered by 15 CF34-10E engines, worth...
Xilin Fengteng to buy two Eurocopter helicopters
Xilin Fengteng has signed an agreement with Eurocopter to buy two helicopters, one EC120 B and one...
Singapore Airlines signs engine maintenance deal with GE
Singapore Airlines has signed a $300m deal with GE Aviation to expand GE's OnPoint solutions to its fleet of additional GE90...
SES to launch SES-4 satellite in December
SES is planning to launch the SES-4 satellite in December 2011 aboard an ILS Proton Breeze M vehicle at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in...
Latin America aircraft market to reach $197bn by 2030
Latin America will require 2,028 new passenger aircraft worth $197bn between 2011 and 2030, according to an estimate by Airbus....
China launches pair of satellites
China has launched two satellites, named Chuangxin 1-03 and Shiyan 4, on a Long March 2D carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu Province, north-west...
Lion Air orders 230 Boeing aircraft for $21.7bn
Indonesia-based Lion Air has signed a $21.7bn contract with Boeing to buy 230 aircraft, including 201 737 MAXs and 29 Next-Generation 737-900...
Embraer and Aerolíneas sign flight hour pool agreement
Embraer has signed a six-year flight hour pool programme agreement with Aerolíneas Argentinas to provide component support for the carrier's fleet of 20 Embraer 190 jets through...
Vietnam to develop national space centre
The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has secured a contract from the Vietnamese Government to develop a national space centre at a cost of about $600m with support from Japanese...
Volaris to buy 44 A320 family aircraft
Volaris has signed a memorandum of understanding to buy 44 eco-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft for $3.7bn, comprising 30 A320neos and 14 A320 family...
Bombardier Aerospace to build new manufacturing facility in Morocco
Bombardier Aerospace has signed an agreement with the Moroccan Government to invest $200m to build an aircraft component manufacturing plant in the...
Singapore Airlines seals deal for eight Boeing B777-300ERs
Singapore Airlines has confirmed a contract with Boeing, worth approximately $2.4bn, for eight more B777-300ER aircraft, which was first announced on 10 August...
Brazil aircraft market to grow by $82bn to 2030
Airbus estimates that Brazil will require 701 new passenger aircraft, comprising 501 single-aisle, 174 twin-aisle and 26 very large aircraft, worth $82bn between 2011 and 2030....
Arianespace to launch DIRECTV satellite in Latin America
Arianespace has secured a contract from DIRECTV to launch a satellite from the European Spaceport in French Guiana on an Ariane 5 to provide services in Latin America....
Qatar Airways orders 100 Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines
Qatar Airways has signed a contract with Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies, to buy 100 PurePower PW1100G-JM engines with a PureSolution maintenance...
Republic Airways finalises LEAP-1A engine order
CFM International has secured a $2bn order from Republic Airways Holdings, a unit of Frontier Airlines, for advanced LEAP-1A engines to power the airline's recently ordered Airbus 80 A320neo...
Spirit Airlines orders 75 Airbus A320 family jets
Spirit Airlines has signed a $6.7bn agreement with Airbus to buy 75 single-aisle aircraft, which includes 45 A320neo aircraft with a new engine option and 30...
Qatar Airways orders two Boeing 777 Freighters
Qatar Airways has ordered two Boeing 777 Freighters worth $560m, which will increase the airline's 777 Freighter fleet to...
Safran and Honeywell trial electric green taxiing system
Honeywell and Safran have begun the first rolling tests for their electric green taxiing system, which is expected to improve operational efficiency....
AgustaWestland and Abu Dhabi Aviation form JV in UAE
AgustaWestland, a unit of Finmeccanica, and Abu Dhabi Aviation have formed a joint venture (JV) in the UAE to provide helicopter...
Goodrich signs maintenance agreements with Emirates Airlines
Goodrich has signed two support agreements with Emirates Airlines to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and support services for passenger evacuation slides on the airline's fleet....
Oman Air to buy six Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners
Oman's state-owned carrier Oman Air has signed a $1.16bn contract with Boeing to buy six 787-8 Dreamliner...
Aviation Capital orders 30 Airbus A320neos
US-based aircraft leasing company Aviation Capital Group (ACG) has signed a $2.7bn contract with Airbus to buy 30 eco-efficient A320neo family...
Boeing forecasts Middle East aircraft market to reach $450bn by 2030
Boeing estimates that the Middle East region will require 2,520 planes worth $450bn by 2030 for fleet expansion and replacement of existing...
Alafco orders 50 Airbus A320neo family aircraft
Kuwait-based aviation lease and finance company Alafco has ordered 50 A320neo family aircraft, with options for an additional 30 finalised by the end of...
Middle East aircraft market to grow by $347.4bn to 2030
The Middle East will require 1,921 new passenger and freighter aircraft worth $347.4bn between 2011 and 2030, according to Airbus' latest Global Market...
Rolls-Royce to provide Trent 700 engines to Garuda Indonesia
Garuda Indonesia Airlines has ordered four Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines to power its Airbus A330 aircraft in a deal worth...
Emirates Airline orders 50 Boeing 777-300ERs
UAE-based Emirates Airline has signed a $18bn contract with Boeing for the purchase of 50 777-300ER...
Embraer to redesign engines for E-Jets instead of building new planes
Embraer is planning to upgrade the engines and wings on its E-170 and E-190 jets by 2018, instead of designing bigger...
Nasa gears up to launch Mars rover on 25 November
Nasa is in the final phase of preparations to launch its car-sized robotic vehicle named Curiosity to Mars aboard an Atlas V rocket on 25 November 2011 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station...
Bristow Group orders six AW189 helicopters
Bristow Group has signed a contract with AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, to buy six AW189 helicopters, with an option for additional...
Thales Alenia Space to build four more satellites for O3b constellation
O3b Networks has signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of four satellites for its medium Earth orbit...
Caribbean Airlines receives first ATR 72-600
Caribbean Airlines has taken delivery of the first of nine ATR 72-600 aircraft as part of a $200m...
China launches two satellites
China has launched a remote-sensing satellite and a university-built satellite on a Long March 4B carrier rocket from the Taiyuan space centre in the Shanxi province of northern...
Boeing, Hawai'i BioEnergy cooperate to develop biofuel
Boeing has joined forces with Hawai'i BioEnergy to work on renewable energy sources for the development of aviation...
American Airlines signs sale-leaseback deal with ILFC
American Airlines has signed a sale-leaseback agreement with International Lease Finance (ILFC), under which it will sell 15 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft and lease them...
ILS to launch W3D satellite in 2013
International Launch Services (ILS) has signed a contract to launch Eutelsat's W3D satellite on its Proton rocket in...
CTT Systems to install Cair system on two Airbus VIP A319 aircraft
CTT Systems has secured an order from Airbus Corporate Jet Centre (ACJC) to install its Cair system in two Airbus VIP A319 aircraft, which will provide humidification of dry aircraft cabins...
Transaero Airlines to buy four Boeing 747-8 aircraft
Russia-based Transaero Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Boeing to buy four passenger models of its new 747-8 jet for...
Lao Airlines receives delivery of first A320 aircraft
Lao Airlines has taken delivery of the first of two A320 aircraft ordered from...
Boeing delivers 747-8 Freighter to Atlas Air
Atlas Air Worldwide has received the first of nine Boeing 747-8 Freighters it has on order....
Vantage to provide scientific services to Nasa
Nasa has selected Vantage Partners to provide engineering and scientific services to the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland,...
NLR and Airborne form partnership on RTM technology
The National Aerospace Laboratory in the Netherlands (NLR) and Airborne have formed a strategic partnership on resin transfer moulding (RTM)...
Republic Airways finalises 80 Airbus A320neo family aircraft order
Republic Airways Holdings (RJET), a unit of Frontier Airlines, has confirmed an order with Airbus for 60 A320neo (New Engine Option) and 20 A319neo aircraft following a memorandum of...
Wuhan to buy three helicopters from Eurocopter China
Eurocopter China has received an order from Wuhan Helicopter for three helicopters, comprising two AS350 B3e helicopters and one EC120 B light single-engine helicopter, which will be used...
UrtheCast signs agreement with Roscosmos to send two cameras to ISS
UrtheCast has signed an agreement with the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) to send two UrtheCast cameras to the Russian module of the International Space Station...
CIT Group to buy 30 jets from Embraer
CIT Group has signed an agreement with Embraer to buy up to 30 E190 and / or E195 jets, which includes ten firm...
Alaska Airlines launches biofuel-powered commercial flight in US
Alaska Airlines is to launch a biofuel-powered commercial service in the US, its maiden flight leaving Seattle, bound for Washington...
Astrium to build DirecTV 15 satellite
Astrium has secured a contract from digital television entertainment services provider DirecTV to design and manufacture a new high-power telecommunications satellite, named DirecTV...
Peach Aviation receives delivery of first A320s
Peach Aviation has leased its first A320 from GECAS, which will lease ten A320s to the Japanese carrier....
ATR delivers first ATR 72-600 to ALC
US-based Air Lease (ALC) has taken delivery of its first ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft from European turboprop manufacturer ATR....
Russia launches Glonass-M satellite
Russia has launched a Proton-M launch vehicle with three Glonass-M navigation satellites, a Russian global positioning system (GPS), from the Baikonur Space Centre in...
Boeing selects 68-inch fan for 737 MAX engine
Boeing has selected a 68-inch fan diameter for its new 737 MAX family, which will be powered by CFM International LEAP-1B...
Dubai Aerospace modifies five 747-8Fs to 777Fs
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has agreed to cancel five of the 15 747-8 freighters and convert them to smaller Boeing 777 freighter...
Australia's Optus 10 satellite to be launched in 2013
Australia-based SingTel Optus will launch its Optus 10 satellite, which will offer enhanced data transmission services, on an Ariane 5 rocket in 2013 from the Guiana Space Center in French...
Airbus secures FHS contract from Singapore Airlines
Airbus has secured a flight hour services (FHS) tailored support package contract from Singapore Airlines to integrate and provide full component support, line and base airframe...
Aveos raises funds to expand component solutions centre
Aveos has raised $50m from a group of financial institutions to invest into its new component solutions...
Cathay Pacific receives first Boeing 747-8 Freighter
Cathay Pacific Airways has received the first of ten Boeing 747-8 Freighters it ordered from Boeing to replace its 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighters...
NASA, Space Florida sign agreement for Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge
NASA has signed an agreement with the Space Florida Small Satellite Research Centre of Cape Canaveral, Florida, to manage the Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge to launch satellites with a mass of...
Southern Air to lease two Boeing 777F aircraft
Southern Air Holdings is to enhance its fleet by leasing two Boeing 777F...
Cobham, Carson Helicopter partner to provide avionics upgrades for Sikorsky Aircraft
Cobham and Carson Helicopters have signed a partnership to provide an advanced suite of avionics for Sikorsky S-61, S-76, and UH-60 derivative...
Boeing to build orbiter processing facility at Kennedy Space Centre
Boeing has signed a deal with Nasa and Space Florida to build an Orbiter Processing Facility-3 at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre (KSC) in Florida,...
GE starts construction on jet engine component plant in US
GE Aviation has broken-ground on a new $50m jet engine component plant in Auburn, Alabama,...
China launches unmanned spaceship Shenzhou 8
China has launched an unmanned spaceship, Shenzhou 8, in a bid to place a manned permanent space station into orbit by 2020....
China to launch 20 rockets, 25 satellites by year-end
China is planning to launch 20 rockets and 25 satellites into space by the end of this...
Nasa launches Earth-observation satellite
Nasa has launched a new Earth-observation satellite on a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, US....
Astrium delivers Arabsat-5C satellite to Arabsat
Astrium has delivered Arabsat-5C, a multi-mission satellite, to Arabsat as part of the in-orbit delivery...
Air China, Boeing conduct first sustainable biofuel flight
Air China, Boeing and other Chinese and US aviation energy companies have conducted a trial of a passenger plane powered by a 50:50 mix of biofuel and traditional aviation fuel....
Azul orders 11 E-195 jets from Embraer
Brazilian airline Azul Linhas Aereas has signed a $497.5m contract with Embraer to buy 11 E-195 jets....
Boeing and Embraer join jet biofuel research initiative
US-based Boeing and Brazil-based Embraer have signed an agreement with the Sao Paulo State Scientific Research Federation (FAPESP), the Brazilian state-run scientific research foundation,...
Russia launches cargo ship to ISS
Russia has launched an unmanned cargo space-ship loaded with 3t of supplies to the International Space Station (ISS)....
Goodrich reports Q3 profit
Goodrich has reported a 26% rise in profit to $201m during the third quarter of 2011 compared with the $160m it reported during the corresponding period in 2010....
October 2011
Top
Chinese airline orders six Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft
An unnamed Chinese airline has signed a conditional agreement with Bombardier Aerospace to buy six CRJ900 NextGen aircraft for...
Transaero to buy four A380 Airbus aircraft
Transaero Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to buy four Airbus A380 aircraft for $1.5bn and will become the launch customer for the A380 in Russia, the CIS and Eastern...
Royal Air receives two new Boeing 737-800s from GECAS
GE's commercial aircraft leasing and financing unit GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has delivered two new Boeing 737-800 aircraft to Royal Air...
JetBlue Airways orders 40 Airbus 320neo jets
JetBlue Airways has finalised a firm order with Airbus for 40 medium-haul, single-aisle A320neo jets....
Sichuan Airlines orders 20 C919 aircraft
Sichuan Airlines has signed an agreement to purchase 20 C919s from Commercial Aircraft of China...
Gulfstream Airlines to buy six Saab 340B Plus aircraft
Gulfstream International Airlines has signed an agreement with Saab Aircraft Leasing to buy six 34-seat 340B Plus...
Ukraine to launch Cyclone-4 satellite in 2013
Ukraine is planning to launch the Ukrainian rocket Cyclone-4 from the Brazilian Alcantara space centre in...
Air Berlin postpones order for 19 aircraft
Air Berlin has signed an agreement with aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing to partly postpone delivery of 19 new aircraft, valued at about $1.6bn, from the companies to help ease its debt...
AerCap secures loan for 12 Boeing 737-800s
AerCap Holdings has secured a $400m credit facility with ten years maturity to fund 12 Boeing 737-800 aircraft which will be leased to American...
Lockheed Martin to start GeoEye-2 satellite integration
Lockheed Martin is set to commence the integration of GeoEye's next-generation, high-resolution Earth-imaging satellite, known as GeoEye-2, to its Sunnyvale, California, facilities at the end...
Air India to reduce Boeing Dreamliner order
Air India is planning to cut down its order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners to 12 from its original 27-jet order announced in 2005, according to sources familiar with the...
Pratt & Whitney's PW210S engine receives Canadian clearance
Transport Canada has certified Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW210S engine, which will be installed in Sikorsky Aircraft's new S-76D...
International Launch Services to launch AsiaSat 7
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has delivered its new communications satellite AsiaSat 7 to the Baikonur Space Centre in Kazakhstan, ready for its scheduled launch on 26 November 2011....
United Rotorcraft to design four EC145 aircraft for OSF Aviation
OSF Aviation has awarded a contract to United Rotorcraft, a division of Air Methods, to complete its four new Eurocopter EC145 aircraft....
Air Pacific orders three A330-200 aircraft from Airbus
Airbus has secured a contract from Air Pacific to deliver three new A330-200 aircraft as part of its plan to overhaul its long-haul...
Bombardier to build aft fuselage for Global 7000 and 8000 aircraft in Mexico
Bombardier Aerospace is planning to build aft fuselages for its new Global 7000 and Global 8000 business jets at its site in Queretaro, Mexico....
AAR to acquire Teleflex's two aerospace business units
AAR has signed an agreement with Teleflex to acquire its two aviation businesses, Telair International and Nordisk Aviation Products, for $280m, expanding its offering to aircraft makers Airbus...
TAM Airlines orders 32 A320 aircraft from Airbus
TAM Airlines has ordered 32 A320 aircraft from Airbus, comprising 22 A320neos and ten A320s....
Arianespace launches Europe’s two Galileo navigation satellites
Arianespace has launched Europe's first two Galileo navigation satellites on the Russian-built Soyuz launch vehicle from French...
Eurocopter delivers Ecureuil AS350 B3e to Servicios Aereos
Eurocopter subsidiary Eurocopter Chile has delivered an Ecureuil AS350 B3e helicopter to Servicios Aereos Kipreos Marignane, France....
US DARPA plans to recycle space debris
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has started a programme, called Phoenix, which will find ways to recycle space junk thousands of miles above the...
ViaSat-1 launched on a Russian Proton rocket
The ViaSat-1 broadband spacecraft has been launched on a Russian Proton rocket by International Launch Services (ILS) for ViaSat of California, US. ...
Namibia Air to buy two Airbus A319-100 aircraft
Namibia Air has signed a contract with Airbus to buy a pair of A319-100 aircraft for $90m....
ICBC orders 45 C919 jets
The finance leasing unit of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has ordered 45 C919 jets from China-based aircraft maker Commercial Aircraft Corp of China....
Innovative Solutions to supply avionics suite to Eclipse Aerospace
Innovative Solutions & Support has signed an agreement with Eclipse Aerospace to provide an advanced avionics suite for the production model of the Eclipse 550...
United Technologies reports Q3 profit
United Technologies has reported a profit of $1.3bn during the third quarter of 2011, up by 11% over the corresponding period in 2010, boosted by orders from its aerospace and building...
ST Engineering wins aircraft maintenance contracts
ST Engineering's aerospace unit has secured new maintenance contracts worth $453m in the third quarter of 2011. ...
Air New Zealand orders seven ATR72-600 turboprop planes
Air New Zealand has ordered seven new short-haul planes with an option to buy five more from France-based company ATR for...
China Eastern orders 15 Airbus 330 aircraft
China Eastern Airlines has ordered 15 Airbus 330 wide-body aircraft for $2.5bn and the resale of five A340...
Middle East airlines market to grow to $390bn
Boeing forecasts that Middle Eastern airlines will require 2,340 aircraft by 2029 with a total value of $390bn as the regional industry...
Bombardier unveils CSeries aircraft cabin demonstrator
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has unveiled a full-scale cabin demonstrator for the all-new CSeries...
Airbus, Rolls-Royce prepare for A350 engine flight test
Airbus has completed installation of the first Rolls-Royce Trent XWB flight-test engine on the A380 flying-testbed aircraft (MSN 001) at its Jean-Luc Lagardere site in Toulouse, France, ahead...
China Eastern cancels 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets order
China Eastern Airlines has terminated an order of 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets due to delivery...
Cobham extends QantasLink contract with Qantas
Cobham has signed a five-year extension of its B717 QantasLink contract with Australian airline Qantas worth A$500m ($514m), which was scheduled to expire in...
Airbus delivers A380 to China Southern Airlines
Airbus has delivered the first A380 aircraft to China Southern Airlines, under a firm five-aircraft order, at its delivery centre in Toulouse,...
Virgin Atlantic develops low-carbon aviation fuel
Virgin Atlantic, in collaboration with New Zealand-based LanzaTech, has developed an aviation fuel from industrial waste gases which will reduce the carbon emission of standard jet fuel by half....
Nasa to launch Earth-observing satellite
Nasa is planning to launch the first Earth-observing satellite, the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP), on a Delta II rocket from...
Airbus opens new wing facility in Broughton
Airbus has opened a new £400m wing-manufacturing factory in Broughton, UK, to expand existing manufacturing capacity and produce high-tech carbon fibre composite wings for the A350 XWB...
Cargolux Airlines receives GEnx-powered Boeing 747-8 Freighter
Boeing has delivered the first Boeing 747-8 Freighter, powered by the GEnx engine, to the launch customer Cargolux Airlines as part of a firm order totalling 13 747-8...
Air France and Airbus test biofuel-based aircraft
Air France and aircraft manufacturer Airbus have completed the world's greenest commercial flight by combining the latest fuel and air traffic management (ATM)...
CAE to deliver four Level D flight simulators
CAE has signed a C$55m ($53.7m) contract to deliver four Level D full-flight simulators (FFS) to Cathay Pacific Airways, Asian Aviation Centre of Excellence and Lufthansa Flight...
Pratt & Whitney buys Rolls-Royce stake in IAE
Pratt & Whitney will pay $1.5bn to acquire Rolls-Royce Group's stake in International Aero Engines (IAE), a producer of engines for the Airbus A320 plane...
Kenya Airways to lease two Boeing 777-300 ER Aircraft
Kenya Airways has signed a 12-year lease agreement with General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) for two Boeing 777-300 Extended Range (ER)...
ISRO launches four satellites on PSLV-C18
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched four satellites, named Megha-Tropiques satellite, VesselSat-1, Jugnu and SRMSat, on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C18 (PSLV-C18)...
Eclipse Aerospace to restart production of 550 very light jets
Eclipse Aerospace is planning to restart the production of the Eclipse 550, a new twin-engine jet model in the Eclipse jet...
Minsheng Financial orders 20 Falcon business jets from Dassault
Minsheng Financial Leasing has signed a memorandum of understanding to buy 20 Falcon business jets from Dassault Falcon, including ten Falcon 7X and ten Falcon 2000S...
Helistar to buy three EC145 helicopters from Eurocopter
Colombia-based Helistar has signed an agreement with Eurocopter Group subsidiary Eurocopter de Mexico to buy three EC145 helicopters....
Cessna Aircraft unveils Citation Latitude business aircraft
Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron company, has unveiled the new Citation Latitude mid-size business jet worth...
Bombardier begins Learjet 85 jet production
Bombardier Aerospace has started production of its new Learjet 85 test aircraft, which is expected to enter into service by...
Minsheng Financial orders 13 Legacy 650 jets from Embraer
Minsheng Financial Leasing Company has signed firm orders for 13 Legacy 650 executive jets from Embraer for $393m following a memorandum of understanding signed in July 2011 for 20 jets....
Lufthansa Technik to provide component services for Peach Aviation
Lufthansa Technik has secured a multi-year component supply contract from Peach Aviation for 16 Airbus A320 aircraft in...
Bombardier selects seven suppliers for its Global 7000-8000 jet development
Bombardier has selected seven new suppliers to design and manufacture key systems for its Global 7000 and Global 8000 jet...
Eutelsat launches W3C satellite
Eutelsat Communications has launched its W3C satellite on a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in...
Bombardier to complete Global 7000-8000 business jets in Montreal
Bombardier Aerospace is set to complete its new Global 7000 and Global 8000 business jets at its Global Completion Centre in Montreal,...
CFM to provide engine maintenance to Garuda Indonesia
CFM International has secured a 15-year rate per flight hour (RPFH) contract from Garuda Indonesia to provide engine maintenance services for its CFM56-7B engines powering the airline's fleet of...
Embraer deploys Honeywell's fuel efficient jet engine
Embraer has received Honeywell's HTF7500E, the latest version of its HTF7000 family of engines, for flight testing on its family of Legacy 450 and 500 series...
Lion Air, Boeing test satellite navigation technology
Lion Air, together with Boeing and the Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has performed successful validation flights to test its tailor-made Required Navigation...
GECAS places order for six Embraer E190 jets
Embraer has secured a contract from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) to provide six Embraer 190s and options for another six, with the right to convert to Embraer 195, for a total value...
Arik Air orders two Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft
Nigeria's Arik Air has ordered two Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft, worth about $635m, to expand its...
Airbus forecasts South Pacific carriers market to grow to $98bn
Air carriers in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands region will require 736 new passenger and freighter aircraft (above 100 seats) between 2011 and 2030 worth up to $98bn, according...
Nextant remanufactured business jet receives FAA certification
Nextant Aerospace has received FAA certification for its remanufactured business jet Nextant...
Qantas finalises $9.5bn aircraft order with Airbus
Qantas has finalised a deal with Airbus worth $9.5bn for 110 A320 Family aircraft, comprising 78 A320neo and 32 A320s, to expand its fleet in...
British Airways signs FHS agreement with Airbus
British Airways has signed a 15-year flight hour services (FHS) agreement with Airbus to provide aircraft inventory support for its A380 fleet of...
Ethiopian Airlines orders four Boeing twin-engine freighters
African carrier Ethiopian Airlines has placed a $1.1bn order for four 777 Freighters with Boeing to replace its existing fleet and meet increased cargo demand in...
ISRO to launch PSLV-C18 on 12 October
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning a lift-off of the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C18) from the spaceport at Sriharikota on 12...
Eurocopter secures third EC225 helicopter order from SSFC
Eurocopter South East Asia has secured a third EC225 order, with an option for one more, from Southern Service Flight Company (SSFC) of Vietnam will use the helicopter to enhance its fleet...
Boeing forecasts $760bn aircraft market in North America
Market demand for air carriers in North America over the next 20 years will reach up to $760bn, said...
Eurocopter completes hybrid helicopter testing
Eurocopter has completed testing of its hybrid helicopter, which combines a turboshaft internal combustion engine with an electric motor to further enhance rotary-wing aircraft...
Hong Kong GFS orders two aircraft from Bombardier
The Hong Kong Government Flying Service (GFS) has awarded an order to Bombardier Aerospace for two Challenger 605 aircraft for use primarily in search and rescue, as well as other special...
Nasa and ULS modify contract to add Delta II rocket service
Nasa and United Launch Services (ULS) have agreed the modification of the Nasa Launch Services (NLS) II contract to add the Delta II rocket launch service as part of the contract's on-ramp...
DigitalGlobe completes WorldView-3 satellite critical design review
DigitalGlobe, in collaboration with Ball Aerospace & Technologies, has completed the critical design review (CDR) for its next-generation remote-sensing satellite,...
Pratt & Whitney concludes PW1200G engine ground testing
Pratt & Whitney has concluded the ground testing of the PW1217G engine, the first of its PW1200G family, for Mitsubishi Regional Jet...
Eurocopter receives 20 EC225 helicopter order from CHC
Eurocopter has secured an order of 20 EC225 Super Puma twin-engine helicopters, with an option of an additional four aircraft, from...
ILS launches QuetzSat-1 satellite
International Launch Services (ILS) has launched the QuetzSat-1 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit aboard its ILS Proton Breeze M for operator SES of...
Nordic Aviation to buy 12 aircraft from ATR
Danish aircraft lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) has signed a $500m contract to buy ten ATR 72-600s and two ATR 72-500s, with an option of an additional ten ATR...
CFM signs engine deal with ICBC
CFM International has signed a $450m memorandum of understanding (MoU) to supply its CFM56-5B engines for a fleet of 22 Airbus A320 aircraft to CBC Financial...
Lufthansa Technik to provide MRO services to Hamilton's Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Lufthansa Technik has secured a long-term contract to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services on components designed by United Technologies subsidiary Hamilton Sundstrand for...
Northwest Research wins Nasa contract for NextGen project
Northwest Research Associates has secured a four-year contract to support Nasa Airspace Systems Program's concepts and technology development project at Nasa Langley's Aeronautics...
Lufthansa places €1bn aircraft order
German airline Lufthansa is planning to order 12 new aircraft from Airbus and Embraer, valued at approximately €1bn...
Luxair finalises four Q400 NextGen turboprops with Bombardier
Luxair has finalised a $126m order for four Bombardier Q400 NextGen high-speed turboprop...
Boeing delivers 737-900ER to Somon Air
Boeing has delivered its first next-generation 737-900ER with the new Boeing Sky interior to Tajikistan-based Somon...
CAE delivers four Level D flight simulators
CAE has signed a C$70m (US$68.4m) contract to deliver four Level D full-flight simulators (FFS) to Thai Airways International, Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA), Russian aviation equipment company...
Goodrich to provide maintenance to Mesa Air’s Bombardier fleet
Mesa Air Group has signed a multiyear agreement with Goodrich to provide landing gear maintenance services for its fleet of Bombardier CRJ700 and CRJ900...
Pipavav and EADS to form aircraft maintenance JV in India
India-based Pipavav Defence has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus to set up an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in...
September 2011
Top
Aerolia delivers first A350 XWB nose section to Airbus in France
Airbus partner Aerolia has delivered the first A350 XWB nose section to Airbus's facility in St Nazaire,...
American Pacific to develop next-generation rocket engine for ESA
The European arm of AMPAC-ISP, American Pacific, an in-space propulsion subsidiary (AMPAC-ISP) based in Dublin, has won a European Space Agency (ESA) contract to develop next generation...
MHI to join PW1100G-JM engine development for Airbus A320neo
Japan-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has signed an agreement to join in the development of PW1100G-JM, a next-generation engine for the A320neo, a single-aisle aircraft that Airbus...
ELFC to acquire aircraft engine assets from Macquarie Bank
Engine Lease Finance (ELFC) has signed an agreement with Macquarie Bank to acquire 47 aircraft engine assets for an undisclosed amount....
Orbital Sciences launches TacSat-4 Satellite
Orbital Sciences has launched US Navy's Tactical Satellite-4 (TacSat-4) into Earth orbit aboard its Minotaur IV space launch vehicle from Kodiak launch complex in Alaska,...
Eutelsat launches Atlantic Bird 7 satellite
Eutelsat Communications has launched its Atlantic Bird 7 satellite into orbit on a Zenit-3SL rocket operated by Sea Launch from the ocean-based Odyssey Launch Platform in international waters...
UTair Aviation finalises $3.8bn Boeing order
Russian carrier UTair Aviation has signed a $3.8bn order with Boeing for 40 next-generation 737...
Avianca orders four A330F aircraft
Avianca, part of the airline group AviancaTaca Holdings, has signed $500m order for four Airbus A330-200 freighter aircraft, which will be operated by its cargo subsidiary...
Pratt & Whitney wins engine maintenance deal from Cargolux Airlines
Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies company, has secured an engine management contract from Cargolux Airlines to provide on-wing engine health monitoring....
Cessna launches new business jet
Cessna Aircraft Company has launched a $4.195m Citation M2 light business jet that can carry two crew and up to six passengers at a maximum cruise speed of...
Lockheed Martin delivers BSAT-3c / JCSAT-110R satellite to Japanese companies
The BSAT-3c / JCSAT-110R broadcasting satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin for the Broadcasting Satellite System (B-SAT) and SKY Perfect JSAT, is now ready for service...
SpaceX plans to test reusable suborbital rocket
SpaceX has sought permission from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test an experimental reusable launch vehicle (RLV) at its McGregor test site in Texas,...
Russia to launch earth remote sensing satellite in 2012
Russia is planning to launch the Kondor, its first Earth remote sensing satellite, in January...
Japan launches information-gathering satellite
Japan has launched a new information-gathering satellite (IGS), called Optical-4, on H-2A (H-IIA) launch vehicle from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space...
Avolon to lease nine aircraft to Ryanair and AirAsia
Aircraft leasing group Avolon has agreed to lease nine aircraft to Ryanair and AirAsia for $740m - five Boeing 737-800s to Ryanair and four Airbus A320s to...
Boeing delivers first 787 Dreamliner to ANA
All Nippon Airways (ANA) has received the first of Boeing's long-delayed 787s Dreamliner aircraft from its plant in Everett, Washington,...
Arianespace launches two new communication satellites
Arianespace has launched two communications satellites, Arabsat 5C for the operator Arabsat and SES-2 for the operator SES, on an Ariane 5 ECA...
Atlas Air cancels three Boeing 747-8F order
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings has cancelled orders for three early-production Boeing 747-8 freighters that were part of a 12-jet order announced in...
Embraer delivers first E190 Jet to Alitalia
Embraer has delivered the first Embraer 190 jet to Italian airline Alitalia as part of a 20-jet...
AgustaWestland and CQHIC to form JV in China
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, and Chongqing Helicopter Investment (CQHIC) have signed a deal to explore potential collaboration in helicopter development in...
Shanghai Aircraft to provide horizontal stabilisers to Boeing
Boeing has signed a ten-year contract extension with Chinese aircraft maker Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing to supply horizontal stabilisers for Boeing 737...
China to launch space station module
China is planning to launch its Tiangong-1 space module that will help pave the way for a planned Chinese space...
United Technologies to buy Goodrich for $16.5bn
United Technologies has agreed to acquire aerospace manufacturer Goodrich in a deal valued at...
IAE to provide V2500 engines to China Eastern Airlines
IAE International Aero Engines has secured a $400m contract from China Eastern Airlines to supply V2500 engines to power a new fleet of 50 Airbus A320-family...
Bombardier to cut CRJ jet production
Bombardier, the Canadian aircraft and train maker, is cutting production of its flagship CRJ regional jet due to slowing demand. Bombardier Aerospace president and chief operating officer...
Worker strike hits launch of two satellites from French Guiana
French space transportation company Arianespace has postponed the launch of the Arabsat-5C and SES-2 satellites due to a strike at the French Guiana space centre. The mission was interrupted...
British Airways to replace 747 fleet
British Airways is planning to float a tender later this year to replace its 55 aging 747 jumbo jets. BA will explore Airbus SAS's A350-1000, which is a 350-seat airplane, and two...
MTU and ACAE to develop CJ1000 engine
MTU Aero Engines of Germany and Chinese engine manufacturer AVIC Commercial Aircraft Engine (ACAE) have signed an agreement on key terms for a future cooperation on the CJ1000 engine. As part...
Rolls-Royce secures engine contract from TUI Travel
Rolls-Royce has secured a contract from leisure travel company TUI Travel to deliver Trent 700 engines to power two Airbus A330 aircraft. The Trent 700, which is specifically designed for...
Aircraft demand to double in next 20 years
Airbus forecasts that world passenger aircraft demand is expected to double to over 27,800 aircraft in the next 20 years. In its latest global market forecast (GMF), the aircraft...
China to launch communication satellite for Belarus
China has signed a contract with the Republic of Belarus to build and launch a communication satellite for the country. China will launch the satellite from the Xichang satellite launch...
Cargolux rejects deliveries of Boeing 747-8 freighter pair
Cargolux has rejected deliveries of the first two of 13 Boeing 747-8 freighters the company had ordered due to unresolved contractual issues between the companies, Cargolux has said. Boeing...
Pratt & Whitney and AVIC Engine to form new MRO JV in China
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) and China Aviation Engine Holdings (AVIC Engine Holdings) have formed a joint venture to create a new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for...
Skymark selects Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines for Airbus A380
Japanese airline Skymark Airlines has signed a letter of intent (LoI) to equip six Airbus A380 aircraft with Rolls-Royce's Trent 900 engines. The deal value is worth $1bn, which...
China launches new communication satellite
China has launched a new communication satellite, Zhongxing-1A, on a Long March-3B rocket carrier from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the south-western Sichuan Province, China, after...
Pratt & Whitney completes PW1524G engine tests for Bombardier jets
Pratt & Whitney's (P&W) PurePower PW1524G engine has completed tests for the Bombardier C-series jets, completing 25 flights with 115 flight hours at the company's Mirabel Aerospace...
SG Biofuels and JETBIO to produce biojet fuel in Brazil
SG Biofuels (SGB) and JETBIO have formed a partnership to accelerate the production of crude Jatropha oil as a source for aviation biojet fuel in Brazil. SG Biofuels intends to develop...
University of Leicester engineers to study volcanic ash for aircraft safety
Researchers at the University of Leicester, UK, are studying volcanic ash to provide better advice to the aircraft industry about whether it is safe to fly through the debris of explosive...
Air France KLM to place 110-aircraft order
Air France KLM has agreed to buy 50 long-haul aircraft, with an option to purchase 60 more, to replace older planes and add capacity on long-haul routes. In order to split the $12bn order,...
Arianespace to launch BepiColombo spacecraft
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a contract with Arianespace to launch the BepiColombo spacecraft, which is designed to explore the planet Mercury, using an Ariane 5 ECA launcher from...
Northrop Grumman to provide microwave sounder for JPSS Spacecraft
Northrop Grumman Systems has secured a $30m contract from Nasa to deliver advanced technology microwave sounder (ATMS) instrumentation for the first joint Polar satellite system (JPSS-1). ...
Arianespace to launch DIRECTV satellites
DIRECTV has selected Arianespace to launch two satellites, with an option to launch another two, to strengthen its direct-to-home digital entertainment services across the US. Arianespace...
Bombardier unveils first Q400 NextGen aircraft
Bombardier Aerospace has unveiled the first of two Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners to deliver to Smart Aviation Company of Cairo, Egypt, which were ordered in August 2010. Smart Aviation...
US and Australia to develop alternative aviation fuel
The US and Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to continue research and development of clean, sustainable alternative aviation fuel, and have agreed to cover the...
Mahindra tests new five-seater aircraft
Mahindra group, in collaboration with India's CSIR National Aerospace Laboratories, has tested a five-seater aircraft capable of travelling distances of approximately 300km. The new...
Russia delays launch of manned mission to ISS
Russia's Federal Space Agency has delayed the launch of the next manned Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station until 12 November. Three astronauts were stranded in the...
Nasa and Alliant Techsystems to develop Liberty launch system
Nasa and Alliant Techsystems (ATK) have signed an agreement to explore if the company's Liberty rocket can be used to transport astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station. ...
Cathay Pacific to expand aircraft fleet
Cathay Pacific has unveiled a plan to invest HK$200bn (US$25.7bn) to expand its fleet by adding 95 fuel-efficient aircraft. The new aircraft will be added to the airline's fleet before the...
MTU secures maintenance contract from Southern Air
MTU Aero Engines has said that its MTU Maintenance Hannover has secured a 12-year maintenance and spare engine support contract from Southern Air Holdings, which is expected to generate...
Kenya Airways receives eighth E190 jet from Embraer
Kenya Airways has received its eighth E190 jet from Embraer, which is expected to grow the carrier's fleet capacity. The new 96-seater aircraft is expected into service within the next two...
AJ Walter to buy four Boeing 737-300 aircraft
AJ Walter Aviation (AJW) has signed an agreement to buy four Boeing 737-300 aircraft from aircraft leasing firm Pembroke Capital Aircraft (Shannon) for part out. The acquisition will help...
Galileo satellite navigation spacecraft ready to launch in October
Europe's first Galileo satellite navigation spacecraft has reached the spaceport in French Guiana ahead of its launch on 20 October. The satellites are part of the European Commision's...
ViaSat's satellite launch rescheduled to mid October
ViaSat has rescheduled the launch of its $400m broadband internet satellite, named ViaSat-1, for the second time to mid October 2011 due to the launch failure of the Russian Federal...
UNI Air to buy ten ATR 72-600s
EVA Air subsidiary UNI Air has signed an agreement with European regional turboprop manufacturer ATR to buy ten ATR 72-600s, which will replace the Dash-8-300 aircraft from its fleet. The...
ULA launches Nasa's twin moon orbiter
United Launch Alliance (ULA) has launched Nasa's twin lunar gravity recovery and interior laboratory (GRAIL) orbiter aboard a Delta II Heavy 7920H-10 configuration vehicle from Cape Canaveral...
Air France-KLM plans 100-aircraft purchase
Air France-KLM is planning to buy about 100 aircraft to renew its fleet of medium-sized airliners - the company will decide on the order on 15 September 2011. Air France-KLM has said it...
Boeing signs research agreement with Dalhousie University
The Boeing Company has signed a research agreement with Dalhousie University to support research and development projects to strengthen the aerospace industry in Canada and globally. Under...
ATK and NASA test five-segment solid rocket motor
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and NASA have completed a full-scale test of a five-segment solid rocket motor, designated Development Motor-3 (DM-3) to further validate the rocket's potential use...
Arianespace to launch Hispasat's Amazonas-3 satellite
Spanish satellite operator Hispasat has selected Arianespace to launch its Amazonas-3 telecommunications satellite onboard an Ariane 5 rocket in late 2012 or early 2013. Arianespace will...
TRIP Linhas Aereas to acquire 18 ATR 72-600s
Brazilian carrier TRIP Linhas Aereas is planning to buy as many as many as 40 planes from ATR Aircraft for $903m to expand network destination in the country. Trip will add 18 ATR...
Honeywell secures satellite operations contract from GSFC
Honeywell has secured a $450m contract from Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), a major Nasa space research laboratory, to develop ground systems and mission operations (GSMO) services for...
FedEx to place 50-aircraft order
FedEx is in talks to purchase wide-body freighters from Boeing and Airbus SAS as it looks to replace its older fleet of cargo airliners. FedEx is interested in acquiring about 50 aircraft,...
Boeing expects China's commercial aircraft market to triple by 2030
Boeing forecasts that China will require 5,000 new commercial aircraft valued at $600bn over the next 20 years. Boeing said that a significant portion of the demand will be small...
Dunmore provides insulation material to protect Nasa GRAIL satellites
Dunmore has provided its multilayer insulation materials for Nasa's twin Grail satellites protecting the sensitive internal systems from the temperature changes and radiation of open...
Scientists to revive 40-year-old satellite
A group of academic space scientists have decided to revitalise a UK satellite, the Prospero spacecraft, launched in 1971 and contacted annually until 1996, which is still in orbit after almost...
UK to develop satellite systems for observing Earth
The Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation has awarded contracts to eight industrial and academic teams around the UK to develop new satellite technologies for observing the Earth from...
EDAC Technologies secures two engine component contracts
EDAC Technologies has secured two new engine component contracts worth $50m from two aircraft engine manufacturers. EDAC Technologies has signed a five-year agreement with an unnamed...
Monarch Airlines cancels Boeing Dreamliner order
Monarch Airlines has cancelled an order for six Boeing 787 Dreamliners due to the delay in deliveries that were originally planned for 2010. The cancellation is part of company's wider plan...
Sanad Aero to expand component inventories
Mubadala Aerospace's component and engine financing solutions firm Sanad Aero Solutions has signed a new component inventory agreement worth more than $50m with Abu Dhabi Aircraft...
Macquarie plans to bid for RBS plane-leasing unit
Macquarie Group is preparing to bid for Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) aircraft leasing business unit. Macquarie is considering several options, including buying the whole division, part of...
Ethiopian Airlines to purchase four Boeing 777 freighters
Ethiopian Airlines is planning to order four Boeing 777 freighter aircraft to meet the growing demand for cargo flight services in Africa. The B777 freighter, with a catalogue price of...
ISRO to launch climate satellite
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch an advanced weather and climate satellite named Megha-Tropiques onboard a Polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) in October...
Boeing set to deliver first 747-8 Freighter to Cargolux
Boeing is set to deliver the first 747-8 freighter to launch customer Cargolux on 19 September at Paine Field in Washington, US. Cargolux, which has a total of 13 of the aircraft on firm...
Orbital receives FAA licence for Taurus II COTS demonstration mission
The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has granted a licence to Orbital Sciences to launch its Taurus II rocket from Wallops Island, US, which will carry a Cygnus cargo carrier on its...
Embraer and GE complete biofuel test
Embraer and General Electric have conducted a series of biofuel test flights with an Embraer 170 jet, aimed at benchmarking the performance of E-jets and GE CF34-8E engines powered...
Space junk reaches tipping point, says study
According to a US National Research Council study report, the amount of debris orbiting the Earth has reached a tipping point, threatening to smash satellites and endanger astronauts. Nasa...
TransDigm acquires Schneller Holdings
US-based aircraft component maker TransDigm Group has completed the acquisition of Schneller Holdings from an affiliate of Graham Partners for $288.5m. Schneller makes laminates and...
Bombardier Q2 profit rises 53%
Bombardier has reported a 53% rise in profit to $211m during the second quarter of 2011 compared with the profit of $138m it reported during the corresponding quarter in 2010. The...
Embaer Lineage 1000 receives certification in China
Embraer's ultra-large Lineage 1000 executive jet has received type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), clearing its way to register and operate the aircraft...
Latvia set to launch its first satellite, Venta-1
Latvia is set to launch its first satellite, Venta-1, with an Indian carrier rocket at the end of 2011 or with a Russian carrier rocket at the beginning of 2012. Weighing in at 7.5kg,...
NASA prepares to launch Earth-observing satellite
NASA is making final preparations for an 25 October 2011 launch of its next Earth-observing research satellite, which has arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, US. The...
Nav Canada initiates flight trials to reduce GHG emissions
As part of the Engage Corridor Project, Nav Canada has begun flight trials to demonstrate new procedures to improve fuel efficiency and reduce aviation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions...
Kenya Airways Finalises Embraer 190 jets order
Kenya Airways has finalised an order with Embraer for ten E-190 jets, with an option to acquire another 16 as part of its long-term plan to fly to all African capital cities by the end of...
Orbital Sciences to develop NASA's ICESat-2 spacecraft
Orbital Sciences Corporation has secured a $135m contract to build NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) -2 spacecraft, which is to be launched in 2016. Under the...
Russian Helicopters and AgustaWestland to deliver 20 AW139 helicopters to UTair
Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of JSC UIC Oboronprom, and AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, have signed a memorandum of understanding for a planned order of 20 AW139 helicopters,...
ISRO to launch a satellite developed by Indian engineering institute
The Indian Institute of Kanpur has developed a nano satellite, named Jugnu, which is expected to be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The engineering model from...
Boeing to deliver 737 jets with new engine
Boeing has unveiled a plan to upgrade its 737 narrowbody aircraft with a more fuel-efficient engine in 2017 to beat competition from Airbus. The new model, named the 737 MAX, will compete...
Rockwell Collins to develop Inmarsat's GX aeronautical services
Inmarsat, a leading provider of satellite services to the maritime industry, has selected Rockwell Collins as technology partner to develop aeronautical services. Under the agreement,...
August 2011
Top
Lao Airlines orders two Airbus A320s
Lao Airlines has signed an $91m order with Airbus for the purchase of two A320 aircraft. The aircraft will be powered by CFM56 engines and operated by Laos's national carrier on routes...
ATK opens US aerospace composite plant
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has opened a new $100m manufacturing plant, called Aircraft Commercial Center of Excellence (ACCE) facility, in Clearfield, Utah, US. The 615,000ft² new...
SpiceJet receives two Q400 turboprop aircraft from Bombardier
SpiceJet has received first two of 15 Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft form Bombardier Aerospace. The turboprop aircraft can accommodate 78 passengers and SpiceJet will use the aircraft...
Russia delays manned flight to ISS after cargo plane crash
Russia has delayed its next manned mission to the International Space Station (ISS) by a month after an unmanned cargo vessel crashed into Siberia instead of reaching orbit last week. ...
Delta orders 100 Boeing jets for $8.5bn
Delta Air Lines has signed an $8.5bn order with Boeing for 100 next-generation 737-900ER airplanes to replace its less efficient domestic aircraft. The Boeing 737-900ER aircraft will...
NewSat signs Jabiru satellite contract
Pakistani telecommunications provider 3A Technology has signed a $134m contract with Australian satellite company NewSat to buy transmission capacity on the Jabiru-1 satellite for ten years. ...
Boeing 787 Dreamliner certified by FAA and EASA
Boeing has received final approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the all-new 787 Dreamliner. The certification clears...
Nasa to launch moon mission in September
Nasa's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) is planning its final launch preparations ahead of its 8 September 2011 launch onboard a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air...
China and Brazil to launch CBERS 3 satellite in November 2012
Brazil and China are planning to launch China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS 3), which will send images of the Earth's surface used for agricultural and environmental purposes, in...
Russian cargo ship crashes after engine failure
Russia has grounded its Soyuz rockets after a spaceship carrying 3t of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) crashed into Siberia shortly after launch. The Russian Progress...
Nasa extends IT services deal with DB Consulting
Nasa's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland has awarded a $36m two-year information technology services contract to DB Consulting Group. The extension of the contract, which increases the...
StandardAero inks services deal with Ak Bars Aero
StandardAero has secured a fleet maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contract from Russian regional carrier Ak Bars Aero. Under the contract, StandardAero will be responsible for...
US NRL to launch TacSat-4 satellite
The US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is planning to launch Tactical Satellite IV (TacSat-4) on 27 September 2011 from the Alaska Aerospace's Kodiak launch complex. The satellite will...
ViaSat to provide high-speed internet to Bombardier jets
Bombardier Aerospace has selected ViaSat to provide airborne communications terminal equipment as the company plans to offer a high-speed internet package in Global 5000 and Global 6000...
China Eastern Airlines takes delivery of first Boeing 737
China Eastern Airlines has received its first next-generation 737-700 outfitted with both the high-altitude / high-temperature airport operations feature package and the new Boeing Sky interior. ...
Honeywell to provide mission operations support to Nasa
Honeywell Technology Solutions has secured a $450m contract from Nasa to provide ground systems and mission operations support to Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center in Colombia, US, between...
Delta plans to buy 100 Boeing aircraft
Delta Air Lines plans to purchase 100 Boeing 737 single-aisle jets in a deal worth about $8.6bn. The US-based carrier is seeking to lower its costs by flying more fuel-efficient planes...
Boeing 747-8 jet certified for services in US and Europe
Boeing has received certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European aviation regulators to enter its 747-8 freighter into service as a cargo jet. The...
EMS to provide anti-jamming system to Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGAS) has awarded an $11.5m contract to EMS Technologies Defense & Space (D&S) to provide an anti-jamming system to protect US military...
Airservices secures services contract from AeroPearl
Airservices Australia has secured a ten-year contract with AeroPearl for the delivery of its flight inspection service (FIS) in a deal worth over $100m. Under the contract, AeroPearl...
Rolls-Royce RR300 engine awarded certification for flight operations in Russia
Russian airworthiness authority IAC-AR has awarded certification for Rolls-Royce's RR300 engine to enable flight operations for the Robinson R66 helicopter. The Robinson R66 Turbine...
Sky Aviation to buy 12 Sukhoi Superjets from SCAC
PT Sky Aviation has signed a $379.2m contract with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC) to buy 12 Sukhoi Superjet 100/95B aircraft. SCAC designed and developed the Sukhoi Superjet 100...
Aeronautics signs deal with CAE for simulation solution
Aeronautics, a manufacturer and supplier of unmanned systems, has selected CAE to provide simulation and mission training solutions for Aeronautics unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Under the...
Israel Aerospace unveils unmanned aircraft
Israel Aerospace Industries has unveiled its Ghost unmanned aircraft, which the company says can provide intelligence imagery to soldiers in real time. The miniature aircraft, which weighs...
Bombardier wins orders for four Q400 planes
An unidentified European airline has signed a $126m order with Bombardier Aerospace for four Q400 NextGen high-speed turboprop airliners. The order also includes options on an additional...
Boeing 787 Dreamliner completes type certification flight testing
Boeing has completed all the flight tests required for the US Federal Aviation Administration type certification of the 787-8 Dreamliner. The certification cleared the way for the...
IFC to purchase ten Bombardier CSeries aircraft
Russian lessor Ilyushin Finance Co. (IFC) has signed a letter of intent (LoI) to buy ten Bombardier CSeries aircraft. The order comprises seven larger versions of the CS300 aircraft and...
Greenbriar Equity to purchase Anixter's aerospace hardware division
Anixter International has agreed to sell its aerospace hardware division to Greenbriar Equity Group for $155m. Under the deal, Anixter will receive the $155m in cash subject to a net...
US to fund aviation biofuel initiative
The US Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy will invest $510m over the next three years in partnership with the private sector to produce advanced drop-in aviation and marine biofuels...
Boeing expects Russian aircraft market to reach $110bn by 2030
Boeing expects the commercial aircraft market in Russia and the Russian Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to increase to $110bn by 2030. The company estimates carriers in these...
LAN Airlines installs winglets on Boeing 767 fleet
Australian LAN Airlines has completed the installation of winglets on its entire existing long-haul Boeing 767 fleet. The company has invested $80m for the winglets, which are high-tech...
Turkey launches first national observation satellite
Turkey launched RASAT, its first national earth observation satellite, into space on 17 August from Yasny launch base. The TÜBITAK Space Technologies Research Institute (TÜBITAK...
AAR Secures Maintenance Contract from Virgin America
AAR has secured a maintenance and installation services contract from Virgin America to maintain the airline's fleet of Airbus 320 aircraft. Under the 18-month contract, AAR will carry...
ALC Finalises $2.5bn Boeing Order
Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has signed a $2.5bn order with Boeing for 14 next-generation 737-800s, with options for four more aircraft, and five 777-300ER extended-range aircraft. The...
Qantas to Purchase 110 Airbus Aircraft
Qantas is planning to buy 110 aircraft from Airbus for $9bn to salvage its loss-making international business. The order includes 106 firm orders and 78 A320neo jets, making Qantas the...
China Launches Maritime Satellite
China has launched a maritime satellite at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in the city of Taiyuan in Shanxi Province. The Haiyang-2 (HY-2), which was developed by the Chinese Academy...
CTC Expands Aircraft Capacity
CTC Aviation has received four additional aircraft to meet the expansion of its airline pilot training operation in Hamilton, New Zealand. CTC Aviation, which is currently in the process...
Finnair Secures Engine Maintenance Contract from Rossiya
Finnair Engine Services has secured a four-year engine maintenance and repair contract from Rossiya Airlines, which includes the CFM56-5B engines used in Rossiya's A319/320 aircraft. ...
Aerospace-technology.com Launches Major Aerospace Survey
Aerospace-technology.com is launching a major aerospace industry survey, and we'd like to hear your opinions on the industry's most important sustainability issues for 2011-2012. ...
Nasa to Launch Twin Lunar Spacecraft
Nasa is planning to launch twin lunar probes side by side on a United Launch Alliance Delta II heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 17B on 8 September 2011. The gravity recovery...
Nasa Opens Human Explorations and Operations Directorate
Nasa has launched a human exploration and operations (HEO) mission directorate for deep space exploration in Washington, US. The new organisation combines the space operations and...
China to Launch Maritime Satellite
China is set to launch a maritime satellite at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre on a Long March-4B carrier rocket in north China in the coming days. The Haiyang 2 is an...
Russia Tests Rocket Carrier for Glonass Launch
Russia's space forces have begun ground tests for a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket, which will orbit a Glonass satellite by the end of August. The initial dry run of the rocket is being conducted...
Mahindra Aerospace to Launch Civilian Aircraft
Mahindra Aerospace is planning to launch five-seat NM5 aircraft, a civilian aircraft developed in association with the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) of India. A prototype of the plane...
China Launches Satellite for Pakistan
China has launched Pakistan's first communications satellite, PAKSAT-1R, which was carried into orbit by a Long March-3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Centre in the Sichuan province of...
Thai Airways Orders Nine Aircraft from Airbus
Thai Airways has finalised a deal with Airbus for four A350-900s and five A320 aircraft. In addition, Thai Airways will also lease eight additional A350-900s and six more A320s from third...
China to Help Bolivia Launch Communications Satellite
The Bolivian state-run space agency and China Great Wall Industry, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology (CASTC), have signed a deal to develop a communication satellite...
NewSat and TrustComm Ink Deal for Jabiru Satellite
US communications provider TrustComm and Australian satellite operator NewSat have signed a three-year $105m contract for supporting the company's launch of a new satellite, named...
Embraer Delivers First E190 Jet to CLC
Embraer has delivered the first Embraer 190 jet to China's CDB Leasing (CLC). The order is part of a deal to deliver 20 E-190s ordered by CLC for China Southern, which will base the...
CIT and Garuda Finalise Aircraft Orders with Airbus
CIT Aerospace, a unit of CIT Group, has signed an agreement with Airbus for the 50 A320neo family aircraft worth $4.6bn. In addition, Airbus said Garuda Indonesia has finalised an order for...
China to Launch Communication Satellite for Pakistan
China is planning to launch a communications satellite for Pakistan, which will be carried by a Long March-3B carrier rocket. The satellite, named PAKSAT-1R, will offer high-power...
Nasa Awards Contracts for Near-Space Flight Services
Nasa has selected seven companies to integrate and fly technology payloads on commercial suborbital reusable platforms that can carry payloads near the boundary of space. The seven...
Eurocopter Receives EC145 Helicopter Order from Namibia
Eurocopter has received an order for EC145 helicopters from Namibia's Ministry of Safety and Security to expand the capabilities and reach of the Namibia Police Force's (NAMPOL) air wing. ...
Singapore Airlines to Order Eight Boeing 777-300ERs
Singapore Airlines is planning to place a $2.3bn order for eight more Boeing 777-300ERs to support the company's growth plans. The aircraft will join Singapore Airlines' existing fleet of...
Ducommun to Support the Nasa SMAP Earth Observation Satellite
Ducommun LaBarge Technologies (DLT) has secured a contract from Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems to supply resolvers for the soil moisture active passive (SMAP) Earth observation satellite....
Cathay Pacific to Buy 12 Boeing Aircraft
Cathay Pacific has signed an agreement to buy 12 new planes from Boeing for $3.28bn as part of the airline's continuing expansion plans. The order includes four Boeing 777-300ER...
Italian Researcher Proposes a Spacecraft to Clean Up Space Junk
With the growing problem of space junk hovering around the Earth, Italian researcher Marco Castronuovo has proposed a 'housekeeping spacecraft' to clear it. The plan, submitted by researchers...
Biman Receives Loan to Buy Two Aircraft
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has received a $277m financing facility from JP Morgan, which is guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States, to support its long-term expansion...
Cebu Pacific Finalises Order for 30 A321neo Aircraft
Cebu Pacific has finalised a firm order for 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft, which brings its total A320 family orders to 71. Cebu Pacific signed a memorandum of understanding for the aircraft...
Gulfstream's G150 Aircraft Receives Type Certification in China
Gulfstream Aerospace has received type certificate validation from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for its G150 aircraft. The validation will allow Gulfstream Aerospace...
SES and SS/L Deliver QuetzSat-1 to Baikonur Launch Base
SES and Space Systems / Loral (SS/L) have delivered the QuetzSat-1 satellite to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to prepare for its launch, which is scheduled for September 2011, onboard...
ULA Launches Nasa's Solar Powered Juno Spacecraft to Study Jupiter
United Launch Alliance has launched NASA's solar-powered Juno spacecraft from the Space Launch Complex-17 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US, to begin a five-year journey...
Lockheed Martin Launches Telecommunications Satellite
Lockheed Martin has launched the BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R broadcasting and telecommunications satellite from Kourou, French Guiana. BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R was launched aboard an Ariane 5-ECA...
Aviastar Forms JV with AeroComposit
Aviastar-SP is planning to form a joint venture with AeroComposit to manufacture wings for MS-21 medium-haul passenger jets in Russia. The plant is working on a programme for the development...
Boeing Unveils First All Nippon Airways 787 Dreamliner
Boeing has unveiled the first 787 Dreamliner for launch customer All Nippon Airways, which is set to be delivered in September 2011. The next-generation plane was rolled out of Boeing's...
Boeing and GECAS Finalise $2.9bn Order
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has signed a $2.9bn order with Boeing for two 747-8 freighters and eight 777-300 extended range aircraft. The extended range 777-300s will help GECAS,...
Boeing Selects Atlas V for CST-100 Spacecraft Launch
Boeing is planning to launch its seven-seat Crew Space Transportation spacecraft, CST-100, on a test run using an Atlas V rocket built by United Launch Alliance to the International Space...
Falko Signs Engineering Services Deal with BAE Systems
Aircraft asset manager Falko has signed a long-term support and engineering services agreement for the BAE Systems-built aircraft in its lease portfolio. As part of the deal, BAE...
Fokker Secures Component Management Contract from Alliance Airlines
Fokker Services has secured a three-year component management contract from Alliance Airlines of Australia to support its Fokker fleet, which includes 18 Fokker 100 jets, two Fokker 70 jets...
Boeing 747-8 Freighter Completes Final Certification Test
Boeing's new 747-8 freighter has completed its certification flight test programme and the company is now expected to deliver the first aircraft to Cargolux in September 2011...
FLY Leasing to Purchase Aircraft from Global Aviation
FLY Leasing, a lessor of commercial jet aircraft, has agreed to acquire a portfolio of 49 aircraft from Australia-based Global Aviation Asset Management for $1.4bn. With the acquisition,...
Avanti Secures Additional Contract from Hughes Network
Satellite operator Avanti Communications has secured another contract from Hughes Network Systems to provide additional Hylas-1 capacity. The additional capacity will support Hughes'...
SR Technics and Sanad Aero Solutions Sign Component Maintenance Deal
SR Technics and Sanad Aero Solutions, part of Mubadala Development Company's aerospace unit, have signed a component maintenance agreement which will cover full integrated component...
Dynomax Secures Multiyear Contract from B/E Aerospace
Dynomax has secured a three-year contract, which is extendable by one year, from B/E Aerospace to provide first-class seat components for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. As part of...
ILFC to Acquire AeroTurbine Subsidiary from AerCap
International Lease Finance (ILFC), a wholly owned subsidiary of American International Group (AIG), has signed an agreement with Dutch-based AerCap Holdings to acquire its AeroTurbine...
Mahindra Aerospace to Launch New Aircraft
Mahindra Aerospace is planning to launch ten and 18-seater aircraft, which will be built by Australia based unit GippsAERO, to expand its presence in the aerospace industry in India. ...
Boeing and Aeromexico Test First Transcontinental Biofuel Flight
Boeing and Aeromexico have tested the first commercial transcontinental flight powered by biofuel, which arrived in Madrid from Mexico City. The 777-200ER aircraft, using a 70% traditional...
Inmarsat Signs Deal with ILS for Launch of Three Satellites
Mobile satellite services provider Inmarsat has signed a contract with International Launch Services (ILS) to launch three of its Inmarsat-5 satellites on an ILS Proton launch vehicle between...
Boeing to Supply Two Jetliners to Korean Air
Boeing has received a $171.6m order from Korean Air for two next-generation 737-900 extended range jetliners, which will be fitted with the new Boeing Sky interior. The 737-900 aircraft is...
Korean Air Orders Ten CSeries Aircraft from Bombardier
Korean Air has converted a letter of intent into a firm order with Bombardier Aerospace for ten CS300 airliners, making Korean Air the launch customer for the CSeries aircraft in Asia. ...
Hamilton Sundstrand and AVIC EM to Build Aircraft Facility in China
Hamilton Sundstrand and AVIC Electromechanical Systems (AVIC EM) have begun construction of a 5,000m² facility to co-develop and manufacture the electric power system for the new...
Bombardier to Offer High-Speed Internet Systems in Global 5000 and Global 6000 Jets
Bombardier has selected EMS Aviation to provide new increased high-speed internet connectivity as an option for Global 5000 and Global 6000 business jets. Under the contract, the new...
Eutelsat Selects Astrium to Build New Satellite
Eutelsat has selected European space company Astrium to design and build a tri-band satellite, named Eutelsat 3B, which will operate from the Eutelsat 3°E location in geostationary...
Curtiss-Wright Buys Acra Control
Curtiss-Wright has acquired Dublin-based aerospace company Acra Control for approximately $61m. Acra is a supplier of data acquisition systems and networks, data recorders and telemetry...
GippsAERO Selects Rolls-Royce M250-B17F/2 Engine for GA10 Aircraft
GippsAERO, a subsidiary of Mahindra Aerospace, has selected the Rolls-Royce M250-B17F/2 turboprop engine for its new ten-seat turboprop utility aircraft, named GA10. Rolls-Royce and...
New EU Emission Norm Will Cost US Airlines $3bn
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) has said that the new EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) could cost the US airline industry more than $3bn to 2020. The trade group has called...
EVA Selects ARINC's Satellite Services for In-Flight Connectivity
Taiwan-based Evergreen Group unit EVA Airways has signed a deal with ARINC Incorporated for its GLOBALink satellite communications (SATCOM) services to enhance passenger and flight...
GE to Open Aviation Production Facility in US
GE Aviation is to set up a new manufacturing facility at a cost of $56m in Ellisville, Mississippi, US, to meet increasing global demand for aviation composites. The 300,000ft²...
Nasa Prepares for Juno's Jupiter Mission
Nasa's Juno spacecraft is preparing for its mission to Jupiter, and is scheduled to launch between 5 August and 26 August 2011. The $1.1bn Juno spacecraft is set to launch aboard a...
July 2011
Top
Airbus to Buy Satair
Airbus has agreed to acquire Danish aircraft parts distributor Satair for about $504m in cash. Airbus said the acquisition will significantly enhance its services offering in aircraft...
China Launches Ninth Orbiter
China has launched its ninth orbiter into space as part of its indigenous satellite navigation and positioning network, called the Beidou or Compass system, to reduce dependence on the US...
Mahindra Group and Eurocopter Ink MoU
Mahindra Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a trade partnership with the Eurocopter Group and its Indian subsidiary, Eurocopter India, to strengthen the civil...
Lufthansa Orders 30 A320neo Jets
Germany based Lufthansa airline has ordered 30 Airbus A320neo family aircrafts, worth $2.8bn. The order comprises 25 A320neo and five A321neo aircraft, which will be powered by Pratt &...
GE Completes H80 Engine Testing
GE Aviation has completed all engine certification testing, including design assurance, development, operability and environmental tests, for its new H80 turboprop engines at its Prague facility...
IAG Buys Eight Airbus 330-300s
International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), the merged unit of Iberia and British Airways, has ordered eight Airbus eco-efficient A330 family aircraft for Iberia's fleet. According...
Airbus to Buy Metron Aviation
Airbus has signed an agreement to acquire air traffic management (ATM) services provider Metron Aviation to help create a new unit focusing on air-traffic management. The acquisition will...
SpaceX Recieves Nasa Approval for Space Station Flight
Private space flight company Space Exploration (SpaceX) has received approval from Nasa to send its Dragon cargo craft on its first mission to the International Space Station on 30 November 2011. ...
Ball Aerospace Develops Flight Computers
Ball Aerospace & Technologies has completed the developed prototype launch vehicle flight computers that will offer safety and reliability to future human spaceflight systems. The...
Commercial Aircraft MRO Market Expected to Reach $50.2bn by 2021
The commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market is expected to reach $50.2bn by 2021, according to a report by Visiongain. The global fleet of commercial aircraft...
Kestrel Selects Honeywell to Power Turboprop
Kestrel Aircraft has selected the Honeywell TPE331-14GR engine to power a future six-seat, single-engine turboprop airplane. The TPE331-14GR is a single-shaft engine with dual...
Hamilton Sundstrand to Provide Support Services to JAL's Boeing Fleet
Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies, has secured a $350m maintenance contract to support Japan Airlines' (JAL) fleet of 35 Boeing 787 aircraft. Under the agreement,...
AviaAM Acquires Eight Bombardier CRJ200 Aircraft
AviaAM Leasing has acquired eight Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft from various special purpose companies managed by German Operating Aircraft Leasing (GOAL). The aircraft are powered by...
Vector Signs Network Services Deal with Lanmar Aviation
Vector Aerospace Engine Services-Atlantic has signed a network services agreement with Lanmar Aviation based in Groton, Connecticut, US. Under the deal, Vector will provide comprehensive...
ISS to Launch Mini Satellite Kedr
The International Space Station (ISS) is planning to launch Russia's mini satellite, named Kedr, during a spacewalk on 3 August 2011. The mini satellite, which was carried by Russian...
Flight Design to Launch New Four-Seat C4 Aircraft
German aircraft manufacturer Flight Design is planning to introduce a full-scale mock-up of its new four-seat C4, which will include BRS parachutes as standard. The C4 aircraft offers a...
Air China Receives First B777-300ER Aircraft from Boeing
Air China has received its first B777-300ER airplane from aircraft manufacturer Boeing. Boeing delivered the new aircraft as the first of 19 777-300ERs ordered by Chinese airlines. Air...
Thales Alenia Wins Solar Orbiter Equipment Contracts
Italian space agency ASI has awarded phase B contracts to Thales Alenia Space to support the solar orbiter satellite mission. The satellite will observe the sun and its environment at a...
Japanese Firms Form Joint Venture to Design and Build Engines for A320s
IHI Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will form a joint venture with Pratt & Whitney and MTU of Germany to design and produce a new engine for Airbus's...
Vector Inks Service Deal for Pratt & Whitney Engines
Vector Aerospace Engine Services-Atlantic has signed a service agreement with John Hopkinson & Associates to provide comprehensive fixed-wing engine repair and overhaul support for the...
CAE Receives Flight Simulators and Training Devices Order
CAE has received a C$60m (US$63.4m) order to supply four CAE 7000 series level D full-flight simulators (FFSs) and associated training devices to various customers, which include Aeroflot...
Pratt & Whitney Completes Chill Test of Nasa's J-2X Engine
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has completed a chill test and 1.9-second ignition test of the J-2X upper-stage engine, which is in development stages to power Nasa's next era of human...
Minsheng Financial to Buy Executive Jets from Embraer
Minsheng Financial Leasing, a subsidiary of China Minsheng Banking, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to buy up to 20 executive jets from Embraer. Embraer expects the deal to...
Boeing Receives Major Aircraft Order from American Airlines
American Airlines has awarded a contract to Boeing for 200 narrow-body aircraft, with options for 100 more, to accelerate its single-aisle fleet replacement. The agreement includes...
American Airlines Plans to Order Over 600 Jets
American Airlines is planning to place orders worth over $20bn for more than 600 aircraft, split between Boeing and Airbus. The US airline is expected to order 620 aircraft, which include...
ViaSat to Delay ViaSat-1 Satellite Launch
ViaSat is planning to delay the launch of its ViaSat-1 satellite by a few weeks, after the spacecraft's manufacturer Space Systems / Loral (SS/L) discovered and reviewed a malfunction in a...
South Korea Unveils First Passenger Plane
South Korea has introduced Naraon, its first indigeonously built private aircraft, which is made up of light, carbon-based composite material and has devices to control fuel injection. The...
Nanyang University to Launch Velox-I in 2013
Nanyang Technological University in Singapore is planning to launch satellite Velox-I in India or the US in early 2013. Velox-I is made up of two tiny satellites, one weighing 3.5kg and...
Russia Launches Spektr-R Astronomy Satellite
Russia has launched its long-delayed Spektr-R astronomy satellite on 18 July 2011 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Spektr-R was launched aboard a Zenit-3M rocket equipped with a...
Ducommun to Deliver Fuselage Skins for Bombardier Aircraft
Ducommun AeroStructures (DAS), a unit of Ducommun, has secured a contract to manufacture fuselage skins for the Bombardier CSeries aircraft. Fuselage skins, composed of advanced aluminum...
Nasa Inks Deal with United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance (ULA) has signed an agreement to provide technical information to Nasa about using the Atlas V rocket to launch astronauts into space. Under the unfunded space...
American Airlines Signs Sale-Leaseback Deal with AerCap
American Airlines has signed a sale-leaseback deal with AerCap to finance up to 35 Boeing 737-800 next-generation aircraft. The 35 aircraft include 29 firm deliveries, of which 26 are...
JetStar to Invest $500m in Singapore Hub
Low-cost carrier JetStar is planning to invest $500m in its Singapore hub to expand its Asian operations, mostly by adding seven Airbus aircraft to its fleet by the end of 2011. JetStar will...
CEB Inks Aircraft Lease Deal with RBS Aviation
Cebu Pacific (CEB) has signed six-year operating lease agreements with RBS Aviation Capital for two new Airbus A320 aircraft, which will be delivered in March 2012. The two A320s will be on...
SES Launches SES-3 Satellite on ILS Proton
Satellite operator SES has successfully launched its SES-3 satellite into space on board an ILS Proton launch vehicle from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. SES-3, which has a 15-year...
ISRO Launches GSAT-12 Satellite
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that its Polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C17) has taken off from the GSAT-12 communication satellite from Satish Dhawan Space Centre...
Finnair to Operate Biofuel Flight
Finnair is planning to operate flights partially-powered by biofuel from Amsterdam and Helsinki, using either an Airbus A319 or A320 aircraft. For its first biofuel flight, Finnair will...
Iran to Build Two Satellites
Iran's aerospace organisation is planning to build two satellites, Pars 2 and Qaem, which will orbit at an altitude of 600km and 3,600km above the Earth's surface respectively. Pars 2...
NASA Awards Contract for Collision Prediction System for Unmanned Aircraft
NASA has awarded a two-year contract to Numerica Corporation to develop collision-prediction capabilities for unmanned aircraft systems under Phase II of its Small Business Innovation...
Mubadala Aerospace to Provide Services for Boeing 787s
Hamilton Sundstrand has signed an agreement with Mubadala Aerospace, a business unit of Mubadala Development Company, to service its products and systems on the Boeing 787. Under the...
Globalstar Launches Six Communication Satellites
Globalstar launched six new second-generation Globalstar-2 F1 communication satellites on Wednesday 13 July from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, using the Soyuz launch vehicle. ...
Lockheed Martin and Esri Extend Partnership for Geospatial Applications
Lockheed Martin and Esri have entered into a deal to collaborate on developing online geospatial applications and services. Lockheed Martin recently joined the Esri Partner Network as a...
Capitale Helicoptere Orders AW169 Helicopters
Canada-based Capitale Helicoptere has placed an order for three AW169 helicopters with AgustaWestland. The aircraft will be used for charter, VIP transport, utility and medevac...
Associated Air Re-Engineers Mock-Up Facility for Boeing Jet
StandardAero's Associated Air Center (AAC) has developed a full-scale airframe mock-up centre for creating and testing new designs, fabrications and systems on Boeing business jets (BBJ). ...
Iridium Expects FAA Authorisation for Oceanic ATC Communications
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to provide authorisation for aircraft operating in oceanic airspace to use Iridium's satellite data service for air traffic control...
Boeing and ANA Complete 787 Testing in Japan
Boeing and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have completed the 787 service ready operational validation in Japan. Under the validation, Boeing and ANA flew the Dreamliner on routes throughout Japan,...
Avidyne TAS600 Series Traffic Advisory Systems Receive Brazilian STC Validation
Avidyne has received Agencia Nacional De Aviacao Civil –Brasil (ANAC) validation for its approved model list supplemental type certificate (AML STC) for the installation of the...
Astrium to Develop Two Satellite Sensors for ESA
Astrium has secured a €150m contract from ESA to develop and build two satellite sensors that will monitor the Earth's atmosphere as part of Europe's global monitoring for environment...
AMA to Install AFIRS 228 on Three Boeing Aircraft
AeroMechanical Services (AMA) has signed a contract with a French charter airline to install its automated flight information reporting system 228 (AFIRS) on three Boeing 737-800 aircraft and...
Arianespace Postpones US Globalstar-2 Communications Satellite Launch
The postponed launch of the Arianespace US Globalstar-2 communications satellite from its Soyuz-2.1a spacecraft has been rescheduled to today. The spacecraft was orginally scheduled for...
US EPA Proposes Air Pollution Standard for Large Commercial Aircraft
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new air pollution standards for large aircraft engines, and greenhouse gas regulations could also be on the way as a result of a...
China Launches Tian Lian-1B Satellite to Strengthen Manned Mission
China has launched its second tracking and data relay satellite, Tian Lian-1B (TL-1B) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province. The satellite was launched on a Long March...
Boeing and Airbus Compete for $15bn Order
Boeing and Airbus are competing to win an order of 250 passenger planes from AMR Corporation's American Airlines, which is planning to replace about 38% of its current fleet with the roughly...
Last Spacewalk for US Space Shuttle Programme
Flight engineers will soon conduct the only spacewalk of the STS-135 shuttle mission, marking the last such walk of the US space shuttle programme. Expedition 28 flight engineers Mike...
Embraer to Build First US Phenom 100 Business Jet
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has taken delivery of the fuselage and wing parts of the first Phenom 100 executive jet to be assembled at the Embraer Executive Jets facility in...
Precision Castparts to Buy Primus
Metal components and products maker Precision Castparts has signed an agreement to acquire Primus International, a manufacturer of aerospace components, for $900m in cash. Precision Castparts...
Dextre to Demonstrate Satellite Repair in Space
The robotic refuelling mission module is set demonstrate the ability to refuel and repair satellites in space using the Canadian Space Agency robotic tool, Dextre. Atlantis is carrying...
China Launches Shi Jian 11-03 Satellite
China has launched an experimental orbiter in the country's Shi Jian 11-03 satellite series using the Long March 2C (Chang Zheng-2C) launch vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre...
Nasa Signs Space Deal with Sierra Nevada
Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida has signed a commercial space agreement with Sierra Nevada Space Systems (SNSS) of Sparks, Nevada, to offer technical capabilities from the centre's...
DAE Cancels Over $5bn of Airbus Orders
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has cancelled all of its aircraft orders with Airbus, worth $5.8bn, for 45 planes comprising 34 A320s and 11 A350s. DAE has ordered more than 200 aircraft...
GeoEye Expands Satellite Imagery Contrcat with ScanEx
GeoEye has expanded its satellite imagery contract with Russian partner the ScanEx Research and Development Center. The deal is an expansion of a 2010 agreement wherein GeoEye provided...
Allegiant Gets Approval to Begin Boeing 757 Operations
Allegiant has received approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to begin operating the Boeing 757-200, a narrow body, twin-engine, medium-range jetliner aircraft. ...
MIT Researchers Develop Algorithm to Prevent Midair Collisions
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are planning to submit an early result of a new algorithm that uses data from a tracking system to predict and prevent...
Airbus and DLR to Develop Greener Aircraft
Airbus and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) have formed a research partnership to perform research tests for fuel-cell-powered autonomous taxiing as part of the development of greener aircraft. ...
Arianespace Wins Contract to Launch TSBc's Thor 7 Satellite
Arianespace has won a contract to launch Telenor Satellite Broadcasting's (TSBc) Thor 7 satellite in the fourth quarter of 2013. The satellite will be launched into geostationary transfer...
NRC Aerospace Unveils Fly-By-Wire Technology
NRC Aerospace has developed a technology, named fly-by-wire, that will give helicopter pilots far better control especially under conditions that could put their life at risk. The new...
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's SSMEs to Boost Space Shuttle Atlantis
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's three space shuttle main engines (SSMEs) will power the launch of space shuttle Atlantis on the programme's final flight to the International Space Station (ISS). ...
AirAsia to Purchase Additional 100 Airbus A320neos
AirAsia is planning to purchase an additional 100 Airbus A320neo passenger jets, adding to the 200 planes previously ordered to take the total order to $27bn. Last month, AirAsia signed...
ASTRA 1N Satellite Launch Postponed
Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES has postponed the launch of its new ASTRA 1N satellite during final countdown operations due to an anomaly detected on a valve of the main cryogenic...
Hawaiian Airlines Expands Inter-Island Fleet
Hawaiian Airlines has leased three additional Boeing 717-200 aircraft to meet increasing passenger demand. With these three leased 717 aircraft, Hawaiian will be able to expand its...
Garuda Indonesia to Buy Four Airbus A330-300s
Garuda Indonesia has signed a new firm order to buy four Airbus A330-300s, which will increase the its A330 fleet to 23 aircraft. The airline will furthermore convert three previously...
SAS Orders 30 Airbus A320neo
The SAS Group has placed an order to purchase 30 Airbus A320neos with an option for an additional 11 Airbus A320neos for £1.8bn ($2.8bn) as part of its fleet renewal and harmonisation programme. ...
ISRO to Launch GSAT-12 Satellite this Month
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Polar satellite launch vehicle-C17 (PSLV-C17) is scheduled to be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 15 July 2011. The...
Eurocopter Acquires Vector Aerospace
Eurocopter Holding, a subsidiary of EADS, has acquired a 98.32% stake in Canada-based Vector Aerospace for C$624m (US$647m). Eurocopter had planned to obtain 100% of Vector under a...
Boeing and ANA Begin 787 Flight Tests in Japan
Boeing and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have launched Dreamliner 787 service readiness validation tests in Japan ahead of its commercial launch. The Dreamliner will fly on actual airline routes...
Lockheed Martin GeoEye Satellite Completes Design Review
Lockheed Martin, which is developing an earth-imaging satellite with GeoEye, has completed space system critical design review (CDR) two weeks ahead of schedule. Lockheed Martin said that...
EVA Selects Rockwell Collins 3D Moving Map System
EVA Airways has selected Rockwell Collins enhanced Airshow 4200D 3D moving map system for 36 of its aircraft. The system will incorporated in EVA's three new Airbus A330s, and its fleet of...
Lockheed Wins $133m Nasa Contract
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Corporation (LMSSC) has won a $133m follow-on contract from Nasa for mission operations, systems engineering and software (MOSES-II) for the Hubble Space Telescope. ...
Rolls-Royce Secures $1bn Engine Contract
UK-based power systems company Rolls-Royce has secured a contract to supply and maintain Trent 700 engines for Singapore Airlines Airbus planes worth $1bn. Under the contract, Rolls-Royce...
American Airlines to Buy 280 Jets
American Airlines is negotiating with aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing over the purchase of an order of as many as 280 new narrow-body jets in a deal worth an estimated $22.6bn. ...
Lockheed Martin Set to Launch Communications Satellite
Lockheed Martin is set to launch The BSAT-3c / JCSAT-110R satellite for Broadcasting Satellite System and SKY Perfect JSAT on 1 July onboard an Ariane 5-ECA launch vehicle from...
Selex Galileo to Supply Gabbiano Radars to Elbit Systems
Selex Galileo, a Finmeccanica Company, has signed a deal to supply its Gabbiano radar family, which is fully operative and can perform in all light and weather conditions, for installation...
SIA to Lease 15 A330s from Airbus
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has signed an agreement with Airbus to lease another 15 new 330 aircraft to expand its fleet. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines and will...
Boeing Opens New 787 Vertical Fin Assembly Line
Boeing has opened a new 787 vertical fin assembly line at its production facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, US, with production on the new assembly line due to begin this month. The site,...
June 2011
Top
Pratt & Whitney Secures Maintenance Contract from Jetstar Pacific Airlines
Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners, a United Technologies Corporation company, has secured a two-year maintenance services contract from Jetstar Pacific Airlines. As part of...
Nasa Prepares for Shuttle Launch
Nasa has cleared a readiness review of the space shuttle Atlantis to launch on 8 July in its Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US. Atlantis's STS-135 mission, which will deliver the...
Avinor Selects Sensis ADS-B to Enhance Flight Safety
Norwegian air navigation service provider Avinor has selected Sensis Corporation to deploy an automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) system to enhance safety of flights across...
CAS and ICBC to Buy 88 Airbus A320 Family Aircraft
China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) and ICBC Financial Leasing have signed agreements to buy 88 A320 family aircraft from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Aircraft...
Boeing Begins Final Phase of 787 Testing
Boeing has started the final phase of function and reliability (F&R) testing and extended operations (ETOPS) demonstrations on the 787 Dreamliner. The final phase of testing includes...
MSU, Kentucky Space and UOR to Launch Four New Satellites
Morehead State University (MSU) and Kentucky Space are collaborating with the University of Rome Sapienza Aerospace Engineering School (UOR) to develop, build and fly a series of four...
HyperMach Unveils Plans for Supersonic Jet
UK-based HyperMach has unveiled plans for a supersonic plane, SonicStar, a 20-seat business jet that will cruise at a speed of 2,664mph, twice as fast as Concorde at 62,000ft, linking Paris and...
Sky Aircraft Selects Beaver to Power SK-105 Aircraft
Sky Aircraft, a subsidiary of France-based GECI International, has selected Beaver Aerospace & Defense to supply the electromechanical flap actuation system for the Skylander SK-105 aircraft. ...
Nigeria to Launch Two New Satellites Next Month
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) of Nigeria is planning to launch two earth observation satellites, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-Xinto from Russia on 7 July at a cost...
India's GAGAN Satellite in Position
India's advanced GSAT-8 communications satellite that carried the country's GPS-aided geo augmented navigation (GAGAN) system has been positioned, marking completion of the first phase of...
GE Aviation and Nexcelle Sign Engine Purchase Deal
GE Aviation has signed a purchase agreement with Nexcelle to provide the nacelle system for its GE Passport 20 business aircraft jet engine. Under the agreement, Nexcelle will develop,...
MT Aerospace Subsidiary Secures Iridium NEXT Satellite Programme Deal
MT Aerospace Satellite Products has been awarded a contract by Thales Alenia Space to manufacture 81 propellant tanks for the Iridium NEXT satellite programme. Under the deal, German...
Flydubai Signs Engine Maintenance Deal with GE Aviation
Flydubai has signed an OnPoint solution agreement with GE Aviation for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of its 109 CFM56-7B engines for $300m over the next ten years. As part of...
Astrium and Thales Alenia Space Deliver Y1A Satellite
Astrium, an aerospace subsidiary of European Aeronautic Defence and Space, and Thales Alenia Space have delivered the Y1A communications satellite to Al Yah Satellite Communications in UAE. ...
CFM Secures Engine Order from Shenzhen Airlines
CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma and GE Aviation, has secured an order to supply CFM56-5B engines to Shenzhen Airlines in a deal worth $190m. The engines will...
SGT to Provide Support Service to NASA
NASA has awarded a geophysics, geodynamics and space geodesy support contract to Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (SGT) for $45m. As part of the contract, SGT will develop instruments,...
Airbus Wins Record A320neo Orders at Air Show
Airbus won large orders at the Paris Air Show with India's low-cost carrier GoAir buying 72 Airbus A320neo for $6.6bn. GoAir will take delivery of the aircraft from 2016 and the order...
Republic Airways Orders LEAP-X1A Engines from CFM
US-based Frontier Airlines parent company, Republic Airways Holdings, has selected CFM International's advanced LEAP-X1A engine to power a total of 80 Airbus A320neo aircraft. The engines,...
Qantas Agrees Settlement with Rolls-Royce
Qantas has reached a £62.5m settlement with Rolls-Royce over a mid-air explosion caused by a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine on 4 November 2010, which forced the Australian carrier to ground...
ESA and Thales Alenia Enter Intermediate Experimental Vehicle Pact
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Thales Alenia Space have signed an agreement for the production of the atmospheric re-entry demonstrator intermediate experimental vehicle (IXV) and its...
Rolls-Royce Wins Engine Order
Rolls-Royce has secured a $2.2bn contract from Brazil's TAM Airlines to deliver Trent XWB engines for 27 Airbus A350-XWB aircraft at the Paris Air Show. The order also includes a...
Europe and China Enter Aerospace Cooperation Pact at Air Show
The Chinese Aeronautical Establishment (CAE) has signed an agreement for long-term cooperation in research and development (R&D) with the National Aerospace Laboratory from the Netherlands and...
Boeing Signs 737s Deal with Malaysia Airlines and UTair
Kuala Lumpur-based Malaysia Airlines has exercised an option for the purchase of 10 additional Next-Generation 737-800s for $800m at the Paris Air Show. The airline still has purchase...
ILFC Orders Engines to Power Airbus A320neo Aircraft
International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), a subsidiary of American International Group, has placed a $950m order with CFM International for its advanced LEAP engine to power 40 new...
Hypersonic Passenger Jet Unveiled at Paris Air Show
A proposed hypersonic passenger jet that could carry passengers from Tokyo, Japan, to Los Angeles, US, in two and a half hours has been unveiled by EADS at the Paris Air Show. EADS...
Boeing Receives 17 747-8 Intercontinental Orders
Boeing has received orders worth $5.4bn for 17 747-8 intercontinentals from two undisclosed customers. One carrier has committed to 15 of the new passenger version of the 747-8 while...
Damaged A380 Withdraws as Airbus Momentum Continues
An Airbus A380, which was damaged at the Paris Air Show on Monday, will take no further part in demonstrations and has been withdrawn from the show. The demonstrator of the world's...
Elbit Introduces Countermeasures Technology to Protect Aircraft
Elbit Systems has launched its commercial multispectral infrared countermeasures system (C-MUSIC) for the protection of large jet aircraft from shoulder-launched missiles (MANPADS) at the...
Siemens to Debut Serial Hybrid Electric Aircraft
Siemens, Diamond Aircraft and EADS will launch the world's first aircraft with a serial hybrid electric drive system at this year's Paris Air Show. The consortium believes that the...
Air Lease Orders Airbus and Boeing Aircraft
Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has placed orders at the Paris Air Show for the purchase of up to 33 Boeing aircraft and 50 A320neo family aircraft from Airbus, including 14 options. The deal...
Qatar Orders Six Boeing 777-300ERs at Paris Air Show
Qatar Airways has ordered six Boeing 777-300 extended range (ER) aircraft for $1.7bn at the 49th international 2011 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, which is taking place from 20 to 26 June. ...
Korean Air Takes Delivery of First A380
Korean Air has received its first A380 from Airbus, becoming the first airline in north-east Asia to operate the aircraft. The airline will initially operate the aircraft on service to...
Airbus Joins with Rolls-Royce for Enhanced A350-1000
Airbus and Rolls-Royce have revealed a plan to jointly develop the A350-1000 with more powerful Trent XWB engines. The enhanced version of the Trent XWB engine will be fully optimised for...
GE Orders ATR 72-600
The aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric, GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), has placed its first order for 15 ATR 72-600s with European turboprop manufacturer ATR. ...
Green Theme Present at Paris Air Show
Honeywell has stolen headlines at the Paris Air Show, demonstrating its Gulfstream G450 jet following the world's first transatlantic flight of an aircraft using biofuel. The aircraft landed...
Cebu Pacific Places A321neo Order with Airbus
Philippine flag carrier Cebu Pacific has placed an order with Airbus for the purchase of 30 A321neo aircraft. The carrier has also exercised existing options for seven more A320s,...
Boeing to Debut Biofuel-Based 747-8 Freighter
Boeing is to debut its new 747-8 Freighter, which uses a renewable aviation jet fuel, at next week's Paris Air Show. The 747-8 Freighter will have four GE GEnx-2B engines powered by a blend...
Boeing Expects New Aircraft Market to Rise to $4tn by 2030
Boeing forecasts that the new aircraft market will reach $4tn over the next 20 years with a significant increase in forecasted deliveries. The company's 2011 current market outlook (CMO)...
GoAir Orders 72 Airbus A320s for $7.2bn
Indian airline GoAir has placed a $7.2bn order for 72 A320neo aircraft with Airbus. GoAir has a fleet of ten aircraft and currently flies to 18 destinations within India, operating 931...
Qantas Cancels Orders
Australia's Qantas Group has cancelled or deferred orders for 12 narrow-body jet aircraft, including three aircraft in the second half of 2010/11 due to the softening of the Australian...
Iran Launches Second Satellite
Iran successfully launched its second domestically produced satellite, Rasad, into orbit on Wednesday 15 June. The satellite was launched aboard an Iranian-made Safir rocket and is...
Eurocopter to Debut X3 Hybrid Demonstrator and EC175
Eurocopter will introduce its X3 hybrid demonstrator and the new EC175 helicopter at the 2011 Paris Air Show to be held next week. The X3 demonstrator is powered by a five-blade main...
Virgin America Places $1.4bn Engine Order with CFM
Virgin America has placed a $1.4bn order for an advanced LEAP engine with CFM International to power 30 new Airbus A320neo aircraft due for delivery in 2016. In addition, the airline...
Pratt & Whitney Prepares Rocketdyne J-2X Engine for Test
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has completed assembly of the first J-2X upper-stage engine for Nasa's next era of human spaceflight in preparation for demonstration testing, expected to begin...
Boeing Delivers First 777-300ER to Angolan Carrier
Boeing has delivered the first 777-300ER (extended range) to Angolan flag carrier TAAG Linhas Aereas de Angola. The African carrier is the first in the country to acquire, own and operate...
ALC Signs Lease Agreements for 25 Aircraft
Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has signed lease agreements for 25 additional aircraft. ALC has entered into a long term lease agreement with Brazil's TRIP Linhas Aereas for six new ATR 72-600s...
India Plans $1.69bn Indigenous Aircraft
India has unveiled plans to develop a 1,700-seat passenger transport aircraft in the next seven years in a bid to become a global player in civil aeronautics. The development of the...
Orbital Signs Contract to Build Thai Communications Satellite
Thailand-based private satellite operator Thaicom has awarded a contract to Orbital Sciences to build the Thaicom 6 communications satellite. Based on Orbital's GEOStar-2 satellite...
Arianespace Speeds Up Ariane 5 Mission Launch
Arianespace has advanced preparations for the fourth Ariane 5 flight this year, with its satellite passengers Astra 1N and BSAT-3c / JCSAT-110R now undergoing final processing at the spaceport's...
Northrop Grumman Completes Critical Review of Space Vehicle Programme
Northrop Grumman has completed a systems requirement review (SRR), the first of several major steps to design, build and deliver a new spacecraft bus to reduce costs to space operations. ...
Boeing Completes Space Capsule Design Review
Boeing has completed the delta system definition review (SDR) of the company's crew space transportation (CST)-100 space capsule design, following Nasa's award of a commercial crew...
Nasa Launches First Ocean Science Satellite
Nasa launched the Aquarius / SAC-D satellite on Friday 11 June, a satellite capable of measuring the saltiness of Earth's oceans to advance understanding of the global water cycle around the...
US Group Approves Alternative Jet Fuel Specification for Aircraft
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) has said standards development organisation ASTM International has granted preliminary approval to passenger airlines to use a new jet...
Thai Airways to Acquire 37 Aircraft
Thai Airways International will acquire 37 aircraft between 2011 and 2017 for $3.89bn, including 23 Airbus and 14 Boeing airplanes, to upgrade its aging fleet. Under the plan, the airlines...
Iran and Russia Sign Agreement for Space Cooperation
Iran and Russia have entered into a deal to boost space cooperation, focusing on building a new generation of satellites and sending astronauts into space. The agreement between the...
Boeing to Offer System Integration for Iridium NEXT
Boeing has received a contract from Thales Alenia Space to provide system integration and testing support for Iridium NEXT satellites. NEXT is the next-generation satellite constellation...
Qatar Airways Seals Cargolux Stake Deal
Qatar Airways had entered into a strategic equity and commercial partnership with Cargolux to acquire a 35% stake in the European all-cargo airline. The price of the deal has not...
Raytheon Completes Third Communications Upgrade at McMurdo Station
Raytheon has successfully completed the third major communications upgrade at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, in support of future scientific and environmental satellite missions. McMurdo is...
China to Help Launch Turkey's First Intelligence Satellite in December
Turkey will launch its first intelligence gathering satellite, Göktürk-2, in December or early 2012 with support from China for $20m. The Göktürk-2 satellite will be...
Measat Inks Deal with Astrium for New Satellite
Measat Global has entered into a contract with Astrium to build Measat-3b, a new satellite to augment its core Ku-band business in Malaysia, India and Indonesia. The satellite has also...
Thales Alenia Wins MUSIS Programme Contract
Thales Alenia Space España has received contracts worth more than €11m for the multinational space-based imaging system (MUSIS) programme for Earth observation. The company will...
Alcoa Develops New Lighter Alloy for Aircraft
Alcoa has unveiled a new-generation alloy and technology, which it claims can lower the weight of aircraft by up to 10% and improve fuel consumption. The alloy has been developed by...
Bombardier Secures CSeries Aircraft Orders
Bombardier Aerospace has received a firm order from an undisclosed airline for three of its CS100 aircraft, with options on three more. Deliveries of the aircraft will start in 2014. The...
Honeywell Secures Nasa's Safety Services Deal
Honeywell has won a five-year $96m contract with Nasa's safety centre (NSC) to provide audits, assessments, and assurance services across the agency's centres and suppliers. Under the...
Kingfisher in Talks for Fresh Share Issue
Kingfisher Airlines has resumed talks with investors to raise about $300m through a global depository receipts (GDR) issue as oil prices have eased after reaching record highs in April. ...
EADS, Airbus and Russian Partners Halt Freighter Conversion Programme
Airbus, EADS and their Russian partners, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and IRKUT, have jointly decided to stop the A320/A321 passenger to freighter (P2F) conversion development programme...
Finnair Deploys Jeppesen Fatigue Risk Management Solution
US-based aeronautical charting and navigation services provider Jeppesen has revealed that Finnair is now using its crew management solution suite with Boeing alertness model functionality to...
Boeing to Debut 747-8 Aeroplane Models in June
Boeing's two new 747-8 airplane models, the Intercontinental passenger version and the freighter version, will make their international debuts at the Paris Air Show this month. The...
ESA to Switch Rosetta Comet Hunter into Hibernation
Mission controllers at the European Space Agency (ESA) will switch the agency's Rosetta comet-hunting spacecraft into deep-space hibernation for the next 31 months. During this mission,...
Hawker 200 Jet Completes First Flight
Hawker Beechcraft (HBC) has completed the first two hour and three minute flight with its final pre-production Hawker 200 light jet and will now begin contributing to the certification flight...
Bombardier Flight Deck Receives Transport Canada Certification
Bombardier Aerospace has announced that its Global Vision flight deck has received certification from Transport Canada to feature on the Global 5000 and Global 6000 jets. Bombardier...
Teledyne Brown and Aerojet Team to Build Rocket Engines
Teledyne Technologies said its subsidiary, Teledyne Brown Engineering, has signed an agreement to form a strategic alliance with Aerojet to manufacture and assemble liquid rocket engines. ...
Qantas Replaces Airbus A380 Engines
Australian airline Qantas Airways has replaced 24 engines on its fleet of Airbus A380 super-jumbos since one of them suffered a mid-air engine explosion near Singapore last year. ...
NASRDA to Launch Two Satellites This Month
The Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) will launch two satellites, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X, into orbit by the end of this month. NASRDA head of...
Airbus Delivers 50th Chinese Assembled A320
Airbus has delivered the 50th A320 Family aircraft from its Final Assembly Line in China (FALC) to Shanghai-based carrier Juneyao Airlines. The A320 single-aisle family of aircraft,...
TTComm Secures Deal to Lease AMOS Capacity in Poland
Polish teleport and satellite service supplier TTComm has signed a number of long-term agreements with communications satellite operator Spacecom to lease capacity from the AMOS satellite...
Turkmenistan to Establish National Space Agency
Turkmenistan has decided to establish a new national space agency to supervise future space exploration. The space agency will have the responsibility to control near-earth orbit satellites...
Sofradir to Deliver Infrared Arrays for Sentinel 5 Precursor Satellite
Sofradir has secured a contract to provide shortwave infrared arrays for the TROPOMI/S5-P (Sentinel 5 Precursor) mission, as part of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security...
Russia to Step Up GLONASS Satellite Launches
Russia has unveiled plans to step up the pace of communications satellite launches to give its GLONASS navigation system full global coverage capacity by the end of the year. Russian...
Bombardier Clinches 10 CSeries Jet Orders
Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace has won an order to supply five CS100 and five CS300 mainline jetliners, plus options on an additional 10 CSeries aircraft, to Braathens...
Ukraine, Kazakhstan Hold Talks for Joint Plane Project
Kazakhstan is in discussions with Ukraine on launching joint production of small airliners in the Central Asian country, according to Kazakh deputy foreign minister Amangeldy Zhumabayev. ...
Thaicom Receives Approval for New Satellite in 2013
Thaicom has received approval from the Thailand government to build and launch the Thaicom 6 satellite with an investment of about $160m. Thaicom 6 will expand the company's business...
Willis Lease, Mitsui Form JV for Jet Engine Lease
Willis Lease Finance Corporation has entered into a joint venture agreement with Mitsui & Company to acquire and lease IAE V2500-A5 and General Electric CF34-10E jet engines. IAE...
GOL Receives First Boeing 737
Brazil's GOL Airlines has received its first next-generation Boeing 737-800 with the new Boeing Sky interior. The airline notes that it is the launch customer in Latin America for the...
Orion MPCV Navigation System Test Completed Successfully
Nasa, Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace have successfully completed the on-orbit Orion multipurpose crew vehicle (MPCV) approach to the International Space Station. The team worked...
Bulgaria Air to Lease Three Embraer 190 Jets
Bulgaria Air will lease three Embraer 190 jets from the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer as part of its fleet expansion programme. The airline's new aircraft will be configured in a...
ATR 72-600 Achieves EASA Certification
European turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR has obtained European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for its ATR 72-600, the newest member of its aircraft family. Flight testing...
China Southern to Receive First Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Q4
Boeing has revealed plans to deliver China Southern its first 787 Dreamliner in the final quarter of this year. The jet will be the first Boeing Dreamliner to be delivered to a Chinese...
Korea Aerospace Intends to Issue IPO
Aircraft manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) plans to raise up to $542.9m from an IPO on the Korea Exchange. The company plans to sell 36.6 million shares through the IPO,...
US Shuttle Endeavour Undocks from Space Station
US space shuttle Endeavour has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) in order to head back to Earth after completing its mission, Nasa has said. The undocking took place...
CTT Secures Zonal Drying System Order
UAE's flydubai has ordered 31 zonal drying systems from CTT Systems to be installed in the airline's Boeing B737-800 aircraft. The systems, which eliminate condensation in the aircraft, will...
May 2011
Top
Venezuela to Launch Second Satellite from China
Venezuela has signed a deal to launch its second satellite from China in October 2012. The Chinese-made satellite will study climate change, the environment and soil quality so authorities...
BAE Sells Regional Aircraft Business
BAE Systems has announced the sale of its commercial aircraft lease portfolio and asset management business to Fortress Investment Group for $187m. The sale is expected to close in the...
Nasa Seeks Suborbital Flight Services Proposals
Nasa has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for services from commercial suborbital flight providers and payload integrators to support the agency's flight opportunities programme. ...
Kenya Airways to Add Embraer E190 to Fleet
Africa's Kenya Airways is set to receive a new Embraer E190 jet by end of the week. The aircraft is expected into service within the next two weeks and will be deployed to operate in...
Boeing Confirms Delivery Window for First 787 Dreamliner
Boeing has revealed plans to deliver the first 787 Dreamliner to Japanese air carrier All Nippon Airways in August or September 2011. Using the second flight-test aircraft, known as...
Hawaii to Collaborate with NASA on Space Exploration
NASA and the US state of Hawaii will collaborate on a range of activities to promote the country's human and robotic exploration of space, it has been announced. The partnership will...
Satellite Survey Uncovers Lost Pyramids of Egypt
Seventeen lost Egyptian pyramids have been discovered by archaeologists using infra-red satellite imaging. The work, pioneered at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, US, also...
UAE Technology Insitute to Launch DubaiSat-2 by the End of 2012
The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science & Technology has said that it plans to launch its second remote-sensing satellite, DubaiSat-2, by the end of 2012. The institute has...
American Airlines Receives First 737-800
American Airlines has received its first next-generation Boeing 737-800 featuring the new Boeing Sky interior (BSI). The new 737-800 BSI offers larger overhead bins which can hold 48 more...
Korean Air Receives First Airbus A380
Korean Air has taken the delivery of its first GP7200-powered Airbus A380 aircraft. The GP7200 engine is the leading engine for the Airbus A380 aircraft and will power 56% of all A380s on...
Nasa Unveils Spacecraft Plans for Next Deep Space Mission
Nasa has unveiled plans to develop a new spacecraft, known as the multipurpose crew vehicle (MPCV), for the next US transportation system that will carry humans into deep space beyond...
AgustaWestland Secures GrandNew and AW139 Orders
Finmeccanica unit AgustaWestland has secured orders for two EMS-configured GrandNew light twin helicopters, four GrandNew light twin and one AW139 medium twin helicopters from European...
Vietnam Airlines Secures Loan for Airbus A321-231
Vietnam Airlines has signed an agreement with three foreign banks for a $457m loan to purchase eight Airbus A321-231 aircraft. The three banks include Citigroup, DBS and HSBC. The...
ESA to Launch Galileo Satellites
The European Space Agency (ESA) has revealed that Europe will launch its first two global navigation satellites on 20 October 2011. The two satellites will be deployed using a Soyuz...
TransAsia Orders Rolls-Royce Trent 700 Engines
Taiwanese airline TransAsia Airways has placed a $150m order for Trent 700 engines from UK-based power systems company Rolls-Royce. It was the first order from the airline for...
Lockheed Delivers Nasa's Twin GRAIL for September Launch
Lockheed Martin has delivered Nasa's twin gravity recovery and interior laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US. The two vehicles will undergo four months of...
UTair Receives First ATR 72-500
Russian air carrier UTair has taken delivery of its first ATR 72-500 aircraft. UTair placed a $426m order with ATR for 20 aircraft, with the remaining aircraft to be delivered by 2012. ...
AirAsia X Signs Engine Deal with GE
AirAsia X, the long-haul, low-fare affiliate of AirAsia Group of Malaysia, has signed a $600m deal with GE to buy CF6-80E1 engines to power its fleet of three new A330-200s, with an option for...
SingTel and Chunghwa Telecom Launch ST-2
Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) and Taiwanese telecom operator Chunghwa Telecom have launched their joint satellite, ST-2, into orbit from Kourou, French Guiana. At 4.38am,...
European Airlines Could Face Fresh Ash Cloud Disruption
Airlines operating from Europe could face fresh disruption to flights due to an ash cloud from the erupting Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland. The UK Met Office has warned that the ash cloud...
Ball Aerospace Completes Tests for Next US Weather Satellite
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing for Nasa's NPOESS preparatory project (NPP) satellite to bring the spacecraft closer to a 25...
Saab Secures Civil Aircraft Missile Protection System Order
Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab has received an order for the civil aircraft missile protection system (CAMPS) from Mexico-based charter airline FlyMex. The company notes CAMPS...
Lufthansa Cargo Orders Five 777 Freighters
Germany-based Lufthansa Cargo has placed a $1.35bn order with Boeing for five 777 Freighters. The aircraft will help the cargo carrier to modernise and expand its fleet, though Lufthansa...
Astra 1N Departs to Launch Site
The Astra 1N satellite, designed and manufactured by Astrium for satellite operator SES Astra, has left Astrium's facility in Toulouse, France, where it had undergone its final integration and...
Bombardier Selects Four Suppliers for Global 7000 and Global 8000 Aircraft
Bombardier Aerospace has revealed four suppliers for the Global 7000 and Global 8000 business aircraft programme. The programme, overseeing the supply of two major structural packages and...
ViaSat to Deliver Ka-band Transceiver Modules for Iridium NEXT
US-based wireless communications provider ViaSat has received a $40m contract to provide Ka-band transmit-receive (T/R) modules to Thales Alenia Space for the second-generation Iridium...
Embraer Unveils Aircraft Health Diagnosis System for Phenom Jets
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has introduced the aircraft health analysis and diagnosis (AHEAD) solution for Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 executive jet customers. The service...
Hawker 800XPR Adds Honeywell TFE731-50R Engine
US-based aircraft manufacturer Hawker Beechcraft has revealed that its Hawker 800XPR upgrade is making steady progress toward certification with the installation of new Honeywell...
Boeing and Alaska Airlines Jointly Develop Component Optimisation Programme
Boeing and Alaska Airlines have jointly launched a component management optimisation programme that will increase the efficiency of fleets. Alaska Airlines has agreed to use its fleet...
Dassault Launches Falcon 2000S
Dassault has launched the Falcon 2000S for the super mid-sized business jet market. The 3,350nm Falcon 2000S will feature inboard slats, high-Mach blended winglets, a new-generation...
Nasa Prepares for Aquarius / SAC-D Mission
Nasa is making final preparations for the 9 June launch of the international Aquarius / SAC-D observatory. The mission's primary instrument on the spacecraft, Aquarius, will study...
Honeywell Software Receives FAA Approval for Dassault Falcon 900
Honeywell has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) technical standard order (TSO) approval for its Primus Epic-based EASy II software package for the Dassault Falcon 900 EASy...
Eurocopter X3 Hybrid Surpasses Speed Targets
Eurocopter has revealed that its X3 hybrid helicopter has surpassed its original speed target of 220kt during a test programme. The hybrid demonstrator maintained a true airspeed of...
Boeing and Greenpoint Partner on 747-8 VIP Modification Work
Boeing has partnered with Greenpoint Technologies (GTI) to offer modifications for four of its 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft. Under the deal, Boeing will install GTI's Aeroloft...
Pratt & Whitney Unveils Engine Diagnostic Tool for PW100
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has launched an engine diagnostic tool, powered by Spotlight, for its PW100 engine. The diagnostic tool is an interactive system designed to help...
India Plans Three PSLV Launches this Year
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch three PSLV satellites from Sriharikota spaceport by October this year. PSLV-C17 will launch GSAT-12, equipped with...
Japan Quits Daichi Satellite Mission
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said its Daichi Earth-observing satellite is dead in orbit, three weeks after it developed a power generation anomaly, which crippled the spacecraft. ...
Boeing Offers Advanced Engines for VIP 747-8 Intercontinental
Boeing has revealed that the first five customers for 747-8 Intercontinental VIP airplanes will have the option to use loaned GEnx-2B engines that will be replaced with new...
Bombardier to Introduce Six Business Jets
Bombardier Aerospace is set to introduce six of its Learjet, Challenger and Global business jets this month. The super-light Learjet 45 XR aircraft, midsize Learjet 60 XR...
Goodrich Completes Microtecnica Acquisition
US-based Goodrich has completed the acquisition of Italy's Microtecnica for $478m. Microtecnica is a provider of flight control actuation systems for helicopter, regional and business...
ISRO to Launch SPOT 6 Satellite Next Year
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch the French image capturing 'satellite pour l'observation de la Terre (SPOT) 6' next year. The satellite is a...
GE to Deliver 20 Leased Aircraft to Chinese Airlines this Year
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) will deliver 11 new Boeing 737s, seven new Airbus A320s, and two new Boeing 777Fs to airlines in China this year, expanding its leased business by 10%. ...
Mayflower Test Satellite Meets SpaceX Mission Target
Northrop Grumman Corporation and Applied Minds have revealed that the Mayflower test microsatellite was successful during its recent SpaceX mission. Mayflower was the first commercial...
Nextant Aerospace to Unveil 400XT Aircraft
Nextant Aerospace will unveil its first fully conforming production 400XT aircraft this month, taking it a step closer to delivery of aircraft later this year. The Nextant 400XT is...
FAA Approves ETOPS to Rolls-Royce Engine
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has approved extended twin-engine operations (ETOPS) to the Trent 1000 engine, developed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner by Rolls-Royce, making it the...
Honeywell Introduces New Traffic Collision Avoidance System
Honeywell has revealed the availability of its advanced traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) with SmartTraffic. Airbus is the first to certify the new system and plans to offer...
Embraer Delivers 200th Phenom 100
Brazilian aerospace conglomerate Embraer has delivered its 200th Phenom 100 executive jet to US-based aviation services provider Swift Aviation Group. The aircraft was ordered by Swift in...
GE Delivers Two Airbus A320s to French Airline
GE's commercial aircraft leasing and financing unit, GE Capital Aviation Services, has delivered two new Airbus A320s leased to Aigle Azur, adding to the French airline's fleet of A320...
RSCC and Eutelsat Expand Satellite Partnership
Russia's state satellite operator, Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC), and French-based satellite telecommunications provider Eutelsat Communications have signed an agreement to...
Boeing Delivers BBJ 737-700 IGW to Beijing Airlines
Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) has delivered a BBJ 737-700 increased gross weight (IGW) airplane to the business jet subsidiary of Air China, Beijing Airlines. The addition of the first BBJ...
Iran to Launch Four Satellites in Two Years
Iran is planning to launch four satellites within the next two years. The country will launch the Fajr satellite, which will carry out remote sensing and topography missions, in the next...
China to Launch Space Station this Year
China is planning to launch its first space station module, Tiangong-1, in the second half of this year. Tiangong-1 and the Shenzhou 8 vehicle will mark China's first docking tests leading to...
Northrop Unit Delivers Reflector for Alphasat I-XL Spacecraft
Northrop Grumman Corporation strategic business unit Astro Aerospace has delivered its fourth deployable AstroMesh reflector to Astrium for the Alphasat I-XL spacecraft. The spacecraft...
UK Opens New Satellite Operations Centre
The UK has opened its new national satellite operations base, the Earth observation (EO) hub, a key component of the new International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC) in Harwell, Oxfordshire. ...
Air China and Cathay Pacific Form New Cargo Carrier JV
Air China and Cathay Pacific Airways have established a joint venture cargo carrier, Air China Cargo (ACC), which will begin operations with a fleet of 12 Boeing 747-400 freighters with a...
Qatar Airways to Order Airbus Aircraft
Qatar's national carrier, Qatar Airways, is in advanced talks to place an order for 60 Airbus aircraft. The orders will be finalised by June this year, and the airline is reportedly looking...
Australian Regional Airline Acquires Five Saab 340B Aircraft
Australia's independent regional airline Regional Express (Rex) has purchased five Saab 340B aircraft from Saab Aircraft Leasing. Rex chief operating officer Chris Hine said the company...
Air India Floats Tender to Lease Airbus A320
Air India has issued a tender for the lease of 16 Airbus A320 aircraft for a period of five years to increase its capacity. The tender invited the aircraft manufacturers, airlines and lessors...
GE Deploys First Public-Use Navigation Flight Path in Alaska
GE Aviation has deployed the first public-use required navigation performance (RNP) flight procedure at Deadhorse, Alaska, US. The procedure will improve schedule reliability and reduce fuel...
US and Europe Plan New Spaceship
Europe and the US are considering jointly constructing a new spaceship later this decade. The robotic spaceship will be used to transport 7.5t of supplies to the space station, and Europe...
Embraer Delivers 190 Jet to TRIP
Brazilian airline TRIP Linhas Aéreas has taken the delivery of its first Embraer 190 Jet. TRIP Linhas Aéreas currently operates a fleet of nine Embraer 175 jets, and is expected to receive...
Flydubai Secures Funds for B737-800NG
Dubai's low cost airline Flydubai has secured funds worth $80m from the aircraft leasing company MC Aviation Partners (MCAP) for the remaining B737-800NG aircraft the airline is due to receive...
Air Niugini Receives Third Boeing 767
Air Niugini has received its third Boeing 767 airplane. Boeing 767 versions have a range of 5,200nm to 6,590nm (9,400km to 12,200km), and the third Boeing 767 has a seating capacity of...
Transaero Receives Boeing 747-400
Russia's passenger air carrier Transaero Airlines has taken the delivery of new generation Boeing 747-400 wide-body long-haul aircraft. The newly acquired aircraft increases the size of...
Korean Air Places Five A300 Aircraft Order with Airbus
Korean Air has placed an order with Airbus for five A330-200s, taking the total number to 30 aircraft, of which 23 have already been delivered. Airbus chief operating officer customers John...
Qatar Airways Proposes to Acquire 33% Stake in Cargolux
Qatar Airways is expecting to sign a deal to acquire a 33% stake in Cargolux, Europe's all-cargo airline. Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar al-Baker said that the company will sign an...
ESA Expands Satellite Imaging Service
The European Space Agency (ESA) has added 13,000 radar images to its earth-exploring Miravi service, bringing the number of viewing possibilities to approximately 58,000. The Miravi...
Nasa's Dawn Meets Mission to Asteroid Vesta
Nasa's Dawn spacecraft has reached its official approach phase to the asteroid Vesta and will begin using cameras for the first time to aid navigation for its approach. During the...
Lufthansa Technik Leverages ANSYS Simulation Software
Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) support services provider Lufthansa Technik is leveraging simulation software from ANSYS to simulate wear and tear of aircraft components, particularly in...
GE Capital Leases Airbus A320 to Vueling
The aircraft leasing and financing unit of GE, GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), has delivered a new Airbus A320 lease aircraft to Vueling Airlines. The aircraft comes from GECAS's...
Sikorsky Completes Active Rotor Wind Tunnel Tests
The technology development organisation of Sikorsky Aircraft, Sikorsky Innovations, has completed wind tunnel testing of its active rotor system equipped with high authority flaps. The...
Southwest Airlines Acquires AirTran Holdings
Texas-based airline Southwest Airlines has completed its acquisition of AirTran Holdings for about $1bn. The acquisition of the former parent company of AirTran Airways will enable Southwest...
Rolls-Royce Opens Aerospace Plant in Virginia
Rolls-Royce has opened an aerospace plant at Crosspointe, the company's new advanced manufacturing and research campus in Prince George County, Virginia, US, to produce parts for civil...
Embraer Q1 Profit Quadruples
Embraer has reported a profit of $105m during the first quarter of 2011 compared with the profit of $24m it reported during the same period in 2010. The Brazilian aircraft maker reported a...
Airbus Secures A350 XWB Main Landing Gear
Airbus has received the first set of main landing gear (MLG) for its A350 XWB. Produced by Messier-Dowty, the MLG set for the A350-900 follows last month's arrival of the nose landing...
Nasa Awards Engineering and Test Services Contracts
Nasa has awarded five contracts worth $658m to Aerospace Corporation for specialised engineering, evaluation and test services. The five contracts will support eight Nasa centres with...
India Works on First Civil Aircraft
India is developing a transporter to serve the regional aviation market and is currently conducting a feasibility study for a 70-90-seat civil transport plane. National Aerospace...
ILFC to Purchase A320neo Aircraft from Airbus
International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) has finalised an order for the purchase of 100 A320neo family aircraft from Airbus. ILFC chief executive Henri Courpron said that the order...
S7 Airlines Receives Boeing 737-800NG
Russia's S7 Airlines has taken delivery of its first new Boeing next-generation 737-800. The aircraft has been received by Globus Airlines, which operates flights under the S7 Airlines...
Yemen Airways Receives Airbus A320
Yemenia, the official carrier of Yemen, has taken delivery of its first Airbus aircraft as part of its plan to replace its entire fleet of single-aisle aircraft with the A320 family, and make...
April 2011
Top
Iran Builds Ultralight Plane
Iranian scientists have designed and built an ultralight aircraft, the Free Bird, to cater for the country's training, border control, surveillance and recreational needs. The two-seat...
Boeing Delivers 737-900ER to Continental Airlines
Boeing has delivered the first next-generation 737-900ER aircraft with the Boeing Sky interior to United Continental Holdings subsidiary Continental Airlines. The 737-900ER can carry 13...
ATK to Supply Second Stage Motor for Orbital's Taurus Vehicle
ATK will provide the Castor 30XL, an upgraded second-stage motor for Orbital Science's Taurus II commercial launch vehicle, under a $57m contract. The Castor 30XL is a larger...
Bombardier to Supply CRJ900 NextGen Aircraft to Pluna
Bombardier Aerospace has won a $129m follow-on order from Uruguay flag carrier Pluna Lìneas Aéreas Uruguayas to supply three CRJ900 NextGen regional jetliners. The company said...
Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion Receives TSO Approval
Rockwell Collins' new integrated avionics system Pro Line Fusion has received its final technical standard order (TSO) from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The TSO certifies...
New Study Further Supports Volcanic Ash Air Shutdown Decision
A new study has further reiterated that concerns about aircraft safety during the Icelandic volcanic ash eruption in 2010 were well founded. According to the new study, conducted at...
Goodrich Reports Growth in Q1 2011
Goodrich has reported a net income of $195m for Q1 of 2011, compared with the profit of $111m it reported during the first quarter of 2010. The firm's 2011 first quarter sales grew 12% to...
Russia to Sink Progress M-09M Space Freighter in the Pacific
Russia's Progress M-09M cargo spacecraft will be sunk into the Pacific on its successful return from the International Space Station. The freighter undocked from the ISS on 22 April 2011...
Firefly to Use Navigation Data from Lufthansa Systems
Malaysian regional airline and Malaysia Airlines subsidiary Firefly will use the comprehensive navigation data from Lufthansa Systems for its flight management system (FMS). The two...
Pratt & Whitney to Improve Boeing's CST-100 Design
Boeing has selected Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne to help mature the design of its service module and integrated launch abort propulsion system for the crew space transportation...
Space Systems / Loral Delivers Telstar 14R to Telesat
Space Systems / Loral (SS/L) has successfully delivered the Telstar 14R satellite to Telesat for the start of its launch campaign. The satellite, also called Estrela do Sul 2, has been...
Rockwell Collins Receives Approval for Flight Simulator Equipment
Rockwell Collins has received level D approval from the French Civil Aviation Authority for its EP-8000 image generator on an Air France Boeing 777-300 full flight simulator. Rockwell...
Nasa Awards Contracts for Commercial Crew Development Programme
Nasa has awarded four Space Act Agreements in the second round of the agency's commercial crew development (CCDev) programme. Under the deal, each winning company will advance commercial...
ACSS Software Secures Authorisation for TCAS 2000 and TCAS II
ACSS, a joint venture company of L-3 Communications and Thales, has received authorisation from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for Change 7.1 software for its TCAS 2000 and TCAS...
Thales Awards Lockheed Software Contract for Iridium NEXT
Thales Alenia Space has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin to develop, test and support integration of payload application software for the Iridium NEXT satellites. Thales Alenia Space...
SR Technics and Garuda Extend Component Solutions Deal
SR Technics and Garuda Indonesia have entered into a five-year integrated component solutions (ICS) contract. The contract is the extension of an existing agreement for SR Technics to...
Boeing, AVIC Open New Factory in China
Boeing and Aviation Industries Corporation of China (AVIC) have opened a new facility in Tianjin, China, which will double the size of their joint venture, Boeing Tianjin Composites...
Sukhoi Delivers First Superjet to Armenia Airlines
Russia's state-owned plane maker Sukhoi will deliver its first Sukhoi Superjet 100 to Armenia's national airline Armavia. The Superjet 100 is a family of medium-haul passenger...
Korea Unveils Arirang-5 Satellite
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute in South Korea has unveiled the Arirang-5, Korean Multipurpose Satellite 5 (KOMPSat 5), which is in the final check-up stage before it is launched...
Russian Helicopters Signs New Brazilian Deals
UIC Oboronprom subsidiary C Russian Helicopters has entered into several contracts with Brazilian helicopter operators. Russian Helicopters and Brazilian investment group Qualy Group...
Star Flyer Orders Two A320s
Japanese carrier Star Flyer has ordered two A320s aircraft from Airbus. The Japanese airline currently operates five leased A320s and is planning to add four more to its fleet. The...
Air Pacific Cancels Boeing 787s Orders
Fiji's Air Pacific airline has cancelled its orders for eight Boeing 787 aircraft, valued at $1.5bn. Air Pacific ordered five 787s in 2006 and three more in 2007. The new mid-size...
Kenya Airways to Acquire Boeing 787 Dreamliners
Kenya Airways has entered into an agreement deal with Boeing for the purchase of nine new 787-8 Dreamliners. The Kenyan carrier signed an agreement with Boeing in 2006 for nine 787-8...
Hawker Beechcraft Adds New Aircraft to 400XPR Programme
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation has added a second aircraft to its 400XPR development programme. The test programme will be used primarily to develop and certify various avionics upgrade options....
GE Aviation to Deliver myEngines Service to Air Canada
GE Aviation has entered into a deal with Air Canada to deliver its myEngines services to the carrier, which is part of the company's OnPoint Digital solutions. Air Canada's GE engine...
Carmanah and ADB Unveil Visual Navigation Aid for Helipad Operations
Carmanah Technologies, in partnership with ADB Airfield Solutions, has released a wireless helipad light and navigational aid system, the Helipad Kit. The Helipad Kit is a solar...
China to Invest in Aircraft Engine Development
The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is to invest 10bn yen ($1.5bn) for the development of aircraft engines. AVIC said that the US, Russia, the UK and France can...
Boeing Extends Landing Gear Service
Boeing has expanded its landing gear overhaul and exchange programme to cover 777-200LR (longer range), 777 freighter and 777-300 ER (extended range) airplanes. The programme...
SES Finalises Arianespace to Launch Astra 2E
Telecommunications satellite operator SES has selected Arianespace for the launch of its Astra 2E satellite. Astra 2E will be launched in the second quarter of 2013, and will be positioned...
GE Launches TRUEngine for CF6
GE Aviation has launched its CF6 TRUEngine programme, which expands the TRUEngine designation from CFM56 engines to GE's engines beginning with CF6. As part of the launch, GE has...
Embraer to Begin Legacy 600/650 Production Line in China
Embraer has entered into a deal with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) to implement a final assembly of Legacy 600/650 production line in China. The Brazilian firm will...
Embraer Delivers 190-200 to LOT Polish Airlines
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has delivered a 190-200 aircraft to LOT Polish Airlines. The medium-range (2,600km) aircraft has a maximum speed of 890km/h and 112 seats in...
Indra's Pelican Helicopter Receives Airworthiness Certificate
The Indra-developed Pelican unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has received the special airworthiness certificate (CAEE) from the Spanish Ministry of Public Works body, State Aviation Safety Agency,...
Swedish Firm Integrates Russian Positioning System
Sweden's Swepos, a national network of permanent satellite reference stations, has started integrating the Russian positioning technology, Glonass, into its operations, which could offer a...
Embraer Wins Jet Orders from Chinese Airlines
Embraer has secured orders for 35 Embraer 190 jets from two Chinese airlines. Under the deal, China's Hebei Airlines will purchase ten Embraer 190 jets with purchase rights for an...
CAV Icing Protection System Approved for Bonanza G36s
CAV Aerospace has received amended supplemental type certification (STC) approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to install the TKS flight into known icing (FIKI) protection...
Lockheed Martin Ships Juno to Nasa for August Launch
Lockheed Martin has shipped Nasa's Juno spacecraft to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US. The vehicle will undergo four months of testing and processing in preparation for its launch...
SAS to Upgrade Fleet with Boeing 737 NGs and Airbus A320s
Sweden-based airline SAS Group has signed an agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) to lease five new 737-800 NGs, and has signed an MoU to lease a further 12 Boeing 737-700s from...
ISRO to Launch Three Remote Sensing Satellites
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to launch three satellites, including an advanced remote sensing satellite designed for the study and management of natural resources, on...
China to Launch Eighth Orbiter for Global Navigation Network
China is preparing to launch an eighth orbiter into space as a part of its indigenous satellite navigation and positioning network, known as the Beidou or Compass system. The satellite...
Qatar Airways Orders Five Boeing 777s
Qatar Airways has ordered five 777 aircraft - three 777 freighters and two 777-300ERs - from Boeing for $1.4bn. Qatar Airways will acquire five new 777 planes, adding to its current fleet of...
UTair Orders 20 ATR 72-500s
The Russian carrier UTair Aviation has signed a $426m deal to purchase 20 ATR 72-500s from the regional turboprop manufacturer ATR. The aircraft has a passenger capacity of 68-74...
Nasa Funds Greener Aircraft Design Projects
Nasa has agreed to provide $16.5m to four industry and academic teams to research greener and quieter designs for aircraft that could enter service between 2030 and 2035. The teams studied...
VTB Leasing Receives AW139 Helicopter
Finmeccanica unit AgustaWestland has revealed that VTB Leasing has taken delivery of its AW139 medium twin helicopter. The helicopter will be used for corporate and passenger transport in...
Air Arabia Selects Sharklets for Airbus A320s
Air Arabia has selected a different configuration of wingtip device, called Sharklets, for 28 out of 44 A320 aircraft ordered by the airline. Airbus will commence deliveries of...
Boeing Delivers 737-800 to Air Algerie
Boeing has delivered the 50th Boeing jetliner, a next generation 737-800, to the North African carrier Air Algerie. The 737 was the fourth of seven aircraft ordered in 2009. ...
Norwegian Orders Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Engines
Scandinavian airline Norwegian has selected Trent 1000 engines from Rolls-Royce to be fitted in nine Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircrafts. The airline has also entered into a $450m...
Cessna Secures Aircraft Orders
Textron unit Cessna Aircraft Company has secured orders for 30 aircraft at the Sun 'n' Fun International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland, Florida, US. Cessna secured 16 orders for the new...
Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing Sign Component Service Agreement
Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines have entered into an agreement for the Ethiopian carrier to participate in the 777 component services programme (CSP). CSP is a parts-provisioning programme...
MELCO Signs Deal to Launch Turksat 4A and 4B Satellites on Proton Rocket
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) has signed an agreement with International Launch Services (ILS) to launch Turksat 4A and 4B on ILS Proton rockets. Turksat 4A and 4B...
Mitsubishi Begins Japanese Passenger Jet Programme
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and its subsidiary, Mitsubishi Aircraft, has begun assembly of Japan's first small passenger jet plane at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries factory in Aichi...
Virgin Atlantic Deploys Twin-Engine Jets
Virgin Atlantic Airways has deployed a twin-engine jet to serve on its transatlantic routes, using an A330-300 aircraft delivered by Airbus. The aircraft is the first to be delivered of the...
KLM Cityhopper Orders New Embraer 190 Jets
Embraer has secured a $214m order from KLM's regional subsidiary, KLM Cityhopper, for the delivery of five Embraer 190 jets. The deal is part of options originally signed in August 2007 and...
Russia Launches Spaceship to ISS
Russia has launched a spaceship carrying three astronauts from the Baikonur Space Centre in central Kazakhstan. The Soyuz TMA-21 Gagarin spacecraft is sending two Russian cosmonauts,...
FAA Orders Stringent Checks on Older Boeing Aircraft
US aviation regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has ordered airlines to inspect older model Boeing 737 aircraft for cracks following the Southwest Airlines jet that landed with...
Lufthansa Selects Pratt & Whitney Engines for Airbus A320neos
Lufthansa has selected Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G engines for its order of 30 aircraft in the Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The order, approved by Lufthansa, still...
Norway Seeks to Divest Stake in SAS
The Norwegian Government has sought parliamentary approval to sell its 14.3% stake in struggling Scandinavian airline SAS. The government is requesting authorisation of the sale of...
EU Approves SNPE Solid Rocket Propulsion Business Acquisition by SAFRAN
The European Commission has cleared SAFRAN's proposed acquisition of the solid rocket propulsion business of French state-owned SNPE. The business is composed of SNPE's subsidiary...
UOP Tests Green Jet Fuel on Airbus A320-214
Honeywell subsidiary UOP has revealed that Honeywell green jet fuel, produced using UOP process technology, has successfully powered an Interjet Airbus A320-214 from Mexico City to...
Boeing Delivers 777 Aircraft to Qatar Airways
Boeing has delivered its 25th 777 extended-range aircraft to Qatar Airways. The airplane is a 777-300ER model, which can accommodate 335 passengers in a two-class configuration, and travel...
Airbus Enters into Biofuel Pact with Spain, Iberia Airlines
The Spanish government, Iberia Airlines and Airbus have signed an agreement to develop a value chain for renewable aviation bio-fuel for use by commercial airlines in Spain. The...
NASA, United Space Extend Space Programme Operations Contract
United Space Alliance, a US-based commercial space contractor, has negotiated six, one-month options with NASA for $436.5m. The contract provides for the continuation of services to support...
IndiGo Orders Pratt & Whitney Engines for Airbus A320neos
Indian air carrier IndiGo has selected Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G engines to power its new fleet of 150 Airbus A320neo aircraft. Each IndiGo Airbus A320neo will be powered by...
Turkish Airlines Orders 15 Next-Generation Boeing 737s
Boeing has received a $1.2bn order for 15 Next-Generation 737s from Istanbul-based carrier Turkish Airlines. The order will be made up of 10 737-800s and five 737-900ERs. The...
Satellite Companies Join to Increase Hosted Payloads Awareness
The Hosted Payload Alliance (HPA) will serve as a bridge between government and private industry to foster open communication between potential users and providers of hosted payload capabilities. ...
Boeing Wins 777-300ER Airplane Order from GE
Boeing has won a $2.8bn order from GE Capital Aviation Services for 10 wide-body 777-300ER airplanes. The 777-300ER airplanes are equipped with twin engines and will be used for...
Porter Airlines Orders Turboprop Plane Pair from Bombardier
Canadian airline Porter Airlines ordered a pair of Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner aircraft from Bombardier for $61m. The Q400 NextGen aircraft are 70-80-seat short-haul planes that Porter...
Cathay Pacific to Expand its Aircraft Fleet
Hong Kong-based airliner Cathay Pacific is planning to add 27 aircraft before the end of 2015 as part of its modernisation and fleet expansion plan. Cathay Pacific has signed an agreement...
Bombardier Collaborates with Fokker to Support Dash 8 / Q-Series Aircraft
Bombardier Aerospace has collaborated with Fokker Services for the launch of FLY, a new programme aimed at improving the availability of serviceable components for operators and reducing the...
Lufthansa Implements PROS Optimisation System
European airline Deutsche Lufthansa has implemented the PROS origin and destination (O&D) network hybrid optimiser solution, delivered by PROS Holdings. The PROS O&D network...
Eurocopter Canada Delivers First AS350 B3e
Eurocopter Canada has secured an order for its first AS350 B3e from Slave Lake Helicopters. The new version of the AS350 B3e features an advanced Turbomeca Arriel 2D turbo shaft engine, a...
Nasa Signs Earth and Space Science Studies Contract
Nasa has awarded a cooperative agreement to University Space Research Association in Columbia, Maryland, US, to facilitate experimental, analytical and theoretical research in support of its...
Aerospace-technology.com Launches Major Aerospace Survey
Aerospace-technology.com is launching a major global aerospace industry survey, and we'd like to hear your opinions on the most important business issues for 2011-12. Participants will...
March 2011
Top
Abu Dhabi to Launch Yahsat Y1A Satellite
Y1A, Abu Dhabi's first commercial satellite, developed by Yahsat, has been fully fuelled and integrated with the Ariane 5 launch vehicle for launch on 31 March, at the European spaceport in...
Mubadala Signs Components Supply Deal for Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Aerospace subsidiary Strata has secured a contract to make aircraft components for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. The contract is to produce spoilers, the wing flaps...
Airbus Installs First Nose Landing Gear for Tests
The first nose landing gear for Airbus's next-generation A350 XWB has successfully been installed at the jetliner's landing gear integration test facility in Filton, UK. The nose landing...
Lufthansa Technik Secures Certification for APS 2300
Lufthansa Technik has received certification from the German Federal Office of Civil Aviation for the addition of the Hamilton Sundstrand APS 2300 to its portfolio. With the certification,...
Eurocopter to Acquire Vector Aerospace
European Aeronautic Defence and Space group (EADS) subsidiary Eurocopter Holding has entered into an agreement to buy all outstanding shares of Canada's Vector Aerospace Corporation. ...
AgustaWestland Secures a AW119Ke Helicopter Order
Geotech Aviation has placed an order with Finmeccanica unit AgustaWestland for one AW119Ke helicopter with options for four additional aircraft. The helicopter will be used for...
Bombardier to Deliver Four 415 Firefighting Aircraft
Bombardier Aerospace has signed a $162m contract with an unnamed buyer for the sale of four 415 amphibious aircraft. The contract includes training and initial spares provisioning and...
Israel and Russia Sign Space Cooperation Agreement
The Israeli space agency has signed an agreement with the Russian space agency for cooperation in space-related programmes. The deal will foster collaborations in fields like astrophysical...
TRK Helicopters Acquires AS355 NP Helicopter from Eurocopter
Canada-based TRK Helicopters has purchased a new AS355 NP helicopter from Eurocopter Canada. The AS355 NP will be introduced into TRK Helicopter's fleet in April 2011 and will be employed...
Nasa's Stardust Wraps up Operations
Nasa's Stardust spacecraft, built and flown by Lockheed Martin, has sent its last transmission to Earth, shortly after depleting fuel and ceasing operations. During its 12-year period,...
India and France to Co-Launch Two Satellites
India and France will co-launch two satellites from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launch pad to study climate change. The satellite for oceanography, to be called SARAL, will...
Embraer Signs Credit Deal with China's ABC Leasing
Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer has signed an agreement with Agricultural Bank of China subsidiary ABC Financial Leasing to secure $1.5bn credit for aircraft financing and leasing. ...
Avidyne Autopilot to Interface with Aspen Evolution Displays
UK's flight deck and safety systems provider Avidyne Corporation has teamed up with Aspen Avionics of Albuquerque, US to develop an interface between the Aspen Evolution displays EFD1000 and...
Bombardier, Comac Enter Commercial Aircraft Deal
Bombardier has signed an agreement with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) to establish a long-term strategic cooperation on commercial aircraft and develop mutually...
Rockwell Collins Upgrades LPV Technology for Falcon and Beechjet Aircrafts
Rockwell Collins has upgraded its localiser performance with vertical guidance (LPV) technology for operators of Dassault Falcon 50 aircraft and Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP aircraft. The...
Boeing Expands GoldCare to 737 Fleet
Boeing has revealed that it is expanding its GoldCare service to include the Next Generation 737 product line. The company is in advanced discussions with customers regarding the tailoring...
American Pacific Engine Completes Successful Orbit Insertion
American Pacific Corporation's in-space propulsion subsidiary has revealed its Leros 1b bipropellant engine (Leros 1b) fired for nearly 15 minutes to slow the Mercury surface, space...
Oman Air Receives First Embraer 175 Jet
Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer has delivered the first of the fleet of Embraer 175 jets to Oman Air. The aircraft will serve Oman's national airline's regional routes operating from...
AirTran to Merge with Southwest Airlines
The shareholders of AirTrans Holding, the parent company of US-based AirTran Airways, have voted to sell the airline to Southwest Airlines for $1.4bn. The airlines said that more than 98.6%...
Boeing Receives EL AL Order for 737-900ER Quartets
Boeing has received a $343.2m order from Israeli national carrier EL AL for four next-generation 737-900ER aircraft and reserve options for future aircraft. The Boeing 737-900ER is the...
Boeing Wins Performance Package Deal for United 777s
Boeing has entered into a deal with US-based United Continental Holdings to modify its United Airlines 777 fleet, which will result in greater fuel efficiency and emission reductions. ...
Bombardier Begins CSeries Aircraft Tests
Bombardier has begun testing and development of the first systems for its CSeries airliner programme at partner and vendor facilities in Canada, the US and Europe, prior to delivery to...
Embraer Wins E Jets Order from Alitalia
Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer has entered into a deal with Italian airline Alitalia to supply 20 E jets. Under the deal Embraer will supply 15 Embraer 175 jets and five Embraer 190...
Jeppesen Offers Avionics Data for Dynon Avionics
Jeppesen and Dynon Avionics have entered into an agreement to provide Jeppesen NavData and obstacle services for the Dynon Avionics SkyView D700 and D1000 systems. The avionics data...
Space Systems / Loral to Build Satellite for SingTel Optus
US-based satellites provider Space Systems / Loral (SS/L) has secured a contract to manufacture a spacecraft for Australian telecommunications service provider, SingTel Optus. The...
Turkish Airlines Orders Rolls-Royce Trent 700 Engines
Turkey’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines, has placed a $200m order for Trent 700 engines with UK power systems provider Rolls-Royce to power three Airbus A330 freighter aircraft. ...
Lockheed Martin Unveils Orion Spacecraft and Simulation Centre
US-based technology firm Lockheed Martin has unveiled the first Orion crew module exploration spacecraft and a space operations simulation centre (SOSC). These two projects are located at...
Globalstar Secures FCC Approval to Operate Satellites in US
Mobile satellite voice and data provider Globalstar has revealed that the International Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted the company authority to operate...
Boeing’s Jumbo Jet 747-8 Intercontinental Makes First Flight
Boeing's 747-8 intercontinental has successfully completed its maiden flight in front of thousands of spectators, taking off from Paine Field Airport near Boeing's Seattle headquarters. The...
Saab Unveils New Aircraft Wing Panel Demonstrator
Sweden-based Saab has developed a new smart fixed-wing aircraft (SFWA) wing panel demonstrator, which it claims can reduce fuel consumption and emissions for aircraft in the future. The...
Korean Air Orders Two Boeing 747-8 Freighters
Korean Air has placed an order worth $639m with Boeing for two new 747-8 freighters. The 747-8 freighter offers a range of 4,390nm (8,130km) and a maximum structural payload capacity of...
Estonian Air to Replace Saab 340s
Estonian Air has revealed a plan to replace Saab 340 aircraft with bigger turbo-propeller planes, though the company has not indicated their type. Estonia's national carrier, operating...
Topcon Launches GR-5 Satellite Receiver
US-based precision positioning equipment provider Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS) has launched its new GR-5 GNSS receiver, incorporating its Fence Antenna technology and expanded channel support....
Korean Air to Receive B787-9s from 2016
Korean Air Lines Company has revised its order with Boeing to purchase its 787 Dreamliner aircraft, and will start receiving the new planes from 2016. Under the revised deal, Korean Air...
Iran Tests Rocket with Biocapsule
Iran has successfully launched a new rocket, the Kavoshgar-4, equipped with a biocapsule designed to carry living creatures into space. The experiment was carried out by the Iranian...
Thai Airways to Add 37 Aircraft by 2017
Thai Airways has revealed that it has entered into agreements to purchase 37 new planes by 2017. The company aims to increase its fleet from 85 to 105 and replace the old aircraft. ...
Lufthansa Orders Airbus and Boeing Aircraft
German air carrier Lufthansa has placed orders worth $4bn for 35 new aircraft with Airbus and Boeing. The orders include five B777 freighters and 30 A320 passenger planes. The orders...
UN Sanctions Libya No-Fly Zone
The UN Security Council has sanctioned a no-fly zone over Libya in order to protect civilians, but has so far rejected sending an occupation force. The resolution imposes a ban on all...
Avanti Completes In Orbit Testing of HYLAS 1 Satellite
UK broadband satellite operator Avanti Communications Group has completed in-orbit testing of the HYLAS 1 satellite. The testing process confirmed that HYLAS 1 conformed to specification...
Asiana Airlines Orders Rolls-Royce Trent 900 Engines
UK power systems provider Rolls-Royce has won a contract to deliver Trent 900 engines to power six Airbus A380 aircraft for South Korea-based Asiana Airlines. The order also includes...
Thales Delivers Electronic Flight Bag System to Brussels Airlines
Thales and Brussels Airlines have entered into an agreement for the integration of a new electronic flight bag system, TopWings, aboard the carrier's fleet. The system will be located in...
Pratt & Whitney Completes Engine Launch Abort Tests
United Technologies Corporation unit Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has successfully completed a series of hot-fire tests of the Bantam demonstration engine for an advanced 'pusher' launch...
DigitalGlobe Selects Lockheed Martin to Launch Earth-Imaging Satellite
US-based earth-imagery solutions provider DigitalGlobe has selected Lockheed Martin unit Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services to launch its WorldView-3 satellite. The...
MDA Enters into Satellite Servicing Deal with Intelsat
Luxembourg-based fixed satellite services provider Intelsat has entered into an agreement with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) for the servicing of Intelsat's on-orbit satellites...
CAE Wins Flight Simulators and Trainers Order
Canada-based simulation and modelling technologies provider CAE has secured contracts worth C$50m (US$50.9m) for four level D full-flight simulators (FFS) and four Simfinity trainers from...
SES to Launch Communication Satellites with SpaceX
European satellite operator SES has signed an agreement with US space launch company SpaceX to launch its SES-8 communications satellite using the Falcon 9 rocket. The SES-8 will be the...
ATR Delivers First 42-500 Aircraft
Russia's Taimyr Airlines, also known as NordStar Airlines, has taken delivery of its first ATR 42-500 from a firm order for four aircraft and three options ordered in 2010. The Russian...
Arianespace Selected to Launch Arsat Satellite
Argentinean satellite fleet operator Arsat has selected Arianespace to launch Arsat-2 on an Ariane 5 or Soyuz rocket from the Guiana Space Centre by the second half of 2013. The satellite...
Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Passes Gauntlet Test
Boeing has completed final gauntlet testing on the first 747-8 intercontinental jetliner. Gauntlet testing simulates flight conditions to test systems and ensure flight readiness, which is...
IAE Secures Engine Orders from Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines (THY), the national carrier of Turkey, has ordered V2500 SelectOne engines from International Aero Engines (IAE). The new engines will power THY's A321 aircraft and is...
UAE to Launch First Satellite by March
The UAE is planning to launch its first satellite, Y1A from France on 30 March 2011. Y1A will serve military, civilian and commercial purposes of the country and is built by the Abu...
Iran Commences Telecommunications Satellite Work
Iran has started building its Qaem telecommunications satellite, which will be launched into space in 2017. Study operations and designation process for building the satellite are underway...
Boeing Delivers First 737-700 with Sky Interior
Boeing has delivered its first next-generation 737-700 with the new Boeing Sky interior to German carrier Airberlin. The design of the Boeing Sky interior is based on that of the...
AWAS Receives Funds from Investors
Ireland-based aircraft lessor AWAS had received an additional $529m from existing investors Terra Firma, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and other investors that will be used to fund...
IAE Extends Collaboration to 2045
Partners of International Aero Engines (IAE) have revealed that they will extend their collaboration agreement to 2045. IAE is a multinational aircraft engine consortium comprising Pratt...
Boeing Completes Preliminary Design Review for Inmarsat Satellites
Boeing has completed the preliminary design review (PDR) for the Inmarsat-5 spacecraft and hosted payloads. Boeing is building three Ka-band satellites to add to Inmarsat's current...
Eurocopter Scores New Helicopter Orders
Eurocopter has secured orders for 68 helicopter types from operators in the US, Canada, Europe and Russia at the Heli-Expo 2011 exposition in Orlando, Florida. The orders were received...
Etihad and Engine Alliance Sign Engine Pact
Etihad Airways has entered into a $1.5bn contract with Engine Alliance to deliver GP7200 engines for its fleet of ten Airbus A380 aircraft. The deal also includes long-term fleet...
Cathay Pacific Orders Boeing 777-300ER Aircraft
Cathay Pacific Airways has ordered ten Boeing 777-300ER aircraft worth $2.8bn from Boeing. The order will meet the Hong Kong-based carrier's fleet requirements first announced in 2005...
Hong Kong Air Show Sees Huge Orders
Hong Kong Airlines has signed an agreement to buy 38 wide-body jets, including Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft, at the 2011 Hong Kong Air Show. The order covers 32 787 Dreamliners and six...
UTair Orders Eurocopter EC175 Helicopters
Russia's UTair Aviation has placed an order for 15 EC 175 helicopters with Eurocopter. The twin-engine EC 175 can be employed in a full range of missions, including oil and gas...
Sikorsky Completes S-76B Aircraft Modifications
Sikorsky Aerospace Services has completed S-76B helicopter modifications for export to Germany's Heliservice International. The helicopter, originally designed for VIP transport missions,...
ILFC Orders 33 Boeing 737-800 Aircraft
Boeing has received a $2.6bn order from American International Group subsidiary International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) to provide 33 Next-Generation 737-800s. The order is part...
IAG Places Aircraft Order with Airbus
International Airlines Group (IAG) has ordered eight A330-300 aircraft from Airbus for Iberia's long-haul fleet. The deal is estimated to be worth $1.8bn, with options for eight A330 planes. ...
Air China to Acquire Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental
Air China has signed an agreement with Boeing for the purchase of five passenger-version 747-8 Intercontinental jetliners. The new fuel-efficient 747-8 Intercontinental jetliners will be...
Glonass-K Satellite to Start Operating in 2011
Russia has plans to start operating its new Glonass-K navigation satellite by the end of the year, Russian Space Systems construction bureau head Yury Urlichich has said. The new...
Airbus Forecasts Asia-Pacific Aircraft Demand
Airbus has forecasted orders for 8,560 new aircraft, worth $1.2tn, from Asia-Pacific airlines over the next 20 years. The region's requirement represents 33% of new aircraft deliveries...
Nasa's Glory Launch Ends in Failure
Nasa's attempt to launch Earth observation satellite Glory from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on 4 March 2011 has failed to reach orbit. According to telemetry indications,...
Bombardier and China's ICBC Sign Financing Cooperation MoU
Bombardier Aerospace has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ICBC Financial Leasing to provide its customers with advance payment financing, delivery financing and leasing...
AgustaWestland Helicopters to Receive Standby Flight Display System
Meggitt Avionics has received a contract from AgustaWestland to supply its secondary flight display system for AW101 medium lift, AW139 medium-sized multirole twin-engined and AB212...
Goodrich Completes Boeing 787 Electric Braking System Tests
Goodrich Corporation has completed all flight tests of the electric brake system for Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The braking system includes DuraCarb carbon heat sink material, which provides...
L2 Receives FAA Certificate for Boeing 777 Satellite Upgrade
L2 Consulting Services (L2) has received a supplemental type certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the installation of Inmarsat Swiftbroadband upgrade to the...
Boeing to Equip Inmarsat-5 Satellites with Harris Antennas
Boeing has awarded a contract to Harris to build Ka-band antennas for the constellation of three Inmarsat-5 satellites to be able to provide high-capacity coverage of the entire globe. The...
AVIC to Acquire Cirrus Industries
China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) is to acquire Minnesota-based aircraft manufacturer Cirrus Industries for an undisclosed amount. The deal will provide AVIC access to...
Greenwich Kahala Aviation Plans IPO
Greenwich Kahala Aviation is to raise nearly $207m with an initial public offering (IPO) in order to finance aircraft purchases. The company said it will use the money to buy airplanes,...
Russia Needs Carrier Rockets to Fulfil Space Launches in 2011
Russia is in need of carrier rockets to accomplish all space launches scheduled for 2011, Roscosmos space agency chief Anatoly Perminov has said. "We have a number of spacecraft that should...
China to Develop Global Satellite Navigation System by 2020
China is considering the development of its own global satellite navigation system, which will include 30 satellites and be complete by 2020. Shenzhou spaceships former chief designer Qi...
Bombardier, NetJets Clinch Record Order
NetJets has placed a $2.8bn business aircraft order with Bombardier Aerospace for 50 Global business jets with options for an additional 70 Global aircraft. The total value of the...
TAM Orders Boeing 777-300 Aircraft
TAM Linhas Aereas has ordered two additional Boeing 777-300ERs (extended range) with two purchase rights, bringing the total number of 777s on order to 12. The $568m order will help expand...
TAM Airline Orders A320 Aircraft
TAM Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 32 eco-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft, making it the first A320neo customer in Latin America. As per the MoU, TAM...
TRIP Linhas to Purchase New Embraer 190 Jets
Embraer has signed a new contract worth $172m with TRIP Linhas Aéreas for the sale of four Embraer 190 jets. The Embraer 190 jets will be configured in a single 110-seat class as per...
Airbus Opens A350 XWB Component Manufacturing Facility in China
Airbus has opened the Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre in Harbin, China, to manufacture composite parts for the A350 XWB. The 33,800m² manufacturing centre will...
China Will Not Reduce Boeing and Airbus Aircraft Order
Civil Administration of China head Li Jiaxiang said the country would not reduce its order for Boeing and Airbus jets since its indigenous commercial jets were not ready to meet domestic...
Garuda Indonesia to Lease Six Boeing 737-800 Aircraft
Garuda Indonesia has signed an agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) to lease six Boeing 737-800 aircraft and three CFM56-7B engines. Under the agreement, the airline will...
Yahsat to Launch its First Satellite on 30 March 2011
The launch of Yahsat's first satellite, Y1A, is scheduled to take place on 30th March 2011 from the Arianespace station in Kourou, French Guiana. The multipurpose satellite has been developed...
GE Aviation to Refurbish Boeing 747-400 Aircraft
GE Aviation is to invest $60m to refurbish a Boeing 747-400 aircraft and transform it into a new flying test bed. The test bed will be used to test the next generation of jet engines,...
AirAsia X to Order Three A330-200 Aircraft
AirAsia X is considering purchasing three Airbus A330-200 aircraft at a cost of 1.5bn ringgit ($491m) to service its expanding routes to Europe. AirAsia X chief executive Azran Osman-Rani said...
EASA Approves SMA Diesel Engine for Aircraft
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified the 230hp SR305-230E diesel engine developed by Societe de Motorisations Aeronautiques (SMA) in Europe. The SR305-230E diesel engine...
Braxton to Supply Software for Boeing Geomobile Satellites
Braxton Technologies has signed a contract with Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems to supply Orbital Analysis Software (OAS) for Boeing 702MP, 702HP and geomobile satellites. The system...
Aircelle to Supply Engine Nacelle for Airbus A320neos
Aircelle has been selected by Airbus to supply the complete integrated nacelle package for the A320neo, which is powered by CFM International's LEAP-X engines. Under the contract, Aircelle...
South Korean Airlines to Launch New Aircraft in 2011
Major airlines in South Korea are considering introducing a large number of new aircraft in 2011 in order to reduce the average age of aircraft in the country. Korean Air Lines is...
Glonass Satellite Launched by Russia
Russia has launched a Glonass-K satellite for its global communication system from the northern Plesetsk space centre. The Glonass-K satellite was carried into orbit by an upgraded Soyuz...
THAI to Purchase Aircraft for Fleet Expansion
Thai Airways International (THAI) has plans to purchase 75 aircraft including spare engines between 2011-2022, THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand has said. A total cost of about 457bn...
February 2011
Top
EU Approves Swedish Aid to Volvo Aero
The European Union (EU) has approved Skr120m ($16.5m) in aid granted by the Swedish Government to Volvo Aero Corporation for the development of an engine component. The grant will be used for...
Airlines Could Face Losses this Year, Says IATA
Airlines operating flights to the Middle East and North Africa are set to face losses this year due to political unrest and increasing violence. International Air Transport Association...
ATR to Supply Aircraft to Indonesia's Lion Air
ATR, jointly owned by EADS and Finmeccanica, has signed a deal with Indonesian Lion Air to supply 15 ATR-72500s, French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde has said. A Lion Air spokesman said...
CTRM Begins Initial Production of Boeing 787 Fan Cowl
Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM) has begun initial production of fan cowls for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner at its plant in Batu Berendam, Indonesia. The fan cowl is the middle part...
Virgin Blue Unveils New Aircraft
Virgin Blue plans to introduce 18 fuel-efficient ATR72 turboprop aircraft as part of its strategic alliance with Sky West airlines. "The first four ATR Turboprop 68-seater aircraft will...
Boeing Opens Commercial Satellite Services Group
Boeing has established a Commercial Satellite Services group to sell commercial satellite telecommunications services to the US Government and other satellite users. The group, headquartered...
Lufthansa, Airbus Discuss $2.5bn Jet Deal
Lufthansa and Airbus are in negotiations for a $2.5bn jet order of 30 single-aisle A320s with new engines, which may be concluded within the next month. If the order is finalised, it will...
Pakistan International Airlines Seeks Additional Planes
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is to acquire additional long-range and medium-range aircraft for its fleet, according to PIA managing director Captain Nadeem Yousufzai. "We would like...
Embraer Opens First Aircraft Final-Assembly Plant in US
Embraer has opened its first aircraft final-assembly plant in Florida in preparation for beginning large-scale manufacture of its Phenom executive jet series in the US. The new 743m²...
Space Operations to Test First Orbital Manned Commercial Spacecraft by 2012
Space Operations has said it will test launch its first orbital manned commercial spacecraft by 20 February 2012. The company plans to begin regular flights of the two-seat spacecraft by the...
Airbus Plans to Increase Plane Orders in Japan
Airbus Japan CEO Stephane Ginoux has said the company is aiming to capture 20% of Japan's passenger jet market within five years through new orders, up from the current 10%. The company is...
El Al Buys Boeing 747 Aircraft
El Al Israel Airlines has purchased a Boeing 747-400 from RB Leasing Company for $23m, which also includes the cost to upgrade the plane to El Al's requirement. El Al will take delivery of...
Indian Government Stalls Air India Express Aircraft Lease Plan
The Indian aviation ministry has put Air India Express' plan to take on wet lease of four aircraft on hold until it reviews the decision of the country's low-cost carrier board. The ministry...
Boeing to Modernise Saudi Arabian 777-200ER Fleet
Boeing has signed a deal with Saudi Arabian Airlines to modernise its fleet of 777-200ER aircraft, enhancing the passenger experience and environment. Under the contract, Boeing will modify...
NASA Announces Discovery Launch Date
NASA has said that Space Shuttle Discovery will launch on 24 February from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, heading for the International Space Station. The STS-133 mission will be...
Mahindra to Launch Eight-Seater Utility Aircraft
Mahindra Group could soon launch its GrippsAero GA8 TC 320 Airvan, an eight-seater utility aircraft, in the Indian market. The company has applied for regulatory approvals for the...
Jacobs to Provide Test Evaluation and Support Services to Nasa
Jacobs Technology has been selected by Nasa to provide test evaluation and support services at the agency's White Sands test facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, US. The test evaluation and...
Europe’s ATV Johannes Kepler Launched into Orbit
The European Space Agency's (ESA) second automated transfer vehicle (ATV), Johannes Kepler, has been launched into its targeted low orbit by an Ariane 5 vehicle, which took off from...
LAN Airlines Orders Additional Boeing 767s
Chile's LAN Airlines has placed orders for three additional 767-300ER aircraft worth $493m as part of its fleet expansion plans. Boeing Commercial Airplanes sales and marketing...
Skymark Airlines Orders Four Airbus A380s
Skymark Airlines, a Japanese airline, has signed a contract with Airbus for four A380 aircraft, fixing a memorandum of understanding that was announced last year. Skymark Airlines...
Qantas to Boost Aircraft Fleet by 2013
Qantas Group has plans to buy ten new planes, and lease 18 aircraft by the end of 2013 in a move to boost its domestic, resources charter and international fleets, Qantas chief executive...
Indian Government Scraps Antrix Deal with Devas
The Indian Government has cancelled a deal between Devas Multimedia and the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) commercial arm Antrix following allegations that Devas would get...
EIAST Awards Satellite Launch Contract to ISCK
The Dubai-based Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) has awarded a contract to International Space Company Kosmotras (ISCK) in Russia to launch its second remote...
SES Commissions SES-8 Spacecraft for Launch in 2013
SES World Skies has commissioned the SES-8 spacecraft from Orbital Sciences for a launch in the first quarter of 2013 for additional DTH capacity in Asia. The spacecraft will be built...
UPS to Extend AHM Coverage to Boeing's MD-11 Fleet
UPS will extend its airplane health management (AHM) information-driven system designed for Boeing aircraft to the MD-11 Freighter fleet to increase on-time performance. As per the...
Intelsat New Dawn Scheduled for Launch Next Month
The first African private sector communications satellite, Intelsat New Dawn, is scheduled to be launched on 29 March 2011 from Arianespace's launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. Under a...
LightSquared Successfully Completes Post-Launch Testing of Satellite
US-based LightSquared has announced the successful post-launch testing and acceptance of the SkyTerra 1 satellite and space-based network from Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. Boeing...
Turkish Airlines Cargo Traffic Rises in January
Turkish Airlines has recorded a 23% rise in cargo traffic to 26.1t and a 6.3% increase in passenger traffic to 2.1 million in January. The load factor decreased by 1.5% to 67.3% and...
GE Canada and StandardAero to Develop Aircraft Engine Research Centre
GE Canada and StandardAero are to jointly develop a new $50m aircraft engine research and technology development centre in Winnipeg, Canada. The new centre will develop advanced...
Japan to Install Humanlike Robot in Space
The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, the University of Tokyo and Japanese consulting firm Dentsu are to install a humanlike communications robot at the International Space Station. ...
Obama Proposes Freeze on Nasa Budget
Nasa's budget is to be maintained at the 2010 level of $18.7bn until 2016, according to the latest budget unveiled by US President Barack Obama. The budget proposes a five-year freeze...
Jat Airways Seeks New Aircraft
Jat Airways needs a new aircraft by 1 January 2012 to create a more ambitious timetable and to remain in competition, the airline's flight operations department head Vladimir Banjac has...
AirAsia Delays Delivery Schedule of Airbus A320
AirAsia has delayed the delivery schedule of ten Airbus A320 aircraft from its original schedule in 2012 to 2015. The airline has delayed the delivery to switch its order to the...
NOAA Seeks Funding for Joint Polar Satellite System
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its fiscal 2012 budget request to US Congress, seeking $1.07bn for funding the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). ...
A&F Aviation to Start Low-Cost Services
New Japanese airline A&F Aviation has selected Airbus A320 aircraft to start low-cost services from Kansai International Airport, Japan, in the second half of 2011. A&F Aviation...
easyJet Tests Nano-Technology Coating
easyJet has become the first commercial airline to trial a nano-technology coating to see if it can reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency. The ultra-thin coating is a polymer that...
Boeing Unveils New 747-8 Intercontinental Passenger Airplane
Boeing has unveiled its new high-capacity passenger aircraft, the 747-8 Intercontinental, in Everett, Washington, US. The new 747-8 Intercontinental features the latest...
Indian State Receives Aerospace Investment
Nine Indian firms have submitted investment proposals worth $94.2m to the Karnataka Government to set up manufacturing units in the aerospace / aviation sector. Among them, Mahindra...
ISRO and JPL Partner for Moon Mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning a joint moon mission with the US-based Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) following approval from the space policy body, Space Commission. ...
Emirates Selects Rolls-Royce for TotalCare Contract
Rolls-Royce has been awarded a $2.2bn TotalCare long-term services contract by Emirates, which covers Trent engines for 70 Airbus A350XWB aircraft. Emirates president Tim Clark said...
HAL Plans IPO
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is holding discussions with India's Ministry of Defence to hold an initial public offering (IPO) in its effort to increase corporate governance. HAL Finance...
Vistagy and Siemens Extend Partnership
Vistagy and Siemens unit Siemens PLM Software have extended their ongoing partnership agreement to provide an end-to-end composite engineering solution. The solution will be based on...
AgustaWestland Sells AW139 Helicopters in India
Finmeccanica unit AgustaWestland has sold two more AW139 medium twin helicopters to Adani Group and another corporate customer in India. Adani Group will use the AW139 to perform VIP...
DGCA Sets Noise Limit for Aircraft in India
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India has set a noise limit for aircraft purchased by airlines operating in India. DGCA chief Bharat Bhushan said, "The rule will...
CDI and Boeing Sign Long-Term Agreement
CDI Corporation has signed a three-year long-term agreement (LTA) with Boeing Company. Under the LTA, CDI-Aerospace will provide engineering services capable of providing all Boeing...
Bombardier Aerospace Awards Contract to Héroux-Devtek
Héroux-Devtek received a C$175.97m (US$176m) contract from Bombardier Aerospace to manufacture structural detail components that encompass Bombardier's entire portfolio of commercial...
Air India to Soon Receive First Boeing Dreamliner
Boeing will deliver the first of 27 Dreamliner aircraft ordered by Air India some time between October and December, following a delay of two years on the original schedule of 2009. Air...
Alliant and EADS to Develop Rocket
Alliant Techsystems and a unit of European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) are joining forces to develop a 300ft rocket to be known as Liberty, which will blast US astronauts and...
International Group to Assemble Helicopters in China
International Group has signed an agreement with Eurocopter to begin assembling helicopters at one of its manufacturing plants in Changshu, Jiangsu Province, China. Under the...
Infotech Enterprises to Purchase European Aviation Company
Indian-based engineering services and GIS solutions firm Infotech Enterprises is in advanced talks to acquire a European aerospace services company for about $20m. Infotech...
Magellan Aerospace Wins Contract from Airbus
Magellan Aerospace has secured a contract from Airbus to supply detail components for A350 XWB passenger jets, which is expected to provide more than $20m in revenue over ten years. ...
SpaceX Rocket to Place Astrobotic's Payload on Moon
Astrobotic Technology has signed a contract with SpaceX to launch Astrobotic's robotic payload to the moon on a Falcon 9 rocket by December 2013. The expedition will search for water and...
Nasa Contractor Considers Space Shuttles for Commercial Flights
Nasa contractor United Space Alliance (USA) is preparing a bid to continue flying the shuttle as a commercial service after the space agency completes its last three planned missions this year. ...
BCAS Recommends Installing Hidden Cameras in Aircraft
India's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has recommended installing hidden cameras in the cabins of all domestic carriers, with controls in the pilot's hand. Pilots will switch on...
Canadian North Airlines Signs Maintenance Agreements with Aveos
Aveos has signed two new five-year, full-service maintenance agreements with Canadian North Airlines to support the growth of the B737-300 into the 737-300 aircraft type. As per the...
Aircastle Delivers First Airbus A330-200 Aircraft to SAA
Aircastle Limited has delivered the first of six new Airbus A330-200 aircraft to South African Airways (SAA) as scheduled. The six new A330-200s will support SAA's fleet modernisation...
PIA Seeks Approval for Turkish Airlines Agreement
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is waiting for the government approval to sign an agreement with Turkish Airlines (TK) to share passengers on select international routes. The...
Iran to Launch Satellites into Orbit
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has unveiled four recently built satellites, which will be put in orbit in the near future. The four national satellites include Fajr (Dawn),...
Etihad to Extend Code-Share Agreement with Jet Airways
The UAE's national airline Etihad Airways has sought the Indian Government's permission to extend its code-share agreement with Jet Airways to include additional routes to enhance its...
Air NZ's Airbus A320 to be Equipped with In-Flight Mobile Technology
Air New Zealand's black-liveried Airbus A320 aircraft will be fitted with new in-flight mobile technology to allow the passengers to use their mobile phones during the cruise stage of...
JAXA to Collect Space Debris
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), in collaboration with Japanese fishing net company Nitto Seimo, will collect space debris using nets to reduce damage to space shuttles and satellites. ...
Sikorsky Completes Investment in Eclipse
Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies, has completed minority investment in Eclipse Aerospace and entered into a service level agreement (SLA). According to the SLA,...
TWI Launches Project for Composite Materials Production
Independent research body TWI Wales has launched a new £3.8m ($6.1m) research project that could speed up the production of composite materials used in the aerospace industry. At present,...
Comair Orders Boeing Next-Generation 737s
Boeing has received an order for eight next-generation 737-800s with Boeing Sky Interior from South-African airline Comair for $646m. Comair will use its new 737s to update the fleet...
Scientists to Produce Clean Fuel for Aircraft Engines
Scientists at Glasgow University in Scotland are working with EADS Innovation Works in an attempt to find a way of storing hydrogen in solid state using nanotechnology, which, when combined...
Airbus Delivers Record Corporate Jet Orders in 2010
Airbus delivered a record 15 corporate jets in 2010, at a total value of $1.5bn. These orders included 13 A318 Elites, Airbus corporate jetliners (ACJs) and A320 Prestiges, plus two...
China Permits Tests in Low-Altitude Air Space
China's aviation authorities have allowed private helicopters to fly in low-altitude airspace over the island of Hainan on a trial basis for the first time. Four helicopters flown by...
Russia to Test Launch Booster Rocket in 2012
Russia's space force commander Oleg Ostapenko has said that the country's new generation Angara booster rocket will be ready for a test launch by 2012. Angara rockets are designed to...
Boeing to Provide 717 Training to Blue1
Boeing Training and Flight Services announced that it has signed a long-term agreement with Finnish carrier Blue1 to provide 717 training capabilities in Stockholm, Sweden in the first quarter...
TUI Places Order with Airbus for A330-300s
European travel group TUI Travel has placed an order for two A330-300 aircraft with Airbus for its French airline subsidiary, Corsairfly. The wide-bodied A330-300 is the latest 235t...
American Eurocopter Delivers AS350 B3s to Texas DPS
American Eurocopter, the US affiliate of Eurocopter, has delivered two AS350 B3 helicopters to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) aircraft section in the US. American...
Air France to Increase Long-Haul Capacity
Air France plans to increase its long-haul flight capacity by over 6% between 2011 and 2013. The carrier will launch five new destinations out of Paris-Charles de Gaulle to New...
Virgin America Moves to Sabre Reservations and Operations System
Virgin America has announced that it has entered into a deal with Sabre Airline Solution - SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service to handle its reservations system. As part of the...
Russia Launches Cargo Ship to Space Station
Russia has launched its 41st cargo delivery mission from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft will attach itself to the open port...
Boeing Tests New Antenna System
Boeing has carried out its first over-the-air ground test of a Ka-band satellite communications (SATCOM) phased-array antenna system. The antenna system will allow the use of wideband...
Thomas Cook Orders A321 Aircraft from Airbus
UK-based travel company Thomas Cook has signed a contract with European plan manufacturer Airbus for 12 new A321 aircraft. The order, which includes an option to buy further A320 aircraft...
BMI to Axe Heathrow-Glasgow Flight Service
BMI is planning to cancel its service from Glasgow, Scotland, to Heathrow Airport in London, England, following sharp rises in passenger fees by the airport. Presently, BMI runs five...
ILFC to Acquire Aircraft
International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) is considering acquiring narrow-body jets from Airbus and Boeing as it seeks to replenish its stock of aircraft. ILFC is the aircraft...
Cathay Pacific and Cargolux to Appeal Cartel Ruling
Cargolux, which has been fined €79.9m ($109.4m) by the European Commission, has said it has decided to file an appeal against the EC penalty. In November 2010, the European...
Air France Acquires Stake in Max Aerospace
Air France-KLM has acquired a 26% stake in Mumbai-based Max Aerospace and is to set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for aircraft components in India. The MRO facility...
January 2011
Top
Macau Signs Cooperation Agreement with Chinese Civil Aviation Regulator
The Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR (AACM) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) have signed an agreement to facilitate exchange, share resources and cooperate on...
Lockheed Martin Delivers Replacement CWB to Lynden Air Cargo
Lockheed Martin has delivered the first replacement centre wing box (CWB) assembly for Hercules L-100 to shipping company Lynden Air Cargo. The delivery is the first CWB for the L-100,...
Avolon Secures Debt Facility
Ireland-based Aircraft leasing group Avolon has announced that it has raised capital of $465m. Avolon has received a fully underwritten long-term debt facility that includes warehouse...
Boeing Revives Order for 15 737 Aircraft from Alaska Airlines
Boeing has announced receival of an order for 15 next-generation 737 aircraft from Alaska Airlines. The order includes 13 737-900ERs and two 737-800s. The $1.3bn contract...
Eurocopter Sees Increased 2010 Turnover
Eurocopter, a division of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), has reported an increased turnover for 2010 with €4.8bn ($6.5bn), an increase of 6% from 2009. ...
Air France Safety Review Concludes
France's flag carrier Air France has received 35 recommendations on flight safety in a report submitted by the independent safety review team. The safety review states that the carrier...
Libya Acquires 2% Stake in Finmeccanica
Italian securities regulator Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (Consob) has said that Libyan Investment Authority, the country's sovereign wealth fund, has acquired a 2.01%...
EU Blocks Aegean Acquisition of Olympic Airlines
The European Commission has vetoed the proposed merger of Greek airlines Olympic and Aegean. The commission said, "Together the two carriers control more than 90% of the Greek domestic...
FAA and CAAC to Cooperate on C919 Jet Certification
China's aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), is planning to work with the US Federal Aviation Administration to certify Commercial Aircraft Corporation of...
BUAV Criticises Air Canada for Transporting Lab Monkeys
UK-based animal rights group, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV), has criticised Air Canada for allegedly transporting lab monkeys in the cargo holds of its planes. ...
Qatar Airways to Complete Boeing 787 Order
Qatar Airways is not planning to cancel its order for 787 Dreamliners, despite makers Boeing announcing further delays to the schedule last week that push delivery back to the third quarter of...
International Consolidated Airlines Group Launched on LSE
International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), which was formed through the merger of British Airways and Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana, has been valued at net $8.5bn following its...
Progress M-08M Cargo Spacecraft to be Sunk in Pacific
Russia's Progress M-08M cargo spacecraft has been undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) and will be sunk in the southern Pacific, at the "spaceship cemetery" near Christmas Island....
FAA Recommends Civil Penalties for Pemco and ST Aerospace
US civil aviation regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has recommended $170,000 in civil penalties against Pemco World Air Services for its failure to conduct pre-employment...
JAXA Launches Cargo Transfer Vehicle
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has launched the H-IIB launch vehicle no 2 (H-IIB F2) with the Kounotori 2, a cargo transfer vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Centre in...
Virgin Blue Launches AFL Plane
Virgin Blue has revealed its new Boeing 737-800 in Australian Football League livery as it takes over from Qantas as the league's official airline. The aircraft, embossed with the AFL...
Air New Zealand Acquires Stake in Virgin Blue
Air New Zealand has announced its acquisition of 14.9% of the shares in Virgin Blue. Air New Zealand chief executive officer Rob Fyfe said, "The investment in Virgin Blue is part of Air...
United and American File Suit Against O'Hare Airport Expansion
United and American Airlines have filed a lawsuit to block financing of the expansion of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in the US. The airlines have moved the court to declare that...
Southwest Airlines Reports Profits in Q4 2010
Southwest Airlines has announced that its net income for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $131m, an increase from $116 in 2009. Net income for the full year was $459m, an increase on $99m in...
FAA Mandates Crew Resource Management Training for Charter Planes
US civil aviation regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has made a ruling that will require non-scheduled charter airlines and air taxis to train pilots and flight attendants...
Virgin America Takes Delivery of A320
Virgin America has taken delivery of an Airbus A320 from commercial aircraft leasing and financing service GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), a division of GE. The delivery...
Nasa Spacecraft to Establish Contact with Comet Tempel 1
Nasa spacecraft Stardust-NExT will establish contact with comet Tempel 1 on 14 February, allowing scientists to observe changes on a comet's surface after it has orbited around the sun for...
Rolls-Royce and Cathay Pacific Sign Maintenance Contract
Rolls-Royce has received a contract worth $250m from Cathay Pacific for long-term service and support for its Trent 700 engines on eight recently acquired Airbus A330s. Rolls-Royce will...
American Airlines Orders Boeing 777-300ERs
American Airlines has exercised options for two Boeing 777-300ERs. American Airlines is the first US carrier to order the wide-body model of the twin-engine, twin-aisle, long-haul 777 series. ...
LAN and TAM Boards Approve Merger Agreements
The boards of directors of Chile's LAN Airlines and Brazilian carrier TAM have approved binding agreements towards the merger of the two companies. The agreements, drawn according to the...
General Dynamics Wins Nasa Contract
General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies has announced that it received a $40.7m contract from Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to build two additional 34m beam waveguide antennas. The...
Lufthansa and UFO Union Settle Pay Dispute
German carrier Lufthansa has reached an agreement with the independent UFO flight attendants' trade union over pay talks. The airline will extend the pay accord for 16,000 flight...
China Clears Boeing’s Aircraft Agreement
Boeing has received final clearance from the Chinese Government on a $19bn aircraft agreement. The approval covers 200 orders of Boeing's 737s and 777s, scheduled for delivery between 2011...
Virgin America Orders 60 A320s
Virgin America has placed a firm order for 60 new Airbus A320s, which will be delivered between 2013 and 2016. The order includes 30 A320neo aircraft, which come with an eco-efficient...
Delta to Place Orders for 200 Planes
Delta Air Lines plans to place firm orders for up to 200 airplanes, as it seeks to replace its older aircraft. The new planes will replace older models such as Airbus A320, Boeing 757-200...
Air India to Boost Fleet with 20 Leased Aircraft
Air India is to lease 40 planes from Canadian plane manufacturer Bombardier and France's Airbus. The state-owned carrier will approach the two companies to put forward financial details...
Boeing 787 Dreamliner Faces Delivery Postponement
Boeing has postponed the delivery date for the first of its new 787 Dreamliners to the third quarter of this year. The move follows an onboard fire that forced the company to halt test...
Lockheed Martin Takes Equity Stake in Abu Dhabi MRO Centre
US defence contractor Lockheed Martin has acquired an equity stake in Abu Dhabi-based Advanced Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Centre (AMMROC). AMMROC is owned by Sikorsky...
Nasa Unveils Plane Models for 2025
Nasa has revealed passenger plane designs that are quieter and more energy efficient than current models. The three concept designs come from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and...
LA-Bound Qantas Flight Suffers Engine Malfunction
A Qantas flight en route to Los Angeles from Sydney had to be aborted at take-off after one of its engines failed. The Boeing 747 aircraft, scheduled for a 3.30pm take-off on 15 January, had...
US Airline Traffic Sees 5.6% Increase in October
The US Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) said US airlines saw a 5.6% year-on-year increase in traffic for the month of October. US carriers handled...
Brazil Backs TAM-LAN Merger
The Brazilian Finance Ministry's Price Administration and Competition Bureau (SAE) is likely to endorse the proposal for a merger between Brazilian carrier TAM Airlines and Chile's LAN Airlines. ...
Northrop to Provide Scalable SIRU for Boeing Satellites
Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a contract to provide its scalable space inertial reference unit (scalable SIRU) as the inertial reference unit for Boeing Space and Intelligence...
Embraer Phenom 300 Gets Certification for Garmin Technology
Aircraft manufacturer Embraer has secured certification for using Garmin's synthetic vision technology (SVT) on its Phenom 300 executive jet. The company received approvals from the...
Indonesian Budget Airline Suspends Operations
Indonesian budget carrier Mandala Airlines has halted its operations because of heavy debt. Mandala's president director, Diono Nurjadin, said the company would file a debt...
IndiGo Places Record Order for 180 Airbus A320s
Indian budget carrier IndiGo has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 180 A320s – 150 A320neos and 30 A320s. This is the largest single firm order number for large jets...
Lufthansa Posts Rise in Traffic in 2010
Lufthansa Airlines improved its traffic performance significantly in 2010, handling 90.2 million passengers in total in 2010, a 17.2% increase on the previous year. Passenger growth...
Arianespace to Launch ATV Kepler in February
Europe's automated transfer vehicle (ATV), the Johannes Kepler, is being prepared for Arianespace's year-opening mission on 15 February 2011. The ATV, designed for servicing of the...
Nasa Climate Monitoring Satellite Set for Launch in February
Nasa's Glory climate monitoring satellite has arrived at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California from the Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles, Virginia, in preparation for launch on...
Japan Airlines and American Airlines Partner for Trans-Pacific Flights
A joint business initiative on trans-pacific flying between Japan Airlines and American Airlines will commence on 1 April this year. The carriers have received regulatory approvals from...
BAE Cancels Platform Solutions Business Sale
UK defence company BAE Systems has withdrawn plans to sell its North American commercial aerospace division, after putting it up for sale four months ago. BAE has now cancelled the sale, as...
Etihad to Increase Global Flight Network in 2011
Etihad Airways will increase its global flight network in 2011 by increasing frequencies on five key European routes and capacity on a range of other routes. The European destinations are...
Virgin Blue and Skywest Sign Codesharing Deal
Virgin Blue and Skywest airlines have signed a ten-year strategic leasing alliance. As part of the agreement, both carriers will codeshare across several sectors of each other's...
FAA Issues New Airworthiness Directive
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released safety mandates that will cover the older Boeing 757 and 737 models, and call for structural inspections of over 1,300 jetliners including...
Qantas to Resume A380 US Flights
Qantas Airways is preparing to resume Airbus A380 flights between Australia and Los Angeles from 16 January 2011. The airline grounded the A380 fleet and suspended flights on the...
Boeing Sales Rise in 2010
Boeing sold three times the number of commercial airplanes in 2010 that it did in 2009 as the airline industry recovered from the global downturn. The demand for aircraft resulted in 530...
NTSB to Study Advantage of Air Bags for Small Planes
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct a study to equip small planes with air bags and shoulder harness seatbelts to save lives during accidents involving private planes. ...
China Conducts Cold Weather Trial on ARJ21-700
China has conducted a cold weather trial of its indigenous ARJ21-700 aircraft in the extreme cold of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac)...
AIDC to Supply Components to Aircraft Engine Companies
Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC) will soon begin supplying parts for new airplane engines to be launched by aircraft engine companies including Rolls-Royce, GEAE and Honeywell. ...
Boeing Loses Guggenheim's Order for 747-8 Freighters
Guggenheim Aviation Partners has cancelled its order for two of Boeing's new 747-8 jumbo freighters due to a year-and-a-half delay in delivery. Guggenheim, which had originally ordered four...
Rockwell to Support Comac C919 Aircraft Simulator Programme
Xian Aviation Science and Technology Company (XASC) has awarded a programme to Rockwell to develop components for the Comac C919 aircraft simulator programme. As per the terms of the...
Gulfstream Aircraft Receives Approval to Operate at Maximum Altitude
Gulfstream Aerospace has received approval from Transport Canada for the long-range Gulfstream G450 and G350 aircraft to fly at their maximum cruise altitude of 45,000ft. Transport...
Nasa Delays Discovery's Early February Launch
Nasa has further delayed the launch of space shuttle Discovery from the early February launch window as work continues on an external tank. The space shuttle programme, in its...
Iranian Airlines Boeing Jet Crashes
An IranAir Boeing 727 carrying more than 100 passengers crashed on 9 January near the city of Orumiyeh in north-western Iran, while making an emergency landing. Landing around 19.45 local...
Vietnam to Receive Japanese Assistance for Space Programme
Vietnam is to receive funding assistance between $420m and $480m from the Japanese Government to carry out its space exploration programme. The funding will be spent on three projects,...
Asiana Airlines Orders Six Airbus A380s
South Korean Asiana Airlines has placed an order for six Airbus A380s, which it plans to operate with a premium layout on key routes to Europe and the US. The eco-friendly aircraft features...
Vietnam Airlines Orders Avionics from Rockwell Collins
Rockwell Collins has contracted Vietnam Airlines to deliver a full suite of avionics, including its MultiScan threat detection system and multimode receiver (MMR) global landing system, for 36...
ISRO Plans to Launch GSAT-8 and GSAT-10 Satellites in 2011
ISRO has plans to launch two large communication satellites this year, GSAT-8 and GSAT-10, to overcome the scarcity of transponders after the failure of two consecutive GSLV missions. The...
Rolls-Royce Signs Trent Engine Contract with BA
Rolls-Royce has received a contract from British Airways for Trent 900 and 1000 engines to power up to 61 new wide-body aircraft. The order, originally announced in September 2007, is...
Nigerian Satellite Passes Major Tests
The replaced Nigerian satellite, NigComSat-1R, has passed major performance tests prior to its launch in Q3 2011. The satellite underwent vibration and simulation tests to check its ability...
Ramco Secures Order from MAS GMR Aerospace
Ramco Systems has received an order from MAS GMR Aerospace Engineering (MAS GMR) to provide its airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) suite of aviation software offerings. MAS...
Turkey Plans Communications Test Satellite Launch in 2012
Turkey will launch its first home-made communications test satellite into orbit in September 2012. The satellite, 3USAT, will provide wireless voice transmission over an amateur band...
Bombardier to Sell CRJ700 Jets to SkyWest
SkyWest has ordered four CRJ700 NextGen airliners from Bombardier Aerospace under an estimated $148m contract. The CRJ700 aircraft will be flown by SkyWest Airlines under the Delta...
CSIR Invites Proposals for Developing Regional Aircraft
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is to seek expressions of interest to develop a 90-seater regional transport aircraft (RTA) for short-haul feeder services to cities...
AeroTurbine Signs Loan Amendment
AerCap Holdings subsidiary AeroTurbine has signed an amendment to its loan facility, increasing the amount available from $328m to $425m. The amendment allows for additional...
Japan to Launch New Satellites by 2015
The Japanese space development strategy headquarters, headed by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, is planning to launch six to seven new satellites to establish its own global positioning system (GPS)...
CIT Aerospace Orders Next-Generation Boeing 737 Aircraft
CIT Aerospace has ordered 38 next-generation Boeing 737 aircraft and is to use the purchase rights for seven additional 737s. The order includes 15 737-900ER (extended range) and 23...
ISRO May Launch Singapore's First Satellite in February 2011
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is expected to launch Singapore's first satellite, X-Sat, into orbit next month. X-Sat, a refrigerator-sized experimental micro-satellite, will...
easyJet Buys Additional Airbus A320 Aircraft
easyJet has signed a contract to purchase 15 new Airbus A320 aircraft and convert a previous order for 20 Airbus A319s into the larger A320 model. The new agreement provides the airline...
Russia Imposes Ban on Tu-154B Aircraft
The Russian federal transport overseeing service, Rostransnadzor, has recommended that airlines ban services of Tupolev (Tu) 154B aircraft following an explosion. On 1 January, a...
Air India to Lease Boeing Aircraft
Air India (AI) has plans to wet lease four Boeing aircraft, along with pilots and cabin crew, for its subsidiary AI Express. AI also plans to dry-lease ten Airbus planes as part of a...
AIDC Begins Business Flight Operations
State-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) has launched its maiden business charter flight as part of an initiative to bring the service to central Taiwan. The...
Qantas and Solena to Build Biojet Fuel Plant
Qantas and Solena will soon sign a $300m deal to build a plant in Sydney, Australia, to produce green biojet fuel for its fleet of aircraft. The airline will conduct a feasibility study...
China Eastern to Purchase Airbus A320 Aircraft
China Eastern Airlines is to purchase 50 Airbus A320 aircraft from 2012 to 2015 in order to meet rising demand. The new aircraft will be valued at $3.224bn, though they will be sold to...
Elbit Systems to Invest in Pearls of Wisdom
Elbit Systems has signed an agreement to invest in Israeli-based Pearls of Wisdom Advanced Technologies. A total of $18m will be invested in stages by a subsidiary of Elbit Systems over...
December 2010
Top
Boeing Receives Satellite Development Contract from Mexico
Boeing has received a $1bn contract from Mexico to develop and deliver an end-to-end satellite communications system. The Mexsat system will consist of three satellites, two ground...
Countries Agree on Aircraft Export Credits
The governments of Europe, the US, Brazil and Canada have reached an agreement that will restrict subsidised financing for large commercial aircraft. The countries came to the agreement...
Bombardier to Manufacture Learjet 85 Wing Structures at Belfast Facility
Bombardier Aerospace will manufacture advanced composite wing skin panels and spar components for the new Learjet 85 business jet at its facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland. ...
Air New Zealand Receives First Boeing 777-300ER
Air New Zealand has received the first of five 777-300ER (extended range) aircraft from Boeing, ordered in August 2007. The airline will use the first three 777-300ERs to operate routes...
Season's Greetings
aerospace-technology.com will be taking a short break over the holiday season. Our full daily news service will return on 4 January 2011. Thank you for your support in 2010 and we wish you...
UAC Considers Indian An-148 Production
United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is in talks with Indian firms over the production of the Antonov An-148 regional airliner in its passenger and cargo versions. UAC president Alexei...
Qatar Airways Plans IPO in 2012
National carrier Qatar Airways has unveiled plans to launch an initial public offering in early 2012 after achieving profitability. Qatar Airways earlier said that it would offer shares to...
North American Airlines and VT Systems Plan Boeing 757-200 Conversion
North American Airlines and the aerospace division of Vision Technologies Systems have entered into an agreement for the conversion of Boeing 757-200 passenger aircraft to the Combi configuration....
India and Russia to Ink Agreement to Launch Satellites
India and Russia will sign an agreement during the visit of the Russian president to launch Russian navigational satellites with the help of Indian booster rockets. The countries will ink...
NASA Conducts Commercial Rocket Engine Test
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has conducted a test fire of the liquid fuel AJ26 engine at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, US. The AJ26 engine will power the...
Southwest Airlines to Introduce Boeing 737-800
Southwest Airlines has unveiled plans to introduce Boeing 737-800 aircraft to its fleet network. The company will substitute 20 of its 737-700 orders for 800s, with the first...
Boeing and Fujitsu Form Alliance in Airline Maintenance Services
Boeing and Fujitsu have formed a strategic alliance to develop a service for greater efficiency in aircraft maintenance operations. The alliance will provide technologies such as...
ISRO Postpones Launch of GSLV-F06
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has postponed the launch of GSLV-F06 with an onboard GSAT-5P satellite due to a minor leak in one of the valves of the Russian cryogenic stage. ...
Lufthansa and Fraport Sign Ground Handling Contract
Fraport and Lufthansa have signed a new ground handling agreement for all of the airline's aircraft at its Frankfurt Airport (FRA) for another eight years, starting 1 January 2011. As per...
Avolon Orders Eight A320 Aircraft from Airbus
Avolon has ordered eight A320 aircraft equipped with the new fuel-saving Sharklets option from Airbus. Avolon president and chief commercial officer John Higgins said the initial order...
AVIC International Acquires Teledyne Piston Engine Business
Teledyne Technologies has signed an agreement to sell its general aviation piston engine business to Technify Motor, a subsidiary of AVIC International, for $186m. Under the transaction,...
Nasa Conducts Tanking Test on Discovery Air Space Shuttle
Nasa has conducted a tanking test to evaluate repairs made to space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US. The agency had decided to...
GE Secures CFM56 Engines Contract from Lufthansa
German-based carrier Lufthansa has selected the CFM International CFM56-5B engine for the 21 Airbus A320 and two A321 aircraft ordered in September. The company placed a $300m order for...
Iran to Set Up Second Space Launch Pad
Iranian Communications and Information Technology Minister Reza Taqipour has said that Iran has plans to build a second satellite launch pad and is exploring locations for a new space...
Bolivia to Purchase Communications Satellite from China
The Bolivian Government has signed a contract with China Great Wall Industries Corporation (Cgwic) to buy a $300m communications satellite. The satellite, called Tupac Katari, is expected to...
Reconnaissance Ventures in MBO
UK-based Reconnaissance Ventures has purchased the business in a management buy-out (MBO) assisted by NatWest and Lombard Aviation. The company directors bought out the minority...
India to Launch GSAT-5P Communication Satellite this Month
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) director S Satish has said that India will launch the advanced GSAT-5P communication satellite on 20 December 2010 for uninterrupted telecom and...
Goodrich to Supply Equipment for Mitsubishi Regional Jet
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation has awarded a contract to Goodrich Corporation to supply air data sensors, ice detectors and windshield heat controllers for the new Mitsubishi Regional Jet...
Jazeera Airways Subsidiary Places A320 Aircraft on Lease
Jazeera Airways Group subsidiary Sahaab Aircraft Leasing (Sahaab) has placed an Airbus A320 aircraft on long-term lease with SriLankan Airlines. The $20m deal is for a placement period of...
Qantas to Buy Western Australia Charter Operator
Qantas Group has reached an agreement to purchase Network Aviation for A$30m to tap the fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) resources air charter market for the mining industry in Western Australia. ...
Austria to Launch First Satellites in 2011
Austria will launch its first of two satellites into space aboard an Indian rocket in late July 2011. The cube-shaped satellites, each measuring just 20cm on each side and weighing 7kg, are...
Brazil Launches Unmanned Rocket into Space
Brazil has launched a mid-sized unmanned rocket into space, carrying hundreds of kilograms in cargo and experiments in tow. Agencia Espacial Brasilena scientists said the VSB-3 rocket took...
Emivest Aerospace to be Auctioned Next Month
Dubai business jet manufacturer Emivest Aerospace could be sold at an auction next month, after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in US courts in October. The company,...
Boeing Delivers First 737 with Sky Interior to Norwegian Airline
Boeing has delivered the first next-generation 737-800 with the new Sky interior to Norwegian Air Shuttle. The airplane's inaugural flight has been scheduled to immediately follow...
Odyssey to Become Longest-Serving Mars Orbiter
National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has announced that Mars Odyssey is to become the longest-serving Mars orbiter. Today, Odyssey will pass...
Boeing Delivers 200th Aircraft to Air France
Boeing has delivered its 200th jetliner, a 777-300ER (extended range), to Air France. The new 777 aircraft, the backbone of the long-haul fleet, will support Air France's planned growth...
Russia's New Glonass-K Satellite to be Launched Soon
Russia is preparing to launch the new-generation modified version of the Glonass series of navigation satellites Glonass-K on 27 December. The spacecraft has completed all ground...
GECAS Delivers Boeing 737-800s to Garuda Airlines
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has delivered three new Boeing 737-800 aircraft to Garuda Airlines in Indonesia. The three deliveries to Garuda bring the total number of aircraft...
South Africa Launches National Space Agency
The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and the National Space Strategy (NSS) have been formally launched in the African nation. SANSA will implement a national space programme over...
Bombardier Wins Q400 NextGen Aircraft Order from SpiceJet
Bombardier Aerospace has received a firm order for 15 Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners from India-based airliner SpiceJet. SpiceJet has also taken options on an additional 15 airliners. ...
Marubeni to Set Up Joint Venture for Aircraft Leasing
Japan-based Marubeni Corporation has set up a joint venture with Deucalion in Singapore to lease passenger planes to low-cost carriers. Deucalion is an investment-fund-managed DVB Bank,...
Astronautics Receives FAA Approval for EFIS / EICAS System
Astronautics Corporation of America (Astronautics) has received technical standard order authorisation (TSOA) approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for its 6in×8in...
Bombardier Receives Business Jet Orders
Bombardier Aerospace has received $155m of firm orders for five mid-size Learjet 85 and two large-cabin Challenger 605 jets from multiple companies of the same group. The business jets will...
General Electric Begins Testing H80 Turboprop in Thrush 510G
General Electric has begun the tests of its new H80 turboprop engine on the Thrush Aircraft 510G. The H80 engine is based on the Walter Engines M601 turboprop. It will produce up to...
SpaceX Launches Commercial Space Capsule
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) launched its Falcon 9 rocket into orbit on 7 December from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US, following a one-day delay. ...
BSAT-3b Satellite Begins Service for Japanese Broadcasting Corporation
The Lockheed-built BSAT-3b broadcasting satellite has begun service for Japan's Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) following successful on-orbit deployment and checkout of...
Air India and Jet Airways to Lease Airbus Planes
National carrier Air India and Jet Airways will lease 35 Airbus planes for $5bn from leasing companies, Airbus said. Air India will lease ten A330 planes and 15 A320s for $3.1bn, while...
Hawker Beechcraft Acquires First Hawker 400XPR Test Aircraft
Hawker Beechcraft has acquired the first test aircraft and begun design engineering on its high performance upgrade for the Hawker 400XP / Beechjet 400A aircraft. The Hawker 400XPR...
Engine Alliance Delivers 100th GP7200 Engine to Airbus
The Engine Alliance has delivered its 100th GP7200 engine to Airbus to the Goodrich facility in Toulouse, France. The GP7200 engine's technology produces the quietest, most fuel...
Japan Space Probe Fails to Enter Venus' Orbit
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Venus climate orbiter, Akatsuki, has failed to enter Venus' orbit on its first attempt. An investigation team has been set up by JAXA to study...
Japan Sets Cryogenic Test Date for H-IIB Rocket
Japanese space agency JAXA is preparing to conduct a cryogenic test of its space launch vehicle H-IIB on 16 December this year. The test will confirm the functions of the launch vehicle...
Paris Court Fines Continental for Concorde Crash
A Paris court has deemed Continental Airlines responsible for the crash of a Concorde supersonic jet ten years ago, and has fined the company €200,000 ($266,556). In July 2000...
IAE to Provide Engines to Airbus A321-200 Aircraft
International Aero Engines has signed an agreement with Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company (VALC) to provide 20 V2533-A5 engines to power ten Airbus A321-200 aircraft. As per the $184m...
Air India Seeks Compensation for Boeing 787 Delay
Air India is looking for $840m in compensation from US aircraft-maker Boeing for the delay in delivering Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Air India chief operating officer Captain Gustav...
NASA's SOFIA Airborne Observatory Completes First Science Flight
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has completed the first of three science flights. The ten-hour flight was made as part of preparations to demonstrate...
Emirates Launches New Aircraft
Emirates has launched its new Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, which is specifically designed for medium to long-haul flights. The B777-200LR aircraft features eight private suites in First Class,...
ISRO Renews Deal with EADS to Build Commercial Satellites
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has renewed a five-year contract with European space firm EADS Astrium to build commercial satellites to be launched from French space...
Rocket Booster Failure Could Have Caused Russian Satellite Crash
Rocket booster failure may have caused three Russian satellites to crash into the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii, after falling off course ten minutes after take-off. The satellites were the...
NASA to Launch First SpaceX Falcon 9
The launch of the first SpaceX Falcon 9 for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) programme from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US, has been delayed until...
Rolls-Royce Wins Trent 700 Engine Order from Hawaiian Airlines
Rolls-Royce has received a contract from Hawaiian Airlines to provide Trent 700 engines for the six Airbus A330 aircraft. The $420m contract also includes a TotalCare long-term...
Russia to Begin Mi-38 Helicopter Production in 2013
Russia will start production of the Mi-38 utility transport helicopter in 2013, after resolving engine supply problems with its Canadian supplier, Russian helicopters spokesman Roman Kirillov...
AD Aerospace to Provide Camera System for EC175 Helicopter
Eurocopter has awarded a contract to AD Aerospace to supply a tail-mounted camera system for its EC175 helicopter. The camera system will use FV-0315 external aerospace cameras, enabling...
Nigerian Space Agency Confirms February Satellite Launches
The National Space Research and Development Agency has announced that Nigeria's two earth-observation satellites will be launched in February 2011. NASRDA director-general Mohammed Seidu...
IAE Receives V2500 Engine Order from BOC Aviation
IAE International Aero Engines has received a contract from BOC Aviation to supply V2500 engines for the airline's 25 A320 family aircraft, ordered from Airbus. The V2500 SelectOne...
Qantas Increases Pressure on Rolls-Royce
Qantas has increased pressure on Rolls-Royce to settle damages related to a QF32 Trent 900 engine failure on one of its Airbus A380 aircraft. The airline said it has filed a claim in the...
SAIC Awarded NASA Service Technology Contract
SAIC has been awarded the Enterprise Applications Service Technologies (EAST) contract by NASA to provide a broad range of IT services. The single-award contract has a two-year base period...
Cobham to Provide Avionics Suite for Skylander Commuter Aircraft
Cobham is to provide the complete avionics suite for the new Sky Aircraft twin turboprop SK105 Skylander commuter aircraft. Cobham will integrate a full suite of avionics for the SK105's...
Airbus Plans Fuel-Saving Engine Options for A320
Airbus plans to offer its A320 series of aircraft with an option for new fuel-saving engines to help defend its position in the market. The new engine option, known as the A320neo,...
Copa Airlines Orders 22 Next-Generation Boeing 737s
Copa Airlines has ordered 22 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s, worth $1.7bn. CEO Pedro Heilbron said the order was the largest aircraft order in Copa's history and is an integral part of...
Lufthansa to Use Biofuel on Airbus A321 Commercial Flights
Lufthansa is set to become the first airline to use bio-synthetic kerosene on scheduled commercial flights from April 2011. A six-month trial will be conducted by Lufthansa on an Airbus...
ANA Presses Boeing on 787 Dreamliner Delay
All Nippon Airways chief executive Shinichiro Ito has expressed his disappointment in Boeing's repeated failure to deliver the first batch of 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Ito has asked Boeing...
Hispasat 1E Arrives for Ariane 5 Mission
The Hispasat 1E telecommunications relay platform has arrived at the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, in preparation for Arianespace's next Ariane 5 mission, which is scheduled for...
TransDigm to Acquire Teleflex Aircraft Unit
TransDigm Group will acquire actuation business Telair International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated, for $94m. The unit designs and manufactures highly...
Hawaiian Airlines Purchases New A330 Aircraft
Hawaiian Airlines has purchased six new long-range Airbus A330-200 aircraft, increasing its A330 fleet from ten to 16. Hawaiian's president and CEO Mark Dunkerley said the additional A330s...
Arianespace Launches Intelsat 17 and Hylas1 Satellites
Arianespace has successfully orbited two communications satellites, Intelsat 17 for the international satellite operator Intelsat, and Hylas 1 for Avanti Communications. Intelsat 17, built...
Hangar8 Receives Embraer Lineage 1000
Hangar8 has received the first Lineage 1000 aircraft, costing $52m, from Embraer. The 118ft aircraft is a premium charter jet configured in an executive layout, with five separate cabin zones. ...
Boeing Delivers Next-Generation 737 With New Boeing Sky Interior to Jetairfly
Boeing has delivered the first Next-Generation 737-800, with the new passenger-inspired Boeing Sky Interior, to Jetairfly, a European-based airline. The 737 Boeing Sky Interior features...
November 2010
Top
Boeing Begins Changes to 787 Dreamliner Power Panel
Boeing has begun to make minor design changes to the panels and software that manage power distribution on its 787 Dreamliner. The company is making the changes following an investigation of...
Rolls-Royce to Provide Engine Services to Emirates
Rolls-Royce has signed new TotalCare agreements to provide engine services for 50 of Emirates' existing ' wide-bodied aircraft. The $1.2bn TotalCare will see Rolls-Royce provide...
Air Berlin and ICBC Sign Aircraft Package Deal
Air Berlin has signed a deal with ICBC Financial Leasing for 18 narrow-body aircraft equipped with CFM engines. The deal, which includes new and used craft, is worth nearly $700m. It...
Astrotech Receives NASA Contract
Astrotech Space Operations, a subsidiary of Astrotech Corporation, has received a $35m indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract from NASA. Under the contract, Astrotech...
AAR to Supply C-130 Cargo Systems for Hercules Aircraft
AAR Cargo Systems has received a purchase order to manufacture and supply C-130 cargo handling systems and spares components for 30 Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft. The cargo systems assist...
GE Plans R&D Centre at Ohio's Aerospace Hub
GE Aviation has unveiled a plan to develop a new Electrical Power Integrated Systems Research and Development Center (EPISCENTER) at the University of Dayton campus in Ohio, US. The...
SpaceX Receives FAA Licence to Re-Enter Spacecraft from Orbit
SpaceX has received the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) licence to re-enter a spacecraft from orbit. SpaceX is planning to launch its Dragon spacecraft into low-Earth orbit aboard...
Malaysia Delays Second Space Launch
Malaysia's second space mission is unlikely to take place in the next couple of years, according to National Space Agency director-general Dr Mustafa Subari. "It is ongoing but it won't...
EU Imposes Ban on Afghan Airlines
The European Union (EU) has imposed a ban on all Afghan airlines from flying into European airspace due to Afghanistan's failure to set up a proper safety regime. The ban follows...
Goodrich Delivers First Thrust Reverser for Airbus A350 XWB Twinjet
Goodrich has delivered its first thrust reversers for the Airbus A350 XWB twinjet's Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine, which will be used in the engine ground test programme. In 2005, Airbus...
P&W Completes Hot-Fire Test Series on RS-68A Engine
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has successfully completed a series of hot-fire tests on the second and final RS-68A certification test engine. A modified version of the RS-68 engine,...
Qantas to Resume Flying Airbus A380s After Engine Explosion
Qantas has said it will resume flights of some A380 aircraft, three weeks after an engine explosion forced one of the airline's A380 planes to make an emergency landing. The airline decided...
QinetiQ Awarded Nasa Engineering Contract
QinetiQ North America has been awarded the engineering services contract to design and develop systems for Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in the US. Under the $1.9bn contract, QinetiQ will...
Russia to Launch Glonass Satellite in 2013
Russia's Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, will launch the Glonass-K2 global navigation system in 2013. Roscosmos's Central Research Institute of Machine Building deputy director,...
Boeing to Acquire Summitt Aeronautics Group
Boeing is to acquire Summit Aeronautics Group, a manufacturer of titanium and hard metal structures for commercial and military aircraft. Boeing has not disclosed the terms and...
Thales to Begin Development of Meteosat
The European Space Agency has issued a "preliminary authorisation to proceed" to Thales Alenia Space to commence development of the Meteosat third generation (MTG). The approval marks...
Rolls-Royce Wins Trent XWB Engine Order from Air China
Air China has awarded a contract to Rolls-Royce to supply Trent engines to power its 20 new Airbus aircraft. Under the $1.8bn contract, Rolls-Royce will provide Trent XWB engines for ten...
GE Announces New Engine Deals with Chinese Airlines
General Electric (GE) has announced a series of deals and investments in the Chinese commercial aviation sector at the aviation exhibition held in Zhuhai, China. CFM International, a...
FMS Flight Test Performed on Sukhoi Superjet 100
The flight test of the CMA-9000 flight management system (FMS) has been performed on the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) by Canadian and Russian pilots. During the test, Canadian and Russian...
Iran to Increase Aviation Safety Standards
Iran is considering improving the safety standards of its aviation fleet in order to minimise potential risk to passengers. Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation head Reza Nakhjavani said...
Discovery Launch Not Before 3 December, Says Nasa
Nasa has said that the launch of space shuttle Discovery will not be possible before 3 December due to ongoing repair work. Following a space shuttle programme meeting, Nasa decided...
Goodrich to Provide Landing Gear for A350-1000 Aircraft
Goodrich is to provide the main landing gear for the Airbus A350-1000 variant of the A350 XWB aircraft. The contract is expected to generate over $2bn in original equipment and...
Rolls-Royce Receives V2500 Engine Order
Rolls-Royce has received a share of an order from TAM Airlines to supply V2500 engines to power ten Airbus aircraft. Rolls-Royce has secured an order worth $100m as part of the contract. ...
Boeing Delivers First 777 Airplane to Ethiopian Airlines
Boeing has delivered the first of five 777-200LR Worldliner aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines under an order signed in 2009. The airline will use the 777-200LRs on a new, non-stop service...
Compensation Claims Over Qantas A380 Engine Scare
Rolls-Royce may face multiple compensation claims in the aftermath of the A380 engine scare, which resulted in Qantas suspending all A380 flights. A spokesperson for Airbus announced that...
KLM to Support Suborbital Flights for SXC
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will support future suborbital flight for Space Experience Curacao (SXC) on the XCOR Lynx suborbital spacecraft. KLM will provide support for the flight through...
GE Capital to Purchase Comac C919 Aircraft
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) is to buy up to ten C919 aircraft from Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). The letter of intent (LOI) comprises five firm purchases and...
Pratt & Whitney to Provide Engine Services for GMG Airlines
Pratt & Whitney has signed a five-year engine management programme agreement with GMG Airlines for its current fleet of PW4060 and JT8D-200 engines. GMG Airlines managing director...
CFM56-5B Engine to Power Hainan Airlines New A320 Fleet
Hainan Airlines has selected CFM International's CFM56-5B engine to power 42 new Airbus A320 family aircraft. The $1.2bn agreement includes the engine order, and a long-term service and...
Boeing 737 Completes Performance Improvement Test Flight
A Boeing 737 aircraft has completed its first test flight for certification of a package of 737 performance improvements. Aerodynamic and engine changes included in the package will reduce...
GE Aviation and HNA Group to form MRO Joint Venture
GE Aviation and HNA Group have signed an agreement to form a joint venture company to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for GE's CF34-10A and CF34-10E engines. The MRO...
BAE Sells Boeing MD83 Airliners for Avianca
BAE Systems has arranged the sale of five Boeing MD83 airliners on behalf of Colombian flag carrier Avianca. Four of the aircraft have been sold to Jet Midwest Group, a full-service...
Airbus to Deliver A380s to Skymark Airlines
Airbus is to deliver four A380 aircraft to Japan's Skymark Airlines under a memorandum of understanding. Skymark will operate the aircraft on major international long-haul routes from Tokyo. ...
Goodrich MEMS Gyroscope Pass Inorbit Test
Goodrich Corporation's micro electromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes have successfully passed inorbit testing on the European Space Agency's (ESA) Earth Explorer CryoSat-2 satellite. The...
Xiamen Airlines Orders Threat Detection System for Boeing 737NGs
Xiamen Airlines has ordered the MultiScan threat detection system and GLU-925 multimode receiver (MMR) from Rockwell Collins for its fleet of 25 Boeing 737NG aircraft. The MultiScan...
Gulfstream to Expand Savannah Site
Gulfstream Aerospace is to expand its Savannah facilities as part of a $500m, seven-year plan. Gulfstream president Joe Lombardo said the expansion was necessary to meet the projected increase...
Kaman to Acquire Global Aerosystems
Kaman Corporation is set to acquire Global Aerosystems, a provider of aerostructure engineering design analysis and FAA certification services to the aerospace industry. Kaman Aerospace...
Donghai Jet Orders Challenger 300 Aircraft
Bombardier has received a $121m order from China's Dondhai Jet for five super-mid-size Challenger 300 jets. The new Challenger 300 business jets will join a new Challenger 605 jet, which...
China to Open Low-Altitude Airspace for Civilian Aircraft
China is considering opening its airspace below 4,000m to civilian aircraft in an effort to promote the country's general aviation sector. The low-altitude airspace will be divided into...
FAA Adopts New Rule to Prevent Aging Aircraft Danger
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has formed a new rule to prevent widespread fatigue damage (WFD) on aging aircraft. The new rule will require aircraft manufacturers and...
Boeing 737 Sky Interior to Receive New Touchscreen ACP
BAE Systems is to supply its new touchscreen attendant control panel (ACP) for Boeing's next-generation 737 Sky interior. The modernised ACP features an intuitive, reconfigurable,...
Russia Launches US SkyTerra-1 Satellite
Russia has successfully launched the US SkyTerra-1 mobile satellite aboard a Proton-M carrier rocket from the Kazakh Baikonur Space Centre. Developed by Boeing, the 5,390kg SkyTerra 1 will...
Snecma Tests Vinci Rocket Engine with Extended Nozzle
Snecma has successfully ground tested the Vinci rocket engine with its extendible nozzle deployed, under conditions representing an actual flight. The test was part of the preparation to...
TSC Breaks Ground on New Assembly Hangar
The Spaceship Company has broken ground on a new assembly hangar at Mojave Air and Space Port for the production of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo. TSC is a new...
SIA to Replace A380 Aircraft Engine
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has decided to replace the engines on three of its 11 A380 aircraft and ground flights in Sydney, Melbourne and London following the engine failure of Qantas flight QF32. ...
China Completes Maiden Flight of Amphibious Aircraft
China has successfully completed the maiden flight of its first indigenously developed light amphibious aircraft, the HO300. The HO300 is a multiuse amphibious aircraft, which has been...
Surrey Repositions Satellite to Reduce Space Debris
Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) has repositioned its UK-DMC-1 spacecraft using unspent propellant to reduce the orbital lifetime and the probability of generating space debris. ...
Aerojet Hot-fire Tests AJ26 Flight Engine for Taurus II
Aerojet has hot-fire tested its AJ26 engine at Nasa's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi for the Taurus II launch vehicle programme. The test is the first of three hot-fire engine tests to...
Boeing Delivers 777-200LR to Aviation Link
Boeing Business Jets is to deliver a VIP 777-200LR (long range) to Aviation Link, an aircraft management firm in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The delivery will bring the total fleet Aviation...
Rolls-Royce Makes Progress with A380 Engine Failure
Rolls-Royce has made progress in understanding the cause of the engine failure that forced a Trent 900 powered Qantas A380 jet to make an emergency landing. The A380 Qantas flight QF32 made...
US and India May Unite to Launch Human Space Flight
India and the US may work together to launch a space flight carrying humans to the international space station. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama have agreed...
Rolls-Royce Wins $350m Order from Egyptair
Egyptair has awarded a $350m contract to Rolls-Royce to provide TotalCare long-term services for 12 Airbus A330 aircraft. The Trent 700 is the only engine specifically designed for the Airbus...
China Eastern Airlines Orders Rolls-Royce Trent 700 Engines
China Eastern Airlines has ordered Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines worth $1.2bn to power 16 Airbus A330 aircraft. China Eastern plans to bring its new A330s into service from 2011 with the...
Embraer's Legacy 650 Completes Long-Range Flight
Embraer's new Legacy 650 executive jet demonstrator has completed a non-stop flight from Dubai, UAE, to London's Farnborough Airport in the UK. The aircraft covered an equivalent...
Boeing Dreamliner 787 Makes Emergency Landing During Test Flight
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner has made an emergency landing in Texas with smoke in the cabin during a test flight. The jet landed safely and all 42 people aboard exited through emergency...
Lockheed Delivers Key GPS III Test Hardware
Lockheed Martin has completed the bus real-time simulator (BRTS) for the next-generation global positioning system (GPS III) and delivered it to Aerospace Corporation. GPS III will...
Saudi Arabian Airlines Orders 12 Boeing 777-300 Aircraft
Saudi Arabian Airlines has ordered 12 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with an option for ten more, in a deal valued at $3.3bn. The airline has also placed an order for eight Boeing 787...
Arianespace to Launch Azerbaijan's First Communications Satellite
The International Relations and Accounting Centre (IR&AC) of Azerbaijan has awarded a contract to Arianespace to launch the country's first communications satellite by the end of 2012. ...
TenCate to Supply Carbon Fabric Laminates to Airbus
TenCate Advanced Composites Europe has received a contract to supply TenCate Cetex carbon fabric laminates for use on the new Airbus A350 XWB. Under the contract, TenCate will supply its...
Boeing Launches Italian Earth Observation Satellite
Boeing has successfully launched the last of a series of four SkyMed spacecraft for the Italian constellation of small satellites for Mediterranean basin observation (COSMO). Boeing launched...
Hydrogen Leak Delays Shuttle Discovery's Launch
Nasa has postponed the launch of the Discovery space shuttle to the end of November 2010, after detecting a hydrogen gas leak in the external tank of the spacecraft. The delay will...
CPI Aerostructures Receives Order for G650 Wing Leading Edges
CPI Aerostructures has received new purchase orders from Spirit AeroSystems for wing leading edge assemblies for the Gulfstream G650 aircraft. In March 2008, Spirit and CPI Aero signed...
GKN Aerospace Joins Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative
GKN Aerospace has decided to participate in two key elements of the European clean sky joint technology initiative. The €1.6bn EU / industry programme aims to develop...
SpiceJet to Buy 30 Bombardier Q400 NextGen Aircraft
SpiceJet is to buy 30 Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft from Bombardier at a cost of $900m, as part of its strategy to enhance regional connectivity in India. SpiceJet CEO Neil Mills said...
Boeing Launches Italian Earth Observation Satellite
Boeing has successfully launched the last in a series of four SkyMed spacecraft for the Italian Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation (COSMO). Boeing launched...
Boeing Projects China Aircraft Fleet to Triple
Boeing has predicted that China will require 4,330 new commercial planes, valued at $480bn, over the next 20 years. The company said that, during the forecast period, China's fleet size...
Flydubai to Receive Four Boeing 737s
Flydubai has signed a sale and leaseback agreement with Ireland's Avolon leasing group for four Boeing 737 planes worth $320m. Flydubai chief executive officer Ghaith al-Ghaith said the next...
Air New Zealand to Use EcoPower Engine Wash
Air New Zealand has awarded a one-year contract to Pratt & Whitney for its EcoPower engine wash service to reduce fuel burn. Under the contract, Christchurch Engine Centre, a joint...
Cuban Passenger Flight Crash Kills 68
A passenger plane has crashed in Cuba, killing all 68 passengers and crew on board, making it Cuba's deadliest crash since 1989. The state-run Aerocaribbean aircraft was flying towards...
Aerojet Completes Acceptance Test on Second R-4D Development Engine
Aerojet, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin and Nasa, has successfully completed acceptance testing on the second R-4D development engine. The R-4D is the Aerojet engine that will be used...
Design Fault Blamed for Grounded Qantas A380s
The emergency landing of a Qantas Airbus A380 in Singapore, which resulted in the grounding of the entire fleet, may have been caused by a design fault according to the airline. Qantas CEO...
MAS Receives Its First B737-800 from Boeing
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has received its first B737-800 from Boeing. MAS managing director and chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Seri Azmil Zahruddin told Bernama TV that the airline...
Embraer 190 Jets Join Gulf Air Fleet
Two Embraer 190 jets have been delivered to Gulf Air, under a newly ratified agreement with Jetscape, an aircraft leasing company based in Florida, US. The aircraft, configured in a...
BOC Aviation Orders Eight Boeing 777-300ER Aircraft
BOC Aviation has ordered eight 777-300ER aircraft from Boeing for $2.2bn. BOC Aviation will lease the new 777-300ERs to Thai Airways International (THAI). Thai Airways International...
Eurocopter to Supply AS350 Ecureuil Helicopters to Iraq
Eurocopter is to supply seven AS350 B3 Ecureuil helicopters to the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture. The country will use the helicopters for crop spraying vast fields of date palm trees, a...
Jordan Aviation and P&W Sign Engine Management Programme Agreement
Jordan Aviation has signed a three-year engine management programme agreement with Pratt & Whitney (P&W) Global Service Partners (GSP). Under the agreement, P&W GSP will use...
Nasa Awards Service Contract to SAIC
Nasa has awarded the Enterprise Applications Service Technologies contract to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). SAIC will provide services for the Nasa...
Qantas Grounds A380 Fleet Following Emergency Landing
Australian airline Qantas has pulled its fleet of Airbus A380 airliners from service following an emergency landing at Singapore's Changi Airport. The flight experienced engine trouble...
Oman Air to Receive CFM Engine Service
Oman Air has signed a rate-per-flight-hour (RPFH) agreement with CFM International for the airline's fleet of CFM56-7B engines to power 15 Boeing next-generation 737 aircraft. Under...
Eutelsat Loses W3B Satellite
Eutelsat Communications has lost its W3B satellite, following an anomaly detected on the satellite's propulsion subsystem after its launch on an Ariane 5 rocket. W3B was due to be positioned...
Estonian Air Orders Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen Aircraft
Estonian Air has ordered for three CRJ900 NextGen aircraft from Bombardier worth $123m. The airline has also taken options for two CRJ900 NextGen aircraft and, if it exercises the options,...
Boeing to Deliver Next-Generation 737s to Rostechnology
Boeing and State Corporation Rostechnology have finalised an order for 50 next-generation 737 airplanes along with purchase rights for an additional 35. The order, valued at $3.7bn, includes...
Ariane 5 Launches Telecommunications Satellites
The fourth Ariane 5 mission of 2010 has successfully launched two telecommunications satellites, W3B and BSAT-3b, into geostationary transfer orbit. The launcher, with a payload lift...
CAE Delivers Two Full-Flight Simulators for A320
CAE has sold two A320 full-flight simulators (FFS) to Sichuan Airlines Group and an undisclosed customer for $25m. The A320 FFS will be delivered to Sichuan Airlines Training Centre in...
Nasa Delivers Magnetometers for Juno Mission to Lockheed
Nasa has delivered magnetometers to Lockheed Martin for the Juno mission to Jupiter. Each of the two vector magnetometers carries a pair of non-magnetic star cameras to determine its...
China to Complete Own Space Station by 2020
China plans to complete a manned space station by 2020, as a part of its ambitious space exploration programme. China's manned space engineering project intends to launch a space...
Intelsat 17 Reaches Launch Pad
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has delivered the Intelsat 17 satellite, designed and built for Intelsat, to the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, in preparation for launch in November 2010....
Air Arabia Receives First Batch of Airbus A320s
Air Arabia has taken delivery of the first of 44 A320 aircraft it had ordered from Airbus. The order for the A320s, of which 34 were placed in 2007 and ten placed in 2008, will make the...
Nasa Schedules Discovery Launch
Nasa has set a new date for the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station. The shuttle was due to launch on 1 November, but is now scheduled to launch...
Lockheed to Complete GeoEye-2 Satellite for GeoEye
Lockheed Martin will complete the development of the GeoEye-2 satellite and the associated command and control system, under a procurement contract with GeoEye. To date, GeoEye and...
October 2010
Top
Russian Cargo Craft Manoeuvres ISS to Avoid Space Debris
Russian space freighter Progress has successfully used its thrusters to manoeuvre the International Space Station (ISS) to avoid a collision with fragments of space debris. The Russian...
Japan's BSAT-3b Satellite Ready for Lift-Off
Japan's BSAT-3b satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin for the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT), is ready for launch. BSAT-3b features 12 130W Ku-band channels...
COI Ceramics to Develop Aircraft Nozzle for Boeing
ATK affiliate COI Ceramics will develop and demonstrate a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) exhaust nozzle, under a contract from Boeing Research & Technology. The project will form a part...
ESA Signs in Spaceopal to Operate Galileo System
ESA has signed a contract with Spaceopal that will provide the ground-based services required to operate the Galileo constellation once it is fully operational. Spaceopal is a joint...
Global Observer UAS Completes Initial Flight Tests
The first aircraft developed by AeroVironment under the Global Observer joint capability technology demonstration (JCTD) programme has successfully completed initial flight testing. The...
Nasa Seeks More Commercial Crew Development Concepts
Nasa is looking for more proposals from US industry to further advance commercial crew space transportation concepts. The proposals will also mature the design and development of...
Waha Capital to Acquire Stake in AerCap
Waha Capital is to acquire about 29.8 million shares in AerCap in exchange for $105m, Waha's 50% interest in AerVenture and the transfer of 40% interest in Waha’s 16-aircraft portfolio. ...
FAA Clears ITT's ADS-B System for Deployment
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given clearance to ITT Corporation for the nationwide deployment of automatic dependent surveillance — broadcast (ADS-B). With the rollout of...
Russia to Launch Glonass Series in 2011-2013
Russia intends to launch eight Glonass-M satellites into orbit between 2011 and 2013 to ensure the effective operation of its satellite navigation network. The network requires 18...
Nasa Selects Launch Service Provider for MAVEN
Nasa has selected United Launch Services (ULS) to launch the Mars atmosphere and volatile evolution spacecraft (MAVEN) for $187m. MAVEN will launch in November 2013 aboard an Atlas V 401...
Embraer to Deliver 175 to Fuji Dream Airlines
Embraer will provide Japan's Fuji Dream Airlines (FDA) with an Embraer 175, the fifth E-jet in the airline's fleet. The order also includes an option for one additional aircraft of the...
Astrium to Acquire Stake in SES ASTRA Subsidiary
Astrium will purchase a 75.1% stake in SES ASTRA's satellite equipment provider and ground system integrator ND SatCom, based in Germany. SES ASTRA President and CEO Ferdinand Kayser said...
Nasa Tests Earth Camera Prototype for Terra Spacecraft
Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Arizona's College of Optical Sciences have successfully conducted the first test flight of a prototype Earth camera for the Terra spacecraft....
Goodrich Integrates Sensor Payload in ORS-1 Satellite
Goodrich has successfully integrated its electro-optic / infrared (EO/IR) sensor payload with the spacecraft bus for the ORS-1 satellite. ORS-1 is the first satellite in the...
Bombardier Opens New Learjet 85 Facility in Mexico
Bombardier Aerospace has opened its new Learjet 85 aircraft component manufacturing facility at its site in the Querétaro Aerospace Park in Mexico. The 185,000ft² manufacturing...
Harrods Aviation to Install Modification Kits for S-76
Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) has contracted Harrods Aviation to install modification kits on Sikorsky S-76 helicopters in Europe. SAS president David Adler said that Sikorsky was...
ISS Partners Agree on New Standard for Spacecraft Docking
Partners on the International Space Station programme have agreed on a new standard for docking systems, which will also be capable of implementing berthing. The agreement allows a range...
Hylas-1 Satellite Arrives at Spaceport for Launch
The Hylas-1 telecommunications satellite has arrived at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana for launch into space on 25 November 2010 atop an Ariane 5 launcher. Hylas-1 is now undergoing a...
Embraer to Deliver Phenom 300s to NetJets
Embraer will deliver 50 Phenom 300 executive jets to NetJets under a new order that includes options for an additional 75 jets. Under the order, which is expected to be valued at over...
AerCap Leases First Converted Airbus A320F to West Atlantic
AerCap Holdings has placed the first converted Airbus A320s freighters from its fleet on lease with European cargo operator West Atlantic. The aircraft is part of a passenger to freighter...
Boeing and Air China to Test Commercial Jet Biofuel
Boeing and Air China have decided to jointly test a commercial jet biofuel in China, produced from a locally grown plant, by the middle of 2011. Boeing executive Al Bryant said the...
Cessna Launches Citation Ten Jet
Cessna has launched a larger, advanced version of the Citation X business jet, the Citation Ten. The aircraft also marks the debut of the Garmin G5000 avionics suite and a...
Embraer Business Jets to Receive BAE Flight Control Computers
BAE Systems has received a contract from Parker Aerospace to design, produce and support flight control computers for Embraer Legacy 450 and 500 business jets. Under the contract, BAE...
Lockheed to Serve FAA on National Airspace System Contract
Lockheed Martin has been selected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to lead the national airspace system integration support contract (NISC) III. NISC-III is a follow-on contract...
FAA Approves Enhanced Vision System on BBJ
The Federal Aviation Administration has certified the Rockwell Collins enhanced vision system (EVS) on a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and an Air National Guard C-40. The EVS increases...
Gulfstream G650 Gains High-Speed Cruise Projections on Test Flight
The Gulfstream G650 has demonstrated exceptional high-speed cruise capabilities, flying a 5,000nm closed circuit at Mach 0.90 over the Atlantic Ocean in nine hours and 45 minutes. ...
Globalstar Launches Satellites on Soyuz
Globalstar has successfully launched its six satellites into space on a Soyuz rocket facilitated by Starsem venture, from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Arianespace / Starsem CEO...
Surrey Satellite to Demo UK Satellite in Space
Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) has received a grant to begin the design phase of a UK technology demonstration satellite, TechDemoSat-1. SSTL, and UK industry and academia will fund...
Phenom 100 Jet to Receive New Airborne Awareness Systems
Embraer has certified a new traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS), and a traffic awareness and warning system (TAWS) for its entry-level Phenom 100 executive jet. TCAS II will...
AIDC Wins MRJ Plane Order from Mitsubishi
Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) has received an order worth NT$5bn ($161.3m) from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan for Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) planes. AIDC...
Rolls-Royce Wins Trent 700 Engine Contract
Rolls-Royce has received an order worth $390m from Thai Airways for Trent 700 engines to power an additional seven Airbus A330 aircraft. The order also includes a TotalCare long-term...
Bombardier Launches Global 7000 and 8000 Aircraft
Bombardier Aerospace has launched two large business jets, the Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft. The Global 7000 aircraft features a spacious four-zone cabin of 2,637ft³, a...
Pakistan to Launch Paksat 1R Satellite in 2011
Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) will launch its telecommunication satellite, PakSat 1R, on 14 August 2011. The PakSat 1R satellite will replace the...
Emirates Airline Considers Ordering 120 Airbus A380 Aircraft
Emirates Airlines is considering ordering 120 Airbus A380 aircraft when it has sufficient space at its home base in Dubai. Emirates president Tim Clark said the airline, passenger rates of...
Sukhoi to Launch Superjet this Year
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft plans to launch its Superjet passenger plane in 2010, and is negotiating with Lufthansa and Alitalia about potential sales. The superjet aircraft, which will begin...
Boeing to Deliver First 787 Dreamliner in 2011
Boeing is expected to deliver the first batch of 787 Dreamliner aircraft to China in the first quarter of 2011. Boeing executive vice-president James Albaugh said the company was working...
Ethiopian Airlines Receives Seventh Bombardier Q-400 Aircraft
Ethiopian Airlines has received a seventh Q-400 next-generation turboprop aircraft from Canadian Aircraft manufacturer Bombardier. The Q-400 aircraft will enable the airline to support...
Intermountain Healthcare Orders GrandNew Helicopters
AgustaWestland has received an order from Intermountain Healthcare to deliver three GrandNew helicopters, with options for two additional aircraft. Operated by Intermountain Life Flight,...
Cathay Pacific to Replace Economy Seats in Long-Haul Planes
Cathay Pacific Airways has decided to replace economy-class seats in long-haul planes following complaints from passengers about discomfort. Under the plan, the existing coach seats...
Thai Airways Sues Koito Industries
Thai Airways International has sued Japan's Koito Industries for around $180m for a delay in delivery of aircraft seats. Koito did not supply the seats on time as it failed to...
AerSale Acquires 19 Boeing 747-400 Aircraft
AerSale has acquired a fleet of 19 Boeing 747-400 series passenger aircraft, powered by CF6-80C2B1F engines from Japan Air Lines (JAL). AerSale CEO Nicolas Finazzo said this purchase covers...
NACIL Aircraft Fleet to Receive Insurance Cover
ICICI Lombard General Insurance has won a bid to insure the National Aviation Company of India Limited's (NACIL) aircraft fleet for $9.1bn. The new insurance cover is a measure following...
Airbus Opens A350 XWB Landing Gear Systems Test Facility
Airbus has opened an A350 XWB landing gear systems test facility at its site in Filton, UK. The €39m ($54m) facility will include a large bay to house landing gear systems integrated...
Qatar Airways to Receive Airbus A350 in 2013
Qatar Airways will receive the first model of the A350 XWB aircraft from Airbus by the middle of 2013. Nearly 53% of the A350 XWB's parts are made of material that will reduce the weight...
Jazeera Airways Leases Four A320 Aircraft
Sahaab Aircraft Leasing, a fully owned subsidiary of Jazeera Airways Group, has placed four A320 aircraft on long-term leases with Airbus. The contract is valued at $155m. This is...
Virgin Galactic Spaceship Completes First Solo Test Flight
Virgin Galactic's suborbital spaceship, Enterprise, has successfully completed its first solo test flight in California, US. During the test the spaceship was carried to an altitude of...
South Korea, Japan's Aircraft Demand to Grow
Boeing vice-president for marketing Randy Tinseth said aircraft demand in South Korea and Japan will grow over the next 20 years to $190bn. Tinseth said the demand for a total of 1,210...
Embraer Undecided on Chinese Plant
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer said it has still not decided whether to close its manufacturing plant in north China. The company made the announcement after the Estado news...
Nasa's WMAP Mission Completes Operations
Nasa's Wilkinson microwave anisotropy probe (WMAP) space mission has concluded its observations of the cosmic microwave background. The spacecraft had been designed to provide a more...
Aires Receives Bombardier Q400 Aircraft
Colombian airline Aires has received Q400 aircraft from Bombardier to operate in South America. The 78-seater Q400 aircraft has logged more than two million flight hours and over two...
US and EU Airlines Unite to Oppose Aircraft Subsidies
Major US airlines have joined with those in European to oppose aircraft subsidies provided to airlines in other nations to purchase aircraft from Boeing and Airbus. United Continental...
Libyan Airlines to Receive CRJ900 Next-Generation Aircraft from Bombardier
Bombardier Aerospace has received a contract from Libyan African Aviation Holding Company for three CRJ900 next-generation aircraft with an option for an additional three. The CRJ900...
Sriwijaya Airline to Buy Ten Boeing 737-800s
Indonesia's Sriwijaya Air is to purchase ten new Boeing 737-800 next-generation aircraft to serve new international and domestic routes. Sriwijaya corporate communications manager Ruth...
China's Chang'e II Enters Moon Orbit
The Chang'e II satellite, China's second lunar probe, has successfully entered lunar orbit. The satellite will be manoeuvred into an orbit 15km above the moon by the end of October. The...
Aircelle Delivers Nacelle Demonstrator for Tests to Snecma
Aircelle has delivered an advanced jet engine nacelle demonstrator to Snecma to evaluate new technologies. The evaluation will provide future enhancements in aircraft operating efficiency...
Russia Launches Manned Spaceship
Russia has successfully launched the Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft carrying a US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts for the International Space Station (ISS). The Soyuz TMA-01M was launched...
Astrium to Acquire Sensors Provider
Astrium is to acquire Jena-Optronik, a German provider of space sensors and optical systems. Jena-Optronik develops attitude sensors and space-based optics for a variety of different...
AsiaSat to Use ILS Proton for Satellite Launch
Asia Satellite Telecommunications (AsiaSat) will use the International Launch Services Proton launch vehicle to launch AsiaSat 7 into space. AsiaSat 7 is presently being built by Space...
Pratt & Whitney's Gas Turbine Components Complete One Million Hours
Pratt & Whitney Power Systems' new and repaired components for the Frame 7FA+e combustion turbine system have exceeded the one-million-hour mark of run time service. The hours...
XCOR to Lease Lynx Suborbital Spacecraft to Space Experience Curacao
Space Experience Curacao (SXC) will wet lease a production version of the Lynx suborbital spacecraft from XCOR Aerospace, under a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The MoU is subject to...
Thales to Begin Construction of New ATM R&D Centre
Thales Australia will soon begin construction of the new Centre for Advanced Studies in ATM (CASIA) at its World Trade Centre in Melbourne, Australia. The CASIA will pioneer innovative...
Airbus to Provide Flight Hour Services to Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has signed a flight hour services - tailored support package (FHS-TSP) contract with Airbus. Under the contract, Airbus will provide full component support, line...
Korean Air and Air China to Receive CAE Full-Flight Simulators
CAE is to sell four 7000 Series full-flight simulators (FFS) and Simfinity training devices worth C$65m (US$63m) to Korean Air and Air China. CAE will supply an Airbus A380 FFS and a...
B/E Aerospace to Acquire TSI Group
B/E Aerospace is to acquire aerospace thermal-management products manufacturer TSI Group for $310m, to enhance its commercial-segment product segment. In September, B/E Aerospace said that...
GECAS Completes Leaseback Deal for A320s with Avianca-TACA
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has completed a purchase and leaseback deal with Latin American carrier Avianca-TACA for three Airbus A320 aircraft. The first A320 was delivered to...
Boeing 787 Test Plane Takes First Flight
The sixth and final 787 Dreamliner has taken its maiden flight, lasting 64min. The ZA006 is the second 787 equipped with General Electric GEnx engines. Boeing vice-president and...
Pratt & Whitney Canada Opens New Flight Test Operations Facility
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has opened the Mirabel Aerospace Centre at Montreal-Mirabel International Airport. P&WC president John Saabas said that it will be one of the largest flight...
Nasa's MAVEN Project Completes Confirmation Review
Nasa's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) project has passed its Mission Confirmation Review. The completion of the review ensures that the project will produce a...
Air Lease to Buy 60 Next-Generation 737s from Boeing
Air Lease Corporation has finalised orders for the purchase of up to 60 next-generation 737-800s from Boeing. The order for deliveries through 2017 was first announced at the Farnborough...
Air Arabia Selects CFM56-5B Engines for A320 Fleet
Air Arabia has confirmed orders for CFM56-5B engines to power its fleet of 44 Airbus A320 aircraft. The order, originally announced in July 2010, will more than double the airlines'...
Integral to Upgrade Satellite Control System for Vinasat Fleet
Integral Systems will provide the primary and backup satellite control systems for the Vinasat-2 satellite, under a contract with Lockheed Martin. Lockheed is currently building the satellite...
Eutelsat W3B Satellite Readies for Launch
Eutelsat's W3B Satellite has reached the Guiana Space Centre in preparation for its launch on 28 October 2010. Built by Thales Alenia Space, the 5.4t satellite will be positioned at...
Globalstar Satellites Integration Complete
The integration of all six Globalstar satellites on to their dispenser system has been completed for the Soyuz mission on 19 October 2010. The 700kg class satellites, which are larger and...
Raytheon Receives JPSS Contracts
Raytheon has received two contracts for the joint polar satellite system, a successor to the national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system (NPOESS) programme. The...
Boeing to Deliver Next-Generation 737-800 to Luxair
Boeing will deliver an additional next-generation 737-800 aircraft to Luxair under a finalised order. The airline ordered a 737-800 in June 2010. LuxairGroup president and CEO Adrien Ney...
Hamilton Sundstrand Receives Spacesuit Contract from Nasa
Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International has received a $728.9m contract from Nasa to provide spacesuit support on the space shuttle and International Space Station. Hamilton...
Congress Approves $19bn Bill for Nasa
Congress has approved a $19bn bill that will enable Nasa to launch an additional shuttle mission and develop a heavy-lift vehicle. The US House passed the Nasa Reauthorisation Act which...
Lockheed Completes External Tank Production for Space Shuttle
Lockheed Martin has completed production of the external tank for the space shuttle with the delivery of the final tank to Nasa. The delivery marks the end of 37 years of the...
PPG Aerospace to Serve on Gulfstream Contract
PPG Aerospace will provide services to support the manufacturing operations for Gulfstream's G450, G550 and G650 programmes. Under the multiyear contract, PPG will provide comprehensive...
Eurocopter Flight Tests X3 Hybrid Helicopter Demonstrator
Eurocopter has begun test flights of the X3 demonstrator for its high-speed, long-range hybrid helicopter (H3) concept. The X3 demonstrator is equipped with two turboshaft engines that power...
Russia to Build World's First Commercial Space Station
A Russian firm and a state-controlled spacecraft manufacturer intend to build and operate the world's first commercial space station. Orbital Technologies chief executive Sergey Kostenko...
Boeing Delivers Another 737-800 to Air Algerie
Boeing has delivered Air Algerie its 11th 737-800 aircraft. Air Algerie, the flag carrier of Algeria, operates a fleet composed primarily of Boeing 737s and some 767s. Boeing will...
China to Launch Chang'e II Satellite
China is set to launch Chang'e II, its second lunar probe, before 3 October 2010. The probe will test key technology for Chang'e III, collect data for future landings of Chang'e III and...
Rockwell Supplies Training Simulator to Corporate Aircraft SA
Rockwell Collins has delivered a virtual avionics procedures trainer (VAPT) system to Corporate Aircraft SA, a dealer of Hawker Beechcraft aircraft, for an unnamed customer. The VAPT will...
September 2010
Top
Caribbean Airlines to Receive ATR 72-600 Aircraft
Caribbean Airlines will receive nine ATR 72-600 aircraft under a new $200m contract. The aircraft are configured with 68 seats and equipped with the new ATR-600 series avionics suite and...
Lockheed Martin to Continue on FAA Contract
Lockheed Martin will continue to serve the Federal Aviation Administration's automated flight service stations (AFSS) contract under a three-year option worth $356m. Under the AFSS...
VT Group Acquires Evergreen Unmanned Systems
VT Group has acquired the Evergreen Unmanned Systems business unit, part of Evergreen International Aviation. Evergreen Unmanned Systems provides support for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)...
Pratt & Whitney to Provide Engine Management for Air Memphis
Pratt & Whitney is to provide an engine management programme to Air Memphis for its fleet of V2500 engines. The programme provides expert analysis of engine operational data to monitor...
Russian Soyuz TMA-18 Returns with ISS Crew
The Russian Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft has returned to earth carrying crew from the International Space Station's Expedition 24. The spacecraft undocked from the station's Zvezda module on...
Fokker Delivers 500th Tail Section for Gulfstream Business Jet
Fokker has delivered the 500th tail section for the Gulfstream GV/G550 programme. Fokker carries out assembly of the tail section at its facility in Papendrecht, while the composite...
Boeing to Provide 777s to Air China
Boeing is to provide four 777-300ERs to Air China for $1.1bn. Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, will use the airplanes to expand its international routes. ...
Embraer and Air France Sign Contract with Alitalia
Embraer and Air France Industries have signed a five-year flight hour pool programme contract with Italian carrier Alitalia to support their fleet of six Embraer 170 jets. Under terms of...
Boeing Completes Framework on South Carolina 787 Final Assembly Building
Boeing has completed the steel framework for its new 787 Dreamliner final assembly building. Work on the 1.1-million-square-foot structure began in November 2009. 787 final assembly...
Vector Aerospace Receives Engine Repair Approval from Turbomeca
Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services-North America has received Turbomeca Engine Corporation (Turbomeca) approval for full repair and overhaul on the Arriel 2 engine. Under the...
CAE Wins FFS Orders from Airbus
CAE has won orders to develop full-flight simulators (FFS) for Airbus A350XWB and Boeing 777 aircraft. Under the contracts, CAE will develop two CAE 7000 series FFS for Airbus 350XWB and six...
Ball Aerospace Receives Nasa Contract for JPSS-1
Ball Aerospace has received a sole-source contract from Nasa, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the joint polar satellite system (JPSS-1)...
Aerojet Test Fires Orion Launch Abort Component
Aerojet has successfully conducted a static firing of the third nozzle risk reduction motor supporting the Orion jettison motor, a component of the spacecraft's launch abort system (LAS). ...
Aveos to Perform Engine Maintenance for AerCap
Aveos Fleet Performance has signed a five-year agreement with AerCap for engine maintenance. Under the general terms agreement (GTA), Aveos will provide maintenance, repair, overhaul and...
Nasa Awards More Contracts for JPSS
Nasa has awarded two sole source contracts for the common ground system and a scientific instrument on the first joint polar satellite system (JPSS-1). On behalf of the National Oceanic...
Rolls-Royce Trent 700 Engines to Power Lufthansa Group Aircraft
Rolls-Royce's Trent 700 engines will power eight Lufthansa and Swiss Airbus A330 aircraft under a new $560m contract. The order also includes a TotalCare long-term service agreement. ...
FAA Launches New Programme for Air Traffic Safety
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a safety programme that will integrate voluntary safety information self-reported by pilots and air traffic controllers. ...
Thales Alenia to Build Communication Payloads for Russian Satellites
Thales Alenia Space has signed tri-partite contracts with RSCC and JSC 'ISS – Reshetnev Company' to supply the communication payloads for Express AM8, AT1 and AT2 satellites. The satellites...
Lufthansa Group to Buy Aircraft from Airbus
Lufthansa group plans to acquire 40 aircraft from Airbus, worth about $3.4bn. The aircraft will be used by Lufthansa and two subsidiary airlines, Swiss and Germanwings. The orders include...
Namibian Police Receives New Eurocopter AS350 Helicopter
Namibia’s Police Airwing has received a new AS350 B3 Helicopter from Eurocopter, the second helicopter to join the force. The Namibia Police Airwing, established in 2009, has flown its...
Airbus to Deliver A330-200F Freighters to Malayasia Airlines
Airbus will provide two more A330-200F freighter aircraft to Malaysia Airlines, following the conversion of two existing options. The new contract brings the airline's firm orders for...
Boeing Predicts Growth for African Aircraft Market
Boeing has predicted that air carriers in Africa will witness steady growth over the next 20 years as air travel in the continent continues to grow. The region's economy is expected to grow...
Lockheed Begins Pathfinding Operations on Orion
Lockheed Martin has begun lean assembly pathfinding operations for the Orion spacecraft. The firm is conducting simulated manufacturing and assembly operations with a full-scale Orion mock-up...
ITT to Supply Infrared Instrument for JPSS Spacecraft
ITT will supply the cross-track infrared sounder (CrIS) instrument for the first joint polar satellite system (JPSS-1) to Nasa. ITT has received the $98.6m sole source contract from Nasa,...
Rascom-QAF1R and Nilesat 201 Satellites Enter into Operation
The Rascom-QAF1R and Nilesat 201 telecommunications satellites, both built by Thales Alenia Space, have successfully begun operations. The satellites, launched atop an Ariane 5 ECA rocket on...
Nasa to Receive External Fuel Tank for Final Space Shuttle
Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is set to receive the external fuel tank that will power the final space shuttle flight on 26 September 2010. ET-122 will support the Endeavour...
XCOR Completes Lynx Supersonic Wind Tunnel Tests
XCOR Aerospace has completed the primary supersonic wind tunnel testing of the Lynx suborbital spacecraft at the Nasa Marshall Space Flight Center. The tests performed on a precision scale...
Embraer Delivers Lineage 1000 Jet to Al Hapbtoor Group
Embraer has delivered a Lineage 1000 executive jet to the Al Habtoor Group of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The aircraft is being managed and operated by Royal Jet of UAE, which will...
Sikorsky X2 Demonstrator Achieves 250kt Speed
Sikorsky Aircraft's X2 Technology demonstrator has successfully achieved a speed of 250kt true air speed in level flight at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center. During a 1.1-hour flight,...
Nasa Awards Launch Services Contract
Nasa launch services (NLS) II contracts have been awarded to four firms to provide launch services for the agency's planetary, Earth-observing, exploration and scientific satellites. ...
Cuba May Connect to Russian Glonass System
Cuba is working together with Russia on a plan to connect it to the Glonass navigation satellite system. Russian Ambassador to Cuba Mikhail Kamynin told RIA Novosti that the countries...
Airbus to Deliver A350 XWBs to Cathay Pacific
Airbus has received a firm order to deliver 30 A350 XWB aircraft to Cathay Pacific Airways. Cathay Pacific will deploy the A350 XWB across its network, specifically on non-stop services...
EADS Receives Lunar Lander Study Contract from ESA
EADS Astrium has received a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop a Lunar Lander. The €6.5m contract will involve the next exploration science and technology (NEXT)...
Commercial Spacecraft Could be Possible by 2020
UK scientists believe that a commercial spacecraft may be ready in the next ten years. Engineers have developed a £700m Skylon spaceplane that can travel at five times the speed of sound. ...
Hampson Wins Tooling Contract
Hampson Industries has won what it claims is the largest-ever and most-complex single tooling contract for a major commercial aerospace programme. Under the $53m (£34m) contract, the...
Boeing to Produce 38 737s a Month in 2013
Boeing has said its next-generation 737 production rate will increase to 38 airplanes a month in the second quarter of 2013. The company previously announced that it would increase...
Sukhoi Superjet 100 Completes Static Testing
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 has successfully completed the certification on-ground strength testing programme in the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI). The programme, comprising 58...
Boeing Integrates First 747-8 Intercontinental Forward Fuselage
Boeing has completed the assembly of the 747-8 intercontinental aircraft's forward fuselage. The 27.2m fuselage section, featuring the airplane's signature upper deck, was moved from...
Russia Supplies Rocket Engines to US
Russia's Energomash will deliver four rocket engines for US Atlas rockets under a contract with Lockheed Martin. Four 5t engines in special containers will be loaded on trailers and delivered...
Airbus Awards A350XWB Work Package to China's CCAC
Airbus has awarded a contract to CAC Commercial Aircraft Company (CCAC) for the work package of A350 XWB spoilers and droop panels. The A350 XWB spoiler and droop panels use...
Astrium and ScanEx to Partner for Distribution Rights on SPOT Satellites
Astrium Services has signed a ten-year partnership with ScanEx for the reception and distribution rights on the upcoming SPOT 6 and 7 satellites. As part of the programme, ScanEx, the...
India to Launch Four Satellites in December
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to launch four satellites later this year. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director PS Veeraraghavan told the Press Trust of India...
CEA-Leti Completes Sensor Prototype for ESA Space Flights
CEA-Leti has completed the development of a new-generation scalar magnetometer in partnership with CNES for the European Space Agency's (ESA) Swarm space mission. The mission, scheduled...
Nasa Extends ISS Sustainment Contract with Boeing
Nasa has extended the International Space Station (ISS) contract for sustaining engineering with Boeing for five years, at a value of $1.24bn. Under the extension, Boeing will provide...
Sirius XM-5 Satellite Arrives at Baikonur for Launch
Sirius XM-5, a telecommunications satellite for Sirius XM radio, has arrived at the Baikonur Space Centre in Kazakhstan for launch in October 2010. The satellite and a range of...
Boeing Begins Fatigue Test on 787 Dreamliner Airframe
Boeing has begun fatigue testing on the structural airframe of the 787 Dreamliner. The 787 airframe test rig simulates multiple lifecycles to observe the airplane's response over time. ...
Astrium to Partner with SpaceX to Market Falcon I
Astrium and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) have signed a commercial agreement to provide launch services to the European institutional small satellite market. Astrium will partner...
Ball Aerospace to Provide Instrument Suite for JPSS Spacecraft
Ball Aerospace will provide the ozone mapping and profiling suite (OMPS) instrument on the first joint polar satellite system (JPSS) spacecraft. Nasa has awarded the sole source contract to...
Japan Launches GPS Satellite
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have launched a new satellite, named Michibiki, to enhance GPS coverage over the country. Michibiki, the...
Russian Space Freighter Docks to ISS
Russian space freighter Progress M-07M has successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS). The docking was fully automated without any assistance from the ISS crew and the...
Eumetsat Selects Arianespace for Metop-C Launch
Eumetsat has selected Arianespace for the launch contract of the Metop-C polar orbiting satellite. Arianespace will launch the Metop-C into polar orbit atop a Soyuz launcher from the...
FAA Proposes Pilot Fatigue Rule
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has brought out a proposal to help fight fatigue among commercial pilots by setting new flight times, duty and rest requirements based on fatigue science....
Russia Launches Three Satellites
Russia launched three satellites, the Gonets-M satellite and two Cosmos series satellites, into space on 8 September 2010. The satellites were carried to their orbit on a Rokot...
Spain, Norway to Jointly Develop Telecom Satellite
Spain and Norway have signed an agreement to develop a telecom satellite for use by both countries. The project to build a high-capacity satellite, Hisnorsat, will require an investment...
Canadian Space Agency Delivers Sensor for James Webb
The Canadian Space Agency has delivered a test unit of the fine guidance sensor (FGS) for the James Webb Space Telescope to Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center. The FGS consists of...
ESA, ELV orders for Arianespace's Vega Launchers
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Arianespace have signed a work order for production of the first Vega launcher. European Launch Vehicle (ELV) and Arianespace have also concluded a...
Boeing Begins Assembling 1,000th 767 Aircraft
Boeing has begun assembling its 1,000th 767 aircraft at its facility in Everett, Washington, US. The assembly began with loading of the wing spar, the internal support structure that...
GlobalStar Satellites Prepare for Launch
Globalstar's six second-generation satellites are being prepared for launch atop a Soyuz 2 rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome. All six spacecraft are now at the Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, with...
US Selects IFS Applications MRO Suite
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected IFS Applications as its supply chain and maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) solution for the US National Airspace System (NAS). ...
BAE to Acquire OASYS Technology
BAE Systems plans to acquire OASYS Technology, a firm that designs and manufactures electro-optical systems and subassemblies for aerospace, defence, industrial and commercial markets. ...
EADS's Electric Aircraft Takes Maiden Flight
Cri-Cri, an-all electric aircraft jointly developed by EADS, Aero Composites Saintonge and the Green Cri-Cri Association, has successfully performed its maiden flight. The Cri-Cri is...
AgustaWestland to Deliver AW139s to Weststar
AgustaWestland is to deliver nine AW139 helicopters to Weststar Aviation Services of Malaysia, confirming a previously unannounced order. Weststar will use the helicopters for offshore...
SES and ILS Extend Multilaunch Agreement
International Launch Services (ILS) and SES have decided to extend the SES multilaunch agreement (MLA) to 31 December 2014 and add another ILS Proton mission. The first SES launch under the...
Boeing Offers ISRO Assistance for Manned Spaceflight
Boeing plans to collaborate and offer technological know-how to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its human space flight programme, which is scheduled for 2016. The project...
Messenger Spacecraft Completes Orbital Test Flight
Nasa's Mercury surface, space environment, geochemistry and ranging (Messenger) spacecraft has completed a two-week flight test to ensure its readiness for orbital operations. The test...
Boeing 787 Prototypes Undergo Remote Testing
Four of the five Boeing 787 flight test airplanes are conducting remote test operations. ZA001, the first 787, will undergo testing including rejected take-off conditions in Roswell, New...
Airbus Opens New A350XWB Plant in Germany
Airbus has begun production of A350XWB components at a new manufacturing facility in Germany. Measuring almost 32m by 6m, the upper wing shell will be the first German component and also...
China Launches SinoSat-6
China successfully launched the SinoSat-6 satellite for radio and television broadcasts from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan Province on 5 September. The satellite was...
Lockheed Completes Review for GeoEye-2 Satellite
Lockheed Martin has completed a system requirements review (SRR) for the GeoEye-2 satellite currently being developed for GeoEye. The next-generation, high-resolution commercial...
Russia Places Three Glonass Satellites in Orbit
Russia has successfully put three Global Navigation Satellite System (Glonass) satellites into orbit following the launch of a Proton-M carrier rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome,...
Embraer Delivers Lineage 1000 Executive Jet to Omnilife
Embraer has delivered the first Lineage 1000 executive jet to a Mexican customer, Grupo Omnilife. Omnilife will operate the aircraft through its air taxi subsidiary, Omniflys. Powered by...
North America to Invest $700bn in Commercial Aircraft Market
Air carriers in North America will take delivery of about 7,200 new airliners over the next 20 years, amounting to a $700bn investment, according to Boeing forecasts. New deliveries in...
Singapore Airlines A380s to Receive Honeywell Components
Honeywell is to provide wheels and carbon brake material for Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 aircraft over ten years. Under the agreement, Honeywell will provide wheels and brake materials...
GOES-15 Weather Satellite Completes On-Orbit Tests
The Boeing-built geostationary operational environmental satellite (GOES-15) has completed on-orbit testing. The satellite has been entered into service by Nasa and the National Oceanic...
Nasa to Continue Contract with Space Alliance
Nasa has extended the space programme operations contract with United Space Alliance to 31 March 2011. Under the $909m extension, Space Alliance will continue flight operations for the...
Brazilian Airline Seeks Funding to Finance Aircraft
Brazilian airline Trip Linhas Aéreas will seek funds from Brazil's national development bank, BNDES, and international leasing operations to finance the acquisition of ten aircraft in 2011. ...
Bombardier to Provide Q400 Turboprops to Egypt Airlines
Bombardier will provide two Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft to Smart Aviation Company of Cairo, Egypt, for about $62m. The contract also includes an option for three additional Q400s, and...
ISRO Decides on Scientific Payloads for Chandrayaan-2
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has selected a number of scientific payloads to fly with the Chandrayaan-2 mission. Chandrayaan-2 is designed to comprise an orbiter (satellite)...
Nasa and ATK Test Five-Segment Solid Rocket Motor
Nasa and ATK Aerospace Systems have successfully completed a full-scale test of a five-segment solid rocket motor. The first-stage development solid rocket motor, the DM-2, is the largest...
Qantas Airways to Receive Boeing's Landing Gear Exchange Service
Qantas Airways' fleet of 747-400ER jetliners will receive landing gear exchange, repair and overhaul services from Boeing under its new 747-400ER landing gear overhaul and exchange...
Ball Aerospace to Build WorldView-3 for DigitalGlobe
Ball Aerospace is to build the next-generation commercial remote-sensing satellite, World View-3, for DigitalGlobe. Ball Aerospace will provide its BCP 5000 platform for the satellite,...
Nasa Selects Firms for Experimental Space Vehicle Test Flights
Nasa has selected Armadillo Aerospace and Masten Space Systems to perform test flights of their experimental space vehicles. Under Nasa's commercial reusable suborbital research...
Goodrich AW139 Ice Protection System Receives EASA Approval
Goodrich Corporation's rotorblade ice protection system (RIPS) for AgustaWestland AW139 medium twin-engine helicopter has received certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). ...
Arianespace Readies Soyuz Mission to Orbit Globalstar Satellites
Arianespace has readied its Soyuz launch vehicle, which will place six of Globalstar's satellites into orbit from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome in October 2010. The launch campaign for...
India and France to Launch New Environment Satellite
India and the French National Space Agency plan to launch a satellite together in order to study changes in the environment. The satellite, Saral, will contain an altimeter, AltiKa, to study...
NASTAR Begins Study on Emergency Detection and Response on Atlas V
The NASTAR Center has begun a research study on commercial human spaceflight and systems development aimed at emergency detection and response using an Atlas V flight profile. The centre...
Gulfstream G650 Achieves Mach 0.995
The new Gulfstream G650 aircraft has achieved a speed of Mach 0.995 during its 1,800-hour flight test programme. The airliner achieved the speed during flutter testing that assesses its...
Sukhoi Superjet 100 Reaches Italy for Tests
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 has landed at Torino Caselle Airport in Italy for the first time for a series of tests under a flight certification campaign. The aircraft, a third prototype SN...
August 2010
Top
PowerJet's SaM146 Engine Receives Russian Type Certificate
PowerJet's SaM146 engine has successfully received Interstate Aviation Committee Aviation Register (IAC AR) type certification. With the IAC AR type certificate, the SaM146, the company's...
Boeing Delays 787 Dreamliner Delivery to 2011 Q1
Boeing has announced that it will delay the delivery of its first 787 Dreamliner until the middle of the first quarter of 2011. The delivery has been put back again due to a delay in...
Terma to Head Observatory Payload Project for ISS
Terma is to head a European space project to take measurements and make observations from the International Space Station (ISS). In charge of the atmosphere space interactions monitor...
Boeing 747-8F Completes Heaviest-Ever Take-Off
Boeing has successfully achieved the heaviest aircraft take-off in the company's history using a 747-8 freighter aircraft from a desert airfield in California, US. As a part of the ongoing...
Rolls-Royce Yet to Reopen Test Site After Engine Blow-Out
Rolls-Royce is yet to reopen an engine test site that trials jet engines for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus SAS A350 after a $17m turbine blew up on the test bed. Rolls-Royce...
China Launches New Mapping Satellite
China has successfully launched a new mapping satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. Known as Mapping Satellite-1, it was launched atop a Long March 2D carrier rocket and...
JAXA Seeks Research Proposals for GOSAT
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is seeking research proposals for its greenhouse gases-observing satellite (GOSAT) project. Satellite Ibuki was launched into space in January...
Al Jaber Receives New Airbus 318 Elite Plus
Al Jaber Aviation (AJA) has taken delivery of its first new Airbus A318 Elite Plus to expand its growing business. The Airbus 318 Elite Plus is the first of six Airbus aircraft ordered by...
IAI's Bird Eye 650 UAS Gets Horizon Fuel Cell System
Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Bird Eye 650 unmanned aerial system (UAS) has been successfully fitted with the Horizon Energy Systems (HES) Aeropak fuel cell power system. The fuel...
ESA's Gravity Satellite Faces New Glitch
The European Space Agency's gravity field and steady-state ocean circulation explorer (GOCE) satellite is facing a new software glitch, preventing it from sending its science data back to Earth. ...
Bombardier to Direct Airlines to Conduct Q400 Inspections
Bombardier plans to direct air carriers to inspect their fleet of Q400 aircraft for cracks or corrosion in engine casings, following faults recently found by an airline. Bombardier...
Equadorian Airline Receives New Airbus A320-200
Ecuadorian airline Aerogal has received a new A320-200 from Airbus, the first of three to be delivered in 2010. The aircraft, configured to seat 150 passengers in a two-class configuration,...
Russian Vessel Corrects ISS Orbit
The orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) has been successfully corrected. The manoeuvre was carried out by the engines of the Russian cargo vessel, Progress M-06M. The orbit...
Qantas Grounds Five Bombardier Q400s
Australia's Qantas Airlines has grounded five Bombardier Q400 aircraft from the QantasLink fleet, following an inspection of a main landing gear component. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said...
Japanese Aerospace Agency Approves Hayabusa Successor
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Japanese Space Activities Commission has authorised the continuation of development work on the successor of the sample-return probe, Hayabusa. A...
SpaceX's Dragon Spacecraft Completes Drop Test
Space Exploration Technologies' (SpaceX) Dragon spacecraft has successfully completed a high-altitude drop test. It marks the last in a series of tests to validate parachute deployment...
Russia Readies Ground Facilities for Glonass Launch
Ground facilities at Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome are being prepared for the launch of the Glonass-M satellite from pad 81. The facility is undergoing processing including functioning tests...
Tibet Airlines Orders Three A319s from Airbus
Tibet Airlines has ordered three A319s from Airbus to increase its fleet. The air carrier received approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in March 2010. ...
Boeing to Open Manufacturing Unit at Illinois Airport
Boeing intends to open a new manufacturing facility at MidAmerica Airport, expanding its St Louis-area operations. The facility will use leased space in an existing building to house assembly...
Indian Low-Cost Carrier to Acquire 150 Aircraft in Three Years
IndiGo, an InterGlobe Enterprises company, has received governmental permission to buy 150 aircraft within the next three years. InterGlobe Enterprises managing director Rahul Bhatia said that...
AIG Firm Seeks Aircraft Leasing Deals in Africa
American International Group's (AIG) aircraft leasing unit, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), is in talks with several national and commercial airlines to try and double its...
Nasa to Continue Receiving ASRC Aerospace Services
Nasa's Glenn Research Centre has awarded a one-year contract option to ASRC Aerospace Corporation for engineering and scientific services worth $50m. Under the contract, ASRC will...
APL Implements Space Weather Observation System
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), together with Boeing and Iridium Communications, has successfully demonstrated a new system to monitor space weather. The...
FAA Selects Centre of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected New Mexico State University (NMSU) to lead a new Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation. The...
GoAir Takes Delivery of Another Airbus A320
GoAir has taken delivery of another Airbus A320 aircraft, the ninth of ten A320s ordered by the airline in 2006 for $1.2bn. The aircraft will be deployed on the air carrier's new...
Iran Delays Indigenous Satellite Launch
Iran has delayed the launch of a satellite that was initially scheduled for the end of August 2010. In July 2010, telecommunications minister Reza Taghipour told AFP that Rasad 1...
Eurocopter Unveils Simulator for Dauphin
Eurocopter is to introduce the first Full Flight Simulator (FFS) for the Dauphin AS365 N3 in South-East Asia. The FFS, being developed in partnership with Thales, will be operational in...
Shuttle Endeavour Gets New Docking Technology Payload
The space shuttle Endeavour has received a new docking and navigation technology payload. The Sensor Test for Orion Relative Navigation Risk Mitigation (STORRM) system prototype has...
Rolls-Royce AE 3007 A2 Engine Receives Certification
Rolls-Royce has received type certification from Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the AE 3007A2 engine. All...
Russia Seeks to Launch Arktika Satellites in 2014
The Russian Economic Development Ministry has proposed launching the Arktika satellite system from 2014, according to Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) head Anatoly Perminov. The system,...
Air Lease Orders IAE V2500 Engines for A320 Fleet
Air Lease Corporation has selected the International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500 engine to power 30 of the 51 Airbus A320 family aircraft it ordered at the 2010 Farnborough Airshow. As per...
Boeing Receives FAA Approval for 787 Pilot Training Courses
Boeing Training & Flight Services has received provisional approval for its 787 Dreamliner pilot training courses from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). With the 787 pilot...
NTS to Provide Technical Services to Hawker Beechcraft
National Technical Systems (NTS) will provide engineering, testing and technical services to Hawker Beechcraft under a new agreement. NTS will supply its lifecycle product services,...
Etihad Receives First Airbus A330 Freighter
Launch customer Etihad Airways has received its first A330-200 freighter aircraft from Airbus. Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan said that the arrival of its new A330-200 freighter marked a new...
GE Launches New Upgrades for CF34-3A2 Engines
GE has launched a new on-wing engine upgrade programme for certain configurations of the CF34-3A2 engine to allow them to go from hard-time maintenance to an on-condition maintenance...
ATK and Nasa to Ground Test Ares Solid Rocket Motor
ATK and Nasa are to test the second fully developed Ares five-segment solid rocket motor known as development motor-2 (DM-2). During the test, a total of 53 design objectives will be...
SEAKR to Provide Processor for Iridium NEXT Constellation
SEAKR Engineering will provide communication processors for the Iridium NEXT constellation under a contract with Thales Alenia Space. The communication processor will provide MOD/DEMOD for...
Honeywell's Embraer Legacy Aircraft Engine Completes Testing
Honeywell's HTF7500E engine, which will power Embraer's new Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 series aircraft, has completed its first engine to test (FETT). Honeywell Aerospace...
Thai Airways Confirms Airbus A330 Order
Thai Airways has finalised the purchase agreement with Airbus for seven A330-300 aircraft, confirming the order announced at the recent Farnborough Air Show. The new aircraft will join...
India Unveils Satellite-Based Navigation System
India has unveiled a satellite-based navigation system, the global position system-aided geo augmented navigation (Gagan) system. Based on a constellation of 24 satellites positioned in...
China's Yaogan X Satellite Lifts Off
China has successfully placed another remote sensing satellite, Yaogan X, into orbit from its Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in northern Shanxi Province. Yaogan X was sent into space aboard...
Nasa and Israeli Space Agency to Cooperate in Space Activities
Nasa and the Israel Space Agency (ISA) have signed a statement of intent to expand cooperation in civil space activities. The agencies will identify new joint activities related to Earth...
Panama to Receive AW139 Helicopters
The Government of Panama has ordered six AW139 medium twin-engine helicopters from AgustaWestland. The contract also includes pilot and maintainer conversion to type training. Of the...
DLR Unveils New Ground Station for Tandem-X
German Aerospace Centre DLR has unveiled its first satellite data-receiving station in Inuvik, Canada. DLR will use the ground station to receive data for the German Tandem-X satellite mission....
ASRC to Provide Engineering Services to Nasa
ASRC Management Services will provide engineering services to Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center under a multidisciplinary engineering and technology services II contract worth up to $250m. ...
ESA Extends Thales Alenia Contract for ExoMars Mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) has extended a contract for the ExoMars mission to Mars worth €98m. The extension will cover all programme activities to March 2011, enabling...
Boeing Approves Solutia Hydraulic Fluid
Boeing has granted full approval for the use of Skydrol PE-5 hydraulic fluid in all its earlier and current aircraft. Skydrol PE-5 hydraulic fluid is now approved and listed in the...
Colorado Space Grant Consortium and Lockheed Martin to Build CubeSat
Colorado Space Grant Consortium (COSGC) will team up with Lockheed Martin to develop a miniature satellite to be known as Agile Low-cost Laboratory for Space Technology Acceleration and...
Thales Alenia to Deliver Satellites to Globalstar
Thales Alenia will deliver the first three satellites in the Globalstar second-generation constellation to the launch site. The satellites will be orbited by Arianespace on a Soyuz launcher...
TransDigm to Acquire Semco
TransDigm Group is to acquire the stock of Semco Instruments for about $73.5m. Semco manufactures proprietary, highly engineered components for all major turboprop, turbofan, and...
SELEX Galileo to Provide Atomic Clocks for Galileo Satellites
SELEX Galileo will provide its passive hydrogen MASER (PHM) atomic clocks for the Galileo FOC navigation satellites to Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) under a €30m ($39.7m) contract. ...
Honeywell Receives FAA Approval for New Flight Management System
Honeywell has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to begin its flight management system (FMS) software upgrade. The FMS will provide for advanced...
Nasa to Select Second Round of Cubesats for Launch
Nasa has announced a second opportunity for small satellite payloads to fly on rockets planned to launch in 2011 and 2012. The CubeSats, about 4in long and weighing less than 2.2lb, could...
Bombardier to Deliver Q400 Turboprops to Porter Airlines
Bombardier is to deliver four Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners to Porter Airlines of Toronto, which has also taken options on an additional six Q400 NextGen aircraft. The four aircraft...
Aerojet Completes Injector Tests on Orion Main Engine
Aerojet has completed over 20 injector tests for the 7,500lb thrust Orion main engine (OME) for Nasa's Orion crew exploration vehicle. The tests include checkout, development and...
Intelsat Selects Arianespace to Launch Intelsat-20
Intelsat has selected Arianespace to launch its Intelsat-20 satellite during the second quarter of 2012. The 5,800kg Intelsat-20 will be placed into geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5...
Roscosmos to Launch Lunar Probe in 2012
Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos will launch a probe bearing a neutron generator in 2012 to study the moon's surface. Automation Engineering Scientific Research Institute deputy...
Boeing to Build Satellites for Inmarsat
Boeing is to build three Ka-band satellites to add to Inmarsat's current mobile satellite services fleet. Under the contract, the firm will develop three 702HP commercial spacecraft,...
Arianespace to Launch India's GSAT 10 Satellite
Arianespace will launch the GSAT 10 satellite for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under a new contract. The launch is due for the first quarter of 2012, using an Ariane 5 from...
Air Asia to Defer Delivery of Airbus A320s
Malaysian airline AirAsia will defer delivery of seven aircraft by four years to 2015 due to space constraints at its Kuala Lumpur terminal. AirAsia ordered 175 Airbus A320 aircraft in...
Ariane 5 Successfully Launches Dual Payload
The third Ariane 5 rocket of 2010 has successfully launched two satellites into orbit – Nilesat 201 and Rascom-QAF1R. The satellites will provide telecommunications services to Africa,...
Glonass-K Satellite Undergoes Acoustic Tests
Reshetnev Informational Satellites Systems has completed acoustic tests on the Glonass-K satellite. The acoustic test is a type of ground experimental testing carried out to verify the...
ESA's MetOp-B Module Completes Vacuum Test
The payload module of the ESA's latest meteorological satellite, MetOp-B, has completed vacuum tests. The module, which contains all of the sensitive meteorological instruments, had been...
ESCO Acquires Aerospace Components Supplier
ESCO Technologies has acquired Crissair, a manufacturer of hydraulic, fuel and pneumatic system components for the aerospace industry. With annual revenues of about $27m, Crissair supplies...
Cathay Pacific to Buy Airbus A350-900s
Cathay Pacific Airways plans to buy 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft for HK$75bn (US$9.6bn). The A350-900s ordered by Cathay Pacific will be powered by Rolls-Royce XWB engines and be the backbone...
India to Require 1,150 Aircraft
India will require 1,150 commercial aircraft worth $130bn over the next two decades, according to Boeing India head Dinesh Keskar. Boeing has updated its latest 20-year aircraft...
Nasa Launches Sounding Rocket
Nasa has launched a three-stage Black Brant X suborbital sounding rocket from its Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The mission aims to test the performance of the vehicle's third stage...
Goodrich to Acquire DeCrane Aerospace Assets
Goodrich will acquire the cabin management assets of DeCrane Holdings, a provider of seating, furniture, veneers and cabin management systems for the business jet market. The $280m...
Astrium to Develop VNREDSat-1 Satellite for Vietnam
Astrium will design, manufacture and launch an Earth observation optical satellite system for the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) for €55.2m ($72.4m). The firm will...
Nasa and ESA Select Instruments for Joint Mission to Mars
Nasa and the European Space Agency (ESA) have selected five science instruments for the first joint mission to explore Mars. The two agencies intend to carry out two Mars cooperative missions...
Atlas Air Subsidiary to Lease 747-8 Freighters for British Airways
Atlas Air Worldwide (AAWW) subsidiary Global Supply Systems (GSS) will operate three Boeing 747-8 freighters on behalf of British Airways (BA), under a five-year wet leasing agreement. Under...
Airbus to Ramp-Up A320 Production Rates
Airbus intends to ramp-up the monthly production rate of its A320 family aircraft to 38 a month in August 2011 and to 40 a month in first quarter of 2012. At present, the company turns out...
Honeywell to Supply Atlas V Rocket Guidance System
Honeywell will provide primary avionics components for guidance and navigation of the Atlas V rocket to United Launch Alliance in a follow-on contract. The firm will supply the...
SpiceJet Looks to Buy Boeing Aircraft
SpiceJet has announced plans to buy 30 aircraft from Boeing, at an estimated cost of $2.7bn. Spicejet director Ajay Singh told the Business Standard that it has board approval for...
China Launches Satellite to Add to its GPS Constellation
China has successfully launched the fifth satellite that will add to its indigenous satellite navigation and positioning network. The satellite was launched from the Long March 3I...
Raytheon to Serve Nasa Lab and Space Vehicle Mock-up Unit
Raytheon will operate, maintain and provide sustaining engineering at the Johnson Space Center's neutral buoyancy laboratory and space vehicle mock-up facility, under a new contract. The...
Boeing Receives 737 Aircraft Order from Southwest Airlines
Boeing has received an order from Southwest Airlines to begin delivery of 25 737-700 jets at the beginning of 2011. The airline will use the new 737 aircraft to replace its older classic...
Nasa's Grail Spacecraft Completes Fuel Tank Check
Nasa has completed a fuel tank check on its gravity recovery and interior laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft. The size and fit of the components need to be confirmed as a necessary step...
Finnair to Buy Two Airbus A340 Aircraft
Finnair will acquire two 270-seat Airbus A340 wide-bodied aircraft to meet growing demand on Asian flights. The airline will buy the A340s on four-year lease agreements from leasing...
Russia to Launch Glonass Satellites in September
Three Russian global navigation satellite system (Glonass) satellites will launch in September 2010 atop a Proton-M rocket. At present, work on one of the three satellites is being completed...
AeroMechanical Signs Contract with Scandinavian Airline
AeroMechanical Services (AMA) has signed a contract to install afirs UpTime on the entire fleet of 34 turboprop aircraft for a regional Scandinavian airline. The contract includes...
Orbital to Manage Sounding Rocket Programme for Nasa
Orbital Sciences will provide sounding rockets operations for Nasa under a new contract. The firm will coordinate and implement Nasa's overall sounding rockets programme and provide services...
Honeywell to Provide Service Support for ANA's 787 Fleet
Honeywell has signed a ten-year integrated service agreement for supporting ANA's 50 Boeing 787 aircraft. The firm will provide access to spares, logistics and repair services for the...
China Looks to Super-Powerful Engine for Space Use
China is considering a new super-powerful engine for the next generation of space rockets. China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) marketing department general manager Li Tongyu...
July 2010
Top
TAM Airlines Confirms Order for Airbus Aircraft
TAM airlines has ordered 25 Airbus aircraft, confirming a memorandum of understanding (MoU) announced at ILA Berlin Air Show in June 2010. The order includes the purchase of 20 A320 family...
Nasa Completes Cryogenic Mirror Test for James Webb Telescope
Nasa's Marshall Space Flight Center has successfully completed a series of cryogenic tests on six beryllium mirror segments for the James Webb Space Telescope. During testing, the mirrors...
Boeing Upgrades 767 Simulators for ANA
Boeing has successfully completed an upgrade of the visual systems on three All Nippon Airways (ANA) 767-300 full-flight simulators in Tokyo. The upgrade will enhance the realism and quality...
Sikorsky X2 Technology Demonstrator Achieves Speed Record
Sikorsky Aircraft's X2 Technology demonstrator has achieved the speed record for rotorcraft (225kt) in a one-hour test flight at the company's development flight centre. X2...
Alaska Airlines Exercises Options for Boeing Next-Generation 737s
Alaska Airlines has exercised options for two additional Boeing next-generation 737-800 aircraft at an estimated value of $153m. The airline will take delivery of 13 next-generation 737s...
Rolls-Royce Wins $1.7bn of New Business
Rolls-Royce received $1.7bn of new orders during the Farnborough Air Show. The firm received orders worth over $1bn for its Trent 700 engine to power 17 Airbus A330s from Aeroflot,...
Airbus Receives Commitments Worth $28bn
Airbus has announced that it received commitments for 255 aircraft, valued at around $28bn, at the 2010 Farnborough Air Show. The commitments include firm orders for 133 aircraft worth...
Pakistan Air Crash Kills 152
An Airblue flight from Karachi to Islamabad in Pakistan crashed yesterday, killing everybody on board. The Airbus A321 carrying 146 passengers and six crew left Karachi at 07.50 local...
RBS Awards Aircraft Order to Airbus and Boeing
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has placed an order worth $7.6bn for 52 Airbus A320 family aircraft and 43 Boeing 737 family aircraft. RBS's aircraft-leasing unit, RBS Aviation Capital,...
Third Ariane 5 Rocket to Enter Launch Preparation
The Ariane 5 for Arianespace's third mission in 2010 is ready for the final launch preparation phase, during which it will receive its dual-satellite payload. Ariane 5 ECA will carry the...
Intelsat 22 Spacecraft Completes Critical Design Review
Boeing has successfully completed the critical design review (CDR) of the Intelsat 22 satellite (IS-22) and its ultra-high-frequency (UHF) hosted payload. IS-22 will provide commercial...
Nasa, Lockheed and Ball Aerospace Demo New Space Docking Technology
Nasa, Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace have conducted a demonstration of a new navigation system to make docking onto the International Space Station (ISS) safer and easier. The...
First Australian Plane Successfully Circumnavigates the Globe
The first Australian-designed and manufactured aircraft, the GA8-TC Airvan, has successfully completed its mission to fly around the globe. Taking off from Bendigo in the State of...
Azerbaijan Airlines to Acquire Boeing 767-300s
Azerbaijan Airlines will acquire two next-generation 737 airplanes in place of a 767-300ER and two 767 freighters from Boeing. Azerbaijan Airlines president Jahangir Askerov said it...
Goodrich and Mubadala to Form Landing Gear MRO Services JV
Goodrich and Mubadala Aerospace will form a joint venture firm to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services on landing gear of aircraft. Under the head of agreement (HOA), the...
Ball Aerospace Integrates CrIS Sensor on NPP Weather Satellite
Ball Aerospace has completed integration and performance testing of the cross-track infrared sounder (CrIS) into Nasa's national preparatory project (NPP) weather satellite. CrIS, an...
Bombardier Receives Order for Q400 NextGen Airliners from Qantas
Bombardier has received a $218m order for seven Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners from Qantas Airways. The aircraft will be operated by Qantas's wholly owned regional airline, QantasLink. ...
American Airlines Exercises Options for Boeing 737-800s
American Airlines has exercised options for an additional 35 next-generation 737-800s, Boeing announced at the UK's Farnborough Air Show. The new airplanes will replace the air...
Virgin America to Acquire Airbus A320s
Virgin America will acquire 40 Airbus A320 aircraft under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two firms at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK. The airline will decide on...
CFM56 Engine to Power Germania's A319 Fleet
CFM International's CFM56-5B engines are to power five Airbus A319 aircraft owned by Germania under a $70m contract. The engines feature Tech Insertion technology that will result in longer...
Air Lease Corporation to Purchase Boeing 737-800s
Air Lease Corporation (ALC) will purchase up to 60 next-generation 737-800s from Boeing, the firm announced at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK. The agreement includes 54 firm orders and...
Vistajet to Receive Bombardier Business Jets
Vistajet will receive four Global Express XRS aircraft and two Challenger 605 jets from Bombardier under a $277m order announced by Bombardier at the Farnborough Air Show. VistaJet founder...
Airbus Receives Order for A320s at Farnborough
Airbus has received an order for 50 A320 family aircraft from LAN Airlines at the Farnborough Air Show, which is currently taking place in the UK. The deal includes ten A321s, a new...
Rolls-Royce Trent 700 Engines to Power Aeroflot A330s
Rolls-Royce will deliver 24 Trent 700 engines to power 11 Airbus A330 aircraft in Aeroflot's fleet. The Trent engine marked its presence in Russia with its first flight on an Aeroflot...
FAC Launches Online Database
Farnborough Air Consortium (FAC) has launched its UK aerospace and defence capabilities database (ADCAP). Announced at this week's Farnborough Air Show in the UK, The ADCAP website is...
Boeing Receives Order for 737-800s from GECAS
Boeing has received an order for 40 next-generation 737-800 aircraft from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) worth $3bn. GECAS intends to expand its fleet of aircraft with the new...
Astrium to Develop Atomic Clock Ensemble for Space Station
Astrium will develop an atomic clock ensemble in space (ACES) for the International Space Station (ISS) under a contract from the European Space Agency. The contract involves the development...
Pratt & Whitney Receives Malaysia Airlines Orders for A330 Fleet at Air Show
Pratt & Whitney has received orders for its PW4170 Advantage70 engine to power 17 Malaysian Airlines Airbus A330 aircraft at the Farnborough Air Show, UK. The order includes engines for...
Honeywell to Provide APU and Maintenance for easyJet A320s
Honeywell will provide its 131-9A auxiliary power unit (APU) and extended maintenance service for easyJet's Airbus A320 family of aircraft for ten years under a $51m contract. The contract...
FAA to Require All Civil Aircraft to Reregister
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has brought out a new rule that will require all civil aircraft to undergo reregistration over the next three years and renewal every three...
Flybe Orders Embraer E Jets at Air Show
Flybe has ordered up to 140 Embraer 175 and E-family aircraft at the Farnborough Air Show, currently taking place in UK. The order, with a potential value of $5bn, includes 35 firm orders...
Boeing and Norwegian Air Shuttle Agree on 737 Purchase at Farnborough
Boeing will deliver 15 737-800 aircraft to Norwegian Air Shuttle under an agreement signed at the Farnborough International Air Show. The agreement is part of a 2007 order for 42...
Airbus Unveils Futuristic Concept Plane
Airbus unveiled its take on the future this week as it revealed images of a new concept plane at the Farnborough International Air Show in the UK. Engineers experienced in aircraft...
GE Capital Aviation Orders Airbus A320s
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has ordered 60 additional A320 family aircraft from Airbus at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK. The new order brings the total number of A320...
Emirates Bolsters Fleet at Farnborough
Dubai-based carrier Emirates has ordered an extra 30 Boeing 777-300ERs, taking their total order to 101. The airline disclosed the deal, valued at $9.1bn, at the Farnborough Air Show, which...
SS/L to Deliver Satellite to Eutelsat and ictQATAR
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) will deliver a high-performance communications satellite to be jointly owned and operated by Eutelsat and ictQATAR. In May 2010, Eutelsat and ictQATAR signed...
Goodrich and Dayton to Develop Nanomaterial for Aerospace Use
Goodrich and the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) will work together to develop an innovative nanomaterial for composite structures suited for commercial aerospace...
Uzbekistan Airways Receives New Airbus 320
Uzbekistan Airways has received the first of ten Airbus A320 ordered as part of its strategic fleet modernisation programme. The aircraft has been configured as a two-class cabin layout to...
Virgin Galactic Flies First Manned Flight
The second prototype of the world's first commercial spaceship, Virgin Galactic's VSS Enterprise, has performed its first manned flight. During the six-hour 12-minute flight, the...
Boeing to Build 787 Interior Parts in South Carolina
Boeing has selected North Charleston, South Carolina, US, as the location for its 787 Dreamliner interiors fabrication facility. After two years of delays the 787 will be unveiled at...
Eaton to Supply Cockpit Components for COMAC C919
Eaton Corporation will supply cockpit panel assemblies and dimming control systems for the COMAC C919 aircraft programme, under a new deal. The programme, estimated to be worth over $425m,...
Mubadala's New Facility to Begin Manufacturing Airbus Plane Parts
Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Aerospace will begin manufacturing Airbus parts at its new facility by Q4 2010. Executive director Homaid al-Shemmari told Reuters that Mubadala will receive the first...
Dreamliner to Take Centre Stage at Farnborough
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is set to appear at the UK's Farnborough's International Air Show 2010. The craft, already Boeing's most successful wide-body programme sales launch in history with...
Bombardier Builds Validation Facility for Learjet 85
Bombardier has built the first composite manufacturing validation unit (MVU) for the pressure fuselage section of the Learjet 85 aircraft. The MVU will be used to validate design...
Honeywell to Provide Components for C919 Airliner
Honeywell will provide wheels and brakes, the brake control system (BCS) and tyres for the new C919 airliner to Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). Honeywell's carbon brake...
UK Aerospace Performs Well Despite Crisis
The UK's aerospace sector performed well in 2009 despite the economic crisis, according to ADS's 2010 aerospace industry survey. ADS Chairman Ian Godden labelled this as an...
Avolon Acquires Two A320 Aircraft from Air Berlin
Avolon has acquired two Airbus A320 aircraft from Air Berlin under a sale and leaseback structure. The aircraft will continue to be operated for carrier Belair, a subsidiary airline of...
Eurocopter Authorises Sale of Pall's Engine Protection for EC135/635
Eurocopter has given Pall Corporation permission to sell the Centrisep engine advanced protection system (EAPS) directly to EC135/635 helicopter operators. The system had previously only...
Boeing Unveils Hydrogen-Powered UAV
Boeing has unveiled the Phantom Eye, a new hydrogen-powered unmanned airborne system. The demonstrator aircraft is capable of staying in the air at an altitude of 65,000ft for up to four days. ...
Rockwell and CETCA to Provide Communication Systems for COMAC C919
Rockwell Collins and China Electronics Technology Avionics (CETCA) will provide communication and navigation systems for Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China's (COMAC) new C919 family...
Sea Launch to Provide AsiaSat Satellite Launch
Sea Launch has signed a contract with AsiaSat to launch a future satellite for $98m, settling a previous dispute rising out of Sea Launch's bankruptcy. Sea Launch expects to emerge...
ISRO Rocket Launches with Five Satellites
The Indian Space and Research Organisation's (ISRO) polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) has successfully launched with five satellites onboard. The PSLV injected Cartosat–2B and four...
JAXA's Solar Sail Satellite Achieves Photon Acceleration
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) experimental satellite, IKAROS, has begun accelerating with solar pressure after unfurling its solar sail. The interplanetary...
Echostar XV Satellite Performs Post-Launch Manoeuvres
The EchoStar XV satellite is conducting post-launch manoeuvres after being successfully launched into space by an ILS Proton Breeze M launch vehicle. The satellite, built for DISH Network...
Israel Draws Up Civilian Space Plan
Israel plans to invest NIS300m ($77.5m) annually for five years to start up a $10bn-a-year civilian space industry, under a new draft of a space plan. The new national space programme will...
GE, AVIC Systems to Provide Avionics Systems for COMAC C919
GE and AVIC Systems have been chosen to provide avionics core processing, display and on-board maintenance systems for Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China's (COMAC) newly introduced...
British Airways Receives First Boeing 777-300
British Airways (BA) has taken delivery of its first Boeing 777-300 ER, the longest aircraft in its fleet. The 297-seat aircraft is expected to cut the airline's CO2 emissions. It will...
AGC Launches Aircraft Engine Leasing Programme
AGC Aerospace & Defense has launched an aircraft engine leasing initiative following the closing of its first aircraft engine purchase and leaseback transaction with GE Aviation. ...
Aerosonic Awarded Aerodynamic Test Equipment Contract
US-based Aerosonic Corporation has received a contract from Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) to build complex aerodynamic test equipment. The contract includes hardware, software and training....
Boeing Selects NTS Test Equipment for 777 Programme
Boeing has selected National Technical Systems to provide automated test equipment (ATE) systems for its 777 programme. The ATE systems will perform tests on 777 systems, avionics and...
Iran to Launch New Satellite in August
Iran plans to launch a new satellite, the Rasad 1, in the last week of August. Iranian Telecommunication Minister Reza Taghipour told Mehr News Agency that Rasad 1 was due for launch atop...
Embraer Sets Up Technical Services Unit in China
Embraer has established a new subsidiary, the Embraer China Aircraft Technical Services Company (ECA), in China to strengthen its existing customer support capability. ECA's business...
Nasa Aircraft to Study Hurricanes
Nasa will use three aircraft to study tropical cyclones on 15 August as part of its first major US-based hurricane field campaign since 2001. The Genesis and Rapid Intensification...
CAE to Deliver Bombardier Learjet 85 Simulator
CAE will deliver a full-flight simulator for Bombardier's new Learjet 85 to expand the company's worldwide pilot and maintenance training network. The simulator will be placed at...
Solar-Powered Plane Completes First Night Flight
A light aircraft known as Solar Impulse has become the first solar-powered aircraft to fly through the night and for longer than 24 hours, running only on solar energy. The first prototype...
Boeing to Acquire Narus
Boeing plans to acquire Narus, a provider of real-time network traffic and analytics software for protection against cyber attacks and threats aimed at large internet protocol networks. ...
ATK and Nasa Prepare Solid Rocket Motor for Ground Test
ATK and Nasa have completed the installation of the Ares I first stage five-segment development motor (DM-2) in preparation for its static-fire test in early September 2010. The Ares I...
Orion Crew Module Completes Phase 1 Safety Review
Nasa's Orion crew exploration vehicle has successfully completed the phase 1 safety review of the agency's human rating requirements for space exploration in low Earth orbit and beyond. ...
Indian Helicopter Simulator Gains Certifications
A Bell 412 full-mission simulator developed by the Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF) has been certified to level D. The simulator has been certified by...
Dublin Aerospace to Provide Maintenance for Aer Lingus Fleet
Dublin Aerospace will provide a portion of the base maintenance services for Aer Lingus from 1 November 2010. Under the contract, the firm will provide the service for 12 of the airline's...
SS/L to Build New Satellite for HISPASAT
Space Systems / Loral (SS/L) is to build a new satellite, Amazonas 3, for the HISPASAT Group. HISPASAT will use Amazonas 3 to broadcast and distribute TV and radio programming in the...
Sikorsky Acquires Aircraft Accessories Manufacturer
Sikorsky Aerospace Services has acquired LifePort, an aircraft accessories manufacturer. The manufacturer specialises in air medical systems, lightweight armour, interior furnishings and...
Kenya Airways to Lease Embraer E190s
Kenya Airways plans to acquire two Embraer E190 aircraft before the end of 2010. Under the two-aircraft deal, the air carrier will take delivery of the larger Embraer E190 jet model leased...
Russia to Launch Lunar Rovers in 2013
Russia plans to launch two Lunar rovers to the poles of the moon in 2013 to study deposits of water ice. The lunar craft include a Russian Luna-Glob satellite and Luna-Resource satellite...
Space Freighter Docks onto ISS After Initial Failure
Space freighter Progress M-06M has finally docked with the international space station after an initial glitch. The spacecraft, designated ISS Progress 38, has flown 1,918lb of propellant,...
Spirit Aero Opens New Manufacturing Unit
Spirit AeroSystems has opened a new manufacturing facility in Kinston in North Carolina, US. The 500,000ft² facility will be used for the design and manufacture of composite centre...
Indian Rocket to Launch Satellites in July
The Indian Space and Research Organisation's (ISRO) polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) will launch the Cartosat-2B and Alsat satellites into space in July, having previously suffered...
Lufthansa Orders Additional CRJ900 Jets
Lufthansa has placed an order for eight additional CRJ900 NextGen regional jets from Bombardier, exercising previously announced purchase rights. The contract is valued at approximately $317m....
Boeing Completes Firm 787-9 Dreamliner Configuration
Boeing has completed the firm configuration for the 787-9 Dreamliner. Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice-president of 787-9 development Mark Jenks said that firm configuration meant the...
Commuter Air Delivers Modified Beechcraft 200 Aircraft
Commuter Air Technology (CAT) has delivered a modified Beechcraft 200 to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. CAT installed an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance pod (ISR pod)...
Booz Allen Wins FAA NextGen Engineering Contract
Booz Allen Hamilton will provide engineering and programme management services for the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) next-generation air transportation system (NextGen). The...
Boeing to Deliver Next-Generation 737-800s to Air China
Boeing is to deliver 20 next-generation 737-800 jetliners to Air China, under a new contract. The chinese carrier will use the aircraft to expand its domestic routes. The 737-800 is...
Pratt & Whitney Demonstrates Cryogenic Engine Technologies
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has demonstrated a 35% greater throttling range for the common extensible cryogenic engine (CECE). The new CECE tests are the fourth series of tests by Pratt...
Globalstar Installs Upgrades on Satellite Control Centre
Globalstar has successfully completed installing hardware and software upgrades for its Satellite Operations and Control Center (SOCC). The upgrades, provided by Thales Alenia Space,...
ITT Delivers Key Sensor for NPP Satellite
ITT has delivered an advanced infrared sensor to Ball Aerospace, which will be used on the preparatory satellite for the national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system...
Astrium to Build W5A Satellite for Eutelsat
Astrium will build a W5A satellite for Eutelsat to replace its existing W5 spacecraft and increase its resources by more than double at 70.5° east. W5A will provide government...
Russian Space Freighter Lifts Off to Space Station
The Russian space freighter Progress M-06M has successfully lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on its journey atop a Soyuz-U rocket to the International Space Station. ...
ISS Redocks Russian Spacecraft to Make Way for Freighter
Crewmembers of the International Space Station have successfully shifted a Russian spacecraft to the Rassvet research module to make way for a space freighter. The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft,...
Boeing Suspends 787 Fuselage Shipments
Boeing has temporarily suspended 787 Dreamliner fuselage shipments to the final assembly plant near Seattle to resolve issues of parts shortages along the supply chain. Boeing spokeswoman...
Arianespace to Launch Argentine Arsat-1 Satellite
Arianespace will launch the Arsat-1 satellite for the Argentine satellite operator ARSAT under a new launch services and solutions contract. Arianespace will employ its Ariane 5 or...
Russia to Develop Heavy Launchers for Satellites
Russia is seeking to develop launch vehicles that will carry heavier payloads to the International Space Station by 2018. In the first phase, a mid-class carrier rocket system will be...
June 2010
Top
Toho to Supply Composite Material for Bombardier CSeries Aircraft
Toho Tenax Europe is to supply carbon fibre material for primary and secondary composite structures on Bombardier's new CSeries aircraft programme. The firm will supply a range of carbon...
Aerojet and UEC to Continue Work on Rocket Engines
Aerojet and United Engine Corporation (UEC) will continue to work together to provide NK-33 and AJ26 rocket engines to the commercial launch market under a new cooperation agreement. ...
Nasa Retires First Data Relay Satellite
Nasa has retired its first tracking and data relay (TDRS 1) satellite after 27 years of service. Launched into orbit during space shuttle Challenger's STS-6 mission in 1983, TDRS 1 provided...
Mahindra to Build Small Aircraft for Indian Market
Mahindra Aerospace is to begin manufacturing smaller civil aircraft for the Indian aviation market. Mahindra board member Hemant Luthra told the Indo-Asian news service (IANS) that it...
Nextant Completes Beechjet 400A Engine Upgrade
Nextant Aerospace has completed fitting a Williams International FJ44-3AP engine to a Beechjet 400A aircraft. The aircraft, serial number RK-108, is the first of two aircraft to be used in...
Ariane 5 Launches Arabsat-5A and COMS
Arianspace's Ariane 5 successfully launched the Arabsat-5A and COMS satellites on 26 June, following a delay due to a subsystem anomaly. The satellite built by Astrium and Thales Alenia for...
CFM to Deliver 1,200 Engines in 2010
CFM International expects to deliver at least 1,200 engines in 2010, according to Snecma chief executive Philippe Petitcolin. CFM, jointly owned by GE and Snecma, delivered 1,263 engines...
Nasa Selects Barrios for ISS Mission Integration Contract
Nasa has selected Barrios Technology to provide services support for International Space Station (ISS) mission integration under a $273m contract. Barrios will provide the engineering...
Harris to Upgrade Nasa's Data Relay System
Harris Corporation will modernise the ground segment for Nasa's tracking and data relay satellite system (TDRSS), under a $140m contract from General Dynamics. The TDRSS network is used by...
Citation X Aircraft to Receive Honeywell Cockpit Displays
Cessna's Citation X aircraft will be fitted with Honeywell's Primus Elite cockpit displays from 2011, under a new contract. New features include XM graphical weather in the US and...
Boeing Commercial Planes to Continue Using VSMPO Forgings
Boeing will continue to buy titanium forgings and rough-machined titanium forgings from VSMPO-AVISMA until 2015 for use on its 787 Dreamliner, 777 and 737 commercial airplane...
FAA Awards Green Aviation Technology Contracts
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $125m in contracts to develop and demonstrate technologies to reduce commercial jet fuel consumption, emissions and noise. The contracts...
Astrium to Develop New Cryogenic Technologies for ESA Missions
Astrium is to develop technologies for new re-ignitable upper stages for new launchers for the European Space Agency (ESA). Under the two-year contract, Astrium will develop...
Agusta Westland and Oboronprom to Build Helicopter Plant
Agusta Westland is partnering with Oboronprom (Russian Helicopters) to establish a joint civil AW139 helicopter final assembly plant in Tomilino, near Moscow. The final assembly, which will...
Ariane 5 Mission to Face Launch Delay
The Ariane 5 mission to place Arabsat-5A and the COMS satellite payloads into space has been delayed due to a subsystem anomaly. The rocket mission was postponed after a launcher...
Royal Jordanian to Add New Airbus Aircraft
Royal Jordanian Airlines plans to introduce seven new Airbus A320 and A321 airliners to replace six existing Airbus aircraft that are operating in the fleet. The new addition is a part of...
All Nippon to Buy MRJ90 Aircraft Fleet
Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) plans to purchase 15 MRJ90 aircraft from Mitsubishi Aircraft for 69.2bn yen ($758m). The airline is expected to take delivery of the 15 MRJ90 aircraft...
Orbital Sciences to Launch Nasa OCO-2 Mission
Orbital Sciences will provide launch services for Nasa's orbiting carbon observatory-2 (OCO-2) mission for $70m. Under the contract, Orbital will provide launch services for the Taurus XL...
ASTG to Purchase Boeing 767-300s from Qantas
Air Transport Services Group (ASTG) plans to purchase three passenger-configuration Boeing 767-300 aircraft from Qantas Airways. The group will shortly complete arrangements for modifying...
Russian Space Agency Orders More Soyuz Launches
Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, has signed an agreement with Arianespace for ten additional Soyuz-ST rocket missions and relevant support from Guiana Space Centre (CSG). The Soyuz-ST,...
Garuda Seeks Partner to Finance Boeing Aircraft Purchases
PT Garuda Indonesia is seeking a partner to finance planned purchases of Boeing aircraft. The airline is in talks with the US Export-Import Bank for $1.5bn of financing for the...
Malaysian Air May Cancel A380 Order Over Delays
Malaysian Airline System is holding talks with Airbus over the delayed delivery of its six A380 superjumbo planes, and may consider terminating the order. The carrier was originally meant...
Fourth Gulfstream G650 Jetliner Enters Test Programme
A fourth Gulfstream G650 S/N 6004 aircraft has entered the flight programme to validate the new G650 series of aircraft. The fourth G650 (S/N 6004) made its first test flight on 6 June 2010...
Rolls-Royce Trent XWB Engine Performs First Run
Rolls-Royce has successfully run the Trent XWB engine for the first time on a testbed in the UK. The Trent XWB is specifically designed for the Airbus A350 XWB family of aircraft with...
GD to Upgrade Nasa Space Network Ground Segment
General Dynamics C4 Systems will upgrade the ground segment for Nasa's space network under a contract worth $642.2m. The network will provide the resources for global...
Germany's TanDEM-X Satellite Launches
The German Aerospace Centre's (DLR) second earth observation satellite, TanDEM-X, has been successfully launched into space aboard a Dnepr rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. ...
SES-1 Satellite Enters Commercial Operation
The SES World Skies SES-1 satellite has successfully entered commercial operation at the orbital location of 101°W. The SES-1 Orbital Sciences-built satellite is based on its STARTM 2.4...
Integral to Provide Satellite Ground Systems for BSkyB
Integral Systems has been awarded a new satellite ground station contract from British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) for its new broadcast facility, Harlequin 1. Under the contract, Integral...
Lockheed Fuses Together Orion Crew Module Parts
Lockheed Martin has completed welding together the two halves of the Orion crew module marking the completion of the structural framework. The firm welded the forward cone assembly to the...
Pratt & Whitney to Build Engine Parts in China
Pratt & Whitney is in talks with the Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC) to jointly build aircraft engine parts in the country. Pratt & Whitney commercial engines and global...
Boeing Tests First GE-Engined 787 Dreamliner
Boeing has successfully tested the first 787 Dreamliner powered by General Electric (GE) engines. The fifth 787, the ZA005, was introduced into the test fleet for GE-engine flight testing...
Turkish Airlines to Receive Additional A330-200 Aircraft
Turkish Airlines has placed an order for an additional A330-200 aircraft from Airbus. The aircraft will add to an existing order for ten A330-300s, two A330-200 freighters and 24 A320...
Boeing Raises 737 Airplane Production Rate
Boeing has announced a second production rate increase for its 737 family of aircraft from 34 airplanes a month to 35 from May 2012. In May 2010, the firm ramped up the production rate from...
Turkish Drones Idle in Absence of Israeli Staff
Turkey's six Heron drones, located at an air base near Turkey's Iraqi and Iranian borders, have stopped flying, after Israeli operators left the base due to Turkish-Israeli tensions. ...
SpaceX's Falcon 9 to Launch Iridium NEXT Satellites
The Falcon 9 launch vehicle developed by Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will provide launch services for the Iridium NEXT constellation of satellites under a $492m deal. The Falcon...
Northrop to Develop Long-Endurance Airships for US Army
The US Army has awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman to develop up to three long-endurance multi-intelligence vehicle (LEMV) systems. Under the $517m contract, Northrop will build and test...
Lockheed Built F-35B Completes First Supersonic Flight
A Lockheed Martin-built F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter with short-take-off-vertical-landing (STOVL) capabilities has, for the first time, flown at supersonic speeds. During...
Schiebel Displays Camcopter S-100 UAV at Berlin Air Show
Schiebel has demonstrated its new Camcopter S-100 vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial system during a flying display at the Berlin Air Show, Germany. The firm is showing a...
Arianespace to Launch Vietnamese Satellite
Arianespace will launch the VINASAT-2 satellite for Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group under a new contract with Lockheed Martin. The satellite will be launched onboard an Ariane 5 or...
Swedish Prisma Satellites Launch on Dneper Rocket
Two Swedish Prisma satellites have been successfully launched aboard a Dnepr launcher from Yasny, Russia. The Prisma satellites, clamped together in launch configuration, separated from...
Turkish Trainer Aircraft to Use Microtecnica Environmental Device
Turkish Aerospace Industries has selected Microtechnica to provide the environmental control system for the Hurkus, the first trainer aircraft designed and built in Turkey. Microtecnica...
Chinese Space Research Satellite Launched
China has successfully launched a scientific research satellite into space from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China's Gansu Province. The Shijian XII has been developed to carry...
Hong Kong Airlines Takes Delivery of First Airbus A330-200
Hong Kong Airlines has taken delivery of its first A330-200 aircraft from Airbus. The aircraft is the first of 53 aircraft ordered by the carrier. The fleet will eventually comprise 23 A330s...
Bombardier to Acquire Hangar for Global Jets
Bombardier is to acquire an ExelTech Aerospace hangar to enable further work on Global 5000 and Global Express XRS business jets. The acquisition will increase the capability of its...
SpaceX to Launch Satellite for Chinese Space Agency
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will launch the Formosat-5 satellite for China's National Space Organisation (NSPO) in December 2013 from its launch site on Omelek Island at the US...
Bombardier Approves New Waterborne Coating Technology
Bombardier Aerospace has approved two next-generation waterborne structural primers from AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings, following extensive tests and trials. Aerowave 2001, one of the...
Luftansa Engineers to Maintain Engines for Eurowings
Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey (LTAA) will maintain the engines for the Eurowings fleet of Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft for a period of eight years under a new agreement. The 15 bombardier...
Germania to Receive Airbus A319 Fleet
Germania will receive a fleet of five A319 aircraft under a memorandum of understanding between Airbus and the airline's holding company, SAT. The carrier plans to start a complete...
South Korean Rocket Explodes Minutes After Launch
Naro-I, a South Korean rocket set to place a science satellite into orbit, exploded minutes after launch, frustrating South Korean leaders, who want to see the country rejoin the space...
FAA and Insitu Research Unmanned Aircraft for National Airspace
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Insitu will jointly research the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into national airspace under a cooperative research...
Airbus to Deliver A320s and A350s to TAM
Airbus is to deliver 20 A320 aircraft and five A350-900 airliners to Brazilian carrier TAM. The A350-900 aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines. TAM is yet to decide on engines for...
Brazil Discusses C-295 Purchase
The Brazilian Air Force (BAF) is in talks with Airbus Military to buy eight additional C-295 aircraft. Airbus SAS head Domingo Urena-Raso told Valor Economico that the value of the purchase...
Nasa and DLR to Extend GRACE Mission
Nasa and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) have signed an agreement to extend the gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) mission through the end of its on-orbit life due in 2015. ...
Emirates Orders Additional Airbus A380s
Emirates has ordered 32 additional A380 airliners from Airbus for $11.5bn, adding to its current fleet of 58. Emirates group chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said the...
Bombardier Receives Airworthiness Approval for German VIP Jet
Bombardier has received the certificate of airworthiness (CofA) from Transport Canada for the first Global 5000 jet to be operated by the German Federal Ministry of Defence (FMOD). The...
SS/L Delivers EchoStarXV Satellite to Launch Site
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has delivered the EchoStarXV communications satellite to the launch site at Baikonur Space Centre in Kazakhstan. EchoStar XV, built for EchoStar Orbital...
Emirates Airline Receives New Airbus A380
Emirates has taken delivery of a new A380 airliner from Airbus, bringing its fleet of the aircraft up to ten. It is the 13th A380 to be delivered for commercial use by the France-based...
Northrop Bids for Nato Alliance Ground Surveillance Contract
Northrop Grumman has submitted its proposal for the Nato alliance ground surveillance (AGS) system, the alliance's top acquisition programme. Nato is acquiring the AGS system that will enable...
Russia Raises ISS Orbit for Spacecraft Docking
Russia's mission control has raised the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2.5km to ensure the best conditions for the docking of the Soyuz TMA-19 manned spacecraft and the...
Orbital Sciences to Launch Nasa's IRIS Mission
Orbital Sciences is to launch the interface region imaging spectrograph (IRIS) spacecraft for Nasa under a new contract. The spacecraft is scheduled to fly aboard a Pegasus XL rocket...
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Performs First Flight Test
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has successfully carried out the first of a series of test flights, marking a significant milestone for commercial spaceflight. The two-stage rocket placed the...
IATA Presents Aviation Leadership Award to Neil Armstrong
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has presented Neil Armstrong with its Global Aviation Leadership Award (GALA) for his contribution to the space programme. IATA...
UK Airline to Test New Ash Cloud Detection Device
Budget UK airline easyJet plans to test fly a new device that will be capable of detecting ash clouds and minimising future disruption. The air carrier will be the first in the world to test...
ILS Proton Launches Satellite for Arabsat
The International Launch Services Proton launch vehicle has successfully launched, carrying Arabsat's BADR-5 satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit Collocated with the BADR-4 and...
Luxair Orders Boeing 737-800
Luxembourg airline Luxair has ordered a next-generation 737-800 airliner from Boeing for $77m. The aircraft will add to the air carrier's three operational 737-700s and one...
ILA Berlin Starts Today
The ILA Berlin Air Show begins today at Schoenefeld Airport, Germany, with delegates from all major aerospace companies exhibiting the latest developments. German Chancellor Angela Merkel...
China Launches Fourth GPS Satellite
China has successfully launched its fourth satellite, forming part of its global navigation network called Beidou. The satellite was placed in orbit atop a Long March 3 carrier rocket,...
Dubai Airports to Ban Older Aircraft
Airports in Dubai will ban older aircraft from 31 October as part of its silent airport project to reduce noise pollution and curb emissions. Chapter 1 and 2 aircraft classified by...
Dreamliner Variant Unlikely to Go into Production
Boeing's 787-3 Dreamliner is unlikely to go into production, according to the company's head of the commercial division James Albaugh. Albaugh told Bloomburg he would "be really surprised"...
Poland Reveals Pilots at Fault for Presidential Plane Crash
Pilots flying the Polish presidential plane that crashed on 10 April at Smolensk South Airport in western Russia ignored the Russian air traffic controller's repeated warnings not to...
Aviation Leaders to Meet at IATA AGM in Berlin
The world's aviation leaders will meet at the 66th International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual general meeting and world air transport summit in Berlin today. The leaders will...
Nasa Seeks Green Aircraft Concept Projects
Nasa is inviting study proposals to identify concepts enabling commercial airliners to fly more economically by 2025. The research projects will suggest advanced vehicle concepts that...
Nasa Completes Landsat Critical Design Review
Nasa has successfully completed the critical design review (CDR) of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM). The CDR confirms the maturity of the LDCM design and supports transition...
Orbital to Build Azerbaijan Commercial Satellite
Orbital Sciences will build and deliver the Azerspace / Africasat-1a communications satellite to Azerbaijan under a contract with the country's Ministry of Communications and...
Russian Commercial Satellites to Launch on ILS Proton
Two Russian commercial satellites, YAMAL 401 and YAMAL 402, for Gazprom Space Systems will be launched aboard an ILS Proton rocket. The ISS Reshetnev-built YAMAL 401 satellite, weighing...
Sky Airline Begins Airbus A320-200 Jetliner Operations
Sky Airline has begun domestic and international services on its newly received Airbus A320-200 aircraft. The aircraft is the first of the two A320-200s received by the air carrier earlier...
ST Aerospace to Open San Antonio Hangar
ST Aerospace San Antonio will open a new hangar by the end of 2010 to increase the US-based maintenance company's capacity by over 30%. ST Aero's retired president, Tay Kok Khiang, told...
NSTB Issues Safety Recommendations on GE Engines
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NSTB) has issued two safety recommendations for General Electric's CF6-45/50 aircraft engines to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). ...
Nasa Tests New Small Rocket Motor Materials
Nasa has successfully fired a 24in-diameter, 109in-long solid rocket motor to determine the performance of new materials and designs. The motor used propellant and a case reconfigured from...
Rolls-Royce Test Runs E3E Core Engine
Rolls-Royce has successfully completed running the latest core engine build in its E3E (efficiency, environment, economy) two-shaft engine research. The 3/2b core engine underwent 40 hours...
Russian Space Systems and Trimble Partner for GLONASS
Russian Space Systems and Trimble have partnered to form a joint venture, Rusnavgeoset, which will be responsible for selling commercial global navigation satellite system (GNSS) geodetic...
FAA Awards Contracts for NextGen Engineering Services
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded three separate next-generation air transportation system (NextGen) contracts totalling up to $4.4bn over ten years. Boeing,...
Airborne Infrared Observatory Begins Night Operations
Nasa and the German Aerospace Centre's joint programme, the stratospheric observatory for infrared astronomy (SOFIA), has begun its first in-flight night observations. SOFIA, a highly...
Nasa Develops New Search and Rescue Satellite System
Nasa has developed a next-generation search and rescue satellite system to quickly identify locations of people in distress and reduce the risk of rescuers. The distress alerting...
Libyan Plane Crash Not Terrorism or Technical Fault
No evidence of terrorism or technical failure has been uncovered by the commission looking into the cause of the Libyan plane crash that killed 103 people on 12 May 2010. Navigational aids...
Space Debris Can Affect Earth Communications
A large volume of debris in space is creating the risk of affecting and collapsing communication on Earth, in the event of a satellite-satellite collision. A collision between two satellites...
Honeywell to Test Aircraft Engines for Ash Plume Damage
Honeywell Aerospace is to look into the effects of volcanic ash on the engines of aircraft that have flown through the air plume. The company's engines power several of the planes used...
FAA Unveils Rules for NextGen Aircraft Tracking Systems
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has unveiled new rules for aircraft tracking equipment under the next-generation air transportation system (NextGen) to meet certain...
May 2010
Top
Atlantis Returns to Earth After Final Mission
Space Shuttle Atlantis has successfully returned to Earth from the International Space Station after completing mission STS-132. The third of five missions scheduled for 2010 marks the...
Japan to Build Lunar Research Base
Japan plans invest 200bn yen between now and 2020 to build a scientific research base on the moon and for other space-based missions. Japanese lunar exploration will occur in two phases,...
EU and Latin America Forge Aerospace Ties
The EU and Latin America agreed to work together to find ways to strengthen cooperation in civil aviation in areas of safety and the environment when they met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 25 May....
More Research into Ash Safety Limits Needed
University College London (UCL) in the UK has released a report that shows the aviation industry needs to invest in more research before it can establish robust safe ash limits for aircraft...
XCOR and Masten Partner to Pursue Nasa Lander Projects
XCOR Aerospace and Masten Space Systems have partnered to jointly pursue the anticipated Nasa-sponsored unmanned lander projects. The automated lander programme will serve as robotic test...
Ricardo Develops New Wolverine UAV Engines
US-based Ricardo is developing a new family of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engines called Wolverine for civilian and military applications. The first engine, the Ricardo Wolverine 3, will...
First Global Observer UAS Completes Ground Testing
AeroVironment has completed the ground testing of the first Global Observer unmanned aerial vehicle in preparation for flight testing. Ground tests included ground vibration, structural and...
Sikorsky X2 Helicopter Exceeds Average Speed in Tests
Sikorsky Aircraft's X2 Technology demonstrator aircraft has achieved a speed of 181kt in a test flight. The X2 is designed to demonstrate that a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250kt...
China to Establish its Own Satellite Navigation System
China plans to establish its own independent satellite navigation system called Beidou. The navigation system designer, Sun Jiadong, told the Xinhua news agengy that the system would cover...
Nasa's Phoenix Mars Lander Ends Operation
Nasa's Phoenix Mars Lander has finally ceased operations after attempts to contact the spacecraft were unsuccessful. The decision was taken after images of the lander taken from Nasa's...
ASTRA 3B Satellite Launches Atop Ariane 5
SES ASTRA's ASTRA 3B satellite has successfully launched into space onboard an Ariane 5 rocket. The telecommunication satellite, to be located at 23.5°E, will deliver direct-to-home...
Royal Jordanian Receives Airbus A330s
Royal Jordanian (RJ) has received two new Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The planes will serve the airline's long and medium-haul routes to the UK, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia. RJ...
ESA's SMOS Satellite Begins Operation
The European Space Agency's (ESA) soil moisture and ocean salinity (SMOS) satellite has entered its operational life after completing the commissioning stage. Launched in November 2009, the...
Airbus Delivers First A380 to Lufthansa
Airbus has delivered the first of 15 Airbus A380s ordered by Lufthansa, with three more to join the fleet later in 2010. Lufthansa will deploy the new aircraft on routes to Tokyo,...
Aerojet Completes Second Test on Orion Engine
Aerojet has successfully completed the second series of hot-fire test sequences of its R-1E engine that will be used for Nasa's Orion exploration vehicle. The second test included over...
Ariane 5 to Launch Skynet 5D Satellite for Astrium
Under a new contract, an Ariane 5 launch vehicle will propel the Skynet 5D communication satellite into orbit for Astrium. Skynet 5D will be placed in geostationary transfer orbit by...
JAXA Launches Venus Probe
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has successfully launched the Venus climate orbiter, Akatsuki (PLANET-C) aboard H-IIA Launch Vehicle No 17 (H-IIA F17). Akatsuki separated from...
Black Box From Air India Crash Recovered
The black box has been recovered from the crash site of the Air India Boeing 737-800 plane that killed 158 people in Mangalore, India, on 22 May. The digital flight data recorder, or black...
Astrium to Build Satellite for SES
Astrium will develop a new satellite, the SES-6, for the SES World Skies communications network to be launched in 2013. SES-6 will be placed in-orbit at 319.5°E to augment core SES...
Centauri and UAS Enter Strategic Alliance
CenTauri Solutions has entered into a strategic alliance with Unmanned Aerial Systems, Inc (UAS) to provide solutions for the US Intelligence Community (IC) and US Department of Defense...
NOAA Upgrades Global Positioning System
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is modernising its global positioning system (GPS) to improve mapping, emergency response and land planning. Upgrades are...
Boeing Delivers First 777 Cargo Craft to Qatar Airways
Boeing has delivered the first of the three 777 air freighters ordered by Qatar Airways. The air carrier plans to employ the 777s on its Far Eastern and European routes. The 777 freighter...
Goodrich to Maintain Icelandair's Boeing 757 Engines
Goodrich Corporation will provide a nacelle maintenance programme for Icelandair's Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 engines that power its fleet of Boeing 757s. Included in the agreement is...
Embraer Provides Phenom 300 Light Jet in Brazil
Embraer has successfully delivered a Phenom 300 light executive jet to an undisclosed Brazilian customer. The Phenom 300 is one of the fastest aircraft in the light jet category reaching...
Soyuz Prepares for Third-Stage Integration
Arianspace's first Soyuz launch vehicle is ready to integrate its third stage with the already completed parts of the space craft. The first stage features four strap-on boosters, powered...
Nasa Selects Reduced-Gravity Flight-Testing Projects
Nasa has selected 17 technology demonstration projects for reduced-gravity aircraft flights. The projects will determine if emerging technologies can perform as expected in the...
Boeing Delivers Satellite On-Orbit to DIRECTV
Boeing has successfully completed the on-orbit handover of the DIRECTV 12 satellite to DIRECTV. The satellite, based on Boeing's 702HP satellite, will provide high-definition...
SES to Manoeuvre AMC-11 Satellite away from Zombie Satellite Path
SES World Skies plans to undertake a set of orbital manoeuvres to steer away its AMC-11 satellite from Intelsat's malfunctioning Galaxy 15 spacecraft, also being called a zombie satellite. ...
Boeing to Step-Up 737 Aircraft Production Rate
Boeing will increase the production rate of the next-generation 737 programme to 34 airplanes a month in early 2012. The planned increase, up from the present 31.5 a month, aims to...
UK CAA Relaxes Rules on Volcanic Ash Flights
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has made a new ruling allowing aircraft to fly in higher volcanic ash density areas to reduce airspace closures. The CAA has created a new area...
Airbus Delivers New A330 to Saudi Arabian Airlines
Airbus has delivered the first of eight A330 aircraft to Saudi Arabian Airlines. The aircraft were ordered in July 2008. Saudi Arabian Airlines director general Khalid al Molhem said...
Ariane 5 ECA to Launch Intelsat 17 into Space
Arianespace's heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA launcher will launch the Intelsat 17 satellite into space, under a new contract with manufacturer Intelsat. The launch vehicle will place the satellite...
Thales Alenia to Develop Apstar 7B Satellite for APT
Thales Alenia Space will design, manufacture and deliver a high-capacity telecommunication satellite, Apsat 7B, for the APT Satellite Company. The contract also includes launch,...
Azerbaijan Receives Two Russian Ka-32A Helicopters
The Azerbaijan Ministry of Emergency Situations has received two multirole Ka-32A helicopters from Russian Helicopters. The aircraft was recently demonstrated before the ministry, following...
Hamilton Unit to Provide C919 Fire Protection System
A Hamilton Sundstrand unit, Kidde Aerospace & Defense, will provide the integrated fire and overheat protection systems for Commercial Aviation Corporation of China's (COMAC) new C919 aircraft. ...
ESA ATV-2 Ready for Launch to ISS
The European Space Agency's (ESA) automated cargo craft (ATV-2) is ready to be shipped to Kourou, French Guiana, for launch atop an Ariane 5 to the International Space Station (ISS). ...
Space Shuttle Atlantis Reaches ISS
Space Shuttle Atlantis had successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) following its lift-off on 14 May 2010. STS-132 is carrying cargo, critical spare parts and a...
First Soyuz Launch Set for Fourth Quarter of 2010
Russian space agency Roscosmos, the European Space Agency (ESA), French space agency CNES and Arianespace plan to launch the first Soyuz spacecraft from the Guiana Space Centre in the...
Airlines Hit Out as Ash Grounds Planes Again
Airline officials have hit out at the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as volcanic ash from Iceland once again grounds aeroplanes across the UK and Ireland. Virgin Atlantic president...
Boeing Demonstrates 787 Dreamliner
Boeing and two All Nippon Airways (ANA) pilots have flown the Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the first time. The aircraft is the first of six flight-tested 787s that took a demonstration...
Boeing Tests 787 Dreamliner with GEnx Engines
Boeing has completed the first engine test-run on a 787 Dreamliner using General Electric GEnx engines. Boeing Commercial Airplanes 787 programme vice-president and general manager Scott...
SS/L to Provide Satmex-8 Satellite
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) will provide a commercial satellite, Satmex-8, for Satélites Mexicanos. Satmex 8, a high-power C and Ku-band satellite, will replace Satmex 5 and provide...
European Robotic Arm Spares to Reach ISS Onboard Atlantis
Spare parts for the European robotic arm (ERA) will reach the International Space Station (ISS) onboard the Atlantis Shuttle, which will be launched today. The ERA is the second...
Lockheed to Develop VINASAT-2 for Vietnam
Lockheed Martin will develop the VINASAT-2 satellite for Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT). The US-based defence giant will be responsible for satellite design and...
Bombardier Confirms Q400 Orders from All Nippon
Bombardier has confirmed All Nippon Airways as the undisclosed customer for five Q400 NextGen aircraft ordered in August 2009, with options for another five. The order, worth $159m,...
Airborne Technology Plays Part in Deepwater Oil Slick Clean-Up
Airborne technologies for mapping and measuring are playing a large part in the response to the Deepwater Horizon's sinking and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Texas-based...
SSTL to Launch NigeriaSat-2 Satellites
SSTL will launch the NigeriaSat-2 satellite for the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) atop a Dnepr launch vehicle on 29 October 2010. NigeriaSat-2 is an advanced...
Libyan Plane Crash Investigation Continues
Investigations are underway to find the cause of the crash of the Afriqiyah Airways flight that killed 103 people at Tripoli Airport on 12 May. The flight recorders have been recovered and...
Nasa Orders GPM Microwave Imager from Ball Aerospace
Nasa is to use a global precipitation measurement (GPM) microwave imager developed by Ball Aerospace on its GPM mission. The GPM mission will utilise an international constellation of...
Russian Space Freighter Undocks from ISS
Russian Space freighter Progress M-04M has successfully undocked form the International Space Station (ISS) and is on its return journey to Earth. Progress separated from the docking port on...
Ryanair Finds Volcanic Ash Residue in Aircraft
Ryanair has confirmed that two of its aircraft that performed emergency landings at Belfast City Airport on Tuesday had traces of volcanic ash in their engines. The airline initially...
Cause Unknown in Libyan Plane Disaster
A Libyan Afriqiyah airline Airbus A330 travelling from Johannesburg, South Africa, has crashed while attempting to land at Tripoli Airport in Libya. Officials report that 103 of the 104...
Boeing Assembles First 747-8
Boeing has begun the assembly of the first 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft with the loading of its wing panels and spars in the assembly tools. The airplane is a new version of the 747-400...
Indian Scientist Develops Technology to Prevent Mid-Air Collisions
Dr Radhakant Padhi from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has developed a technology that can prevent mid-air collisions. Originally developed for manned and unmanned UAVs, the...
NSTB Supports AFA Safety Demands
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has accepted recommendations by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) to include overwater safety equipment on all commercial...
Gulfstream G650 Achieves Fastest Civil Aircraft Speed
The Gulfstream G650 aircraft reached its top speed of Mach 0.925 at 42,500ft during a test flight. These speeds make the G650 the world's fastest civil aircraft. Gulfstream chief test...
Boeing to Deliver 737-800s to RwandAir
Boeing will deliver two next-generation 737-800 aircraft to RwandAir under a new contract. The Rwandan airline is renewing and expanding its fleet to broaden its network, and currently...
Adria Airways Receives First Airbus A319
Slovenia's Adria Airways has received its first A319 jetliner from Airbus. The aircraft, to be operated under a lease agreement with AerCap, will be deployed on European scheduled services...
Orion's Abort System Concludes Successful Pad Abort
The Orion crew vehicle's abort system has successfully completed Nasa's pad abort flight test, results from which will further refine design and analysis for future launch abort systems. ...
Arianespace to Launch Hughes Jupiter Satellite
Arianespace will launch and orbit the Hughes Network Systems Ka-band, high-throughput Jupiter satellite, under a new contract. Jupiter, weighing approximately 6,100kg at launch, will be...
Boeing Selects Monarch Aircraft as 787 Service Partner
Boeing has selected Monarch Aircraft Engineering as a maintenance, repair and overhaul partner for its GoldCare service offering for the 787 Dreamliner. Monarch will provide...
First US Commercial Flight on Synthetic Jet Fuel Takes Off
The first flight by a US commercial aircraft using natural gas synthetic jet fuel has been successfully completed by United Airlines. An Airbus A319 aircraft conducted an engineering...
Boeing to Build 787 Interiors in South Carolina
Boeing plans to manufacture some of the 787 Dreamliner interior parts in South Carolina to supply the aircraft final assembly and delivery site being developed in the US state. The new...
Atlantis Ready for Mission to ISS
The Atlantis space shuttle has been approved for the STS-132 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), after completing a flight readiness review, and is set for launch on 14 May...
Iran to Launch Two Satellites by End of 2010
Iran plans to launch two satellites into orbit by the end of 2010, as per a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Russia. Iranian advisor to the communications minister...
German TanDEM-X Satellite Prepares for Launch
The German radar satellite, TanDEM-X, has completed tests qualifying it for space operation in preparation for launch atop a Dnepr rocket in June 2010. Extensive tests to qualify the...
Aerojet and FTT Join Forces to Compete for Nasa's Rocket Engine Project
Aerojet and Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT) are to join forces to compete for research, development and production of Nasa's new hydrocarbon engine and advanced upper stage engine. The...
BAE Finds Indonesian Market Attractive for Regional Jets
BAE Systems is finding Indonesia an attractive domestic market for its BAE 146/Avro RJ family of regional jetliners. The firm has delivered four of the aircraft to Indonesia in the past...
Lockheed Space Shuttle Flight Tank Ready for Nasa
Lockheed Martin's ET-137 space shuttle flight tank is ready for Nasa. Lockheed has completed building the ET-137 for teh Endeavour space shuttle's last mission to the International Space...
Air Lingus Reports Losses as Ash Grounds Aircraft in UK
Irish airline Air Lingus has estimated that it lost €20m ($26.3m) last month due to the chaos caused by the volcanic ash cloud. Airspace over parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and...
Russian Progress Docks with ISS Despite Fault
The Russian Progress M-05M cargo supply spacecraft has completed docking with the International Space Station (ISS), despite failure to dock in automatic mode. The vehicle was anchored to...
Boeing to Deliver Updated 777s to Angola Airlines
Boeing will deliver two 777-300ER aircraft to Angola's TAAG Linhas Aereas de Angola (Angola Airlines) for $544m, under a new contract. The order includes purchase rights for two...
United and Continental Airlines Merge
US-based United and Continental airlines have merged to form the world's biggest airline. Described as "a merger of equals" the new airline will fly 144 million passengers a year to...
Transatlantic Flights on Schedule Despite Ash Cloud
Transatlantic flights were operating as normal due to new jet-engine tolerance levels despite the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud causing further airport closures in Ireland. The new...
Aerospace Sector to Go Global for Growth
Aerospace firms increasingly need to go global in terms of operations and supply chains to gain ground in rapid growth markets such as Asia and the Middle East, according to...
Research Shows Volcanic Ash's Impact on the Jet Stream
Volcanic ash plumes mostly tend to have an impact on the jet stream, the area in the atmosphere that aircraft are preferably flown in, according to volcanologist Marcus I Bursik's research paper. ...
April 2010
Top
Sikorsky Unveils First S-76(R) with Medical Services Interior
Sikorsky has unveiled the first S-76(R) helicopter equipped with an emergency medical services interiors. The new interior incorporates the articulating patient loading system (APLS) into...
James Webb Space Telescope Completes Critical Design Review
Nasa's James Webb space telescope (JWST) has successfully completed the mission-critical design review (MCDR) confirming the designs, hardware and test plans for the telescope. JWST,...
Intelsat to Expand UHF Communications for Australian Forces
Intelsat is to expand its ultra-high-frequency (UHF) hosted payload services offered to the Australian Defence Forces (ADF), extending an April 2009 agreement. Under the expansion, the ADF...
Canadian State Receieves First Bombardier 415
The Canadian State Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has received the first of four Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft ordered from the firm in October 2009. The new firefighting...
ISRO to Launch Cartosat-2B
Remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2B will be launched atop a polar satellite launch vehicle on 9 May 2010, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The satellite...
Bombardier Delivers Learjet 60 XR Aircraft to Mexico
Bombardier has delivered a Learjet 60 XR aircraft to an undisclosed customer in Mexico. The mid-size jet can fly 2,405nm with eight passengers at a cruise speed of Mach 0.81 at...
Boeing Suspends 787 Fuselage Shipments
Boeing has temporarily suspended 787 Dreamliner fuselage shipments to the final assembly facility near Seattle to resolve issue of parts shortages along the supply chain. Boeing spokeswoman...
GE Satellite to Provide Nasa GloPac with Ku Capacity
GE Satellite will provide ku-band capacity for the Nasa Global Hawk Pacific (GloPac) campaign, which will study atmospheric and environmental conditions across the Pacific. The GE-23...
US Military Loses Contact with Hypersonic Glider
The US military has lost contact with the unmanned hypersonic glider that was launched for a test flight over the Pacific last week. The Falcon hypersonic technology vehicle-2 was supposed...
Carlyle and RPK Join Forces to Buy Aviation Assets
The Carlyle Group and RPK Capital Management will partner to invest $600m in equity on global commercial aviation assets including aircraft, engines, and related securities and loans. The...
Nasa and NSBRI Select Proposals for Health on Space Missions
Nasa's human research programme and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) have selected 11 proposals to study astronaut health and performance on future space missions. ...
FAA Orders Checks for Boeing 737s
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a new round of inspections for some Boeing 737s after previous inspections failed to detect potentially dangerous vibration in the tail. ...
Nasa Aircraft and CryoSat-2 Perform Sea Ice Measurements
The European Space Agency's (ESA) new CryoSat-2 satellite and a Nasa DC-8 aircraft have been linked for the Operation Ice Bridge mission to measure sea ice, verifying data collected by...
Aircraft Engines Undergo UK Checks After Ash Cloud Flights
Aircraft are being checked for ash damage to their engines before every take-off and after every landing at UK airports as part of increased safety measures. The Civil Aviation Authority...
Aerojet Concludes Second Series Engine Tests for Orion
Aerojet has concluded the second series of vibration and altitude hot-fire tests on its thrust mono-propellant rocket engine, MR-104 to be used on Nasa's Orion spacecraft. The test aims...
SES-1 Satellite Launched into Space
The SES WORLD SKIES SES-1 satellite was successfully placed into geosynchronous orbit on board a Proton Breeze M booster from the Baikonour Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, on 24 April 2010. Built...
Iran to Mass-Produce Domestic UAVs
Iran plans to mass-produce a domestic unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) after a successful war game test in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Aerospace...
Japan's Hayabusa Spacecraft to Land in Australia
The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Hayabusa spacecraft, which has travelled to an asteroid, is set to land in Woomera, Australia in June 2010. Defence Minister Senator...
Nasa Reveals First Images by Solar Observatory
Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft has begun relaying early images confirming an unprecedented new capability to better understand the sun's dynamic processes. The...
Boeing Dreamliner Begins Extreme Weather Testing
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has begun a series of extreme-weather tests at Elgin Air Force Base in Florida, US. A special hangar at the air base allows the airplane to experience temperatures...
Ash in Engines Halts UK Defence Aircraft Training
Volcanic ash is continuing to cause problems for aircraft in the UK, forcing the Royal Air Force (RAF) to suspend air training after ash was discovered in the engines of four of its Typhoon jets. ...
USAF Successfully Launches X-37B Unmanned Spaceplane
An unmanned military spacecraft, the X-37B, has been launched from Cape Canaveral US Air Force Station in Florida, US. Powered by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne engines, the USAF craft...
China and Brazil to Share Satellite Data
China and Brazil will have direct access to data from satellites jointly developed, launched and operated by the two nations, as per a new memorandum of understanding (MoU). With the...
ICAO to Lead Efforts in Volcanic Ash Safety
The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has said it will lead efforts to establish travel safety standards for flights in the aftermath of the volcanic ash crisis. In...
Boeing Records Higher-than-Expected Quarterly Profits
Boeing has reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, despite making fewer deliveries. The rise in profits results from reduced costs at its commercial airplane division. ...
European Air Traffic Hits 75% Capacity After Ash Cloud Chaos
Air traffic across western and northern Europe may be back to 75% capacity following the volcanic ash cloud incident, which grounded planes for six days. Thousands of travellers are...
Second Boeing 747-8F Begins Test Flights in California
Boeing's second 787-8F aircraft has flown to South California for flight test operations. The four-hour flight from Boeing Field in Seattle included testing the avionics and cruise...
VRG Linhas Aereas B737 Fleet to Receive Honeywell Safety Avionics
VRG Linhas Aereas's new fleet of 65 737-800 aircraft are to be fitted with Honeywell's full suite of safety avionics. The suite includes an IntuVue weather radar, a traffic alert and...
AURA to Continue Services for Nasa's Hubble Telescope Programme
The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) will continue to provide operational services to Nasa for the Hubble Space Telescope Science Operations Center, as the space...
EADS Enters US Refuelling Tanker Race
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) has entered the race to build the next generation of US military refuelling tankers. The Airbus parent company was expected to not...
European Airlines Resume Service as Airports Open
Airports across Europe have resumed flight operations last night following the end of the flight ban placed by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). London's Heathrow Airport...
Discovery Returns to Earth as Shuttle Retirement Countdown Nears Zero
Space shuttle Discovery returned to Earth yesterday after a 15-day, 6.2-million-mile trip to the International Space Station (ISS). During three space walks, the crew installed an...
UK CAA Issues New Guidelines Following Volcanic Ash Cloud Scare
New guidelines issued last night by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have allowed flights to resume after six days of cancellations. The CAA's new guidelines relating to engine...
Northern European Air Cargo Traffic Halts Due to Ash Cloud
The eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland has brought air cargo in Northern Europe to a halt and disrupted services around the world. Several cargo carriers in China...
BA Test Flight Shows no Damage from Volcanic Ash
A British Airways flight to test the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud's effect on aircraft engines may prove that European operators have over reacted. The Boeing 747 took off from London and...
Obama Outlines US Space Programme
US President Barack Obama has outlined the US space programme and Nasa's development milestones at a space conference at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Obama proposed using...
Airbus Delivers A319 Aircraft to French Airline
Aigle Azur's first directly purchased new A319 aircraft has been delivered by Airbus. The aircraft will join the airline's existing fleet of ten A320 family aircraft, comprising three...
Bombardier Demonstrates Q400 NextGen Turboprop in Bahamas
Bombardier recently showcased its Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner for the Bahamian Government, Bahamasair (the national airline) and other stakeholders. Bombardier Commercial Aircraft...
Nasa to Place Robot Astronaut in Space Station
Nasa is to send a human-like robot on the STS-133 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), where it will work as an assistant to the astronauts. The 300lb Robonaut 2 (R2), developed...
Moog and COMAC to Jointly Develop C919 High-Lift System
Moog and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) will jointly develop the high-lift system for China's first homegrown C919 commercial aircraft. The joint development phase of...
Intelsat 25 Satellite Begins Operations to Support Services in Africa
Intelsat has successfully placed the IS-25 satellite into orbital service to provide coverage over Africa. IS-25 is the ProtoStar 1 satellite that was renamed following Intelsat's acquisition...
Ash Eludes Radar to Keep Airspace Closed
Airspace across Europe remains closed today despite air traffic control body Eurocontrol claiming that the volcanic ash cloud has begun to thin. Reports that aircraft radar systems are unable...
Nasa and Chrysler to Explore Future Space Vehicle Technologies
Nasa and Chrysler will partner to develop technologies to advance future space vehicles and adapt advanced automotive technology for use in space. Under the Space Act Agreement, the two...
Parker to Supply Aircraft Systems for COMAC C919 Aircraft
Parker Aerospace has been selected as the fuel inerting and hydraulic systems provider for C919 aircraft. The firm signed a contract for the C919 systems with Commercial Aircraft Corporation...
MTU Competes First Low-Pressure Turbine for Pratt & Whitney Engine
MTU Aero Engines has completed the first high-speed low-pressure turbine for Pratt & Whitney's PW1524G engine to power the Bombardier CSeries aircraft. Upon completion the turbine will...
ILFC to Sell Aircraft Fleet to Macquarie Aerospace
International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) will sell a portfolio of 53 aircraft for $1.987bn to Macquarie Aerospace. The sale will result in an increase in the average age of the...
Aerojet-Led Team to Provide Propulsion Technologies to Nasa
An Aerojet-led consortium will provide space propulsion technologies to Nasa's Glenn Research Center for five years. The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract...
Honeywell to Supply APUs for COMAC C919 Aircraft
Honeywell will supply auxiliary power units (APU) and associated equipment for the C919 single-aisle commercial airliner to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) for $7.3bn. ...
Raytheon Completes Communications Upgrade for NPOESS
Raytheon has completed the second communication upgrade in Antarctica for the national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system (NPOESS). The modification of the...
ESA Ice Mission Satellite Relays First Data
The European Space Agency's (ESA) CryoSat-2 satellite has delivered its first data since the satellite's sophisticated radar instrument became operational. CryoSat-2's primary instrument,...
Pratt & Whitney and Irkut Begin Work On PW1400G Engine
Pratt & Whitney (P&W) and Irkut Corporation will begin preliminary design activities on P&W's PW1400G engine to power Irkut's MC-21 aircraft. The activities will mark the...
Honeywell to Provide ISS Communication Device
The first radiation-hardened electronic component for the International Space Station (ISS), which will provide improved speed of serial data communication, will be provided by US firm Honeywell. ...
Kazakhstan to Extend Baikonur Lease to Russia
The Kazakhstani Government has ratified a 2004 agreement to extend Russia's use of its Baikonur cosmodrome to 2050. Kazcosmos head Talgat Musabayev was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying...
Nasa and JAXA Collaborate on Earth Observation Data
NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have begun combining elements of their satellite resources to more than double earth observation data over the Americas. Under the...
FAA to Assess Penalty for ERA Helicopters Violations
The US's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a civil penalty issued to ERA Helicopters for flying a modified helicopter on passenger service without performing the necessary...
Space Shuttle Crew Complete Second Spacewalk
The crew of the latest mission to the International Space Station have completed the second of the three spacewalks. During the spacewalk a new ammonia tank assembly (ATA) was installed on...
Hong Kong Airlines Confirms Orders for Airbus A330-200s
Hong Kong Airlines has finalised orders for six A300-200 aircraft from Airbus to confirm a memorandum of understanding signed at the Singapore Airshow earlier this year. The aircraft, powered...
Intelsat's Galaxy 15 Satellite Experiences Anomaly
Intelsat's Galaxy 15 (G-15) satellite, which provides transmission capacity for cable programmers in North America, has experienced an anomaly. Although service to Intelsat's customers has...
Airbus Q1 Orders and Deliveries Stronger than 2009's
Airbus has sold 60 and delivered 122 aircraft in the first quarter of 2010, surpassing the numbers for the same quarter of the previous year. There were 22 gross orders and 116 deliveries...
Power Unit for 787 Completes ETOPS Test
Hamilton Sundstrand's APS5000 auxiliary power unit (APU) for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has successfully completed extended-range operations (ETOPS) testing. The completed testing is an...
ESA's CryoSat-2 Ice Satellite Blasts Off
The European Space Agency's (ESA) CryoSat-2 earth ice observing satellite has successfully launched atop a Dnepr rocket. CryoSat-2 will study climate change by measuring variations in...
Nasa's Unmanned Global Hawk Concludes First Science Flight
Nasa's unmanned Global Hawk aircraft has successfully completed the first of five scientific flights over the Pacific Ocean. The aircraft will study atmospheric conditions over the Pacific...
Nasa Begins Assembly of Jupiter Mission Craft
Nasa has begun assembling the Juno spacecraft that will examine Jupiter to aid in understanding its origin and evolution. The assembly, testing and launch operations phase, taking place at...
Nasa Continues Collaboration with Roscosmos for ISS
Nasa has extended an International Space Station (ISS) contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) on crew transportation, rescue and other services in 2013 and 2014. Under...
Solar Impulse to Check In-Flight Behaviour on Test Flight
Solar Impulse HB-SIA, the fully solar-powered aircraft, has successfully completed a test flight to verify its in-flight behaviour. In the one hour and 27-minute mission, the aircraft climbed...
Virgin Blue Orders CFM56-7B Engines to Power 737s
Virgin Blue has ordered 50 CFM56-7B engines from CFM to power a fleet of 50 new Next-Generation 737 aircraft ordered from Boeing. The order is part of a contract, which includes the option of...
Brazil to Develop Own Rocket by 2014
The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) plans to design and develop a rocket to launch small satellites into orbit by 2014. The rocket is being developed under AEB's main satellite launch...
USAF to Launch Robotic Spacecraft
A robotic spacecraft will be launched this month for the US Air Force to conduct technology tests in orbit. The X-37B is scheduled to take-off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, on 19 April...
Discovery Lifts Off Despite Glitch
The Discovery space shuttle has successfully lifted off to the International Space Station on its STS-131 mission despite facing a radar glitch moments after take-off. A Ku-Band antenna on...
SES-1 Satellite Arrives for Launch at Baikonour
SES World Skies' SES-1 satellite has arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome for launch atop an ILS Proton Breeze M rocket on 24 April 2010. The geostationary communication satellite, built...
Virgin Blue Orders Boeing 737s
The Virgin Blue Group has placed an order for up to 105 Boeing 737 aircraft. The deal includes firm orders for 50 B737-800 NG aircraft with an option to convert the order to either B737-700...
India to Halve Satellite Launch Cost
Halving the cost of satellite launches is the goal for the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) new heavy-lift geosynchronous launch vehicle Mk-III (GSLV-Mk III). ISRO chairman...
Nasa Develops On Board Water Filtration System for Astronauts
A new water filtration system that produces clean water for astronauts has been developed by teams at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre and Glenn Research Centre. The team from Kennedy and...
New Partner for Solar Impulse
The Solar Impulse project, which involves flying a solar-powered aircraft around the world in 25 days, has named Bayer Material Science as its new official partner. Bayer will support...
Airbus to Supply A330s for Malaysia Airlines
Airbus will provide Malaysia Airlines with 17 A330 family aircraft, confirming an earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MOU includes 15 A330-300 passenger aircraft, along with...
Boeing and ISRO to Explore Communication Satellites
Boeing has shown interest in working with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the field of communication satellites along with its ongoing collaboration in other areas. The...
Bombardier Tests CSeries Composite Wing
Bombardier is conducting a test programme on a demonstrator composite wing as part of the development for the new CSeries aircraft. A full-scale, three-quarter span pre-production...
Boeing Begins Work on 787 Assembly Facility
Boeing has begun work on a 787 final assembly and delivery facility in Charleston, South Carolina, US. The 1.2 million square foot facility will aid Boeing in performing final assembly...
Air Philippines to Acquire A320 Fleet
Air Philippines plans to acquire a fleet of 20 Airbus A320 aircraft over a four-year period. The carrier is currently relaunching under the brand name Airphil Express with the acquisition of...
Nasa Undertakes Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition
Eight aerospace firms will supply Nasa with spacecraft and services under a rapid spacecraft acquisition III contract. Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Thales Alenia and General Dynamics...
Solar Impulse Plane Undergoes Flight Tests
The Solar Impulse solar-powered aircraft is undergoing test flights in preparation for its 2012 flight across the world. Solar Impluse aims to become the first solar powered plane...
SpaceX Activates New Communication System on ISS
A new communication system has been activated aboard the International Space Station (ISS), by Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), to allow it to interact with the Dragon spacecraft. ...
March 2010
Top
GLONASS-K Undergoes Ground Tests
The new-generation GLONASS satellite-K being developed by ISS Reshetnev is undergoing ground tests. The GLONASS-K will broadcast a new CDMA radio frequency design to enhance compatibility...
Singapore to Launch Satellite
Singapore is set to launch its own domestically built satellite, X-Sat, into space in mid 2010. The 120kg micro-satellite will launch atop an Indian Space Research Organisation-built...
Russia to Build New Space Centre to Raise Market Share
Russia is planning a new $14bn space centre in the Far Eastern Amur Region. RKK Energia head Vitaly Lopota, quoted by Ria Novosti, said that Russia only had 0.5% of the market, but when...
UK University Unveils Technology to Clear Space Debris
New technology to clear up to 5,500t of space debris, including retired and abandoned satellites, has been unveiled by the University of Surrey in the UK. The university is developing a...
ESA Sounding Rocket with Microgravity Research Lifts Off
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Maxus-8 sounding rocket has successfully lifted off carrying four microgravity research modules. The 12t Maxus, with a solid-propellant motor, can lift a...
Nasa to Support Space Propulsion Research Projects
Research into space propulsion by five firms will be supported by Nasa at its Glenn Research Centre. Aerojet, ATK Mission Systems, Northrop Grumman, Orbital Technologies and Pratt &...
Bombardier and AVIC Break Ground on CSeries Aircraft Fuselage Facility
Construction has begun on a new facility to manufacture Cseries fuselages for Bombardier in China. The 226,042ft² unit will be operated by Aviation Industries of China's (AVIC)...
Boeing Dreamliner Undergoes Wing Load Test
Boeing's long-awaited 787 Dreamliner aircraft has undergone the ultimate-load wing up-bending test at the company's static test unit. During the test, the airframe underwent loads to...
Sukhoi Superjet Receives Fabrication Approval
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 has received approval for its fabrication methods from the Interstate Aviation Committee aviation register certification centre, NORMA. Seating up to 98 passengers in...
Lockheed and ATK Offer to Upgrade Athena Rocket
Lockheed Martin and Alliant Techsystems (ATK) will join forces to offer launch services using upgraded and modernised Athena rockets. The second-generation vehicles, based on the...
Nasa's Mars Orbiter Gains New Capability
Nasa's Opportunity Mars exploration rover is now capable of deciding upon additional observations of rocks spotted on arrival at a new location. New autonomous exploration for...
Boeing and Airbus Disagree Over WTO Ruling
Boeing and Airbus have both claimed victory in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling over illegal subsidies given to Airbus by European Governments. The WTO's 1,000-page confidential...
Triumph Group Set to Acquire Vought Aircraft
Triumph Group plans to purchase Vought Aircraft Industries from The Carlyle Group for cash and stock consideration of $1.44bn. Texas-based Vought manufactures aerostructures for...
ERC to Support Nasa Space Technology Division
ERC will support the Nasa Research Centre's space technology division under a $45m space technology research and development contract. The space division develops technologies for...
Nepal Airlines Plans to Buy Airbus Planes
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) plans to purchase six new aircraft worth $356m from Airbus to recapture its declining market share. The national flag carrier will acquire two widebody...
US to Encourage Alternate Jet Fuels
The commercialisation of alternative jet fuels is being encouraged by the Air Transport Association (ATA) of America and the US Department of Defence to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. ...
Ariane 5 Given Launch Date
Lift-off for this year's first Ariane 5 launch vehicle, which will carry the Astra 3B and the COMSATBw-2 satellites, is set for 26 March. Astra 3B is a Ku and Ka-band spacecraft developed...
Air France to Maintain Moskovia Fleet
Maintenance of the Moskovia Airlines fleet is to be provided by Air France Industries and KLM Engineering and Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M). The eight-year contract covers maintenance for...
UK Launches New Space Agency
The UK has launched its first space agency, the £40m ($60.1m) International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC) at Harwell, Oxfordshire, to further government plans to support the nation's space...
ISS Orbital Altitude to be Increased
The orbital altitude of the International Space Station (ISS) is to be raised by 1.7km using a Progress M-04M space freighter. A Russian mission control spokesman was quoted by Ria Novosti...
Japanese Venus Orbiter Gets Ready for Blast-Off
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Venus climate orbiter, Akatsuki, has arrived at the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan in preparation for its launch in May 2010. Akatsuki,...
Ethiopian Airlines Takes Delivery of First Bombardier Q400
Ethiopian Airlines has received the first of eight Q400 aircraft on order with Bombardier. The Q400 aircraft can fly 78 passengers at a maximum cruise speed of 360kt up to a distance of...
Virgin Galactic Spaceship Performs Maiden Flight
Virgin Galactic's second spaceship, the VSS Enterprise, has completed its first captive carry flight from Mojave Air and Spaceport. The commercial spaceline is the world's first...
Second Sikorsky 76D Prototype Takes First Flight Test
The second prototype of the Sikorsky 76D helicopter has completed its first flight test. The latest version of the S-76, the S-76D, is powered by Pratt & Whitney 210S engines and will provide...
ILS Proton Launches EchoStar XIV Satellite
The International Launch Services (ILS) Proton Breeze M launch vehicle has successfully placed the EchoStar XIV satellite into orbit for DISH Network. The 6.3t EchoStar XIV, based on...
ESA and Thales Alenia Finalise Meteosats
Final negotiations on the third generation of meteorological satellites, the Meteosat third generation (MTG) are to take place between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Thales Alenia. ...
ATK Completes Attitude Control Test on Orion
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has completed the second ground test for a full-scale attitude control motor (ACM) for the launch abort system (LAS) of Nasa's Orion crew exploration vehicle. ...
Boeing Shifts Forward 747 Production Increase
Boeing is to increase the rate of production for the 747 aircraft earlier than planned. Boeing Commercial Airplanes marketing vice-president Randy Tinseth said that 2010 was seen as the...
Nasa Aircraft to Begin IceBridge Mission in Arctic
A Nasa study of the Arctic polar ice caps using a DC-8 aircraft has entered the second year of a six-year study. The IceBridge mission will track changes in the extent and thickness of...
Safran Opens Aircraft Parts Plants in Mexico
Safran has opened two plants in Mexico that will manufacture aircraft components for Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The new plants will make parts for CFM engines powering Boeing 737s and...
Nasa Satellite Adds New Instrument
The fourth of the five instruments to be included onboard the national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system (NPOESS) preparatory project (NPP) has been integrated by...
China's First Homegrown Helicopter Takes to the Skies
China's first domestically developed civilian helicopter has performed its maiden flight in Jiangxi province. The AC313, developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), will fly...
Arianespace to Launch O3b Satellites
Arianespace is to launch a satellite constellation for O3b Network. The 700kg satellites with a design life of ten years will create a new global internet backbone with greater than 10GBps...
ESA to Work on New Satellite Thruster
A new thruster for satellites is being designed by the European Space Agency (ESA) in conjunction with the Swedish Space Corporation. It will be powered by an AND-based liquid mono...
Air Berlin Cuts Boeing 787 Order
Air Berlin has reduced its order for 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to 15, citing changing market conditions as the cause. The reduction in the firm's orders for ten aircraft is expected to...
Martin Aircraft to Begin Jetpack Production
A jetpack is to be commercially produced by Martin Aircraft following a joint venture deal with an undisclosed partner. The Martin Jetpack is a 200hp, dual-propeller flying device that can...
SpaceX to Launch Space Systems Loral Satellite
A new contract will see a SpaceX launch a Space Systems / Loral (SS/L) satellite aboard a Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The rocket is expected to launch the satellite from Cape Canaveral, US,...
ILS Proton to Launch Intelsat Satellites
The launch of Intelsat 21 and Intelsat 23 will take place on an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton vehicle. Intelsat 23 is due to launch in late 2011, while Intelsat-21 is planned...
AgustaWestland Sells AW101 Helicopters to India
AugustaWestland has signed a €560m ($764m) contract with the Indian Government to deliver 12 AW101 helicopters. The medium-weight AW101 can fly 30 passengers and three crew 500nm at...
Boeing to Use Chrome-Free Paint on GOL Plane
A chrome-free primer will be applied by Boeing to a GOL Airlines 737-800 to reduce the environmental impact. Boeing has introduced the new chrome-free primer as a part of its...
Thales Alenia Begins Work on Sentinel 1B and 3B Satellites
Thales Alenia Space had begun work on the Sentinel 1B and 3B earth observation satellites for the European Space Agency. Sentinel 1B and 3B satellites are the duplicate models of the Sentinel...
Taurus II's Heritage Engine Undergoes Lifetime Testing
Engine lifetime testing has taken place on a Russian-made NK-33 bringing Orbital's Taurus II launch vehicle one step closer. Originally designed for the Russian N1 lunar launch vehicle the...
Nasa Crash Tests Same Helicopter Again
A second small-lightweight helicopter crash test has been carried out by Nasa in an effort to better understand crash impact and improve helicopter safety. Nasa conducted an identical test...
Japan Reveals Solar Sail Spacecraft
A solar-powered sail spacecraft has been unveiled by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The interplanetary kite-craft accelerated by radiation of the sun (IKAROS) will be...
Boeing 747-8 Freighter Completes Airworthiness Tests
Boeing has concluded initial airworthiness testing on the new 747-8 freighter. The air freighter, with a maximum structural payload capacity of 140t, can carry 16% more cargo than a...
Lockheed to Build Remote Sensing Satellite for GeoEye
Lockheed Martin is to build GeoEye 2, a new-generation earth imaging satellite system for GeoEye. GeoEye chief operating officer Bill Schuster said that GeoEye-2 will be the same class...
China to Launch Chang'e-3 Moon Probe in 2013
China intends to launch Chang'e-3, a third unmanned moon probe, as part of a three-phase moon mission in 2013. Chang'e-3 chief Commander Ye Peijian was quoted by Xinhuanet as saying that...
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Suffers Glitch in Static Fire Test
The Falcon 9 rocket under development by SpaceX has faced a glitch, which led the firm to abort the static fire test. During the test, the rocket faced a problem in its spin start system...
Aviation Partners to Test New Wing Tip Design
Testing on a new loop-shaped wing tip developed by Aviation Partners will take place on a Dassault Falcon 50 in early June 2010. The wing tip device, known as spiroid, being developed for...
United Airlines to Acquire A350 XWB Aircraft
United Airlines will acquire 25 A350-900 XWB aircraft from Airbus under a new contract. The A350-900 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines is mid-size widebody airliner that will be...
Boeing Considers Expanding Production
Boeing is looking to increase production of the 737 aircraft later in 2010 and reverse plans to cut down on 777 output. Production of the 777 aircraft was set to be cut from seven to five...
Arabsat 5A Moves Towards Completion
The Arabsat 5A communication satellite, built by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, has been shipped to French Guyana in preparation for launch. The satellite is the fourth Eurostar...
New Aircraft Types Viable for NextGen
New aircraft types have the potential to contribute to the efficiency and capacity of the US NextGen air transportation system, according to Sensis-led research. The Nasa-funded...
Russia and India Consider Glonass Navigation Systems Joint Venture
Russia and India are considering a joint venture to develop navigation equipment for the global navigation satellite system (Glonass). Glonass, the Russian version of the US global...
South Korea's Multisatellite Leaves for French Guiana
Korea Aerospace Research Institute's (KARI)communications, oceanography and meteorology satellite (COMS) has left for the French Guiana Space Centre. COMS, the first European...
AugustaWestland to Deliver Grand New and AW119Ke Helicopters
AugustaWestland will deliver two Grand New light twin helicopters and one AW119ke helicopter to Sharp Ocean, under a new contract. The Grand New, an evolved version of the Grand helicopter,...
AMES Opens New Engine Repair Facility in Dubai
Aerostructures Middle East Services (AMES) has opened a new engine nacelle repair facility in Dubai to serve airline operators in the Middle East. The 2,200m² unit will provide repair...
China to Purchase Aircraft to Meet Domestic Demand
China is planning to buy 218 aircraft in 2010 to meet its growing domestic demand, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). CAAC director Li Jiaxiang was quoted by...
Boeing Completes Engine Test for Phantom Eye UAV
Boeing has completed testing of the propulsion system of the new Phantom Eye unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The twin-engine demonstrator will have a 150ft wingspan and be able to fly for...
Airbus to Raise A320 Production Rate
Airbus will increase the production rate of A320 aircraft from December 2010. The A320 family comprises the A318, A319, A320 and A321 capable of carrying between 107 and 185 passengers...
Second Ariane 5 of 2010 Undergoes Assembly
Arianespace's second Ariane 5 of 2010 has begun its assembly process in French Guiana. The 50.5m Ariane 5 is a heavy-lift launcher that places satellites in to the geosynchronous...
India's GSLV Core Stage Undergoes Static Test
The Indian Space Research Organisation has conducted a static test on the liquid core stage (L110) of the geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV mkIII). The three-stage GSLV will place...
Orbital to Acquire GD Spacecraft Business
Orbital Sciences is to acquire the spacecraft development and manufacturing business of General Dynamics subsidiary GD Advanced Information Systems. They will also buy a 135,000ft²...
Boeing Receives 737 Orders from Turkish Airlines
Boeing has received a $1.6bn order for 20 737 aircraft from Turkish Airlines, which requires ten 737-800 and ten 737-900ER planes. The 737-900ER is a higher capacity, longer-range derivative...
China Launches Yaogan IX into Orbit
China has successfully launched Yaogan IX, a remote sensing satellite, atop a Long March 4C rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in north-western Gansu Province. The satellite...
Allegiant Air Orders Boeing 757-200s
Allegiant Air is set to acquire six Boeing 757-200 aircraft from a European operator. The twin-engine short-to-medium-range jetliner with a seating capacity of 228 is no longer in production. ...
GE Aviation to Support Air India as MRO Provider
GE Aviation will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the GEnx-1B engine to Air India, under its GE branded services agreement (GBSA). The carrier will build a $90m facility...
GOES-P Satellite Lifts Off
Nasa and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) geostationary operational environmental satellite (GOES-P) has been launched from a Delta IV rocket. GOES-P, to be...
Air India Receives First Airbus A320
Air India received the first of the new-generation A320 aircraft from Airbus at the India Aviation 2010 air show in Hyderabad. The A320 aircraft can fly up to 3,200nm carrying 140 passengers...
Lockheed Puts Together Space Shuttle's Final Tank
Lockheed Martin has successfully spliced together the final flight tank for space shuttle mission STS 133. External tank 138 (ET-138) is a 154ft three-stage tank, weighing 58,500lb empty. ...
Better Take-Off Procedure for Singapore Airlines A380s Saves Fuel
An improved departure procedure for Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 aircraft has been introduced that will reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The procedure involves early acceleration...
Northrop to Unveil Design for Nasa Next-Generation X-Ray Telescope
Northrop will unveil a new concept design for Nasa's international X-ray observatory (IXO) at an American Astronomical Society's high-energy astrophysics division conference. IXO is...
James Webb Space Telescope Reaches Landmark
The first of the James Webb space telescope's (JWST) beryllium primary mirror segments has been cryo-polished to its required level, as measured at operational cryogenic temperatures. The...
Three GLONASS Satellites Lift Off from Kazakhstan
Russia has successfully launched three GLONASS satellites aboard a Proton M launch vehicle from Bainkonur spaceport in Kazakhstan. The satellites form a part of the Russian Federation...
Boeing Delivers First 777 Freighters to Southern Air
Boeing has delivered two 777 freighters to Southern Air Holdings, which will operate the aircraft on behalf of Thai Airways. The twin-engine freighters have a revenue payload capability of...
OHO-1 Satellite to Use Ariane 5 for Launch
Overhorizon's first communication satellite, OHO-1 will use an Ariane 5 vehicle for its launch as per a new contract. The 3,200kg satellite, based on the Star 2.3 platform, will be fitted with...
Nasa and ATK Conduct Final Ground Test for Shuttle Programme
The space shuttle's final ground test on its reusable solid rocket motor (RSRM) has been carried out by Nasa and Alliant Techsystems (ATK). The ground test programme has been in place since...
Leonardo to Become Permanent Multipurpose Module for ISS
Nasa and the Italian Space Agency will transform the existing multipurpose logistics module (MPLM), Leonardo, into a permanent multipurpose module (PMM) for the International Space Station (ISS). ...
Sukhoi Superjet 100 Prototype to Undergo Cold Soak Trials
A third Sukhoi Superjet 100 prototype SN95004 landed at Yakutsk airport in Russia for cold soak trials. Cold soak trials test the ability of an aircraft and its systems to resist...
Pratt & Whitney Engines to Power Republic Airways Bombardier Jets
Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1000G engines will power 40 firm orders for Bombardier CS300 jetliners from Republic Airways. The order also includes an option for 40 more aircraft and up to...
Nasa Radar Detects Water on the Moon
Ice deposits have been discovered at the moon's poles by the Nasa radar aboard the Indian Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft. Mini-SAR, a lightweight synthetic aperture radar, has discovered more than...
NigeriaSat-2 Moves Towards Completion
Nigeria has nearly completed building its second earth observation satellite, NigeriaSat-2, according to the Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency (NNSRDA) The satellite...
Lockheed Completes Heat Shield for Orion Spacecraft
The heat shield for Nasa's Orion spacecraft, the largest in the world, has been completed by Lockheed Martin. The 5m shield will protect the space vehicle and its crew from the...
EchoStar-Led Group to Acquire Satmex
EchoStar and MVS Comunicaciones are set to buy a controlling stake in Satélites Mexicanos (Satmex) for $267m. Satmex, established in the 1980s as part of a government operation...
Northrop Flies New Bat UAS
Northrop Grumman successfully flew the first in new series of Bat unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in January. The new configuration of the UAS, powered by a Hirth engine, has a 12ft wingspan...
Green Boeing 737-800 Launched
A green Boeing 737-800 has been launched by South African carrier Kakula in an effort to demystify air travel. The pea-green livery has the aircraft parts pointed out in plain English making...
Sikorsky Global Witnesses Jump in 2010 Sales
A massive 50% boost in sales has been recorded by Sikorsky Global Helicopters at the start of 2010, compared with the same period in 2009. The firm has seen a revival in interest for...
Bombardier Gets Orders for CS300 Jetliners
Bombardier has received orders worth $3.06bn for 40 CS300 jetliners from Republic Airways. The contract includes options for 40 additional aircraft that will bring the total value of...
US CBP Orders Additional Eurocopter AS350s
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has ordered six additional AS350B3 helicopters under the light enforcement helicopter (LEH) contract with American Eurocopter. The AS350 has...
Air Methods Orders Eurocopter EC130s and AS350s
Air Methods Corporation has ordered 12 helicopters from American Eurocopter in a new deal. Made up of eight EC130 and four AS350 B3 helicopters the order will serve to upgrade the...
Boeing to Deliver Dreamliners to United Airlines
Boeing will deliver 25 787-8 Dreamliners to United Airlines (UA) under a new $4.2bn contract. The twin-aisle aircraft will carry 210-250 passengers on routes of 7,650nm to 8,200nm, at a...
Elbit Reveals New UAS Intelligence Management Centre
Elbit Systems has revealed a new unmanned aircraft system (UAS) intelligence management centre. It will enable management of UAS operational activities, training and simulation. The...
February 2010
Top
Era Group Orders AugustaWestland AW139s
Era Group is to purchase ten AW139 helicopters from AugustaWestland under a new purchase agreement. The AW139 is a new-generation medium twin-engine helicopter, powered by Pratt &...
Orbital and Aerojet Begin AJ26 Rocket Engine Tests
Orbital Sciences and Aerojet have begun testing the AJ26 rocket engine for the Taurus II programme with the testing of the pathfinder engine. The Aerojet-built AJ26 liquid-fuel rocket...
Pilot Handling is Major Cause of Accidents
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified pilot handling as a major cause of global airline accidents in 2009, accounting for 30% of all accidents. Pilot handling...
Demand for Airbus and Boeing Superjumbos to Grow in 2010
Demand for ultra-large Airbus and Boeing aircraft is expected to grow in 2010, despite tough market conditions following the economic crisis. Boeing chief executive James McNerney was quoted...
South Africa Looks to Reactivate Space Launch Capability
South Africa is considering the possibility of reactivating and re-establishing the country's space launch capability, according to Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor. The...
Bell 407 and 206B to Undergo Engine Upgrades
The Bell 407 and 206B helicopters are to receive engine upgrades from the Honeywell-Eagle Copters team and Rolls-Royce respectively. Honeywell and Eagle Copters have partnered to offer an...
SS/L Delivers EchoStar XIV Satellite for Launch
Space Systems / Loral (SS/L) has delivered the EchoStar XIV communication satellite to the Baikonur Space Centre in Kazakhstan for launch atop a Proton Breeze M vehicle. EchoStar XIV...
Nasa's Data Relay Satellites Complete Key Reviews
Nasa's tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS) K-L programme has completed its system-level critical design review (CDR) and production readiness review (PRR). TDRS K and L satellites are...
Aerospace Deals Plummeted in 2009
Deal values plummeted in the aerospace and defence (A&D) industries in 2009, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The uncertain economic future saw large deals fall by nearly...
Nasa Increases Support Contract to Mid-Atlantic Spaceport
Nasa has increased the support contract to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) in a deal expected to be worth $43m through May 2014. The long-term capabilities of the Virginia...
US State Department Orders Sikorsky S-61T Helicopters
The US State Department is to purchase up to 110 modernised S-61T helicopters for its worldwide passenger and cargo transport missions. As part of the Sikorsky S-61T programme the...
LEA Adds Legacy 600 and Citation XLS to Fleet
London Executive Aviation (LEA) has added an Embraer Legacy 600 and a Cessna Citation XLS to its operational fleet. The Legacy 600 will be based at Farnborough Airport, one of the seven...
Endeavour Returns from ISS
Nasa's space shuttle Endeavour has returned to earth after its STS130 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). During the 13-day mission the spacecraft carried 36,000lb of...
Sikorsky to Deliver S-76C Helicopters to Líder
Sikorsky is to deliver three S-76C++ helicopters to Líder Taxi Aéreo Air Brasil under a new contract. The S-76C++ helicopter features new Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 engines, an inlet barrier filter...
16,400-Helicopter World Demand Predicted for Next Ten Years
Rolls-Royce has predicted a demand for 16,400 new turbine helicopters, valued at $146bn, over the next ten years. The demand for the new helicopters will result from the improving civil...
ESA Delays Launch of Ice-Observer Satellite
The European Space Agency (ESA) has delayed the launch of the CryoSat-2 due to concerns over the second stage steering engine of the Dnepr rocket. The fuel reserve of the second stage engine...
Eutelsat Swaps Rockets for W3B Launch
Eutelsat has decided to launch the new W3B satellite on an Ariane 5 rocket, rather than on a Long March 3B, to remain on schedule. The W3B is scheduled to replace its predecessor, W2,...
Nasa's Stardust-NExT Delays Rendezvous with Comet
Nasa's Stardust - new exploration of Tempel (Stardust-NExT) spacecraft has fired its engines to delay its arrival at comet Tempel 1 by eight hours and 21 minutes. The mission will further...
Airbus and Boeing Begin Koito Seat Tests
Airbus and Boeing are expecting to receive an update on the safety of aircraft passenger seats produced by Koito Industries. The seat manufacturer has recently admitted breaching...
Bombardier Adds Third US Maintenance Unit
Bombardier has added a commercial aircraft service centre in Macon, Georgia, its third centre in the US. The 91,808ft² facility has a line capability for up to six aircraft at a time and...
Australia's CASA Upholds Reduced Crew-Passenger Ratio
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has upheld its decision to reduce the number of crew on aircraft and said it would not compromise safety. The change in ratio from the...
Space Station Magnet to Undergo Tests
The alpha magnetic spectrometer (AMS) is set to undergo testing at the European Space Agency (ESA) research and technology centre in preparation for launch to the International Space Station...
Spaceport Systems International Awarded USAF Missile Contract
Spaceport Systems International (SSI) will provide spaceport launch services to the US Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) launch test squadron, under a $48m five-year contract. ...
BA to Build Biojet Fuel Plant Without Defence Approval
British Airways (BA) has said it will build a new biojet fuel plant despite having not yet received approval from Ministry of Defence body DStan. The plant will convert 500,000t of waste...
India Develops CCI-Sat Intelligence Satellite
India is developing a communication-centric intelligence satellite (CCI-sat) to watch over its troubled neighbourhood. The $25m CCI-Sat is expected to orbit earth at an altitude of 300 miles...
Nasa Invites Indonesia for ISS Research Programmes
Nasa has invited Indonesia's National Flight and Space Agency (LAPAN) to contribute to the research programmes conducted on the International Space Station. Indonesia is, however, unlikely...
UK's CAA Grounds UK Police UAS
Merseyside Police's unmanned aerial system (UAS) has been grounded after concerns over flying the vehicle without a licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. A new change in a rule...
Runway for Spaceport America Nears Completion
Spaceport America's runway is nearing completion with the beginning of the final concrete finish phase of the runway construction. The 24in multi-layered runway comprises 6in of soil-cement...
Russia Wants Glonass GPS to Go Commercial
The Global Navigation Satellite System (Glonass) is competitive and must be commercialised to make it more effective, according to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Glonass is the...
Aeromexico Fits Carbon Brakes to Boeing 737
Aeromexico has retrofitted the first of the 36 Boeing 737 aircraft with Messier-Bugatti carbon brakes. The 737-700 retrofit included the replacement of steel brakes for the first time on...
International Space Station Fitted with Cupola
The International Space Station has been fitted with an Italian-made cupola through the Tranquillity Node. Endeavour astronaut Terry Virts said that the cupola will help when they carry...
Falcon 9 Hardware Arrives at Cape Canaveral
Flight hardware for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has arrived at its Florida facility in preparation for launch. Falcon 9 is a two-stage, liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene (RP-1) powered...
Jazeera Airways Acquires Aircraft Leasing Firm
Jazeera Airways has acquired the Sahaab Aircraft Leasing Company (Sahaab) for KWD 25.6m (US$88.2m). Sahaab owns nine Airbus A320 aircraft, which were purchased and leased back to...
Boeing to Make 737 Re-Engining Decision this Year
Boeing intends to reveal its decision on re-engining the 737 aircraft in 2010, according to the firm's CEO James McNerney. McNerney said the decision depends on how big the...
Thales Alenia to Build Athena-Fidus for France and Italy
Thales Alenia Space will build and test a broadband civil and military telecommunications satellite, Athena-Fidus, for the French and Italian space agencies, CNES and ASI. The...
Shenzhen Orders AgustaWestland AW139 Helicopter
The Public Security Bureau of Shenzhen in China has ordered an AW139 helicopter from AgustaWestland. The medium twin-engine helicopter can fly 15 passengers at a maximum speed of 167 knots...
Orbital Launches Intelsat 16 to Boost Latin America Coverage
The Intelsat-16 (IS-16) satellite has been successfully launched into orbit by an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The...
BAE to Provide Engineering Support for MRJs
BAE Systems will provide design integration and certification services for propulsion systems of the next-generation Mitsubishi regional jet (MRJ) aircraft. The MRJ, powered by Pratt and...
ILS Proton to Launch SES-3 Satellite in 2011
The International Launch Services Proton rocket will launch the SES-3 satellite in 2011, under a new contract. The SES-3 satellite is the third of SES's satellites to be procured from...
Nasa's Solar Dynamic Observatory Lifts Off
Nasa's solar dynamic observatory (SDO) satellite has successful lifted off on its mission to study solar activity. The observatory is an advanced spacecraft that will measure the interior of...
UK Looks to Gain 10% of Space Market by 2030
A new UK space innovation and growth report has revealed a 20-year vision to strengthen the UK's position in the space market that will increase the country's global market share to 10% by 2030. ...
Russian Air Force to Receive T-50 Fighters in 2015
The Russian Air Force will now receive the first T-50 PAK-FA fifth-generation fighter in 2015, instead of 2013, as requested by Russian Premier Vladimir Putin. Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said...
Oxford University Bird Research to Aid Future Aircraft Design
An Oxford University study to quantify flight performance of large birds has captured the measurement of the first airfoil profile of an in-flight bird, which will aid in developing future...
Pratt & Whitney Begins Certification for RS-68A Rocket Engine
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has completed the initial step in certifying the RS-68A rocket engine by successfully hot-fire testing the first certification engine. The RS-68A is an...
European Carriers Seek Change in State Aircraft Finance
Nine top European airlines including Air France-KLM, British Airways and Deutsche Lufthansa are lobbying for a change in how aircraft sales are financed to allow them access to government...
Pratt & Whitney to Deliver PW4000 Engines to Hong Kong Airlines
Pratt & Whitney is to deliver PW4000 Advantage 70 engines to power six new Airbus A330 aircraft for Hong Kong Airlines (HNA). The PW4000 is a high-thrust engine family with a...
Ball Aerospace Completes Light Testing on Landsat Component
Ball Aerospace has successfully completed stray light testing of the operational land imager (OLI) telescope assembly for Nasa's Landsat data continuity mission. The Landsat programme is...
Private Helicopter Deal Signed for UK Search and Rescue Service
A consortium of private firms, including Thales, CHC and the Royal Bank of Scotland, has been awarded a new £6bn ($9.3bn) contract to take over the UK's military-operated search and...
Thai Airways Plans to Lease 15 Aircraft by 2014
Thai Airways International has budgeted 35,484m baht ($1.06bn) to lease 15 aircraft for its regional and international routes, as per its new aircraft acquisition plan for 2010-2014. ...
Sichuan Airlines Receives First Airbus A330-200
Sichuan Airlines has received the first of the three new Airbus A330-200 leased from Dutch company AerCap Aviation Solutions. The A330-200, configured in a two-class layout with 36...
Boeing 747-8 Freighter Completes Maiden Flight
The Boeing 747-8 freighter has successfully completed its first flight. The freighter, powered by GEnx-2B engines, has a range of 4,390nm and a payload capability of 140t. The aircraft...
WGS Satellite Successfully Integrates Bus and Payload Module
The US Air Force's fourth wideband global SATCOM (WGS-4) satellite has successfully integrated the satellite bus and payload module, and is now ready for final integration activities. During...
Hong Kong Airlines to Purchase Airbus A330s
Hong Kong Airlines has ordered six Airbus A330-200 aircraft under a new memorandum of understanding. The A330-200 is the shortest fuselage version of the A330 series of aircraft, which can...
India to Lift Off Cartosat-2B
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch a high-resolution remote-sensing satellite Cartosat-2B, which will aid in infrastructure and urban planning. The satellite with a...
Balli Guilty of Illegal Exports to Iran
UK firm Balli Aviation has pleaded guilty to a US court for the illegal export of three Boeing 747 aircraft to Iran. The firm had plotted the export of three 747s from the US to Iran without...
Alliant and Nasa to Conduct Final Ground Test for Shuttle Programme
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and Nasa will conduct the last horizontal ground test for the Space Shuttle programme on 25 February 2010. The Space Shuttle programme will make another four...
India's Indigenous Light Combat Helicopter Ready for First Flight
The first indigenously made light combat helicopter (LCH) in India has successfully completed its first ground run, and will now take its first flight in February 2010. Announced in 2006,...
Mubadala Sets Up Engine Financing Firm
Mubadala Aerospace has set up a new firm, Sanad Aero Solutions, to provide engine financing support to airlines and original equipment manufacturers (OEM). With spend on aircraft maintenance...
Asia-Pacific Region to Buy 8,000 Aircraft in Next 20 Years
Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region will acquire 8,000 new passenger and cargo aircraft, valued at $1.2tn, over the next 20 years, according to Airbus's latest forecast for the region. ...
Imaging Instruments Ready for Nasa's Solar Observatory
Two of the three instruments on Nasa's solar dynamics observatory (SDO) are ready for launch on the spacecraft. The 3,100kg SDO is an advanced spacecraft that will measure the interior of...
Alphabus Moves Towards Completion
The service module of the new Alphabus generation of telecommunication satellites has been shifted from a Thales Alenia Space facility to an Astrium facility for completion. The Alphabus is...
Spain Purchases Eurocopter EC 135s
Spain has purchased 12 EC 135 P2i helicopters that will be operated by the Spain's National Police Force and the Spanish Guardia Civil. The EC 135 is a twin-engine multipurpose...
Nasa's Endeavour Lifts Off for the Space Station
Nasa has successfully launched the Endeavour shuttle on its way to the International Space Station (ISS). The STS-130 mission will include the delivery of the Tranquility node that will...
Asia-Pacific Maintenance Industry to Grow After Mid 2010
The Asia-Pacific aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry will witness robust growth from the second half of 2010, following the severe impact of recession, which is expected...
Bell Debuts 429 Helicopter at Singapore Air Show
Bell Helicopter has unveiled the new Bell 429 helicopter at the Singapore Air Show. The Bell 429 is a light, twin-engine helicopter that can fly 390nm with seven passengers at a cruise speed...
Iran Launches Kavoshgar 3 Rocket
Iran has successfully launched a Kavoshgar 3 rocket into space. The rocket, an experimental capsule also, carried a mouse, two turtles and worms during the mission and successfully returned...
IAE Engines to Power Turkish Airlines A320 Aircraft
International Aero Engines (IAE) will provide its V2500 engines to power 20 Turkish Airlines A320 family aircraft. The 22,000lb-33,000lb-thrust V2500 delivers an additional 1% fuel...
Airbus Sees Flat 2010 Sales Despite Air Traffic Growth
Airbus is expecting its sales of aircraft in 2010 to remain flat despite recovery in global air traffic volume. The firm is anticipating orders for 250 to 300 aircraft in the year, compared...
Asia-Pacific Aerospace Manufacturers to See Weak 2010
Aerospace parts and equipment manufacturers in the Asia-Pacific region will continue to be adversely hit by the effects of recession in 2010 although original equipment manufacturers (OEM) will...
Nasa Selects Aerospace Firms for Manned Spaceflight Contracts
Nasa plans to award $50m in contracts to aerospace firms to improve its capability for placing humans into low Earth orbit. The awards closely follow the 2011 Nasa budget request placed by...
Evergreen Flies Skylark for Haitian Relief
Evergreen Unmanned Systems has employed the Elbit Systems Skylark I LE unmanned aerial vehicle to survey rural orphanages in Haiti searching for signs of life in the aftermath of the earthquake. ...
Singapore Air Show Expects Low Aircraft Sales
The Singapore Air Show, which opened on 2 February 2010, is expected to witness low commercial aircraft sales. Participants such as Boeing, Airbus, Honeywell, Rolls-Royce and Lockheed Martin...
French Court Begins Concorde Crash Inquiry
A French court has begun a trial to examine the Air France Concorde crash in 2000 that killed 113 people. The crash occurred after the aircraft caught fire at take-off. It landed on a...
Europe's Vega Space Vehicle to Receive Support from Arianespace
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Vega light launch vehicle will receive support services for the qualification campaign and combined testing from Arianespace. Vega has been designed as a...
IATA Seeks to Avert Chinese Sanctions on Taiwan Deal
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called for talks with China to avert sanctions the country plans to impose on US parties involved in a $6.4bn military deal with...
Air France to Sell Boeing 777 Freighters to FedEx
France-KLM has signed a letter of intent to sell two new Boeing cargo 777 aircraft to FedEx. The new freighters have not yet been delivered to Air France and the sale will not affect its...
Nasa's 2011 Budget Rules Out Manned Missions to Moon
The US Government has allotted $19bn to Nasa in the 2011 budget and called for the end of the Constellation programme that aims to send man to the moon again in 2020. According the...
Russia Successfully Test Flies Sukhoi T-50 Stealth Fighter
Russia has unveiled its first Sukhoi T-50 stealth fighter jet, which successfully completed its maiden flight in the far east of Russia. The jet fighter, also known as the PAK FA, is expected...
India Prepares Manned Space Mission for 2016
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to launch a manned mission to space in 2016. ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan was quoted by the BBC as saying that they will design and...
Ball Integrates Infrared Instrument into Polar-Orbiting Satellite
Ball Aerospace has begun integrating the infrared instrument into the national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system (NPOESS) preparatory project (NPP) satellite. The...
EADS Shareholders Question A380 Delay
EADS shareholders have requested a Dutch court probe into the firm's management policy over the delayed A380 programme schedule. The shareholders suspect EADS of having held back data...
February Launch Planned for Nasa's Space Shuttle Endeavour
Nasa will launch the space shuttle Endeavour on 7 February to begin a 13-day flight to the International Space Station for the STS-130 mission. The mission will include three spacewalks and...
Qantas to Buy IAE Engines for A320 Fleet
Jetstar will buy International Aero Engines V2500 jet engines to power up to 90 Airbus A320s in a deal worth $3.5bn. The agreement will include the purchase of 50 A320 family planes with...
Virgin Blue Considers Embraer Jets to Replace Existing Fleet
Australian budget carrier Virgin Blue is expected to buy new aircraft and is currently in talks with several suppliers including Brazil's Embraer. The carrier intends to replace its...
Upgraded Boeing B-52 Completes First Test Flight
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, a jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the US Air Force, has successfully completed its first test flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California, US. ...
US Research Lab Awards Plug-and-Play Contract to Miltec
Ducommun's subsidiary Miltec has been awarded a contract to supply Plug-And-Play (PNP) spacecraft technologies to the US Air Force Research Laboratory ( AFRL). The first task under the deal...
UAC to Make 165 Passenger Planes
Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has unveiled plans to manufacture 165 passenger planes between 2010 and 2012. Russian industry and trade minister Viktor Khristenko said the...
January 2010
Top
Bombardier Delivers First Q400 to SATA Air
Bombardier has delivered the first of four Q400 NextGen airlines ordered by SATA Air Açores, a Grupo SATA regional airline. The short-haul aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney...
University Cubesats to Accompany Nasa's Glory Mission
Nasa will launch small research satellites for several universities on its Glory mission, under its educational launch nanosatellite (ELaNA) mission. The cubesats will come from the...
Gulf Air Leases Embraer 170 Jets
Gulf Air and Embraer have signed a preliminary agreement, under which Gulf Air would operate two Embraer 170 jets through a lease. The Embraer 170 jets are configured in a dual-class layout...
Airbus Partners with Chinese Firm for Aircraft Financing
Airbus has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the CDB Leasing Corp. (CLC) to cooperate in aircraft financing and leasing. Airbus and CLC will share competence and experience on...
Raydiance Partners with Nasa to Develop Microfluidics Technology
Raydiance will partner with Nasa to develop advanced microfluidics devices for space-based biological experiments. The Nasa Ames Research Center will employ Raydiance's Smart Light...
Eutelsat Leases W7 Satellite Transponders to MultiChoice
Eutelsat has leased 20 Ku-band transponders on Eutelsat's new W7 satellite to MultiChoice Africa. The 5.6t communications satellite is built by Thales Alenia Space and is fitted with up to...
Airbus to Deliver A320s to Yemenia Airlines
Airbus will deliver ten A320 family aircraft to Yemenia Airlines under a new contract. The A320s are single-aisle aircraft that can fly up 3,700nm at a speed of Mach 0.82. The airliner...
Mitsubishi Regional Jets to Receive LMI Aerospace Tailcones
The Mitsubishi regional jet (MRJ) under development with the Mitsubishi Aircraft (MJET) is to receive tailcone sections designed and built by LMI Aerospace. The aircraft will have seating for...
India Tests Solid Rocket Booster
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has conducted a static test of the world's third-largest solid rocket booster S200 for the geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle mkIII (GSLV-mkIII)....
AIG to Retain Aircraft Leasing Business
AIG has decided to retain its aircraft leasing business, International Lease Finance (ILFC), as it would not gain enough profit from its divestment. ILFC is one of the largest aircraft...
Composite Space Module Concept Passes Test
A composite crew module (CCM) developed by Nasa has successfully passed tests demonstrating it to be a feasible alternative to the existing metal capsules used for manned space missions. The...
Russia's Tu-95MS Bombers Complete Arctic Patrol Flight
Two of the Russian Air Force's Tu-95MS bombers have successfully completed a routine patrol flight over the Arctic Ocean, after taking off from Engels Airbase in Russia. During the patrol,...
Lockheed Gains Operational Capability for Space Lab
Lockheed Martin has gained initial operational capability for its new space vehicle integration laboratory (SVIL) that will support its space programmes. The SVIL will use innovative...
Astrium to Source Solar Power from Space
Astrium plans to build a demonstrator satellite system by 2015 that will collect the sun's energy in space and transmit it to earth through an infrared laser to provide electricity. Space...
Soyuz Spacecraft Moves to New Docking Point on ISS
The Soyuz spacecraft has been redocked to a new location on the International Space Station (ISS). The craft was undocked from the space station's Zvezda service module and moved about 100ft...
Nasa Readies Solar Satellite for Launch
Nasa has encapsulated the solar dynamics observatory (SDO) satellite in its two-piece payload fairing in preparation for launch. The SDO is a sun-pointing 3,100kg spacecraft that...
Ethiopia Signed Deal to Buy More 737s Days Before Crash
Boeing signed an agreement to deliver ten next-generation 737-800 aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines just days before the crash which saw the aircraft plunge into the Mediterranean Sea minutes...
UK Works with ADS to Ensure Aerospace Growth
ADS and the UK Government are exploring the importance of a common approach on aerospace growth to ensure sustained investment and to enable industry to invest in future design capability. ...
Ethiopian Airlines Jet Crashes into Mediterranean Sea
A Boeing 737-800 aircraft carrying 90 Ethiopian Airlines passengers and crew crashed into the Mediterranean Sea earlier today, having burst into flames minutes after take-off. ...
Nasa to Build Futuristic Personal Aircraft
Nasa has unveiled the design for a one-person aircraft named Puffin. The twin-engine 12ft Puffin will be capable of vertical take-off and landing and will hover and cruise horizontally with...
Eurocopter Sees no Demand Upturn Before Mid-2010
Eurocopter says it doubts an increase in demand for its helicopters before the middle of 2010, after suffering a decline in orders in 2009. Lower orders for light helicopters in 2009 will...
Globalstar to Launch Six Satellites in July
Globalstar plans to launch six of its second-generation satellites in July 2010 in a 30-day launch window. The satellites will lift off from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome using the...
Emirates Airlines Receives Airbus A380
Emirates Airlines has received an A380 aircraft from Airbus. The airline will use the plane to meets its expansion plans and traffic demand, according to Emirates engineering and...
Northrop Delivers Sensor for Polar-Orbiting Satellite System
Northrop Grumman has successfully delivered a key sensor for the national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system (NPOESS) preparatory project. NPOESS is low earth...
Second A330 Freighter Begins Flight Test
The second A330-200F freighter has undertaken its first test flight. The A330-200F, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, can fly up to 4,000nm and will be fitted with a full courier...
Boeing to Build 787 Maintenance Unit for Air India
Boeing is to build a $100m unit for Air India to maintain 787 aircraft on order from the airline. The air carrier is expected to receive its first 787 Dreamliner by the second quarter of 2011. ...
NSS-12 Satellite Becomes Operational
The SES WORLD SKIES NSS-12 satellite has entered commercial service at the orbital location of 57°E. NSS-12 delivers direct-to-home (DTH) power and performance through four regional Ku-band...
US Deploys Third C-27 / G.222 Aircraft in Afghanistan
The US Air Force has deployed the third Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) C-27 / G.222 aircraft, to Kabul, Afghanistan, following its delivery in December 2009. The aircraft, delivered...
Herschel Back to Full Operational Capability
The European Space Agency (ESA) has reactivated the heterodyne instrument for the far infrared (HiFi) on the Herschel space observatory. The spacecraft is the most powerful infrared telescope...
Airbus to Decide on A320 Alteration Programme
Airbus is expected to make a decision on whether or not the A320 aircraft will require a re-engining that will make it commercially strong against growing competition from the Bombardier...
AFT to Develop Fuel Injection System for US
The US Army has awarded a contract to Alternative Fuel Technologies (AFT) for the development of the ultra-high-pressure jet propellant-8 (JP-8) fuel injection system. Under the contract, AFT...
GOES-P Undergoes Launch Preparation
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's (NOAA) geostationary operational environmental satellite (GOES-P) is undergoing preparation for launch, scheduled for March 2010. GOES-P is...
New Satellite to Add to Chinese Navigation System
China has lifted off a new orbiter into space atop a Long-March-3III carrier rocket into a geostationary orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. The orbiter is the third system of...
Boeing to Bid for Space Station Cargo Support Deal
Boeing will bid for a Nasa contract to provide technical support including the analysis and physical processing of pressurised cargo and flight crew equipment for the International Space...
Nasa Looks for Instruments for Mars Mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Nasa are asking scientists to propose instruments for the first of two joint Mars missions, the ExoMars trace gas orbiter. The ExoMars programme includes...
Nasa Begins Listening for Phoenix Mars Lander
Nasa's Mars Odyssey orbiter has begun seeking radio transmissions from the Phoenix Mars Lander, which completed its Mars studying mission in November 2008. The solar-powered Mars lander was...
A400M Aircraft Deadline in Jeopardy
The A400M military transport plane bail-out plan has once again been delayed, as buyers, especially Germany, are ignoring the end-of-January deadline from Airbus. The A400M programme is...
Embraer Exceeds 2009 Delivery Target
Embraer delivered 244 jets in 2009, exceeding its guidance figure of 242. The Embraer 190 led the commercial jetplane category with 62 deliveries, while the Phenom 100 in the executive...
Boeing Dreamliner Completes Airworthiness Tests
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has completed initial airworthiness testing that will enable more aircraft to join the flight test programme. The 787 is a new large airliner programme that will...
Allegiant Air to Receive Maintenance Support from AAR
Allegiant Air's fleet of 46 MD-80 aircraft is to receive maintenance and modification services from AAR. Scheduled maintenance work will be performed at AAR's MRO facilities in Miami...
Airbus Faces Risks Despite Strong 2009
Airbus has expressed concern over its A400M military airlifter deal, the A380 schedule and generally shrinking demand from airlines in 2010, despite robust production and orders for 2009. ...
RAF Receives Upgraded Mk3 Chinooks for Afghanistan
The UK Royal Air Force has received two new mk3 Chinook helicopters, after a £408m ($664m) upgrade to the air force's existing fleet of Chinooks, with new engines and digitised cockpits. The...
Israeli Sky Jeep Completes First Phase of Flight Tests
The AirMule, a cargo and medical evacuation unmanned system developed by Israel's Urban Aeronautics, has concluded its delayed first phase of flight tests. The single engine, vertical...
Russia to Build Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft
Russia is set to build a spacecraft propelled by nuclear energy that will make flight to planets such as Mars possible. The $600m project will develop the spacecraft, whose...
Nasa to Test Refuelling Satellites
Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre is developing an in-orbit test bed to test techniques for refuelling satellites not designed to be refuelled, through experience gained servicing the Hubble...
Foam to Replace Wax in Aerospace Components Casting
A new kind of foam can replace wax in the casting of aerospace components, leading to huge saving to the industry, according to the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Under a...
Nasa to Test Spacesuits for Orion Mission
The Johnson Space Center (JSC) will undertake testing of three versions of Nasa's new spacesuit for the Orion exploration mission. The prototype suits will be tested to compare their utility...
South African Airlink Leases Embraer ERJ 135 Jets
South African Airlink has leased four ERJ-135 pre-owned jets from Embraer's subsidiary, ECC Leasing. The ERJ-135 jets, powered by Rolls-Royce AE3007 engines, have seating for 37 passengers....
China to Build and Launch Bolivian Satellite
China will build and launch a commercial satellite for Bolivia to link remote and isolated areas of the country. The construction and launch of Bolivia's first satellite is estimated to be...
AL Jaber Receives First Embraer Lineage 1000 Jet
The UAE's Al Jaber Aviation has received its first Lineage 1000 jet from Embraer. The Lineage 1000 is Embraer's biggest executive jet. It can carry 19 passengers in five cabin zones, and has...
Primus to Provide Nasa Goddard IT Services
ASRC Primus is to provide enterprise information technology services to Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre for five years. Under the contract, Primus will develop, integrate, sustain and...
Bombardier Leases Atlantic Southeast Repair Facility
Bombardier has subleased a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility from Atlantic Southeast Airline (ASA) in Georgia, US. The 90,000ft² facility will enable Bombardier to undertake...
India to Develop Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to build a third launch pad at its space centre in Sriharikota that will be capable of launching the proposed reusable launch...
Mahindra Steps into Light Aircraft Market
India's Mahindra Group plans to develop a new light civilian passenger aircraft series. The firm intends to build a 2-18-seat light aircraft for India that will be cheaper than foreign...
Korea to Launch Three Satellites in 2010
Korea intends to send the communication, ocean and meteorological satellite (COMS), the Arirang-5 multipurpose satellite, and Mugungwha-6 satellite into space in 2010. The 2.5t COMS,...
India to Acquire C-17 Globemaster III Aircraft
The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has sent a letter of request to the US Government to acquire ten C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifters from Boeing. The IAF...
Virgin Atlantic Purchases Airbus A330s
Virgin Atlantic Airways has bought six A330-300 aircraft from Airbus and leased four more from AerCap under a new contract. The long-range A330 seats up to 270 passengers in a...
Mubadala Signs Engine Deal with Air Berlin
Mubadala Development has signed a ten-year contract with Air Berlin to finance spare engines and provide engine maintenance for the airline's fleet of aircraft. The company will finance 12...
AAR to Supply Helicopter Parts to Sikorsky
AAR has been named exclusive supplier of composite interiors for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter programme. The firm will also provide precision machining services for S-92 helicopter flooring...
European Commission Awards Contracts for Galileo
The European Commission (EC) has awarded three of the six contracts for creating initial operational capability for the Galileo system. Galileo is the EU's initiative for a global...
Falcon 9 Completes Second Stage of Test Firing
SpaceX's Falcon 9 spacecraft has completed the full duration orbit insertion firing of the second stage. Falcon 9 will transfer crew and cargo to the International Space Station once it...
Boeing Deliveries Dominated by 737s in 2009
Boeing delivered 481 commercial airplanes in 2009, meeting the company guidance of 480-485 airplanes, with 737s accounting for majority of the deliveries. The aerospace firm has recorded...
Astrium to Coordinate Europe's Future SATCOM Needs
Astrium Services has been awarded a contract by the European Defence Agency for a new preparatory study to coordinate the future military communication needs of the EU. The one-year project...
UAE to Receive C-17 Globemaster III Aircraft
The UAE Air Force is to receive six C-17 Globemaster III advanced aircraft under a sustainment partnership contract signed with Boeing. Under the agreement, Boeing will deliver four C-17s...
Lion Air Subsidiary Receives First ATR 72-500s
Wings Air, a Lion Air subsidiary, has received three of the 15 ATR 72-500 aircraft ordered from ATR in 2009. The contract for 15 ATR 72-500s along with options for 15 ATR 72-600s is valued at...
LADEE Spacecraft to get SS/L Propulsion System
Nasa's lunar atmosphere dust environment explorer (LADEE) spacecraft is to be equipped with a propulsion system from Space Systems / Loral (SS/L). LADEE is a small observatory that will...
Worldview-2 Satellite Gains Full Operational Capability
DitgitalGlobe has announced that the Worldview-2 satellite has gained full operational capability. The satellite is designed to collect and record commercial, high-resolution earth imagery. ...
China Southern to Sell Stake in MTU Zhuhai
China Southern Airlines has approved a plan to sell its 50% stake in MTU Zhuhai to its parent company, China Southern Air Holding, for 1.61bn yuan ($235m). MTU Zhuhai, a maintenance, repair...
Nasa's WISE Spacecraft Opens its Telescopic Eye
NASA's wide-field infrared survey explorer (WISE) spacecraft has successfully ejected its protective cover to begin infrared survey of the sky. WISE will perform the most detailed...
Bombardier at Risk of Losing Mesa Regional Jet Orders
Bombardier orders for regional jets from Mesa Air could take a hit, as the US airline is filing for bankruptcy. Mesa's order for ten CRJ 700s was last year deferred for delivery to 2013,...
ISRO to Evaluate Indigenous Cryogenic Engine for GSLV-D3
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will thoroughly evaluate the indigenously built cryogenic engine for GSLV-D3 before finalising a launch date. A cryogenic engine uses...
Saudi Red Crescent Receives A318 from Airbus
The Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) has received a A318 jetliner from Airbus that will expand its air support capabilities. The A318 will serve in a medical evacuation role for...
Webb Space Telescope Mirrors go for Cryogenic Tests
Ball Aerospace has shipped five James Webb space telescope (JWST) beryllium primary mirror segments to Nasa's Marshall Space Flight Center for cryogenic temperature testing. JWST will be a...
Airbus Wins Turkish A320 Order
Airbus has received a 2009 year-end order for 20 A320 family aircraft from Turkish Airlines. The order includes a mix of A319s and A321s and exact numbers of each will be finalised soon. ...
Boeing Surveys Terma Work Facility
Boeing has completed a site survey of the Terma facility in Denmark to assess the capability for possible commercial airplane work. Terma demonstrated its growing capabilities in the areas...
FAA to Receive Tetra Tech Support for Navigation Systems
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will receive support services from Tetra Tech for its navigation, landing and lighting systems under a new contract. Under the navigation...
ISRO Plans Chandrayaan-II Moon Mission in 2013
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) intends to launch Chandrayaan-II to the moon in the first quarter of 2013, according to ISRO Chandrayaan I and II project director Mylswamy Annadurai....
Airliner Safety Dips in 2009 Despite Drop in Air Fatalities
Safety of airliners has gone down in 2009, even as aircraft accidents have decreased in the year according to studies by the Aviation Safety Network and Flight Safety Foundation. The year saw...
Allegiant to buy Scandinavian Airlines MD-80 Aircraft
Allegiant Travel Company is to purchase 18 MD-80 aircraft from Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). Allegiant Air, an airline subsidiary of Allegiant Travel will absorb 13 of the aircraft...
Orbital and Thales to Build Satellite for OverHorizon
Orbital Sciences and Thales Alenia Space is to build a new geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellite for OverHorizon. The spacecraft will be based on Orbital's STARTM 2 satellite...
GE Aviation Acquires BMB Fuel
GE Aviation has concluded the acquisition of BMB Fuel, which provides fuel consulting services to identify and track operational improvements for airlines that reduce fuel consumption. ...
Russia Plans Ten Space Launches in 2010
Russia's SP Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia plans to launch four manned spacecraft and six cargo spaceships in 2010. Four Soyuz-TMA space capsules and six Progress cargo ships...
India to Undertake Mars Mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) intends to undertake a mission to Mars between 2013 and 2015, after a lunar mission by Chandrayan-II. ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair was quoted...
FAA Approves B767-300 Aircraft Conversion
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded a supplemental type certificate (STC) to prototype B767-300BDSF (Bedek special freighter) aircraft. The aircraft has been converted for...
Kepler Space Telescope Discovers Exoplanets
Nasa's Kepler space telescope has discovered five new exoplanets – planets beyond our solar system. The Kepler telescope has been designed to find earth-sized planets beyond the...
LAN Airlines Orders 30 A320 Aircraft
LAN Airlines has ordered 30 Airbus A320 aircraft. The A320 aircraft family includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321 that can carry up to 185 passengers up to a distance of 3,700nm. The...
Smithsonian to Support Nasa's Chandra X
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory will continue to provide science and operations support to Nasa's Chandra X-ray space observatory. Chandra is the world's most powerful X-ray...
DIRECTV 12 Satellite Reaches Orbit on Proton M
International Launch Services has launched the DIRECTV 12 satellite into orbit on a Proton M launch vehicle. The 5.9t Boeing-built satellite for DIRECTV will join DIRECTV 10 and 11 to expand...
US Air Force to Receive Fuel Cells from Adaptive Materials
The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a contract to Adaptive Materials to provide 60W fuel cell systems that will meet power needs. Under the $3m contract, Adaptive will develop, evaluate...
Russian Air Force Tests Fifth-Generation Supersonic Aircraft
The Russian Air Force has begun testing of its fifth-generation supersonic aircraft, with the aim of competing with the US's F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II aircraft. With a range of...
December 2009
Top
British Army Receives First Four Lynx Mk9A Helicopters
The British Army has received the first four upgraded Lynx mk9A helicopters from AgustaWestland. The British Army Air Corps will use three aircraft for conversion to type and conversion to...
All Nippon Airways Orders Boeing 777s and 767s
All Nippon Airways (ANA) has ordered five 777-200ER (Extended Range) and five 767-300ER aircraft from Boeing. The 777-200ER can fly up to 7,700nm at a speed of M0.84 with 440 passengers in...
Boeing Acquires Fuselage Assembly Facility for 787
Boeing has acquired Alenia North America's half of Global Aeronautica, a fuselage subassembly facility for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, and is now the sole owner of the entity. The...
RAF Celebrates Tenth Anniversary of C-130J Hercules Aircraft
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of the C-130J Hercules aircraft at its RAF Lyneham base. The C130J aircraft, used by the RAF in operations in...
Orbital to Build HYLAS 2 Commercial Satellite for Avanti
Orbital Sciences will build a new geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellite, Hylas-2 for London-based Avanti Communications Group. The HYLAS 2 will carry 24 active Ka-band user beams...
US to Make Minor Changes in Air Force KC-X Tanker Competition
The US has decided to make minor changes in the multibillion-dollar contract pertaining to the air force's KC-X Stratotanker competition. The Pentagon has now decided to adjust the...
US Airways Receives Third New A330-200 Aircraft for Lease
US Airways has taken delivery of a third new Airbus A330-200 aircraft, for a lease from Guggenheim Aviation Partners, as part of its fleet modernisation programme. The A330-200,...
FAA Addresses Phenom 300 Ice Protection
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued special conditions for ice protection on Embraer's Phenom 300 business jet before issuing a US certification for the aircraft. The...
RNZAF's Boeing 757 Completes Maiden Trial Flight After Upgrade
A Royal New Zealand Air Force's (RNZAF) Boeing 757 has completed a successful maiden trial flight to Antarctica, after undergoing a modernisation process. Air component commander Air...
Rockwell to Supply Avionics for Irkut's MC-21 Airplanes
Rockwell Collins will provide avionics and pilot controls for the new MC-21 family of aircraft being developed by Russian-based Irkut Corporation. MC-21 is a single-aisle aircraft family...
Thor 6 Satellite Completes Test Phase
The Thor 6 spacecraft owned by Telenor Satellite Broadcasting has completed all in-orbit and ground related testing and will commence commercial service in December 2009. Thor 6 will...
Nasa Purchases Solid-Rocket Boosters from ATK
Nasa has purchased two reusable solid rocket motors from ATK Launch Systems to provide a launch-on-need rescue capability for the final planned space shuttle mission. The reusable solid...
Orbital to Build Communication Satellite for Intelsat
Orbital Sciences will design, build and deliver the Intelsat 23 (IS-23) commercial communications satellite for Intelsat. Based on Orbital's STAR-2 platform, the fixed satellite will...
Soyuz Spacecraft Lifts Off for ISS
The Soyuz spacecraft carrying three new space station crew members has lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for the International Space Station (ISS). The crew –...
Lockheed Solar Imager for GOES-R Passes Review
The Lockheed Martin-built solar ultraviolet imager (SUVI) for the geostationary operational environmental satellite-R (GOES) series, has completed its critical design review (CDR). SUVI is a...
IATA Criticises Copenhagen for not Addressing Aviation Emissions
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) criticised the Copenhagen Accord for not addressing aviation emissions despite the industry being proactive in cutting back on emissions. ...
Sikorsky Begins S-76D Helicopter Production
Sikorsky has begun producing the S-76D helicopter airframe at its Aero Vodochody assembly line in Czech Republic. The S-76D features all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades, an...
South Korea Develops Human-Powered Aircraft
The South Korean Air Force has successfully developed a human-powered aircraft (HPA), which is powdered by direct human energy. The HPA, known as Sky Runner, weighing 40kg, has a wingspan...
Northrop to Provide Reference Unit for Nasa's GPM Mission
Northrop Grumman will supply a scalable space inertial reference unit (scalable SIRU) for Nasa's global precipitation measurement (GPM) mission. The scalable SIRU is an inertial reference...
Nasa Mission Hints at Increased Satellite Drag in Atmosphere
Satellites could experience increased drag due to the cooling of the upper atmosphere following changes in the current solar cycle identified by a Nasa mission. ...
BAE Systems to Lease Jets to Cobham
BAE Systems will lease two Avro RJ100 jets to Cobham Aviation Services. Cobham will use the aircraft to provide a regular shuttle service between Perth and Barrow Island, to transport...
CFM Engines to Power Chinese C919 Aircraft
CFM's LEAP-X turbofan engines will power the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China's (COMAC) C919 aircraft under a new contract. The C919 would have at least 150 seats and deliveries...
Canada's 4 Wing Cold Lake Fighter Base Gets First Bird Radar Unit
Canada's 4 Wing Cold Lake fighter base will get the country's first bird radar unit, to carry out the development of the base's airport bird-hazard risk assessment process (ABRAP). ...
GOES-14 Satellite Completes On-Orbit Tests
The GOES-14 weather satellite for Nasa and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has completed on-orbit testing and been accepted into service. GOES-14 formerly GOES-O,...
Russian GLONASS Satellites Lift-off on Proton-M
Three GLONASS navigation satellites have been successfully placed in orbit aboard a three–stage Proton M launch vehicle. The navigation satellites are part of the Russian Federation...
Boeing 787 Dreamliner Makes Maiden Flight
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has completed its maiden flight. During the three-hour trip, the plane reached an altitude of 15,000ft at an air speed of 180kt, customary for a first flight. ...
Falcon and CIS Provide Rugged UPS for Aircraft
Falcon Electric and CIS Secure Computing have successfully completed a joint project to provide an uninterrupted power supply system to protect sophisticated electronics inside an aircraft. ...
Beechcraft Delivers King Air Aircraft to FAA
Hawker Beechcraft has delivered four Beechcraft King Air C90GTi turboprops to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The King Air C90GTi is a fuel-efficient aircraft that features...
Helinet Aviation Launches Air Surveillance Division
Helinet Aviation Services has launched a new division, Helinet Technologies, to formally consolidate the firm's aerial surveillance solutions business. The division will provide...
Helios 2B Satellite Scheduled for Launch on 17 December
Arianespace has set the new launch date of the Helios 2B satellite on 17 December, following the corrective actions on the liquid helium subsystem on Ariane 5's cryogenic main stage. ...
EADS to Double Revenue Through Aerospace Acquisition
EADS hopes to double its revenue over the next decade through sales growth, and acquisitions in military and aerospace. The parent company of aircraft maker Airbus SAS, EADS has plans...
Lockheed's MS2 Unit Receives CMMI Maturity Level 5 Rating
Lockheed's Maritime Systems and Sensors (MS2) business unit has received a maturity level 5 appraisal for the capability maturity model integration (CMMI) for development. Lockheed's...
Copa Airlines Orders Two Boeing 737-800 Airplanes
Panama-based Copa Airlines has ordered two additional next-generation 737-800 airplanes from Boeing, for $152m, to enhance its customer satisfaction and to bring cost effectiveness in...
US Probes Virgin Galactic Stake Sale to Arab Investor
The proposed sale of a stake in Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic space company to Arab investors has sparked a US national security investigation. The Committee on Foreign Investments...
Emirates Airlines Takes Delivery of Sixth Airbus A380
Dubai-based Emirates Airlines has taken delivery of a sixth Airbus A380 from the Jurgen Thomas Delivery Centre in Hamburg, Germany, to support the airline's operational needs and meet...
NOAA Deactivates Geostationary Satellite 10
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) deactivated geostationary operational satellite 10 (GOES 10) on 1 December, in preparation to develop more advanced satellite for...
Rolls-Royce to Power Airbus Aircraft
Rolls-Royce has received a $2bn contract from United Airlines, to supply its Trent XWB engines, to power the airline's new 25 Airbus A350 XWB and provide TotalCare long-term service...
US State Installs Satellites to Highways Snow Drift
Dane County in the US state of Wisconsin has installed a new satellite system on its highways to fight snow drifts that might occur in a major winter storm expected to hit south central region...
Boeing Completes Review of Static Test to 787 Dreamliner
Boeing has completed the review and analysis of the static test to validate the side-of-body modification made to the 787 Dreamliner Aircraft. Boeing has also completed final gauntlet testing...
Bombardier Vision System Gets FAA Stamp
The Bombardier enhanced vision system (BEVS) and head-up display (HUD) for the Challenger 605 jet has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification. Offered as optional...
Astronaut Trained to Adapt to Zero Gravity
Scientists at the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) are developing a training technique to help astronauts adapt quickly to a new gravity environment and overcome...
Boeing 787 Dreamliner Completes High-Speed Taxi Test
The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft has completed the high-speed taxi tests, the last in a series of functional tests, and is now ready for the first flight. Boeing 787 Dreamliner...
RADA to Supply Ground Debriefing Systems
RADA Electronic Industries will provide ground debriefing systems (GDS) for airborne digital video recordings to Lockheed Martin, under a contract signed as part of Lockheed's F-16 block 52...
Design Review Complete for AMF JTRS
The critical design review (CDR) for the airborne, maritime / fixed station joint tactical radio system (AMF JTRS) has been successfully completed by a Lockheed Martin team, including BAE,...
US Aerospace Sales Boost Alliances and Economic Recovery
Alliances and economic recovery get a major impetus from the US aerospace sales, nearly half of which are exported, according to Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) president and CEO...
Sanswire-TAO Unveils STS-111 UAV
Sanswire-TAO Corporation has unveiled the initial STS-111, the new Mid Altitude Long Endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Designed to provide persistent surveillance capabilities,...
New Black Hawk for US CBP
The first US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Agency UH-60 A-A to L recapitalisation aircraft has been rolled out from Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance's Chase Field Operations Center in Texas....
Nasa Revives Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Nasa has resurrected its Mars reconnaissance orbiter, which went into a protective safe mode for one month in late August following a computer glitch. The safe mode, although stalled...
China Cargo 777 Freighters Includes Boeing Efficiencies
China Cargo Airlines will incorporate Boeing's Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) in its new 777 Freighters, and a new advanced computer information delivery and management system in the...
French Helios 2B Satellite Launch Postponed
The launch of the Helios 2B French military observation satellite has been postponed for several days, due to a technical glitch detected in the launcher. The lift-off, originally scheduled...
Russia Plans Module Launch for Science Research
Russia says it will launch its MIM1 experiment module to the International Space Station (ISS) in May 2010 to conduct a series of scientific experiments on biotechnology and hylology. ...
USAF Receives First Funding for LAAR Aircraft Programme
The US Air Force has received initial funding of $2bn to purchase 100 light attack armed reconnaissance (LAAR) aircraft for carrying out asymmetric operations. The LAAR programme, to...
Nasa Prepares for Infrared Survey Explorer Launch
Preparations are underway for the scheduled launch of Nasa's wide-field infrared survey explorer (WISE) spacecraft on 11 December from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The...
Pakistan Air Force Receives First AWACS Aircraft
Pakistan has received the first of the four Saab-2000 airborne early warning and control (AWAC) aircraft from Sweden as part of the air force's plan to modernise its fleet and enhance its...
France Postpones Military Spy Satellite Launch
France has postponed the launch of its latest military spy satellite, Helios 2B, for several days after an anomaly occurred in a launcher subsystem during final countdown operations. Helios 2B...
Nasa Awards UNITeS Extension Contract to SAIC
Nasa has awarded the Unified Nasa Information Technology Services (UNITeS) extension contract to Virginia-based Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Under the extension,...
Boeing Performs Successful 747-8 Freighter Engine Runs
Boeing has successfully performed the first engine runs for the 747-8 freighter as part of the 747 programme in preparation for flight test. The engines were started and operated at...
Indian Air Force to Procure Additional Sukhoi Fighters
The Indian Air Force will get additional 40 Su-30MKI jet fighters, under a procurement contract signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 2007. In series production...
Russia Plans to Procure Additional Israeli Spy Drones
Russia says it plans to procure more Israeli-made spy drones in an effort to upgrade its fleet and capabilities. The new deal with state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, worth $100m,...
Boeing Develops Refuelling Boom for USAF KC-X
Boeing is to develop a tanker boom, based on its 767-based platform, to meet the refuelling boom requirements for the US Air Force's KC-X aerial tanker competition. The company will work on...
India Goes Cryogenic for GSLV-D3 Launch
India will use indigenously developed cryogenic engine technology, when its launches its biggest rocket, the 49m-tall 414t geosynchronous launch vehicle (GSLV) in January 2010. With the...
Russia to Start Fifth-Generation Fighter Tests in 2010
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov has said that the county's fifth-generation fighter tests will begin in 2010, following which, the fighters will enter air force service in...
Third WGS Satellite Sends First On-Orbit Signals
The third Boeing-developed wideband global SATCOM (WGS) satellite has sent first on-orbit signals from space, indicating that the spacecraft is healthy and ready to begin orbital manoeuvres...
United Orders Airbus A350 XWBs and Boeing 787 Dreamliners
Chicago-based United Airlines has ordered 25 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in an effort to maximise network flexibility, reduce costs and improve...
Modified F-18 Hornet Fighter Takes First Flight
A Patria modified D-model F-18 Hornet has successfully performed its first 51-minute flight after being badly damaged in a mid-air collision. The modification from a single-seater C-model...
Second Phase of System F6 Programme Awarded
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded the second phase of the system F6 (future, fast, flexible, fractionated, free-flying spacecraft united by information...
California Approves Space-Based Solar Satellite Project
The California Public Utilities Commission has approved a power project that could see solar energy beamed to Earth from space, in an effort to meet the state's aggressive renewable energy goals. ...
Airbus Develops First A350 XWB Composite Lay-Up
Airbus has successfully developed the first composite lay-up for the A350 XWB aircraft in Nantes, France, marking the firm's production of new long-range aircraft. The carbon-panel for...
Gulfstream G650 Completes First Series Flight Tests
Gulfstream Aerospace has successfully completed its first series of flight tests for its ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650. The G650's handling qualities, engine...
Korean Air Orders New 747-8 Aircraft from Boeing
Korean Air has ordered five 747-8 Intercontinental jetliners, from Boeing, at a total average list price value of $1.5bn. Korean Air, which has already made arrangements to operate seven...
Nasa Develops New Tank Dome Technology
Nasa, in partnership with Lockheed Martin Space Systems and MT Aerospace, has developed the new full-scale friction stir-welded and spun-formed tank dome, for use in large liquid propellant tanks....
Virgin Galactic Unveils World's First Manned Commercial Spaceship
Virgin Galactic has unveiled the SS2, the world’s first manned commercial spaceship, which will take private astronauts into space upon completion. The SS2, which began construction in 2007,...
Solar Impulse HB-SIA Aircraft Takes First Flight
The first airplane designed to fly day and night without fuel, the Solar Impulse HB-SIA, successfully completed its maiden flight at a military aerodrome near Zurich last week. Built at a...
Xi'an Aircraft Industry Acquires FACC
China's Xi'an Aircraft Industry (Group) Company (XAC) and Hong Kong-based Advanced Treasure Limited (ATL) have acquired a majority stake in Austrian aerospace supplier FACC AG. Following...
First Galileo Satellite Completes Platform Integration Tests
The engineering model of the first Galileo in-orbit verification (IOV) satellite is now undergoing through functional tests phase, following its successful completion of the platform...
ST Aerospace Awarded Major Airframe Maintenance Contract
Singapore-based ST Aerospace has won an airframe maintenance contract worth US$90m (S$125m) from a major US airline. The maintenance contract includes C checks and heavy maintenance visits...
SpaceX Conducts Dragon Spacecraft Operation Training
SpaceX has conducted preliminary training for NASA astronauts and personnel for operating the new Dragon spacecraft during a mission to the International Space Station. The training is aimed...
NPOESS Satellite Sensor Completes Tests
A critical sensor for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) has successfully completed all testing and is ready for delivery. NPOESS is...
Aerotresalia to Operate New Bombardier Global Jet
A new Bombardier Global Express XRS Jet has entered service under Aerotresalia’s operation. The Global Express XRS can fly through a distance of 5,450nm at M0.87 speed, carrying...
Grob Training Aircraft to get BRS Parachutes
Grob Aircraft's screening, elementary and basic training aircraft will be fitted with BRS BRS Aerospace's ballistic parachute aircraft recovery systems. The two firms will form a partnership...
Boeing Reveals New Visual System for Simulators
Boeing has revealed a new constant resolution visual system (CRVS) to be used for simulation applications. CRVS provides a high-resolution out-the-window view for training systems and...
Pratt & Whitney and Malaysian Airlines to Form Engine Repair Unit
Pratt & Whitney and Malaysian Airlines is to form a engine nacelle repair facility in Kuala Lumpur through a joint venture. The 50/50 joint venture will service and repair engine...
Titan Airways Leases BAe 146-300 for UK MoD
The UK's Titan Airways has leased a BAe 146-300 from BAE Systems to meet UK Ministry of Defence requirements in the Middle East. The BAe 146 is a short-haul jet powered by Honeywell...
Spaceport America to Get New Terminal Hangar
Spaceport America, the world's first purpose-built commercial space facility is to get a terminal hangar facility (THF), which will be built by Summit West. The 10,152ft² THF will house...
North West Aerospace to Begin Second Excellence Programme
The North West Aerospace alliance will receive funding for its new supply chain excellence programme 2 (ASCE) from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the Northwest...
Piper Offers Avionics Suite for all PA-46 Aircraft
Piper Aircraft is offering the fully-integrated Garmin G1000 avionics suite as optional equipment for its Mirage and Matrix aircraft. The G1000 provides flight instrumentation,...
IAe to Manufacture Aircraft Components for Spirit Aero
PT Dirgantara Indonesia / Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) will continue to produce aerospace components for Airbus A320, A321, A330, and A340 aircraft for Spirit AeroSystems. The components...
Boeing Readies DIRECTV 12 Broadcasting Satellite
Boeing has successfully shipped the high-definition DIRECTV 12 broadcasting satellite from its El Secundo facility to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia in preparation for launch. The...
Plextek, Armeca and UniKL to Build Malaysian Light Aircraft
Plextek, Aremeca Sendirian Berhad and the Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology (UniKL MIAT) are to participate in a $14bn Malaysian light aircraft...
Fokker to Design Outboard Flaps for Airbus A350 XWBs
Stork Fokker will design and produce composite outboard flaps for the Airbus A350 XWB family of aircraft. The A350 XWB is a medium-capacity, long-range, wide-body aircraft powered by...
Business Aviation Community Aspires to Reduce Emissions
Global business aviation operating and manufacturing communities have pledged to further reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The programme is supported by community members General...
Astrium to Build Four Satellites for SES
Astrium will provide four multimission satellites to SES to provide replacements and increase capacity for its SES ASTRA and SES WORLD SKIES satellites. The new satellites, to be named ASTRA...
Satellite Operators Form New Space Data Association
SES SA, Intelsat and Inmarsat have founded the Space Data Association (SDA) to share critical operational data for satellite operations, improving flight safety and preserving the...
787 Dreamliner Completes Static Test
Boeing has completed the static test necessary to validate the side-of-body reinforcements made to the 787 Dreamliner. The 787 family includes new aircraft that will carry up to 250 passengers...
Ball to Supply Second GMI to Nasa
Ball Aerospace has been selected to supply the second global precipitation measurement microwave imager (GMI) to Nasa. The GMI 2 microwave imager, identical to GPM 1 microwave imagers, is...
UAVs to Help Prevent Drug Trafficking in UK
The UK is considering the use of unmanned military-style drones to aid in defeating illegal immigration and drugs on the nation's coastlines. BAE Systems and the Kent and Essex police forces...
Chinese-Manned Spacecraft to Receive LDRA Software Suite
LDRA's software tool suite will be used to analyse complex safety applications on board China's manned spacecraft, Tiangong 1, as part of the Chinese manned spacecraft programme (CMSP). Tiangong...
November 2009
Top
MTU to Expand Operations in China
MTU Aero Engines is expanding its presence in China and has signed a memorandum of understanding with AVIC Commercial Aircraft Engine (ACAE). MTU and ACAE will jointly explore options...
Nasa's Ageing Hurricane Satellite Fails
An antenna on Nasa's ageing hurricane satellite, QuikSCAT, that helps forecasters measure hurricane winds has stopped working. The 960kg satellite placed in a sun-synchronous orbit...
Japan Launches New Spy Satellite
Japan has launched a fifth spy satellite on an indigenously built H-2A launch vehicle to improve its ability to independently gather intelligence. Japanese Cabinet Office official...
Airbus Further Delays A380 Delivery to Malaysia Airlines
Airbus has further delayed the delivery of the A380 Super Jumbo aircraft with the first deliveries now scheduled for August 2011 from January 2011. The A380 is a new family of large...
India Develops Semi-Cryogenic Technology for Satellites
India is developing semi-cryogenic propulsion technology using kerosene as a propellant to enhance its capability to launch satellites in the six-tonne class. Indian Space Research...
Atlantis Shuttle to Return to Earth
The Atlantis space shuttle has successfully undocked from the international space station and is on its way to the earth. The STS-129 mission has delivered two external logistics...
UK to Build Composites Centre in Bristol
The UK Government will build a National Composites Centre (NCC) at Bristol, to be led by university and industry partners Airbus, GKN, Rolls-Royce and Vestas. The centre will form...
PW1000G Engine to get Fokker Engine Component
Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1000G engine will be fitted with electrical wiring systems from Fokker Elmo under a new contract. The PW1000G is a centreline engine that features an advanced...
Engineering Students Design £2,500 UAS
Aerospace Systems Engineering students from the University of Hertfordshire have developed a unmanned air system (UAS) for £2,500. The UAS with a wing span of 3.5m can reach a maximum speed...
KLM Airlines Flies Boeing 747 on Biofuel
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has flown the first passenger aircraft, a Boeing 747, to be powered by a 50-50 blend of biofuel and kerosene. The 747 took flight for an hour and circled the...
Nasa Awards Prize for Space Glove Design Contest
Nasa has awarded prize money to Peter Homer from Maine, who developed the winning concept for a more-flexible space glove that could make it easier for astronauts to perform tasks. ...
FAA Proposes New Rule on Aircraft Ice Detection
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is asking airlines to either retrofit their existing aircraft fleet with ice-detection equipment or ensure that the ice protection system activates at...
Eutelsat's W7 Satellite Lifts off on Proton
Eutelsat's W7 satellite has lifted off into orbit on a Proton Breeze M rocket. The 5.6t communications satellite is built by Thales Alenia Space, based on its Spacebus 4000C4 design and...
Airbus to Provide A330 Freighters to Turkish Airlines
Airbus will provide two A330-200F freighter aircraft to Turkish Airlines under a new deal. The aircraft, powered by Rolls-Royce engines, offers two operational configurations, which include...
China Completes First Sikorsky S-76 Helicopter Airframe
China Aviation Industry Corp. (AVIC) subsidiary Changhe Aircraft has completed building the first S-76C++ civil helicopter airframe in China for Sikorsky. The helicopter can fly 411nm...
Tranquillity and Cupola Ready for ISS
The European Space Agency's Tranquillity node (Node-3) and the Cupola observation module are both ready for launch and have been officially handed over to Nasa. Tranquility is one of the...
Airbus Delivers A320 Plane to Lufthansa
Airbus has delivered an A320 aircraft to Lufthansa. The A320 single-aisle aircraft family includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321 airliners, which can seat up to 185 passengers and travel up...
Lockheed Launches Intelsat-14 into Orbit on Atlas-V
Intelsat-14 (IS-14) has been successfully launched into orbit on the Atlas-V rocket by Lockheed Martin. The satellite, developed by Space Systems / Loral for fixed satellite services...
CAE to Supply Flight Simulators to COMAC
CAE is to supply two CAE 7000 series ARJ21-700 level D full-flight simulators (FFS), valued at about $32m, to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). The ARJ21 is the...
Raytheon to Support Saudi Arabian Air Traffic
Raytheon has been awarded a contract by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) for a nationwide air traffic management system based on cooperative...
Work Begins on Second 787 Assembly Line
Boeing has broken ground at the second final assembly site for the 787 Dreamliner aircraft at its Charleston facility in South Carolina. The second facility has been selected to help...
Ricardo Delivers Aircraft Tow Vehicle Prototype to IAI
Ricardo has delivered a demonstrator robotic, pilot-controlled towing vehicle known as TaxiBot to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The demonstrator, a six-wheeled vehicle, is capable of...
Moller Offers Virtual Flight Simulator for Skycar
Moller International is offering a full-featured flight virtual simulator package for its skycar model. The Moller's Skycar is a vertical take-off and landing capability (VTOL) aircraft that...
Asiana Airlines Boeing 777-200ERs to get Goodrich Service
The Asiana Airlines fleet of Boeing 777-200ER aircraft will receive landing gear maintenance services form Goodrich under a new contract. The agreement includes scheduled repair and...
Senegal Airlines to Acquire Six Airbus Planes
Senegal Airlines intends to acquire six Airbus planes comprising four A320 family aircraft and two A330 airplanes. The A320 family can fly up to 185 passengers through 3,700nm at speeds of up...
Bombardier Builds CSeries Aircraft Wing Manufacturing Facility
Bombardier has begun work on the CSeries aircraft wing manufacturing and assembly facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The CSeries aircraft programme, which was announced in July 2008...
Lighting Science to Design Lighting for Nasa Space Missions
Lighting Science Group (LSG) and Nasa's John F Kennedy Space Center will jointly develop a high-illumination and good colour-rendering LED light fixture for space exploration. Under...
Philippines Airlines Receives First Boeing 777-300ER Aircraft
Philippines Airlines has received its first 777-300ER aircraft, which is leased from GE Capital Aviation Services and delivered by Boeing. The twin aircraft, powered by GE90-115BL engines,...
Carbon Nanotube-Based Memory Devices Complete Space Tests
Carbon nanotube-based memory devices developed by Lockheed Martin and Nantero have been successfully tested on the STS-125 shuttle mission to the Hubble space telescope. Nasa had...
Oman Air Buys Five Embraer 175 Jets
Oman Air is to buy five Embraer 175 aircraft from Embraer, with purchase rights for another five. The Embraer 175, powered by General Electric's CF34-8E engine, is an E-jet-family aircraft,...
Sri Lanka Cooperates with SSTL for Space Capability
The Sri Lankan Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has signed an agreement with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) to provide an earth observation satellite to the nation, and...
AgustaWestland and Abu Dhabi Aviation Form JV for Helicopter Support
AgustaWestland and Abu Dhabi Aviation will set up a joint venture (JV) in the UAE to operate in the field of maintenance and training for helicopters. The JV will carry out certain...
Nepal Carrier Buys A320 and A330-200 from Airbus
Nepal's national carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for one A330-200 and one A320 aircraft to modernise its international fleet. ...
IAE to Upgrade Etihad Airways V2500 Engine Fleet
International Aero Engines (IAE) is to upgrade the 30 Etihad Airways V2500 engines including spares that power the four Airbus A320 family aircraft in the carrier's fleet. Under the...
GE and AVIC to Form JV to Offer Commercial Aircraft Avionics
GE Aviation and Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) will are to a new joint venture company to develop and market integrated avionic systems for commercial aircraft. The new avionics...
Pratt & Whitney Thruster Takes Tests for Nasa Lunar Lander
A miniaturised Pratt & Whitney thruster has completed hot-fire thruster tests to demonstrate its capability to perform the descent and landing operation for a Nasa robotic lunar...
Indonesian Carrier Orders 15 ATR 72-500 Jets
Indonesia's carrier, Wings Air, will acquire 15 ATR 72-500s with options for 15 ATR 72-600s series aircraft from ATR. The 72-seat aircraft, powered by PW 127M engines, has a range of...
Eutelsat and ABS to Redeploy Satellites
Eutelsat and Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) have partnered to colocate Eutelsat's Eurobird-4 satellite at 75° east with the ABS-1 and ABS-1A satellites operated by ABS. The redeployment will...