Programmes – Page 49
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In depthHow Soviets decided four was the magic number
Call it an air transport anachronism, but just as four-engined airliners are slipping, perhaps prematurely, into the realms of nostalgia, Russian airframer VASO is assembling a new widebody quadjet, the Ilyushin Il-96-400M, at its facility in Voronezh.
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NewsProposed A380neo would have offered double-digit fuel reduction: Clark
Emirates Airline president Tim Clark laments Airbus’s decision to abandon the “A380neo”, believing that the proposed re-egngining would have created an “absolutely brilliant” aircraft offering a double-digit fuel-burn reduction.
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NewsAirbus delivers 39 aircraft but records just a single order in August
Airbus recorded a single order during August, for one corporate A320neo which was received from a private customer. It took the airframer’s overall net order total this year to 303 aircraft. Total deliveries over the first eight months of the year reached 284, the manufacturer’s latest backlog figures show. This ...
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NewsSupersonic passenger aircraft research in line for Russian federal grant
Creation of a Russian supersonic passenger aircraft research centre has been selected for funding by the federal government. The aim of the scientific centre is to establish a world-class technological knowledge base for conceptual design and aerodynamic analysis of an aircraft with low sonic boom. This work on key technological ...
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NewsAirbus redesigns A350 control panel to resist liquid spillage
Airbus has developed a new liquid-resistant integrated control panel for the A350, designed to avoid the risk to engine systems from accidental drink spillage in the cockpit. Its development follows two incidents, in November last year and January this year, in which A350-900s diverted as a result of uncommanded engine ...
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News‘Flying-V’ model embarks on first test flight — with Airbus support
A scaled model of the ‘Flying-V’ blended wing aircraft concept — first unveiled by Dutch researchers last year — has completed its first test flight in Germany. Airbus also emerged as the latest partner in the project, after Dutch flag carrier KLM threw its weight behind the project last year. ...
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NewsBOC Aviation cancels order for 18 A320neos
BOC Aviation has cancelled an entire order for 18 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, after its airline customer opted to purchase the aircraft directly from the manufacturer, a 30 August filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange shows. The order, first announced on 31 December, was scheduled for delivery between 2022 ...
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NewsBoeing orders eight 787s to be withdrawn from service over structural issue
Boeing has ordered the removal from service of eight recently built 787s which have been identified as suffering from two “distinct manufacturing issues”. The airframer discloses that the two structural issues were found in the join of the aft body fuselage section of the jets, “which, in combination, result ...
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NewsEASA sets date to begin flight-testing 737 Max
European validation testing of the Boeing 737 Max is set to commence in early September, with flights conducted in Canada. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency states that it will begin simulator testing from 1 September at a facility in London Gatwick. Flight-testing of the aircraft under EASA oversight will ...
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NewsCrisis forces Rolls-Royce to rethink ITP Aero retention
Such has been the sweeping impact of the air transport crisis that Rolls-Royce is floating the divestment of its Spanish-based turbine business ITP Aero just three years after its acquisition – having previously insisted the business was not for sale. Rolls-Royce, which had long held 47% of ITP Aero, turned ...
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NewsMC-21 developers refine unusual-attitude protection criteria
Russian analysts have been refining the flight-control system of the Irkut MC-21-300 to establish protection criteria for avoiding unusual attitudes. The twinjet has a limiter subsystem within its integrated control system which is responsible for preventing the aircraft from entering “difficult situations”, says the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute. It says the ...
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NewsAviastar tests new robotic line to accelerate Il-76 assembly
Russia’s United Aircraft has introduced a new automated production line for Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A heavy transports which is intended to enhance substantially the assembly process. The technological processes are being tested at the Aviastar manufacturing facility in Ulyanovsk. Compared with the previous traditional process, the automated line will reduce by four ...
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OpinionBoeing’s challenge to address the reputational crisis around Max brand
Seattle’s marketing strategy is in the spotlight amid renewed speculation about its commitment to the name. But is a rebrand the right solution?
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NewsFirst German armed forces A350 nears certification and delivery
Germany’s government has unveiled the first of three Airbus A350-900s which have been configured for the special air mission wing of the ministry of defence. The aircraft – designated 10+03, and the first of the type not destined for commercial service – has undergone modification at the Lufthansa Technik facility ...
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NewsAirbus ditches active moisture-control on A321XLR
Airbus has reversed its decision to offer an active anti-condensation system as an option for the long-range A321XLR, ditching the idea in favour of a passive system. The dry-air generation system, for moisture control, is being removed as an option for the aircraft. Swedish specialist CTT Systems had disclosed in ...
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OpinionWhy 777X certification could be just part of Max crisis collateral damage
Alarming details that emerged in the aftermath of the 737 Max grounding about Boeing’s behaviour during the certification process has created a crisis of confidence unparalleled in the aviation industry. And no one – not just Seattle – should underestimate the extent of mistrust and the time it could take to heal the deep wounds.
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NewsA350 launch-aid tweaks fail to persuade US to ease tariffs
US authorities are unconvinced by recent Airbus claims that amended A350 launch-aid agreements equate to implementation of a World Trade Organization ruling to remove subsidies. Airbus had aimed in July to bring an end to the long-running transatlantic dispute on civil aircraft subsidies by adjusting French and Spanish A350 launch-aid ...
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NewsGECAS tops up 737-800 converted freighter orders
Lessor GECAS is to take up to 20 more Boeing 737-800 converted freighters, having firmed up orders for 11 of the cargo jets. GECAS’s top-up agreement – its third, and one which includes nine additional options – takes its overall orders for the type to 60 with 14 options. Conversion ...
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NewsClark cautious on 777-9 certification as Emirates awaits schedule clarity
Emirates Airline president Tim Clark is not convinced Boeing is “out of the woods yet” with regards to the certification programme for the 777X, as he awaits definitive details on when deliveries will begin.
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NewsEnhanced landing-gear to feature on 'Russified' Superjet
Irkut’s new ‘Russified’ version of the Superjet 100 is to feature several more systems from state technology firm Rostec, including improved landing-gear. The aircraft – being developed under the ‘SSJ-New’ programme – will also feature a different engine-vibration control system and oxygen equipment. Rostec’s Tekhnodinamika division has agreed to supply ...