MORE CUSTOMERS SEEK Q400 DEFERRALS
Bombardier is holding discussions with additional customers about potential 70-seat Q400 turboprop deferrals in addition to Horizon Air, which wants to push back seven deliveries. Bombardier chief operating officer Guy Hachey says numbers of aircraft were "not significant". The Q400 backlog is 102 aircraft.
NARROWBODY OUTPUT 'LIKELY TO HOLD': WACHOVIA
Analysts at US investment bank Wachovia expect the Paris air show to generate speculation regarding Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 production cuts but believe "near-term narrowbody production rate cuts are less likely". However, in a research note the bank says: "A380 production rates continue to be fluid in light of customer deferrals and potential cancellations."
COCKPIT FIRE FORCES JETSTAR A330 TO DIVERT
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the diversion without injuries to Guam of an Airbus A330-200 operated by Australian low-cost carrier Jetstar after a cockpit fire. The aircraft was flying between Osaka Kansai airport and the Gold Coast carrying 186 passengers, four infants and 13 crew. Jetstar attributed the fire to a cockpit window heater electrical connector.
THOMAS COOK 'UNAFFECTED' BY INSOLVENCY
German holding company Arcandor insists its travel operation Thomas Cook Group is unaffected by its decision to file for insolvency. The firm holds a 52% share of Thomas Cook, whose in-house carrier operations include Condor and Thomas Cook Airlines.
COLGAN CRASH SPURS REGIONAL TRAINING FOCUS
US Federal Aviation Administration inspectors have been ordered to immediately focus on pilot training at regional airlines following the February Colgan Air Bombardier Q400 crash in which the aircraft stalled and went out of control on approach to Buffalo, hitting a house and killing all 49 on board and one person on the ground.
HUDSON LANDING SHOWS NEED FOR BIRD DETECTION
Circumstances surrounding the forced landing of US Airways flight 1549 into the Hudson river are resulting in safety investigators urging for more bird detection technology on aircraft. National Transportation Safety Board investigators heard testimony that current radar technology would likely fail to prevent the bird strikes encountered by the Airbus A320.
DIAMOND COLLEAGUES IN FATAL AIR CRASH
Florian Wicke, managing director designate of Diamond Aircraft's airborne sensing business, and a colleague were killed in a air crash on 6 June.
Source: Flight International
