737 LEADS BOEING 4Q DELIVERY CHARGE
Boeing achieved its 2009 airliner delivery target, shipping 481 commercial aircraft. Although it booked 263 new orders last year, it suffered 121 cancellations, which pushed its net tally down to 142. Its backlog has declined almost 10% over the last 12 months, to 3,375 aircraft. Overall, Boeing's 2009 deliveries rose by more than a quarter on its strike-affected output the year before. The 737 led the way with 372 deliveries and 2009 also saw the last of the original 747 variants handed over.
ENGINEERING FOCUS IN BOEING VP STRUCTURE
Boeing has established nine new vice-president-level engineering positions, continuing a focus on "engineering excellence" in the wake of major technical delays on both commercial and defence programmes in recent years. In the Commercial Airplanes division, appointments include Keith Leverkuhn and 787 executives Mike Delaney, Jim Ogonowski and Mike Sinnett. In Integrated Defense Systems, new vice-presidents are Bill Carrier, Laurette Lahey, Jack Murphy, James Farricker and Darrell Uchima.
IRAN TO BUY 'MORE THAN 70' ANTONOV AN-148S
Ukraine is in Antonov aircraft sales talks with Laos, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Laos may order three An-140 turboprops while Egypt is looking to purchase two An-74 freighters and the UAE two An-148s, though it may order as many as 15 of the regional jets. A "tentative agreement" with Iran has also been reached for more than 70 An-148s.
TIGER AIMS FOR AT LEAST $160M IN IPO
Tiger Airways aims to raise S$223-S$273 million ($160-195 million) in an initial public offering, with the proceeds to be used for new aircraft, possibly a new airline or bases, and loan repayments. Analysts say proceeds are likely to be towards the lower end of the proposed range due to worries about Tiger's prospects.
PILOTS 'IMPRISONED' FOR ITEK 737 CRASH
Two pilots have reportedly each been sentenced to at least five years' imprisonment for the 24 August 2008 crash of a Boeing 737-200 that killed 64 of 90 occupants when it came down while attempting to return to Bishkek shortly after departing for Tehran. Last May, in its final report on the incident, Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee concluded that the crew had failed to follow standard operating procedures.
JAL POISED TO CHOOSE US PARTNER
Japan Airlines is expected to select a US partner by the end of January, with Japanese reports anticipating a switch from American Airlines and the Oneworld alliance to Delta Air Lines and SkyTeam. Ailing JAL posted a second quarter loss of ¥32.1 billion ($348 million) and has applied for a government-backed bail-out.
Source: Flight International
