Aircraft News - Europe

AirGuide Business, March 3, 2008

Mar 3, 2008

Airbus, EADS, Northrop Grumman

U.S. Air Force selects tanker KC-30 Tanker based on Airbus A330 MRTT over the Boeing 767. Selection of the KC-45A Tanker was announced today by the U.S. Air Force, culminating a multi-year evaluation. The program award calls for 179 aircraft with an estimated contract value of US$ 40 billion. The initial KC-45A contract for Northrop Grumman covers four System Design and Development aircraft and is valued at US$ 1.5 billion. The KC-45A Tanker is based on the EADS A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport). Its airframe is derived from the popular A330-200F jetliner produced by EADS[sup.1] Airbus Division, of which more than 880 have been ordered worldwide in passenger and freighter configurations. The Military Transport Aircraft Division (MTAD) is responsible within the EADS Group for all military derivative programs based on Airbus platforms, including tankers. Feb 29, 2008

Airbus, IAE

Airbus "successfully" conducted the first series of flight tests with an A320 powered for the first time by IAE's new SelectOne engine. The SelectOne is the new build standard of the V2500. Airbus expects certification of the SelectOne engine/airframe combination in time for third-quarter deliveries. Feb 29, 2008

Austrian Arrows, Bombardier

Austrian Arrows Bombardier DHC-8-Q400 operating as Flight OS142 from Nurnberg to Vienna with 67 passengers made an emergency landing yesterday in the capital after the pilot noticed a problem with the main display indicating landing gear position. The aircraft climbed and entered a holding pattern, and with the main and alternative displays functioning properly touched down approximately 2.5 hr. after takeoff. All onboard were safe. Austrian Airlines Group said the aircraft will undergo a thorough technical examination in Innsbruck and results are expected within two days. "For the time being, all our other nine Dash 8-Q400s are operating as normal," an AAG spokesperson told ATWOnline, adding that there is no indication the incident is similar to the landing gear problems experienced by SAS Group that resulted in the permanent grounding of its Q400 fleet. Feb 26, 2008

Boeing

Switzerland adds $7 million to Boeing project. Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems has received a $7 million modification to a contract for the Swiss government. The deal will cover cockpit displays for the F/A-18 fighter under an existing agreement made through the Foreign Military Sales Program. The project will be handled at the company's facilities in St. Louis. Feb 27, 2008

British Airways, Boeing

Heathrow 777 crash still mystifies investigators. One month after a British Airways Boeing 777 crashed just short of the runway at London Heathrow Airport, investigators are still baffled by the flight's loss of power in mid-air. So far, no human error has been found, leading some to question the safety of the plane's engines or electronics. The chances of an in-flight power failure on the 777 have been demonstrated to be less than one in 1 billion. Feb 27, 2008

CAE, Lufthansa Flight Training, Xiamen Airlines

CAE signed contracts valued at C$52 million ($53 million) with Lufthansa Flight Training and Xiamen Airlines to design and manufacture four full-flight simulators and associated CAE Simfinity training devices. Lufthansa Flight Training ordered a CAE 5000 Series A320 FFS and a CAE 7000 Series 747-8I FFS while Xiamen Airlines ordered two CAE 7000 Series 737-800 FFSs along with a suite of Simfinity training devices. Feb 29, 2008

CFM International, Uzbekistan Airways, Airbus

CFM International won an $80 million deal with Uzbekistan Airways for CFM56-5Bs to power six Airbus A320s scheduled for delivery in 2011. Feb 26, 2008

MNG Technic, Estonian Air, Boeing

MNG Technic reached agreement with Estonian Air to provide line maintenance and technical support for four Boeing 737-500s and two 737-300s at Istanbul Ataturk and Antalya. Feb 26, 2008

Virgin Atlantic, Boeing

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 running on babassu oil and coconut oil completed a successful test flight on Sunday, but observers said the goal of green fuels is still far from reality. Virgin Atlantic Airways on Sunday Feb. 24 operated a 747 demonstration flight from London Heathrow to Amsterdam partially powered by biofuel. Boeing, GE Aviation and Imperium Renewables partnered on the test, which came three weeks after Airbus conducted an A380 flight test using a liquid fuel processed from gas. The Virgin test used biofuel composed of babassu oil and coconut oil. The biofuels blend was 20% neat biofuel and 80% conventional jet fuel, and CEO Richard Branson said tests indicate it is possible to fly with a blend of 40% biofuel. One of the four GE CF6 engines was powered partially by the alternative fuel. Ahead of the flight, Boeing, GE and Imperium conducted extensive laboratory and static engine testing on the ground. Babassu oil comes from the nuts of the babassu tree, which is native to Brazil. Virgin noted that "most coconut plantations are mature and do not contribute to deforestation." Feb 25, 2008