Aircraft News - North America

For more aircraft news, data, fleets and analysis, please go to: http://www.airguideonline.com/professional.htm Aug 28, 2006

Microjets may complicate air travel, regulators say. The Transportation Department and Federal Aviation Administration say very light jets could pose problems for air-traffic control. Controllers will have to handle three times as many takeoffs and landings than they currently do if VLJs become popular. Aviation officials fear privately owned VLJs will use the airport infrastructure without having to pay for it, leaving commercial carriers to shoulder a disproportionate share of the cost. Aug 27, 2006

Pilots, lawmakers raise concerns about UAVs. Some pilots and lawmakers worry that the growing number of drone planes flying in the U.S. could compromise flight safety. Some large unmanned aerial vehicles are allowed to enter civilian airspace, and President George W. Bush supports using them for border patrol. Aug 27, 2006

Boeing

Boeing unveils new radar jamming jet. Boeing on Thursday unveiled the Navy's first EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. The plane, a next-generation radar jamming jet, will take its first flight later this month and join the Navy's fleet in 2009. Boeing will produce 90 planes as part of a $9 billion project. Aug 27, 2006

Boeing

Air Force reviews C-17 payment to Boeing. The Air Force is continuing its review of a $412 million contract adjustment Boeing received on the C-17 aircraft program in November 2000. The Air Force may eventually ask Boeing to return a portion of the payment if it determines the payment was excessive. A Boeing spokesman says the entire sum could be subject to renegotiation. Aug 27, 2006

Boeing

Boeing would build tankers in Everett. Boeing would build Air Force supply tankers in Everett, Wash., if it wins the contract, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's James Wallace writes. The Air Force next month is expected to issue a request for proposals, and a final request is expected in January. Aug 23, 2006

Boeing

Air Force says problems will delay GPS satellite launch. The Air Force says problems Boeing is having completing the latest generation of global positioning system satellites will delay their launch by at least 16 months. In a statement, Boeing says the difficulties, which include technical issues and late hardware deliveries from a subcontractor, "were not atypical for advanced spacecraft development projects." Aug 23, 2006

Boeing

Boeing announced the rollout of the first 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter last week in Taipei. It is the first of three aircraft that will transport major assemblies for the 787. It will undergo initial flight testing this month in Taipei before finishing in Seattle. Aug 22, 2006

Boeing

Boeing apparently also has decided to lengthen the 747-8 Intercontinental to the same length as the 747-8F to meet demands for greater capacity. Currently, the passenger variant has a 3.6-m. stretch and the freighter is stretched by 5.6 m. Lengthening the passenger version to match the freighter adds 20 seats, plus an additional 12 when combined with overhead galley cart storage, lifting passenger capacity to 496 in a standard Boeing three-class configuration. It is expected that the stretch will be confirmed at a 747-8 airline conference to be held in Hong Kong the first week of September. Boeing has been working with 25 carriers interested in the passenger version to determine range/payload definition. Range of the larger 747-8 will remain the original 8,000 nm. after wind tunnel gains earlier this year lifted the baseline aircraft to 8,300 nm. The manufacturer has sold 143 747-400s and 747-8s since early 2000 and 74 in the past 18 months. Aug 22, 2006

Boeing

Boeing set to announce new 747-8F customers, stretched Intercontinental. Boeing looks set to announce more customers for its 747-8F as it closes the case for stretching the Intercontinental version.According to US sources, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, parent of Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo, will order up to 12 747-8Fs. The carriers currently operate a combined fleet of 37 747s including 20 Classics. Last week, Atlas President and CEO William Flynn said that airline would announce a freighter order shortly. This website also understands that another freight operator is close to an order for both dash 8Fs and 777Fs. Aug 22, 2006

Boeing

Boeing logged another 787 order for its BBJ unit, bringing the number of Dreamliners sold as VIP transports to three. Aug 21, 2006

Boeing

End of Boeing's C-17 program will result in job cuts. Thousands of U.S. aerospace workers could lose their jobs as Boeing shuts down its C-17 cargo plane program. Boeing plans to start producing planes at a slower pace and end the program by mid-2009. Aug 21, 2006

Boeing, Connexion

Connexion gives Boeing a lesson in diversification. Boeing's decision to shut down its Connexion high-speed wireless unit demonstrates how difficult it is to diversify operations, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Bill Virgin writes. Still, he says total reliance on a single core business has risks, and the failure of Connexion is not likely to deter Boeing from seeking new businesses. Aug 22, 2006