Aircraft News - Europe

Airguide Online, June 25, 2007

London City, Embraer

London City's future appears assured with news from the Paris Air Show that the Embraer 170 has been certificated for the steep approached pattern required at the airport. Aircraft normally approach an airport at an angle of 3 degrees, but due to London City's closeness to built-up area's it was agreed when the airport was approved in 1986 that a 5 degree glidescope be used in order to keep noise to a minimum. With the Bombardier DHC-8-Q400 series already operating at LCY, Airbus working towards approval for the A318, and now Embraer making the breakthrough, operators will for the future have a choice of aircraft in the 70 to 100 seat range. Presently only the BAe146 Avro series of the regional jets has certification, but that is out of production, while the lack of alternative aircraft types has been a cause for concern by the airport management. The BAe 146 however, is likely to be around for many years as the four-engined aircraft can carry up to 110 passengers. Jun 19, 2007

Rolls Royce, Airbus, China Eastern Airlines

Rolls Royce said it had won a USD$260 million share of a deal for International Aero Engines (IAE) to sell engines to China Eastern Airlines. The deal involves V2500 engines to power 30 Airbus twin-engined A320 series aircraft, Rolls said in a news release. IAE is a multinational firm which includes Rolls, Pratt & Whitney, Japanese Aero Engines and Germany's MTU Aero Engines. Jun 19, 2007

Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Avianca, Aeroflot, AerCap

Rolls-Royce said that its Trent engine had been selected by Avianca, Aeroflot and lease company AerCap. Colombian national airline Avianca has chosen the Trent to power up to 30 jets in a deal worth up to USD$1.1 billion at list prices. Rolls-Royce said under the deal, its first for the Trent engine in Latin America, it would also provide 10 years of support for the engines. Aeroflot selected the Trent to power the Russian airline's new fleet of 10 leased Airbus planes in a deal worth around USD$600 million. Rolls-Royce said the deal was the first for its Trent engine in Russia and included a long-term service agreement. Dutch aircraft leasing company AerCap has ordered Trents to power 10 firm Airbus A330 plane orders and three options. Deliveries of the aircraft are due to begin in 2009. Jun 20, 2007

Rolls-Royce, Alenia Aeronautica, Boeing

Rolls-Royce said it had won an order worth more than USD$500 million to supply engines for cargo planes for the US Army and US Air Force. The deal involves up to 180 engines for an initial 78 of the C-27J plane being produced by a team including L-3, Italy's Alenia Aeronautica and Boeing. The US military have said the Joint Cargo Aircraft program may involve up to 145 planes. Jun 20, 2007

Swiss European, BAE Systems

Swiss European is further standardizing its aircraft fleet by disposing of its four Avro RJ85s. One of these aircraft has already been withdrawn; and from November onwards, Swiss European will operate an all BAE Systems Avro RJ100 fleet. The standardization will allow Swiss European to further simplify its processes and lower its unit costs. The departing Avro RJ85s are also the oldest aircraft in the present Swiss European fleet. Swiss European is a brand of Swiss International Air Linbes. Jun 22, 2007