The first Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft equipped with Goodrich Corporation carbon brakes has been delivered to flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline. This is the seventh Next- Generation 737 the airline has received in less than 10 months of commercial operations. Goodrich will supply wheels and carbon brake equipment for flydubai’s entire fleet of more than 50 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft and will retrofit the airline’s existing six aircraft. … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: First B737 with carbon brakes enters service

Continental Airlines said that it expected to receive the first six of 25 B787-8 Dreamliners from Boeing in the second half of next year meaning that Continental would become the US launch customer for the delayed aircraft. Delta Air Lines which inherited a B787 order through its takeover of Northwest Airlines, remains in talks with Boeing about its deal. Launch customer All Nippon Airways expects its first B787 in the fourth quarter of this year. … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Continental expects six B787s in 2011

On 17 March, the FAA adopted an immediate airworthiness directive that requires installation of new software for the autopilot flight director computers on Boeing 777-200/-200ER/-300/- 300ER/ and 777F-series aircraft. The directive, which came into effect 1 April is aimed at preventing the inadvertent engagement of the autopilot during takeoff roll—an action which could result in rejected takeoff at rotation speed and increase the risk of a runway overrun. The directive is also … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: FAA orders B777 software upgrade

Air Canada chief executive Calin Rovinescu said he’s beginning to see signs of a recovery for the North American airline industry as demand for cargo services grows. “We’ve seen some encouraging news from the cargo environment,” Rovinescu said. “We are seeing a marked improvement over last year and generally cargo tends to be the bellwether indicator that the recovery is starting.” While he’s not ready to declare a recovery, saying … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Air Canada CEO sees recovery in early stages

United Airlines has made a firm order for 25 of Airbus’ A350 extra-wide bodied jets worth an estimated US$6 billion, fulfilling a commitment signed in December, the European aircraft manufacturer said recently. Deliveries of the A350-900s are scheduled to begin in 2016 and run through 2019, Airbus said in a statement. The order is half of a 50-aircraft order United announced in December, when it also unveiled plans to buy 25 of Airbus’ rival Boeing Co.’s … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: United makes firm order for 25 A350s

Boeing 747 programme vice president and general manager Mo Yahyavi has said current testing on the 747-8F is proceeding well after completing initial air worthiness testing in mid-March. Yahyavi also acknowledged that a slight redesign of the landing gear door will be required to address aerodynamic issues when the gear is lowered and the flaps are fully deployed for landing. The 777 had a similar problem with its nose gear in 1994. The test programme involves three aircraft with 1,600 hours … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Boeing happy with 747-8F testing progress