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Airbus exceeds targets in 2015 – delivers the most aircraft ever

Daher Delivers 55 TBM 900 Very Fast Turboprop Aircraft in 2015

Daher’s Airplane Business Unit delivered a total of 55 TBM 900s in 2015 – a 10 percent increase compared to 2014, and the second best year since the first TBM single-engine very fast turboprop aircraft was provided to a customer in 1991. The 2015 geographic distribution reflecte...

Rafale deliveries fell to single figures in 2015

Dassault delivered eight Rafales in 2015, the French manufacturer has announced, with its annual output having for the first time included aircraft delivered to an export customer. Outlining its business activities for last year, Dassault on 5 January said: “Eight Rafale (five to France and...

Alcoa gets $1.5 billion supply contract from GE's aviation unit

Alcoa Inc said on Monday it had signed a $1.5 billion long-term contract with General Electric Co's aviation unit to supply components used in aircraft engines. The aluminum producer will provide advanced nickel-based superalloy, titanium and aluminum components for engines and parts made by GE. The company did not specify the period covered by the contract, which was first reported by t...

EBRD: Aerospace company Sonaca spreads its wings in Romania

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is boosting Romania’s fast-growing manufacturing sector with a US$ 8.5 million loan to Sonaca as the aerospace company expands its operations in Romania. With the EBRD funding, the firm will build a plant in north-western Romania to produce wing components for leading aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Embraer. The new p...

Israel's lead F-35 enters final assembly

Lockheed Martin has begun the final assembly of Israel’s first F-35 Lightning II, having passed a key milestone at its Fort Worth site in Texas on 7 January. The Israeli air force’s lead example of the “Adir” – designated AS-1 – entered the mate process, where its four main structural assemblies are brought together. “AS-1 is expected to roll out of...

Solar Impulse headed back to Abu Dhabi the long way round

He taps the plane on the side before boarding. “When I think about it, I become a little emotional,” said the pilot of the record-setting Solar Impulse 2, Andre Borschberg. “We are now again in the preparation mode, with the objective to come back to Abu Dhabi.” The Swiss national said all efforts are being made to see that the plane completes its voyage to Abu Dha...

France to take six additional NH90 helicopters

France has ordered six additional NHIndustries NH90 troop transport helicopters for its army, increasing the service’s eventual inventory to 74. Deliveries of the 11t-class rotorcraft are due to take place between 2017 and 2019. “The French armed forces have deployed the NH90 operationally in Mali where its outstanding endurance, versatility and manoeuvrability have been greatly...

Corrosion warning for Bell 429 operators

Operators of Bell 429 helicopters have been instructed to conduct urgent inspections of a tail rotor component after an investigation revealed a potentially dangerous manufacturing defect. In an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD) effective from 19 January, certification agency Transport Canada warns that corrosion on the part could lead to its failure and subsequent loss of control of the...

Finmeccanica Mulls Longer Run-dry Duration for Helos

Finmeccanica Helicopters (formerly AgustaWestland) is studying ways to enhance main gearbox performance in case of loss of lubrication. At the EASA rotorcraft symposium in December, Marco Tamborini, one of the company's experts in transmission system design and development, gave details on Finmeccanica's strategy in gearbox durability. Unless the possibility of such a failure is extreme...

Embraer delivers first European based Legacy 450

Embraer has delivered the first European registered Legacy 450 private jet. Registered in Belgium as OO-NEY / MSN 55010003, the aircraft was delivered to its new owner over the Christmas period. Although the final customer is unconfirmed, the aircraft will be managed by Brussels based Smart Air, and operated by Air Service Liege. “Being driven by innovation for more than 25 years helps...

Airbus introduces a system to jam drones out of the sky

For every cheap flying robot, there is an elaborate, expensive system to counter it. The latest anti-drone tool comes from European aerospace and defense giant Airbus, and promises a high-tech solution to small flying robots. They’re showing off the system at the Consumer Electronics Exposition in Las Vegas, though no word yet on if they’ve caused any nearby drones to crash. From Ai...

Boeing Achieves Record Commercial Airplanes Deliveries in 2015

Boeing delivered 762 commercial airplanes in 2015, 39 more than the previous year and most ever for the company as it enters its centennial year. “The Boeing team has worked hard to achieve strong performance,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “Our team did a fantastic job achieving higher deliveries and getting our products to our custo...

Boeing, Air China Finalize Order for Six 777-300ERs

Boeing and Air China announced an order for six additional 777-300ER (Extended Range) jetliners. The order is valued at more than $2 billion at current list prices and bolsters Air China’s long-haul widebody fleet as it looks to expand its international network. “The 777-300ER has consistently proved its value as a long-haul flagship for our customers around the world, making it the...

BOC Aviation orders 30 more A320s

BOC Aviation has announced an additional order for 18 A320neo and 12 A320ceo family aircraft. The lessor says in a statement that the order was placed in late December 2015, and will help it to fulfil customer demand. “This order underscores our continued confidence in the reliability and operational efficiency of the A320 family aircraft, and reflects its popularity among our customer...

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Gogo and Insitu collaborate on Group 3 UAS connectivity

Gogo Special Missions and Insitu have achieved a significant milestone in unmanned aviation with the successful testing and integration of a customized high-speed satellite communications solution for...

Electra demonstrates revolutionary airport operations with Ultra-Short Takeoff aircraft using helicopter-style procedures

Electra announced the successful completion of first-of-its-kind flight operations from a heliport located on the commercial airport ramp at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. The demonstration high...