FINNAIR EXERCISES OPTIONS FOR FOUR EMBRAER 190 JETS

Embraer announces that Finnair has confirmed its four remaining options of the initial order placed in July 2004. The airline has opted for four additional EMBRAER 190 jets, thus reaffirming its confidence in this model. The total value of the deal, at list price, comes to US$ 135 million. 

 

Finnair initially placed an order for 12 EMBRAER 170 jets, plus eight options convertible 

to other models of the E-Jets family. Today’s announcement marks the confirmation of all of Finnair’s options. When completed, the Finnair E-Jets fleet will consist of ten EMBRAER 170 and ten EMBRAER 190 jets. 

 

“We see this decision by Finnair as a significant endorsement of our E-Jets family,” said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer Executive Vice-President, Airline Market. “Finnair’s choice is of special importance to us, as they are a world-class airline offering a high level of customer service and are operating their EMBRAER 170 and EMBRAER 190 jets in a challenging weather environment.” 

 

Finnair’s EMBRAER 190 E-Jets are configured to accommodate up to 100 passengers. The airline should receive its first EMBRAER 190 in December 2006. This aircraft comes from the conversion of two firm EMBRAER 170 jet orders into EMBRAER 190 jets, as announced in December 2005. At that time, simultaneously, the Finnish company also announced that it converted four options into EMBRAER 190 jets firm orders. 

Boeing Business Jets Delivers its 100th Green Airplane

SEATTLE, Nov. 29, 2006 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] Business Jets today delivered its 100th “green” — unfurnished — airplane. Representatives of the government of India accepted the milestone airplane at the Boeing Delivery Center in Seattle.

“One hundred business jets delivered in 10 years is an amazing testament to the BBJ’s wide market appeal and the great work of the Boeing team members who design, sell, build and support these airplanes,” said Steven Hill, president of Boeing Business Jets.

Boeing delivers VIP airplanes in so-called “green” condition, meaning the airplane does not have interior furnishings or exterior paint. Customers then work with designers and interior completion centers to install an interior that exactly matches the owner’s preferences and needs.

About 35 percent of BBJs ordered are for government heads of state and are typically designed to seat between 25 to 50 passengers. The Indian Government BBJ will be completed at PATS Aircraft completion center in Delaware, a wholly owned subsidiary of DeCrane Aircraft. PATS Aircraft will install an interior that includes a stateroom, meeting room, communications center and seating for 48 passengers. The jet is the first of three on order. The BBJs will replace the government’s existing fleet of 737-200s.

“The Boeing Company is honored that the Government of India has utilized the 737 Boeing Business Jet for the transportation of VVIPs and heads of state,” said Dinesh Keskar, Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ vice president of Sales. “The delivery of this airplane will continue to build upon our long-term partnership and we are extremely pleased that the BBJ will be a part of that great future.”

A380 wraps up technical route proving after a final trip over both poles

The world’s largest commercial airliner, the 555-seat Airbus A380, has successfully completed a series of technical route proving missions, receiving an enthusiastic welcome at each destination. Technical route proving is the last of the trials required for Type Certification, which is expected in mid-December.

Returning from its final route that took it over the North Pole, the MSN002 landed in Toulouse, France today at 1.30 pm local time (12H30 UTC). This final flight left Vancouver, Canada under heavy snow conditions, on Wednesday 29^th November at 4.25 pm local time (00H25 UTC) . 

Airbus completes a major A400M wing assembly milestone

The first set of wings for the first A400M military transport aircraft – MSN001 – passed a major milestone when the first whole wing was removed from its state-of-the-art assembly jig at Airbus’ Filton, Bristol, UK site. The wing is the first-ever wing for an Airbus-built aircraft constructed largely from composite materials (carbon fibre reinforced plastic, CFRP) and is believed to be the largest composite wing ever made.

The 23 metre long by four metre wide port (left side) wingbox, weighing around three tonnes, was removed from its assembly ‘jig’ by overhead crane. This was the first time the removal procedure had been carried out and it involved a team of ten workers.

Final assembly of the first wing components began just four months ago, on 20th July. On 21st September the wing featured in the formal opening of the new £70 million (100 million Euro) A400M Wing Manufacturing Centre by the UK’s Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Drayson.

For the Airbus workers at Filton, the next step is to carry out comprehensive measurements of the wing before beginning the ‘equipping phase’ – when the wing will be fitted with hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel and electrical systems and the flying control surfaces. For the first and five subsequent sets of wings, and also for the fatigue and static test wings, “equipping” also includes the fitting of additional instrumentation and equipment for use later during the flight and ground testing of the whole aircraft.

In the next few weeks the port wing will be joined in the equipping phase by the first starboard (right-side) wing. After equipping and full testing, the wings will be delivered from Filton to the A400M aircraft final assembly line in Seville, Spain on the A300-600ST “Beluga” aircraft.

Charles Paterson, Head of A400M Wing for Airbus said: “Seeing the whole wing come together so quickly and efficiently is a tribute to the whole team. We still have some intensive work ahead of us to ensure we continue to remain on schedule, but today is one of intense pride and celebration as the aircraft takes shape”.

Dick Ovens, Head of A400M Wing Manufacturing at Airbus, said: “The new, state-of-the-art, jigs and tools with automated machinery, including high-precision automated wing drilling equipment, have impressed all who have seen them. They are performing exceptionally well and have in many instances already surpassed our expectations for quality and repeatability.”

Boeing Delivers Second EA-18G Growler to U.S. Navy

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 29, 2006 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has delivered the second EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft to the U.S. Navy test site at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md.

The second EA-18G, known as aircraft EA-2, made the flight from St. Louis to Maryland with U.S. Navy pilot Cmdr. Jack Waters and weapons system operator Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Williams on board. EA-2 is the second of two test aircraft built under a System Development and Demonstration contract Boeing signed with the Navy on Dec. 29, 2003. The first EA-18G, EA-1, currently is undergoing electromagnetic testing in an anechoic chamber at NAS Patuxent River.

“Delivering this aircraft sets the stage for our aggressive flight test program,” said Kevin Fogarty, Boeing EA-18G chief engineer. “We already are getting vital information from EA-1 in the chamber, and we look forward to the next step in flight test, where we can use EA-2 to test even more of the capabilities the Growler brings to the AEA community and the Navy.”

A derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, the EA-18G‘s highly flexible design enables warfighters to perform an array of AEA missions, operating from either the deck of an aircraft carrier or land-based fields. The EA-18G will replace the Navy’s current AEA platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971. The first production Growler will join the Navy’s aircraft fleet in 2008.

Boeing, acting as the weapon system integrator and prime contractor, leads the EA-18G Growler industry team. Northrop Grumman is the principal subcontractor and airborne electronic attack subsystem integrator. The Hornet Industry Team will divide EA-18G production across Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Electric and Raytheon manufacturing facilities. The System Design and Development program concludes with an Initial Operational Capability in 2009. Naval Air Systems Command PMA-265 is the U.S. Navy acquisition office for the EA-18G.

Boeing Dedicates New AWACS Support Facility

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 29, 2006 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] this week dedicated a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Technology Center (MROTC) in Oklahoma City, Okla. The center will provide readiness capabilities and upgrades to the U.S. Air Force E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet.

The MROTC development project is a joint venture between Trammell Crow Company and Battelle Memorial Institute with the support of state and local government and private industry. In 2005, Boeing signed a lease with the MROTC development partners to construct three hangars that will be used for the AWACS upgrades.

Located across from Tinker Air Force Base, the first AWACS hangar represents the initial phase of development for the MROTC. It is planned as a major military and commercial aircraft facility with 17 hangars and more than one million square feet of related industrial space and education and training facilities.

AWACS represents the world’s standard for airborne early warning and control systems. AWACS offers superior surveillance capabilities and fills the needs of both command and control and air battle management functions for tactical and air defense forces. Equipped with a “look-down” radar, AWACS can separate airborne targets from ground and sea clutter returns. It also can detect and track both air and sea targets simultaneously.

The initial fleet upgrades at the MROTC involve flight navigation and communications systems. Future modernizations known as Block 40/45 include new mission computing hardware and software, improved operational console displays and controls, and upgraded radar equipment. Boeing and Tinker personnel will begin installing the enhancements in 2009.

NASA sets shuttle launch for Dec. 7

NASA managers have cleared Discovery’s launch for Dec. 7. The launch is scheduled for 9:36 p.m. and is the first nighttime shuttle launch since the Columbia accident. “I think we’re ready to resume night launches, and I’m looking forward to a really spectacular launch,” NASA shuttle program manager Wayne Hale said Wednesday.

Tests show traces of radiation on British Airways jets

British Airways says police investigating the death of a former Russian spy discovered traces of radiation on jets that fly between London and Moscow. The carrier says more than 30,000 passengers might have been exposed to minute levels of radiation. The radiation poses little danger to the public, but the airline says it will contact all the passengers who were on the flights. Russian authorities today said no radiation was found on a Transaero plane examined in connection with the poisoning death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

Boeing Delivers 747-400BCF to Guggenheim

Martinair Cargo Operating the Converted Freighter

SEATTLE, Nov. 30, 2006 — Boeing [BA: NYSE] recently delivered a completed 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter to Guggenheim Aviation Partners. Guggenheim Aviation Partners leased the freighter to Martinair Cargo, which is operating the airplane on routes to and from the Middle East, the Far East and Australia. Guggenheim and Martinair Cargo have lease agreements on a further three 747-400BCFs, which will be converted and delivered in 2007 and 2008. Martinair is replacing its older 747-200s with the newly converted 747-400BCFs.

This is the seventh 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter that has been delivered through Boeing to cargo operators. As part of the BCF program, Boeing manages every aspect of the conversion process from contract signing, design and production through redelivery. Boeing hired Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. (TAECO) in Xiamen, China, to perform the physical modification work on the airplane

NASA continues preparations for Discovery launch

Preparations for the launch of Discovery are continuing at Kennedy Space Center. Senior NASA and contractor managers over the next two days will meet for a “flight readiness review.” They are expected to set Dec. 7 as the official launch date.

Goodrich to provide optical system for Hubble

Goodrich has received a NASA contract to provide an optical system for the Hubble Space Telescope. NASA will use the equipment on its fifth servicing mission. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

Boeing turns down some customers as it manages robust demand

Boeing is managing the strong demand for airliners by explaining to some of its best customers that it is sold out. The company recently turned down a request by Southwest Airlines to add two more jetliners to an order of 80 planes. “In this hot market, it would be easy to be consumed with the desire to sell anything to people walking through the door who want to buy and push our production system to the point where you could break it,” says Scott E. Carson, CEO of Boeing Commercial Aviation. “It’s much harder to say, ‘I’m sorry, we’re sold out.’

Next Page »