F-22 CRASH LEAVES USAF WITH 185 OF TYPE
The crash this month in Alaska of a Lockheed Martin F-22 reduced the US Air Force's fleet of the stealth fighter to 185 fighters, including the final batch of 20 being built by Lockheed for delivery before March 2012. To preserve its dwindling fighter inventory, the USAF plans to upgrade all three fly-by-wire types - F-22, F-35 and F-16 - with automatic ground collision avoidance systems designed to take control of the aircraft if a pilot approaches a non-recoverable condition. That system might have prevented one of the other two F-22 crashes.
EADS, AIRBUS OPEN US PROCUREMENT OFFICE
EADS North America and Airbus Americas are in January to open a joint US sourcing office at Airbus Americas' headquarters in Herndon, Virginia to facilitate and expand relations with US suppliers. Airbus procurement from US-based suppliers represents more than 40% of its total global aircraft-related purchases. EADS already has procurement offices in China and India.
NEW 737-800S 'CAN MATCH AIRBUS A320 NEO'
Saying the Boeing 737-800 can compete with any re-engined rival, aircraft lessor AerCap Holdings has signed a letter of intent with the US airframer for the purchase of up to 15 aircraft. AerCap chief executive Klaus Heinemann says the 737-800, with its recently announced performance upgrade, "is a formidable competitor to any re-engine alternative". Airbus is considering re-engining its A320 under a proposed New Engine Option (NEO) and predicts a 15% reduction in specific fuel consumption from new engines and another 3.5% savings from its new sharklet winglets.
MOSCOW GETS OUT OF AIR BUSINESS
As part of a broader disposal of peripheral assets, the Moscow city government is to sell its 75% stake in Vnukovo airport, home to Russia's largest dedicated business aviation facility and Moscow Airline (formerly Atlant-Soyuz). The city government also owns 51% of Moscow Airline.
AIRBUS SLOWS DOWN A350 TRANSITION
Airbus has admitted to a schedule slip on its A350 twinjet, but still expects service entry in the second half of 2013. In an update on the programme, during EADS's third-quarter results release, chief financial officer Hans Peter Ring said the transition from the programme's design phase was being delayed to ensure a "more solid" base for manufacturing.
JET TIME TO OFFER RENTAL IFE UNITS
Danish charter airline Jet Time will begin renting DigEcor's digEplayer L7 portable in-flight entertainment units to passengers aboard its fleet of seven Boeing 737s. The digEplayer programme is being offered through Inflight Media, which provides print media, such as magazines and newspapers, for Jet Time.
BRUSSELS URGES RUSSIAN AIR INVESTMENT
European transport commissioner Siim Kallas has urged Russia to modernise its air traffic infrastructure. Kallas says that Russia has "paid too little attention to the huge potential it has in world aviation", adding: "There is no advanced and competitive Russian airline competing in global aviation markets. Aeroflot has about 100 airplanes; Air France-KLM, 624."
Source: Flight International