All air transport news – Page 471
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NewsWing-tip fold marks end of 777X's maiden flight
With the folding of its characteristic wing-tips while still rolling out on Boeing Field’s runway 14R, the first 777X completed a maiden 3h 51min test flight. The aircraft – which had departed Paine Field at 10:09 on 25 January – spent much of the first sortie operating at around 15,000ft ...
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NewsBoeing’s 777X takes to the skies
After two thwarted attempts, Boeing’s flight test 777X lifted off from Paine Field on 25 January.
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News777X first flight video stream
Boeing’s first 777X flight-test aircraft has lifted off from Paine Field, north of Seattle, kicking off a certification campaign for the twinjet family. Source: Boeing Lift-off: the first 777-9 test aircraft becomes airborne The 777-9 took off on 25 January, a day after gusting winds and poor ...
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NewsTailwinds keep 777X from making maiden flight
After a several-hour tarmac hold, Boeing scrapped the planned first flight of its 777X on 24 January due to high winds.
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NewsUnexplained Trent 1000 surges spur de-pair order to 787 operators
Rolls-Royce is investigating further operational issues with Trent 1000 engines, after instances of surges involving certain powerplants – a situation which has triggered a de-pairing order from European regulators. Trent 1000s, which are fitted to Boeing 787s, have already been the subject of several regulatory interventions, particularly as a result ...
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NewsSACAA was still conducting smoke probe before Citation crash
Investigators were still conducting an investigation into two smoke incidents involving the South African Civil Aviation Authority’s Cessna Citation II flight-inspection jet before its fatal loss near George. There is no immediate evidence of a connection between the incidents – on 7 and 8 November last year – and the ...
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OpinionWhy jet stalwart Embraer is embracing the turboprop
If the stars align, the world could have the first all-new large turboprop passenger aircraft for four decades within five years.
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NewsNo survivors from South African CAA calibration Citation crash
None of the three crew members of a South African Civil Aviation Authority flight-inspection aircraft survived after the aircraft came down shortly after take-off from George airport. The aircraft, a Cessna Citation II, came down in mountainous terrain after departing George at 10:40 on 23 January. It was due to ...
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NewsTransavia 737 inquiry highlights unpredictability of turbulence
French investigators have reiterated that the only strategy to limit injury risk from turbulence is for passengers to keep seat-belts fastened while seated. Investigation authority BEA states that turbulence forecasting is not precise – able to provide only probabilities – and detection of clear-air turbulence is “not possible” with current ...
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NewsAvianca crew hospitalised after A319 diversion
Four occupants of an Avianca Airbus A319 have been hospitalised after an apparent turbulence incident and a diversion to Panama City. The aircraft had been operating the AV693 service from San Jose to Bogota on 23 January, says the carrier. Diversion of the flight, which had been operating at 35,000ft, ...
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NewsEASA considers alternatives to US order on 727 fuel tanks
European regulators are looking into alternative measures to mitigate an apparent safety risk relating to Boeing 727 auxiliary fuel tanks, after opting not to adopt a US FAA directive on the matter. The directive, to which Boeing had objected, argues that the fuel-quantity indicating system presents a potential electrical ignition ...
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NewsAirbus talks up A220’s regional credentials as NAC firms order
Nordic Aviation Capital has firmed up its order for 20 Airbus A220-300s, prompting the manufacturer to highlight the aircraft’s relevance in the regional aviation market. Regional aircraft lessor NAC had signed a memorandum of understanding for 20 A220s in June 2019. Airbus chief commercial officer Christian Scherer states that NAC’s ...
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NewsTrent-powered A380s to be checked for rotor shaft cracks
Operators of Rolls-Royce-powered Airbus A380s are set to be ordered to inspect the type’s engines for cracking of spacers between intermediate-pressure compressor discs. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency says examination of a Trent 900 rotor shaft revealed a crack in an interstage spacer between the stage two and stage ...
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NewsSouth African CAA calibration aircraft involved in accident near George
South Africa’s civil aviation regulator is investigating an accident involving its flight inspection and calibration aircraft, which occurred shortly after it took off from George airport. The South African Civil Aviation Authority says the aircraft went missing shortly after departing the airport, on the south coast, at 10:40 on 23 ...
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NewsEmbraer expecting non-US orders soon for E175-E2
European and Asian customers in sights as manufacturer seeks firm contracts for re-engined twinjet
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AnalysisE-Fan X hybrid project edges towards system integration
Airbus has started preparing a BAE Systems Avro RJ100 for installation of an experimental hybrid-electric propulsion system later this year, as part of the joint E-Fan X technology project with Rolls-Royce.
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News737 Max engine software revised to address icing thrust loss
Boeing 737 Max operators are to be instructed to update engine-control software to address a loss of thrust issue, attributed to icing, on the type’s CFM International Leap-1B powerplants. At least two occurrences have been investigated which Leap-1Bs suffered temporary loss of thrust control as a result of icing in ...
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NewsBoeing delays 777X’s first sortie owing to weather
The maiden flight of the Boeing 777X will be postponed owing to poor weather conditions around the company’s Everett, Washington production facility. “We are postponing the 777X first flight that was scheduled to take place tomorrow, Jan. 23, due to weather,” says the company. “The team is currently assessing the ...
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NewsBoeing plans to restart 737 production ‘months’ before midyear: CEO
Boeing intends to restart 737 Max production several months before midyear and ahead of the Max’s return to service, meaning production could start humming again within three months, Boeing chief executive David Calhoun says on 22 January.
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NewsBoeing to take another ‘clean sheet’ to NMA with focus on pilots
Boeing is taking a fresh look at the design of its so-called New Mid-market Airplane due to changes in the global aviation market and heightened focus on pilot-aircraft interactions.