Jon Hemmerdinger
Jonathan Hemmerdinger is Americas aerospace editor for FlightGlobal, covering all aspects of aviation, with a particular focus on the companies that make commercial aircraft and their suppliers. He formerly covered business for Maine’s largest newspaper. Before that, he worked at Independence Air
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NewsBombardier considers divestiture of A220 shares as programme costs increase
Bombardier is “reassessing” its involvement in the Airbus-led partnership that owns the A220, citing the need for additional cash investment and lower-than-expected long-term profits.
- News
US government panel calls for FAA certification improvements
A committee established by the US Department of Transportation has determined that the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing properly followed FAA processes when approving the 737 Max. But the committee, commissioned last April following two 737 Max crashes, also finds the FAA’s processes need much improvement.
- News
A220 cost reductions on ‘track’ as Airbus seeks to make the Quebec programme profitable
One year ago, Airbus executives in Canada laid out broad strokes of a plan to make the A220 a commercial success. Chief among the company’s goals: to boost A220 production, land sales with major airlines, reduce costs and, ultimately, make A220s profitable.
- News
Air Canada unveils first A220-300 ahead of inaugural flight
Air Canada unveiled its first Airbus A220-300 to reporters and business partners at a 15 January event, coming one day before it places the Quebec-made twin-jet into revenue service.
- News
737 Max grounding pushes Boeing’s 2019 orders into negative territory
The 737 Max grounding’s full impact on Boeing’s 2019 orders and deliveries came to light on 14 January when the company released final 2019 figures.
- News
Calhoun takes over as Boeing CEO with transparency pledge
Longtime Boeing board member David Calhoun became chief executive of the Chicago-based company on 13 January, stepping into the spotlight amid a seething controversy while pledging to improve Boeing’s transparency and commitment to safety.
- News
GE Aviation cuts 70 workers in Quebec amid Boeing’s 737 Max production halt
GE Aviation is laying off 70 temporary workers from its site in Bromont, Quebec, citing Boeing’s decision to halt 737 Max production as one factor leading to the cuts.
- In depth
Bombardier realises its transition with CRJ sale
If all goes to plan, 2020 will go down as the year Bombardier ends a 34-year sojourn in commercial aviation. The company expects to sell its CRJ programme to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2020, handing the last portion of a once mighty regional portfolio to the parent of the company ...
- In depth
Experts detail factors that may have led Iranian missile crews to down Ukrainian 737
Though the cause of the Ukraine International Airlines crash remains unconfirmed, defence experts suspect high stress and poor civilian-military coordination led ill-trained missile units to mistakenly shoot down the Boeing 737-800.
- News
Spirit AeroSystems cuts 2,800 workers in first layoff round
Spirit AeroSystems, supplier of Boeing 737 fuselages, will lay off 2,800 workers this month and make additional cuts in the coming weeks in response to Boeing’s halt of 737 Max production.
- News
NTSB appoints representative to Iran-led 737 crash investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has designated a representative to participate in the Iran-led investigation into the 8 January crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752.
- News
Harbour Air to resume electric-powered Beaver flights as certification work begins
Canadian commuter airline Harbour Air expects to conduct additional flight tests of its electric-powered de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver as soon as next week as it builds off a successful first flight last month.
- News
Iran surface-to-air missile downed Ukraine 737: Canadian and US officials
Canadian and US officials believe Iranian military forces, possibly by mistake, shot down the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 that crashed outside Tehran on 8 January, killing 176 people.
- News
Airbus plans to hike Mobile A320 output to seven per month
Airbus plans to boost A320neo production at its Mobile, Alabama site to seven aircraft monthly in 2021, an effort that comes amid a US-imposed import tax on European-made commercial aircraft.
- Analysis
Air safety experts warn lack of cooperation will cloud Ukraine 737 crash investigation
Less than 24h after the crash outside Tehran of a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800, air safety experts are expressing concern that geopolitical tensions and other factors could hinder a transparent, impartial accident investigation.
- News
Boeing transfers Max workers and Spirit AeroSystems warns of staff cuts as production halt looms
Boeing has started temporarily reassigning employees affected by the pending 737 Max production halt, while major supplier Spirit AeroSystems has offered some staff the option to take “voluntary” layoffs.
- News
Boeing changes mind, recommends simulator training for all 737 Max pilots
Boeing now is recommending pilots complete flight simulator training prior to returning to the cockpits of 737 Max – a position reversal for a company that long insisted computer-based training was sufficient.
- News
Avianca cancels 20 A320neo orders
Colombian airline Avianca has cancelled 20 Airbus A320neo purchase commitments and delayed Airbus deliveries of A320neos until 2025, marking another step in the carrier’s financial transformation effort.
- News
Boeing senior legal counsel Luttig to retire as executive shakeup continues
Boeing legal counselor and senior adviser Michael Luttig, who has overseen the company’s 737 Max legal matters, will retire from Boeing at year-end, Boeing says
- News
Aerion selects more suppliers for in-development supersonic business jet AS2
Supersonic business jet developer Aerion Supersonic has selected several more suppliers of components for its in-development AS2 jet, which the company hopes will conduct first flight in 2024.
