Jon Hemmerdinger
Jonathan Hemmerdinger is Americas managing 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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NewsFAA approves the start of 737 Max certification flights
The Federal Aviation Administration confirms it has approved the start of Boeing 737 Max certification flights, clearing the way for that phase of the certification process to begin as early as 29 June.
- Analysis
Spirit’s struggles show suppliers can expect little ‘relief’ from Max return
News that Spirit AeroSystems has again cut 2020 production of Boeing 737 components sent another ripple of discouragement through an already reeling aerospace industry.
- News
Airbus cancels plan to develop its own A320neo nacelle
The coronavirus downturn has led Airbus to scrap its planned development of an A320neo engine nacelle that would have competed with nacelles produced by supplier Collins Aerospace.
- News
FAA requires inspections of 737 Max wire shields to address electrical risks
The Federal Aviation Administration his finalised a rule requiring that operators inspect Boeing 737 Max wiring shields for issues that could, in extreme circumstances, cause dual-engine failures or erroneous engine data.
- News
Spirit cuts 737 production again, warns of financial fallout
Spirit AeroSystems has again slashed its expected output of Boeing 737 fuselages and other components to just 72 shipments in 2020, while warning it could breach financial agreements before year-end.
- News
Airline unions ask US lawmakers for more payroll money
The largest US pilots’ union has joined an effort to lobby lawmakers to provide more financial support to aviation workers affected by the airline industry downturn.
- News
FAA report outlines changes to improve safety and certification oversight
A Federal Aviation Administration report completed in April establishes broad timelines for when the agency expects to implement a number of oversight changes, including creation of a safety management system (SMS) rule.
- News
FAA chief defends agency as lawmakers decry lack of cooperation with Max inquiry
Lawmakers lobbed harsh, pointed criticism at the head of the Federal Aviation Administration on 17 June, accusing the agency of stonewalling congressional investigations into the certification of the Boeing 737 Max.
- News
NASA hints at truss-braced X-plane to test technologies for next commercial narrowbody
NASA may develop a test aircraft to evaluate several next-generation, efficiency-improving technologies that could be incorporated into the next single-aisle commercial aircraft, which manufacturers will likely bring to market in the 2030s.
- Analysis
GE Aviation and Embraer Commercial tap international sales experience with new CEOs
The new chief executives of GE Aviation and Embraer’s commercial aircraft division are well suited to help address the particular challenges facing those companies’ corners of the aerospace industry.
- News
Embraer’s Slattery to succeed GE Aviation CEO Joyce
Embraer’s head of commercial aviation John Slattery will succeed David Joyce as chief executive of GE Aviation.
- News
US airlines take jets out of storage, add flights as recovery begins
North America’s airline industry has started a slow but noticeable recovery as carriers bring hundreds of jets back into service in response to a bump in travel demand ahead of the summer travel season.
- News
FAA proposes GEnx disk inspections to address uncontained failure risk
The risk of uncontained engine failures has led the Federal Aviation Administration to propose requiring airlines to inspect disks inside the high-pressure turbines of some GE Aviation GEnx powerplants.
- News
Spirit AeroSystems cuts more staff and again trims 2020 737 production plan
Spirit AeroSystems is again cutting its workforce and has further reduced its expected 2020 production of 737 fuselages, a pullback coming in response to new direction from Boeing.
- News
Missing ‘lockwire’ caused 2015 767 fire at Fort Lauderdale
Maintenance failures led to a fuel spill that caused a Boeing 767-200ER operated by Dynamic International Airways to catch fire on the ground at Fort Lauderdale in 2015.
- News
Boeing CEO lays out plan to combat racial discrimination
Boeing has pledged to take additional steps to promote diversity and equality and to address racial discrimination following nationwide protests calling for reforms to address inequality.
- Analysis
Boeing faces ‘critical few months’ amid pandemic: analysts
Aerospace industry analysts suspect regulators will re-certificate the 737 Max later this year, but they stress that the company’s challenges extend well beyond that programme.
- News
NTSB urges regulators to close loophole allowing less-stringent lithium-ion battery tests
A battery fire inside a FedEx truck in 2016 has led the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to recommend tighter regulation of some lithium-ion batteries.
- News
Boeing logs new 767F orders in May though aircraft cancellations continue
Boeing received new orders for six 767 Freighters in May, though the company’s aircraft backlog declined by 90 jets in the month due largely to order cancellations and other negative adjustments.
- News
Why airlines are favouring newer jets over old, despite low oil prices
The coronavirus downturn and concurrent cheap fuel have not led the world’s airlines to favour older narrowbody aircraft over newer or more-efficient jets, despite predictions to the contrary.
