50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

World aircraft news

aircraft related aviation news

FLIGHT TEST: Diamond's DA62 glitters

Diamond Aircraft is set to make its debut at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas, where it will be promoting its all-new DA62 diesel piston twin as a platform for corporate and charter operations. First deliveries, to European customers, will be followed soon by the first US aircraft – serial number 10, which is the machine that will be on show at NBAA. This wi...

Emirates signs $16bn engine services deal with GE Aviation

Emirates has signed a $16 billion OnPoint solution agreement with GE Aviation for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the GE9X engines that will power the airline's fleet of 150 Boeing 777X aircraft over a period of 12 years. This is Emirates’ largest engine MRO contract to date. At the 2013 Dubai Air Show, Emirates placed a record $ 76 billion order for 150 Boeing 77...

Bell 525 to become world's first fly-by-wire helicopter

The Bell 525 Relentless is ready to revolutionize the helicopter industry as the world's first fly-by-wire (FBW) commercial helicopter. Thanks to years of experience developing fly-by-wire systems, Bell Helicopter has channeled this expertise into creating a new standard for pilot controls. FBW technology replaces the traditional manual flight controls with a digital interface that provides...

Lufthansa top management to resolve next steps in UFO union dispute

Lufthansa reiterated its willingness to resume discussions with the UFO union. The company last invited UFO to talks on Thursday 5 November, at which it presented the union with a modified offer in which, for the sake of its employees, it agreed to all the union’s demands. In its modified offer of 5 November Lufthansa offered to compensate any employee ceasing gainful employment before re...

Etihad and Mubadala sign $1bn technical services MoU

Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi-based investment and development company, and Etihad Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Dubai Airshow worth potentially $1 billion over a 10-year period. The agreement was signed by Homaid Al Shemmari, chief executive, Aerospace and Engineering Services, Mubadala, and James Hogan, president and chief executive of Etihad Airways, and cover...

Irkut upbeat on Su-30SM prospects

Moscow-based aircraft manufacturer Irkut is showcasing the multirole Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter at the Dubai air show, among a host of military products on display from the Russian industry delegation. The forecast for Su-30SM orders exceeds more than 100 aircraft, but Russian officials are already planning a major upgrade programme for the twin-engined fighter. Rostec chief executive Sergey Che...

Boeing, Tata JV to perform AH-64 work

Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems have announced a joint venture to produce aerostructures for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter in India. The joint venture will also compete for additional work on other Boeing plaftorms, says Boeing. “This partnership will capitalise on India’s industrial capability, innovation and talent to contribute to Boeing’s long-term competitiveness...

Qatar Airways to renew Barcelona sponsorship ‘only if price is right’

Qatar Airways will consider renewing a shirt sponsorship deal with Barcelona only if the price is right. The Catalan club are pursuing a record sponsorship contract but the Doha-based airline has not yet agreed a deal. The outspoken boss of the airline Akbar Al Baker on Sunday suggested he was willing to play hard ball with the European champions. “We are in the middle of negotiatio...

AIA chief touts US pavilion while calling for DOD new starts

Aerospace Industries Association chief operating officer Bob Durbin is thrilled with the turnout of American aerospace firms at this year’s Dubai show, with the number of exhibitors in the US pavilion almost doubling to 140 compared with the previous edition. He says the turnout of smaller companies is particularly pleasing, as tier two and three suppliers are critical to the defence and...

AgustaWestland restates commitment to AW609 tiltrotor

With AgustaWestland presenting its full family of medium-class helicopters at Dubai, the one notable, although not unexpected, absence from its static display is the AW609 civil tiltrotor. Two of the company’s test pilots were killed in a crash in Italy of the second AW609 flight-test prototype (N609AG) on 29 October, with the incident now being probed by the country’s ANSV air acci...

India's Jet emerges as customer for up to 75 Max 8s

India's Jet Airways has been identified as the customer behind a previously unattributed order for Boeing 737 Max 8s. Boeing says the deal with Jet, announced at the Dubai air show, comprises conversions of 25 Next-Generation 737s to the re-engined variant plus options and purchase rights spanning an additional 50 Max 8s. Jet will be the first Indian airline to take delivery of...

ATSB to raise crashed Pel-Air Westwind jet from ocean

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will raise an Israel Aerospace Industries 1124A Westwind that crashed near Norfolk Island in 2009, as it re-opens an investigation which was criticised for not having recovered the aircraft's recorders. In an update on its website, the ATSB says that it has contracted Pacific Maritime Pacific Maritime Group to assist in the recovery of...