50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United States aviation news

Boeing, SWISS Confirm Additional Order for 777-300ER

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) today confirmed a new order for one 777-300ER (Extended Range), valued at $339.6 million at list prices. The Swiss airline had previously ordered nine 777s and taken delivery of six this year as it continues to establish the 777-300ER as its flagship.  "The 777-300ER will be the backbone of our long-haul fleet for m...

Global Eagle Entertainment and Qatar Executive sign content services agreement

Global Eagle Entertainment announced a strategic, multiyear content service agreement with Qatar Airways.   GEE will provide a suite of core inflight entertainment (IFE) content services, including movies, music, TV and audio on in-cabin and seatback systems aboard 164 of Qatar Airways' commercial airliners, 8 Qatar Amiri charter aircraft and 12 Qatar Executive business jets....

NetJets Expands Portfolio with Brokerage Services

Fractional ownership pioneer NetJets is establishing a new division that it says will provide objective, expert support for clients wanting to buy or sell whole aircraft. QS Partners will tap the extensive in-house expertise of its parent company, while insisting that the new venture is not expressly intended as a vehicle to steer business to its fractional, charter and aircraft manageme...

NASA Is About to Test a Plane With Bendable Wings

When you look out the window of an airliner and see the flaps moving up and down, you’re really watching the wing change shape. The flaps change the curvature of the top of the wing, changing the amount of lift generated. But NASA is planning to test out a new plane that will bend its wings in a completely different way for a smoother, and greener, flight. The innovative wings won’t...

Textron: Bizjet Market in Early Stages of Recovery

Textron Aviation is seeing early stages of recovery in the business jet market, Textron chairman, president and CEO Scott Donnelly said this morning during the company’s third-quarter investor conference call. “While the market is still soft, we’ve seen good demand for our new products, which is driving growth.” During the quarter, the aviation subsidiary deliv...

GULFSTREAM G280 ACHIEVES REMARKABLE 57TH WORLD SPEED RECORD

 Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced that its Gulfstream G280 aircraft recently established a speed record between Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands in Europe, and Teterboro, New Jersey, making the trans-Atlantic journey in just seven hours and 26 minutes. The super mid-size business jet departed Guernsey Airport at 7:54 a.m. local time and arrived at Teterboro Airport at 10:20 a....

CH-53K King Stallion Passes Initial Operational Testing

Lockheed Martin announced the CH-53K King Stallion successfully completed initial operational testing by the U.S. Marine Corps to verify the key capabilities of the heavy lift helicopter. The week-long operational assessment by Marine Corps pilots, aircrew and maintainers marked an important step in support of a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Milestone C decision early next year. "This...

Gulfstream G450 production to end, paving way for all-new G500

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced it will end production of the Gulfstream G450, one of the company’s most iconic and dependable aircraft, as it prepares to launch a new era of business aviation with the all-new G500. Gulfstream is scheduled to deliver the final G450 to a customer in early 2018. The G450 built on the successes of the GIV and GIV-SP, which have been class-leading...

Jeppesen to introduce enhanced arrival and departure charts

Jeppesen, a Boeing Company, has worked closely with the pilot community and leading experts to enhance its SID (standard instrument departure) and STAR (standard terminal arrival route) charts to increase situational awareness and reduce 'head-down' time while referencing chart information. "Over the past two years, we have teamed with pilots and experts in human factors to create...

First full GE9X engine hits the mark in ground testing

GE Aviation completed the initial ground testing of the first full GE9X development engine, the world’s largest commercial aircraft engine that will power Boeing’s 777X aircraft, with impressive results. “This engine is living up to our expectations, and we are extremely pleased with the results,” said Ted Ingling, general manager of the GE9X program at GE Aviation. &ldq...

Boeing and Teledyne Controls Partner to Improve Airplane Software and Data Management

Boeing and Teledyne Controls today announced that the companies will combine their ground-based operational data products to create the new Fleetwide Data Manager program. The goal is to provide a unified solution for airlines to transfer data to and from airplanes more efficiently, across fleet-wide operations. The new Fleetwide Data Manager from Boeing and Teledyne will set an industry s...

Pretty in pink: Navy fighter jet painted for Breast Cancer Awareness month

The fight against breast cancer picked up a powerful new ally -- a retired US Navy fighter jet. And of course, it's pink. A Grumman F9F-8 Cougar, painted a vivid shade of pink called "Heliconia," has been unveiled on the flight deck of the World War II aircraft carrier USS Lexington, anchored at Corpus Christi, Texas. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Cougar will...