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Finmeccanica shows strength in key Brazilian market at LAAD Security 2016

Cessna Caravan powers ahead in China

Textron Aviation is enjoying success with its Shijiazhuang factory for the Cessna Caravan 208 single-engined turboprop, with the type attaining acceptance in the Chinese market. Bill Schultz, country manager of Textron Aviation in China, says there are about 77 Caravans operating in China, of whi...

Sikorsky CH-53K programme puts gearbox issues behind it

US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) appears to be confident that the Sikorsky CH-53K programme has put the gearbox failures and parts delays experienced prior to first flight in October 2015 behind it, but the Lockheed Martin-owned helicopter manufacturer won’t receive bonus cheques for late...

This Naked Airplane Was Inspired by Custom Motorcycles

If you’ve been following recent trends in the custom motorcycle world, then you’ll know that minimalism is the new chrome plating. Bodywork is passé, colors are muted, and honest function is the end result. Apply that treatment to a cruiser, and you end up with a bobber. So it makes sense that renowned bush plane maker Zlin Aviation is calling this new, minimalist airplane the s...

Garmin Adds GTN650/750 Helicopter Features

Garmin has announced that eight new features are now available for select helicopters with GTN650/750 panel-mounted navigators. By contacting an authorized Garmin dealer, operators can now add WireAware (for locating dangerous power lines); FastFind (with predictive logic to make it easier to enter waypoint and airport data); simple frequency enter and ID (removing the need to type...

Seat certification bites as luxury-rebranded Stelia pauses Comet

The rebrand of Airbus’ premium seatmaker Stelia, which was created from the merger of Aerolia and Sogerma in January 2015, is well under way, with the new positioning for Stelia at last week’s Aircraft Interiors Expo redolent of the best of elegant French design. But behind the bottles of Chanel No. 5, Hermès scarves and beautiful monochrome photos of Paris, Stelia’s rebra...

Rockwell Collins to provide fleet-wide international trip support services for Hong Kong based Metrojet

Metrojet, a Hong Kong based six-star business aviation services company, has engaged Rockwell Collins’ ARINCDirectSM to provide international trip support services for its fleet business aircraft. The new contract expands Metrojet’s relationship with Rockwell Collins, which is currently using a number of ARINCDirect’s integrated services. “Metrojet is dedicated to u...

Dassault’s Falcon 8X to Make First Appearance in China

Dassault Aviation’s new flagship, the Falcon 8X, will be on hand at the Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (ABACE) in Shanghai, the ultra-long range trijet’s first appearance in China. The exhibit, which opens at Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport on April 12, will feature aircraft s/n 03, the first 8X fitted with a fully equipped interior. S/n 03 is in the midst of...

Latvia’s airBaltic Increases its Firm C Series Order to 20 Bombardier CS300 Aircraft

CS300 aircraft’s first operator airBaltic and Bombardier enter into a firm agreement to convert seven option aircraft to firm as Riga-based airline transitions to all-Bombardier fleet. Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that Latvian flag carrier Air Baltic Corporation AS (airBaltic) has converted its remaining seven option aircraft to firm. This latest orde...

Kawasaki delivers first two EC145s to Japanese National Police

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has delivered two EC145 helicopters to the National Police Agency in its native Japan. These will be the first EC145s to be used by the National Police Agency, and are replacements of existing helicopters deployed by the police in the provinces of Kanagawa and Chiba. The EC145 is a modification of the BK117 which Kawasaki started to develop with MBB before the German m...

Airbus lags Boeing in first-quarter order race

Europe's Airbus dropped behind U.S. rival Boeing in the race for new airplane orders in the first quarter, sending its shares lower as it recorded its slowest start to the year since 2011. Both orders and deliveries at the European planemaker dwindled, with the latter affected by glitches and delays at U.S. engine supplier Pratt & Whitney. The planemaking unit of Airbus Group di...

Iran says Boeing offers new aircraft during Tehran trip

Boeing Co. offered Iranian airlines three models of new aircraft to replace the country's aging fleet during the first visit by the Chicago-based manufacturer in decades, the Islamic Republic's state-run news agency reported Monday. Boeing declined to discuss specifics from the negotiation with officials in Tehran, but the airplane builder undoubtedly wants a piece of the action in post...

Airbus ACJneo Family wins first Asian customer

An Asian customer has become the first in the region to place a firm order for an Airbus ACJ319neo , delivery of which is planned for the second quarter of 2019. The client, which is upgrading from a large, traditional, business jet, is also the first new customer for the ACJneo Family. Engines and cabin outfitter have yet to be announced. Airbus has now won firm orders for six ACJneo...

Gulfstream fleet continues to grow in greater China

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced that its fleet in Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) has grown to more than 165 aircraft and makes up more than half of the Asia-Pacific fleet, the company’s largest internationally. “We have experienced tremendous growth in Greater China, particularly on the mainland, where we had 30 aircraft in 2010 and now have more than 100...

GE begins testing first full GE9X engine

GE Aviation is ground testing the first full GE9X development engine at its Peebles Testing Operation in Ohio. The GE9X engine will power Boeing’s new Boeing 777X aircraft. GE general manager-GE90/GE9X engine programs Bill Millhaem said the ground testing will “generate data on the full engine system and aerodynamic performance, mechanical verification, and aero thermal system valid...

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Essential news

Honda Aircraft Company celebrates type validation of HondaJet Elite II in Brazil at LABACE 2026

Honda Aircraft Company announced first delivery of HondaJet Elite II in Brazil, marking a significant milestone in the company’s continued commitment to general aviation in South America. The de...

U.S. FAA certifies new Boeing 737-7 airplane

U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has granted Boeing an amended type certificate for the new 737-7 airplane, clearing it for commercial service. The smallest...

Eve Air Mobility achieves first transition flight milestone, advancing eVTOL program toward wing-borne flight

Eve Air Mobility completed its first partial transition flight, marking an important milestone in the development and testing of the company' eVTOL aircraft. The flight involved the acti...

Introducing latest-generation TBM to a major business aviation market - Daher Aircraft delivers the first TBM 980 in Brazil

The first TBM 980 for a Brazilian customer delivered by Daher Aircraft, marking the introduction of this newest fast and efficient turboprop-powered airplane in a market where the TBM family continues...

Air India, SkyDrive and Suzuki sign MoU for feasibility study of medical air logistics in India

Air India, SkyDrive and Suzuki Motor Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct a joint feasibility study on the use of eVTOL aircraft for medical air logistics in India. In...

Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen3 achieves first flight, advancing next-generation light jet toward certification

Textron Aviation achieved a key milestone as the Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen3 prototype aircraft completed its first flight, advancing the next-generation light jet toward certification. With th...

The Arriel 2K, the engine powering the Leonardo AW09 helicopter, has received its EASA certification

The Arriel 2K engine that powers Leonardo’s AW09 helicopter, has received its type certificate from EASA. This marks an important milestone towards the entry into service of the AW09, Leonardo&r...

Daher Aircraft delivers the 400th Kodiak, underscoring this airplane family's expanding global reach and mission versatility

Daher Aircraft has delivered the 400th Kodiak, marking a significant achievement for the multi-role airplane family as its customer base continues to expand across government, commercial, business and...

Bombardier celebrates 200th delivery of its Challenger 3500 jet to Mr. Piero Ferrari

Bombardier delivered its 200th Challenger 3500 jet to Mr. Piero Ferrari, Vice Chairman of Ferrari. The aircraft will support Mr. Ferrari’s travel to Formula One races and other bu...

Top of the week

Bell's first 505 for aerial policing work in Asia Pacific commences operations

Bell Textron announced the Aichi Prefectural Police have officially commenced aerial policing operations utilizing the Bell 505, marking a landmark moment for aviation in the Asia-Pacific region. A ce...

Atoms and Joby Aviation form strategic partnership to build America's vertiport network

Atoms and Joby Aviation announced a strategic partnership to acquire and develop vertiport sites in the United States. The companies will initially focus on Florida, New York, and Texas, the markets w...

Volatus Aerospace partners with Singular Aircraft to introduce FlyOx 1 heavy-lift autonomous aircraft for Canadian wildfire response

Volatus Aerospace announced the next phase of its national wildfire response initiative through a strategic partnership with Singular Aircraft, developer of the FlyOx 1 multi-mission heavy-lift autono...