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A major milestone for multi-tasking

It’s “full speed ahead” for Airbus’ A350 XWB with final assembly start-up for the new-generation jetliner family’s longest-fuselage member, the A350-1000 – which was kicked off this week, as per planning, in parallel with the baseline A350-900 version’s continued production ramp-up to meet market demand.  The no. 1 A350-1000 is one of three test ai...

Airbus Helicopters selects Thales and Helisim for its H160 full flight simulator deployment

 Airbus Helicopters has partnered with Thales and Helisim to develop and deploy the full flight simulator (FFS) for the H160. In line with the “born ready” strategy implemented by the H160. since the beginning of its development, the FFS will be available to support the H160’s entry into service. This partnership between experienced and recognized companies will offer to fu...

Airbus starts A350-1000 final assembly

Largest member of A350 XWB Family becomes reality. Airbus has started final assembly of the first A350-1000 on schedule at the A350 XWB Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France. This A350-1000, one of three flight test aircraft to be built, will take to the skies for its maiden flight before the end of 2016. A350-1000 deliveries will start in mid-2017. To ensure the smooth integration o...

Air France officially inaugurates its A380 between Paris and Mexico

On 9 February 2016, Air France officially inaugurated its Airbus A380, the Company’s largest super jumbo in its long-haul fleet, on the Paris-Charles de Gaulle – Mexico route. To celebrate the event, Frédéric Gagey, Air France Chairman and CEO, Pieter Elbers, KLM President &CEO, and a delegation led by Matthias Fekl, Minister of State for Foreign Tra...

A321neo takes to the sky for the first time

Largest of Airbus’ best-selling single aisle with new engine option starts flight tests. The first A321neo equipped with CFM International LEAP-1A engines completed its maiden flight on February 9th from Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft, registration D-AVXB, was flown by Experimental Test Pilots Martin Scheuermann and Bernardo Saez Benito Hernandez. Accompanying them in the cockpit was Test...

Airbus in talks to delay some A320neo deliveries: sources

Airbus is renegotiating delivery schedules for its revamped A320neo jet and has told some airlines the aircraft will be delayed by around two months, industry sources said. The European planemaker missed a 2015 target for delivering the first aircraft, an upgraded fuel-saving version of its best-selling medium-haul jet, due to what it described as issues with documentation for its new Prat...

Airbus Helicopters’ H145 demonstrates its ability to perform offshore missions

The twin-engine multipurpose helicopter H145 has successfully proved its operational capabilities for challenging offshore missions. During a two-day flight trial in late January the established offshore operators Wiking Helikopter Service GmbH and HTM Offshore were able to test the H145 in all the relevant fields of offshore operations. Both aviation companies collaborate closely to offer their c...

Certification of the Rig’N Fly automatic oil platform approach mode for the H225

Airbus Helicopters has received EASA certification for the Rig’N Fly (Rig Integrated GPS approaches with eNhanced Fly-ability and safetY), an avionics enhancement designed to provide automatic rig approaches for offshore operations. First developed on H225. it will also be implemented on H175 (end 2016) and on H160. Rig’N Fly uses a combination of sensors (GPS, barometric...

UK contract for Zephyr HAPS imminent

The UK Ministry of Defence is close to signing a contract with Airbus Defence & Space for the manufacture and testing of two Zephyr 8 high-altitude pseudo satellites (HAPS). A £10.6 million ($15.5 million) deal is expected to be firmed in the coming weeks which will see the unmanned air vehicle assessed through an operational concept demonstrator (OCD) programme to determine if the ca...

Singapore Airlines’ first A350 XWB takes to the sky

The first A350-900 for Singapore Airlines yesterday completed its maiden flight over the skies of South West France. The aircraft, featuring the airline’s iconic livery, will now enter the final phase of production, including further ground checks and test flights, before being prepared for delivery in the coming weeks. The all-new A350 XWB will form the backbone of Singapore Airlines&rsq...

Air France May Rent SSJ100 Aircraft From Irish CityJet

CityJet, an Irish regional airline, may lease the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) planes it is going to purchase in Russia to the French flag carrier Air France, a source familiar with the carrier's plans said Tuesday. CityJet announced its decision to buy 15 SSJ100 planes, with an option to purchase 10 more aircraft, in mid-October. The contract is expected to be sign...

Falcon 5X Production Still 'Frozen' as Engine Woes Drag

The production line for the Dassault Falcon 5X large-cabin business jet is still in “frozen” mode at the airframer's Bordeaux Mérignac factory, as engine manufacturer Snecma is still trying to sort out issues with its Silvercrest turbofan that will power the French twinjet. “Production is frozen as a precaution,” a Dassault spokesman told AIN late last&...