The UK Ministry of Defence has placed a highly anticipated order for two Airbus Defence & Space Zephyr 8 high-altitude pseudo-satellites. Announced during Singapore air show on 18 February, the contract will cover the acquisition of two solar-powered, long-endurance surveillance unmanned air vehicles, the first of which is already under construction. Under the terms of the contract &ndas...
Russia has unveiled the export version of the Sukhoi Su-30SME (NATO reporting name: Flanker-C) multipurpose fighter jet at the Singapore Airshow 2016, a source in the defense and industrial sector said. "The Su-30SME aircraft [the export version of the Su-30SM fighter jet] has been shown on the international market for the first time," the source said. "Its development aims to...
Qatar Airways has announced a new code-share agreement with Comair, a franchise of British Airways, that will add three new African destinations to the Qatar Airways route map, and provide additional flight options to travellers in Cape Town and Durban. Comair, which this year celebrates its 70th year of operations, is based in South Africa and is an affiliate member of the oneworld alliance th...
The 2016 Singapore Airshow saw more than 500 corporations from around the world display their latest equipment and technologies with Boeing, presenting its 787-9 Dreamliner, while Airbus released its new long-range airliner A350-900. Both companies are eyeing the Asia-Pacific market, which they deem to be the most promising over the next 20 years. It has a potential demand of 12,000 airc...
Bombardier's embattled C-Series airliner has finally found the major North American airline customer it has been searching for. Air Canada announced Wednesday that it would order 45 CS-300 airliners with an option for another 30 jets. "We are delighted to announce this important agreement with Bombardier for the purchase of CS-300 aircraft as part of the ongoing modernization of Air...
Qantas coordinated the world’s first in-flight Tech Talk on flight flight 73 departing from Sydney to San Francisco, as part of an initiative to promote the strengths and capabilities of Australian innovators in technology and science helping them make links in Silicon Valley. Called ‘Ideas That Travel’ the Tech Talk was coordinated in partnership with TEDxSydney and...
CloudStore by Arconics, the next generation, feature-rich, scalable and cost effective Wireless In-Flight Entertainment (W-IFE) platform, has been selected by Tigerair Australia for the airline’s first short-haul services to Bali commencing March 2016. Flights between Australia and Denpasar are operated by Virgin Australia International, providing a Tigerair Australia service, and are s...
AAR , a worldwide provider of aviation services to commercial airlines, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and governments, has expanded and updated its hydraulic repair and overhaul facility at AAR Aircraft Component Services – Amsterdam in response to rising demand. AAR announced the expansion Thursday during the Singapore Airshow. The renovation of the facil...
The A380 has literally changed the shape of air transportation in Asia-Pacific, and will continue to play an important role as this region’s dynamic passenger traffic develops during the years to come. Asia-Pacific is a major “home” for the A380: almost half of the global customer base for Airbus’ 21st century flagship jetliner is located there, while all of the oth...
Pratt & Whitney Canada’s (P&WC’s) Flight Acquisition, Storage and Transmission (FAST) solution is now in service on 580 aircraft, as a growing number of customers, including 20 regional airlines, are choosing the turnkey technology for aircraft and engine diagnostics, prognostics and health management. P&WC’s FAST solution captures, analyzes and sends full f...
The government will ease rules that constrain Air Canada’s ability to compete, after the country’s largest air carrier settled a dispute with Quebec and agreed to buy jets from Bombardier Inc. Transport Minister Marc Garneau told reporters in Ottawa Wednesday the government will seek to “clarify” the Air Canada Public Participation Act to allow the airline “to resp...
This year, righteous metal band Iron Maiden will be touring around the world in this Boeing 747 jumbo jet codenamed “Ed Force One,” piloted by lead singer Bruce Dickinson. Dickinson has apparently been flying since 1990, spent a stint as a professional charter pilot for a now-defunct outfit called Astraeus Airlines and even flew some British soldiers home from Afghanistan on a 747 c...
The federal charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A former Alaska Airlines pilot has pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of flying passenger jets between California and Oregon in 2014 while under the influence of alcohol, according to authorities. David Arntson, 60, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, said Thom Mrozek, a spoke...
Boeing and SpaceX are racing to become the first private companies to carry astronauts into space, as early as next year. And although SpaceX is generally considered to be leading the race (it already delivers supplies to the space station), Boeing shouldn't be underestimated (the company built most of the International Space Station). After carrying astronauts to space, B...
Sweden's Saab (SAABb.ST) said on Wednesday it plans to put its Swordfish maritime patrol system on two new aerial platforms as demand rises for ways to tackle maritime threats, including the proliferation of submarines. The move to put an enhanced version of its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems on new airframes in partnership with Canada's Bombardier (BBDb.TO)...
Airbus Group SE plans to offer airlines an update by the Farnborough Air Show in July on its potential plans to come out with a bigger variant of the A350 wide-body jetliner so it can better challenge the order success of Boeing Co.’s enlarged 777X. The aircraft, a longer version of the A350-1000 --itself already a so-called stretch model --would be offer more seats in three-class co...
Air Canada says Quebec has agreed to drop its lawsuit against the airline in exchange for a commitment to have heavy maintenance work for Bombardier’s CSeries planes carried out in the province. The company says the work would be done for a minimum of 20 years, beginning in 2019. Air Canada’s announcement — subject to completion of final agreements — came hours after...
Boeing Co's (BA.N) top executive reaffirmed on Wednesday the company's outlook for strong growth and cash flow over the next five years, dismissing investor concerns that the aviation business cycle is on the cusp of a downturn. Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg, speaking at an investor conference, also said the company is "very confident" in its accounting for 787 cos...
Airbus — the company that patented the concept of stacking passengers on top of each other in a crowded tube flying at hundreds of miles per hour thousands of feet above the ground — has recently applied for a pair of airplane seat patents that simultaneously look to increase customer comfort while stripping away what little room remains. Let’s deal with the more passenger-fri...
Two planes have collided on the ground at an airport in Detroit. The wing of an American Airlines plane clipped the tail of a Southwest Airlines plane, while both were on the taxiway. It happened on Wednesday at 06:05 local time (11:05 GMT) at Detroit Metro airport. Passengers had to remain on board the planes but there are no reports of any injuries or fuel leaks. The Federal Aviation Au...
It looks a cross between a helicopter and a hovercraft and can take off and land vertically: AirMule is a giant drone that can pick up and drop off supplies or people. Built by Israeli firm Urban Aeronautics, It is meant to be used in areas too dangerous for other aircraft. Rafi Yoeli, chief executive officer of Urban Aeronautics, explains how it works: “It can operate inside villag...
