Aircraft & Engines

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded Part 33 certification to GE Honda Aero Engine’s HF120 turbofan engine, certifying its airworthiness and setting the stage for the production of this all-new engine. The HF120 engine’s airworthiness certification follows an extensive ground and flight test program that involved 13 engines. During its certification program, the HF120

International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) has reached an agreement with French Caribbean carrier Air Caraïbes Atlantique Airlines to lease three new Airbus A350XWB-900s. The aircraft have an anticipated delivery timeline between 2016 and 2018, and will be operated on the airline’s long-haul route network. The A350XWB-900 aircraft are powered by two new generation Rolls Royce

Air Canada announced its mainline narrowbody fleet renewal plan that includes commitments, options and rights to purchase up to 109 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The new aircraft will replace Air Canada’s existing mainline fleet of Airbus narrowbody aircraft, creating one of the world’s youngest, most fuel efficient and simplified airline fleets. The agreement with Boeing,

Eurocopter delivered two EC225s to Waypoint Leasing, a leading global helicopter leasing company. Waypoint has signed an agreement to provide the aircraft to Avincis Group’s subsidiary, Bond Helicopters Australia, to use for offshore crew change missions. Earlier this year, Eurocopter and Waypoint Leasing established a comprehensive commercial and marketing partnership for helicopter leasing, which includes

American Airlines has signed agreements with Bombardier and Embraer to purchase 90 new 76-seat regional jets. Consistent with American’s Plan of Reorganization and Merger Agreement, these aircraft will provide much improved economics for the airline as they will replace smaller, less efficient 50-seat regional aircraft scheduled for retirement. American has firm orders for 30 Bombardier

AWAS has agreed with ANA Holdings (ANAHD) to the lease of an additional two new A320 aircraft from its order pipeline. ANAHD will use these additional aircraft to support the continued expansion of Vanilla Air, their low cost regional subsidiary which will be based in Narita and commence service with the following launch destina tions:

Kuwait Airways, the National airline of Kuwait, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to buy ten A350-900 and fifteen A320neo Family aircraft. The order is part of Kuwait Airways’ fleet renewal strategy. The carrier already operates three A320, three A310, five A300 and four A340 Family aircraft.

The Italian Police has taken delivery of a fifth AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopter which will be based in Reggio Calabria. The contract, which was signed in July last year, includes a total of eight AW139 helicopters. Designated UH-139C, the Italian Police’s helicopters operate from bases in Southern Italy (Bari, Palermo and Reggio Calabria) as

GE Capital Aviation Services reported the delivery of a new leased Airbus A330 aircraft to China Airlines to help modernize its fleet. This is the first of two A330s that will be leased to China Airlines. The second is scheduled for delivery in 2014. The aircraft come from GECAS’ existing orderbook with Airbus. In addition