FAA proposes four key Boeing 737 MAX design changes through airworthiness directive

August 4, 2020

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it intends to issue an airworthiness directive for the troubled Boeing 737 MAX, which involves the updating of flight-control software, revised display-processing software to generate alerts, revising a number of flight-crew operating procedures, and changing the routing of certain wiring bundles. While significant, the announcement does

Shares in GE slump 5% as Covid-19 pandemic ravages aviation industry – hits second-quarter earnings hard

July 31, 2020

Reporting cash outflow of US$2.1 billion from its industrial operations – well below an anticipated US$3.5 billion – US$4.5 billion, shares in the Boston, U.S.-based conglomerate fell 5%. The aviation unit of the company, which is usually the most profitable, was hardest hit in terms of sales and orders. This unit, which makes engines for

Boeing to end production of 747 by 2022

July 30, 2020

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to hit the world’s second-largest planemaker to the point where it is now further revising output schedules. Growing hostilities between the U.S. and China have now seen the latter shelve plans to purchase larger jets from the U.S., which has caused further problems for Boeing. The 777X

Iranian delegation to meet with Ukraine to discuss downed flight compensation

July 29, 2020

A Ukrainian delegation is to visit the Ukraine on Wednesday and Thursday of this week to discuss the matter of compensation in relation to the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet at the beginning of the year. It was at 06.12 local time on January 8 this year that Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 took

Spain’s Supreme Court has ruled that staff pay cuts and working condition changes imposed by Ryanair during the COVID-19 pandemic were unlawful

Ryanair share price suffers sharp drop after it releases pessimistic traffic outlook

July 28, 2020

Shares in Ryanair tumbled 8% as a consequence of Europe’s largest low-cost carrier announcing that it has reviewed its annual passenger target downwards by 25%, despite the figures for the lockdown quarter of April-June coming through at better-than-expected levels. Having cut 99% of its capacity as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the carrier posted

FAA issues Emergency Directive over potential Boeing 737 NG and Classic dual-engine failure

July 27, 2020

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive relating to potential corrosion problems on parked-up Boeing 737 NG and Classic jets that could lead to catastrophic dual-engine failure if not immediately addressed. The problems involve approximately 2,000 of the 737 variants which have been parked up as consequence of the devastating

Spirit AeroSystems threatened by further production cuts into 2022

July 24, 2020

Having already laid off thousands of its workforce, Spirit AeroSystems (Spirit), which makes the fuselage for the troubled Boeing 737 MAX, is in discussions with lenders over loosening debt terms. Kansas-based Spirit had already been asked by Boeing to cut back on production owing to further knock-on effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in what

Bombardier secures US$1bn credit line on back of reduced second-quarter cash burn

July 23, 2020

Bombardier, the Canadian plane and train maker, has secured a US$1 billion secured loan, indicating that the company will now have sufficient liquidity to see it through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having severely revised its 2020 forecast, Bombardier has now begun to announce job cuts as the market for high-profit-margin jets falls, with

Qantas says farewell to the “Queen of the Skies”

July 22, 2020

Qantas will mark the end of an era with the departure of the national carrier’s last Boeing 747 jumbo jet on July 22. The final 747-400 in the fleet (registration VH-OEJ) departed Sydney at 2pm as flight number QF7474, bringing to an end five decades of history-making moments for the national carrier and aviation in

Six new Piper Archers delivered to ATP Flight School – confirms order for 100 additional aircraft

July 21, 2020

ATP, the USA’s leading flight school, has taken delivery of six new Piper Archer TXs, taking its predominantly Archer-manufactured training aircraft to a fleet total of 412. In addition, the company has renewed an order for an additional 100 Piper aircraft. While the airline industry currently battles against the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the

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