Bombardier Q400 NextGen Airliner Heads to Calgary for WestJet Visit

Canadian-built, technologically advanced, fuel-efficient Q400 NextGen airliner would be ideal for WestJet’s new high-value, low- cost regional airline

Today, in response to WestJet Inc.’s announced plans to launch a new low-cost regional airline, Bombardier Aerospace is preparing a 78-seat Q400 NextGen airliner for a flight across the Prairies to WestJet’s Calgary, Alberta hub. The aircraft features a custom livery – “Proudly made in Canada and flying everywhere” – that heralds the Q400 NextGen turboprop’s worldwide operational success and pays homage to the iconic WestJet brand. On March 7, all WestJetters will be invited to view the Q400 NextGen airliner on static display and some 50 will have the opportunity to experience a demonstration flight.

“The demonstration flight will provide an opportunity to showcase two of Canada’s leading national companies,” said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The Q400 NextGen airliner is the fastest new-technology turboprop, providing both jet speed and turboprop fuel efficiency. This allows airlines to successfully deploy the aircraft in a variety of markets ranging from typical short-haul turboprop markets to longer-haul jet replacement opportunities.

“The Q400 NextGen aircraft’s operational flexibility, low-cost operation, reduced environmental impact and onboard experience are ideally suited to WestJet’s planned regional airline,” added Mr. Arcamone.

Capt. Brian Price and Capt. Harlan Simpkins, a Calgary native, will be at the controls of the Q400 NextGen aircraft on the flight from Toronto to Calgary and will also operate the aircraft on the demonstration flight. “This is a true pleasure for me; the upcoming flights fill me with pride and I look forward to the thrill of flying over the Prairies back to Chinook country with the mountains in view,” noted Capt. Simpkins. “As a longtime turboprop aircraft pilot, I marvel at the performance benefits and operational flexibility found only in the Q400 aircraft, which features a 100 per cent new airframe and engine combination.”

Bombardier has booked firm orders for 420 Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners. The delivered aircraft are in service with approximately 40 operators in 30 countries, on six continents. These aircraft have transported more than 177 million passengers and have logged more than 3.2 million flight hours and over 3.5 million take-offs and landings
BOMBARDIER

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Lands in Mexico City for World Tour Stop

/PRNewswire/ -- Boeing's (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner landed for the first time in Mexico City today as part of its World Tour. Over the next day-and-a-half, Aeromexico executives, employees, and special invited guests will get a chance to tour and experience much of the airplane's cutting-edge technological advancements.

Aeromexico was the first carrier in Latin America to commit to the Dreamliner when it announced it would lease three 787s from ILFC in June 2006 and then the first carrier in the region to order the airplane with a firm order for two Dreamliners in August of that same year.

This is the airplane's first visit to Mexico City - the world's third largest metropolitan area. Sitting higher than 7,300 ft (2,225 meters), Mexico City has always played an integral part in Boeing's flight test programs for high altitude testing.

The airplane, ZA003, was originally used for flight testing but has been elegantly refurbished to showcase the standard capabilities and features of the 787 including an interior that highlights the many passenger-preferred features of the airplane.

Made from composite materials, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the first mid-size airplane capable of flying long-range routes and will allow airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by the traveling public. As a result of innovative technologies, the airplane offers unparalleled operating economics, fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. More than 800 787s are on order by more than 60 carriers, a testament to the airplane's unique capabilities.

BOEING

Boeing Delivers 1st P-8A Poseidon Production Aircraft to US Navy

Boeing [NYSE: BA] on March 4 officially delivered the first production P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy in Seattle. The P-8A is the first of 13 anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft Boeing will deliver as part of a low-rate initial production contract awarded in 2011. In this photo, the first production P-8A, LRIP1-1, takes off from Boeing Field in Seattle on its way to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., where it will be used for aircrew training.
BOEING

Aeroflot puts its sixth Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft in operation

Aeroflot Russian Airlines puts its sixth Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft (SSJ100) in operation. The airliner is painted in the SkyTeam livery.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 MSN 95013 (registered number RA-89005) was delivered to Aeroflot under contract with the VEB-Leasing JSC on financial lease (leasing). The delivered aircraft is designed to carry 87 passengers in a comfortable two-class layout (12 – business class and 75 – in economy class).

Aeroflot ordered 30 SSJ100 aircraft in total. The airline currently operates six SSJ100 aircraft serving routes from Moscow to 13 Russian cities as well as to Minsk, Budapest Oslo and Stockholm. Aeroflot operations confirm that the aircraft perfectly match their requirements in terms of high frequency departures on regional routes.
By February 29, 2012 six SSJ100s in service with Armavia and Aeroflot accumulated more than 4,900 flight hours in more than 2,500 revenue flights
SUKHOI

Ryan International Airlines files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization

Ryan International AirliPpmbPPnes (Rockford) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization according to this report by WREX Channel 13 although the company has not yet issued a statement

VOLOTEA - B717, EC-LPM

José Ramon Valero - MAD

TATARSTAN - A319-100, VQ-BNF

PMB - LPPT

EUROATLANTIC / AIR MADAGASCAR - B777-200ER, CS-TFM

PMB - LPPT

HELITT - ATR-72-212, EC-LNR

José Ramon Valero - MAD

SPANAIR storage

 SE-RJH

 SE-DIF

SE-RJG
José Ramon Valero - MAD

LUFTHANSA - A380, D-AIME

PMB - Miami

SP Cargo Air - B727-2Q4Adv(F), N909PJ

PMB - Opa Locka, Miami

Trans States Airlines - Jetstream 32, N972JX

PMB - Miami Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport - KTMB

Venezolana - Linea Aérea de Venezuela - Jetstream 41, YV293T

PMB - Miami Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport - KTMB

GB AIRLINK - Short SC-7 Skyvan, N80GB

PMB - FL

THAI’s first A380 makes maiden flight from Toulouse

The first A380 for Thai Airways International (THAI) took off for its maiden flight on 5th March following completion of the airframe assembly and system tests in Toulouse, France.

After a successful flight of more than four hours, the aircraft landed in Hamburg, Germany, where it is entering the next phase of production, covering cabin installation and painting.

THAI will become the ninth operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in the third quarter of 2012. The airline has firm orders for six A380s and will operate the aircraft on its premier routes from Bangkok to Europe.

AIRBUS

FLYSUNWING - B737-800

 C-FYUH

 C-FRZG

C-FDZA
PedroMB - FL

CANJET - B737-800

 C-FTCX - FL

 OO-JAQ - FL

C-GOGT
PedroMB - FL

AZERBAIJAN - A319-100, 4K-AZ05

PedroMB - Paris GDG

CABO VERDE EXPRESS - LET-410

Rogério Bairrão - Cabo verde

TACV - ATR-72, D4-CBU "Baltazar Lopes"

Rogério Bairrão - Cabo Verde, Aeroporto Amilcar Cabral

AIR JAMAICA - B737-800, 9Y-JMD

PedroMB - FL

CARIBBEAN AIRLINES - B737-800

 9Y-SLU - FL

 9Y-TJR - Miami

 9Y-SXM - FL

9Y-MBJ - FL
PedroMB

Boeing Celebrates 1,000th 777

PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and more than 5,000 employees, suppliers, customers and government officials celebrated the 1,000th 777 at a special event today. The 1,000th 777 jetliner will be delivered to Dubai-based Emirates later this month.

"As the largest 777 customer, it's very appropriate that Emirates is the recipient of our milestone 1,000th 777," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Emirates has set an industry high bar in providing excellent customer service and we're honored that the 777 is central to its efforts to be a global airline leader."

Last year was the best year on record for 777 sales with 200 orders from 22 customers – topping the previous record of 154 set in 2005. Production is at an all-time high for the program and a 20 percent rate increase begins this fall, increasing from seven to 8.3 airplanes per month. The program will begin building 100 airplanes per year beginning in 2013.

Emirates is the 777 program's largest customer with 102 777s now in its fleet and 84 passenger airplanes and nine freighters on order. Emirates is the only airline that operates all six members of the 777 family.

"Emirates is honored to be the recipient of Boeing's 1000th 777 aircraft whose advanced long range capacity has been instrumental in our success of becoming a truly global airline," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group. "As the world's largest operator of the 777, we have 93 more 777s on order, which is testament to our belief in the product and the role this aircraft will play in our goal to further establish Dubai as a central gateway to worldwide air travel."

"The ultimate measure of success in this business is when you reach the 1,000 mark," said Larry Loftis, who until recently was vice president and general manager of the 777 program. "Reaching this milestone puts the 777 in an exclusive club and I would like to thank all our employees, suppliers and customers who made it possible."

"Reaching this milestone requires two things," Loftis added. "A product that provides exceptional value and a world-class production system to reliably bring that product to the marketplace – and we have both on the 777 program. As a result, the 777 program reached this milestone faster than any other twin-aisle airplane because of the 777's proven performance, exceptional value, continuous innovation and progressive environmental performance."

The 1,000th 777 is a 777-300ER (extended range) model that seats 360 passengers in a three-class configuration.

To date, Boeing has recorded orders for 1,361 777s to 64 customers around the globe.

BOEING 

VOLARIS - A319-100, XA-VOQ

Ton Jochems - LAX

QANTAS - A330-200, VH-EBG

Ton Jochems - LAX

UNITED AIRLINES - B737-800, N26210

Ton Jochems - LAX

UNITED AIRLINES - A320-200, N475UA

Ton Jochems

TURKISH AIRLINES - B777-300ER, TC-JJO

Ton Jochems - LAX

AIR NEW ZEALAND - B777-300ER, ZK-OKQ

Ton Jochems - LAX

Airbus A350 XWB landing gear test bench ready for service

The A350 XWB’s main and nose landing gear test bench is ready for service at Airbus’ site in Filton, UK. This latest step in the A350 XWB’s progress is achieved more than one year before the aircraft’s first flight and two years before its entry into service.

Extensive testing campaigns are being carried out for all A350 XWBs systems and components well ahead of first flight. This will ensure the aircraft has a high level of performance, reliability and maturity built-in from day one.

The defining characteristics of the A350 XWB landing gear are simplicity and robustness with particular attention paid to corrosion prevention. These factors will bring a significant contribution to the A350 XWB’s high operational reliability and lower maintenance costs.

 AIRBUS

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Kicks Off Fourth Leg of the Dream Tour in Toronto

Boeing’s [NYSE: BA] 787 Dreamliner touched down at Toronto Pearson International Airport today to kick off the fourth leg of the 787 Dream Tour – a worldwide tour featuring the Dreamliner. This leg of the tour includes eight cities across North America.

Pictured here, the 787 lands at Toronto Pearson International Airport Thursday afternoon for Air Canada’s 75th Anniversary celebration.

Photo courtesy of Brian Losito/Air Canada

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA - B777-300ER, VH-VPD

Ton Jochems - LAX

QANTAS - A380, VH-OQH

Ton Jochems - LAX

West Atlantic to Chilean Río Baker - CRJ200F, SE-RIF

PedroMB - LPPT

Boeing, Air Astana Announce Order for Four 767-300ERs and Three 787 Dreamliners

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Air Astana announced an order for four 767-300ERs (Extended Range) and three 787-8s. The order is valued at $1.3 billion at current list prices, making this the largest single order for commercial airplanes in Kazakhstan’s history.
BOEING