Tag: assembly (Page 2 of 6)

Breeze Airways Unveils First of 80 Airbus A220’s on Order

October 26, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Mobile, Alabama, USA, October 26, 2021 – Breeze Airways (Breeze) unveiled its first of 80 A220-300 aircraft on order during a preview event at the Airbus A220 final assembly line in Mobile, Alabama. The aircraft is expected to be delivered to Breeze in the coming weeks.

Breeze’s A220-300 cabin is configured in a comfortable two-class 126 seat premium cabin layout comprising 36 business and 90 economy seats fitted with in-seat power and USB ports for all passengers.

Breeze will offer superior single-aisle comfort on board its brand new A220’s, such as the widest seats, the largest windows and more overhead stowage space per passenger.

The A220’s superior efficiency will support the new airline’s business objectives to deliver a great travel experience to its passengers, with low fares and high flexibility. Breeze is expected to provide non-stop service between underserved routes across the U.S. at affordable fares – offering point-to-point flights from smaller secondary airports, bypassing hubs for shorter travel times.

Breeze started airline operations in May 2021. This first A220 is expected to enter service in Q2 2022.

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market and brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation geared turbofan engines. With a range of up to 3,450 nm (6,390 km), the A220 gives airlines added operational flexibility. The A220 delivers up to 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft, and 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards. In addition, the aircraft noise footprint is reduced by 50% compared to previous generation aircraft – making the A220 a good neighbour around airports.

As of the end of September 2021, over 170 A220s have been delivered to 12 operators worldwide.

Airbus Delivers First of 60 A220 Aircraft to Air France

September 30, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, 29 September, 2021 – Air France (OTC: AFLYY) has received its first A220-300 from an order for 60 aircraft of the type, the largest A220 order from a European carrier. The aircraft was delivered from the Airbus (OTC: EADSY) final assembly line in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada and officially unveiled to the public during a ceremony held at Paris Charles-De-Gaulle Airport.

The A220 is the most efficient and flexible aircraft in the 100 to 150 seat market segment today. The renewal of the Air France single-aisle fleet with this latest generation aircraft will increase efficiency along with customer comfort and support Air France to meet its environmental goals and sustainability objectives.

The first Air France A220-300 will be operated on its medium-haul network from the 2021 winter season. Currently, Air France operates a fleet of 136 Airbus aircraft. Air France is also renewing its long-haul fleet, and has already taken delivery of 11 A350’s out of an order of 38.

The Air France A220-300 cabin is configured in a single-class layout to comfortably welcome 148 passengers. Offering superior single-aisle comfort, with the widest leather seats, largest windows and up to 20% more overhead stowage space per passenger, the Air France A220 also features full WiFi connectivity throughout the cabin and two USB sockets at each passenger seat.

As of the end of August, over 170 A220’s have been delivered to 11 operators worldwide.

Breeze Airways Reveals Livery, Confirms Order for 20 Additional A220-300 Aircraft

September 13, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Mobile, Alabama, 13 September 2021 – Breeze Airways has revealed its new A220-300 livery, while confirming that it has reached a purchase agreement with Airbus for 20 more of the aircraft. This previously undisclosed order for 20 brings Breeze’s total order book to 80 A220-300’s, the first of which will be delivered in Q4 2021.

The aircraft’s fresh paint job was completed at the Airbus facility in Mobile, Alabama, which will deliver approximately one A220 per month to Breeze over the next six-and-a-half years. The airline plans to begin flights with the Airbus fleet in the second quarter of 2022.

The A220 superior efficiency will support the new airline’s business objectives to offer a great travel experience, with low fares and high flexibility. Breeze is expected to provide nonstop service between underserved routes across the U.S. at affordable fares.

Breeze started airline operations in May 2021. This first A220 is the first new aircraft that will be operated by the airline.

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market and brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines. Benefitting from the latest technologies, the A220 is the quietest, cleanest and most eco-friendly aircraft in its category. Featuring a 50% reduced noise footprint and up to 25% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft, as well as around 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards, the A220 is a great aircraft for urban operations.

Over 170 A220s have been delivered to ten operators in Asia, North Americas, Europe, and Africa, proving the great versatility of Airbus’ latest family member.

Lockheed Martin Announces Johnstown Facility To Build Parts For New F-16’s

September 2, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

JOHNSTOWN, Pennsylvania, Sept. 2, 2021 — Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today it would bring new F-16 manufacturing work to its facility in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The work will generate 80 new jobs in the city and the company plans to lease a new building to accommodate it.

Wayne Davis, director at Lockheed Martin’s Johnstown site, says Lockheed Martin continues to see demand for new F-16s around the world, requiring development of additional parts manufacturing sites to ensure it can keep up with demand.

F-16 parts to be produced in Johnstown include the aft engine access covers, engine access doors, F-1 fuel tank, and inlet. Upon completion in Johnstown, the parts will be shipped to Greenville, South Carolina, for final assembly and integration into the F-16s on the production line. This is in addition to F-16 component and sub-assembly work already performed at the site today.

Early work in Johnstown will kick off this year, with the bulk of hiring and other significant efforts beginning in 2022. In addition to the F-16 work, the Johnstown facility also provides parts and services for the F-35 and F-22 fighter jets, and the C-130 military transport aircraft.

In addition to the nearly 400 jobs already in place at the site today, Lockheed Martin maintains a strong presence in the Johnstown community, giving more than $42,000 to local organizations and efforts last year.

Ford Announces Ranger Splash is Back! Classic Name Re-Imagined in New Package

September 1, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

DEARBORN, Michigan, September 1, 2021 – Ford (NYSE: F) Ranger fans, the Splash is back. The much-loved special appearance package from the 1990’s is making a comeback, reimagined for today and starting with the 2022 Ford Ranger Splash Package.

Splash will come in two styles, the Splash Package and Splash Limited Edition. The Splash Package will be available all model year and comes with body-side orange and black graphics and special 18-inch 12-spoke wheels finished in matte black. Ranger Splash includes orange grille nostrils, plus gloss black accents on the grille, bumpers, rearview mirror caps, wheel lip moldings and fender vents. The interior features exclusive seats with orange contrast stitching and unique carbon grain with tuxedo stripes – leather-trimmed in Lariat. Orange contrast stitching also appears on the steering wheel, gear shifter and parking brake boot. Lariat models get orange accent stitching on front and rear armrests and on the dash top.

The Splash Package can be combined with the FX2 or FX4 Package to add more off-road capability to its distinctive looks.

Ford will also bring a fresh dash of color by revealing Splash Limited Edition trucks every few months in a series of one-time-only hues with just a few hundred vehicles available. It also features 18-inch matte black wheels and a unique combination of exterior and interior content and finishes. The Splash – Snow Edition kicks off the first batch.

Ranger Splash Package will be available for SuperCrew models optioned in XLT and Lariat trim series, priced at $1,495 with deliveries starting at the end of the year. Ranger is proudly built at Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan.

Indian Ocean Based Air Austral Becomes First French A220 Operator

July 28, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Mirabel, Canada – The first of the three A220s for Air Austral, France’s La Reunion Island-based airline, has been delivered from the Airbus A220 Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Mirabel, Canada. The second and third aircraft are expected to join the Air Austral fleet in the coming days.

Airbus is delighted to welcome Air Austral as a new Airbus customer and operator. This A220 will be the first of the type to be operated by a French airline in the Indian Ocean region.

Air Austral has selected the Airbus A220-300 as part of its medium and short-haul fleet modernisation plan in order to boost its operational efficiency, offering an enhanced passenger experience in a comfortable two-class cabin layout with 132 seats: 12 in business class and 120 in economy-class.

Bearing the airline’s distinctive livery representing La Reunion Island’s beautiful landscapes, Air Austral will strengthen its regional network with three A220-300s, flying on routes between La Réunion Island and Mauritius, Mayotte, Seychelles, South Africa, Madagascar, and as far as India.

Powered by latest-generation geared turbofan engines, Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G, the A220 is the quietest and most eco-friendly aircraft in its category. The aircraft features a 50% reduced noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft, 25% lower fuel burn and CO₂ emissions per seat as well as 50% lower NOx emissions than current industry standards.

To date over 160 A220s have been delivered, operating routes in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa, proving the great versatility of Airbus’ new generation single-aisle family member.

Airbus Delivers First A350 From China Widebody Completion and Delivery Center

July 23, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Airbus has delivered the first A350 from its widebody completion & delivery centre in Tianjin (C&DC), China, taking additional steps in the expansion of its global footprint and long-term strategic partnership with China.

The A350-900 aircraft was delivered to China Eastern Airlines, the largest Airbus operator in Asia and second largest in the world. At the end of June 2021, China Eastern Airlines operated an Airbus fleet of 413 aircraft, including 349 A320 Family aircraft, 55 A330 Family aircraft and nine A350 aircraft.

Located at the same site as the Airbus Tianjin A320 Family Final Assembly Line and the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre, the widebody C&DC covers the aircraft completion activities, including cabin installation, aircraft painting and production flight test, as well as customer flight acceptance and aircraft delivery.

The centre was inaugurated in September 2017 with its capability on A330s. Then, during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to China in 2019, a Memorandum of Understanding on the Further Development of Industrial Cooperation was signed in Beijing by He Lifeng, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China, and Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer, announcing the C&DC would extend its capability to A350 aircraft.

The A350 features the latest aerodynamic design, a carbon-fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these features translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and CO₂ emissions. The A350’s ‘Airspace by Airbus’ cabin is the quietest of any widebody aircraft and offers passengers and crews the most modern in-flight products for the most comfortable flying experience.

At the end of June 2021, the A350 Family had received 915 firm orders from 49 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.

Lockheed Martin and NASA executives officially opened the STAR Center in Florida on July 15.

Lockheed Martin Opens Orion Spacecraft Advanced Manufacturing Facility

July 15, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

TITUSVILLE, Florida, July 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] opened its Spacecraft Test, Assembly and Resource (STAR) Center today. The STAR Center features business and digital transformation innovations that will expand manufacturing, assembly and testing capacity for NASA’s Orion spacecraft program and ultimately, future space exploration.

Lockheed Martin currently assembles the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I and II Moon missions at the nearby Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout (O&C) building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The addition of the STAR Center provides much-needed space for the new production phase of Orion, allowing future Orion spacecraft – starting with the Artemis III mission – to be built faster.

Lockheed Martin acquired the building that formerly housed the Astronaut Training Experience attraction and spent 18 months and nearly $20 million renovating and modernizing the 55,000 square-foot space into a digitally-transformed factory of the future.

Dassault Aviation Adds Third Falcon 6X to Test Program

July 4, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

A third Falcon 6X recently took flight and joined Dassault Aviation’s flight test campaign, moving the new long-range extra widebody twin a step closer to anticipated certification in 2022.

Falcon 6X s/n 003 is fitted with a full interior and will be used for cabin design validation. The aircraft completed a two-hour maiden flight from Dassault’s Bordeaux-Mérignac final assembly plant to its Istres flight test facility on June 24, climbing to Flight Level 400 and accelerating to a cruise speed of Mach 0.85. The first 6X flew on March 10 and the second on April 30.

Aircraft no. 3 is outfitted with the Falcon 6X’s award winning interior, including in-flight entertainment and communications systems. In addition to testing this equipment, the aircraft will be used to evaluate environmental features and temperature control and validate cabin acoustics systems, which alongside those on the ultra long-range Falcon 8X trijet are expected to be the industry reference.

A fourth aircraft will also be equipped with a full cabin interior, currently being installed in Mérignac. It will conduct a two-month global endurance flight campaign intended to ensure that all 6X systems are fully mature upon entry into service.

Production of additional units is in full swing, with aircraft no. 10 scheduled to be on the final assembly line by beginning of July. The Falcon 6X has received several prestigious design awards, including the Red Dot prize for premium cabin design. The aircraft was recognized this month as the “Best of the Best” in aviation by the Robb Report luxury-lifestyle magazine, which noted: “Dassault’s newest aircraft pairs size with technology to create an award-worthy new class of business jet.”

Rolls-Royce Signs MoU with Fermi Energia for Compact Nuclear Power Stations

March 2, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Rolls-Royce (London: RR.L) and Fermi Energia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to study the potential for the deployment of affordable, compact nuclear power stations, known as small modular reactors (SMR), in Estonia. The study will cover all aspects of deployment including grid suitability, cooling, emergency planning, human resources, licensing feasibility, economics and supply chain.

Rolls-Royce is leading a consortium that is designing a low-cost factory built nuclear power station, known as a small modular reactor (SMR). Its standardised, factory-made components and advanced manufacturing processes push costs down, while the rapid assembly of the modules and components inside a weatherproof canopy on the power station site itself avoid costly schedule disruptions.

Fermi Energia is a company founded by nuclear scientists, energy experts and entrepreneurs to bring small modular reactors to Estonia to meet its climate goals, help the economy develop and gain energy security.

The consortium led by Rolls-Royce is working with its partners and UK Government to secure a commitment for a fleet of factory built nuclear power stations, each providing at least 440MW of electricity, to be operational within a decade, helping the governments around the world net zero obligations.

The consortium members feature the best of nuclear engineering, construction and infrastructure expertise in Assystem, Atkins, BAM Nuttall, Jacobs, Laing O’Rourke, National Nuclear Laboratory, Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Rolls-Royce and TWI. The current phase of the programme has been jointly funded by all consortium members and UK Research and Innovation.

The power stations will be built by the UKSMR consortium, before being handed over to be operated by power generation companies.

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