Supply chain deals include Landing Gear Exchange and Quick Engine Change kit solutions
Companies also establish agreement to add regional MRO provider to Boeing’s growing global network
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 17, 2019 — Boeing [NYSE:BA] and EGYPTAIR MAINTENANCE & ENGINEERING (EGME) today announced agreements that will approve the Cairo-based MRO as Boeing’s first maintenance supplier in Africa and the Middle East region. The agreement enables EGME to provide aircraft, engines and component maintenance services and solutions to Boeing customers.
EGME will also receive landing gear exchange and overhaul support through the Boeing Landing Gear Exchange Program. The program provides flexible exchange solutions that allow customers to quickly repair and replace serviceable landing gear in hours.
Boeing will also supply parts for a Quick Engine Change kit. The kit includes hardware and components used to efficiently build up a spare engine to service-ready condition, lowering the maintenance time required to replace an engine and return aircraft to service.
“EGYPTAIR is optimizing operations for our growing fleet, which includes a sixth 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, to always deliver a better experience for our customers,” said Ahmed Adel, chairman and CEO of EGYPTAIR Holding Company. “We are able to leverage the strength of a global supply chain network and increase efficiency by continuing to partner with Boeing.”
EGYPTAIR’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) subsidiary, EGYPTAIR Maintenance & Engineering (EGME), also signed a supplier agreement that will allow EGME to support Boeing’s customers with parts provisioning, engineering support and line maintenance.
“EGYPTAIR Maintenance & Engineering brings strong technical expertise with locations across the Middle East and Africa that enable us to better serve our customers in the region,” said Ted Colbert, president and CEO of Boeing Global Services. “Our customers rely on us to keep their airplanes in revenue service. With our global supplier network, which now includes EGME, we help make sure that our customers and their passengers fly Boeing airplanes with confidence every single day.”
“It’s another milestone in EGME’s strategy of growth in the global market as a leading MRO in Africa and the Middle East region,” said Mostafa Ali El-Din, chairman and CEO of EGME. “We are pleased to be part of Boeing’s global network, which reflects a great trust in our capabilities and personnel experience. EGME will utilize its wide-scope capabilities to provide the best technical services to customers who aspire for well-maintained fleet in service.”
In Boeing’s Services Market Outlook, the company forecasts rapid growth in the Middle East region’s commercial and government aviation services market, doubling the growth rate in North America.
Duluth, Minn. and Knoxville, Tenn. (30 October 2019) – Cirrus Aircraft, the global leader in personal aviation, ushered in a new era of innovation today with the introduction of Safe ReturnTM – a revolutionary emergency autoland system that enables passengers to land the Vision JetTM with just the touch of a single button. Once activated when available, Safe Return assumes control of the aircraft and transforms the Vision Jet into an autonomous vehicle that navigates to the nearest suitable airport for landing, communicates with air traffic control, lands and brings the aircraft safely to a complete stop. The Vision Jet, with both Safe Return and the award-winning Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®), provides a comprehensive, must-have total safety solution unique to G2 Vision Jet operators.
“Our mission is to make personal aviation more accessible by continuing to improve passenger comfort and safety,” said Zean Nielsen, Cirrus Aircraft Chief Executive Officer. “Safe Return delivers the next step towards autonomous flight, bringing a new level of confidence to the overall flying experience by providing the ultimate level of safety and control to passengers. Together, with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®), we have once again set a new standard for safety in personal air travel.”
Easily accessible by passengers in the Vision Jet cabin, Safe Return is activated by the touch of a button when available. Once pressed, the autonomous system analyzes terrain and datalink weather to determine the optimal airport for landing, and simultaneously begins communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC). Powered by the Perspective Touch+TM by Garmin® flight deck, Safe Return utilizes all available aircraft data streams, including available fuel, to safely navigate the Vision Jet to the identified airport and transition on to final approach for the appropriate runway based on ground winds. Autothrottle – launched earlier this year on the new G2 Vision Jet –and the automatic flight control system manage the aircraft’s speed, altitude and path, while the system automatically lowers the flaps and landing gear on final approach. Safe Return culminates in the aircraft making a fully autonomous landing on the intended runway and coming to a complete stop, allowing passengers to exit the aircraft.
Included during this entire process is constant communication with ATC – another layer of autonomy that provides assurance to passengers experiencing a critical situation. Upon activation, Safe Return immediately transmits an emergency message to ATC. Using text and speech technology, the system communicates the aircraft’s intentions over the appropriate ATC frequency, the 121.5 emergency voice frequency, and also switches to the universal emergency transponder code. ATC is automatically updated at regular intervals of the aircraft’s location, emergency situation and intended airport landing location. These communications begin the process of activating emergency services at the airport of intended landing to assist the passenger and pilot upon arrival. Safe Return can be easily disengaged by the pilot with a simple press of the Autopilot disconnect button on the yoke if a passenger inadvertently activates the system.
In 2016, Cirrus Aircraft ushered in a new era in personal transportation with the FAA certification of the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet – the Vision Jet. The turbine aircraft defined a new category in aviation – the Personal JetTM – with its spacious pilot and passenger-friendly cabin featuring panoramic windows, reclining seats, comfortable legroom for five adults and two children and the only turbine aircraft with a whole airframe parachute system as standard equipment. Earlier this year, Cirrus Aircraft unveiled and began delivery of the G2 Vision Jet, offering enhanced performance, comfort and safety with increased cruise altitude, speed and range, and a newly-upgraded Perspective Touch+TM by Garmin® flight deck. The company expects to begin delivery of Vision Jets equipped with Safe Return in early 2020.
Leading turboprop manufacturer’s Board of Directors approves the launch of brand new STOL version
Juan-les-Pins, 9 October 2019 – ATR, the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer, confirms it has received authorisation from its board of directors for the launch of the ATR 42-600S. With the ‘S’ representing STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing), this new version of the ATR 42-600 offers take-off and landing capabilities on runways as short as 800m with 40 passengers on board in standard flight conditions (*). This makes the ATR 42-600S the best performing aircraft in this segment.
To-date, ATR has recorded 20 commitments from operators and lessors for this ATR 42-600S variant. This includes Elix Aviation Capital as the launch lessor and Air Tahiti as the launch operator, as announced on the occasion of the Paris Air Show 2019.
The 42-600S is a brand new addition to the company’s aircraft family, alongside the founding members ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600, and the forthcoming ATR 72-600F cargo variant. The ATR 42-600S’ certification, is expected for the second half of 2022, with the first delivery expected immediately after.
ATR Chief Executive Officer Stefano Bortoli, commented: “Adding the ATR 42-600S to our family makes total sense and paves the way for the company’s future. There is a huge potential for 50-seater aircraft and the ATR 42-600S could help airlines widen their horizons, as it can reach up to around 500 new airports across the globe. This is clear illustration of our dedication in helping more people and more remote communities benefit from being part of a connected world and in a sustainable way.”
The principal modifications for the 42-600S will concern the introduction of a larger rudder, which allows increased control of the aircraft at lower speeds. The new version will continue to use the same engine as both the ATR 42 and 72. The ATR 42-600S will, however, allow pilots to be able to select between the ATR 42 and 72 engine ratings, meaning the aircraft can use increased power for performing STOL operations, or elect to operate more efficiently with less power on longer runways. The ATR 42-600S will also be able to symmetrically deploy its spoilers to improve braking efficiency on landing. It will also come with an autobrake system which will ensure that the full braking power occurs immediately upon landing.
With this new version, ATR forecasts to expand the addressable market by 25%, targeting new routes and the 30-seater STOL segment. There is a strong interest from airlines for a new 50-seater product capable of operating in more constraint conditions. Close to 500 airports have a runway comprised between 800-1,000m and could welcome the ATR 42-600S. The launch of this aircraft will benefit both passengers and airlines thanks to the increased regional connectivity that it will bring.
*15°C airfield temperature, sea level, dry paved runway and a route of 200NM.
– Companies sign MOU to investigate product development for premium market
– Builds on efforts to develop new urban air mobility ecosystem
STUTTGART, Germany and CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Porsche and Boeing [NYSE: BA] signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the premium urban air mobility market and the extension of urban traffic into airspace. With this partnership, both companies will leverage their unique market strengths and insights to study the future of premium personal urban air mobility vehicles.
“Porsche is looking to enhance its scope as a sports car manufacturer by becoming a leading brand for premium mobility. In the longer term, this could mean moving into the third dimension of travel,” says Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG. “We are combining the strengths of two leading global companies to address a potential key market segment of the future.”
As part of the partnership, the companies will create an international team to address various aspects of urban air mobility, including analysis of the market potential for premium vehicles and possible use cases.
Boeing, Porsche and Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences are also developing a concept for a fully electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. Engineers from both companies, as well as Porsche subsidiaries Porsche Engineering Services GmbH and Studio F.A. Porsche, will implement and test a prototype.
“This collaboration builds on our efforts to develop a safe and efficient new mobility ecosystem, and provides an opportunity to investigate the development of a premium urban air mobility vehicle with a leading automotive brand,” said Steve Nordlund, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing NeXt, an organization that is laying the foundation for a next-generation mobility ecosystem in which autonomous and piloted vehicles can safely coexist. “Porsche and Boeing together bring precision engineering, style and innovation to accelerate urban air mobility worldwide.”
A 2018 study by Porsche Consulting forecasts that the urban air mobility market will pick up speed after 2025. The study also indicates that urban air mobility solutions will transport passengers more quickly and efficiently than current conventional means of terrestrial transport, at a lower cost and with greater flexibility.
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As the top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.
Carrier to modernize its freighter fleet with six of the world’s largest, most capable twin-engine freighters
SEATTLE, Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — China Airlines finalized its agreement with Boeing [NYSE: BA] to order six 777 Freighters to modernize its cargo fleet. The carrier, which currently operates one of the world’s largest 747 Freighter fleets, plans to transition to the largest and longest range twin-engine freighters in the industry as it launches operations from Taipei to North America, a key market that provides higher yields for the carrier.
Valued at $2.1 billion according to list prices, China Airlines had previously announced its intent to order up to six 777 Freighters at the Paris Air Show in June. Three of the six 777 Freighter orders were confirmed in July and posted to Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website as an unidentified customer. The remaining three will post during the next update.
The versatile 777 Freighter can fly long-range trans-Pacific missions in excess of 6,000 nautical miles with 20 percent more payload than other large freighters like the 747-400F. The airplane, which is capable of carrying a maximum payload of 102 tons, will allow China Airlines to make fewer stops and reduce associated landing fees on these long-haul routes. As a result, it will provide China Airlines and other operators with the lowest trip cost of any large freighter and deliver superior ton-per-mile economics. In addition, the 777 Freighter features market-leading capacity for a twin-engine freighter, accommodating 27 standard pallets, measuring 96 inches by 125 inches (2.5 m x 3 m) on the main deck. This allows for lower cargo handling costs and shorter cargo delivery times.
“Air cargo is an important part of our overall business and the introduction of these new 777 Freighters will play an integral role in our long-term growth strategy,” said China Airlines Chairman Hsieh Su-Chien. “As we transition our freighter fleet to the 777Fs, this will enable us to deliver world-class services to our customers more efficiently and reliably.”
China Airlines, which marks its 60th anniversary this year, currently operates 51 Boeing airplanes, including 10 777-300ERs (Extended Range), 19 Next-Generation 737s, four 747-400s and 18 747 Freighters.
“As China Airlines celebrates more than half a century of success, Boeing is honored to continue playing an integral role in its growth and expansion. With this order China Airlines will join an elite group of global air cargo operators operating new 777 Freighters,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for The Boeing Company. “With the global air freight market forecasted to double over the next 20 years, the 777 Freighter’s market-leading capabilities and economics will help China Airlines extend their network and grow their future cargo business.”
The addition of 777 Freighters will enable the carrier to streamline maintenance and parts for its 777 fleet. The carrier uses a number of Boeing Global Services solutions to support its Boeing fleet operations, including Airplane Health Maintenance and Maintenance Performance Toolbox. These data-driven platforms track real-time airplane information, providing maintenance data and decision support tools that allow technicians to quickly and correctly resolve issues. On the ground and in the air, China Airline’s entire fleet uses Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro and access to digital navigation charts to optimize performance and enhance situational awareness.
Kitty Hawk,the flying car company backed by Google’s Larry Page and led by Udacity co-founder Sebastian Thrun, has struck a deal with aerospace giant Boeing.
The terms of the strategic partnership are vague. But it appears the two companies will collaborate on urban air mobility, particularly around safety and how autonomous and piloted vehicles will co-exist.
Kitty Hawk’s portfolio of vehicles includes Cora, a two-person air taxi, and Flyer, a vehicle for personalized flight. The partnership is focused on the fully electric, self-piloting flying taxi Cora, according to the announcement.
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LE BOURGET, France June 17 (Reuters) – Boeing Co said on Monday it would supply parts for A320 jetliners made by its competitor Airbus to supply British Airways, the first such agreement by the U.S. planemaker to support an Airbus aircraft.
Under the agreement announced at the Paris Airshow, Boeing will manage and maintain a global exchange inventory of parts for Airbus’ A320 and A320neo single-aisle aircraft.
The deal reflects a push by the world’s largest planemaker into the higher-margin services business that includes aircraft parts and analytics, which Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg aims to grow to $50 billion in revenue in a decade.
“We were happy to put our hat in the ring and give a choice to British Airways,” Boeing Global Services Chief Executive Stan Deal told reporters.
British Airways also signed a deal for three landing gear exchanges for its 777 widebody fleet, Boeing said.
Separately on Monday, Boeing signed an agreement through its subsidiary Jeppesen to provide United Airlines with analytics services to help the carrier optimize crew planning operations through its entire fleet.
(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson and Tim Hepher; Editing by Alexander Smith and Mark Potter)
BERWYN, Pa., June 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Triumph Group, Inc. (NYSE:TGI) announced today at the Uber Elevate Summit in Washington, D.C. that its Triumph Aerospace Structures business unit has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Jaunt Air Mobility to provide engineering services in support of Jaunt’s all electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) concept air vehicle. Triumph will support Jaunt’s efforts to develop and build a full-scale demonstration aircraft based on Jaunt’s reduced rotor operating speed aircraft (ROSA™) in support of urban air mobility (UAM) operations.
Triumph Group Logo (PRNewsfoto/Triumph Group)
“Working with Jaunt and our other partners, Triumph will help bring ROSA to reality,” said Kaydon Stanzione, CEO of Jaunt Air Mobility. “Triumph’s experience in innovative structural design is essential for streamlining future certification of Jaunt’s unique configuration.”
“We are excited to be a key contributor to Jaunt’s new air vehicle concept. Triumph’s experience in aircraft design, development, and certification, demonstrates the capabilities required to bring the Jaunt eVTOL air vehicle to reality, and achieve their program milestones consistent with the growing market potential for eVTOL aircraft and Uber’s vision for all-electric, on-demand aviation,” said Michael G. Engers, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development.
Triumph Aerospace Structures will design the aircraft structure to optimize weight, cost, and producibility in support of the program. The engineering services will be provided at Triumph’s Technology and Engineering Center in Arlington, Texas.
About Jaunt Air Mobility
Jaunt Air Mobility LLC is a transformative aerospace company focused on developing advanced air vehicles that incorporate innovative technologies and management strategies providing the highest levels of operational efficiencies, safety, and community acceptance. We are the pioneer and world-leader in Reduced Rotor Operating Speed Aircraft (ROSA™) design and development. ROSA™ is the metamorphosis of the best features available from helicopters and fixed-wing airplanes. For more news and information on Jaunt Air Mobility; please visit www.jauntairmobility.com.
About Triumph Group
Triumph Group, Inc., headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs and overhauls a broad portfolio of aerospace and defense systems, components and structures. The company serves the global aviation industry, including original equipment manufacturers and the full spectrum of military and commercial aircraft operators. More information about Triumph can be found on the company’s website at http://www.triumphgroup.com.
Aeroflot has flown at least 129 fewer Sukhoi flights since the crash
Petition to ground plane has over 200,000 signatures
MOSCOW, June 3 (Reuters) – Russian airline Aeroflot has scaled back the number of Sukhoi Superjet 100 flights it operates after one of its planes made a crash-landing last month, killing 41 people, according to data provided by a flight tracking website.
Flightradar24 data shows Aeroflot has also at times substituted Airbus or Boeing planes for the Superjet, the first new passenger jet developed in Russia since the Soviet Union collapsed.
Fallout from the crash risks undermining the aircraft’s reputation at a time when Russia is promoting another domestically made passenger plane, the M-21, as a rival to Boeing and Airbus.
Aeroflot and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, the Superjet’s maker, declined to comment on the data or on the use of other aircraft instead of the Russian plane. Both the airline, Russia’s national flag carrier, and the manufacturer have said in the past that the aircraft meets all relevant international safety standards and will continue to be made and used.
The cause of the May 5 crash, the second deadly accident involving the Superjet in nine years of service, has not yet been established. Russian authorities said afterwards there was no reason to ground the Superjet.
Yet Aeroflot flew 129 – or about 7% – fewer Superjet flights in the two weeks after the crash than in the previous fortnight, the Flightradar24 data showed.
In one case, frightened passengers on a Sukhoi refused to continue their journey after an aborted take-off, forcing Aeroflot to lay on an Airbus instead, an airline industry source with direct knowledge of the matter said, a version of events corroborated separately by Russia’s RIA news agency.
Aeroflot after the crash began paying extra attention to safety checks and to scale back the Superjet’s usage to try to reassure passengers, the same source said.
More than 213,000 people have signed a petition demanding the plane be grounded since May 5.
‘WHO NEEDS IT?’
Some Russian and foreign operators have complained about the difficulty of servicing the Superjet due to delays in sourcing spare parts. Irish airline CityJet and Belgian carrier Brussels Airlines turned their back on the Superjet citing those reasons.
State officials and airline executives say the airliner spends about half its time on the ground undergoing maintenance, and can fly only about a third as much as foreign-made rivals in a 24-hour period when in use.
They blame a lack of readily available spare parts and the complexity of servicing its engines.
Vitaly Savelyev, Aeroflot’s CEO, told Russian news agency TASS in 2017 that his company, which is majority-owned by the Russian state, might not have bought the Superjet at all if it was a private company.
Aeroflot, which has promised to buy a further 100 Superjets on top of the 49 it has already, is in a difficult situation because of the project’s political importance for Russia.
There are signs however that even some allies of President Vladimir Putin are growing weary of the aircraft.
Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the upper house of parliament, in November publicly rebuked the transport minister over the large sums she said had been pumped into the Superjet in vain.
Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta estimated in 2012 that $7 billion had been spent on the project, while Sukhoi has put the figure at $2 billion.
“Who needs it? … It’s not good for anything,” said Matviyenko. “Aeroflot says we bought them and they sit on the ground. Nobody abroad is buying them … What have we achieved?”
Mexican low-cost carrier Interjet, citing maintenance and parts problems, told Mexican daily newspaper El Universal just over a week after the crash that it was trying to sell its 20 Superjets and favoured Airbus 320s instead.
Regional carrier Yamal Airlines, Russia’s second biggest Superjet operator after Aeroflot, said a day after the crash that it was cancelling its planned purchase of 10 of the planes. It cited high servicing costs.
And RusLine, another regional carrier, told Kommersant it was scrapping provisional plans to obtain 18 Superjets as part of a leasing deal. The paper cited RusLine’s owner Nikolai Ulan as saying he thought the plane was safe but that passengers would be afraid to fly on it, making it harder for him to break even. RusLine did not respond to a request for comment.
PASSENGER FEARS
The Superjet, which entered service in 2011, is predominantly operated inside Russia by regional airlines, corporations and government entities. Sukhoi had hoped to sell hundreds, but slack demand means only 138 of the planes are in use.
On the Moscow-Murmansk route, the one taken by the plane involved in the fatal crash, Aeroflot replaced the Superjet with either Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s in the five days after the accident, a practice it partially continued the week after.
This was done in direct response to the crash in order to try to calm passenger fears, the same airline source said.
There have been a spate of safety-related incidents and cancellations since May 5.
In one case, a Superjet flight from Moscow to Riga was held up after passengers noticed a burning smell and demanded a new plane. Engineers found nothing wrong, one of the passengers told state TV.
In another, on May 18, passengers on a Moscow-bound flight from the city of Ulyanovsk took fright after their Superjet aborted take-off because of a warning about the hydraulic system.
“Passengers were told that the flight was being delayed for technical reasons. Of course, after the catastrophe, they started to panic and refused to fly on the same plane. The psychological factor came into play,” the airline source with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters.
Aeroflot flew the passengers to Moscow the next day on an Airbus A320 and engineers found nothing wrong with the Superjet involved in that incident either, the transport prosecutor’s office said.
Yevgeny Dietrich, Russia’s transport minister, said the situation was not “radically changed” from the pre-crash period.
“In fact, delays and cancellations occurred previously. You simply wrote about them less,” Dietrich told reporters.
His statement and the crash have highlighted the fact that many Superjets do not fly very often.
Flightradar24 data shows that 37 of 127 Superjets in commercial use globally did not make a single flight from April 22 until May 19, and that 45 did not make more than 10 flights during that period.
That tallies with expert reports, which have said foreign-made planes in Russia average nine hours flying time in every 24-hour period compared to between just three and four hours for the Superjet.
The same industry source said only about 50% of Aeroflot’s Superjets flew regularly and that Superjet pilots, who are paid for completed flights, had their salaries topped up to compensate for time spent on the ground.
(Writing by Andrew Osborn and Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Giles Elgood)
GENEVA (May 20, 2019) – Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced new milestones in its Cessna SkyCourier twin utility turboprop development program, with assembly underway for the prototype aircraft and the additional five flight and ground test articles. Component testing also continues for the new propeller, nose landing gear and fuel system.
“When we began designing and developing the Cessna SkyCourier, we engaged a number of mission-centric customers for technical input to best meet their unique needs in one platform,” said Chris Hearne, senior vice president, Engineering. “We are building this aircraft with the flexibility and reliability needed for a variety of high-utilization operations including cargo, passenger or special missions and we are excited that the customers and the market are responding positively to its capabilities.”
Endurance and functional testing for the new McCauley 110-inch propeller consists of nearly 150 hours of operation and includes a variety of simulated flight profiles. The propeller is mated with the proven PWC PT6A-65B, 1100-shp engine, mounted on a test stand. Simultaneously, assembly of the fuel system test article and nose landing gear drop test article is underway, with testing to start later this month.
The Cessna SkyCourier is the latest clean-sheet design from Textron Aviation and will be offered in various configurations including cargo, passenger or a combination of both, all based on a common platform to meet the needs of a wide range of customers. The cargo configuration is designed to accommodate three standard air cargo containers (LD3) with a payload of up to 6,000 pounds while the passenger version carries up to 19 passengers.
FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company and longtime Textron Aviation customer, signed on as the launch customer in late 2017 for up to 100 aircraft, with an initial fleet order of 50 cargo aircraft and options for 50 more.
