50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

Manufacturer news

Latest from aviation and aerospace manufacturers

Latest Manufacturer news

Boeing to Reduce 747 Production Rate, Recognize Fourth-Quarter Charge

The Boeing Company announced  it will lower the production rate on the 747-8 program to match supply with near-term demand in the cargo market. To account for the market and production impacts, the company will recognize a $569 million after-tax charge ($0.84 per share) when it announces f...

ANALYSIS: How we covered Concorde's inaugural commercial flight

As a commercial venture, Concorde was a several-billion dollar failure. Between its introduction in 1976 and retirement 27 years later, the world’s only in-service supersonic airliner was only ever flown – as a loss-leader – by the national airlines of the two countries that led it...


ATR achieves 2 billion dollars turnover in 2015

The aircraft manufacturer set a new record of deliveries with 88 aircraft. It received 76 firm orders and 81 options. It passed the threshold of 200 operators.  ATR achieved a new record turnover in 2015, increasing to 2 billion dollars (2014: 1.8 billion). During the year, the aircraft manufacturer also set a new record in terms of aircraft deliveries, with a total of 88 aircraft (2014:...

Setouchi sells 12.5% stake in Quest Aircraft to Japan's Mitsui

Quest Aircraft's parent Setouchi Holdings has sold a 12.5% stake in the Kodiak single-engined turboprop manufacturer to fellow Japanese company Mitsui. The equity sale gives Sandpoint, Idaho-based Quest more than $10 million in much-needed investment to help it expand its product portfolio and grow its share of the global utility aircraft market. “This investment is great...

Germany still pushing multinational NH90 medevac fleet

Germany is continuing to promote the creation of a multinational pool of up to 20 NH90 rotorcraft to be used for combat medevac missions. It first floated the idea in late 2014 amid contract revision talks with the NH Industries consortium which resulted in it retaining 20 options for the troop transport helicopter. Maj Gen Thomas Marlow, commander of the German army’s rapid forces div...

Bell preparing to affix V-280 wing as ‘Valor’ takes shape

Bell Helicopter begins 2016 with final assembly of its V-280 next-generation tiltrotor 23% complete and on target for first flight in September 2017, with the next major milestones being mating of the wing and fuselage in April. The company’s VP of advanced tiltrotor systems Vince Tobin says the straight, composite wing for the US Army technology demonstrator is almost fabricated, includi...

First A320neo delivery opens new era in commercial aviation

The Lufthansa Group, Airbus’ largest airline customer and operator, marks a major step in aviation history today by taking delivery of the first A320neo, the world’s best-selling and most fuel efficient single aisle aircraft. Equipped with all new technology Pratt & Whitney PurePower® Geared Turbofan™ engines, the A320neo sets a new, even higher standard in aircraft ef...

A340 testbed visits Darwin for ice crystals detection trials

An Airbus A340 testbed is currently operating out of Darwin Airport in search of icing conditions in tropical thunderstorms as part of a flight test campaign to trial new technologies developed to detect icing conditions. A340-300 F-WWAI – in fact A340 MSN1, the original A340 flight test development aircraft, which first flew in October 1991 – arrived in Darwin on January 11 and is...

Iran's First Big Purchase: 114 Airbus Jetliners

Tehran has for months telegraphed its intention to purchase new commercial aircraft to update its aging jetliner fleet just as soon as economic sanctions against the country were lifted. Iranian Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi made good on that promise Saturday, telling state media that Iran will purchase 114 jets from Airbus Group  EADSY 0.79% , just hours before the process of formally ro...

Meet the Icon A5, the Sports Plane That Costs Less Than an SUV

Exotic supercars? Luxury powerboats? Whatever. This new two-seat aircraft is the most fun you can have on land, sea, or in the air. In the annals of cinematic foreplay, there are few greater scenes than Pierce Brosnan's tandem glider flight with Rene Russo in 1999's The Thomas Crown Affair. Russo shrieks, giggles, and gasps—and that's before Brosnan hands her his joystick. (In...

Bombardier’s All-new C Series Aircraft Program Starts Ramp-up to Full Production

Airfinance Conference Dublin 2016 – Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that its all-new C Series aircraft program has begun the ramp-up to full production. The final assembly facility is fully equipped and production is progressing according to plan with aircraft in various stages of the build sequence. Additionally, Bombardier also confirmed that the CS100 aircraft that is sched...

50 Fokker aircraft transactions in 2015

Fokker Technologies, a division of GKN Aerospace, announces that a total of 50 Fokker aircraft were sold to 10 existing Fokker operators and 3 new operators during 2015 by their respective aircraft owners. These comprise 5 Fokker 50s, 20 Fokker 70s and 25 Fokker 100s. ‘Low operating costs, comprehensive support and more flexible Rolls-Royce Tay engine support solutions remain th...

UK eyes potential for in-flight refuelling of helicopters

The UK is exploring options for its transport rotorcraft, including in-flight refuelling, as it looks to extend the operational range of its fleet in line with commitments in a recent defence review. Released in November, the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) promised the UK would "upgrade helicopters and transport aircraft so we can deploy further, faster and independently, to...

Bell to test new blades for V-22 Osprey

Bell Helicopter will, in 2017, fly a V-22 tiltrotor equipped with new prop rotor blades designed to reduce manufacturing costs on the type. The modification is the latest in a series of trials under the manufacturer's Advanced Technology Tiltrotor (ATTR) effort; a risk-reduction exercise for the Osprey's US Marine Corps and US Air Force customers. "It is a fairly substantial cha...

Upcoming events

NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2026

20/10/2026 - 22/10/2026
United States, Las Vegas

Bahrain International Airshow 2026

18/11/2026 - 20/11/2026
Bahrain, Sakhir

Essential news

Airbus Global Services Forecast 2026-2045: a long-term industry outlook

Airbus forecasts that demand for aviation services will more than double between 2026 and 2045, exceeding US$420 billion in value. Driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8%, the sector wi...

Air Tahiti debuts exclusive all-business class experience with ATR 72-600 HighLine

Air Tahiti has received a new ATR 72-600 equipped with ATR’s HighLine All-Business Class cabin, becoming only the second airline worldwide to introduce this premium configuration on an ATR aircr...

From flagship aircraft to best-in-class support: Bombardier's NBAA-BACE 2026 experience

Bombardier will return to the 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition with a showcase that highlights the company's flagship aircraft, award-winning customer support network and di...

Avolon places landmark order for 110 Airbus A320neo and A330neo aircraft

Avolon, one of the world’s leading aviation finance companies, has reinforced its long-term growth strategy with a firm order for 110 Airbus aircraft, including 35 A330-900 widebodies and 75 A32...

iOS Apps development in Riga, Latvia

Top of the week

HondaJet APMG S upgrade package earns EASA validation

HondaJet Classic and APMG operators across the European Union can now access the latest enhancements developed for the HondaJet family following the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s valid...

Strategic alliance formed between AEE and Horizon Aircraft

  AEE Aircraft Electronic Engineering GmbH and Horizon Aircraft have joined forces to integrate advanced avionics capabilities into the Cavorite X7 hybrid-electric eVTOL programme. Throug...

Airbus Global Services Forecast 2026-2045: a long-term industry outlook

Airbus forecasts that demand for aviation services will more than double between 2026 and 2045, exceeding US$420 billion in value. Driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8%, the sector wi...

Garmin hits 1,000 King Air G1000 retrofits following landmark U.S. Army delivery

Marking a significant industry milestone, Garmin has delivered its 1,000th G1000 integrated flight deck retrofit for a King Air aircraft. The program has helped redefine cockpit modernizatio...

TECNAM unveils leadership transition as Giovanni Pascale Langer becomes CEO and Paolo Pascale Langer assumes Presidency

The Board of Directors of Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.p.A. has unanimously appointed Giovanni Pascale Langer as Chief Executive Officer, while Paolo Pascale Langer, who...

Air Tahiti debuts exclusive all-business class experience with ATR 72-600 HighLine

Air Tahiti has received a new ATR 72-600 equipped with ATR’s HighLine All-Business Class cabin, becoming only the second airline worldwide to introduce this premium configuration on an ATR aircr...

Airbus secures CASA design approval, expanding its Australian capabilities

Airbus has secured 21.J Civil Design Organisation Approval from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), marking a significant milestone for its local operations and enhancing its abi...