50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

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Latest Manufacturer news

Boeing Designed a Strange Plane That Would Suck Up Shipping Containers

Boeing received a patent last month for a unique airplane design that would lower onto shipping containers and then lock them into place. The strange-looking design has landing gear that is wider than the shipping containers and a large fuselage that opens underneath the plane for the containers to...

Flying Production unveils improved Da Vinci

Israel's Flying Production has unveiled an upgraded version of its Da Vinci vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle. Dubbed the "Gen B", the development features a Controp electro-optical/infrared sensor and a micro data link. "The result is a game-changer...


Airbus exceeds targets in 2015 – delivers the most aircraft ever

Highest number of Airbus airliners ever delivered – 635 · Net orders achieved totaling 1,036 aircraft – increasing backlog by 401 aircraft · Overall result: industry year-end record backlog of 6,787 aircraft Airbus has exceeded its targets for 2015, achieving a new record of 635 aircraft deliveries for 85 customers of which 10 are new. These deliveries compris...

Daher Delivers 55 TBM 900 Very Fast Turboprop Aircraft in 2015

Daher’s Airplane Business Unit delivered a total of 55 TBM 900s in 2015 – a 10 percent increase compared to 2014, and the second best year since the first TBM single-engine very fast turboprop aircraft was provided to a customer in 1991.  The 2015 geographic distribution reflected global economic trends last year, as TBM 900 deliveries were led by the United States – with...

Rafale deliveries fell to single figures in 2015

Dassault delivered eight Rafales in 2015, the French manufacturer has announced, with its annual output having for the first time included aircraft delivered to an export customer. Outlining its business activities for last year, Dassault on 5 January said: “Eight Rafale (five to France and three to Egypt) were delivered in 2015, in accordance with our forecasts.” The latter receive...

Alcoa gets $1.5 billion supply contract from GE's aviation unit

Alcoa Inc said on Monday it had signed a $1.5 billion long-term contract with General Electric Co's aviation unit to supply components used in aircraft engines. The aluminum producer will provide advanced nickel-based superalloy, titanium and aluminum components for engines and parts made by GE. The company did not specify the period covered by the contract, which was first reported by t...

EBRD: Aerospace company Sonaca spreads its wings in Romania

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is boosting Romania’s fast-growing manufacturing sector with a US$ 8.5 million loan to Sonaca as the aerospace company expands its operations in Romania. With the EBRD funding, the firm will build a plant in north-western Romania to produce wing components for leading aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Embraer. The new p...

Israel's lead F-35 enters final assembly

Lockheed Martin has begun the final assembly of Israel’s first F-35 Lightning II, having passed a key milestone at its Fort Worth site in Texas on 7 January. The Israeli air force’s lead example of the “Adir” – designated AS-1 – entered the mate process, where its four main structural assemblies are brought together. “AS-1 is expected to roll out of...

Solar Impulse headed back to Abu Dhabi the long way round

He taps the plane on the side before boarding. “When I think about it, I become a little emotional,” said the pilot of the record-setting Solar Impulse 2, Andre Borschberg. “We are now again in the preparation mode, with the objective to come back to Abu Dhabi.” The Swiss national said all efforts are being made to see that the plane completes its voyage to Abu Dha...

France to take six additional NH90 helicopters

France has ordered six additional NHIndustries NH90 troop transport helicopters for its army, increasing the service’s eventual inventory to 74. Deliveries of the 11t-class rotorcraft are due to take place between 2017 and 2019. “The French armed forces have deployed the NH90 operationally in Mali where its outstanding endurance, versatility and manoeuvrability have been greatly...

Corrosion warning for Bell 429 operators

Operators of Bell 429 helicopters have been instructed to conduct urgent inspections of a tail rotor component after an investigation revealed a potentially dangerous manufacturing defect. In an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD) effective from 19 January, certification agency Transport Canada warns that corrosion on the part could lead to its failure and subsequent loss of control of the...

Finmeccanica Mulls Longer Run-dry Duration for Helos

Finmeccanica Helicopters (formerly AgustaWestland) is studying ways to enhance main gearbox performance in case of loss of lubrication. At the EASA rotorcraft symposium in December, Marco Tamborini, one of the company's experts in transmission system design and development, gave details on Finmeccanica's strategy in gearbox durability. Unless the possibility of such a failure is extreme...

Embraer delivers first European based Legacy 450

Embraer has delivered the first European registered Legacy 450 private jet. Registered in Belgium as OO-NEY / MSN 55010003, the aircraft was delivered to its new owner over the Christmas period. Although the final customer is unconfirmed, the aircraft will be managed by Brussels based Smart Air, and operated by Air Service Liege. “Being driven by innovation for more than 25 years helps...

Airbus introduces a system to jam drones out of the sky

For every cheap flying robot, there is an elaborate, expensive system to counter it. The latest anti-drone tool comes from European aerospace and defense giant Airbus, and promises a high-tech solution to small flying robots. They’re showing off the system at the Consumer Electronics Exposition in Las Vegas, though no word yet on if they’ve caused any nearby drones to crash. From Ai...

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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

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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...