Month: February 2021

HomeFebruary 2021

US Air Force Research Lab starts building airborne laser weapon

The US Air Force Research Laboratory is anticipating delivery later this month of the first major assembly of its Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator weapon. The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is anticipating delivery later this month of the...

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Lockheed Martin confident F-35 operating cost will be reduced to $25,000 per hour

The company is under pressure to deliver improvements to the aircraft’s reliability and operating costs as the jet’s leading customer, the US Air Force, considers cheaper alternatives such as the Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter or a clean-sheet 4.5-generation combat aircraft....

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FAA Statement on Pratt & Whitney Engine Emergency Airworthiness Directive

The FAA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) tonight that requires U.S. operators of airplanes equipped with certain Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines to inspect these engines before further flight. The FAA is taking this action as the result of...

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First USAF Boeing T-7A advanced trainer enters production

The US Air Force jet is likely to roll out of Boeing’s St. Louis, Missouri factory in late 2021 or early 2022. The first Boeing T-7A advanced trainer has entered production. The US Air Force (USAF) jet is likely to...

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Scottish government selects preferred bidder for Prestwick airport

Scotland’s cabinet secretary for transport has disclosed that a preferred bidder has been chosen for Glasgow Prestwick airport. Michael Matheson was responding to a question in parliament on 23 February regarding progress on returning the airport to the private sector....

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KLM takes delivery of first Embraer 195-E2 jet

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has taken delivery of its first Embraer 195-E2 jet for its Cityhopper subsidiary, as the carrier continues its fleet renewal with more efficient regional aircraft. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has taken delivery of its first Embraer 195-E2 jet...

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Small part of 777 fleet affected by PW4000 restrictions

Regulatory action mandated by international civil aviation authorities after the 20 February failure of a Pratt & Whitney PW4000 on a United Airlines Boeing 777 affect a relatively small proportion of the 777 fleet. Regulatory action mandated by international civil aviation authorities...

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Air Europa negotiates lease deferrals

Lessors are discussing new rent-deferral arrangements with Air Europa as the Spanish carrier navigates towards fresh state-backed financial support, sources have told Cirium. Lessors are discussing new rent-deferral arrangements with Air Europa as the Spanish carrier navigates towards fresh state-backed financial support, sources have...

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Boeing must ‘get house in order’ on 787 issues: Air Lease chief

Boeing must “get its house in order”, by addressing immediate issues such as problems on the 787 production line, before Air Lease would be interested in ordering any new types the airframer plans to develop, the lessor’s chief executive John...

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Spirit AeroSystems cut 8,000 jobs and lost $870m in 2020

Spirit AeroSystems swung to an $870 million loss in 2020, a year in which it slashed 8,000 commercial aerospace jobs and restructured its operations to align with markedly reduced production rates. Spirit AeroSystems swung to an $870 million loss in...

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