Aircraft News - Asia / Pacific.

Mar 12, 2007

Airbus, Boeing

China gains from aircraft manufacturers' competition Airbus and Boeing have established manufacturing plants in China as part of an effort to win orders from Chinese carriers. "China is the fastest-growing aircraft market in the world by far," said Neil Sims, a project manager who oversees work at the Xi'an Aircraft factory for Airbus. "The Chinese have said to us, 'Give us some of your technology, and we guarantee we will purchase some of your aircraft.' We have to get our share of the cake." Mar 9, 2007

All Nippon Airways, Boeing

All Nippon Airways accelerated its fleet rationalization program with an order for four more 777-300ERs announced yesterday and the sale of three 747-400s to Oasis Growth Income and Investments for operation by Oasis Hong Kong Airlines. The 777s are worth $1 billion at list prices. ANA operates eight 777-300ERs and the new order brings its commitment for the type to 17. It operates 23 747-400s. It sold six to Iceland's Avion Aircraft Trading last summer. Two of the newly sold -400s will leave the fleet this year and the remainder will head to Hong Kong in 2008. Mar 7, 2007

All Nippon Airways, Boeing

Boeing has sent engineers to supplier firms to help them stay on schedule as the planemaker works toward a May 2008 first delivery of the 787 to Japan's All Nippon Airways. Mar 7, 2007

Boeing, Singapore Technologies Aerospace

Singapore Technologies Aerospace and Boeing announced that ST Aero's ST Aviation Services Co. was selected to perform "certain passenger-to-freighter conversions" under the 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter program, with ANA as its first customer. ANA launched the 767-300BCF program in 2005. SASCO will perform conversions on five firm aircraft with two options. The initial ANA commitment was for three firm and four options. SASCO is the second conversion center chosen by Boeing for the 767-300 after Aeronavali of Italy. Boeing Commercial Airplanes VP-Freighter Conversions Marco Cavazzoni explained Wednesday that Aeronavali is "very busy" on the 767-200 conversion program. The first aircraft arrives in Singapore in October with redelivery expected in June 2008. ST Aero President Tay Kok Khiang said the company expects successive conversions to take around 120 days. ST Aero valued the agreement with Boeing at S$208 million ($136 million) over 10 years. The 767-300BCF will have "about the same cargo capability" as a production model 767-300F: Approximately 50 tonnes structural payload at a range of about 3,000 nm. and 412,000 lb. MTOW. Mar 8, 2007

CAE, China Eastern Airlines 

CAE announced the sale of its first three 787 full-flight simulators, two to Qantas and one to China Eastern Airlines subsidiary Shanghai Eastern Flight Training. It also sold a 737-800 FFS to KLM. The four orders are worth a combined C$67 million ($56.9 million), CAE said. The airlines will take delivery next year. Mar 9, 2007

Garuda, Boeing

Indonesian safety standards questioned following Garuda crash that kills 22 Indonesia's air safety record was under intense scrutiny yesterday following a second fatal 737-400 accident in 10 weeks, this one involving a Garuda Indonesia aircraft that skidded off a runway upon landing in Yogyakarta and caught fire in an adjacent rice field, killing 21 of 133 passengers and one of seven crewmembers. Mar 8, 2007

Garuda Indonesia, Boeing

Garuda Plane's Front Exit Didn't Open The main front left exit of the Garuda Indonesia plane that crashed this week failed to open after landing, preventing some of the passengers from escaping, a leading crash investigator said on Friday. Mar 9, 2007

Garuda Indonesia, Boeing

Garuda Indonesia 737-400 en route from Jakarta caught fire upon landing in Yogyakarta late yesterday. A local official told Reuters that "it happened when it overshot beyond the runway and burst into flames." There reportedly were 133 passengers and seven crew onboard. Indonesian Transport Minister Hatta Rajasa told local television that 76 people were rescued, according to Bloomberg News. Witnesses reported fatalities. An airport official told local radio that he "saw many bodies, dozens of bodies badly burnt near the exit," according to Fox News in Australia. Indonesia still is dealing with the aftermath of January's crash of an Adam Air 737-400 that killed 102 and was considering banning all aircraft older than 10 years. No further information on the aircraft involved yesteday was available and Garuda's website was not functioning. Mar 7, 2007

Pakistan International Airlines 

The European Union on Monday banned most of Pakistan International Airlines' (PIA) fleet from flying to the 27-nation bloc, and lifted restrictions on two other carriers that had previously been on the EU's "blacklist". Mar 5, 2007 03/12/2007

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Mar 5, 2007