Aircraft News - Europe.

For more aircraft news, data, fleets and analysis, please go to: http://www.airguideonline.com/professional.htm Aug 14, 2006

Airbus

Airbus Reaches 200 Plane Orders. Airbus won 200 gross orders for new planes by the end of July, data released by the European planemaker showed on Tuesday, versus 525 for US rival Boeing. Airbus does not report net figures, which factor in canceled orders over the period. Boeing had 518 net orders as of August 1, according to its web site. It took Airbus three decades to top Boeing in annual orders, something it has done for the last five years, but Boeing has pulled ahead in 2006, helped by long-range airliners such as the 787, due in 2008, which are outselling rival Airbus models. Airbus gave no year-on-year comparatives, but at end-June it had a cumulative 117 orders -- down 159 on the year-ago period. Among recent deals was a tentative order from Singapore Airlines for 20 Airbus A350 planes and nine Airbus A380 superjumbos and one from German budget airline Blue Wings for 20 from the single-aisle A320 series. Airbus is still ahead on deliveries, which is when planemakers receive the bulk of their payment for each plane, with 253 planes delivered during the first seven months of the year versus 225 for Boeing. Airbus is heading for a record 430 deliveries for the full year against an expected 395 for Boeing. Aug 9, 2006

ATR, Precision Air

ATR signed a $97 million contract with Tanzanian carrier Precision Air for three ATR 42-500s and three 72-500s. Deliveries will begin in 2008. Precision Air currently operates a fleet of six ATRs. ATR said it has sold more than 50 turboprops this year, including some yet-to-be-announced transactions. Aug 8, 2006

Aviapartner

Aviapartner signed a joint venture agreement with Are Handling of Italy to offer handling operations under the Aviapartner name at Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa. The new company, in which Aviapartner will hold a majority share, represents an annual turnover of [euro]24 million ($30.8 million). Aug 11, 2006

B/E Aerospace

B/E Aerospace announced the acquisition of Draeger Aerospace of England for approximately $80 million. Draeger supplies components and systems for oxygen systems in civil and military aircraft. Aug 11, 2006

Embraer, Finnair

Finnair became the second European airline to operate an Embraer 170 simulator. Its eighth 170 joined the fleet last weekend. By fall 2007 it will fly 10 170s and six 190s. It also holds four options with Embraer. The Finnair Training Center at Helsinki Vantaa currently has simulators for the DC-9, ATR 42/72, MD-80, MD-11, 757 and A320. Approximately half the simulator capacity is sold to other airlines. Aug 9, 2006