Aircraft News - North America.

Oct 2, 2006

Aerospace Products

Aerospace Products International, a subsidiary of First Aviation Services, received FAA approval to perform aircraft wheel overhaul services, enabling it to do MRO work on aircraft wheels manufactured by Aircraft Braking Systems and Goodrich. Sep 27, 2006

Air Canada Jazz, Bombardier

Air Canada Jazz will equip its fleet of 15 Bombardier CRJ705s with HGS by March 2007. Sep 29, 2006

Boeing

Boeing has received firm orders for another 26 737s and eight 787s but has not identified the customers. The new orders take unidentified orders for the 737 to 84 and for the 787 to 29 and orders for the overall year for all models to 666, including seven cancellations. It is thought that the latest additions may be an order from Avianca, which wants to replace its MD-83 and 767 fleets with 737s and 787s. Sep 29, 2006

Boeing

Boeing chief says record production will be "prudently" managed. Boeing is experiencing the most robust upturn in the history of the aviation industry, President and Chief Executive Scott Carson said Wednesday. Carson told an audience of airplane financiers, airline officials and executives from parts suppliers that Boeing will "prudently manage" its production to avoid past mistakes. He said Boeing projects sales of 27,000 big commercial jets over the next 20 years. Sep 28, 2006

Boeing, AirTran

AirTran postpones delivery of eight Boeing planes. AirTran has pushed back the delivery of eight Boeing 737s until as late as 2011. The company is facing increased competition and has scaled back its growth plans.

Sep 28, 2006

Bombardier

Bombardier will establish a spare parts depot located near Tokyo Narita to support its business and regional aircraft customers. The facility is scheduled to open in 2007. Sep 28, 2006

CAE, Continental Airlines, Boeing

CAE said it was awarded three contacts for full flight simulators with a combined value of C$45 million ($40.3 million). The contracts are with Continental Airlines for a 737NG, Lufthansa Flight Training for an A320 and UPS for a 747. The 737 FFS for CO will feature CAE's Tropos II Enhanced visual system. Sep 27, 2006

FedEx, Boeing

FedEx to upgrade fleet with used 757-200s. FedEx says it will spend $2.6 billion to buy and upgrade nearly 90 used Boeing 757-200s. The planes will replace the air-cargo shipping company's 727s. The 757s are bigger, carry more cargo and are more efficient to operate, FedEx says. Sep 26, 2006

GATX, Och-Ziff Capital Management Group

GATX Corp. last week announced it will sell the majority of its aircraft leasing business to a consortium of investors including Macquarie Bank and investment fund Och-Ziff Capital Management Group in a transaction expected to close by year end. GATX has been in the aircraft leasing business since 1968. The value of its aircraft assets, including its joint-venture investments, is approximately $1.5 billion in net book value and includes 87 aircraft. Last year, GATX announced it would sell up to $450 million worth of older aircraft, or around 23% of its leasing portfolio, as part of a strategy to focus on "newer more profitable aircraft". Oct 2, 2006

Go, Embraer, Bombardier

Go, the Mesa subsidiary operates four 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200s in Hawaii. "How do you put someone out of business with less capacity? We can't put them out of business with only 8% of the market," Mesa CEO Jonathan Ornstein said. "We are trying to carve a niche. They added more capacity than we have." Ornstein said he intends to add five or six larger aircraft, either Embraer 195s or Bombardier CRJ900s, to the market next year. He said the Go! subsidiary is modeled after highly successful LCC Ryanair. "There is a business model that says you can give away tickets and still make money," he said. Sep 26, 2006

Pratt & Whitney, MTU Aero Engines, Airbus, LAN Airlines

Pratt & Whitney and MTU Aero Engines completed assembly of the first production PW6000 last week at MTU's Langenhagen facility. LAN Airlines is the launch customer for the PW6000-powered A318. Sep 25, 2006

Rockwell Collins

Rockwell Collins will install its Head-up Guidance System on Lufthansa CityLine's 12 CRJ900s as the aircraft are delivered. The system is currently in use on CityLine's 36 CRJ200s and 20 CRJ700s. HGS displays critical flight information in the pilot's forward field of view. Sep 29, 2006

Teledyne Controls

Teledyne Controls received CAAC approval for its Los Angeles repair station, allowing it to perform inspections, repair, overhaul and modification of avionics components for Chinese customers. Sep 25, 2006

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Editor: Aram Gesar, eMail: [e-mail]

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Sep 25, 2006