Ars Technica reports, “NASA and Boeing officials pushed back Friday on headlines that the commercial Starliner crew capsule is stranded at the International Space Station but said they need more time to analyze data before formally clearing the spacecraft for undocking and reentry. Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams will spend at least a few more weeks on the space station as engineers on the ground conduct thruster tests to better understand issues with the Starliner propulsion system in orbit.”
Full Story (Ars Technica)
Tag: Orders
FAA Requiring G500 and G600 Inspections Due to Engine-Mount ‘Quality Escape’
FlightGlobal reports, “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered inspections of the Gulfstream G500 and G600 fleet in response to a ‘quality escape’ involving improperly installed engine-mounting hardware. In a 7 June airworthiness directive, the agency says it identified issues with Gulfstream’s installation of engines on new production aircraft and with aftermarket engine installations.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal)
American Airlines Boosts Its Fleet Plan with Order of 260 Narrowbody and Regional Jets
FlightGlobal reports, “American Airlines has placed orders for 260 new aircraft, including those produced by Airbus, Boeing and Embraer, with deliveries expected to begin later this decade.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal – Subscription Publication)
Germany Orders 82 Armed H145 Twin-Engine Light Helicopters from Airbus
Aviation Week reports, “Germany has placed an order with Airbus Helicopters for up to 82 light-attack versions of the OEM’s H145 twin-engine light helicopter. In what is the largest order yet for the armed H145M, the new helicopters will be an interim replacement for the German Army’s troubled Tiger attack helicopters.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Air New Zealand Considers Passenger Flights with Beta’s Alia Electric Aircraft
Aviation Week reports that while Air New Zealand “plans to use its first electric aircraft for a cargo-only commercial demonstration, it will consider broadening its role and adding more aircraft as the program progresses.” The carrier “announced an order for a Beta Technologies Alia electric aircraft on Dec. 6.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Wizz Air Prepares for Grounded Aircraft Over Pratt & Whitney Engine Issues
Aviation Week reports that Wizz Air “said an average of 45 of its Airbus A320neo-family aircraft will be grounded due to Pratt & Whitney GTF engine issues as of mid-January 2024.” The carrier’s update “on the GTF groundings comes after it received a service bulletin Nov. 3; a grounding plan is being finalized.”
Full Story (Aviation Week – Subscription publication)
Wizz Air May Reduce Capacity as Much as 10% from Pratt & Whitney Engine Issues
Aviation Week reports that Wizz Air “may need to reduce its capacity by 10% due to Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan (GTF) engine issues and increased engine removals.” The Hungary-based ULCC “has also begun to exchange several Airbus A321neos from its UAE joint venture Wizz Air Abu Dhabi with A321ceos.”
Full Story (Aviation Week – Subscription publication)
FAA Orders Inspections of 20 Pratt & Whitney GTF Engines
AP reported that “U.S. regulators are requiring immediate inspections and possible repairs to Pratt & Whitney engines on some Airbus passenger jets because of a manufacturing problem that could cause parts to wear out sooner than expected.” The FAA said it would “require ultrasonic inspections of 20 engines on U.S.-registered planes within 30 days. The same flaw affects 202 engines worldwide.” The new FAA rule “replaces a directive from October, which told aircraft operators to have the engines checked at their next shop visit, and followed a disclosure last month by Pratt that about 200 engines around the world would need quick inspections and potential replacement of engine disks.”
Full Story (Associated Press)
Wizz Air Orders 75 More A321neos
Aviation Week reports that Wizz Air shareholders attending the carrier’s annual general meeting “have voted in favor of buying a further 75 Airbus A321neo family aircraft.” The firm order “takes Wizz Air’s total order for the largest variant of the Airbus single-aisle family to 434.”
Full Story (Aviation Week – Subscription publication)
LCI Orders 50 Alia-250 eVTOLs
Aviation Week reports that LCI “has placed a firm order for 50 Beta Technologies Alia-250 electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOL) with an option for another 75.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)