Tag Archives: Aircraft

COMAC C919 high-altitude variant completes maiden test flight

29 Wednesday Jul 2026

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The C919 on the tarmac at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Wednesday. Photo: COMAC.

SHANGHAI – A shorter high-altitude variant of China’s COMAC C919 single-aisle airliner completed its maiden test flight Wednesday, the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China said.

The state-owned manufacturer said the flight lasted 1 hour and 59 minutes and completed all scheduled test objectives. The aircraft took off from and landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

“This marks a significant step forward in the C919 series development,” the company said in a statement posted on its website. “Based on the basic model, the C919 high-altitude prototype incorporates targeted design features such as a shorter fuselage and enhanced system functions to meet the requirements of high-altitude operations.”

The first C919 entered commercial service in March 2023, nearly seven years after the aircraft’s maiden flight. The narrowbody jet can accommodate up to 190 passengers.

As of December, COMAC had secured 1,005 orders for the aircraft, along with 120 purchase options.

The C919 is scheduled to begin its first international service next month when Air China launches regular flights between Beijing and the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar.

COMAC models on display at the Farnborough International Airshow. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

COMAC also produces the C909 regional jet, formerly known as the ARJ21, which seats up to 105 passengers.

The aircraft entered commercial service in June 2016. Earlier this month, Air Cambodia ordered 20 C909s.

A business jet variant of the C909 entered service in June with Chinese private jet operator Deer Jet.

COMAC showcased its family of aircraft at last week’s Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom.

Global aviation groups launch runway safety initiative

28 Tuesday Jul 2026

Posted by in Aviation, Aircraft, Airports

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The initiative will focus on safety reporting, strengthening teams and sharing best practices. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

GENEVA – Three major aviation industry groups are joining forces to reduce runway incursions through a new global safety initiative.

The program, launched by the International Air Transport Association, Airports Council International and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation, focuses on improving safety reporting, strengthening local runway safety teams and expanding the sharing of best practices.

The organizations said Tuesday the effort will improve the collection and sharing of safety data, including incident reports, near misses and observations from frontline personnel, while encouraging closer coordination among airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and regulators.

It also builds on existing global runway safety programs through the use of risk assessments, runway safety checklists and support for local runway safety teams.

A runway incursion occurs when an aircraft, vehicle or person is incorrectly present on a runway or its protected area. Although relatively uncommon, incursions can have serious consequences, and several recent incidents have been fatal, according to IATA.

Image: IATA

Nick Careen, the association’s senior vice president for operations, safety and security, said the initiative is intended to help aviation stakeholders identify runway risks earlier and take coordinated action to maintain aviation’s strong safety record.

“Flying is the safest form of long-distance travel,” Careen said. “Maintaining that record requires a relentless focus on continuous improvement, supported by global standards, safety data and collaboration.”

Embraer backlog hits record US$34.5 billion in second quarter

24 Friday Jul 2026

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Embraer showcased the E195-E2 at the Farnborough International Airshow. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

SÃO PAULO, Brazil – Embraer on Friday reported a record backlog of US$34.5 billion in the second quarter of 2026, up 7% from the previous quarter and 16% from a year earlier, marking the seventh consecutive quarterly increase.

The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer said its Commercial Aviation backlog totaled $15.1 billion, a 15% increase from the second quarter of 2025. The increase was driven by Florida-based lessor Azorra‘s order for 15 E195-E2 aircraft, pushing the E2 program above 500 firm orders.

During the just-concluded Farnborough International Airshow, Embraer identified Fuji Dream Airlines as the customer behind a previously undisclosed order for two E175 aircraft that had already been included in the backlog.

Executive Aviation reported a backlog of $7.8 billion, up 5% from a year earlier. During the quarter, the Praetor 600E and Praetor 500E received certification from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The business unit reported a 1.1 book-to-bill ratio.

Defense and Security backlog rose 42% from a year earlier to $6.1 billion, reflecting an agreement with the United Arab Emirates for 10 C-390 Millennium aircraft and options for 10 more. The division reported a 2.6 book-to-bill ratio over the past 12 months.

The KC-390 Millennium was also on display at Farnborough. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

Services and Support backlog reached a record $5.5 billion, up 12% from a year earlier. During the quarter, Embraer announced a long-term support agreement with Jazz Aviation, making the Canadian carrier the first customer in Canada to join the company’s Collaborative Inventory Planning program.

The company also signed a support agreement covering the Brazilian Air Force’s KC-390 Millennium fleet. The business unit reported a 1.3 book-to-bill ratio over the past 12 months.

GE Aerospace’s flying lab generates huge airshow interest

23 Thursday Jul 2026

Posted by in Aircraft, Aviation, GE Aerospace, Technology

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The Boeing 747-400 at the Farnborough International Airshow. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

FARNBOROUGH, England – Interest in GE Aerospace‘s flying testbed was so high at the Farnborough International Airshow this week that the company had to turn down many requests for tours.

GE Aerospace acquired the Boeing 747-400 from Japan Airlines in 2010 and converted it into an airborne laboratory to test and validate the safety and reliability of new engine technologies.

Nate Kamps, director Flight Test Operations. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

The aircraft, based in Victorville, Calif., primarily conducts test flights over the Sierra Nevada mountain range but also operates in other parts of the world when required, according to Nate Kamps, principal engineer and director of Flight Test Operations at GE Aerospace. Kamps’ team comprises 55 full-time employees.

Experimental engines are mounted on the aircraft’s wings for rigorous flight testing. Since entering service as a flying testbed, the 747-400 has logged more than 1,500 flight hours. Its predecessor, a Boeing 747-100, was retired in 2018 after 24 years of service.

The two test labs have supported the certification of 12 engine models and multiple variants for CFM International and GE Aerospace, including the CFM LEAP and GE9X.

The Open Fan technology demonstrator. Photo. Abdul Latheef.

CFM International is jointly owned by GE Aerospace and France’s Safran Aircraft Engines.

The aircraft is also supporting the CFM RISE technology demonstrator program, which aims to improve fuel efficiency by more than 20%.

A key element of the effort is the Open Fan engine architecture, which uses unshrouded fan blades instead of enclosing them within a nacelle.

In late 2024, the 747-400 served as a flight platform for the Contrail Optical Depth Experiment (CODEX), a project studying how aircraft contrails form.

Contrails, or condensation trails, are the bright white streaks left behind by high-flying aircraft. Although they are not pollutants themselves, they can trap heat radiating from the Earth’s surface, contributing to atmospheric warming.

GE Aerospace said the CODEX tests, conducted in collaboration with NASA, were intended to establish a baseline for future engine testing under the RISE program.

Engines are mounted on the wings of the flying testbed. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

A leading provider of aircraft propulsion, services and systems, GE Aerospace has an installed base of about 44,000 commercial and 26,000 military aircraft engines worldwide.

De Havilland Canada wants to revive the ‘quirky’ Shorts Sherpa

21 Tuesday Jul 2026

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Photo: De Havilland Canada.

FARNBOROUGH, England – De Havilland Canada has brought the twin-engine turboprop Shorts Sherpa utility aircraft to the Farnborough International Airshow as it explores the possibility of restarting production.

“It is a delightfully quirky aircraft. We think there is lots of life in this frame,” De Havilland Canada Vice-President Neil Sweeney told reporters at the show Tuesday.

Sweeney said he believes there is significant interest in relaunching the aircraft, which was originally produced by Shorts Brothers in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Sherpa was developed from the Shorts 330 commuter aircraft.

Neil Sweeney and Rodger Brndjar. Photo: Abdul Latheef

De Havilland Canada acquired the Sherpa program in 2019.

At Farnborough, the company said it is showcasing the proven platform to the global aerospace community to explore future opportunities.

“We believe this airplane has a real purpose in the future,” said Rodger Brndjar, who flew the aircraft, nicknamed Pack Rat, from Canada to Farnborough.

He said the Sherpa is well-suited for a wide range of missions, including UN-style humanitarian operations.

Sweeney said that if the company decides to proceed with the program, newly built Sherpas could enter the market in the 2030s. Production and final assembly would take place in Canada, he added.

Farnborough Airshow takes off with big aircraft orders from SMBC

20 Monday Jul 2026

Posted by in Airbus, Aircraft, Aviation, Boeing

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An A320neo model marking 25 years of partnership between Airbus and SMBC Aviation Capital. Photo: Airbus

FARNBOROUGH, England – SMBC Aviation Capital emerged as the biggest customer on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, placing orders for a combined 200 single-aisle aircraft split evenly between Airbus and Boeing, as Riyadh Air and Philippine Airlines also announced fleet expansion plans.

The Dublin-based lessor ordered 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, comprising 65 A321s and 35 A320s, while separately committing to acquire 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets, including 60 737-10s and 40 737-8s.

Elsewhere, Riyadh Air expanded orders with both manufacturers, adding 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and six Airbus A350-1000s, while Philippine Airlines committed to acquire up to 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

SMBC said its Airbus order will provide airline customers with a continuous pipeline of A320neo family aircraft into the mid-2030s, reflecting confidence in long-term demand for the type and strengthening its 25-year partnership with Airbus.

“This significant new order will give our airline customers access to a continuous delivery pipeline of the latest technology A320neo family aircraft into the mid-2030s,” Chief Executive Peter Barrett said.

“We are pleased to build on the deep partnership we have established with Airbus over the last 25 years, and this latest order reflects our confidence in the long-term demand for the A320neo family.”

SMBC is already among Airbus’ largest A320 family customers and, together with its parent company Sumitomo Corp., now accounts for more than 900 direct Airbus aircraft commitments across all Airbus programs.

Photo: Boeing

The Boeing order marks SMBC’s first purchase of the 737-10, the largest member of the MAX family, and increases its owned, managed and committed 737 MAX portfolio to 450 aircraft.

The lessor said the aircraft will help meet growing airline demand for larger, more fuel-efficient narrowbody jets.

Separately, Riyadh Air exercised options for 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners, including converting 20 aircraft to the larger 787-10 variant and incorporating a previously undisclosed purchase of 11 aircraft.

Once the remaining 17 aircraft are finalized, the Saudi carrier’s firm Dreamliner order book will total 67 aircraft.

The airline also firmed up an order for six additional Airbus A350-1000s, increasing its firm commitment for the type to 31 aircraft as it pursues plans to serve more than 100 international destinations by 2030.

Photo: Boeing

Boeing also announced that Philippine Airlines committed to order up to 20 787 Dreamliners. The proposed agreement covers 15 787-10 aircraft, with options for five more, supporting the flag carrier’s fleet modernization and long-haul expansion strategy.

No financial details were disclosed for any of the agreements.

eVTOL momentum builds at Farnborough as Eve announces major deals

19 Sunday Jul 2026

Posted by in Aircraft, Aviation, FIA2026

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Eve aircraft in Moov Airways livery. Photo: Eve Air Mobility

FARNBOROUGH, England – Ahead of the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow on Monday, Eve Air Mobility announced commercial agreements covering up to 46 eVTOLs and highlighted a key regulatory milestone in the certification of its Eve 100 aircraft.

The Embraer-backed company said Sunday it had signed separate letters of intent with Swiss startup Moov Airways and aviation finance firm Shearwater Global Capital, expanding its commercial pipeline and plans for future operations.

Moov Airways signed a letter of intent for up to 30 Eve 100 eVTOLs to support development of its planned “Atlantic Gateway” network in Cabo Verde. The companies will evaluate the use of eVTOLs for inter-island transportation, airport-to-resort transfers and sightseeing services connecting São Vicente, Santo Antão, Sal, Praia and Boa Vista.

Shearwater Global Capital signed a letter of intent for up to 16 Eve 100 eVTOLs as it expands its aviation finance platform into emerging asset classes. Eve said the partnership will offer leasing solutions designed to reduce barriers to entry for operators and support faster fleet deployment.

The announcements come as Eve advances the certification of its aircraft. Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) has published proposed noise certification criteria for the Eve 100, opening a public consultation through Aug. 8.

Eve said the proposal represents an important step toward establishing the environmental certification framework for eVTOL aircraft and advances the company’s type certification program. The proposed standards were developed through collaboration with ANAC and adapt existing aviation noise regulations to the operational and acoustic characteristics of electric aircraft.

Photo: Eve Air Mobility

The company said it continues to work with regulators and industry stakeholders on internationally harmonized certification standards for advanced air mobility as it moves toward commercial service.

The announcements come as the eVTOL sector moves closer to commercial operations, with manufacturers including Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation and Vertical Aerospace advancing aircraft development, certification programs and early market strategies.

The industry is working with aviation regulators worldwide to establish the standards and infrastructure needed to support the introduction of electric aircraft into commercial service.

More eVTOL sales agreements are expected at the five-day FIA2026.

Embraer forecasts demand for 8,500 new jets through 2045

18 Saturday Jul 2026

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The Embraer E-195 E2 at the 2021 Dubai Airshow. Photo: Abdul Latheef

SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil – Embraer expects global demand for 8,500 new commercial airplanes in the sub-150-seat category, worth $650 billion, over the next 20 years, the aircraft manufacturer said in its 2026 Market Outlook released Saturday.

The forecast, published ahead of next week’s Farnborough International Airshow, projects global passenger traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), will grow at an average annual rate of 3.7% through 2045.

China is expected to record the fastest annual RPK growth at 5.2%, followed by the Middle East at 4.6%, Africa at 4.4%, Latin America and the Caribbean at 4.3%, Asia Pacific at 4.1%, Europe at 2.7% and North America at 2.0%.

By 2045, Asia Pacific and China are projected to account for 40% of global passenger traffic, while Europe and North America are expected to represent a combined 37%, according to the report.

North America is forecast to receive the largest share of new aircraft deliveries, with 2,670 jets, or 31% of the total. Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States are projected to receive 1,870 aircraft (22%), followed by China with 1,470 (17%), Asia Pacific with 1,050 (13%), Latin America with 740 (9%), Africa with 370 (4%) and the Middle East with 330 (4%).

The report also examines global economic and aviation trends affecting aircraft demand across seven regions and includes an analysis of the standard-body cargo aircraft segment for aircraft weighing less than 40 metric tons.

Embraer will showcase the E195-E2, the largest member of its E2 narrow-body family, and the KC-390 Millennium tactical transport and multi-mission aircraft at the five-day Farnborough Airshow.

Airbus Canada says operations contributed $8.4B to GDP from 2023 to 2025

16 Thursday Jul 2026

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Canada is where Airbus has the most significant presence outside Europe. Airbus photo.

MIRABEL, Que. – Airbus Canada on Thursday released a report saying its operations generated an estimated C$8.4 billion in Canadian gross domestic product between 2023 and 2025 and supported nearly 60,000 job-years over the period.

The report, commissioned by Airbus Canada and prepared by accounting firm PwC Canada, found the European aircraft manufacturer supported an average of about 20,000 jobs annually during the three-year period.

Last year, Airbus spent more than $2.2 billion on its Canadian operations with about 70% of that spending going to domestic suppliers serving both civil and military markets.

The company works with about 1,000 suppliers in Canada, more than half of them small and medium-sized businesses, it said.

“Today, Canada is where Airbus has the most significant presence outside Europe with all its business units — defence and space, helicopters and commercial aircraft — being present,” said Airbus Canada CEO Guillaume Chevasson.

The report also found the average income of an Airbus employee in Canada is about 60% higher than the national average across all industries.

Airbus employs more than 5,300 people in Canada, primarily in Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia, with the company supporting 27% aerospace jobs in Quebec.

Its commercial aircraft business accounted for $5.5 billion of the company’s total GDP contribution between 2023 and 2025, while Airbus Helicopters contributed $237.5 million.

Airbus Defence and Space generated $778.4 million in economic spending over the same period. Subsidiaries Skywise and Airbus Atlantic Canada contributed $184 million and $617 million, respectively, according to the report.