Airbus’ A320neo Plus, A350neo and new single-aisle airplane

Subscription Required Introduction Nov. 26, 2018, © Leeham News: There are few secrets that stay secret for long in commercial aviation. Airplane concepts are discussed with customers. Information must be shared with suppliers. And then there’s the manufacturer’s… Read More

737-based Wedgetail to be assembled in UK, Defence official says

Update, Nov. 6: Boeing said the Wedgetail will be assembled in Renton, as it has in the past. Discussions are underway with the UK to perform final modifications there (similar to how KC-46A tankers move from final assembly… Read More

Pontifications: Pilots train for instrumentation mismatches

Nov. 5, 2018, © Leeham News: It was a week ago that Lion Air JT 610 crashed into the sea, just 13 minutes after takeoff. The crash was the first involving the Boeing 737 MAX (in this case,… Read More

Boeing’s transition in supply chain management aims to save hundreds of millions of dollars

Subscription Required Now open to all readers. Introduction Oct. 8, 2018, © Leeham News: As Boeing moves toward more automation, digital twins and 3D printing to streamline manufacturing and reduce costs, behind the scenes another major initiative has… Read More

Huge surge of A320 orders greatly exceed near-, mid-term A320 retirements

Subscription Required Introduction Oct. 4, 2018, © Leeham News: The huge surge of orders for the Airbus A320 family far outstrips the aging aircraft statistics, an analysis shows. Airbus has a backlog of more than 6,000 A320 family… Read More

Suppliers are paying more, waiting longer for aluminum and other materials

By Dan Catchpole  danieljcatchpole(at)gmail(dot)com Oct. 3, 2018, © Leeham News: United States-based aerospace suppliers say lead times and prices have significantly increased for aluminum, steel and other high-grade materials used to make commercial and military aircraft. But, they… Read More

Unfinished 737s have peaked, Boeing tells analysts

Sept. 6, 2018, © Leeham News: Boeing officials say the parked inventory of 737s has peaked at around 50 aircraft and should come down slowly as traveled work is performed. Officials made the comments yesterday at its annual… Read More

Boeing confident of 737 recovery by year-end; some analysts express doubt

Sept. 6, 2018, © Leeham News: As incomplete Boeing 737s fill the ramps, taxiways and other available space at Renton Airport and Boeing Field, company officials sought to assure aerospace analysts there is a recovery plan that will… Read More

Pontifications: Supply chain melt down to get worse, says manufacturer

Sept. 3, 2018, © Leeham News: There is more evidence the aerospace supply chain is in meltdown—and it’s going to get worse, a manufacturer tells LNC. The OEM requested anonymity to speak frankly. As aerospace analysts gather this… Read More

Pontifications: Supply chain meltdown

Aug. 6, 2018 © Leeham News: It happened to Airbus. It sort of happened to Boeing. It was bound to happen in a much bigger way to Boeing, and it has. Some 40 737s are now sitting around… Read More