Interview with Airbus CEO Fabrice Brégier: Airbus and innovation

Subscription required By Bjorn Fehrm Introduction 18 Jan 2015: When visiting Toulouse last week we got the opportunity to talk to Airbus CEO, Fabrice Bregiér, on one of his pet subjects: the need for Airbus to be more innovative…. Read More

A380neo decision likely this year, triggering the next widebody engine project

Subscription required By Bjorn Fehrm Introduction Jan. 12, 2015: One of the subjects which is sure to come up on Airbus annual press conference on Tuesday the 13th in Toulouse will be when and how Airbus will re-engine the A380…. Read More

Boeing 2014 orders: 1,550 gross, 1,432 net

Update, 8:45am PST: Boeing sent us this breakout of 777 and 737 orders: 777-300ER: 49 777 Freighter: 14 777X: 220 737 MAX: 891 Original Post: Boeing received 1,550 gross orders and 1,432 net orders in 2014, one of… Read More

Odds and Ends: Why radar tracking is insufficient; 787 and batteries; 777 Classic sales

Radar tracking: This story from the Financial Post in Canada explains why radar tracking of airliners is insufficient and a better way is necessary. This also explains why better, more accurate coverage can save the airline industry gobs… Read More

First flight for Boeing’s KC-46A tanker program launched Sunday

Dec. 28, 2014: Boeing launched the first flight of its KC-46A tanker program on Sunday. The flight, with a 767-2C and not a tanker-configured KC-46A, was with what’s known as EMD 1. EMD stands for Engineering, Manufacturing and… Read More

EU files subsidy complaint over 777X WA State tax breaks; we raised issue at the time

The European Union has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization over $8.7bn in tax breaks offered by Washington State to Boeing in exchange for locating the 777X assembly site and wing production plant in the state…. Read More

Odds and Ends: U-Turn Al does it again, delays A350; rate cuts for 747-8, A330; A380 future delivery

A350 delivery delayed: U-Turn Al Baker, the CEO of Qatar Airways, has once again become a pain in the tailpipe to an OEM. The delivery of the first Airbus A350-900, set for Saturday, has been indefinitely postponed. Qatar… Read More

737 MAX 8 could be enabler for some LCC Long Haul

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton and Bjorn Fehrm Introduction Figure 1. Nominal range of 737 MAX 8 from Oslo Source: Great circle mapper, Boeing. Click on Image to enlarge Dec, 8, 2014:The Boeing 737-8 MAX is the successor… Read More

Boeing and Washington State; and: Congressional meddling may threaten KC-46A

The Washington State Legislature may consider implementing a mechanism to track the benefits of the Boeing 777X tax incentives granted last year, according to the on-line news service Crosscut. Boeing opposes the measure, according to the report.

Boeing remains confident it will fill 777 production gap; cash flow to remain strong

Dec. 3, 2014: Boeing remains “confident” it will be able to bridge the 777 Classic production line at current rates to the introduction of the 777X in 2020, including some “feathering” of the two airplanes. Boeing president and… Read More