Vote for the Top Commercial Aviation stories of 2013

This is self-explanatory. We’ll publish the results December 31. Feel free to nominate other stories in Reader Comments.

Odds and Ends: AirAsiaX orders A333; WA and Airbus; Boeing names COO

AirAsiaX orders A330-300s: As forecast earlier this week, the budget carrier ordered 25 Airbus A330-300s. According to reports, AirAsiaX may not be done. Group CEO Tony Fernandes wants Airbus to develop an A330neo. Stay tuned. Washington State and… Read More

Odds and Ends: From EADS’ Investors’ Day; Illinois and 777X; Air Canada; LOT gets $33m from Boeing

From EADS’ Investors Day 1: Airbus parent EADS is having two days worth of briefings for aerospace analysts. Here’s initial news coverage from Day 1: Reuters: EADS strategy stresses Airbus Reuters: EADS IDs new dividend policy, A350 target… Read More

Audacity and hypocrisy: the Boeing 777X RFP

We received an email from a Reader, who works for Boeing, about the details that emerged last week of Boeing’s Request for Proposals for the site location for the 777X: I went to your site today to see… Read More

Airbus, engine OEMs make the case for A340 future

Airbus held a summit December 4 for stakeholders in the A340 to explain how there continues to be life after production ended and despite being a four-engined airplane in a two-engine world. Key to the future of this… Read More

Odds and Ends: 787 software; Hazy on 777X; 787 reliability; A340 lemon; 777X won’t be built in WA: MO politician; Chinese war games

787 software: Aviation Week reports that continuing software issues bedevil the Boeing 787. AvWeek also takes a closer look at Japan Airlines’ decision to take the 787 off certain routes due to the icing issues of the GEnx… Read More

Airbus, Boeing production backlogs stretch to late this decade, early next decade

Airbus and Boeing production backlogs stretch to late this decade and into the beginning of next decade for most of their commercial aircraft, based on today’s production rates. We previously wrote about the waning sales of the 777… Read More

Does 777X assembly site matter to airlines? Yes, up to a point; and a retrospective to 2009

As Boeing awaits responses to its Requests for Proposals from 15 sites around the US and possibly Japan, Washington State officials, company employees and other stakeholders fret that Boeing will choose someplace other than Everett (WA). Everett has… Read More

Points to ponder in Boeing 777X site selection

Boeing last month issued Requests for Proposals from 15 states and locations for some or all of the work for its new 777X. . Deadline for responding to the RFP is mid-December, essentially three short weeks away. …. Read More

Odds and Ends: Pilot’s view of Dreamlifter event; Ethiopian 787 repair; more on IAM; Billy Bishop Airport

A pilot’s look at Dreamlifter incident: A pilot provides some perspective how the Atlas Air crew may have landed the 747 Dreamlifter at the wrong airport in Wichita (KS) last week. Ethiopian 787 repair: Aviation Week reports that… Read More