Airbus, Boeing cost-cutting

Sept. 20, 2016: Airbus is planning cost-cutting measures to offset program write-offs and delivery delays, according to The Financial Times. One of these delays involves the well-publicized problems with the Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan engine on… Read More

Russian-Chinese wide-body: The aircraft, Part 4

By Bjorn Fehrm Subscription required. Introduction September 15, 2016, ©. Leeham Co: In Part 3 of this series, we identified the type and size of wing we would have on a new Russian-Chinese wide-body. It’s now time to go… Read More

Boeing’s transition to more automation

Subscription Required Introduction Robots drill holes for fasteners. Boeing photo via Google images. Sept. 12, 2016, © Leeham News: Boeing is on a transition to improve manufacturing efficiency that will take years to complete. Dominic Gates of The… Read More

Russian-Chinese wide-body: The aircraft, Part 2

By Bjorn Fehrm Subscription required. Introduction September 01, 2016, ©. Leeham Co: In Part 1, we concluded that the existing Il-96 fuselage cross section would be suitable for a new Russian-Chinese wide-body. This means that a lot of experience… Read More

Russian-Chinese wide-body: The aircraft

By Bjorn Fehrm Subscription required. Introduction August29, 2016, ©. Leeham Co: We have now covered the capabilities of the joint venture partners for a Russian-Chinese wide-body and its possible market. Now we will look at what kind of aircraft… Read More

Bjorn’s corner; Runway safety systems

August 11, 2016, ©. Leeham Co: I recently wrote about the need for Synthetic Vision and other aids to increase the situational awareness of commercial pilots. I asked the OEMs what their plans were for such aids. One OEM… Read More

Boeing slightly leads Airbus in YTD orders

Aug. 8, 2016, © Leeham Co.: Boeing continues to lead Airbus in the race for orders post-Farnborough Air Show (FIA), but there are key orders announced there that haven’t been booked on the two OEMs order books. Boeing… Read More

Pontifications: Twelve new designs in 10 years spurred orders

Aug. 8, 2016, © Leeham Co.: The book:bill for Airbus and Boeing this year will be hard-pressed to reach one. Airbus has a better shot, given lower production rates. But the recent years of record-setting orders are over… Read More

Airbus Group 1H2016 results: Trouble in key programs

Updated with analyst reports. By Bjorn Fehrm 27 July 2016, ©. Leeham Co: Airbus Group presented its first half year results today, posting strong results in the face of delivery troubles with the A320neo and A350; and more… Read More

Pontifications: Airbus faces conundrum

July 18, 2016, © Leeham Co.: It wasn’t the dominating headline out of the Farnborough Air Show that Airbus would have preferred: a dramatic production rate cut for the slow-selling A380 from 20/yr to 12/yr from 2018. A… Read More