Commercial Aviation

The A350-1000 is to perform its first test flight on Thursday 24th November. The stretched version of the new Airbus long-haul aircraft is scheduled to take off from Toulouse-Blagnac at 10h30, local time. Watch the video of the final assembly and engine-tests, with no comment. Read the article.
 

For its newest 777X jet, Boeing has just opened its first commercial aircraft plant at St Louis (Missouri). The new plant will be used for the manufacture of composite wing and tail parts for the new long-haul American aircraft. Watch the video with no commentary. Read the article.
 

Airbus delivered its 10,000th aircraft to Singapore Airlines on 14th October. Delivery of the first Airbus plane, an A300, goes back to 1974. Since then production has sped up considerably.
 

It’s official. From 1st of January the Airbus group will simply be called Airbus, the name of its commercial aviation department. Since EADS’ creation it has taken 16 years to get there. Read the article.
 

In the sixties Boeing designed a supersonic commercial aircraft that could carry 277 passengers at 1,800 mph. A life-size mock up had even been built but everything came to an abrupt halt in 1971.
 

The Antonov An-225, the biggest aircraft currently in service worldwide, was launched in the 80s. Only one aircraft was built at the time but now, production is to be re-launched thanks to the Chinese aircraft manufacturer AICC.
 

Airbus has been keeping this new weapon up its sleeve to compete with Boeing’s 777: the A350-1000. After passing through the paint hall at the end of July, the aircraft will carry out its first test flight before the end of the year. So what are the main differences with the current version?
 

Amazon has decided to acquire its own cargo planes to ship orders to customers. The online sales giant will be flying its own colours with a fleet of forty Boeing 767s, between now and 2018. The first aircraft was presented early August. Watch the video (no commentary). Read the article.
 

In a note addressed to SEC, the American stockmarket’s supervising body, Boeing has declared that it is facing a critical situation with regard to its 747. If new orders don’t start coming in, the OEM doesn’t rule out stopping production of its four-engine aircraft.
 

The Chinese OEM AVIC has just unveiled the AG600, the biggest seaplane in the world. The amphibian aircraft is intended to fight forest fires and carry out rescues at sea.
 

Boeing’s Dreamliner has just carried out a stunning demonstration flight. With vertical take-offs, very steep banks and touch-down/take-off manoeuvres, the two Boeing test pilots had a field day. Watch the video. Read the article.
 

Bombardier delivered their first CS100 on 29 June, to Swiss International Air Lines, at a ceremony, which took place near Montreal, Canada, in the presence of hundreds of guests. In his speech, Bombadier CEO expressed his full determination.
 

After delivery to the airline Swiss, the Bombardier CS100 will soon enter into service. The perfect opportunity to take a closer look at its direct competitors on the market today: the Airbus A319 and the Boeing B737-700. Here’s a short review.
 

Following the British referendum, Airbus Group Chief Executive Tom Enders spoke on the consequences of Airbus Group's activities in the UK following the Brexit. The sites in the UK must "remain competitive." Watch the video, and read the article.
 

Today, Airbus Group officially inaugurated their new headquarters in Toulouse. The following is an extract from Airbus Group’s CEO’s speech at the ceremony. Tom Enders made reference to the importance of the headquarters’ location, just a stone’s throw from the Airbus assembly lines.
 

After two and a half years’ work, Airbus group inaugurates today their new headquarters in Toulouse. A more than twelve-acre site close to the city’s airport runways and the Airbus assembly lines.
 

The Bombardier CS100 will soon enter service. With its civil certification received on 15 June, the Canadian single-aisle will be delivered in a few days to Swiss. Its entry into service is scheduled on July 15 between Zurich and Paris.
 

The Russian aircraft manufacturer Irkut Corporation unveiled yesterday its new MC-21, which will have to compete with the A320 and the B737 in two years’ time. The plane is intended to make its maiden flight at the end of the year.
 

On 23 May, Embraer’s new regional jet, the E190-E2, carried out its maiden flight from São José dos Campos, Brazil. Entry into service is planned for 2018. Watch the video of the flight, and read the article.