Boeing schedules first 777X flight for 23 January

Boeing has scheduled the 777X’s maiden sortie for 23 January, an event that will finally kick off the revamped widebody’s delayed flight-test programme and potentially keep the airframer on track to begin deliveries in early 2021. Under the manufacturer’s current schedule, the 777-9 test aircraft should depart at around 10:00 Seattle time on the 23rd, although Boeing cautions that the timing “could change due to weather and other factors”. (www.flightglobal.com) Mehr...

French Bee Could Become The Most Efficient Long Haul Carrier

French Bee, a small but unique airline, is set to become the world’s most efficient long haul carrier. (simpleflying.com) Mehr...

Boeing's safety vs. cost-control culture may be what sent a fatal aircraft into the skies

Internal fight goes back to amalgamation with McDonnell Douglas, engineer says (www.cbc.ca) Mehr...

Trading halted after Boeing doesn’t expect regulators to allow the 737 MAX to fly until June

Boeing doesn’t expect regulators to sign off on the 737 Max until June or July, people familiar with the matter said Tuesday. That date is months later than the manufacturer previously expected. The delays pose another headache for carriers who have already missed one peak travel season without the planes. Shares of the aircraft manufacturer fell on the news, falling by more than 5% in the mid-afternoon before trading was halted. (www.airlive.net) Mehr...

Boeing Does Not Have An Answer To The Airbus A220 Yet

The acquisition of Bombardier C-Series (rebranded as A220) program positions Airbus very strongly against Boeing for long-term future in the narrow-body space. (seekingalpha.com) Mehr...

Panel Clears 737 MAX’s Safety-Approval Process at FAA

A federal advisory panel evaluating the safety-approval process for Boeing Co.’s 737 MAX concluded regulators adhered to policies in certifying the plane and determined it wouldn’t have been safer if it had received the scrutiny of an all-new aircraft. Lee Moak, co-chair of the independent committee set up last year, declined to identify mistakes made during certification of the now-grounded jets, instead describing current procedures as “appropriate and effective.” (www.google.com) Mehr...

How Boeing’s Responsibility in a Deadly Crash ‘Got Buried’

After a Boeing 737 crashed near Amsterdam more than a decade ago, the Dutch investigators focused blame on the pilots for failing to react properly when an automated system malfunctioned and caused the plane to plummet into a field, killing nine people. (www.msn.com) Mehr...

Airbus adds new A321 production capabilities in France to meet strong demand

European planemaker Airbus (AIR.PA) said on Tuesday that it had decided to create new A321 production capacity at its French site in Toulouse, in order to cope with strong demand. (uk.reuters.com) Mehr...

Boeing seeks to borrow $10 billion or more as 737 Max crisis wears on

Boeing Co (BA.N) is in talks with banks about borrowing $10 billion (£7.7 billion) or more amid rising costs after the two fatal 737 Max crashes, CNBC reported on Monday citing people familiar with the matter. (www.cnbc.com) Mehr...