ATR delivers 1000th aircraft
Turboprop maker ATR has delivered its 1000th aircraft, an ATR 72-600 for Spanish airline Air Nostrum. The Franco-Italian company is coming off a record 2011 in which it sold 157 aircraft. High fuel prices have contributed to a resurgence in popularity for turboprop aircraft on regional routes, with ATR saying its aircraft accounted for more
EASA gives nod to A400M
Airbus Military’s A400M airlifter has received initial type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency as it moves toward first delivery expected by the turn of the year. The receipt of the Restricted Type Certificate is a step toward full civil type certification, which Airbus said it expects to receive by mid-year following the completion
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has grounded Western Australia-based Alligator Airways, saying the charter carrier poses a “serious and imminent risk to air safety.” The grounding, which took effect yesterday, covers the next five days, during which CASA will apply to the Federal Court for an extension as it continues to investigate the airline. Alligator
Qantas will increase capacity on its domestic network but will defer delivery of two A380 superjumbo jets as part of $400 million in capital expenditure cuts to its struggling international business, the airline announced today. The cuts come on top of a $500 million capex reduction announced in February and will see the two A380s
Australia will push back by two years its decision on whether to buy as many as 70 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, Defence Minister Stephen Smith announced this morning. Smith said the decision, which follows a similar move by the US, would save Australia $1.6 billion over the next four years. Delaying the purchases, however, will
737 MAX gets new ‘dual feather’ winglets
Boeing has unveiled an unusual, fork-shaped wingtip device for its upcoming 737 MAX. According to the US planemaker, the Advanced Technology Winglet will contribute an additional 1.5 per cent to the 737 MAX’s fuel savings over longer ranges against the current generation 737. That comes on top of a claimed 10-12 per cent reduction in
