The World of Aviation

Airbus has started production of carbon fibre wings for its composite built A350 XWB, marking another step toward completion of the new widebody. Assembly of the 32 metre long wings is taking place at Airbus’s recently opened factory in Broughton, UK. The twin engine A350 is slated to compete with Boeing’s 777 and 787 airliners.

The US Navy has tabbed Boeing to begin engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) of an infrared air-to-air targeting system for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter. The US$135 million contract for the Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor represents a key element of the Navy’s Block II Super Hornet flight plan. The IRST is scheduled for

Boeing has delivered its 100th 737-900ER airliner. The single aisle medium-range twinjet was launched in 2005 and has so far logged 414 orders from 16 customers. Boeing has used the jet to replace the larger 757, which ceased production in 2004. The biggest of the popular 737 family, the 737-900ER typically seats about 180 passengers

Tiger Airways is marking the start of its fifth year in Australia with a two day sale as it seeks to turn the page on a rough fourth year. The sale starts today for its Stripes members and tomorrow for the general public, with fares from $34.44 one way from Melbourne to Sydney. The sale

Singapore based leasing company BOC Aviation has ordered 15 Embraer E-190 airliners. Deliveries of the single aisle, roughly 100-seat aircraft are schdeuled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2012 and run through 2014, Embraer said in a statement.  BOC leases aircraft to more than 40 airlines worldwide.

Airbus is set to begin flight testing of its first ‘Sharklet’ wingtip devices for the A320 Family of single aisle jetliners. Airbus claims the 2.5 metre tall drag reducing devices will cut fuel use by up to 3.5 per cent, saving an estimated 700 tonnes per aircraft in annual carbon emission – an amount similar