The World of Aviation

Korean Air has announced an order for two additional Boeing 747-8 Freighters in a deal valued at US$639m (A$641m) at list prices. In December 2009 Korean became the first airline to order both the passenger and freighter versions of the 747-8, with this latest order taking its commitment to the type to five 747-8Fs and

Qantas and Jetstar have become the first major airlines to achieve carbon neutral certification for their carbon offset programs under the federal government’s National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS). A voluntary certification scheme, the NCOS Carbon Neutral initiative allows Australian businesses to measure, reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions associated with business operations or products.  Established

Boeing’s 747-8 Intercontinental has made its first flight, taking off from Paine Field, Everett, at 9.59am local time on March 20. RC501 took off with 747 chief project pilot Captain Mark Feuerstein plus Captain Paul Stemer at the controls, and landed four hours and 25 minutes later at Boeing Field in Seattle. Flying over eastern

Lufthansa’s board has approved the acquisition of 25 A320neo and five A321neo aircraft in a deal worth US$2.8 billion, as well as five Boeing 777 freighters and worth US$1.3 billion. As a result, Lufthansa will become Airbus’s largest airline customer, having already purchased to date 443 Airbus aircraft, with 338 variants currently in service. Engine

Airbus Military has announced that its first Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) A330 MRTT conversion has successfully completed its first flight, landing back at the company’s Getafe, Spain test site after a four hour, 15 minute long journey on March 15. The aircraft will now enter the final certification and qualification phase for this version

The US Joint Program Office (JPO) has cleared seven of its F-35 JSFs to return to flight after a generator failure and oil leak on test aircraft AF-4 last Friday (March 11) saw the entire fleet grounded pending further investigation. Aviation Week and the Navy Times reports that a newer generator installed on AF-4  may