The World of Aviation

Final assembly of the fourth Airbus Military A400M is underway at Seville, Spain, following the arrival of MSN004’s wingset on January 21. The airlifter’s vertical tailplane is due to be delivered to Seville in mid February and the fuselage and nose one month later. MSN004 is due to fly before the end of 2010.

Airbus has completed cold weather testing of the A330-200F in Iqaluit, northern Canada. The aircraft was subjected to ‘cold soak’  temperatures down to -30 deg C externally and -27 deg C internally, Airbus says.

A criminal trial over the deaths of 113 people onboard an Air France Concorde which crashed shortly after takeoff from Paris-Charles De Gaulle airport on July 25 2000 started on February 2 in the town of Pontoise, near Paris. The crash occurred after a titanium strip from a Continental DC-10 departing CDG fell onto the

Boeing has released an image of the partial passenger cabin fitted to 787 test aircraft ZA003. ZA003’s interior has been fitted with 135 seats, lavatories and two crew rest areas to allow it to be used for interior certification testing, which Boeing says involves analyses and testing of the lighting, lavatories, stowage bins, dimmable windows

Embraer has announced that the E-190 has received certification from EASA for steep approaches, allowing the aircraft to operate from London City Airport. The E-190 joins the E-170 in gaining clearance for LCY operations, with British Airways CityFlyer operating them from the airport. BA, Lufthansa and Geneva based Baboo Airlines are all expected to commence

A Qantas Boeing 767-300 returned to Sydney Airport shortly after takeoff after suffering a tailstrike during rotation on February 1. According to a Qantas spokesperson, the aircraft was operating QF453 to Melbourne, and encountered a wind gust which lifted the nose of the aircraft more than usual, leading to the tailstrike. There was minimal damage