The World of Aviation

Perth based Quickstep Holdings Limited has appointed former Boeing executive John Johnson to the position of chief financial officer. Johnson has held senior positions including commercial manager of finance (divisional CFO) Hawker de Havilland; financial controller (divisional CFO) ASTA Components; assisted as manager for the Defence Integrated Distribution System project team for BAE Systems; and

Boeing has released its 2009 sales and delivery figures which show a dramatic drop in new aircraft sales compared to the records of recent years, although it did meet its delivery target for the year. In 2009, Boeing recorded 263 new commercial aircraft orders but only 142 net orders after cancellations were taken into account.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has proposed cuts to the planned F-35 JSF production ramp up in order to free up additional funds for the struggling aircraft’s development program. The cuts, proposed in a document signed by Gates on December 23 and leaked to Bloomberg, would see as many as 122 F-35s cancelled from the

The United Arab Emirates has ordered six Boeing C-17 transports. The order, confirming an initial announcement made in 2009 for four , makes the UAE the second Middle Eastern country to acquire the aircraft after Qatar, which has two C-17s on strength. “The C-17 will give the UAE the ability to perform a variety of

The first three of up to 30 ATR 72-500 turboprops have been delivered to Indonesian regional carrier Wings Air. Wings Air, a subsidiary of fast growing Lion Air, has ordered 15 ATR 72-500s and holds options on a further 15 72-600s.

Embraer delivered the first Phenom 300 light jet to a customer on December 29. The aircraft was delivered to Executive Flight Services on behalf of an undisclosed customer. “As the first FAA Part 135 operator to take delivery of the Phenom 300, Executive Flight Services will be managing an aircraft that has met all design