Airbus unveils new flight-tracking platform

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Airbus, AirFlight, Airlines, Aviation, Business, Flight Tracking, Flightradar24, Flights, Le Bourget, News, Paris, Paris Air Show, Transport

Airbus is launching a new flight-tracking platform called AirFlight, relying on data mainly from Flightradar24, a leading provider of real-time flight tracking.

The platform will be handled by Airbus ProSky, the air traffic management subsidiary of the European aircraft manufacturer.

The project was announced on Wednesday, the third day of the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, France.

“Knowing precisely where aircraft are – and where and when they will be anywhere – brings major benefits to the entire aviation community,” said Sebastien Borel, Airbus ProSky general manager.

He said AirFlight would tackle three major items: provide flight tracking as required by the authorities, optimize airlines operations with statistical data on fuel, holding, and airport taxi situations, and provide a base for reliable information on airport demand and arrival time.

Following the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the International Civil Aviation Organization has recommended the adoption of a new aircraft tracking standard from 2016.

Tracking image is courtesy of Airbus.

Airbus begins work on new heavy-lift helicopter

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Airbus, Airbus Helicopters, Aircraft, Aviation, Business, Concept Aircraft, Le Bourget, News, Paris, Paris Air Show, Transport, Travel, X6

Airbus has announced plans for a new heavy-lift helicopter at the Paris Air Show.

With a concept phase of two years, the X6 (above) will be tailored for the civilian market, the European manufacturer said.

It will initially target oil and gas missions and will also be perfectly suited for search and rescue, VIP and other applications, it said.

“Major marketing, architecture and design choices for the twin-engine aircraft will be assessed to meet customer operational requirements during the concept phase,” Airbus said.

“It will set new standards in the industry not only for design, but for its production strategy as well, as we will rely on the industrial capacities of our core countries, including the upcoming pillar in Poland,” said Guillaume Faury, president and CEO of Airbus Helicopters.

“Our objective is to bring to the market the most efficient helicopter solutions adapted for how our customers’ needs and the industry itself will evolve in the future.”

One of the major innovations to be integrated on the X6 is the fly-by-wire flight control system, the company said.

“Once adequate program maturity has been achieved in the concept phase, a subsequent development phase will follow, leading to an X6 entry into service anticipated in the 2020s,” the company said.

Image is courtesy of Airbus.

Boeing MAX big winner on Day Two of Paris Air Show

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737 MAX, AerCap, Airbus, Aircraft, ATR, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Buisness, CSeries, Embraer, Le Bourget, News, Paris, Paris Air Show, Transport, Travel

In its Current Market Outlook released last week, Boeing forecast that the world will need almost 27,000 single-aisle airplanes over the coming two decades.

On Tuesday, at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourge, the American manufacturer announced the biggest order of the show so far – for 100 737 MAX 8s from aircraft leaser AerCap.

“This order complements our existing order book in the single-aisle category and is in line with our customer needs and our fleet strategy of leasing the most-in-demand and technologically advanced equipment,” said AerCap CEO Aengus Kelly.

“We see significant market appetite for this aircraft type from our diverse customer base spanning approximately 90 countries around the world,”

The 737 MAX is the fourth generation of the Boeing 737 family. It is under development. Boeing said Tuesday assembly of the first 737 MAX had begun as scheduled in May.

“The 737 MAX 8 will give AerCap’s customers a unique advantage in the heart of the single-aisle market,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner.

A global leader in aircraft leasing, AerCap has 1,800 aircraft that are owned, managed, or under contract to purchase.

In other news:

Minsheng Financial Leasing signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Boeing for the purchase of 30 737s, a mix of Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX airplanes.

Ruili Airlines announced that the airline has committed to purchase 30 737 MAXs.

Korean Air announced the airline’s intention to purchase 30 737 MAXs and two 777-300ER jetliners, with options for an additional 20 737 MAXs.

SMBC Aviation Capital ordered 10 737 MAX 8s.  

Korean Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus to acquire up to 50 A321neo aircraft.

Cebu Pacific Air ordered 16 ATR72 -600 from ATR, an Airbus subsidiary.

Peach Aviation ordered three Airbus A320s. 

Images are courtesy of Boeing and Airbus.

Paris Air Show opens with mega deals

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A350XWB, Airbus, Aircraft, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Dreamliners, Embraer, EVA, Garuda Indonesia, Le Bourget, News, Paris, Paris Air Show, Q400, Saudi Arabian Airlines, SWISS, Transport, Travel

The 51st edition of the Paris Air Show opened Monday with major aircraft manufacturers announcing a series of deals worth billions of dollars.

Here are the highlights of Day One:

Garuda Indonesia signs a Letter of Intent to buy 30 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft  (left).

Garuda also signs an LOI with Boeing to purchase 30 787-9 Dreamliners, as well as up to 30 737 MAX 8 airplanes.

Launch customer SWISS converts 10 of its 30 firm-ordered Bombardier CS100 aircraft to the larger CS300s (left).

WestJet Encore orders five Bombardier Q400 aircraft.

Airbus says Saudi Arabian Airlines will become the first airline in the world to operate the new A330-300 Regional.

ATR announces 46 firm orders and 35 options for its regional aircraft. That includes the sale of the 1500th ATR aircraft.

Qatar Airways orders 10 777-8Xs and four 777 freighters.

Taiwan’s EVA Airways announces it intends to purchase five Boeing 777 freighters.

Images are courtesy of Airbus, Bombardier and ATR.

Bombardier: CSeries ‘better than advertised’

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A350XWB, A380, Airbus, Aircraft, ATR, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, CS100, CS300, CSeires, Dreamliner, Embraer, Le Bourget, News, Paris, Paris Air Show, Tourism, Transport

On the eve of the opening of the Paris Air Show, Bombardier has announced that the performance of its all-new CSeries aircraft is “better than advertised.”

It said, based on flight tests results, its CS300 and CS100 airplanes exceeded their original targets for fuel burn, payload, range and airfield performance.

“In addition, the CSeries aircraft are on track to meet noise performance targets, making them the quietest commercial jets in production,” the Canadian aircraft manufacturer told a special media event in Le Bourge.

It said the CSeries aircraft’s maximum range had been confirmed to be up to 3,300 NM (6,112 km), some 350 NM (648 km) more than originally targeted.

The CSeries is delivering more than a 20 per cent fuel burn advantage compared to in-production aircraft, and a greater than 10 per cent advantage compared to re-engined aircraft, Bombardier added.

“The CSeries performance is better than advertised,” said Fred Cromer (right), president, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

The long-delayed CS300, designed for the 100- to 149-seat, single-aisle market, is making its air show debut in Le Bourge, four months after its maiden flight.

The aircraft is expected to enter service in late 2016.

Bombardier believes the CS300 offers the best seat-mile cost in its category and is ideal for a range of routes from short-haul to longer transcontinental markets.

Test flights for the smaller CS100, which can carry up to 125 people, began in 2013.

Certification for that aircraft is expected in the second half of this year with commercial flights starting shortly after that.

Bombardier has won 243 firm orders for the CSeries aircraft, 180 of them for the CS300.

The 51st edition of the Paris Air Show opens Monday.

The week-long event has attracted more than 2,200 exhibitors from 45 countries including 18 from Canada.

E-Fan: The plug-in plane takes off

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Airbus, Aircraft, Aviation, Business, CO2, E-Fan, Emissions, Environment, France, Le Bourget, News, Paris, Paris Air Show, Transport

The Paris Air Show doesn’t open until Monday, but one airplane is already creating a lot of buzz.

Airbus has unveiled the E-Fan, the environment-friendly plug-in plane.

The European manufacturer says it will be the world’s first series production electric plane and will open the way for a new era in air transportation that is environmentally-friendly and highly efficient.

The the E-Fan 2.0 (left) and the E-Fan 4.0.

“The E-Fan demonstrator will be followed by serial production versions – first, the two-seat E-Fan 2.0 version for basic pilot training, then by the E-Fan 4.0, a four-seat airplane for full pilot licensing and the general aviation market,“ the company says on its website.

The first flight for E-Fan 2.0 is planned for late 2017. It is expected to go into service the following year.

“It will be CO2 emissions-free and nearly silent in flight, becoming the world’s first all-electric plane certified to international civil airworthiness standards,” Airbus said.

The E-Fan 4.0 is scheduled to arrive in 2019.

“E-Fan is a crucial step on Airbus Group’s journey toward all-electric aviation,” said Detlef Muller-Wiesner, head of Airbus E-Aircraft Programmes.

Airbus subsidiary Voltair will manage the airplanes’ industrial evolution.

Images are courtesy of Airbus.

The stars of the Paris Air Show 2015

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A350XWB, A380, Airbus, Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Airshow, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Buisness, Canada, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Dreamliner, Embraer, Le Bourget, News, Paris, Tourism, Travel

Some of the aircraft that will be on static/flying display at the Paris Air Show next week.

The Bombardier CS300

The Bombardier CS100

The Airbus A350 XWB

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

The Bell 429 WLG

The Embraer ERJ135

 Images are courtesy of Bombardier, Qatar Airways, Boeing, Bell and Embraer.