AWAS delivered a 737-400 to Air Dominicana, a Santo Domingo-based startup scheduled to launch flights in September.

Bombardier said Friday that Transport Canada, US FAA and EASA granted final approval to adjust the line maintenance intervals for CRJ700/705/900 NextGen and Q400 aircraft from 400 flight hr. to 600 flight hr. "Previous schedules required CRJ700/705/900 and Q400 aircraft to undergo line maintenance checks every 2.2 months on average," the company said. "Under the new revisions, the intervals are extended to 3.3 months." It said that as a result, operators will experience reduced direct maintenance costs over the life of the aircraft.

Two flight data recorders were recovered but reportedly were badly damaged at the site of the Caspian Airlines Tu-154M crash Wednesday morning that killed all 168 onboard (ATWOnline, July 16). A third recorder has not been located. A spokesperson from Armenia's General Dept. of Civil Aviation told RIA Novosti that the aircraft underwent a full maintenance check last month and was cleared to fly until year end.

US National Transportation Safety Board said "no significant corrosion or obvious pre-existing mechanical damage" was found on the Southwest Airlines 737-300 that developed a hole in its fuselage Monday while flying from Nashville to Baltimore (ATWOnline, July 15). SWA is repairing the aircraft in Charleston, W.Va., where it landed following a "rapid decompression." NTSB said the hole measured approximately 17 in. by 8 in. and that its investigation will continue.

Copa Airlines signed up for 13 additional 737-800s yesterday, an order worth approximately $1 billion at list prices, while Boeing said it has inked orders for eight more 737s from unidentified customer(s). The Copa commitment also includes eight options and brings to 27 the number of 737NGs the Panamanian carrier has on firm order. Delivery of the 13 new aircraft is scheduled to run from 2012 into 2015, with the eight options available between 2015 and 2017. Aircraft will be outfitted with Boeing's Sky Interior, designed to mimic the more modern cabin of the 787.