General Electric conducted the first test of the GEnx-1B on its 747 flying testbed last week in California. The aircraft flew for 3 hr. and climbed to more than 43,000 ft. in order to establish a performance baseline for future testing. "The engine performed extremely well. . .Today's flight puts us another step closer to certification later this year. . .for the Boeing 787," GEnx GM Tom Brisken said. The 747 testbed was modified last month to manage the electrical load from the engine's two starter-generators and to provide power required for both electrical ground and air starts.

Boeing announced the conclusion of its deal with TAM for four 777-300ERs plus four purchase rights (ATWOnline, Nov. 2, 2006). The carrier already has taken delivery this month of two of three leased MD-11s that it will use on transatlantic operations until the GE90-115B-powered -300ERs arrive next year.

EADS board unanimously approved Airbus's Power8 restructuring plan, details of which will begin to be revealed to employees Wednesday.

Bombardier delivered 326 aircraft in the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, down from 337 deliveries in the previous year. Company officials said the 3% drop was related to reduced regional jet deliveries in the US and fewer deliveries of Learjets because of a three-week work stoppage in October. But deliveries of Q Series aircraft increased to 48 from 28. Of those, 31 were 70-seat Q400s.

Aviation Partners Boeing said Caribbean Airlines, formerly BWIA, ordered six blended winglet retrofits for 737-800s. AVP said that when installation is complete by October, the airline can expect to save 660,000 gal. of fuel annually.