Airbus named former MBDA executive Didier Evrard to head the A350 XWB program, effective immediately. MBDA is a France-based missile manufacturer. Evrard, 53, "brings proven leadership and program development management capabilities in combination with an understanding of customer needs and business objectives," Airbus President and CEO Louis Gallois said.

Goodrich signed a $10 billion, 20-year contract with Airbus to provide nacelle and thrust reverser systems for all variants of the A350 XWB, which was relaunched last month (ATWOnline, Dec. 4, 2006). Goodrich will integrate its technology into each engine offering and provide Airbus with complete propulsion systems for installation during final assembly. It becomes the first large equipment integrator chosen for the revamped A350.

The Oct. 14, 2004, crash of a Pinnacle Airlines CRJ200 during a repositioning flight was owing to "unprofessional behavior, deviation from standard operating procedures and poor airmanship" on the part of the cockpit crew, "which resulted in an inflight emergency from which they were unable to recover," the US National Transportation Safety Board stated in a report issued yesterday.

Iran Air's six A310s can be fitted with new GE engines thanks to a special approval granted by US authorities, according to Iranian officials cited in press reports. The A310s are stored at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport.

Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise yesterday ordered 20 A320 family aircraft and exercised 20 options and purchase rights with Boeing for 737NGs in deals valued at a combined $2.8 billion, with all 40 aircraft to be delivered between the 2009 second quarter and the 2012 first quarter.