Airframe OEMs' support plans for next-gen jets go beyond what earlier models received

Europe's commercial operators and airports are becoming safer

Setting up a component repair facility halfway around the world is no small undertaking, but SR Technics is on track to open its new repair facility in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in December. The new shop will complement the company's existing repair network with locations in Switzerland, Spain and Abu Dhabi, as well as support the growth of its Integrated Component Services (ICS) business.

Honeywell is also studying potential new engine developments to compete with Pratt & Whitney Canada's ubiquitous PT6 and its planned successor. “In the downturn we saw that the strongest small-airplane market was turboprops and we were fascinated by that,” says Honeywell's director of engineering propulsion systems, Jim Kroeger. “There is keen interest in the marketplace in turboprops and particularly in the utility market. We think it is driven by the fundamental low operating costs of the airplane,” he adds.

Airbus can barely keep up with demand. A combination of high fuel prices and low interest rates has helped boost the jetliner market to record levels, with more growth ahead. But there is one exception to this happy situation: the A380. It is time to face some tough facts about the program.

It is foolhardy to draw hasty conclusions about accidents. The investigation into the cause of the Asiana 214 Boeing 777-200ER crash at San Francisco International Airport on July 6 is still in its early stages. While it is not clear exactly how crew performance figured into the accident that claimed three lives, we believe that there is no excuse for landing short on a calm, clear day in a fully functioning jetliner.

Even as they develop engines promising 15-16% lower fuel burn on the latest narrowbodies, manufacturers are looking toward the 25-30% fuel-consumption reductions expected to be required by the mid-2020s to help keep airlines ahead of oil prices and emissions targets.

Three 777 engine transfer-gearbox failures have shut down inflight