French Prime Minster Jean-Marc Ayrault says there is no conflict between a new Europeanized variant of Soyuz and France's plan to introduce a lighter, more modular successor to its Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher, which will ultimately eliminate Europe's need for the Russian medium-lift rocket.

The order-and-delivery see-saw tipped Airbus's way in the first quarter because of its continuing strength in the market for its single-aisle transports. The European manufacturer delivered 144 aircraft through March, of which 114 were A320s. For its part, Boeing delivered 137, including 102 737s.

Luxembourg Airport-based PowerJet Aviation specializes in aircraft sales and recycling, spare parts and airline consulting. Its disassembly and recycling facility is located at Chateauroux Airport, France. Aviation Week Contributing Editor Heather Baldwin spoke with CEO Karl Rickard, who is involved in the overhauled engine and engine parts business daily, to understand the market for engines coming off parked aircraft. Aviation Week: Which engine parts are moving most quickly out of the shop today after an engine is dismantled?

Carrier wants its close-in Toronto City hub opened to jets

NASA is teaming with the Air Force Research Laboratory on a one-year study of advanced spaceflight-computer applications for the coming decade. The civilian agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate joined AFRL in a broad agency announcement seeking 2-4 companies to evaluate potential space-processor applications for the 2020-30 period, with about $2 million to be shared among proposers under cost-reimbursement contracts.

Improved engine resumes tests as upgraded 747-8 unit nears approval

Boeing has made a not surprising choice for the headquarters of its Brazilian research and technology center: Sao Jose dos Campos, home of Embraer and the center of the country's aerospace industry. The center is to open later this year to “investigate and develop aerospace technology projects.” It is among a series of cooperative initiatives the company has made in Brazil where it is trying to win new business, including selection of the F/A-18E/F fighter by the Brazilian air force.

If stock market fluctuations are considered to be good indicators, the next big airline industry disaster is just around the corner. Because of the outbreak of avian influenza in China, airline stocks started to plunge at the start of the month. That country's carriers were hit particularly hard; some share prices were down by as much as 15%. Even European airlines experienced significant drops. And the situation escalated further when EasyJet's stock dropped by 3%, even though it had just reported significantly reduced losses for the seasonally weak first half.