Deferring maintenance happens, but it adds up over time

Those who understand aircraft operations know there is at least one more: maintenance downtime.

Forty-three years after entering revenue service, the Pratt & Whitney JT9D series continues to power a cross section of operators sprinkled around the globe. While still diverse, the cross section is much thinner than in years past, however, with many operators flying just a handful of engines. It's a sign of the steady and inevitable decline facing the venerable series.

The revised 787 lithium-ion battery configuration incorporates a range of modifications that Boeing says are designed to prevent conditions under which potential issues might occur, and to isolate them if they do. The revised battery is physically wider than the existing design because of large spacer units attached on either side of the cells. The spacers are configured to improve thermal and electrical isolation, and are bordered toward the outside by additional insulation layers.

Leaders have been appointed to key Boeing Commercial Aircraft programs, filling out an initiative that BCA President and CEO Ray Conner started in December.

Taxes on carbon emissions were also a notable feature of the latest round of earnings reports in Australia. The Australian government introduced a carbon tax in July 2012, so this was the first reporting period to include the cost to airlines. Virgin Australia says the per-passenger carbon tax—which applies only to domestic flights—totaled A$24.4 million in the six months through Dec. 31. To put this in perspective, that amount is larger than its net profit for the period.

AgustaWestland is using an unconventional tiltrotor fan-in-wing demonstrator, flown in secret in Italy since 2011, as a self-funded technology incubator for advanced rotorcraft concepts. Measuring several meters in span, the “Project Zero” sub-scale demonstrator has two electrically driven, tilting rotors embedded in the wing. Surprising attendees at the Heli-Expo 2013 show in Las Vegas this month by revealing the program, newly installed CEO Daniele Romiti says the flying wing represents how the manufacturer is “thinking today of how we could fly tomorrow.”

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Garuda Indonesia, two of Asia's leading full-service carriers, are about to find themselves under competitive pressure from Indonesian low-cost carrier Lion Air, which is moving into the premium segment.