Delivery of a run-out CRJ100 to an engineering college in Montreal is highlighting Bombardier's commitment to the recycling of its aerospace products, specifically the new CSeries narrowbody. According to Fassi Kafyeke, director of strategic technology for Bombardier, the goal of the CRJ100 end-of-life (EOL) project is to study the most efficient ways of recycling an aircraft, which will provide feedback for the airframer's engineers to find better ways to build recyclable components.

As Indian carriers race to form a strategic alliance with international airlines, grounded Kingfisher Airlines may emerge as the first to benefit from foreign direct investment. Debt-ridden Kingfisher, which has been grounded since Oct. 1 following labor unrest, is currently in talks with various investors, including Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, for a possible stake sale. Aerospace industry sources indicate that the Persian Gulf-area carrier is close to buying a 48% stake in the Indian airline for about 30 billion rupees ($553 million).

The Russian government recently announced two programs to further develop its transportation system and aircraft industry, but the support of local manufacturers will become less straightforward following the country's inclusion into the World Trade Organization this summer. The new transport development program, announced Nov. 23, covers all means of transportation and strives to increase the mobility of the population to 10,000 km (6,200 mi.) per person by 2020 from today's 7,000 km per person, according to the transport minister, Maxim Sokolov.

Patience is wearing thin on reforming air traffic control patchwork.

A distinctive feature of the Chinese economy is that most of its dominant companies, such as the main airlines, are effectively arms of the government but also compete with each other. That is part of the Communist Party's idea of “socialism with Chinese characteristics.”

MRO opportunity convinced Timco the time is righ to ramp up RJ work.

In a move aimed at avoiding mistakes of the past—but which also reflects confidence in the maturity of its commercial airplane programs—Boeing has created an organization called Airplane Development that will work across the enterprise to shepherd new aircraft through development, testing and certification.

Composite materials account for 50% of the 787 structure by weight, versus 12% on the 777. For aluminum the numbers are almost reversed, with the material making up 50% of the 777 by weight, against only 12% for the 787. The use of a carbon-composite laminate for the primary fuselage, wing and empennage structure has enabled designers to take advantage of the material properties in several ways.