Many a Western airline or airport manager, begging for better infrastructure, must gaze wistfully at China. There, it is so often said, “the government just gets things done.” And it often seems that when any level of government in China sees a need for roads, power stations, airports and the like, not much time passes before trees are crashing down and excavators are at work. A “Nimbyism” stance does not stand much chance.

Last December, Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) bought labor peace with its machinists when it quietly negotiated a contract extension that will see it through a big buildup in deliveries of its popular 777 and 787 widebodies, peak deliveries in its 737 Next Generation narrowbodies and initial production and certification of the NG's successor, the reengined 737 MAX.

Think tanks, analysts and politicians have been predicting the rise of Africa's economies and subsequent opportunities for air travel for many years. The forecasts, for various reasons, have often not turned into reality. But now it seems that foreign airline investors are gaining confidence in the region's growth potential.

The TBM 850 is a single-engine, 4-6-passenger turboprop-powered aircraft that replaced the earlier TBM 700 in 2006. Power is provided by a single 850-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D engine. The aircraft has a range of 1,585 nm. Through 2011, production totaled 260 aircraft; 418 more units are forecast for the 2012-21 period.

Viking Air owns the manufacturing rights to a number of out-of-production de Havilland aircraft, including the DHC-6 Twin Otter. The Series 400 is an all-metal, non-pressurized, high-wing, twin-engine turboprop utility aircraft. In April 2007, Viking Air launched a program to restart production of the 19-passenger Twin Otter. The updated Series 400 incorporates more than 800 changes to the Series 300 and is now powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34s or optional PT6A-35s.

Launched in 2007, RUAG Aerospace's Do 228NG (Next Generation) is an updated version of Dornier's original Do 228 twin-turboprop. The aircraft is powered by 776-shp TPE331-10 engines and features other improvements such as a new glass cockpit, five-blade propellers and aerodynamic changes to the wing. The first RUAG-produced Do 228NGs were delivered in 2010. A total of 62 aircraft are forecast to be built during the 2012-21 period.

The A340 is a four-engine, intercontinental, widebody commercial transport aircraft. A prototype flew in October 1991, and deliveries began in January 1993. The A340-200 and -300 were certificated by the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) in December 1992 and FAA in February 1993. Both are powered by four 31,200-34,000-lb.-thrust CFM56-5C4 turbofan engines. Two newer models, the longer-range A340-500 and the stretched -600, are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines. Typical seating for the -200, -300, -500 and -600 is 262, 295, 313 and 380 passengers, respectively.

Currently in development, the A350 is a twin-engine, widebody jetliner intended to compete with Boeing's 777 and 787. The A350 will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines rated at 74,000-92,000 lb. thrust and have a cruise speed around Mach 0.85. Three basic versions are being marketed: the -800, -900 and -1000. Depending on version, the A350 will seat between 270 and 350 passengers and have a range of 8,000-8,500 nm. An ultra-long-range version, the A350-900R, and a freighter, the A350-900F, are also planned.