Le Bourget i dag - AIN

June 21, 2017

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Another Big Day of Business at Paris Air Show The world’s commercial aircraft manufacturers enjoyed another lucrative day at the Paris Air Show, led by more big orders for Boeing and Airbus and a deal for 50 Bombardier Q400 turboprops from India’s Spicejet.  For Boeing, an MOU signed by Avalon for 75 Max 8s headlined another long list of business at the show Monday. The aircraft are scheduled for first delivery in 2021. United Airlines converted a previous order for Boeing Max 9s to a commitment for the Max 10 and expects to begin taking delivery of the Max 10 in late 2020. More launch orders for Max 10s came from China Aircraft Leasing Group and Aviation Capital Group. Boeing also secured deals with China’s Okay Airways, Ryanair, Azerbaijan Airlines and Tokyo-based Japan Investment Adviser Company. Airbus, meanwhile, collected further significant business for its A320neo family, as Dublin-based CDB Aviation Lease Finance signed an MOU for 30 A320neos and 15 A321neos. Separately, 15 A320neo positions from CDB Aviation’s previous order will convert to the A321neo. The European airframer also secured orders from Viva Air, Delta Air Lines, and Ethiopian Airlines. In the regional airliner segment, Brazil’s Embraer, Canada’s Bombardier and ATR each logged several orders for their respective aircraft. Read Expanded Version

Boom Order Book Up To 76, CEO Says Aspiring supersonic airliner manufacturer Boom, fresh off unveiling the completed design of its sub-scale prototype, now has 76 purchase commitments from five airlines for the full-scale version that it aims to have in service by 2024. “The airlines that are placing reservations are putting real money against them,” said Blake Scholl, Boom founder and CEO. “These aren’t letters of intent.” Yesterday at the Paris Air Show, Scholl confirmed that the one-third scale demonstrator unveiled in November, dubbed the XB-1 or “Baby Boom,” has completed its preliminary design review and is on track for a first flight next year. The most recent design changes include the addition of a third engine intake, which analysis shows brings “greater stability and efficiency,” Scholl said. Scholl confirmed to AIN that Boom is exchanging information with the FAA about certification. So far, there are no show-stoppers. “There are challenges, but no blockers,” he said. “The feedback from regulators is that there are some things that will be special [conditions] on the airplane, but no blockers. We’re deliberately choosing technologies that have a certification roadmap." Boom will be designed for Mach 2.2 cruise and a range of about 4,400 nm. List price is $200 million. Read Expanded Version

Antonov Breathes New Life into An-32 Transport Making its international debut at Paris is the first example of the Antonov An-132, an all-new version of the An-32 light/medium transport. The An-32 itself was a development of the classic An-24 regional transport, which first flew in 1959. Antonov is co-developing the new aircraft with Taqnia Aerospace from Saudi Arabia and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). KACST was involved in the selection of systems to create the An-132, such as the Pratt & Whitney PW150A engines, GE/Dowty R408 propellers, Liebherr air management system and Honeywell Primus Epic avionics. Compared with the An-32, the An-132 has an increased mtow of 31.5 metric tons (69,446 pounds), payload of 9.2 metric tons (20,283 lb) and more power to give exceptional “hot-and-high” capability, including the ability to operate from airfields at up to 4,000 m (13,125 ft) elevation. Production will be conducted in Ukraine until around 2020/21, and shift by degree to Taqnia in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has expressed an initial need for 80 aircraft, although no specific service or organization has been identified. The An-132 can be adapted to numerous civilian, government or military roles. Read Expanded Version

Satair Targets Single-aisle Market for Laser Protection Airbus subsidiary Satair Group is set to distribute laser-reflection kits jointly developed by Metamaterial Technologies (MTI) and Airbus to guard pilots against harmful laser beams, with the company eyeing the Airbus A320 as the first model. The technology, metaAIR, is a flexible, optical film-like filter that can be applied to transparent surfaces, such as inside of cockpit windows. The filter reflects harmful laser beams aimed at aircraft, preventing them from entering the aircraft. MTI and Airbus, through its corporate innovation arm, signed a deal in 2014 to evaluate the technology. Earlier this year, they announced a new agreement for the product's validation, certification and commercialization. The latest deal, a memorandum of understanding announced at Le Bourget, puts Satair front and center in the go-to-market strategy, leveraging the company’s global presence and extended distribution and parts support services. Satair is close to choosing a partner for supplemental type certificate development, with a goal of getting FAA, EASA and Transport Canada Civil Aviation approval next year. Single-aisle aircraft will be the first target market, and market demand will dictate what aircraft follow. The product will focus on retrofits rather than the forward-fit market. Read Expanded Version

LM Boosts Hercules with Civil Order, SOF Version Lockheed Martin reported two important developments in the ongoing C-130J Super Hercules program. An unidentified operator has ordered five LM-100Js, the commercial version, and the company has launched the C-130J-SOF version aimed at international customers requiring aircraft that are specifically configured for special operations. The prototype LM-100J is on static display this week at the Paris Air Show, having made its first flight on May 25. A second LM-100J will be joining the prototype in flight test. First delivery to the launch customer will follow in first quarter 2018. In addition, the company announced that international customers will be able to acquire a special-mission version of the airplane, the C-130J-SOF, for about $85 million in an ISR configuration with EO/IR sensor turret. This standard offer includes doubled electrical capacity, armored protection, added crew stations and extra external fuel tanks. Read Expanded Version

Mitsubishi’s MRJ90 Airliner Makes Public Debut with ANA Livery at Paris Air Show 2017 Mitsubishi brought its third flight test MRJ90 to the Paris Air Show for the new airliner’s first public appearance. This specific aircraft is intended to test the avionics and autopilot performance. The fly-by-wire MRJ is powered by Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines, and the flight test program’s five airplanes are busy logging hours toward certification in 2019. Entry into service with launch customer All Nippon Airways is planned in 2020. Watch Video