Air Force orders 15 more KC-46A Pegasus tankers under $2.3 billion contract

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $2.3 billion contract for the ninth production lot of 15 KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft, expanding its fleet of multi-mission aerial refuelers. To date, 128 KC-46A Pegasus tankers are on contract with the U.S. Air Force, with 68 delivered and operationally deployed worldwide.

The KC-46A Pegasus delivers fuel to airborne aircraft and can transport cargo, personnel, and aeromedical missions. Last year, the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command approved the KC-46A for global operations including combat deployment.

The Pegasus continues to demonstrate its agile combat employment capabilities, recently completing a 42-hour endurance flight supporting a U.S. Air Force Bomber Task Force mission in the Indo-Pacific region.

During 2022, KC-46A aircraft operated in a series of U.S. Air Force global employment exercises in the European theater, Indo-Pacific region, and the Middle East.

Boeing builds KC-46A aircraft on the 767 production line in Everett, Wash., supported by a supplier network of about 37,000 workers employed by more than 650 businesses throughout more than 40 U.S. states.

Boeing is on contract for 138 KC-46A Pegasus tankers globally. Boeing has delivered two of six KC-46A tankers to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and is on contract for four KC-46A tankers for the Israel Air Force. The expanding global fleet creates commonality and interoperability efficiencies and mission-readiness advantages for the U.S. Air Force and its allies.

Video: Unmanned Loyal Wingman aircraft performs first taxi test

The Boeing Loyal Wingman aircraft being developed with the Royal Australian Air Force recently moved under its own power for the first time, a key milestone for the aircraft that’s expected to make its first flight this year.

“This latest test marks the first full unmanned movement of the Loyal Wingman with our Australian partners and takes us a step closer to first flight,” said Shane Arnott, program director, Boeing Airpower Teaming System.

Reaching a maximum speed of 14 knots (approximately 16 miles per hour, or 26 kilometers per hour), on the ground, the aircraft demonstrated several activities while maneuvering and stopping on command.

“The low-speed taxi enabled us to verify the function and integration of the aircraft systems, including steering, braking and engine controls, with the aircraft in motion,” said Paul Ryder, Boeing Australia Flight Test manager.

Three Loyal Wingman prototypes will be the foundation for the Airpower Teaming System that Boeing will offer customers worldwide.

The aircraft will fly alongside other platforms, using artificial intelligence for such teaming missions. It has advanced design and flight characteristics, including a modular nose section that’s customizable for specific needs and a conventional takeoff and landing approach suitable for many missions and runway types.

Nonstop service between San Francisco and Shanghai resumes for United Airlines

United Airlines announced Monday it will start nonstop service to China four-times weekly between San Francisco and Shanghai's Pudong International Airport. Beginning Oct. 21, United will operate four weekly nonstop flights with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from San Francisco to Shanghai on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Customers traveling from Shanghai will return to San Francisco on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

United will no longer be required to stop in Seoul. United offered more service to China than any other U.S. carrier prior to suspending service in February due to COVID-19. In 2019, United operated five daily flights between Shanghai and its hubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York/Newark.

United increases flight service between San Francisco and Shanghai, China

United Airlines announced Tuesday it will increase service to China from two to four weekly flights between San Francisco and Shanghai's Pudong International Airport via Seoul's Incheon International Airport. Beginning Sept. 4, United will operate four weekly flights with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from San Francisco to Shanghai on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Customers traveling from Shanghai will return to San Francisco on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Wednesday.

In July, United began operating twice-weekly service between San Francisco and Shanghai via Seoul. United was the largest U.S. carrier serving China prior to suspending service in February due to COVID-19.

Boeing 777 Freighter joins Volga-Dnepr Group

A Boeing 777 Freighter joined the Volga-Dnepr Group fleet of aircraft on Monday, departing Paine Field in Everett, Wash. The fuel efficient twin-engine freighter will begin operations with AirBridgeCargo, a subsidiary of Volga-Dnepr. AirBridgeCargo will operate the airplane via a sale-leaseback agreement with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.

Volga-Dnepr Group is among the world's largest Boeing freighter operators, flying 17 747 freighters and five 737 freighters, including 13 747-8F, four 747-400ERF, two 737-800BCF and three 737-400SF.

The 777 Freighter, which can fly 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 kilometers), can carry a payload of 224,900 lbs. (102,010 kg), more cargo capacity than any other twin-engine freighter. Of all production freighters, only the 747F and 777 Freighter are capable of carrying tall and outsized cargo loads on three-meter (10-foot) tall pallets. In addition, the 777F main deck side cargo door is extraordinarily wide at 3.72 meters (146.5 inches), giving that airplane outsized carriage capability beyond tall payloads.

Boeing provides more than 90 percent of the worldwide dedicated freighter capacity. Customers have ordered 231 777 Freighters since the program began in 2005. Volga-Dnepr becomes the 19^th operator to date to use the large-capacity twin-engine freighter.

Spirit AeroSystems announces further reduction in workforce

Spirit AeroSystems announced Friday it will further reduce employment at its facility in Wichita, Kan., as a result of the most recent rate reduction on the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and the ongoing global pandemic. The pandemic continues to impact the demand for new commercial aircraft and the airline industry as a whole.

"Our production rates for commercial aircraft have fallen from historic highs to significantly lower volumes in a matter of months," said Tom Gentile, president and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems.

The 737 MAX production rate reduction is the third this year, lowering Spirit's production from 125 units to 72 units for 2020, a reduction of more than 80 percent from its 2019 production rates.

To support the alignment of workforce levels with the customer demand for aircraft, Spirit will reduce headcount on commercial programs by 1,100 employees. This announcement represents 450 new layoffs at the Wichita site when taking into account prior layoff notifications and employees transitioning to defense programs, moving to the temporary special project to build ventilators or electing to participate in the voluntary layoff opportunity.

"We are taking this action to better calibrate our employment level to the reduced demand we see from our customers. This action, along with previous actions, is intended to reduce costs, increase liquidity and position Spirit to remain financially healthy while we move through a period of recovery in the commercial aviation market,” said Gentile. "Although this extraordinary time has required us to make difficult decisions, we remain focused on fulfilling requirements to our customers, including the important work we provide for defense and space programs," Gentile said. "I continue to remain confident in the future of the aviation industry, and in our ability to navigate through these challenges to emerge a stronger company."

Past stories on Spirit layoffs:

May 2020 - Spirit AeroSystems reducesemployment in Wichita as a result of lower demand

September 2013 - Spirit AeroSystems layoffs

July 2013 - 360 layoffs at SpiritAeroSystems

Video: First Super Hornet Block III test jet

Watch the first flight of the first Super Hornet Block III test jet. These F-18 test jets – equipped with improved communications systems and a 10-by-19-inch touchscreen display – will help U.S. Navy pilots familiarize themselves with the updated jets and be used in carrier flight tests.

Bell Boeing team delivers 400th V-22 aircraft

The Bell Boeing V-22 team recently delivered its 400^th aircraft, a CV-22 for U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command.

The first production V-22 was delivered on May 24, 1999, and Wednesday's deliveries occur under the Multi-year Procurement III contract valued at $5 billion. That agreement, which runs through 2024, includes variants for the Marines, Air Force, and Navy, as well as the first international customer, Japan.

The V-22 takes off, hovers, and lands like a helicopter yet flies long distances like a turboprop aircraft. The CV-22 variant performs special operations missions, including infiltration, extraction, and resupply, that conventional aircraft can’t. The Marine Corps variant, the MV-22B, provides the safe and reliable transportation of personnel, supplies, and equipment for combat assault, assault support, and fleet logistics. The Navy variant, the CMV-22B, is the replacement for the C-2A Greyhound for the carrier onboard delivery mission.

The V-22 has accumulated more than 500,000 flight hours.

First Super Hornet Blue Angel enters flight test

Boeing has delivered the first Super Hornet test aircraft for the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angel flight demonstration squadron. The unpainted aircraft now enters the flight test and evaluation phase at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. Boeing expects to deliver a total of 11 aircraft for the squadron in 2020.

The flight demonstration squadron has flown Boeing or Boeing-heritage aircraft for more than 50 years, starting with the F-4J Phantom II in 1969, and then moving to the A-4F Skyhawk. The team currently operates the F/A-18A-D Hornet.

Boeing converts F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets into Blue Angels at the company’s Cecil Field facility in Jacksonville, Fla. Major modifications include the addition of an oil tank for the smoke-generation system, fuel systems that enable the aircraft to fly inverted for extended periods of time, civilian-compatible navigation equipment, cameras and adjustments for the aircraft’s center of gravity.

Boeing selects audio management system for new T-7A aircraft

Orbit Communication Systems Inc., a leading provider of airborne communications systems, announced Tuesday that Boeing selected its Orion Audio Management System (AMS) for the U.S. Air Force's new T-7A Red Hawk advanced pilot training system.

The Boeing T-7A is a purpose-built jet trainer specifically designed to provide advanced pilot training for future fighter and bomber pilots.

Orion is an innovative and highly resilient IP-based airborne audio management system designed to support diverse network-based communication products and applications. It is easily adapted across a broad range of airborne platforms, including helicopters, commercial airliners, mission aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and fighters.

Boeing selected the Orion AMS in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of the project before the T-7A enters production. The initial program will include approximately 350 aircraft.

Most popular posts April 2020

1.) Coulson's Boeing 737 goes into firefighting service this year - Coulson Aviation USA has been awarded a multi-year contract with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service for Next Generation Large Air Tanker Services throughout the United States. [Full story] 

2.) Boeing's first COVID-19 mission lands in New Hampshire - Boeing completed its first COVID-19 transport mission on Saturday, using a 737-700 aircraft from its corporate fleet to bring personal protective equipment from China to the United States. [Full story] 

3.) Video: Blue Angels and Thunderbirds aim for flyover of Baltimore, Atlanta and DC this weekend - The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performed a very rare joint flyover above New York City, Trenton, Newark, and Philadelphia on Tuesday to honor health care and essential workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. [Full story]

4.) Air Canada reconfigures three Boeing 777s to transport COVID-19 supplies - Air Canada is reconfiguring the cabins of three of its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to give them additional cargo capacity to combat the COVID-19 crisis, the company announced on Saturday. [Full story]

5.) Marines first operational flight of MQ-9A Reaper in Middle East - On March 20, U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) pilots and sensor operators from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) conducted their first operational flight of an MQ-9A Reaper Unmanned Aircraft System in the Middle East. [Full story]

Spirit AeroSystems reduces employment in Wichita as a result of lower demand

Spirit AeroSystems announced Saturday it will reduce employment at sites supporting commercial programs as a result of lower demand for commercial airplanes. Spirit is a supplier to Airbus and Boeing, both of which announced lower production rates for commercial aircraft due to the impact of COVID-19 on the aviation industry.

"In addition to reducing employment, we are taking other initiatives to lower costs and preserve liquidity, which included raising $1.2 billion in high yield secured second lien bonds in April. We are focused on ensuring Spirit AeroSystems remains a healthy business and emerges from this crisis with a bright future,” said Tom Gentile, President and CEO, Spirit AeroSystems.

As part of the overall employment reductions, Spirit offered a voluntary layoff to union represented employees in Wichita, Kan. earlier this week. Today Spirit issued a notice to the State of Kansas under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of layoffs affecting approximately 1,450 hourly and salaried employees at its site in Wichita. Spirit's Wichita employees affected by these layoffs are expected to begin exiting the company May 15. Later this month, smaller reductions will occur at Spirit's remaining U.S. sites that perform commercial work. Spirit's global sites are reviewing workforce requirements and will announce their plans in the coming weeks.

As Spirit continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by changing its work practices to keep employees safe, the company is also working directly to contribute to the fight against COVID-19. Spirit has developed a partnership to manufacture medical devices in Wichita. Approximately 700 employees will be transferred to this temporary special project that is expected to last through October and may go longer, depending upon demand. Spirit will have more information to share on the medical device partnership in the near future.

Spirit's work on defense programs will not be impacted by these announced employment reductions and those operations will continue uninterrupted. Additionally, some employees currently supporting commercial programs may be transferred to available defense work, mitigating the number of employees who may be affected by these workforce actions.

Alaska Air will load passenger jets with cargo to fill empty seats

Alaska Air Cargo announced Wednesday it will fly passenger jets as cargo-only flights to carry essential goods like mail, medical equipment, e-commerce packages and food throughout its domestic network. Filling the passenger cabin with cargo will backfill the loss in capacity across the continental United States and Hawaii after passenger flights were reduced.

"We're determined to help protect the resiliency of our nation's supply chain by connecting critical cargo to the communities we serve during this public health crisis," said Torque Zubeck, managing director of Alaska Air Cargo.  "Our teams have been working tirelessly since March to identify the safest and most effective processes to increase our cargo capacity as quickly as possible."

In addition to Air Cargo's dedicated three freighters, six Boeing 737-900 aircraft will be utilized as cargo-only aircraft.  Boxes, mail and other items will be placed on and under seats, in overhead bins and in closets – to offer 13,500 more pounds of cargo than what a passenger-only flight could carry. In total, each flight will carry up to 30,000 pounds, which includes belly capacity.

If approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, the passenger-only aircraft would begin flying throughout the United States in May.

Alaska Air Cargo Facts

• Cargo freighters: 3 Boeing 737-700s
• Passenger-to-cargo planes: 6 Boeing 737-900s
• Cargo flown annually: 200 million+ pounds
• Seafood flown: 30 million+ pounds per year
• Destinations in Alaska we serve: 19 stations, only three connect by road
• Total destinations served in 2019: 100+
• Freighter-only flights flown in 2019: 5,487

Most popular posts January 2020

1.) Boeing plans 737 MAX aircraft return to service in mid-2020 - The Boeing Company informed customers and suppliers last month that they are currently estimating the ungrounding of the 737 MAX will begin during mid-2020. [Full story] 

2.) Airbus 330-200, newest addition to National Airlines aircraft fleet - Florida-based National Airlines announced in January they have added an Airbus 330-200 as its newest addition to its fleet, joining Boeing 747-400 Freighter and Boeing 757-200 aircraft. [Full story] 

3.) United Airlines starts DC/NYC shuttle service with Bombardier CRJ-550 jets - United Airlines has started a new hourly shuttle service between Washington's Reagan National Airport and New York/Newark Liberty International Airport. [Full story] 

4.) FBI Gulfstream jet up for sale - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intends to sell a military C-37A, acquired and converted by the FBI in 2001 to an N registered aircraft, according to contract documents released in January. [Full story]

5.) Yates Electrospace ready to unveil wide-body GD-2000 cargo delivery drone - Yates Electrospace Corp. (YEC) announced last month they have completed the design and specifications of a wide-body version of its successful GD-2000 cargo delivery drone. [Full story]

Airbus 330-200, newest addition to National Airlines aircraft fleet

Florida-based National Airlines announced Wednesday they have added an Airbus 330-200 as its newest addition to its fleet, joining Boeing 747-400 Freighter and Boeing 757-200 aircraft. This aircraft has been delivered with its N819CA registration in National's striking livery. The Airbus 330-200 commences its international charter missions in May of this year. The current two-class configuration provides 288 seats. National Airlines will be adding an additional A330 by June of this this year and additional aircraft in the future.

National Airlines, a subsidiary of National Air Cargo Holdings, Inc., operates intercontinental cargo and passenger charters for both government and commercial customers.

"National has plans to introduce two additional Airbus 330 family aircraft into its fleet by early 2021,” said Chris Alf, chairman of National Air Cargo Holdings, in a company press release. “Fleet improvements are continuously evaluated, and the demand for the passenger business drove us to the decision to acquire the Airbus 330-200, based on its proven history of providing the highest level of safety and performance."

Video: NASA test Starliner spacecraft at White Sands Missile Range

NASA and Boeing will test a pad abort system on the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on Monday from Launch Complex 32 at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

The test is scheduled for 9 a.m. EST (7 a.m. MST) with a three-hour test window.

Boeing's Pad Abort Test is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The goal of the program is to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station.

The test on Monday is designed to verify that each of Starliner's systems will function not only separately, but in concert, to protect astronauts by carrying them safely away from the launch pad in the unlikely event of an emergency prior to liftoff. During the test, Starliner's four launch abort engines and several orbital maneuvering and altitude control thrusters will fire, pushing the spacecraft approximately one mile high and one mile north of the test stand.

The spacecraft's crew module will use parachutes with landing airbags to touch down at White Sands Missile Range. It will be recovered and brought back to Launch Complex 32 for evaluation and analysis.

F/A-18C jet gets Blue Angel airframe upgrade

The Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, Md., intends to award a sole source contract to The Boeing Company to install Airframe Change (AFC-483) A1 and A2 kits (Blue Angel modification) to a F/A-18C jet, BUNO 163747. The contract award was announced Friday.

“This aircraft must be delivered no later than 30 June 2020 to support the Blue Angels 2020 show schedule,” the Navy said in contract documents.

In order to install this modification, the required support equipment must be on site by contract award.  Additionally, an 8,000 foot runway must be in place with a flight and ground operations staff to support Functional Check Flights (FCF) after completion of the modification and before aircraft delivery. The government will provide the FCF pilot. The place of performance for this requirement must be within 25 miles of the Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

Boeing was awarded the contract to retrofit nine Block 1 F/A-18E Super Hornets and two Block 1 F/A-18F Super Hornets for the Blue Angels team from the current crop of F/A-18C/D fighters, according to an article published in 2018 by the U.S. Naval Institute.

US Marshals Service needs a Boeing 737 aircraft

The U.S. Marshals Service, Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS), Las Vegas, Nev., operational site, is seeking information from responsible sources and commercial agencies concerning the "Lease with the Option to Purchase" of one large transport category turbine powered aircraft to fulfill its unique mission objectives. The lease will include the aircraft, insurance, and limited maintenance for a base period and four option years, JPATS said in contract documents released Friday. JPATS will have the option to purchase the aircraft at any time during the lease period. JPATS has determined the following aircraft types meet their need: Boeing 737-700 (HGW) or Boeing 737-700ER. JPATS anticipates utilizing the aircraft approximately 900 hours annually.

The government is interested in feedback from the commercial market on the aircraft that may be available meeting these requirements. Capabilities packages, information and/or any feedback must be submitted to JPATS no later than Nov. 7.

Brazil's largest airline renewing aircraft fleet with Boeing

GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, Brazil's largest airline, is renewing its fleet with an order of 135 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which are expected to be fully delivered by 2028. GOL already operates Brazil's newest and most modern fleet. The airline will receive 105 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 30 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft.

The first three MAX 8 aircraft were delivered to GOL between June and October and are already operating on commercial flights. The company will add four MAX 8 aircraft to its fleet by the end of the year, replacing its Next Generation models.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was developed with the help of GOL's pilots, engineers and technicians. The new aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, offering the best operational performance and a range of over 4,000 miles, enabling GOL to fly to new destinations.

The 737 MAX 10 aircraft will comfortably accommodate 30 additional passengers when compared to the MAX 8 seating configuration, which accommodates up to 186 clients. It expects to fly the first MAX 10 aircraft in its fleet in 2022.

First 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft for Juneyao Airlines

The Boeing Company delivered the first 787-9 Dreamliner for Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines. The new, super-efficient Dreamliner will also be the first widebody commercial jet operated by a privately-held Chinese airline.

Juneyao Airlines, previously an all-Airbus operator, mainly offers flights from Shanghai to more than 50 cities across China. In introducing the long-range 787 Dreamliner, the carrier is looking to expand its international network and increase flights to Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea.

The 787-9 is part of a family of three airplanes that offer long ranges and unmatched fuel efficiency in the 200 to 350 seat market. The 787-9 can carry 290 passengers and fly up to 7,635 nautical miles (14,140 kilometers), while reducing fuel use and emissions by 20 to 25 percent compared to older airplanes.

This delivery marks the first of 10 787-9 Dreamliners for Juneyao and their emergence as an international carrier.

The 787 Dreamliner is the fastest-selling widebody jet in history with nearly 1,400 orders since its launch. More than 700 of those Dreamliners have entered service around the world, helping airlines open 210 new, non-stop routes and saving more than 28 billion pounds of fuel.