Machinists Approve New Boeing Contract by 74%;
57-Day Strike Ends
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) announced today that its members voted to ratify a new 4-year contract with the Boeing Company by 74 percent.
The new agreement covers 27,000 IAM members at Boeing facilities in Washington, Oregon, Kansas and California, and ends a strike that began on September 6, 2008.
GE Aviation announced a teaming agreement with NASA to investigate the acoustic effects of open rotor engine technology next year at Glenn Research Center’s wind tunnel facilities.
UBS analyst David Strauss released a report earlier today stating that the first 787 deliveries will not take place until 2010. Strauss cites the original schedule for flight test aircraft laid out in April, which says first flight was supposed to take place October 29, following a targeted assembly completion of August 31.
The assembly completion [...]
Over a month after Boeing machinists began strike action, bringing jetliner production to a standstill, the airframer is now eyeing a further delay to the 787’s maiden flight.
Responding to comments by a Northwest Airlines executive concerning the carrier’s requirement that its 787s be delivered with the range and specifications promised, a Boeing spokesman in a [...]
Boeing successfully completed a high-pressure test, known as “high blow,” on the 787 Dreamliner static test airframe at its Everett factory on Saturday. The test is one of three static tests that must be cleared prior to first flight. During the test, the airframe reached an internal pressure of 150 percent of the maximum levels [...]
Boeing Co. said on Tuesday it would reassess its 787 Dreamliner aircraft delivery schedule for the Japanese market when an ongoing strike ends, raising concern that a prolonged production halt could further push back deliveries.
Japan’s two biggest airlines – Japan Airlines Corp (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) – have already announced expected delays in [...]
Forty years ago today — on Sept. 30, 1968 — the first Boeing 747 jumbo jet rolled out of the company’s new factory in Everett. Thousands turned out at the ceremony to marvel at the giant new plane with a wingspan of 196 feet and a tail that was six stories high.
Capable of carrying more [...]
The last Airbus A340-300 currently on order is undergoing testing in Toulouse ahead of delivery to an undisclosed customer - believed to be a Russian VIP. Unless Airbus secures more orders, this aircraft (MSN 955) will be the last of 246 CFM International CFM56-powered A340-200/300 “Classics” to be delivered.
After an abortive evaluation two years ago of an in-house design and one developed by Winglet Technology of the USA, Airbus revealed in May that it intended to re-examine the concept in conjunction with Boeing’s long-established supplier API.
… Airbus is preparing to relaunch flight-testing of winglets on the A320, following an agreement with US specialist Aviation Partners (API) to carry out trials.
Airbus is making a higher-gross weight version of the A330-200 available in the first half of 2010 in hopes of capturing new market share caused by Boeing 787 delays. Derek Davies, Airbus’ investor marketing director, told the US Valuation Conference hosted by ATI affiliate Commercial Aviation Online that the modification will increase maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) for the passenger airliner by 5t.
