GE Aerospace testing next-gen rotor diagnostics

GE Aerospace has started testing of its “next generation Rotor Analysis Diagnostic System (RADS)” for civil and military operators. The system will “reduce pilot time and save fuel by enabling operators to complete rotor track and balance operations and diagnostics in fewer flights”. Testing on major OEM [original equipment manufacturer]…

Embraer and Ocean Explorer agree terms for use of Beacon

Embraer and fellow Brazilian company Ocean Explorer have put pen to paper on the latter’s use of Beacon, Embraer’s “maintenance coordination digital platform”. Ocean Explorer is to be the first helicopter operator to use Beacon, a system Embraer said helps “bring contextual communication between its maintenance teams and external partners,…

Pratt & Whitney Canada marks a billion flying hours since 1928

Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) on February 22 announced it had “achieved one billion flying hours since the formation of the company” in 1928. Since then, the company has made around 110,000 engines, 66,000 of which remain in use by over 16,000 customers. Around half the engines made and half…

Aviation software provider Rusada expands to Toronto

UK-based aviation software business Rusada has opened a new office in Toronto. The facility, the company said, is “to support customers and business development in the region”, with cities such as Chicago, Montreal and New York “only a short a flight away”. Founded in 1987, Rusada develops and sells airworthiness,…

Savback signals US$45m purchase of 25 Mayman Speeders

US-based Mayman Aerospace and Savback Helicopters said they have signed a “letter of intent” for the “sale and purchase” of 25 of Mayman’s Speeder Air Utility Vehicles, a type of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) flyer. The deal “positions Savback as the first civilian customer”, according to statement by the…

Embraer confirms Spanish customer in deal for five aircraft

Embraer has named Spanish airline Binter as the customer of five aircraft the Brazilian manufacturer said last week were ordered by an unnamed buyer. The E195-E2s are to be delivered next year and the year after, Embraer confirmed, and will be added to five of the jets Binter bought in…

Airbus pledges to stop buying Russian titanium

After arguing for months that governments should not list titanium among the commodities sanctioned in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Airbus on Friday (Dec.2) said it would stop sourcing the metal from Russia. “We are in the process of decoupling from Russia when it comes to titanium. It will…

First Maker transition flight completed by Archer

Archer confirmed that it has “completed Maker’s first full transition flight”, a landmark that came less than a year after its first hover flight and what it said was “the culmination of several months of intensive flight testing”. Archer said the progress was “another significant building block” as it pushes…

Pratt & Whitney Canada gets FAA thumbs-up for business jet engine

Pratt & Whitney Canada has confirmed that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had certified its PW812D engine, the third official seal of approval  granted after those of Transport Canada and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The newly-approved piece of kit is to power the Dassault Falcon 6X business…

Alaska Airlines claims US first with electronic bag-tagging

Alaska Airlines (AA) on Wednesday said it was “the first US airline to launch an electronic bag tag programme” with new tech that allows passengers to tag luggage on the airline’s phone app. The roll-out is to see 2,500 Alaska Mileage Plan members begin receiving their electronic bag tag this…

United Airlines invests in battery maker Natron Energy

United Airlines said that it has made a “strategic equity investment”of an unspecified amount of money in Natron Energy. The deal with what United labelled a “cutting-edge” battery manufacturer is aimed, it added, at helping reduce emissions from ground operations. Natreon’s sodium-ion batteries, United said, “presented an ideal opportunity to…

Jetstar provides customers with flexible payment option through Zip

Jetstar has expanded its Qantas partnership by providing flexible payment options to Jetstar customers using the pay later platform Zip. Both Zip Pay and Zip Money will be available for eligible Jetstar customers. Zip Pay allows customers to flexibly pay for purchases of up to $2,000, while Zip Money facilitates…