Jun 20 2011

Bombardier completes CSeries order at Paris Air Show

Bombardier announced it won an order for 10 CSeries CS100 planes, worth $616 million at list price at the Paris Air Show today. The announced agreement increases orders for the CSeries family to 113, including 51 CS100s and 62 CS300s, and raises the number of CSeries customers to six.

An option for an additional 6 aircraft could take the total value of the order to $1 billion if all options are taken by the unnamed customer. Bombardier did not indicate who the buyer was save that it was a  “major network carrier”. The airline will be the first to take delivery of the CSeries aircraft when they are ready for service.

Jun 20 2011

Embraer signs 39 E-Jet orders at Paris Air Show

Embraer announced at the Paris Air Show that  that three airlines and two leasing companies have ordered a total of 39 of its E-Jets worth up to $1.7 billion.

The company indicated in a news release that it has signed a letter of intent with Kenya Airways for 10 firm orders for the E-Jet 190 with an additional 10 options. Air Astana also placed a firm order for two regional jets and options for another two.

GE Capital Aviation Services placed an order for  two E-Jets, while Air Lease Corporation placed a firm order for five, bringing its total order to 30. Sriwijaya Air also announced an order for 20 aircraft and placed options for a further 10.

Jun 16 2011

ASA facing fine from FAA for missed inspection of CRJ aircraft after lightning strikes

The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a $425,000 fine against Atlantic Southeast Airlines for allegedly operating two Bombardier CRJ regional jeta when they were not in compliance with FAA regulations.

The allegation is that ASA failed to complete required inspections of two aircraft after they were struck by lightning. One indicent took place on July 21, 2008 and the other on July 23, 2008.

The FAA alleges that ASA operated the two aircraft on a total of 13 revenue passenger flights between July 22 and 24 when they were not in compliance with federal regulations. The regulations require that aircraft operators conduct and document the detailed check for lightning strike damage mandated in the airline’s aircraft maintenance manual. An FAA air safety inspector discovered both alleged violations.

Atlantic Southeast has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency’s decision.

 

Jun 15 2011

ANI Group Holdings Limited places tentative orders for MRJ aircraft

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation announced that it has completed a tentative order with ANI Group Holdings Limited to purchase five of its MRJ regional jets for onward operation by unnamed Indonesian airlines.

The company said in a statement that it had signed a memorandum of understanding that could lead to a firm order for five aircraft and the option for adding 20 more aircraft to the order.

ANI Group would be the third customer for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, or MRJ, which also has orders for 125 planes from Trans States Holdings and All Nippon Airways.

Mitsubishi started assembly in April 2011, with the program’s first flight scheduled for the second quarter of 2012, with initial deliveries in 2014.

ANI Group provides leasing and maintenance services to five Indonesian carriers. The announcement did not specify whether the company planned to order the 70-seat or 90-seat version of the MRJ, and did not give any specific delivery date. It did state that follow-on ordered hinged on Mitsubishi launching a stretched aircraft carrying 100 passengers in the near future.