Archive for category: Industry News

Boeing has announced a new partnership with a Costa Rica-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider to create additional conversion capacity for the 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter. Boeing will open two 737-800BCF conversion lines with Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (COOPESA) in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The first of the new conversion lines is expected to open in early 2022, with the second anticipated later that year.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet can operate from a “ski jump” ramp, demonstrating the aircraft’s suitability for Indian aircraft carriers. The demonstrations, held at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, showed that the Super Hornet would do well with the Indian Navy’s Short Takeoff but Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system and validated earlier simulation studies by Boeing. “The first successful and safe launch of the F/A-18 Super Hornet from a ski jump begins the validation process to operate effectively from Indian Navy aircraft carriers,” said Ankur Kanaglekar, India Fighter Sales lead for Boeing. “The F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet will not only provide superior war fighting capability to the Indian Navy but also create opportunities for cooperation in naval aviation between the United States and India.

The 737 Max has returned to scheduled passenger service with Tuesday’s flight by American Airlines from Miami to La Guardia. The flight reportedly carried more than just some trusting passengers after the aircraft came out of nearly 2 years of limbo, it also carried the wife of the Captain, the first officer’s mother, and American Airlines President Robert Isom. No pressure, right? The schedule calls, initially, for one Miami-New York round trip a day until January, when more will join the flock. When the Max was cleared to start the process of returning to service, AAL noted that, “We know that restoring our customers’ confidence in this aircraft will come with time and importantly, transparency and flexibility.

In a time characterized by rapidly evolving tactics and modernized equipment, the Marine Corps has taken the next step in maintaining air superiority as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 declares their initial operational capability (IOC) for the F-35C Lightning II. Initial operational capability declaration marks a significant accomplishment for 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), enabling VMFA-314 to deploy the F-35C onto aircraft carriers where they will be able to support combat operations anywhere in the world.