Boeing’s CEO James McNerney said he would avoid “throwing any needless sharp elbow” as part of the tanker deal issue with the US Air Force.

On Monday, Boeing’s CEO James McNerney said he would avoid “throwing any needless sharp elbow” as part of the tanker deal issue with the US Air Force. However, he added he still thought the process was flawed and Boeing was right to appeal. The Air Force actually recently set up a meeting with Boeing and Northrop, to verify that both companies would be “friends” after the case is over. Mr. McNerney admitted that Boeing and Northrop would be dependent on each other, and highlighted how the US Air Force had understood Boeing’s protest position. “Our view is the tanker selection process chose the wrong tanker […] and everything we learn as we move through the protest makes us feel better about having protested that process”, he said. Seattle Post Intelligencer (29/04), The Seattle Times (29/04)

Thomas Enders, Airbus CEO, announced that the plane maker was reviewing whether it could meet the A380 delivery deadlines

Thomas Enders, Airbus CEO, announced that the plane maker was reviewing whether it could meet the A380 delivery deadlines this year and still ship 13 superjumbos in 2008 and 25 in 2009. He spoke of a “battle” to meet the schedule, but reiterated his confidence. The statement was made during the inauguration of a new logistics center in Dubai. Mr. Enders justified the choice of Dubai by the proximity to one of the most important A380 customers, Emirates, which bought 58 airplanes. The new center will allow a better, faster and more reactive response to customers needs, Airbus stated. On Tuesday, Emirates president Tim Clark actually said he was confident of taking delivery of 4 A380s by the end of the year and one more in March 2009.

Fortune has collected words from Pat Shanahan,

In a special coverage, with texts and photographs, on Boeing’s Dreamliner, Fortune has collected words from Pat Shanahan, chief of the program, who asserted that how well Boeing will do with the airplane will define the fundamentals for manufacturing commercial airplanes in the future. Fortune said it got exclusive and unprecedented access to the 787 manufacturing process around the world. Fortune (06/05)

Lagardere reported a €472 M gain last year,

Lagardere reported a €472 M gain last year, mostly due to the sale of part of its stake in EADS. Lagardere had cut its share from 15% to 7.5% through a mandatory exchangeable bond. Reuters (29/04)

Sale of Meaulte and Saint-Nazaire to Latecoere could not go as easy as planned,

Fabrice Bregier, Airbus COO, told AFP that the sale of Meaulte and Saint-Nazaire to Latecoere could not go as easy as planned, given difficulties of the supplier to find financing. Mr. Bregier spoke of “the economic context […] linked to the tensions in the financing market”, which indeed is hurting Latecoere. A final decision is expected to be taken next month. Mr. Bregier quoted Latecoere as caught in difficulties to raise EURO 300 M for the acquisition of Meaulte. Plus, Latecoere’s hedging policy against the dollar may end by the second half of the year, according to an analyst quoted by Les Echos. Mr. Bregier also underlined that in Germany, “very preliminary” contacts had been taken with potential investors over the sale of Varel, Nordenheim and Augsburg plants.

Tunis Air finally agreed to acquire 10 A320s, 3 A330s and 3 A350 XWBs,

Tunis Air finally agreed to acquire 10 A320s, 3 A330s and 3 A350 XWBs, to overhaul its fleet. The order also comes with an option for 3 additional planes. The deal is valued at €1.85 at list price. President Sarkozy rejoiced about the deal and announced that Latecoere would set up a new plant in Tunisia. AFP (29/04), Les Echos, La Croix, Negocio

The board of Thai Airways International gave the green light

The board of Thai Airways International gave the green light to a budget of $139 M meant for installing interiors and inflight systems on 6 A380 jets. DowJones Newswire (29/04)

EADS made a nice move buying PlantCML,

EADS made a nice move buying PlantCML, the emergency response solution group. Indeed, it gives sense to EADS’ strategy to rebalance its portfolio between commercial and defence/security activities. It also reinforces its industrial base in the dollar zone. PlantCML will add 650 employees to the 2,000 of EADS North America. Plus, EADS will benefit from the expected double-digit growth of the secured professional mobile radio (PMR) market. Jean-Marc Nasr, the president of EADS Secure Networks, says that in Europe, the market is very concentrated and customers are mainly governments. But in the US, it is quite fragmented, State by State and even county by county. In that purpose, PlantCML offers EADS a complete network all over the federal territory. L’Usine Nouvelle

FIRST PHENOM 300 EXECUTIVE JET PERFORMS MAIDEN FLIGHT

Embraer’s all-new light jet successfully flies from the Gaviao Peixoto plant Sao Jose dos Campos, April 29, 2008 – The Embraer Phenom 300, a standard-setter for the light jet category, successfully took to the air on its maiden flight, today, from the Company’s Gaviao Peixoto test runway. In the coming months, the first Phenom 300, serial number 99801, will participate in the flight test campaign along with three additional Phenom 300 jets. It is expected to enter service in the second semester of 2009. “This first flight of the Phenom 300 executive jet is a very special and historic moment for all of us at Embraer,

Bombardier Surpasses Milestone 1,500th CRJ Regional Jet Delivery

Bombardier Aerospace announced that the CRJ Series program has celebrated and exceeded its 1,500th delivery milestone. The 1,500th aircraft, a CRJ900 NextGen model, was handed over to Northwest Airlines in March, 2008, and will be operated by Mesaba Airlines, a Northwest Airlink carrier.
On Friday, April 18, the milestone was celebrated during the delivery of another CRJ900 NextGen regional jet to Northwest Airlines, at Bombardier’s manufacturing facility at Mirabel, Quebec. The CRJ900 NextGen aircraft delivered during the ceremony was accepted by Dan McDonald, Vice-President, Fleet Planning and Strategy, Northwest Airlines, Inc.
Northwest Airlines has ordered 56 CRJ200, 86 CRJ440 and 36 CRJ900 NextGen airliners.

Boeing, Lion Air Celebrate 10th 737-900ER Delivery

SEATTLE, April 28, 2008 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Jakarta-based Lion Air celebrated the delivery of the airline’s 10th Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplane. The airplane, shown here during a test flight, will be used by the airline to expand its service with new destinations throughout South and Southeast Asia. The airline’s 737-900ERs are equipped with performance-enhancing Blended Winglets, which improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 4 percent.
Boeing launched the 737-900ER program in July 2005 when Lion Air announced the initial order for 30 of the newest 737 model.

Airbus opens modern material and logistics centre in the Middle East

Airbus Material and Logistics Centre in the Middle East has been officially opened at the Dubai Airport Free Zone in the United Arab Emirates in a ceremony with his Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.

The opening of the Materials and Logistics Centre gives Airbus greater proximity to valuable customers, and facilitates a quicker and more reactive response to their needs. It also reduces the time and cost in transporting spares.

Tunisair chooses Airbus to modernise and expand its fleet with A350s, A330s and A320s

North African airline Tunisair has signed a letter of acceptance of the Airbus proposal for the acquisition of three A350-800s, three A330-200s and ten A320s, as part of an important fleet development plan that will modernise and expand the fleet of this growing airline. With this acquisition, Tunisair is the third African airline to order the all-new A350 XWB. Tunisair currently already has 12 A320s, four A319s of which two with extended range capability and three A300-600s in operation.