Boeing just released its 2011 Geopolitical Trends Report. Examines gov't policies and the implications for aviation.

The global business environment for commercial aviation is complex. And geopolitics -- the intersection between politics, economics and geographic developments -- is one of the most challenging components of this environment.

Boeing's business strategy reflects extensive study of geopolitical forces. Understanding this component is critical to identifying opportunities, assessing risk and ultimately achieving competitive success.

The Boeing 2011 Global Geopolitical Trends report offers detailed insight into the dynamics of government policies worldwide and the implications for commercial aviation. The report reflects research and analysis by Boeing experts, as well as input from noted geopolitical subject matter experts from outside Boeing, including economists and think tanks.

The 2011 Global Geopolitical Trends report is now available for download. PDFs require Acrobat Reader; you can download the latest version here. http://www.boeing.com/commercial/pdf/geopolitical_trends.pdf

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Rolls Royce says that Qantas A380 failure is a Trent 900 engine failure

Rolls-Royce has made progress in understanding the cause of the engine failure on the Trent 900 powered A380 Qantas flight QF32 on 4 November 2010. It is now clear this incident is specific to the Trent 900 engine.

As a result, a series of checks and inspections has been agreed with Airbus, with operators of the Trent 900 powered A380 and with the airworthiness authorities. These are being progressively completed which is allowing a resumption of operation of aircraft in full compliance with all safety standards. We are working in close cooperation with Airbus, our customers and the authorities, and as always safety remains our highest priority.

We can be certain that the separate Trent 1000 event which occurred in August 2010 on a test bed in Derby is unconnected. This incident happened during a development programme with an engine operating outside normal parameters. We understand the cause and a solution has been implemented.

The Trent 900 incident is the first of its kind to occur on a large civil Rolls-Royce engine since 1994. Since then Rolls-Royce has accumulated 142 million hours of flight on Trent and RB211 engines.

We will provide a further update with our interim management statement on 12 November 2010.


Rolls Royce Press Release


Infographic: Trent 900 IP turbine in the spotlight as QF32 investigation unfolds

http://bit.ly/cQ25aA

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Boeing Informs Customers About 787 Delays

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=aviationdaily&id=news/avd/2010/11/08/07.xml

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Boeing Achieves Power On for New 747-8 Intercontinental

Boeing



EVERETT, Wash., Nov. 5, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) has completed the power on sequence for the new 747-8 Intercontinental. This milestone enables the program to begin functional tests on the airplane.

"This is a critical step in the assembly process for the new 747-8 Intercontinental," said Elizabeth Lund, 747 deputy program manager, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The airplane's systems are now live. This milestone is a reflection of the focus and hard work of our engineers, mechanics and suppliers."

Power on is a complex series of tasks that methodically energize and activate the airplane's systems. In this critical stage of the assembly process, the electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems are brought on line.

Mechanics connected the 747-8 to an external power cart to energize the flight-deck display and maintenance systems. The electricity coursing through the airplane's 133 miles (214 km) of wire will be as high as 105 kilovoltampere (kVa).

The program also activated the airplane's hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Pressurized to 3,000 pounds per square inch (psi), the hydraulics power the flight control surfaces, landing gear, brakes and steering systems. The 160 psi applied to the pneumatic system enables the airplane to operate the environmental control systems and the leading-edge flaps.

"We are very methodical in ensuring the integrity of the airplane's systems," said Todd Zarfos, vice president of 747 engineering, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "This accomplishment is a key milestone in validating the design, installation and functionality of the electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems."

The program is expected to complete assembly of the 747-8 Intercontinental in the first quarter of 2011. The airplane is scheduled to enter service in late 2011 following the flight test program.

The 747-8, which includes the 747-8 Intercontinental and the 747-8 Freighter, was launched in November 2005. Boeing has 109 orders for the 747-8 -- 33 for the 747-8 Intercontinental and 76 for the 747-8 Freighter. The first 747-8 Intercontinental is scheduled to deliver in late 2011.

The new 747-8 Intercontinental offers the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large passenger airplane, while providing enhanced environmental performance. The 747-8 provides new revenue opportunities that allow airlines to maximize profits. Eighteen feet longer than the 747-400, the 747-8 has 51 additional seats to accommodate 467 passengers in a typical three-class configuration, and it also offers 26 percent more cargo volume.


Boeing

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Singapore Airlines no halló problemas en motores Rolls-Royce de sus A380

a compañía aérea Singapore Airlines indicó el lunes que al cabo de una serie de inspecciones no había detectado ningún problema con los motores Rolls-Royce Trent 900 de sus Airbus A380.


http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gNsXjZ2w39w7XcIb0aixOhLK1JJQ?docId=CNG.907e38349b4976bc9692bfb526fd17f5.81

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Photo: Airbus Military A400M drops paratroopers for the first time

The Airbus Military A400M military airlifter has dropped paratroopers for the first time in a successful demonstration of one of its key roles.

Six freefall paratroopers made jumps from aircraft Grizzly Three in separate passes from 6,000ft at the th Fonsorbes drop zone near Toulouse on 4 November.

The paratroopers, two each from the UK armed forces, French armed forces, and the French Centre d'Essais en Vol reported that the aircraft was easier to jump from than other transports. Four of them jumped from the left-hand side door, and two from the ramp.

In an earlier flight water-filled balloons were first dropped from the aircraft and, following the paratroopers, specially instrumented mannequins were dropped using static lines. Further trials are planned for 2011.

Press Release

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Japan's Skymark to buy four A380 superjumbos

Japan's low-cost carrier Skymark Airlines said Monday it will buy four A380 superjumbos from Airbus, with an option on two more, in a deal worth a total of two billion euros by catalogue price.

Full Text: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jgSOnR4DrMn_pmM1d-S4xB-7EFJw?docId=CNG.74bac5b4cc9462fd7346e1c94b90120a.751


Will we see the 1st A380 in 853 pax configuration?

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Biofuel worse for climate than fossil fuel: study (via @abelpardolopez)

European plans to promote biofuels will drive farmers to convert 69,000 square km of wild land into fields and plantations, depriving the poor of food and accelerating climate change, a report warned on Monday.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=biofuel-worse-for-climate-than-foss

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Qantas airea el incidente del 380 y calla sobre el 747

Uno lee, piensa, ordena y reordena lo leído, y de repente va haciendo conexiones entre cosas aisladas.

Llama la atención que en agosto Qantas tuviera un fallo con un motor Rolls Royce de uno de sus 747, sin embargo nadie dio el bombo que se ha dado al fallo del A380. Nadie cuestionó la seguridad del 747, ni se leyeron alarmistas titulares en prensa sobre Airbus, que no olvidemos, benefician bastante a Boeing. El 26 de Octubre se supo que el problema había sido en la turbina. La semana pasada Qantas tuvo problemas tanto en un A380 como en un 747.

Y sin embargo se ha dicho en todos los sitio sque el 380 está bajo lupa. Digamos que esa información es incompleta, y ademas daña a Airbus y beneficia a Boeing. Quien está bajo lupa es Rolls Royce, fabricante del motor que dio problemas, porque el a380 lleva dos tipos de motores, depende del modelo, y el que lleva el 'otro' motor, no está bajo estudio. Y después de leer todo lo anterior, junto con el correo que nos llegó desde Australia, uno piensa... ¿Quien debería estar bajo la lupa es Qantas, o no?

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