China Airlines Opts for V2500 Engines
International Aero Engines has boosted its orderbook with China Southern Airlines by approximately $600 million with a repeat order for the V2500 to power a new fleet of 20 Airbus A320 family aircraft. The contract includes a long-term IAE Aftermarket Services agreement. China Southern has opted to upgrade its entire V2500-A5 fleet to V2500 SelectOne standard as part of the deal. In another repeat order, Vietnam Airlines has ordered V2500s to power 36 new Airbus A321s in a deal worth more than $700 million.

First Customer for New International Black Hawk
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has become the launch customer for the new S-70i, the latest model in the celebrated Black Hawk helicopter line. The ministry has signed a firm contract for three and has taken options on another 12 aircraft. Delivery of the first helicopter is scheduled for early 2011 and will be used on transport, border protection and other missions.

The new S-70i was developed for the international market and includes the latest technology with advanced features such as a fully integrated digital cockpit with a dual digital automatic flight control system and coupled flight director. It also features an active vibration control system. The S-70i uses a global supply chain and is the first Black Hawk assembled in Europe. PZL Mielec, a Sikorsky company in Poland, has been established as the hub of the S-70i program for international customers. The first flight of the S-70i took place on July 1 at the Sikorsky development flight center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Liebherr-Aerospace Gains Further Work in China
Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg has been selected by Commercial Aircraft Co. of China (Comac) to develop, supply and service the landing gear system for the new single-aisle C919 jet family. This work, which includes the main landing gear and nosewheel, extension and retraction system, nosewheel steering, and position and warning system, will be undertaken in a joint venture with the Chinese AVIC company Landing-gear Advanced Manufacturing (LAMC), based at Changsha in the Hunan province. Liebherr-Aerospace is already participating in the C919 with the complete air management system, developed and supplied by sister company Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS. Liebherr-Aerospace is already on board the ARJ21 regional jet program with the landing gear and air management systems.

Boeing Adds Dominator To MALE Solutions
The Boeing Co. has signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel’s Aeronautics to market the DA42 Dominator unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which is based on the Diamond DA42 light piston twin built by Diamond Aircraft of Austria. The DA42 UAS is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions with an all-composite construction that provides durability, reduced maintenance and lower aircraft weight to enhance mission endurance.

“The medium-altitude, long-endurance [MALE] portion of the unmanned systems market is expanding as the world’s armed forces acquire a variety of vehicles for use in current conflicts and future missions,” said Chris Chadwick, president of Boeing Military Aircraft. “By collaborating with Aeronautics to market the DA42 Dominator, Boeing is able to offer a wider range of MALE solutions to customers, both domestically and internationally.”

Cable To Chair Aerospace Leadership Group
Dr. Vince Cable, Britain’s secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, announced here at Farnborough that he is to chair the UK’s Aerospace Leadership Group that will hold regular meetings to focus on strategic issues facing the nation’s aerospace sector. Other members of the group are Sir Kevin Smith (GKN), Sir John Rose (Rolls-Royce), Tom Williams (Airbus) and Alberto de Benedictis (Finmeccanica). Supporting the group is the Aerospace Growth Partnership, to be chaired by Mark Prisk, minister of business, innovation and skills.