Category: FlightBlogger

DUBAI — The Saudi Arabian low cost carrier NAS Air will purchase more than 15 Embraer E190/195 jets Monday at the 2007 Dubai Air Show, Flightblogger has exclusively learned.

When asked about the size of the order, Embraer spokesman say that the order is expected to be larger than the previous record holding Gulf customer, Saudi Arabian Airlines, which operates 15 E170 aircraft on domestic and regional routes. This order would make it the largest order by a Gulf customer.

In addition, the spokesman speculated that the order was to be on par with the Virgin Nigeria order for seven E170 and three E 190 and rights and options for an additional fourteen aircraft recorded Sunday.

The Brazillian E-Jets will join a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft on its low cost operations out of Ryiadh. NAS Air signed a of a letter of intent June 22 at the 2007 Paris Air Show for up to 38 A320s.

DUBAI — Gary Scott, President of New Commercial Aircraft Programs for Bombardier Aerospace, tells Flightblogger and Flight International that the Montreal based aircraft maker is now working exclusively with Pratt & Whitney to offer a geared turbo fan engine on its C-Series aircraft.

Bombardier intends to launch its C-Series aircraft in 2008 for an entry in to service in 2013.

DUBAI — Embraer will announce an order from a Gulf customer for greater than 15 E-Jets today. The size of the order is set to be announced in a press conference at 4:30 PM local time today. Flightblogger has learned that the size of the order is greater than any order from its previous Gulf customers.

Embraer will not announce the identity of the order today, only the size of the order. Saudi Arabian Airlines, the largest operator of the E-Jets in the region, has 15 E170s. The identity of the customer will be announced at a press conference Monday.

Just broke a little while ago here. Emirates is stocking up on 93 new firm aircraft (plus 50 options), this time with a massive combination of A350s, A380s and 777-300ER.

The order breakdown is as follows:

11 A380-800
50 A350-900
20 A350-1000
50 A350 (options)
12 777-300ER

Image Courtesy Luis Contreras

Now at the airshow. Updates coming all day long.

LONDON — I write this morning from Terminal 4 at London Heathrow, (somewhat) affectionately called the JFK of Europe. I spent the night covering 2837 nm from Boston aboard a 777-236ER G-VIIL. For the sake of full disclosure, it was actually my first time flying on a 777. I must say, even in economy, it’s a very comfortable aircraft.

Good morning!

I am very pleased to announce that Flightblogger has begun its move to flightglobal.com. The move will take some time, so please bear with me as the transition will take time. It was important to get the new blog up and running in time for Dubai.

You’ll also find my first story on the 747 program over there. Please feel free to start leaving comments over at the new blog.

The new blog can be found here:

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flightblogger/

Make sure to update your bookmarks accordingly.

The Boeing 747-8 Freighter rollout and production launch have been pushed back three months according to those inside the program, as well as customers.

Boeing has decided to complete final assembly and delivery of all remaining 747-400 Freighters in 2008 to completely close the -400F production line to transition the production lines for the -8F and -8I.

Image Courtesy Boeing

Hello and welcome to the new home of Flightblogger v2.0! Think of it as moving to a new house. The house looks beautiful, but all your furniture is sitting in the moving truck and you have only had a chance to unpack a mattress, your blender and a clock radio. I’m still unpacking and I’m incredibly excited about the new digs you see before you.

Flightblogger is going to cover all of the old topics you enjoyed at the old site and a wide range of new ones.

I launched Flightblogger on March 21, 2007, stating:

The birth of any blog reminds me of an eternal question, “If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” The answer, especially when you’re a blogger, is yes. It’s almost like talking to yourself.

I have a feeling a few more people will be around for this launch than there were in March.

All my original postings will be available over at flightblogger.blogspot.com. Over the next several weeks I’ll be moving them all over so you don’t have to bounce between sites.

I did a podcast last night over at IAG Inc. It should give a good rundown of what the new Flightblogger is all about.

To the return visitors, I say “Welcome back!” To those of you just seeing Flightblogger for the first time I say, “Welcome!”

Next Stop: Dubai

Onward

Jon Ostrower is the editor of FlightBlogger, an independent venture launched in Spring 2007 and later acquired by Flightglobal.com in November 2007.

FlightBlogger takes an in-depth look at matters relating to the global aerospace industry and is frequently a source for exclusive breaking news and reporting on matters of aircraft development and production.

Jon Ostrower’s FlightBlogger has been extensively quoted in many
publications and wire services including the Wall Street Journal,
National Public Radio, New York Times, Seattle Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Chicago Tribune, Chicago
Sun, Everett Herald, Bloomberg and Reuters.

Jon also serves as full-time correspondent for Flight International Magazine, Air Transport Intelligence and is content editor for the Americas for Flightglobal.com.

Jon, a lifetime lover of aviation, is a Boston, Massachusetts native and a graduate of The George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs in Washington, DC where he now resides.