Boeing reduces support for third-party freighter conversions

• Charles Kauffman
• October 11, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

Boeing this week told customers that it may be unable to provide FAA approval for structural repairs on aircraft modified by non-Boeing entities. The position could dramatically limit OEM support for freighter conversion programs developed by the many conversion houses that modify Boeing aircraft. A multi-operator message (MOM) dispatched on Oct. 7 and seen by Cargo […]

Boeing discovers cracks in 737 NG wing joints

• Charles Kauffman
• September 30, 2019
• Aircraft, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Boeing recently notified the FAA of an emerging issue with older 737 NG airframes. “On a small number of airplanes undergoing modifications,” cracks were found in a component used to join the wings to the fuselage, commonly referred to as a pickle fork, according to a written statement from Boeing.  Further inspections have since uncovered issues […]

Amazon petitions FAA for commercial drone ops exemption 

• Chelsea Toczauer
• August 9, 2019
• All Posts, Carriers, E-Commerce, Features, News

In addition to wide- and narrowbody freighters joining the Amazon Air fleet, Prime Air drones may soon begin delivering Amazon purchases directly to customer doorsteps. Next in the series of the broader air cargo industry’s commercial drone saga, Amazon Prime Air submitted a petition to the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) yesterday that, if […]

Cathay freighters to carry lithium batteries again

• Jeff Lee
• August 1, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Features, News, Strategy

Standalone lithium-ion batteries can once again be carried by Cathay Pacific Cargo on its freighter aircraft, after the carrier developed and introduced a fire-containment bag. Shipments of standalone lithium-ion batteries are a significant driver of freighter traffic, especially given the growth of e-commerce and personal electronic devices. Under a provision adopted by the ICAO Council […]

UPS seeks airline-type status for long-distance drone deliveries

• Bloomberg News
• July 23, 2019
• All Posts, Bloomberg, Features

United Parcel Service is seeking approval to operate delivery drones under the same rules as a private jet service, unlocking the potential to carry health-care packages over long distances between hospitals. The company is working with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to obtain Part 135 certification this year, a step toward freeing it from current commercial […]

Boeing’s 737 MAX may stay grounded until 2020, WSJ says

• Bloomberg News
• July 15, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Bloomberg, Features

Boeing Co.’s 737 MAX may stay grounded until early 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported, months later than the guidance the planemaker is privately providing customers for resolving a software issue that surfaced last month. The plane is expected to start flying again in January 2020 “under the latest scenario,” the Journal said, citing unidentified sources within […]

FAA airspace restrictions over Iran to create bottlenecks for cargo carriers

• Caryn Livingston
• June 24, 2019
• All Posts, Carriers

The current Iran-US military confrontation, which today led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) prohibiting US-registered aircraft from operating over the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, is set to have major cargo implications for European and Asian carriers. For the complete story, see our sister publication, Air Cargo World.  […]

US House committee considers bill to fund FAA during shutdowns

• Chelsea Toczauer
• February 13, 2019
• Carriers

Today, the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing to discuss H.R. 1108, the proposed “Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019” that would fund the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the event of a partial government shutdown like the one ended late last month. The hearing examined how the […]