AeroTime
• Stephen Pope
The FAA has ordered operators to replace turbine seals in certain Airbus A380 engines after an uncontained engine failure led an aircraft to abort its takeoff. The directive targets specific engines; the available report does not identify affected operators, the number of engines involved or a compliance deadline.
Airbus
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The FAA has ordered operators to replace turbine seals in certain Airbus A380 engines after an uncontained engine failure led an aircraft to abort its takeoff. The directive targets specific engines; the available report does not identify affected operators, the number of engines involved or a compliance deadline.
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September deliveries rose 26% from August to 72 aircraft, matching the year-earlier month and bringing Airbus’ nine-month tally to 547, up 8% year over year. Net orders passed 1,100, but the backlog declined by 58 aircraft; Airbus needs 323 deliveries in the fourth quarter to meet its annual target.
Folding wingtips are a signature feature of Boeing’s 777X, but applying the technology to successors of the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 Max will require resolving several technical challenges. Those hurdles must be addressed before folding wings can enable greater spans on future narrowbody jets.
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Airbus UpNext has concluded its Optimate research program after 30 hours of A350 tests at Paris Charles de Gaulle in July 2026, following trials at Toulouse-Blagnac. The company says the work demonstrated safe autonomous taxiing, but has announced no date for operational deployment.
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Biman Bangladesh Airlines has signed a firm order for 10 Airbus aircraft: four A350-900s and six A321neos. The carrier, which currently operates only Boeing jets, had also committed to 25 Boeing aircraft this year; Airbus deliveries are expected to begin in 2033.
Airbus Helicopters has flown a new series of tests with its high-speed Racer demonstrator, including low-level assessment by military pilots. The flights were intended to demonstrate the compound helicopter’s performance in challenging operational conditions.
The upgrade replaces the H135’s existing battery with a lithium battery across all model variants. EASA approval clears the modification for use in the aircraft, with Heli Austria and Heli Werk presenting it as a performance and efficiency improvement.
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