MRO News

ch-aviation

DHL Express ups Mammoth Freighters-converted B777-200LR(MF) order to 13 aircraft, with four entering service in 2026

DHL Express increased its commitment to Mammoth Freighters-converted B777-200LR(MF) aircraft from nine to 13, adding four deliveries slated to enter service in 2026. DHL said the first aircraft will be placed with DHL Air at D0 Nottingham East Midlands.

eVTOL Insights

High activity

Low/Zero-emissions propulsion accelerates: Heart’s all-electric ES-30 roadmap, ZeAero hydrogen Caravan retrofit, Dovetail electr

Heart Aerospace is preparing its first test flight of the full-scale X1 all-electric demonstrator, targeting a hybrid-electric ES-30 entry into service by 2031. ZeAero is launching the hydrogen-powered ZERA-LITE retrofit for Cessna Caravans. Meanwhile, Dovetail Electric Aviation signed a binding customer deal for an electric Caravan conversion, and Air One was unveiled at EAA AirVenture.

ch-aviation

Ryanair plans €50M MRO expansion at Shannon

Ryanair says it will invest €50 million (about $57 million) to expand its maintenance facility at Shannon. The move is intended to increase capacity at the Irish site and strengthen the carrier’s in-house maintenance footprint, underlining continued reliance on dedicated MRO capabilities.

Inflight Online

RECARO Aircraft Seating standardizes recycled PVC cable plate and partners with UT Arlington on NSF-funded skills programme

RECARO Aircraft Seating says it has certified and moved a recycled PVC cable plate into series production, making the material standard across its economy and premium-economy seat platforms. The company is also collaborating with the University of Texas at Arlington on NSF-funded ExLENT experiential-learning initiatives to develop future aerospace talent via internships and industry learning.

Aviation Source

Porter Airlines refits Bombardier Q400s with new, more comfortable seats as part of broader cabin refresh

Porter Airlines says it will bring upgraded, more comfortable seats to its Q400 turboprop fleet, positioning the change as part of a wider cabin refresh program. The effort targets passenger comfort on the network-operated turboprop product and aligns cabin enhancements with fleet utilization.

Aviation Source

High activity

Porter to retrofit its full Dash 8-400 fleet with Expliseat TiSeat 2V, refreshing seats and cabin ambience

Porter Airlines will retrofit all 29 of its De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft with Expliseat light seats (TiSeat 2V) to address passenger complaints about seat padding. The program replaces seats, lighting and carpeting while keeping existing legroom unchanged.

Runway Girl

Porter Airlines to refresh 29-strong Dash 8-400 fleet with Expliseat TiSeat 2V

Porter Airlines says it is implementing a comprehensive economy-cabin refresh across its 29 De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft, replacing/upgrading seats with Expliseat’s TiSeat 2V “latest generation” configuration. The program is aimed at modernizing the airline’s in-cabin experience fleetwide.

Vertical Mag

Helicopter maintenance leaders warn of technician pipeline gaps, calling for upgraded training and long-term career pathways

Helicopter maintenance leaders are flagging a growing workforce pipeline challenge for skilled technicians, arguing that recruitment and retention will require stronger training pipelines, higher professionalism standards, and clearer long-term career development. They frame the issue as a structural labor market constraint for rotary-wing sustainment.