AirInsight
• Addison Schonland
The FAA has ordered inspections of nearly 500 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after concerns about cracks in the aircraft’s body that could affect structural integrity. The directive adds a significant maintenance requirement for operators and puts renewed focus on MAX fleet airworthiness and inspection compliance.
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The U.S. Air Force is searching for ways to address supply-chain bottlenecks in the engines supporting Boeing’s F-15EX and Lockheed Martin’s F-16 fighter programs. The effort underscores manufacturing constraints affecting two key tactical-aircraft platforms and the service’s ability to sustain production.
A new Pentagon report attributes delays to Boeing’s two VC-25B presidential aircraft to interior design problems and certification issues. The findings add to schedule pressure surrounding the Air Force One replacement program, with implications for Boeing’s execution, government oversight and delivery planning.
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The FAA has ordered inspections of nearly 500 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after concerns about cracks in the aircraft’s body that could affect structural integrity. The directive adds a significant maintenance requirement for operators and puts renewed focus on MAX fleet airworthiness and inspection compliance.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $75 million undefinitized contract action for the BSU-111/B JDAM Long Range, a precision-guided munition designed to carry a 500-pound-class payload beyond 300 nautical miles. Boeing says the first production kits will go to the U.S. Navy.
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The FAA has granted type certification to Boeing’s 737-7 after years of delay, marking progress in the manufacturer’s regulatory reset and creating a pathway toward approvals for the 737-10 and 777-9. AerCap’s CEO called 737-10 certification vital to the MAX family’s airline appeal.
The P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton were designed to operate together, but enabling Poseidon crews to directly control Tritons in flight would add new tactical options and extend the manned maritime patrol aircraft’s operational reach.
The Boeing-Lockheed Martin rocket joint venture plans to tap the private bond market to refinance existing debt. The transaction would provide fresh financing for the venture while highlighting the capital requirements facing major launch businesses and their shareholders.
Recent demonstrations by Northrop Grumman, Boeing, the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy show accelerating investment in networked maritime autonomy: MQ-4C Triton and P-8A aircraft exchanged mission data, while British forces linked a Wildcat helicopter, drones and ground units across more than 200 miles.
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