WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Angola's TAAG Linhas Aereas de Angola (Angola Airlines) today announced the airline ordered two 777-300ERs (Extended Range) in a deal that also includes purchase rights for two additional 777-300ER jetliners.

Angola Minister of Transports Dr. Augusto da Silva Tomas and TAAG Chairman Dr. Pimentel Araujo joined several senior U.S. government and Boeing officials to celebrate the order at the Corporate Council on Africa U.S.-Africa Infrastructure Conference in Washington, D.C.

The two 777-300ERs are valued at approximately $544 million at list prices. The order originally was posted as unidentified on Boeing's Orders & Deliveries Web site in 2009.

TAAG, the flag carrier for Angola, will use the airplanes for route expansion to additional European destinations. TAAG currently flies Boeing 777-200ERs 10 times weekly from Luanda, Angola, to Lisbon, twice weekly to Beijing via Dubai and four times weekly to Rio de Janeiro.

"The efficiency, reliability and popularity of the 777 family will contribute to TAAG re-establishing itself as one of Africa's premier airlines," said Marlin Dailey, vice president, Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "With this purchase Boeing recognizes TAAG's continuing commitment to our products and services as an all-Boeing carrier, and we honor that commitment. We look forward to continue working together with TAAG as a long-term, trusted partner."

"The Boeing 777-300ER is recognized by airlines and passengers alike as the No. 1 choice for long-distance travel. These two 777s will add to our current fleet of 777s so that we can expand our premium service offerings to Europe." Dr. Araujo said.

U.S. Government officials present included John D. Porcari, deputy secretary, Department of Transportation and Fred Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

The Boeing 777-300ER is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor, greatly reducing its fuel requirement. It produces 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat. The airplane can seat up to 365 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a maximum range of 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km). The 777 family is the world's most successful twin-engine, twin-aisle airplane. Sixty customers around the world have ordered more than 1,100 777s.

Source: BOEING

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Fuel-efficient, lower-emission, “comfortably greener” turboprop to complement airline’s large Bombardier fleet

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Jazz Air LP (“Jazz”) of Halifax, Nova Scotia has signed a firm purchase agreement to acquire 15 Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners and has taken options on an additional 15 Q400 NextGen aircraft.

Based on the list price for the Q400 NextGen aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $454 million US and could increase to $937 million US should all 15 options be converted to firm orders.

“The introduction of the Q400 NextGen aircraft is a perfect complement to our fleet of Canadian-built Bombardier turboprops and regional jets,” said Joseph Randell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jazz Air LP. “This aircraft, which in Jazz configuration will have 74 seats in a single-class cabin, offers superior passenger comfort, fuel efficiency and improved environmental performance. I’m confident that our passengers will appreciate the quiet interior and speed of this new technology.”

Jazz flies to more Canadian destinations than any other carrier, and is the second largest airline in Canada in terms of fleet size and number of routes flown. Jazz is the world’s largest operator of Dash 8/Q-Series aircraft, and forms an integral part of Air Canada’s domestic and Canada-U.S. transborder market presence and strategy. The airline currently operates 64 Bombardier CRJ Series regional jets and 64 Dash 8/Q-Series turboprops.

“We are delighted that Jazz has recognized the capabilities of the Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft for short- and medium-length regional routes,” said Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “Since it entered revenue service a decade ago, the Q400 aircraft has raised turboprop service and passenger comfort to an unprecedented level around the world.”

Launched in March 2008, the lower-emission, fuel-efficient, “comfortably greener” Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner is the most recent development in the evolution of the Q400 aircraft, and the advanced successor to the Dash 8/Q-Series family of aircraft. Revised in the same spirit as Bombardier’s CRJ NextGen aircraft family, the Q400 NextGen aircraft features an enhanced cabin environment with the introduction of LED lighting, new ceiling panels, dished window sidewalls and larger overhead luggage bins. These features combined with the Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system provide an excellent cabin experience for passengers.

While the operating costs of the Q400 airliner were already among the lowest of any regional aircraft, the operating costs for both the Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners were made even lower by increasing intervals between scheduled maintenance and further optimizing maintenance tasks, therefore reducing labour hours. The Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners’ Aircraft Operating Manual (AOM) has been updated to reflect that the fuel burn under certain operating conditions is lower than predicted.

Including the order announced today, Bombardier has now booked firm orders for 378 Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft and had delivered 288 of the aircraft as of January 31, 2010. These aircraft are now in service with more than 30 airlines and other operators, and the worldwide fleet has logged more than 2.5 million hours and 2.8 million take-off and landing cycles. In addition to their role as regional airliners, Q400 aircraft are also being used in corporate transport and firefighting, and are suitable for an array of non-airline operations.

Source: BOMBARDIER

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The Company delivered the second aircraft to the Mexican operator this week

São José dos Campos, April 29, 2010 – ECC Leasing Company Ltd., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Embraer, signed a leasing agreement with Mexico’s Servicios Integrales de
Aviación, S.A. de C.V. (FlyMex) for two 37-seat ERJ 135 jets. The first has been in operation
since February 2010, and the second was delivered this week.

“We are pleased to welcome FlyMex as the newest operator of our ERJ 145 regional jet
family,” said Paulo Estevão de Carvalho Tullio, Embraer Vice President, Asset Management.

“The aircraft’s proven comfort and reliability have made it a favorite among operators
worldwide, and this versatile platform is serving FlyMex well in its charter operations.”

The ERJ 135s complement the operator’s current fleet, serving specific market demands. The
aircraft’s versatility strengthens its utilization for charter flight customers, including the
United Nations World Food Program.

“Our specific and unique operational requirements focus on a demanding and growing
clientele,” said FlyMex spokesperson Ms. Susana Macouset. “The proven ERJ 135 jet is perfect
for our needs, and we look forward to a lasting and growing partnership with Embraer.”

About FlyMex

Servicios Integrales de Aviación, S.A. de C.V., commercially known as FlyMex, began
operations in 2000 as a corporate flight provider, based at the Toluca International Airport, in
Mexico. Although the company was established ten years ago, its technical, administrative and
supervisory personnel had already been heavily involved in the aviation industry, with each of
its management personnel having over 30 years of experience. The commitment to excellence
and dedication doubled FlyMex’s activities in 2009, compared with 2000. In this scenario, the
two Embraer ERJ 135 jets reinforce the airline’s growing fleet to meet market demand.

The Mexican company has more than 60 customers, including private and public corporations
and government agencies, as well as the United Nations (UN) World Food Program (WFP).

The contract signed with the WFP covers Sudan, Niger, Somalia, Kenya, and the Democratic
Republic of Congo. This award distinguishes FlyMex among several worldwide providers and
other charter operators. The company’s experience includes flying to several countries, not
only in Africa, but also Canada, the U.S., and Latin America. This experience has resulted in
an increased customer base and a strong name in both the corporate and charter aviation
industries. Looking ahead, FlyMex foresees a brilliant future with a growing fleet, capable of
providing the best service and price to satisfy its customers, worldwide. For more
information, visit www.FlymexJets.com.

About ECC Leasing Company Ltd.

Embraer’s wholly owned subsidiary, ECC Leasing Company Ltd., was incorporated in
Dublin, Ireland, in September 2002, to manage and remarket Embraer’s pre-owned aircraft
portfolio. To date, ECC has handled a total of 81 aircraft, 31 of which have been leased and
35 sold to airlines, corporations, and government agencies in North and South America,
Europe, and Asia. ECC Leasing deals with Embraer aircraft that may be acquired through
trade-ins and provides remarketing services for third parties in connection with its sales
campaigns. For more information, please visit www.eccleasing.com.

Source: EMBRAER

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By Guy Norris

L-3 Platform Integration is preparing to start flight tests of the U.S. Navy’s first Spiral 3 configured EP-3E aircraft, following installation of the upgraded intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission avionics suite at its Waco, Texas, facility.

The new communications intelligence equipment replaces obsolete sensors while increasing the aircraft’s networking ...

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By David A. Fulghum
Washington

With the size of the F-22 stealth fighter force capped, U.S. Air Force officials are going to muscle up the service’s air dominance force via Air National Guard F-15C Golden Eagles upgraded with advanced, long-range radars.

Because of the larger size of the Boeing F-15s’ radar and the aircraft’s greater flight endurance, they also will serve as “stand-in” electronic warfare jamming and attack aircraft ...

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