August 16, 2016

August 16, 2016

View Full Issue Table of Contents
COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Climbing Out

By Adrian Schofield

InsideMRO Operations

Growing AFI-KLM E&M

PROPULSION

Firing Up Firefly

By Guy Norris

View Full Issue
More Features
2829
COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Climbing Out

Auckland Malaysia Airlines' order for up to 50 Boeing narrowbody aircraft is the strongest statement yet that its revival is on track, and the prospect of further orders underscores the carrier's growing confidence. Just 10 months ago, the likelihood of such ambitious fleet moves seemed remote.

By Adrian Schofield

MRO18MRO19
InsideMRO Operations

Growing AFI-KLM E&M

Aviation Week: AFI-KLM E&M has created a new joint venture with Safran focused on engine-compressor blade repair. How significant is its formation, and what are its long-term aims? Terner: We're in the business of maintaining engines, and the compressor blades are the most expensive parts of those engines.
MRO4431
PROPULSION

Firing Up Firefly

Salt Lake City Low-cost launcher start-up company Firefly Space Systems plans to conduct the first fullscale development test of its Alpha vehicle's pressure-fed FRE-2 aerospike rocket engine in the fourth quarter of this year. The 125,000-lb.-thrust engine will be the first aerospike rocket to fly and is pivotal to Firefly's goal of developing a scalable family of relatively simple, lightweight launchers for the small satellite market.

By Guy Norris

4647
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE

Missile Zapper

Washington The U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) longtime pursuit of laser weapons for shooting down ballistic missiles as they launch will be reenergized this fall, when the organization selects two flying testbed aircraft to carry its low-power laser demonstrator program into the stratosphere.

By James Drew

MRO4MRO5
InsideMRO News Briefs

Highlights

AUGUST 15-282016 AUGUST 29-SEPTEMBER 112016