737 MAX 7, the third and the newest member of Boeing’s 737 MAX family to come down the assembly line, debuted at the company’s Renton factory in Washington on February 5. According to Boeing, the jet is designed for up to 172 passengers and a maximum range of 3,850 nautical miles, which is the longest range of the MAX airplane family.

“Technology improvements allow the MAX 7 to fly 1,000 nautical miles farther and carry more passengers than its predecessor, the 737-700, while having 18 per cent lower fuel costs per seat,” the company said in a statement. “The MAX 7 is also superior to the competition, carrying 12 more passengers 400 nautical miles farther than the A319neo, on seven per cent lower operating costs per seat.”

“For our airline customers serving airports at high altitudes or remote locations, the MAX 7 is the ideal complement to their fleet. We look forward to demonstrating the incredible flexibility and range of this airplane,” said vice president and general manager of the 737 MAX program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Keith Leverkuhn. “This is the third 737 MAX family member our team has successfully introduced in just three years. That’s a phenomenal accomplishment and a testament to the dedication of the entire 737 team.”

The first MAX 7, according to Boeing, will now undergo system checks, fuelling and engine runs on the flight line in Renton. The airplane, the first of two MAX 7 flight test airplanes, will begin its flight testing programme in the coming weeks.

The 737 MAX is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing history, accumulating more than 4,300 orders from 92 customers worldwide.

Thales to Equip Cebu Pacific Air’s Flight Crew with Aviobook

Cebu Pacific Air, a leading airline in the Philippines currently operates a fleet of 56 aircraft comprising A319, A320, A330 and ATR 72-500. The airline also has a further 50 aircraft on order which will be delivered between 2016 and 2021. With this anticipated expansion, the airline has decided to invest in pilot operations, to ensure that flight crew day to day operations, and their mission management are at the cutting edge. As a result, they have selected the Aviobook Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) solution to digitise all their current flight dispatch documentation.

The full implementation of Aviobook Electronic Flight Bag solutions enables increased situational awareness and optimised flight collaboration with airline operation centres. The contract further broadened Thales’s expertise in avionics and airborne connectivity.

Russian Helicopters to Manufacture Aircraft for Regional Aviation

Russian Helicopters (part of Rostec State Corporation) along with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, as well as the Republic of Buryatia and the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic, have signed an agreement on arranging local air routes. The document stipulates launching production of TVS-2DTS light airplanes at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant and creating an airline-operator.

The agreement provides with creating TVS-2DTS production at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant by 2019. The plant is obliged to deliver at least 200 machines for regional aviation from 2021 till 2025.

The new airline company, which will be founded on the basis of one of Yakutia airlines, will become the operator. Currently, potential delivery of aircraft to the new operator with the assistance of State Transport Leasing Company is discussed.

Moreover, Russian Helicopters and Polar Airlines based in Yakutia will sign a contract on delivery of 200 TVS-2DTS planes in order to develop regional aviation.

“We appreciate that the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation chose Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant as a manufacturing area. Undoubtedly, the company has all skills needed to implement this project successfully. Furthermore, SibNIA named after S. A. Chaplygin, the plane developer, wished to arrange TVS-2DTS manufacturing in Ulan-Ude,” said CEO, Russian Helicopters, Andrey Boginsky.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will provide finan