Aviation

First series production LCA Tejas trainer carries out first flight

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The first-ever series production standard TEJAS Trainer produced by HAL successfully completed a sortie in its first flight on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone for the TEJAS program.

In a statement, HAL stated that the first-ever TEJAS Trainer (LT 5201) in series production “took to the skies for its maiden flight on April 5 from HAL airport and landed after completing a successful sortie of around 35 minutes.”

The LCA Tejas program was first developed in the 1980s to replace India’s aging MiG-21 fighters, but it eventually integrated into a larger fleet modernization initiative. The Aeronautical Development Agency and the Aircraft Research and Design Centre of HAL collaborated to create the single-engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter known as the HAL Tejas for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

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Aviation

Boeing Resumes 737 MAX Manufacturing After Seven-Week Strike

In a crucial move for its recovery, Boeing has restarted production of its best-selling 737 MAX jetliner, about a month after a significant seven-week strike involving 33,000 factory workers came to an end.

This marks a key milestone for the planemaker, which has been facing considerable challenges in recent years, including heavy debt and a series of setbacks.

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According to the report from Reuters, Boeing resumed the production of the 737 MAX jetliner last week, a pivotal step as the company aims to meet the growing global demand for air travel. With over 4,200 orders from airlines, Boeing’s ability to get the 737 MAX production line back in motion is vital for its financial recovery.

Although Boeing had previously planned to restart production earlier, the company faced numerous obstacles that delayed this process. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Mike Whitaker told Reuters on Thursday that while Boeing had not yet resumed production, they had plans to restart by the end of the month.

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The road to this point has been rocky for Boeing. Setbacks such as the tragic fatal crashes of the 737 MAX, the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing supply chain issues, production safety concerns, and increased regulatory scrutiny have all contributed to delays in the company’s efforts to ramp up production.

The seven-week strike, which involved thousands of Boeing’s factory workers, added yet another hurdle. Despite these challenges, production of the 737 MAX officially resumed on Friday, according to one of the anonymous sources.

Boeing, however, declined to comment on the matter. The planemaker is now focused on reaching its goal of producing 56 737 MAX airplanes per month, a target that has been delayed due to the many issues that have beset the company over the past few years.