Aerospace

Japan Airlines Set To Fly Airbus A321P2F In Spring 2024

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL) and Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd. (YHD) have decided on the routes and number of flights of a dedicated freighter aircraft, which is scheduled to begin operating in April 2024, in order to secure stable transportation capacity, maintain and improve service quality, and address social issues like regional revitalization. Both companies will continue to work toward the launch of the new service.

IndiGo receives its first A321 Freighter aircraft for cargo service(Opens in a new browser tab)

From April 2024 onward, we plan to operate a total of 21 flights per day on the following four routes using all three Airbus A321ceo P2F aircraft*. Application to and approval by the appropriate authorities are required for this plan.

(1) Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) = Kitakyushu
(2) Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) = Sapporo (New-Chitose)
(3) Tokyo (Narita) – Okinawa (Naha)
(4) Okinawa (Naha) – Kitakyushu

Two of the three aircraft have already been delivered, and the third will arrive in February 2023. Commencing in Singapore March 2023, the aircraft will be gradually converted from a passenger aircraft to a solely dedicated freighter aircraft. EFW of Germany holds a contract for the conversion programme to a dedicated freighter aircraft.

AirAsia X takes flight to Tokyo-Haneda(Opens in a new browser tab)

*EFW was jointly founded by the aircraft manufacturer AIRBUS and ST Engineering of Singapore, a business that specializes in converting Airbus aircraft from passenger to freighters.

The operating company will be changed to Spring Japan Co., Ltd. a JAL consolidated subsidiary. In light of the external environment, the JAL Group will optimize the allocation of management resources, strengthen the business foundation of its LCCs, and accelerate Group-wide preparations for the start of dedicated freighter flights in April 2024.

We are putting in the essential planes and enhancing the infrastructure needed for the launch of freighters at each of the airports where they are expected to fly. In order to be ready for the 2024 launch of the new aircraft, both companies will hire new personnel, including those who will be involved in flight operations and freight handling.

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.