Enstrom Helicopter has reported that its TH180 — a new, two-seat training helicopter based on the F28F — made its first flight Feb. 6. The ground and flight test took about an hour, Enstrom reported, describing the aircraft’s flight speed and maneuvers as “remarkable.” Link
Qatar Airways plans to operate the Airbus A350 XWB on its Doha-Singapore service, replacing Boeing 787 aircraft that were introduced on the route less than a year ago. The carrier will also upgrade from two to three flights a day using the new aircraft. Link
Boeing vice-president Randy Tinseth says the company has studied reviving and re-engining the 757 “a couple” of times, but concluded that the economics do not make sense. “We’re not studying 757 re-engined replacements right now. It just doesn’t work,” says Tinseth, addressing the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA) conference in Seattle. Link
Fed up with poorly-dressed passengers at airport lounges? Qantas has announced a crackdown across its Australian airport lounges, with the airline set to more rigorously enforce a “minimum smart casual” dress code. Link
Boeing’s next new jetliner could be a version of an old one it stopped making a decade ago. Link
Whatever the outcome, it could precipitate an aggressive move by Boeing, the No. 2 U.S. defense contractor, to acquire the aircraft unit of No. 3 defense player Northrop Grumman. Link
The Transportation Security Administration is investigating how a woman with a history of boarding airplanes without a ticket was able to fly, ticket-free, from Minnesota to Florida. Marilyn Hartman was arrested Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla., and is scheduled to appear in court there today. Link
