China Eastern will be the launch customer for China's home-built C919 passenger jet, which may make its first test flight later this year, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) said Tuesday. The state-owned aircraft maker said in a statement released at the Zhuhai airshow that it has agreed to begin talks with China Eastern about firming up the carrier's planned purchase of five of the single-aisle jets within a year of the aircraft's first flight. A COMAC spokesman said that the much-delayed C919, designed to be China's challenger to airliners made by industry giants Boeing Co and Airbus Group, may take its first test flight later this year or early 2017. Shanghai-based China Eastern agreed in 2010 agreed to take options for 20 C919s. The jet's maiden test flight has been delayed at least twice since 2014.<br/>
sky
Garuda Indonesia is in negotiations with Japanese authorities to use the latter’s Narita International Airport as a transit hub for Jakarta-Los Angeles flights next year. Garuda president director Muhammad Arif Wibowo said the flight route would be more profitable if Garuda could stop over in Japan. "We have to go through some procedures to arrange the license by June next year at the earliest," Arif said on Monday. The airliner’s two Boeing 777-300ER jets serve the route three times a week. According to Arif, the potential market for the Indonesia-US route could reach over 400,000 passengers annually. "Should the US economy get better next year, the demand will surely increase,” Arif said.<br/>
Maho Beach might not be the Caribbean's most idyllic beach but it's not the white sand tourists turn up for. Located on St Maarten, the small beach is popular among plane spotters and self-confessed aviation geeks for its extremely close proximity to one of the world's most scary runways. Runway 10 at Princess Juliana International Airport is so short, that pilots must make their final approach just 100 feet over the heads of sunbathers. Now, the KLM 747 landing, one of the most highly-anticipated, has come to an end. As of October 30, the flights will be operated by the smaller Airbus A330 instead. The Dutch carrier's Airbus A330 will now take passengers on the direct non-stop service between Amsterdam and St. Maarten.<br/>