Latest news with #KC-46
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
KC-46 Crews Ordered To Drastically Curtail Use Of Jet's Onboard Auxiliary Power Unit
The U.S. Air Force's fleet of KC-46 Pegasus air refueling tanker fleet is experiencing problems with its auxiliary power unit (APU), a small secondary turbine engine at the back of the plane that primarily provides electricity to run systems prior to the startup of the main engines. It is also used to self-start the aircraft on the ground without the need for cumbersome ground support equipment. The problem has gotten so bad, Air Mobility Command (AMC) recently sent out a memo curtailing the use of the KC-46's APU, The War Zone has learned. The APUs are intended to make the KC-46s less reliant on ground crews and equipment prior to takeoff, but the issue is having the opposite effect, the Air Force told us. 'AMC has seen some premature failures of APUs we're working with the (Original Equipment Manufacturer) OEM to resolve,' an AMC spokesperson confirmed to us Monday afternoon. 'This memo ensures our maintenance team uses ground support equipment whenever possible to reduce APU wear-and-tear, giving us the best availability while we work through repairs.' It isn't clear when the problem was discovered or how long the workaround will be in place. Having to rely on ground systems, including power carts for accessory power and huffers carts for engine start, requires a larger logistical footprint and more personnel on the ground. It's also an inconvenience to the crew. Above all else, it diminishes the aircraft's ability to operate in austere conditions, a key component of the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment (ACE) program. ACE currently refers to a set of concepts for distributed and disaggregated operations centered heavily on short notice and otherwise irregular deployments, often to remote, austere, or otherwise non-traditional locales. The APU issue is the latest in a long string of problems for the Pegasus, both systemic and incidental. Last week, we told you about a KC -46 that lost its boom during an incident off the coast of Virginia. The Pegasus had been on a F-22 Raptor fighters refueling mission at the time. You can see images of the aftermath of that mishap below. Posted to the Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page. This is the KC-46 that landed at Seymour-Johnson after the accident the other day. — Steven Fortson (@zaphod58) July 12, 2025 The recent incident is one of several involving KC-46 booms. Last year, another Pegasus lost its boom while refueling an F-15E Strike Eagle off the coast of California last year. The boom and the control system for it have been a source of serious and persistent technical issues for the Pegasus fleet for years now. A fix for the KC-46's particularly troublesome remote vision system (RVS), which boom operators in the tanker's main cabin use to perform their work, is now unlikely to be finished before summer 2027, roughly three years behind schedule, according to Defense News. The APU problems come as the KC-46 fleet has been in heavy use. Last month, they were part of an armada of refuelers, which also included the KC-135 Stratotankers, which took part of the U.S. buildup of forces in the region as tensions with Iran rose to a fever pitch. They helped refuel the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that struck Iranian nuclear sites during Operation Midnight Hammer last month. The bombers dropped 14 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs on Iran's Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities. It marked the first combat use of those weapons. We reached out to Air Mobility Command Monday evening to find more details about the APU curtailment and will update this story with any pertinent information provided. In the meantime, the Air Force is working to fix yet another problem on its newest tanker. Contact the author: howard@
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Boeing deliveries jump to 60 in June, including 8 to China, Infra News, ET Infra
US aeronautics company Boeing said on Tuesday that it delivered 60 airplanes in June, a 27 per cent increase compared to a year earlier, including eight to Chinese customers for the first time since a trade spat between the US and China ended. Advt Advt Beijing had banned delivery of Boeing aircraft in April as a tariff dispute escalated between the world's two biggest economies, but in May, it removed that ban, as the two countries agreed to temporarily cut steep deliveries are closely tracked by Wall Street because planemakers collect much of their payment when they hand over jets to surge in deliveries comes as Boeing seeks to recover from years of production setbacks and crises that have left it burdened with debt, underscoring the critical importance of ramping up deliveries to stabilize its delivered 42 of its best-selling 737 MAX jets, nine 787s, four 777 freighters and five 767s, including three to be finished by Boeing's defense division as KC-46 aerial refueling Airlines took delivery of 10 737 MAX of the 737 MAX jets were for Chinese airlines. Boeing also delivered three other jets to Chinese customers, including a 787 and two 777 company delivered 44 jets the previous month and 45 in June the first half of 2025, Boeing has delivered 280 jets, including 206 737 MAX aircraft, 37 787s, 14 767s, 20 777s and three older model 737s to be finished as P-8 Poseidons, a naval reconnaissance booked 116 gross new orders in June, including 54 737 MAXes and 62 787s. Alaska Airlines ordered 12 737s, and British Airways ordered 32 Airlines also cancelled orders in June for three 737 MAX order activity was a drop from May, when Boeing posted its sixth-highest monthly order tally in Boeing's history, according to company the first half of the year, the planemaker has booked 668 orders, or 625 net orders after cancellations and rival Airbus delivered 63 aircraft in June, the company reported Tuesday. Eight of those were widebody aircraft - three A330s and five A350s. Forty-three were single-aisle A320 and A321 jets that compete with Boeing's 737, and 12 were A220 regional jets.>
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Boeing delivers 60 jets in June, including 8 to China, as it resumes deliveries
Boeing said Tuesday that it delivered 60 airplanes in June, a 27% increase compared to a year earlier, including eight to Chinese customers for the first time since a trade spat between the countries ended. The surge in deliveries comes as Boeing seeks to recover from years of production setbacks and crises.(REUTERS) Beijing had banned delivery of Boeing aircraft in April as a tariff dispute escalated between the world's two biggest economies, but in May, it removed that ban, as the two countries agreed to temporarily cut steep tariffs. Aircraft deliveries are closely tracked by Wall Street because planemakers collect much of their payment when they hand over jets to customers. The surge in deliveries comes as Boeing seeks to recover from years of production setbacks and crises that have left it burdened with debt, underscoring the critical importance of ramping up deliveries to stabilize its finances. Boeing delivered 42 of its best-selling 737 MAX jet, nine 787s, four 777 freighters and five 767s, including three to be finished by Boeing's defense division as KC-46 aerial refueling tankers. Southwest Airlines took delivery of 10 737 MAX aircraft. Five of the 737 MAX jets were for Chinese airlines. Boeing also delivered three other jets to Chinese customers, including a 787 and two 777 freighters. The company delivered 44 jets the previous month and 45 in June 2024. Through the first half of 2025, Boeing has delivered 280 jets, including 206 737 MAX aircraft, 37 787s, 14 767s, 20 777s and three older model 737s to be finished as P-8 Poseidons, a naval reconnaissance airplane. Boeing booked 116 gross new orders in June, including 54 737 MAXes and 62 787s. Alaska Airlines ordered 12 737s, and British Airways ordered 32 787s. Singapore Airlines also cancelled orders in June for three 737 MAX jets. June's order activity was a drop from May, when Boeing posted its sixth-highest monthly order tally in Boeing's history, according to company data. Through the first half of the year, the planemaker has booked 668 orders, or 625 net orders after cancellations and conversions. European rival Airbus delivered 60 aircraft in June, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics consultancy. Seven of those were widebody aircraft - three A330s and four A350s. Forty-one were single-aisle A320 and A321 jets that compete with Boeing's 737, and 12 were A220 regional jets.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boeing delivers 60 jets in June, including 8 to China, as it resumes deliveries
By Dan Catchpole SEATTLE (Reuters) -Boeing said Tuesday that it delivered 60 airplanes in June, a 27% increase compared to a year earlier, including eight to Chinese customers for the first time since a trade spat between the countries ended. Beijing had banned delivery of Boeing aircraft in April as a tariff dispute escalated between the world's two biggest economies, but in May, it removed that ban, as the two countries agreed to temporarily cut steep tariffs. Aircraft deliveries are closely tracked by Wall Street because planemakers collect much of their payment when they hand over jets to customers. The surge in deliveries comes as Boeing seeks to recover from years of production setbacks and crises that have left it burdened with debt, underscoring the critical importance of ramping up deliveries to stabilize its finances. Boeing delivered 42 of its best-selling 737 MAX jet, nine 787s, four 777 freighters and five 767s, including three to be finished by Boeing's defense division as KC-46 aerial refueling tankers. Southwest Airlines took delivery of 10 737 MAX aircraft. Five of the 737 MAX jets were for Chinese airlines. Boeing also delivered three other jets to Chinese customers, including a 787 and two 777 freighters. The company delivered 44 jets the previous month and 45 in June 2024. Through the first half of 2025, Boeing has delivered 280 jets, including 206 737 MAX aircraft, 37 787s, 14 767s, 20 777s and three older model 737s to be finished as P-8 Poseidons, a naval reconnaissance airplane. Boeing booked 116 gross new orders in June, including 54 737 MAXes and 62 787s. Alaska Airlines ordered 12 737s, and British Airways ordered 32 787s. Singapore Airlines also cancelled orders in June for three 737 MAX jets. June's order activity was a drop from May, when Boeing posted its sixth-highest monthly order tally in Boeing's history, according to company data. Through the first half of the year, the planemaker has booked 668 orders, or 625 net orders after cancellations and conversions. European rival Airbus delivered 60 aircraft in June, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics consultancy. Seven of those were widebody aircraft - three A330s and four A350s. Forty-one were single-aisle A320 and A321 jets that compete with Boeing's 737, and 12 were A220 regional jets. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boeing delivers 60 jets in June, including 8 to China, as it resumes deliveries
By Dan Catchpole SEATTLE (Reuters) -Boeing said Tuesday that it delivered 60 airplanes in June, a 27% increase compared to a year earlier, including eight to Chinese customers for the first time since a trade spat between the countries ended. Beijing had banned delivery of Boeing aircraft in April as a tariff dispute escalated between the world's two biggest economies, but in May, it removed that ban, as the two countries agreed to temporarily cut steep tariffs. Aircraft deliveries are closely tracked by Wall Street because planemakers collect much of their payment when they hand over jets to customers. The surge in deliveries comes as Boeing seeks to recover from years of production setbacks and crises that have left it burdened with debt, underscoring the critical importance of ramping up deliveries to stabilize its finances. Boeing delivered 42 of its best-selling 737 MAX jet, nine 787s, four 777 freighters and five 767s, including three to be finished by Boeing's defense division as KC-46 aerial refueling tankers. Southwest Airlines took delivery of 10 737 MAX aircraft. Five of the 737 MAX jets were for Chinese airlines. Boeing also delivered three other jets to Chinese customers, including a 787 and two 777 freighters. The company delivered 44 jets the previous month and 45 in June 2024. Through the first half of 2025, Boeing has delivered 280 jets, including 206 737 MAX aircraft, 37 787s, 14 767s, 20 777s and three older model 737s to be finished as P-8 Poseidons, a naval reconnaissance airplane. Boeing booked 116 gross new orders in June, including 54 737 MAXes and 62 787s. Alaska Airlines ordered 12 737s, and British Airways ordered 32 787s. Singapore Airlines also cancelled orders in June for three 737 MAX jets. June's order activity was a drop from May, when Boeing posted its sixth-highest monthly order tally in Boeing's history, according to company data. Through the first half of the year, the planemaker has booked 668 orders, or 625 net orders after cancellations and conversions. European rival Airbus delivered 60 aircraft in June, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics consultancy. Seven of those were widebody aircraft - three A330s and four A350s. Forty-one were single-aisle A320 and A321 jets that compete with Boeing's 737, and 12 were A220 regional jets. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
