The US Federal Aviation Administration has approved a fix proposed by Boeing to repair electrical power problems on around 106, 737 Max aircraft, allowing the airframer to remedy the manufacturing error and help airlines return those affected jets to service. The FAA says it has "approved the service bulletins and associated instructions" proposed by Boeing for its airline customers that grounded the 106 Max jets in April after the airframer reported the manufacturing glitch. The FAA's approval of the Max remedy was first reported by Reuters. Once airlines receive the instructions approved by the FAA, the maintenance fix for the back-up power control system on the 100 jets will take several days per aircraft, Boeing says. The manufacturing errors could affect Max electrical systems including standby power control units and instrument panels. The FAA has said the affected Max 8 and Max 9 jets are in the fleets of around 20 airlines, including 71 Max aircraft in the fleets of Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. Those four US airlines grounded the affected Max jets in April. Boeing also halted deliveries of all Max jets in April, interrupting its efforts to accelerate the return of service for its backlog of pre-ordered jets in storage. That month Boeing logged 20 new orders for Max jets, which was nearly offset by 17 cancellations for Max jets. The manufacturing glitch also disrupted its attempt to boost confidence in Max jets and depart from criticism of the two fatal crashes that led to the deaths of 346 people, a 20-month flight ban against Max jets and international scrutiny. The FAA in November 2020 allowed Max jets to return to service and Boeing says 170 of 195 global aviation regulators have reopened their airspace to Max jets. The US Department of Transportation's top inspector in April, however, commenced a new investigation into how the FAA both grounded and recertificated Max jets. The FAA is still investigating the origin of the manufacturing issue that led to the electrical grounding problem affecting certain Max aircraft. "The agency also is auditing Boeing’s process for making minor design changes across its product line, with the goal of identifying areas where the company can improve its processes," the FAA says. "These initiatives are part of our commitment to continually evaluating and improving our oversight of all aspects of aviation safety, recognising that catching errors at the earliest possible point enhances what is already the world’s safest form of transportation." Boeing is also trying to ensure safe, stable production of its 787 aircraft. The manufacturer on 26 March resumed deliveries of the 787 aircraft type following a five-month pause due to concerns about its fuselage. The airframer maintains its goal of increasing Max production to 31 aircraft per month by 2022 and aims to deliver its first 777X widebody aircraft by late 2023.

Turboprop manufacturer ATR has completed the design phase and is preparing to begin production of the short take-off and landing (STOL) version of the ATR 42-600 under a revised schedule. The Toulouse-based airframer – jointly owned by Airbus and Italian aerospace group Leonardo – says that it has adjusted the ATR 42-600S's development schedule because of the pandemic. The first flight is currently planned for 2023, having previously planned a first delivery during the second half 2022. ATR says that the programme's "maturity gate 7" – the point at which all critical design reviews have been completed, the aircraft's overall architecture is frozen and its performance is confirmed – was reached under the new schedule in March. "Programme partners and suppliers can start manufacturing the first parts," the airframer adds. STOL programme manager Michelangelo Esposito states: "The STOL teams have been doing a tremendous job to make this possible. They have adapted their ways of working to the Covid-19 challenging context, working collaboratively without being able to see each other or traveling to meet our suppliers." ATR formally launched the ATR 42-600S development in 2019 after securing commitments from turboprop specialist Elix Aviation and Air Tahiti for 10 and two aircraft, respectively. The STOL concept had previously been studied and discussed with customers for some time. Data shows that ATR has since received three ATR 42-600S orders from PNG Air and commitments for another eight units from undisclosed customers. ATR says that the STOL version will be capable of operating, under certain conditions, from 800m paved runways as opposed to the 1,050m lower limit for the standard ATR 42-600. Principal modifications to the aircraft include a larger rudder, an option to deploy spoilers after touch-down, and an autobrake system to ensure full braking on the runway as soon as possible. The aircraft will be powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engine, like the standard ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600. But pilots will be able to select higher engine ratings for STOL operation. Take-off from short runways will be operated with a 25-degree flap setting, the airframer notes. ATR sees the STOL variant as an opportunity to expand its market and attract orders from operators wanting to replace legacy 30-seat turboprops, and to operate from smaller airports that could previously not be served by ATRs. The ATR 42-600 is the only Western-built 50-seat turboprop still in production today.

Virgin Australia Group is postponing most short-haul international flying, including flights to Fiji’s Nadi and Bali in Indonesia, until at least December amid shifting projections around international border restrictions. The Australian group cites the recent federal budget predictions for the aviation sector, including for international travel, where "visitation is expected to remain low until at least mid-2022". However, "continued efforts" by Australia's state and federal governments to refine trans-Tasman travel arrangements will allow the carrier to operate Boeing 737 services between Sydney-Queenstown and Brisbane-Queenstown, as planned from 18 September, and Melbourne-Queenstown services from 7 December, the airline notes. It adds that “while the international travel outlook remains uncertain, domestic travel continues to improve and the airline is continuing to review its domestic network to ensure it is responding to growth opportunities here in Australia". On the other hand, flights into Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are deferred from sale for the time being alongside services to Port Villa in Vanuatu, Apia in Samoa and Honiara in the Solomon Islands. “Although we’ve seen positive developments with the trans-Tasman travel bubble and governments working exceptionally well to manage outbreaks, current demand for travel to New Zealand remains subdued, except for Queenstown, where customers are looking to travel over the September school holidays and the upcoming summer," states Virgin Australia chief strategy and transformation officer Alistair Hartley. "All other New Zealand services will be deferred for the time being." He adds: “Doing the right thing for our customers remains at the heart of our decision making, and while the impact is relatively low due to ongoing border uncertainty, we are working to provide affected customers with alternative options as quickly as possible."