Tag Archives: aviation partners inc

Sunwing Airlines to upgrade its Boeing 737-800 fleet with Split Scimitar Winglets

Sunwing Airlines (Toronto) has announced plans to retrofit the airline’s fleet of Boeing 737-800 this Winter with Split Scimitar Winglets. When applied to the existing “curved tipped” Blended Winglets, the Split Scimitar Winglet upgrade adds strengthened spars, aerodynamic ‘curved’ tips, and a large ventral fin, which improves performance and decreases fuel burn by approximately 7%. “We feel we have a responsibility as a market leader in Canada to continue investing in technology which reduces our environmental impact”, said Stephen Hunter, CEO of the Sunwing Travel Group, adding “This initiative has the added benefit of improving cost efficiency so that we can continue to provide great value for our customer’s vacation dollar”.

“We are pleased to partner with Sunwing Airlines, on this exciting initiative” said Troy Brekken, Director of Sales and Marketing at Aviation Partners Boeing. “They will be one of our first airline partners in North America to commercially fly the Blended Winglets, which reduce carbon emissions and improve fuel efficiency”. Earlier this year, APB launched the Split Scimitar Winglet program for the provisioned wing 737-800 (line number 778 and on) and 737-900 ER with an order from United Airlines. FAA supplemental type certification for the Boeing 737-800 is targeted for October 2013 and EASA certification planned for December 2013. Certification flight testing of Split Scimitar Winglets is currently underway.

Aviation Partners Boeing is a Seattle based joint venture of Aviation Partners, Inc. and The Boeing Company. Nearly 5,000 Blended Winglet Systems are now in service with over 200 airlines in more than 100 countries. APB estimates that Blended Winglets have saved airlines worldwide more than 3.8 billion gallons of jet fuel to-date.

Image: Sunwing Airlines.

Sunwing Airlines:

United Airlines becomes the first customer of Aviation Partners new Boeing’ new Split Scimitar Winglet

Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) (Seattle) today announced it has launched its new Split Scimitar Winglet program with an order from United Airlines (Chicago). Using a newly patented design, the program will consist of retrofitting existing Boeing Next Generation 737 Blended Winglets by replacing the aluminum winglet tip cap with a new aerodynamically shaped “Scimitar” ^TM winglet tip cap and by adding a new Scimitar tipped Ventral Strake. This revolutionary design was flight tested by Aviation Partners, Inc. in 2012 and demonstrated significant aircraft drag reduction over the basic Blended Winglet configuration.

APB has identified eight unique Boeing Next-Generation 737 configurations that will be considered for possible certification by the FAA; these include: the structurally provisioned and non-provisioned 737-700, 737-800, 737-BBJ, the structurally provisioned 737-900 and the 737-900 ER. The initial FAA certification program will be for retrofit conversion of Blended Winglets on 737-800 aircraft that were delivered with wings structurally provisioned for Blended Winglets at time of delivery from the Boeing Next-Generation 737 production line (line numbers 778 and on). FAA supplemental type certification is targeted for October of this year. FAA certification of 737-900 ER Split Scimitar Winglets is expected to follow by March 2014.

United has either been the launch customer for, or otherwise ordered, Blended Winglets for every Boeing commercial aircraft type for which APB offers a winglet system, in chronological order this includes the: 757-200; 737-800; 737-700; 737-900; 737-900 ER; 737-500; 737-300; 757-300 and the 767-300 ER. APB estimates that, once Split Scimitar Winglets are installed, APB winglet technology (Blended and Split Scimitar) will save United more than $250 million per year in jet fuel costs fleet wide.

APB expects Scimitar Winglet Systems installed on a provisioned 737-800 to save the typical airline more than 45,000 gallons of jet fuel per aircraft per year resulting in a corresponding reduction of carbon dioxide emissions of 476 tons per aircraft per year. The fuel savings can enable a 737-800 to increase its payload up to 2,500 pounds or increase its range up to 75 nautical miles. APB also expects to certify an improvement in low speed performance that will generate significant take-off benefits from high/hot or obstacle limited runways.

Nearly 5,000 Blended Winglet Systems are now in service with over 200 airlines in more than 100 countries. APB estimates that Blended Winglets have saved airlines worldwide more than 3.5 billion gallons of jet fuel to-date.

Aviation Partners Boeing is a joint venture of Aviation Partners, Inc. and The Boeing Company.

Image: PR NewsFoto/Aviation Partners, Inc. Concept image for Aviation Partners Boeing’s new Split Scimitar Winglet program for retrofit on the Boeing 737-Next Generation Fleet. The program consists of replacing the aluminum winglet tip cap with a new aerodynamically shaped Scimitar(TM) winglet cap and adding a new Scimitar-tipped Ventral Strake to existing Blended Winglets. The revolutionary design was created to further enhance airliner fuel efficiency while reducing carbon emissions. FAA certification is expected in late 2013 for launch customer United Airlines.

United Airlines:

Southwest Airlines orders up to 268 additional Blended Winglets sets

Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) (Seattle) has announced the largest single order in its history, with Southwest Airlines (Dallas) purchasing up to 268 additional sets of Blended Winglets for Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft, surpassing its original order placed in 2003. This order will ensure that all of Southwest’s future Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft will be equipped with Blended Winglets until Southwest Airlines transitions to the Boeing 737 MAX.

Blended Winglets provide the most reliable form of fuel hedging available in today’s volatile fuel market; the performance lasts for the life of the aircraft and regardless of fuel price — they continue to generate savings. To date, Aviation Partners Boeing estimates that Blended Winglet Technology has saved airlines worldwide more than 3.3 billion gallons of jet fuel.

Nearly 5,000 Blended Winglet Systems are now in service on Boeing 737s, 757s and 767s with more than 200 airlines worldwide.

Aviation Partners Boeing is a joint venture of Aviation Partners, Inc. and The Boeing Company.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 737-8H4 N8302F (msn 36680) taxies to the gate at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Southwest Airlines: