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Find below some of the top aviation news headlines for today, August 20, 2023:

• FAA orders inspections of some Pratt & Whitney turbofan engines on Airbus jets. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan (GTF) engines on Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The AD requires operators to inspect the engines for a potential crack in a turbine blade.
• Canadian carriers cancel flights to western cities as wildfires rage. Several Canadian airlines have canceled flights to western cities due to wildfires that are raging in the region. The wildfires have caused air quality to deteriorate and visibility to be reduced, making it unsafe to fly.
• Finnair chief executive Manner stepping down to join telecom firm. The chief executive of Finnish airline Finnair, Topi Manner, is stepping down to join a telecom firm. Manner will be replaced by Kaj Ilkka, who is currently the chief operating officer of Finnair.
• Air taxi developer XTI Aircraft plans to create public company with Inpixon. Air taxi developer XTI Aircraft has announced plans to create a public company through a merger with Inpixon, a data analytics company. The combined company will be called XTI Inpixon and will focus on developing and commercializing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

In deep, for FAA Vs Pratt & Whitney

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan (GTF) engines on Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The AD requires operators to inspect the engines for a potential crack in a turbine blade.

The AD was issued after the FAA received reports of a turbine blade crack in a PW1100G engine on an Airbus A320neo. The crack was discovered during an inspection and did not cause any problems with the aircraft. However, the FAA is concerned that the crack could grow and lead to an engine failure.

The AD applies to 202 engines on US-registered aircraft. The affected engines are located on aircraft that have flown more than 10,000 cycles. Operators of these aircraft must have the engines inspected within 30 days. If a crack is found, the engine must be repaired or replaced.

Pratt & Whitney has said that it is working with the FAA to address the issue. The company has also said that it is confident that the affected engines are safe to fly.

This is the second time in recent months that the FAA has issued an AD for the PW1100G engine. In October 2022, the FAA issued an AD requiring operators to inspect the engines for a potential crack in a compressor blade.

The PW1100G engine is a new generation of engine that is designed to be more fuel-efficient and quieter than previous engines. However, the engine has been plagued by problems since it was first introduced in 2016.

The FAA’s latest AD is a reminder of the challenges that the aviation industry faces as it tries to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency. As new technologies are introduced, it is important to carefully monitor their safety and reliability.

Still the wildfires in Canada

Several Canadian airlines have canceled flights to western cities due to wildfires that are raging in the region. The wildfires have caused air quality to deteriorate and visibility to be reduced, making it unsafe to fly.

Air Canada has canceled flights to and from Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton. WestJet has canceled flights to and from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Kelowna. Sunwing Airlines has canceled flights to and from Vancouver, Calgary, and Kelowna.

The cancellations are expected to continue until the wildfires are brought under control. The smoke from the wildfires is also affecting air travel in other parts of Canada, including Toronto and Montreal.

The wildfires have been caused by a combination of factors, including hot and dry weather, high winds, and lightning. The fires have destroyed homes and businesses, and forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

The Canadian government has deployed firefighters and other resources to help fight the wildfires. The government has also declared a state of emergency in British Columbia, where the wildfires are most widespread.

The wildfires are a reminder of the challenges that climate change is posing to Canada. The country is already experiencing more extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, and floods. These events are making it more difficult to control wildfires, which are becoming more frequent and more destructive.

Finnair is moving forward

Topi Manner, the chief executive of Finnish airline Finnair, is stepping down to join a telecom firm. Manner will be replaced by Kaj Ilkka, who is currently the chief operating officer of Finnair.

Manner has been CEO of Finnair since 2019. He has led the airline through the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of Russian airspace. He has also overseen the airline’s transformation to a more sustainable business.

Manner will join Elisa Corporation, a Finnish telecom and digital services company, as its new CEO. He will start in his new role on March 1, 2024.

In a statement, Manner said that he was “proud” of what he had achieved at Finnair. He said that the airline was “now in a strong position to face the challenges of the future.”

Ilkka has been with Finnair for over 20 years. He has held a number of senior positions, including chief operating officer and chief financial officer.

In a statement, Ilkka said that he was “honored” to be appointed CEO of Finnair. He said that he was “committed” to leading the airline through the next phase of its development.

The change in leadership at Finnair comes at a time when the airline industry is facing a number of challenges, including rising fuel costs and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Future of the Aviation will be electric?

Air taxi developer XTI Aircraft has announced plans to create a public company through a merger with Inpixon, a data analytics company. The combined company will be called XTI Inpixon and will focus on developing and commercializing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

The merger is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023. Under the terms of the deal, XTI shareholders will receive 0.174 shares of Inpixon common stock for each share of XTI common stock they own.

XTI is developing the TriFan 600, a six-passenger eVTOL aircraft that is designed to fly up to 600 miles on a single charge. The aircraft is still in development, but XTI has said that it expects to begin flight testing in 2024.

Inpixon provides real-time location systems (RTLS) that are used by businesses to track assets and people. The company’s technology could be used to track XTI’s eVTOL aircraft in flight.

The merger between XTI and Inpixon is seen as a way for both companies to accelerate their growth. XTI will gain access to Inpixon’s capital and resources, while Inpixon will gain exposure to the growing eVTOL market.

The eVTOL market is expected to be worth billions of dollars in the coming years. The market is being driven by the increasing demand for urban air mobility and the development of new eVTOL technologies.

The merger between XTI and Inpixon is one of the latest developments in the eVTOL market. Other companies that are developing eVTOL aircraft include Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Vertical Aerospace.

The eVTOL market is still in its early stages, but it is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. The merger between XTI and Inpixon is a sign of the growing interest in this market.