COPENHAGEN - Airbus subsidiary Satair announced its plan to acquire Unical Aviation Inc. and its affiliate ecube to expand its capabilities in the used serviceable material market and aircraft lifecycle management.

Unical and ecube operate seven facilities across North America, Spain, and the United Kingdom, employing about 413 people and generating approximately $298 million in revenue in 2024. The deal, expected to close in early 2026 pending regulatory approval, follows Satair’s 2022 acquisition of VAS Aero Services and strengthens Airbus’s aftermarket presence by integrating aircraft disassembly, component repair, and parts redistribution. Company leaders stated that the acquisition aligns with sustainability goals by promoting the reuse of aircraft materials and extending the operational life of assets.

Source: Airbus
Associated URL: https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2025-11-satair-to-acquire-unical-aviation-boosting-usm-capabilities

PONTIAC, MI -- Williams International held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, October 30, for a new production facility in Okaloosa County, Florida.

The development is planned to total 1 million square feet. This new facility is intended to support the company's future growth and the production of new product lines in response to increased demand for avaition gas turbines.

The first phase of the Florida facility is expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2026. The company projects that construction of additional square footage will continue through 2035-2036.

Source: Williams International
Associated URL: www.williams-int.com.

LONDON - Rolls-Royce has introduced a new build standard for its Trent 1000 engine, known as the Trent 1000 XE, which will be fitted to Boeing 787 aircraft. The new XE standard incorporates upgraded components designed to double the engine’s time on wing compared to previous models, addressing long-standing durability issues with high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades. The improved engine comes with Rolls-Royce’s TotalCare support package as standard, offering operators greater cost and maintenance predictability. FAA and EASA certifications have been secured for the first wave of redesigned parts, which have already begun entering service on new-build aircraft, including a Lufthansa 787-9 delivered in early November.

The Trent 1000 XE introduces several technical enhancements, including HPT blades with 40% more cooling capacity, a redesigned combustion system, updated fuel spray nozzles, and improved engine control software. Rolls-Royce says these changes will provide a better performance for airlines currently operating the Trent 1000 TEN engine. The manufacturer has also announced a second phase of upgrades coming in in 2026 that will further extend engine life by 30%. These future enhancements include new coatings for combustor tiles and turbine blades, weight reductions in the HPT blades, and a redesigned combustor-turbine interface inspired by the Trent XWB-84.

To ensure rapid deployment, Rolls-Royce has increased Trent 1000 supply chain output by 33% and boosted MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) capacity by 25% this year. The company expects all in-service Trent 1000 engines to be fitted with the phase-one upgrades by 2027, with phase-two components installed at the first available maintenance opportunity.

The XE improvements form part of a wider £1 billion ($1.3 billion) investment program aimed at enhancing the performance and reliability of all current Trent engine models. Rolls-Royce believes that the XE’s technical advances and bundled support package will restore operator confidence and strengthen its competitive position against rival engine maker GE Aerospace.

Source: Flightglobal
Associated URL: https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/rolls-royce-reveals-new-xe-standard-for-trent-1000-engines/165224.article