Worcestershire-based Mettis Aerospace, which supplies aerospace components to customers that include Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Boeing, has achieved a 10% year-on-year increase in its sales (to £82.5 million); this reflects on-going growth in sales of new and next-generation aircraft and engines, as well as increased build rates.

Other topics on this week’s weekly focus includes –

Alucast has upgraded its casting capabilities by opening a 7,000 sqft machine shop in the West Midlands, to support lightweight and complex component production for the likes of Aston Martin and Lexus. The Wednesbury-based manufacturer said its £2.25m investment signals the company has “pushed aside” business uncertainty surrounding Brexit, and given Alucast, “the speed and precision necessary to meet just-in-time delivery requirements of existing and future orders”.

American Airlines will resume flights with Boeing’s 737 Max jets in January 2020. In a statement posted online on October 9th, the airline says it expects software updates to result in the beleaguered jet’s recertification by federal aviation authorities “later this year.”

Boeing is expected to submit its final certification package to the FAA later this year. Anticipating this, American says it expects to “slowly phase in the MAX for commercial service” starting January 16th, and will “increase flying on the aircraft throughout the month and into February.”