Airnews Round Up November 2011
LAUNCH CUSTOMER REFUSES NEW 747-8F
Luxembourg – The launch customer for Boeing’s new 747-8F is reported to be refusing to take delivery of the first aircraft, prompting cancellation of a ceremony that was scheduled for September 19. By the time of writing, Cargolux had not responded to media inquiries about why it is turning the aircraft down, but Boeing officials have said there was a contract dispute between it and its customer, a large Luxembourg-based cargo carrier. Cargolux has ordered 13 of the new-generation 747. “We have unresolved issues between ourselves and Cargolux,” Boeing spokesman, Jim Proulx, said in a statement. “We are working with our customer to determine a date for delivery.”
AIR FRANCE-KLM MODERNISE FLEET
Paris – The Air France-KLM Group has announced its intention to sign for up to 60 A350 XWB aircraft, of which 25 A350-900 will be firmed up shortly. The aircraft will become an essential pillar in the group’s long-haul fleet modernisation strategy. The group has also selected the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as part of its long-haul fleet renewal, with an intention to purchase 25 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with options for 25 more. Boeing claims the 787 Dreamliner is the fastest-selling twin-aisle airplane in aviation history, with more than 800 orders from 56 customers around the world. The Air France- KLM announcement is not included in this total.
The Airbus A350 XWB Family comprises three models capable of flying between 270 and 350 passengers in typical three-class layouts on flights of up to 8500 nautical miles. In total the Air France-KLM Group currently operates a fleet of 191 Airbus aircraft, comprising six A380s, 26 A330s, 15 A340s, 24 A321s, 58 A320s, 44 A319s and 18 A318s. The group also operates 188 Boeing aircraft of various models.
MEDAVIA CERTIFICATION
Malta – Medavia, a local aviation company, has announced that it has been granted certification to provide design engineering services to the international aviation sector. Medavia’s facility is at the Safi Aviation Park which should be officially inaugurated before the year-end.
MORE E195S FOR LUFTHANSA
São José dos Campos – Embraer and Deutsche Lufthansa AG have signed a contract for the purchase of five additional Embraer 195 (E195) jets. The aircraft will be operated by Veronabased Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa’s regional partner in Italy. The value of the acquisition, at list price, is US$226-million. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2012. Air Dolomiti currently operates five E195s. The additional aircraft will see the carrier’s EJets fleet double. In response to the growing demand within Europe, the new equipment will be used to add flights on domestic routes and increase frequencies between Verona and Lufthansa’s Munich hub. With this new order, Lufthansa will be the operator of the largest fleet of E-Jets in Europe. The company has ordered 43 E190s and E195s since May 2007. At present 28 E-Jets are in service with three of Lufthansa’s five regional partner carriers, namely Lufthansa CityLine, Air Dolomiti and Augsburg Airways.
BEECH 1900C SALE TO MALI
Johannesburg – Lanseria International Airportbased CemAir has announced the sale of a Beech 1900C to an established operator in Mali. This is part of the company’s on-going strategy to focus more on the Beech 1900Ds and decrease its exposure on the C models. To this end CemAir is purchasing an additional Beech 1900D to replace the 1900C sold to Maili.
EXECUJET GAINS GARMIN APPROVAL
Johannesburg – Garmin, a global leader in satellite navigation, has appointed ExecuJet South Africa as an approved agent. This appointment, the Lanseria International Airport-based company claims, will make ExecuJet South Africa the most successful OEM dealer in Africa holding most of the OEM dealerships required to support the aviation industry. Vince Goncalves, General Manager, Maintenance South Africa said: “This appointment will enhance ExecuJet’s overall capabilities in terms of service and avionics support within the region, increasing reliability and lowering operational costs for our customers.” ExecuJet South Africa has earned its reputation as one of the most competent and reputable, business aviation companies in Africa. Its on-sight avionics shop is an approved dealer and / or installer for Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, Universal Avionics, Avidyne and S-tec products, to name a few.
SINGAPORE SIGNS FOR 15 A330s
Toulouse – Singapore Airlines CEO, Goh Choon Phong, recently signed the final agreement to lease 15 more A330-300 aircraft with John Leahy, Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer - Customers at Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse. The signature firms up an announcement made in June. The A330 Family, which spans 200 to 400 seats for the passenger variants and also includes freighter, VIP, and military transport/tanker variants, has now attracted over 1 150 orders.
CHC HELICOPTER ORDERS 20 EC225S
Marignane, France – CHC Helicopter has ordered and will incorporate 20 more Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma twin-engine helicopters into its operations over the next several years. Deliveries of the newly ordered EC225s – including an option for four additional aircraft beyond the initial 20 – will occur during the next four-plus years into 2016. According to CHC, the helicopters will be needed to accommodate anticipated growth from both current and future customers. The aircraft are expected to be deployed to serve oil-and-gas customers in the UK, Norway, Australia and Brazil.
NEW SERVICE CENTRE
Grapevine, Texas – Vector Aerospace Corporation, a major provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul services, has announced the opening of its new Vector Aerospace Engine Services-Atlantic’s new service centre in Grapevine in support of the Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PT6A, JT15D and PW100 series of engines, as well as the Rolls-Royce M250 model engine.
EUROCOPTER SA MOVES
Midrand, Gauteng – Arguably one of the biggest helicopter distributors, maintenance and training organisations in South Africa, Eurocopter Southern Africa (ESAL), has relocated its facilities from Lanseria International Airport to Grand Central Airport. Both its business offices and hangar are now being housed in Northwest Hangar Offices and Grid Offices, Grand Central Airport, New Road, Halfway House. “Further to additional and enhanced customer support capabilities, we believe this new location will offer our customers a more modern and convenient venue to continue building on our customer service excellence levels,” a spokesman said.
P-8I FOR INDIAN NAVY
Seattle – Boeing’s first P-8I aircraft for the Indian Navy completed its initial flight recently, taking off from Renton Field for a two hour, 31 minute sortie. During the flight, Boeing test pilots performed airborne systems checks. These included engine accelerations and decelerations and autopilot flight modes. The pilots took the P-8I to a maximum altitude of 41 000 feet prior to landing. In the coming weeks Boeing will begin mission systems installation and checkout work on the aircraft at a company facility near Boeing Field.
FOUR C-130JS FOR QATAR
Marietta, Georgia – At recent ceremonies at the Lockheed Martin facility here, company officials formally delivered four C-130J Super Hercules airlifters to the State of Qatar. The Qatar Emiri Air Force’s new Super Hercules are the longer fuselage or “stretched” variant of the C-130J. The aircraft will be used for humanitarian relief and military missions for the defence of the State of Qatar.
AIRPACK SELECTED
Paris – France- and South Africa-based IT company, Adsoftware, have announced that Camo Air Support has selected its aviation dedicated software, Airpack, to handle the company’s airworthiness management services. This contract is the second one signed by a subsidiary of Jet Service Group with Adsoftware. Camo Air Support is one of the first organisations excluding air transporters, to obtain EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) Part MG-1 certification in the business aviation sector, namely: Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation Approval. The company specialises in aircraft continuing airworthiness.
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