Airnews Round Up April 2011
MILESTONE TEST FLIGHT
Everett – The Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its 1 000th flight recently, marking another milestone in the flight test programme. There are seven aircraft taking part in flight testing. At the time of writing, the programme was near its 3 000th hour of flying and the 787s have flown a collective total of more than one million miles.
The test conditions needed to certify the 787 are nearly 80% percent complete for the first model, with Rolls-Royce engines. Those for the second model with General Electric engines are nearly 60% complete
B-52 ENGINEERING CONTRACT
Wichita – The US Air Force has exercised a $21,7-million option for Boeing to continue supporting the B-52 Stratofortress bomber under an engineering sustainment programme contract that Boeing received in June 2009. Under the terms of the $750-million, 10- year ESP contract, Boeing will continue to perform engineering assignments that maintain the B-52 as a ready, reliable and viable asset to the USAF.
BLACKHAWK APPOINTMENTS
Waco, Texas – Jim Allmon, president of Blackhawk, has announced the appointment of Edwin Black as director of global sales with Scott Cheairs moving to fill the newly created position of director of core parts sales. Black now takes on responsibility for worldwide sales and the company’s sales staff, including its offices in Europe, Brazil and South Africa. Cheairs will be responsible for sales of engines and other systems and components returned to Blackhawk during upgrades and will report to Black.
SAUDI UPGRADES FLEET
Seattle – Boeing and Saudi Arabian Airlines have teamed to modernise the flag carrier’s 777 fleet to enhance the passenger experience and environment. The project involves modifying the interiors of 22 of Saudi Arabian Airlines’ 23 Boeing 777- 200ERs with the modifications scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
BOMBARDIER EXPANDS PLANT
Montreal – Bombardier’s Mirabel plant is undergo a big expansion in preparation for assembly of its new CSeries narrow-body to compete head-on with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus A320. The Canadian manufacturer currently produces CRJ700, CRJ900 and CRJ1000 regional jets at Mirabel. In advance of building a prototype CSeries aircraft, the company is to modify its existing CRJ hangar.
Then a new hangar will be built for the CSeries aircraft contributing to the flight test programme, the building eventually being converted into a delivery centre for the CSeries and CRJ. The next step will be to add a final assembly hangar similar in style to the existing CRJ final line.
NEW MULTI-PURPOSE BORESCOPE
Miami – US-based Spectronics Corporation has introduced the CB-1000 Cobra, part of the Cobra series of multi-purpose borescopes, the new scope featuring a built-in UV LED for detection of fluid leaks and surface flaws and a white light LED for component inspection. The CB-1000 Cobra has a “no-droop” shaft that maintains its position for easy access into hard-to-view areas. A clip-on inspection mirror provides the added capability of detecting flaws normally hidden from view.
FIRST JAPANESE A380 ORDER
Tokyo – Skymark Airlines, Japan’s third largest and fastest growing airline, has signed a contract for four A380s with Airbus, firming up a Memorandum of Understanding announced last November.
HBC APPOINTMENT
Wichita – Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) has announced the appointment of Jim Holcombe as vice president of Beechcraft Marketing and, in this role, he will be responsible for global marketing and branding of the company’s Beechcraft products. He assumes the role alongside 21-year HBC veteran, Ron Gunnarson, vice president of Hawker Marketing.
IAF GETS FIRST C-130J
New Delhi – The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently celebrated the induction to service of its first Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules at Hindon Air Force Station, India. The aircraft is the first of six C-130Js ordered under a US Foreign Military Sale in late 2008.
LUFTHANSA A380 DAILY SERVICE
Johannesburg – Lufthansa German Airlines has increased its capacity between South Africa and Germany by almost 1 100 seats per week as the result of increasing its Airbus A380 services from five operations a week to a daily service linking Johannesburg and Frankfurt. Since the introduction of the A380 to South Africa last year, Lufthansa has increased its capacity by an impressive 3 850 seats per week.
NEW SHADOW CAST
Marietta, Georgia – The first Combat Shadow II for the United States Air Force Special Operations Command has completed manufacture at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta.The MC-130J Combat Shadow II will fly clandestine, or low visibility, single or multiship low-level air refuelling missions for special operations helicopters, and infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or air-land.
CONGO AIRLINE NEWS
Brazzaville – Our correspondent reports that Ceiba, the Equatorial Guinea airline, has started sheduled flights to Brazzaville using ATR72-500s thrice weekly. This is an expansion of its service which previously only operated to Pointe Noire. Other news is that Kenya Airways has now received approval from the Congo CAA to operate to Pointe Noire as does Ethiopian Airlines. In addition, Equaflight Service in Pointe Noire has received an ATR72-500 and a Dornier 228 on wet lease for charter flights. It is also reported that Brazzaville’s second runway will enter service in the near future.
CODE SHARE AGREEMENT
Lagos – Air Nigeria and Ethiopian Airlines have commenced a code share partnership that is expected to boost travels options in Africa and to overseas destinations. A statement by Air Nigeria said that the activation of the agreement would bring seamless onward connections to Addis Ababa and beyond for Air Nigeria customers. It said it would also enable easy connections for ET customers to West and Central African destinations on Air Nigeria.
A340 SERVICE TO KENYA
Johannesburg – South African Airways hasintroduced wide-body A340-200 and A340-300 aircraft on the Johannesburg – Nairobi route, effectively increasing capacity into Kenya by 582 seats per week. SAA previously operated the Airbus A319 and the Boeing 737-800 into Kenya.
SAAFF CONGRESS 2011
Johannesburg – The spotlight will be on the freight forwarding industry when the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) Congress takes place at Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg, on June 8 and 9. The two-day congress will focus on critical issues facing the industry including customs affairs, cargo security, supply chain costs, industry transformation, the impact of the Duty Bill and Control Bill, the Consumer Protection Act and Companies Act. Other topics will include: skills development, insurance and various other challenges facing the freight forwarding industry globally and in sub-Saharan Africa. Running alongside the congress will be a two-day industry exhibition, as well as a fullday SAAFF Seminar on June 8. The congress will feature a line-up of heavyweight local and international speakers and panelists from Government and industry, providing a crucial platform for the freight forwarding industry to engage with decision and policy makers in an open forum for debate and engagement.
NEW OFFICES OPENED
Abu Dhabi, UAE – In a move that furthers its expanding global presence, Rockwell Collins has established new office locations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to support growing opportunities in the Middle East.
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