Royal Saudi Air Force awards BAE Systems £1.6 bn contract to enhance training capability

BAE Systems has today been awarded a contract for £1.6 billion to support the future aircrew training requirements of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).

The agreement was reached between the governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UK, under the Saudi British Defence Co-operation Programme.

The contract, aimed at meeting the growing demands of a world class Air Force, covers the provision of equipment and training devices such as aircraft simulators, training aids and aircraft on which to train aircrew.

Included within this requirement is the supply of 55 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft to fulfil the basic training role and 22 BAE Systems Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft, which will be used to fulfil the fast jet training part of the syllabus.

In addition, BAE Systems will provide an initial support package including the provision of spares, technical publications and post design support.

Commenting on the announcement Guy Griffiths, group managing director International said: “We are honoured that BAE Systems has been awarded this contract to provide the Royal Saudi Air Force with aircraft and training equipment to meet their future aircrew training needs. We have a long history in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and working with Pilatus, we will provide the RSAF with the best training platforms to meet their requirements.

‘Through the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer, the trainee fast jet pilots will have access to the very latest in advanced simulation for radar, weapons and defensive aids training to enable a smooth transition to front line aircraft, including Typhoon.”

Deliveries of the Pilatus PC-21, manufactured in Switzerland, will commence in 2014.  The UK built Hawk aircraft will be delivered from 2016.

Article Source : Arabian Aerospace

Emirates selects GE Aviation for flow management system

Emirates has selected GE Aviation to provide GE's airline-based flow management system for a 16-month validation at Dubai International Airport.

Beginning in July, the Emirates “Flow Project” will allow the airline to reduce fuel and delay costs and improve their hub passenger-connection schedule at Dubai International Airport by sequencing and spacing the company’s arrivals according to Emirates’ commercial priorities.

“Emirates has collaborated with GE Aviation to implement the new flow management system here in Dubai. We anticipate that GE’s flow system will bring significant enhancements to our arrival flow in Dubai, leading to an increased aircraft landing rate and runway utilisation. This will improve efficiency, reduce fuel burn and add to our passenger connectivity,” said Capt. Alan Stealey, Emirates divisional senior vice president of flight operations.

“GE’s Flow solution will optimize Emirates’ traffic flows within the existing air traffic control system,” added Giovanni Spitale, general manager of GE’s PBN Services. “This service will give Emirates increased control over their arrivals and hub schedule, helping to significantly reduce costs of operation.”

GE Aviation will provide the installation, integration and service of the Flow aircraft arrival management system. Installation is currently taking place at the Emirates Operations Control Centre at the Emirates Group Headquarters with entry into service expected to begin in the autumn this year.

GE’s Flow system will be powered by ATH Group’s Attila software. Attila is an airline-based flow management system that provides Required Time of Arrival recommendations to each Emirates aircraft to pre-condition the arrival flow into Dubai. The system is capable of taking into account elements like Emirates’ passenger connections, gate availability and fuel consumption. GE Aviation enhances the Attila system with data from and connectivity to Emirates aircraft flight management systems.

Article Source : Arabian Aerospace

Emirates opens dedicated lounge at Atatürk Airport

Emirates has opened a dedicated lounge for First Class and Business Class passengers, as well as Gold members of Skywards - the airline's frequent flyer programme, at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport (IST).

The grand opening was marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by local dignitaries, members of the media and senior Emirates staff. 

“We reaffirm our commitment to providing our discerning customers with consistently high standards, with our 1.5 million euro investment in the new Istanbul lounge,” said Mohammed H. Mattar, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president - airport services.  “Lounges are an integral part of a stress-free, seamless travel experience, and it is this type of investment that sets Emirates apart. It is a matter of great pride to be adding Istanbul as the 30th Emirates Lounge in our network of lounges.” 

Located at the transit area of the international terminal of Ataturk Airport, the new Emirates Lounge offers seating for over 100 customers covering an indoor area of 520 sqm. It offers a range of gourmet dishes from Turkish and world cuisine, as well as a complimentary full-bar service including premium wine, spirits and champagne. The Lounge also offers services like a fully equipped business centre with Wi-Fi connectivity, TV and reading areas, shower facilities and a prayer room.

“We do not want to limit the joy of travel to only the flight time, but to extend that to the entire journey,” said Bahar Ahmet Birinci, Emirates Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria general manager.  “Recognizing the fact that travel starts from the moment you leave your home, from our chauffeur service to the new lounge at the airport, we want our guests to enjoy their complete travel experience with Emirates.

“Designed in keeping with the international standards of Emirates, the Lounge distinguishes from other dedicated lounges with the amenities on offer.”

Article Source : Arabian Aerospace

Emirates counts down to Catalonia service

Emirates is fast approaching the tripling of its flights to Spain, which includes the launch of a daily service to Barcelona from July 3.

The new Barcelona link will come two days after the launch of a second Emirates’ flight to Madrid on July 1.

“The new Barcelona flight is the culmination of a very significant increase in our services to Spain, said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President, passenger sales worldwide. “In the space of 48 hours, we will have tripled flights to this market in a clear demonstration of our commitment to Spain.”

From left: Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ executive vice president, passenger sales worldwide; Salem Obaidalla, Emirates senior vice president, commercial operations, Europe & Russian Federation and Fernando Suárez, Emirates’ country manager for Spain, with Emirates’ cabin crew.
Barcelona has one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean and thousands of cruise passengers are amongst the city’s 7 million visitors per year. The city is also the capital of the Catalonia region, which receives approximately 25% of annual foreign investment in Spain.

“Dubai is strategically located between east and west. Through our industry leading Emirates’ Terminal 3 in Dubai, companies will have faster and more efficient access to Middle East, African and Asian markets. At the same time, Catalonia will be able to attract more foreign investment and our new daily service will certainly boost the tourist flow in and out of the region,” Antinori added.

Emirates will serve Barcelona with a 360-seat Boeing 777-300ER.  The aircraft is among the largest in the airline's fleet.

From Barcelona, passengers will be able to destinations such as Mumbai, Delhi, the Seychelles, Mauritius and Manila. In Dubai, travellers can also pick up Emirates’ flagship aircraft, the A380, when travelling to places such as Jeddah, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Sydney and Auckland.

EK 185 will depart Dubai at 0655hrs and arrive in Barcelona at 1200hrs. EK 186 will take off daily from Barcelona at 1640hrs and land in Dubai at 0100hrs the following day.

Emirates SkyCargo has been operating freighter flights to Spain since 2006, largely in support of the country’s fashion industry. Clothes are also amongst Catalonia’s main exports to the Gulf, along with items such as cosmetics, audio and video equipment and fresh food.

In 2010, overall trade between Spain and the UAE reached AED 4.15 billion (US $1.13 billion) and has been increasing at a rate of around 15% per year.

Emirates employs over 300 Spanish staff globally, many of whom are cabin and pilots, and regularly conducts recruitment exercises in Spain.

Etihad and Airbus operate first regional RNP-AR flight

An Etihad Airways Airbus A330-200 has become the first aircraft in the region to perform the environment friendly RNP-AR (Required Navigation Performance – Authorization Required) approach to Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The demonstration flight which arrived from Bahrain today marks the beginning of full RNP-AR implementation within Abu Dhabi’s airspace.

This high precision navigation technology, designed by Airbus’ Performance Based Navigation (PBN) subsidiary, Quovadis, utilizes continuous descent operations and shorter trajectories that in turn shorten the approach paths to the runway thereby reducing noise, flight times and minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

This will reduce the fuel consumption between 100 and 200 kg per approach resulting in a reduction of CO2 emissions by at least 20,000 tonnes per year.

Along with Etihad Airways and Quovadis, other partners in this project include the Abu Dhabi Airport Company (ADAC), UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and ADAC’s Air Traffic Controllers.

Etihad Airways’ Chief Operations Officer, Richard Hill, said: “Etihad Airways is keen on promoting efficient flights with as little environmental impact as possible. This project is very important for us and we are pleased to have partnered with Quovadis, ADAC and GCAA to make Abu Dhabi’s air space more efficient.

“We are looking forward to flying RNP-AR approaches in Abu Dhabi and in other destinations where they have been implemented.”

Sebastien Borel, Quovadis’ Commercial Director said: “Changing airspace and bringing new concepts is always very challenging and here this has been achieved through cooperation and coordination. Indeed, the team in Abu Dhabi is committed to bring what is best to their airspace.”

Following the success of this demonstration flight, the procedures will be published this summer and flown on a daily basis pending approval from the UAE regulatory authority.

Other airlines will also be able to fly these procedures, provided they have received the proper operational approval from their authorities.

“This project illustrates the potential for better Air Traffic Management (ATM) practices. Airbus has assembled a suite of innovative technologies and procedures to optimize operations in busy airspaces,” Christian Scherer, Airbus’ Executive Vice President of strategy and future programs said.

Less than a year ago, Quovadis was contracted by Etihad Airways and ADAC to develop RNP-AR procedures for both Abu Dhabi International and Al Bateen Airports. Today the Abu Dhabi International Airport approaches have been approved and the Al Bateen Executive Airport procedures will be submitted to the authorities before the year’s end.

Article Source : Arabian Aerospace

A330 production increase hinges on ETS solution

A planned production rate increase of the Airbus A330 depends on Europe resolving the global dispute over aviation carbon emission fees.

Briefing media in Toulouse, France on Wednesday, Airbus EVP-programs Tom Williams said the plan is to take A330 production up to 11 per month in 2014 from about nine per month this year. The manufacturer has 1,199 firm orders for the A330 and a backlog of 328 aircraft.

However, 45 A330 orders for Chinese carriers are on hold because of an escalating dispute between Europe and the Chinese government over the implementation of Europe’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) carbon tax on airlines.

“If we don’t resolve the ETS issue, then we won’t get to 11 aircraft per month by 2014,” Williams said. “If the Chinese orders flow through, it will create the jobs and we will get there, but it won’t happen if ETS is not resolved.”

Airbus’ COO and designated new CEO Fabrice Brégier said in an earlier briefing that he hoped Europe would move faster toward reaching a global agreement ETS. “We have made our position clear and we have expressed to the European Commission that we have nothing against the principle of ETS, which is an incentive to contain emissions while continuing air traffic growth. However, ETS has to be discussed and negotiated at a global level. We believe Europe has started to discuss it but we are hoping it will move faster,” Brégier said.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

Malaysia 1Q losses slightly improved; plans to raise $800 million in Islamic bonds

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) reported a first-quarter after-tax loss of MYR171 million ($54.3 million), slightly improved from a MYR242 million loss for the same period last year.

MAS said the improved results were “despite higher jet fuel price averaging $135 per barrel during the quarter compared to $120 per barrel in the previous year,” according to a statement.

Total Group revenue stood at MYR3.11 billion while overall operating expenses were MYR3.42 billion, producing a first-quarter operating loss of MYR307 million.

“We were able to achieve a lower net loss for the first three months of 2012 compared to the previous year because we made some tough decisions per our business plan. We cut unprofitable routes especially in long haul where yields were low,” MAS CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said in a statement. “On the cost side, we lowered our fuel bill with improved consumption as a result of newer fuel-efficient aircraft,” he added.

Separately, MAS announced details of plans to raise up to MYR2.5 billion ($800 million) in Islamic bonds, which it hopes will stabilize its beleaguered balance sheet.

It also plans to lease six new Airbus A380s and two new A330s, valued at MYR5.3 billion, from an external entity. “Five of the aircraft would be delivered in 2012, where the first two aircraft are to be delivered by end May and another three are to be delivered in the second half of 2012. The remaining three aircraft would be delivered in early 2013,” MAS said in a statement.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

A380 cracks fixes to start early next year

Modifications to repair wing rib cracks on in-service Airbus A380s will begin in the first quarter of 2013 and the composite material at the root of the problem will no longer be used on new-production aircraft delivered from 2014.

The cracks issue, discovered early this year, resulted from a carbon fiber-aluminum material known as 7449 that was used in A380 wing rib feet construction. The material was selected because it is both lightweight and strong, but it is now known that it becomes brittle during the production tempering process. Although the problem did not show up on computer modeling during the A380’s design and development or on demonstrator aircraft, it is now known that the material is affected by natural up and down wing movements during flight and also by extreme temperature variances.

The European Aviation Safety Agency issued an airworthiness directive, extended to all in-service A380s, ordering mandatory inspections of the wing ribs.

EADS CEO Louis Gallois has said the fix for the 71 A380s in service will cost €105 million ($138 million) and will be borne by Airbus.

Briefing reporters in Toulouse, France on Wednesday, Airbus EVP-programs Tom Williams said a demonstrator aircraft with the modifications would begin flying from around the third quarter this year and parts for the retrofits would be available to airlines from early 2013.  Williams said the repairs could be done in one of two ways—either as a single, nose-to-tail program or in a series of repairs fitted into routine C check maintenance schedules. “We are still working out how long the aircraft will need to be grounded,” he said.

Lufthansa German Airlines CEO Carsten Spohr told last week that he expected repairs to put each aircraft on the ground for four weeks. “Next year, one of our A380s will always be on the ground. We are in talks with Airbus about compensation for the non-production of our aircraft when they are not flying," Spohr said.

The A380s delivered from early 2014 will have a new all-aluminum rib design.

Williams admitted that Airbus was “pretty concerned” when the cracking problem was first discovered but was now confident it understood the issue and had the solution. “It was very disappointing and embarrassing in front of our customers, who have been extremely supportive in terms of the inspection process,” he said.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

Boeing S.C.’s first 787 completes test flight

Boeing announced that the first 787 built in its South Carolina facility for launch customer Air India (AI)  completed a five-hr. test flight Tuesday.

The production flight tested the controls and systems in all stages of flight as the crew checked the functionality of onboard systems at high and medium altitudes. They also checked backup and critical safety elements including cabin pressurization, avionics, and navigation and communications systems. In addition, they shut down and re-started each engine during flight, according to Boeing.

"The airplane performed exactly as we expected," pilot Tim Berg said.

Boeing said the aircraft will fly to Ft. Worth, Texas to be painted with AI’s livery before returning to South Carolina for a mid-2012 delivery.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

Qantas restructure splits domestic, international operations

The Qantas Group (QF) announced it will split the carrier’s international and domestic operations into two distinct businesses as part of its five-year transformation plan launched in August 2011.

 “Qantas International and Qantas Domestic—currently combined as ‘Qantas Airlines’—will be formally managed as two distinct businesses,” a QF statement said. “Each will have its own CEO and its own operational and commercial functions with financial results to be reported separately.” The new structure will be effective July 1.

The restructure will strengthen the Qantas Group’s portfolio and help deliver its previously agreed strategic goals, CEO Alan Joyce said.

The Group also announced a number of executive management changes, including appointing former QF Frequent Flyer CEO Simon Hickey to CEO-QF International; QF Airlines-operations group executive Lyell Strambi to CEO-QF domestic; Group executive, strategy and technology Jayne Hrdlicka to CEO-Jetstar Group; Group executive-international strategy Lesley Grant to CEO-QF Frequent Flyer; and Gareth Evans to CFO.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

Southwest to sublease all 88 AirTran 717s aircraft to Delta

Southwest Airlines (SWA) has reached a tentative agreement with Delta Air Lines (DL) and Boeing Capital Corp. to sublease all 88 AirTran (FL) Boeing 717 aircraft to DL, transitioning three aircraft per month over a three-year period beginning in the second half of 2013.

DL and SWA are still in talks to reach a final agreement with all parties related to aircraft leases. Once final, all 717s would depart the fleet by 2015.

"This is a very complex transaction that requires time and close coordination with multiple parties,” SWA EVP and COO Mike Van de Ven said. “While we do have a tentative agreement with Delta, final details must be completed with all parties before a binding agreement between Delta and Southwest can be completed."

SWA said it currently plans to keep its total fleet count “relatively flat” as the 717s transition to DL, and will replace FL 717 flying with 737 aircraft. It will maintain service to all previously announced airports, it stressed.

“All pilots would train and transition directly into the airline's 737 fleet as the 717s are reduced,” SWA said. “AirTran flight attendants and maintenance personnel are currently trained on both aircraft types.”

Article Source : ATW Daily News

Thai Airways removes president

Thai Airways International (TG) president Piyasvasti Amranand was removed from his post by the state-run carrier’s board Monday. Executive VP-Strategies and Business Development Chokchai Panyayong was appointed as acting president.

TG’s board said it removed Piyasvasti on the grounds he was a poor communicator, which led to disunity in carrying out the company’s marketing strategies.

Thailand’s Prime Minister said the government had nothing to do with Piyasvasti’s dismissal, Thailand’s national news bureau NNT reported.

Piyasvasti has publically said his dismissal is motivated by politics or internal corruption and is calling for a clarification. He has also threatened legal action, NNT reported, if the cause of his dismissal is damaging to his reputation. 

The selection process for a new president is expected to begin within the next three months, NNT said.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

SuperJet International: SSJ100 crash ‘does not alter our belief in the aircraft or its safety’

Subdued representatives from SuperJet International (SJI) told reporters at the Regional Airline Assn. (RAA) annual convention in Minneapolis Tuesday that the recent crash of a Sukhoi Superjet SSJ100 has not significantly altered plans to manufacture and market the Russian-built regional aircraft.

Declining to provide a full press briefing on the SSJ program, the representatives instead read a statement from SJI CEO Nazario Cauceglia, who expressed both sadness and a determination to move the program forward. Cauceglia said the crashed SSJ100, which was on a demonstration flight in Indonesia May 9, lost radio contact about 20 min. after takeoff. He noted that the crashed aircraft made its first flight in July 2009 and had accumulated more than 800 flight hr. “No serious technical issues” ever arose during previous flights, he said.

“Every effort is being made to determine what went wrong and why,” he added. “It does not alter our belief in the aircraft or its safety. The sadness we feel … will remain with us forever.”

SJI said Superjet production has not been slowed in the aftermath of the crash, which killed all 45 people on board the aircraft.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

Air India pilot strike overshadows 787 delivery

Indian flag-carrier Air India’s (AI) long-haul flights on international routes continued to be crippled as the pilot strike enters the 15th day, overshadowing the carrier’s Boeing 787 delivery later this month.

Pilots from the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) have hardened their position and so has the government. The minister for civil aviation Ajit Singh invited the airline’s other 13 unions to a meeting but refused to talk to the striking pilots group. More than 100 pilots have already been sacked.

The pilots’ sickout is a result of the government of India’s decision to merge India’s two public sector airlines—Indian (IC), which ran domestic and regional routes, and AI, which operated medium- and long-haul international flights. Though the airlines were merged by government diktat four years ago, they remain deeply divided. Both had completely different pay scales, promotion policies and work cultures.

AI was started by the Tata group in the 1932 and later nationalized by the government. IC was formed by merging half a dozen small domestic carriers that operated in the 1950s. Despite the merger, employees in almost all sections continue to work as if they belong to two separate carriers.

In what may seem like a bizarre situation to outsiders, pilots from the AI part of the airline are objecting to the management’s decision to send their brethren from IC for flight training on the 787.

Pilots from IPG said if pilots from the other group are allowed to fly the 787s, they will lose out on growth opportunities. The loss-making airline is shrinking its fleet and is likely to lease out more aircraft as it struggles to stay afloat. The strike has cost the airline about $40 million so far.

The government has appointed a committee, led by retired judge DM Dharmadhikari, to evaluate the salary structures of employees and suggest a new parity structure. Discussions continue with the unions to bring in a new common structure so employees will have similar conditions of employment.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

Lufthansa A330 MUC-IAD service features all-new onboard products

Lufthansa (LH) on May 22 launched its first scheduled flight with all-new onboard products that include first-, business-, and economy-class seats as well as FlyNet, the first onboard broadband Internet access using a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop or smartphone in every travel class.

The aircraft, an Airbus A330-300, operating the Munich (MUC)-Washington Dulles service, is the first of three of the type to be delivered to LH this year; two additional aircraft are dedicated to Swiss International Air Lines.

LH will introduce its first Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Frankfurt-Washington service featuring the all new products June 1.

LH German board member Jens Bischoff told aboard the Hamburg-MUC delivery flight that “when all aircraft have new seats in all classes by 2014, we expect €300 million in additional earnings.” He said that LH this year has invested €1.5billion ($1.92 billion) in new aircraft and €300 million in new service products. “We ordered 7,000 new business-class and 800 new first-class seats, the biggest order of any airline,” Bischoff said.

LH completed reconfiguring narrowbodies this spring and will install new first-, economy-class and business-class seats on its A380s in 2014. 

In this new cabin configuration, the number of business-class seats will shrink from 98 to 92.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG executive board member Carsten Spohr told the company is considering adding a premium-economy class and will make a decision in the next six months.

Article Source : ATW Daily News