Non-Governmental Organisations in UAE invited to compete for grant funds

Non-Governmental Organisations in the United Arab Emirates are invited to submit proposals to be considered for community grant funds administered by The Boeing Company.

The funds will be awarded as a grant to proposals, which specifically target projects that support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, workforce development and placement programmes in the UAE. Boeing has defined criteria for each of the focus areas that must be met in order for the project to qualify.

“Boeing Middle East is committed to supporting the strategic vision and economic diversification plans of the UAE. We have a rich track record of partnering with community organisations around the region, but this year we will focus our efforts on one project in the UAE for greater impact. The emphasis of our Global Corporate Citizenship programs on STEM education and workforce development is based on our belief that these two areas have the most potential to deliver long-term benefits for the UAE,” said Jeffrey Johnson, president of Boeing Middle East.

Proposals submitted for STEM education programs should target children in the early or primary and secondary education phase, while also providing teachers with the right tools to creatively engage with their students.
To be considered for the grant, job training and placement programme submissions should promote the economic well-being of the UAE by helping youth, women, college dropouts, people with disabilities, the unemployed or those lacking the skills needed to find meaningful employment opportunities.
Between 2009 and 2011, Boeing funded education programmes and entrepreneurship training for a large number of people across the region, principally through projects organized by top non-governmental organisations, including INDEMAJ, INJAZ, Action Care, and the Emirates Environment Group in the UAE, Qatar, Palestinian Territories and Jordan.

Article Source : Arabian Aerospace

Taiwan’s EVA Airways accepted into Star Alliance

Taipei-based EVA Airways Corp. (BR) has been accepted into the Star Alliance and expects to become a member by 2013a.

“This decision underscores the alliance’s long-term strategy of seeking network growth and providing access to new regions, which shows strong economic potential and development,” Star CEO Mark Schwab said at the signing ceremony in Taipei. He said BR is a very good fit for the alliance, with a specific focus on the growing Far East aviation market.

BR will become the second Taiwanese carrier to join an alliance, after competitor China Airlines (CI) joined SkyTeam last year.

“After careful evaluation, we concluded that Star offers the best match for BR. Our networks complement each other and we will expand the existing alliance flight options in the growing cross-straits market ... in addition, our partnership with Air China makes the Star Alliance especially attractive to us,” said BR chairman James Jeng.

Air China (CA), which joined Star in 2007, will assist in the integration process as the mentor airline. “I hope … this will be a win-win situation and collaborate in the important cross-strait market,” CA SVP Xiao-Hang Zhao said.

In response to a question regarding which alliance has the strongest position in China, Zhao said there will be fewer carriers in SkyTeam when Shenzhen Airlines joins Star in the fourth quarter .

Schwab told : “They [SkyTeam] have China Southern and China Eastern, but what I like is the spread of our position [in China]. We are well covered in the North and the South. BR helps to grow our position. Asiana alone offers 21 destinations in China.”

“Many airlines try to fly to China. But not everybody can. For example, no foreign carrier is allowed to operate on the cross-straits market. This is a unique service. BR [will] become a member at a good time,” BR president K.W. Chang added.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

Greek recession keeps Aegean Airlines in the red for 2011

Aegean Airlines (A3) reported a net loss of €27.2 million ($36.3 million) in 2011, 17% down from the €23.3 million deficit in 2010 when results were negatively affected by one-off social contribution tax charges of €8 million.

Revenue rose 13% to €668 million, driven by international network expansion and international traffic growth, which helped offset weak demand in the domestic market. A3’s international network of scheduled and charter routes expanded to 102 routes; passenger numbers on international routes rose 15% to 3.5 million, but passengers carried on domestic routes fell 6% to 3 million. Total passenger numbers rose 4% to 6.5 million.

MD Dimitris Gerogiannis said that “cost containment efforts through the fleet homogeneity and productivity gains comma were not enough to offset the consequences of the crisis and the effect of oil prices that rose by 39%. In addition, international expansion yielded commercial benefits but had a short-term burden on financial results, as is the case for any new investment.”

He warned that the environment continues to be weak with a further drop in demand in the first quarter of the year.

“Within this deteriorating environment, our efforts concentrate on cost cutting initiatives, the improvement of our competitiveness through the offering of attractive fares and the continuous adjustment of our network depending on market conditions, our strategy and any opportunities that arise,” he said. 

Article Source : ATW Daily News

Aeromexico leases two more 787-8s

Aeromexico—which has leased three 787-8s from International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) and ordered two from Boeing—has agreed to lease an additional two new 787-8s from ILFC as part of its previously announced international expansion plan to add 20 new aircraft.

The two aircraft will be equipped with GEnx engines and are scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2014.

"The addition of these two Boeing 787 aircraft to our current fleet of five, two that we ordered from Boeing and three previously leased from ILFC is great news for Grupo Aeromexico; it is part of our expansion plan to service all our international markets,” Grupo Aeromexico CEO Andres Conesa said. The aircraft will be deployed on long-haul routes and will replace the carrier’s 767 aircraft.

Aeromexico was ILFC’s first customer,” ILFC CEO Henri Courpron said.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

Russian Yakutia to take delivery of three Q300s this year

Russia’s Yakutia Airline (R3) will take delivery of three Bombardier Q300s this year, to be used on regional routes and replacing its Antonov An-24s. R3 did not disclose its leasing partner and previous aircraft operators but said the age of its fleet will not exceed 10 years.

An airline spokesperson said the Q300’s fuel consumption is 45% lower than the An-24 and that the Canadian turboprops can operate in severe conditions of the Russian North, as well as land on ground runways.

The carrier, based in the Yakutia region, has one of the biggest territories in the country, making it important for the carrier to develop a regional network.

In 2011, R3 carried 1.1 million passengers; 193,000 passengers carried were on regional routes, which make up 42% of the airline’s regional network.

The carrier operates five Boeing 737NGs, five 757-200s, one 757-200 freighter, three Tupolev Tu-154s, four Antonov An-140s and 11 An-24s/26s.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

LAN reveals first 787 routes

LAN Airlines has named Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima, Los Angeles, Madrid and Frankfurt as the first cities it will serve with Boeing 787 aircraft during the initial year of operations with the carrier. It expects to take delivery of its first Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-powered 787 in late 2012, configured with 217 economy and 30 premium business seats .

A Boeing-owned 787 landed in Chile for the first time Tuesday at the International Air and Space Fair.

"The incorporation of the Boeing 787 to LAN’s fleet will further ensure the company's sustainable growth while preserving the environment and incorporating modern technology to deliver the best travel experience for LAN's passengers,” LAN COO Ignacio Cueto said.

LAN will be the first airline in Latin America to take delivery of the 787, and is scheduled to receive 32 over 10 years. The carrier and its affiliates operate 136 passenger aircraft.

Article Source : ATW Daily News

RAK Airways selects SITA system to open interlining opportunities

Hybrid UAE carrier, RAK Airways, has selected Horizon, the passenger service solution from IT provider SITA, to facilitate interlining with other carriers as well as enabling exponential growth in the airline's business in the coming years.

Omar Jahameh, CEO of RAK Airways, said: “RAK Airways is on a steady path of growth, thanks to the trust and commitment of our passengers. Signing up with SITA Horizon will meet all of RAK Airways’ passenger management needs as well as enable exponential growth in the airline’s business in the coming years.

“The SITA solution is very comprehensive and is backed by an investment program at RAK Airways. SITA has the state of the art technology, depth of industry expertise and local presence to work in partnership with us on this very significant implementation. The solution will give us the ability to operate interline partnerships and we are now ready to sign our first interline agreement with a partner carrier.”

The six-year, multi-million dollar deal will provide RAK Airways with SITA’s passenger services that are used by more than 120 airlines worldwide. SITA Horizon will provide fare pricing, ticketing, reservations, revenue integrity, passenger revenue accounting, online booking and shopping services. In addition, it will include full departure control services for the airline at its main hub Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. The new integrated system will be used by up to 200 reservations personnel at RAK Airways’ headquarters call centre, as well as at travel agent offices.

Hani El Assaad, SITA regional vice president Middle East and North Africa, said: “SITA Horizon will provide a complete passenger service solution for all areas of RAK Airways’ operations. It will allow the airline to develop its strategy of being unique among the region’s airlines as a hybrid carrier that offers full service to passengers with interline partnerships with other carriers.

“Passengers will benefit from an integrated solution that takes them through the complete journey with RAK Airways. We are delighted to be working in partnership with this fast-growing and innovative airline.”

RAK Airways is the national carrier of Ras Al Khaimah.  The airline currently carries just under half a million passengers a year to 11 destinations and plans significant growth over the term of the SITA contract – to the point of carrying around 2.5 million passengers per year.

Article Source : Arabian Aerospace

Elite TBM 850 unveiled for the general aviation pilot who wants speed and comfort

Daher-Socata has unveiled a new version of its TBM 850 turboprop which made its Middle East debut at the Abu Dhabi Air Expo earlier this month.

The French manufacturer was at Sun ‘n Fun in Florida where it introduced the TBM 850 Elite, which offers a host of new features aimed at improving comfort and flexibility.

The Elite’s most distinctive attribute is the capability of its middle seats to be positioned in either the rearward or forward-facing position. This new configuration provides extended cargo space to accommodate outsized baggage.

“Our TBM 850 Elite offers the flexibility of a sports utility vehicle while delivering the performance of a sports car,” explained senior vice-president Nicolas Chabbert.

In a forward-facing arrangement configured for four passengers, the TBM 850 Elite’s two rear seats are removed to create immediate and obstacle-free access to all luggage areas.

For missions with multiple pieces of baggage, a small cargo net compliments the normal internal baggage compartment by providing additional space. Long,bulky items such as golf bags can be secured by using a large cargo net,which essentially unites the rear baggage compartment and the extended baggage area.

Video footage of the TBM 850 at Abu Dhabi can be seen on the Arabian Aerospace website’s video section from Day One of the show.

Other new features for the Elite `includes new carbon fibre trim (used in the central upper panel, table cover exterior insert and cabinet door cover), along with gold and brush metal treatment on interior fittings.

Two new avionics options also are offered on the aircraft: a long-range KHF 1050 HF radio and Garmin’s full-featured GSR 56 Iridium satellite transceiver, which give access to quality on-demand weather information, text/voice communications and near real-time positioning information.

Article Source : Arabian Aerospace

Destination Morocco for a record breaking solar flight

Morocco is to be the record-breaking destination for the Solar Impulse aircraft later this year.

After its inaugural flight to Paris and Brussels in 2011, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg’s solar airplane will attempt, for the first time ever, to fly over 2,500 km (1,550 miles) without using a drop of fuel, finally landing in Morocco. This trip will coincide with the launch of work in the region of Ouarzazate to construct the largest solar power plant ever built.

During May or June, Solar Impulse will take off for its longest ever flight, crossing the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean. Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg will take turns to fly the aircraft on its 48-hour journey, with a scheduled intermediate stopover near Madrid to change pilots.

This long-duration flight will serve as a dress rehearsal for the round-the –world flight in 2014. It will allow the Mission team to gather additional experience in cooperating with international airports, integrating the prototype into regular air traffic patterns, and managing the logistics of maintenance.

“We didn’t have a moment’s hesitation in accepting the idea of working with Morocco”, declared André Borschberg, co-founder and CEO of Solar Impulse. “This destination corresponds fully with the goals we had set ourselves, in terms of distance and flight duration.” He added: “Flying as far as this, powered only by solar energy will be excellent training for the round-the-world trip.”

The Solar Impulse team will be welcomed in Morocco by the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN), whose role is to develop Morocco’s solar energy plan. This program is the most ambitious not only in the region but world-wide, in terms of its innovative strategies and large-scale integration of solar technologies.

When they arrive in Morocco, the pilots will symbolically present to their hosts samples of the solar technologies exploited by Solar Impulse.

Morocco intends by 2020 to build five solar complexes, generating in total 2000 megawatts and preventing the emission over time of 3.7 million tons of CO2. The solar-thermal power plant in the region of Ouarzazate, which will have a capacity of 160 MW, is part of the solar complex, housing a range of solar installations which, by 2015, will generate a total of 500 MW.

“We are full of admiration for the vision of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI and the intelligent energy policy adopted by Morocco. We are delighted to support it. Theirs is a pioneering project, which clearly demonstrates that the clean technologies we are promoting with Solar Impulse also have a role to play in everyday life”, declared an enthusiastic Bertrand Piccard, initiator and President of Solar Impulse.

In his reply, Mustapha Bakkoury, President of the Management Board of MASEN, confirmed that “it is quite natural, given the convergence between our respective convictions and goals, that Solar Impulse and MASEN combine forces for a project that brings to life the ideals and values that inspire us.”

Article Source : Arabian Aerospace

AIX2012: Panasonic poised to buy AeroMobile outright from Telenor

Industry sources say that Panasonic's announcement yesterday that it now has a majority stake in connectivity provider AeroMobile may only be part of the story.

It could own the company outright by the end of the year, according to stories coming out of AeroMobile's offices.

Telenor, which was previously AeroMobile's sole owner, remains the only other shareholder.

Announcing the majority shareholding yesterday at the Aircraft Interiors 2012 show in Hamburg, Panasonic VP Global Communication Services David Bruner denied plans for a future takeover, but that is at odds with what Aeromobile employees are saying.

"It's a done deal," said one, who didn't wish to be named. Publicly, AeroMobile bosses refused to comment.

Panasonic needs Aeromobile's expertise for its airborne connectivity services, including eXPhone, which allows passengers to use their mobile phones, smart phones and BlackBerrys to make and receive voice calls and SMS text messages in flight, along with data services such as emails.

It also sees a bright future providing inflight internet access and live TV. Panasonic leases Ku-band satellite capacity from around 13 different suppliers and will soon announce plans for further capacity from an unnamed major satellite provider, rumoured to be Intelsat.

Bringing Aeromobile's expertise in-house would enable it to compete with other providers like OnAir and GoGo in what is predicted to be a multi-billion dollar market in the near future.

Panasonic's Bruner says "Broadband smartphone use on aircraft will explode in the next couple of years."

An official response from Panasonic Avionics Corporation reads: "Panasonic Avionics Corporation is happy to be the majority shareholder in AeroMobile, and Telenor remains committed to the company with no plans to sell its substantial shareholding.

"The backing of these world-class inflight entertainment and telecommunications companies complements each other and will help AeroMobile meet the ever-increasing demand for inflight connectivity."

Article Source : Arabian Aerospace

AIX2012: Crystal Award winners named for best in aircraft interiors

Six new products and concepts for aircraft cabins took centre stage at the formal award ceremony for the Crystal Cabin Awards – the highlight of the airraft interiors calendar.

The ceremony was at Hamburg’s Atlantic Hotel alongside the Aircraft Interiors Expo, the world’s largest aircraft interiors event.

The unique international cabin prize went to Almadesign, B/E Aerospace & Teague, C&D Zodiac, Lufthansa Systems and TTF Aerospace. A total

of 58 entries from ten countries were assessed by the Crystal Cabin Award

Association in Hamburg. 18 entrants from seven different nations made it into the final round.

“Some of the winning products are unbelievably visionary and as innovative as

it gets. It is obvious that they have won a trophy. Others, on the other hand, have adopted the logical approach of taking existing developments to the next stage,” said Prof. Dr Peter Vink from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands (Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering) and Chairman of the Judging Panel.

Dr Bernd Egert, Secretary of State for Hamburg’s Department of the Economy, presented the trophy in the category “Passenger Comfort” to Lufthansa Systems. The German company won over the Judging Panel at the final viewing the previous day with its BoardConnect product. The wireless infotainment solution from Lufthansa Systems enriches the passenger’s flying experience whilst generating savings and new sources of income for airlines.

In the “Industrial Design and Technical Concepts” category, Rainer von Borstel (Diehl

Aerosystems) presented the trophy to B/E Aerospace & Teague from the USA. Their award-winning Essence Inserts Collection consists of ten individual products for the galley, united in design.

Ingo Wuggetzer of Airbus, a member of the Judging Panel, presented another US company, TTF Aerospace , with the “Material and Components” category for the TTF Aerospace TSkin product. TSkin protects baggage compartments from damage and at the same time gives them a fresher look.

In the field of “Greener Cabin, Health and Safety”, it was C&D Zodiac who carried the day with the C&D Zodiac Sidewall & Lining System. The US developer’s composite film is both user-friendly and environmentally friendly. It can be applied to the sidewalls and ceilings in all commercial aircraft. Presenter and Judging Panel member Peter Bishop was the first to congratulate the winner.

C&D Zodiac was called back to the stage again moments later. Ian Crawford of Reed Exhibitions presented them with the trophy in the new “Premium Class Products” category for their C3 Ultralounge. Instead of the traditional twin aisle, there is a single large aisle with multiple cross aisles, speeding the boarding process. The unique arrangement of the seats gives premium-class passengers the choice of various seating positions – club seating, companion seating and conference seating.

In “Visionary Concepts”, the second new category, victory belonged to Almadesign. With their LIFE concept (Lighter, Integrated, eco-Friendly and Efficient aircraft cabin), they combined state-of-the-art technology with natural, sustainable materials such as leather and cork to create a cabin for the executive jet of the future. The team from Portugal was presented with its trophy by Vink.

Article Source : Arabian Aerospace

OnAir fully equips Emirates A380 fleet

OnAir has equipped all 21 Airbus A380 aircraft in the Emirates Airline (EK) fleet with inflight connectivity service. The EK aircraft in July will become the first A380s to offer combined GSM mobile phone and Wi-Fi service, following the equipage of OnAir’s inflight GSM mobile phone network.

OnAir said the service has been installed on more than 5,000 EK A380 flights, including trial flights, before the official launch at the end of 2011. It has been selected by six A380 operators, and is in service on 25 A380s.

OnAir noted that 52% of users access the service using a smartphone, while 48% use a laptop or tablet. The service typically gets 73% of usage during the day, and an 84% of usage on flights of over three hrs.

Article Source : ATW Daily News