vol 05 issue 8 may 2019 ebace 2019...vol 05 issue 8 may 2019 ` 100 update india’s premier...

Vol 05 Issue 8 may 2019 ` 100www.aviationmagazine.in UPDATE

India’s premier aviation monthly magazine

OPTIMAL START TO OPERATIONS FOR

MANTA AIR

TAP AIR PORTUGAL TAKES DELIVERY OF ITS FIRST

A321LR

PREVIEW

EBACE 2019JET AVIATION APPOINTS JEREMIE CAILLET AS VICE PRESIDENT VIP COMPLETION PROGRAMS

New CVO takes charge at BEL

Jet Airways announces temporary suspension of flight operations

Rotorcraft Asia and Unmanned Systems Asia sets the pace for Asia Pacific’s growth projection

Bombardier Celebrates Delivery of Q400 Aircraft to Qazaq Air

05

07

14

3229 HAL Re-Commences Flight Testing of Modified Intermediate Jet Trainer(HJT 36)

11 Embraer E195-E2 Granted Certification by ANAC, FAA and EASA’

16 Finnair appoints Ole Orvér as CCO, Nicklas Ilebrand as SVP, Strategy

26 Embraer Praetor 600 Business Jet Outperforms on Certification

06 Air Peace Selects the E195-E2 and Becomes the First E2 Operator in Africa

09 Airbus and Safran win Crystal Cabin Award with Lower Deck Pax Experience Modules

contents

MAY 2019AVIATION UPDATE 3

AZERBAIJAN5things to do in

this Eid

21

Vol : 05 Issue : 8 MAY - 2019

EDITORIAL BOARD

AVIATIONUPDATE

India’s premier aviation monthly magazine

Editor-in-Chief : B. Kartikeya

EDITORIAL Associate Editor : Gagan Deep Special Editor : Rajesh Sahu Correspondent : Shishir Mishra

CREATIVE HEAD : Badree

PHOTOGRAPHER : Krishanth

MARKETING Asst. General Manager : Mahesh (North & West) Manager, Marketing : Sony

PRODUCT MARKETING Asst. Manager, Circulation : Ram Kumar Executive, Marketing : Satish Reddy

SUBSCRIPTION Asst.Manager, Subscription : Naheda Sr.Customer Support Officer : Sony

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Sr.Manager : Karunandhi

Asst.Manager : Md. Wajid Ali

Editiorial & Advertising Offices

Aviation Update16-11-741/6/E/50, S.B.H COLONY, DILSUKHNAGAR, HYDERABAD-500 060, India.Tel: 09444499221, 040-24055553.

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Letter to [email protected]

For Advertising details [email protected] information in Aviation Update nformation is derived from sources, which we consider reliable and a sincere effort is made to report accurate information. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. The publisher regrets that he cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in this publication, however caused. Similarly, opinions/ views expressed by third parties in abstract and/or in interviews are not necessarily shared by Aviation Update. However, we wish to advice our readers that one or more recognized authorities may hold different views than those reported. Material used in this publication is intended for information purpose only. Readers are advised to seek specific advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances.

Contents of this publication are copyright.

No part of Aviation Update or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publication in writing. The same rule applies when there is a copyright or the article is taken from another publication. An exemption is hereby granted for the extracts used for the purpose of fair review, provided two copies of the same publication are sent to us for our records. Publications reproducing material either in part or in whole, without permission could face legal action. The publisher assumes no responsibility for returning any material solicited or unsolicited nor is he responsible for material lost or damaged. This publication is not meant to be an endorsement of any specific product or services offered. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw, amend or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian and International Advertisements Code. The publisher will not be liable for any damage or loss caused by delayed publication.

Printed at: Chennai offset printers19/1 & 21/2 Kitabath Khan Bhadur Street, Elliess Road, Mount Road, Chennai – 600 002

Aviation Update is published by - B.KartikeyaNo:27/11,V.O.C.Street,T.Nagar, Chennai -600 017

Greetings and Salutations

Dear Readers,It’s all the way excruciating to pen-down one’s thoughts at a time when

the Indian aviation industry is going through a precarious phase. Muddling

on the implosion of the second largest carrier of the country, there is no

denying the fact that the entire industry is hell-bent on striving monopoly,

still reeling under the scarcity of pilots and other staff, which makes it even

more baffling. While one debates whether it is the most unfavourable time

to actually consider a career in aviation, Air India’s earmarking of 500 crores

to set things in line, does strike a happy chord. To add sugar to the drink,

flip to PG 20 for our exclusive take on the newest airport in the country,

Kannur International in Kerala. Prior to that, one gets to read through our

cover story this month focussing on EBACE 2019; undoubtedly one of the

biggest events in the world of aviation that lure one and all eyeballs every

single time.

With Holy Eid just around the corner, we have curated a little special

section called “Destination Focus” featuring “5 Must do things in Azerbaijan”.

Also, if you happen to be in London next month, The Airfield Engineering

& Maintenance Summit 2019 should be on your “To Visit” list to witness

industry leaders come together to share the same platform. Another great

take on PG 32 is the Rotorcraft Asia 2019 coverage. Lastly, this June, it’s

your chance to be a part of the Gujarat Aviation Conclave 2019. Flip over

to PG 35 to find more about it. Our daily dosage of bits and bytes from

Aviation World awaits you in our regulars like Quick Update, Appointments,

Business Aviation, & Defense and Military.

On that note, I implore all my readers to share their valuable feedback by

dropping us a line with comments or suggestions, if any. Your feedback

and constant admiration is what makes us live by! Till me meet again. Take

Care & God Bless!!

Thanks

B. KartikeyaEditor

Wake up withdetermination, go tobed with satisfaction

MAy 2019 AVIATION UPDATE4

SPICEJET TO INDUCT 16 BOEING 737-800 AIRCRAFT

SpiceJet, the country’s favourite carrier, will induct 16 Boeing 737-800 NG

aircraft on dry lease and has applied to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to import the aircraft. Subject to regulatory approvals, the aircraft would begin joining SpiceJet fleet in the next ten days.

Ajay Singh – Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet said, “This is the first lot of Boeing 737s that we are inducting in our fleet. The sudden reduction of aviation capacity has created a challenging environment in the sector. SpiceJet is committed to working closely with the government authorities to augment capacity and minimize passenger inconvenience.”

The new inductions will not just bring down flight cancellations to nil but also help in SpiceJet’s aggressive international and domestic expansion plans.

INDIGO ADDS 18 FLIGHTS FROM MUMBAI AND DELHI

IndiGo, India’s largest carrier reinforces its commitment to enhance connectivity to

and from Mumbai and Delhi. Effective May 2019, the airline will operate 10 additional flights out of Mumbai and 8 additional flights from Delhi. These flights will also connect to

IndiGo’s existing domestic and international network. This is an effort to make it easier for customers to find affordable fares during the busy season.

The new flights are designed to cater to business and leisure travellers who are constantly on the lookout for new and affordable flying options. Customers who would like to plan their travel can book tickets through our official website www.goindigo.in.

NEW CVO TAKES CHARGE AT BEL

M r Shrikant Walgad, an IAS officer of the Haryana Cadre, has taken

charge as the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

Mr Shrikant Walgad completed his BE in Electronics & Communications from the Karnataka Regional Engineering College (now NITK Surathkal), Mangalore University, in 1986. He also holds a Post Graduate Degree in Public Policy and Management (PGPPM) from IIM-Bangalore.

On completion of his IAS training (1991 batch), Mr Shrikant Walgad was posted as Sub Divisional Magistrate of Ellenabad/Bhiwani, Haryana. He subsequently worked in various capacities, acquiring rich experience in district administration, law and order, rural and urban development and land revenue management while serving as Additional District Collector of Sirsa/Sonepat and Jhajjar, Haryana; and District Collector of Jhajjar and Bhiwani, Haryana, and Kodagu, Karnataka. As Registrar Magistrate of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, he gained first-hand experience in the areas of higher education and human resource development. During his tenure as

Joint Secretary, Haryana Sector, he handled general administration and personal management.

Mr Shrikant Walgad also served in different areas of Haryana Urban Development administration, like Urban Development, Rural Development, Election management, Housing and Environment.

AIRBUS CONNECTED EXPERIENCE GOES FROM CONCEPT PHASE TO REALITY

Following extensive market feedback and support from our industrial partners,

Airbus has decided to proceed with an IoT* platform for the cabin, known as the Airbus Connected Experience. Up to now this has been a concept study, which is “coming to life” following cooperation agreements signed with three best-in-class partners: gategroup, Stelia Aerospace and Recaro Aircraft Seating – with more to join.

The platform will link in real-time interconnected core cabin components, including the galleys, meal trolleys, seats, overhead bins and other cabin elements. As well as allowing data exchange throughout the cabin for the crew, it is also planned that consolidated information could also be uploaded to the Skywise cloud for subsequent trend analytics.

The connected cabin will provide airlines, flight crews and passengers with significant benefits. For flight crews, it means that they can access an integrated platform which keeps pre-flight and real-time data in one place, while passengers will receive a more personalised travel experience. And for airlines, the platform would allow them to use the aggregated cabin equipment usage trends (of the connected elements) to perform predictive maintenance analytics over their entire fleet – thus improving the overall cabin service reliability, quality and performance on board all their aircraft. The platform will also allow wireless streaming to passengers and will enable airlines to host third-party applications for movies.

Soeren Scholz, Airbus’ SVP Cabin & Cargo Programme said: “As airlines drive to improve operational efficiencies and reliability, they can now look to the

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Connected Experience, offered by Airbus together with our industrial partners, to link different elements of the cabin, seats, galleys and trolleys into one central data system.” He adds: “This seamless inter-connectivity within the cabin will also be of tremendous benefit to passengers who will be able to enjoy individually tailored, personalised and high-quality inflight service.”

AIR PEACE SELECTS THE E195-E2 AND BECOMES THE FIRST E2 OPERATOR IN AFRICA

Embraer has signed a firm order for 10 E195-E2 jets with Air Peace, Nigeria’s

largest airline. The order was announced, during the Embraer’s Africa Airline Business Seminar, in Mauritius. With this order, Air Peace will become the first E-Jets E2 operator in Africa. The contract includes purchase rights for a further 20 E195-E2.

With all purchase rights being exercised, the contract has a value of USD 2.12 billion, based on current list prices. The order will be included in Embraer’s 2019 second-quarter backlog. Air Peace has grown rapidly since it commenced flight operations in 2014 and is now the largest airline in West Africa. The airline intends to address the significant untapped demand in the African market with the E195-E2, the newest, most efficient, and most comfortable aircraft in the segment.

Air Peace Chairman/CEO, Mr. Allen Onyema, said, “Embraer’s new E195-E2 presents us with a marvel of economic performance. It’s also great that we will be the first E2 operator on the African continent. We already have the ERJ145s in our fleet, so we understand the high standards of Embraer products.”

“Air Peace embodies the kind of pioneering spirit that Embraer loves. The airline was established to bring highly skilled

work opportunities to the people of Nigeria and to boost connectivity, which in turn significantly contributed to the economy in the region. Air Peace has delivered successfully on both aims, and has become a fast growing successful airline. It’s great to now have them onboard the E2 as well.” said Arjan Meijer, Chief Commercial Officer, Embraer Commercial Aviation.

Meijer continued, “The market in Africa presents significant opportunities for airlines to deliver the connectivity that the whole continent needs. Aircraft however must be right-sized to develop those routes profitably; more than 90% of intra-African flights depart with fewer than 150 passengers onboard. And more than 70% of markets are served with less than one flight per day.”

Air Peace subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper, started operating six ERJ145 last year on short thin routes. That experience with Embraer’s products, and the undeniable economic benefits of right-sizing aircraft for the mission, was a key factor in selecting the E2.

ATR SHOWS PASSENGER INCLUSION INNOVATION AT AIX

ATR, the world leader in the regional aviation market, will attend the Aircraft

Interiors Expo in Hamburg, ATR’s presence at the world’s largest event dedicated to the design and furnishing of aircraft cabin interiors underlines the manufacturer’s strong commitment to passenger comfort and wellness.

ATR will be demonstrating at AIX the prototype of Audioback®, a hearing aid loop designed to capture any audio input, such as inflight announcements, and send it to the passengers’ hearing aids equipped with a Telecoil, via a magnetic field signal. Audioback® is an innovation that will help improve the on-board experience of hard of hearing travelers and the airlines’ responses to their specific needs.

ATR will also be using AIX as an opportunity to discuss improvements of the cabin environment for visually impaired passengers, such as safety instruction cards in Braille.

According to World Health Organization figures from 2018, 6.1% of the world’s population, or some 466 million people,

suffer from a hearing loss that would qualify as a disability and approximately 1.3 billion people live with some form of vision impairment. Additionally, ATR will be presenting Cabinstream™, its In-Flight Entertainment system launched in 2018, which gives operators the option of introducing wireless connectivity into the ATR cabin, allowing passengers to access a variety of multimedia content on their personal electronic devices.

Finally, visitors to the ATR stand will be able to experience the ergonomics and comfort of the new 18-inch wide “Neo-Classic” and “Neo-Prestige” seats. Standard on all ATR aircraft since July 2018, they are easily retrofittable on previous generation aircraft.

EMIRATES TO EXPAND REACH IN INDIA WITH SPICEJET CODESHARE PARTNERSHIP

Emirates and SpiceJet have signed a Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) to enter into a reciprocal codeshare agreement, which is set to open new routes and destinations for passengers travelling between India and popular destinations across Africa, America, Europe and the Middle East.

Subject to necessary government approvals, the partnership will enable Emirates’ passengers to enjoy seamless connectivity on flights to India, leveraging SpiceJet’s strong domestic presence and adding six new destinations: Amritsar, Jaipur, Pune, Mangalore, Madurai and Calicut - to the nine existing cities in India served by Emirates. This will bolster Emirates’ already-extensive network adding a total of 67 weekly connections between Emirates’ hub in Dubai to these six fast growing destinations in India. This includes increased domestic connectivity from Emirates’ nine Indian gateways to points such as Goa, Hubli,

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Guwahati, Vishakhapatnam and Tuticorin which would allow for a greater variety of travel options between both Emirates and SpiceJet flights.

“Our journey in India has been defined by progressive investment, partnership and growth. We constantly try to improve and provide our customers with greater flexibility and travel choices. This partnership with SpiceJet and the mutual expansion of our network will go a long way in further enhancing the travel experience of our customers in India as well as those heading into India, benefiting travellers and businesses alike,” said Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Revenue Optimization and Aeropolitical affairs.

“I am delighted to announce that as part of SpiceJet’s international expansion strategy, we have signed a MoU for a codeshare agreement with Emirates. This new partnership should immensely benefit passengers travelling on both airlines. While SpiceJet passengers from across India will be able to enjoy seamless connectivity leveraging Emirates vast network across Europe, Africa, America and the Middle East those travelling to India on Emirates will be able to travel to 51 destinations across our domestic network,” said Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet.

JET AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS

Jet Airways was informed by the State Bank of India (SBI), on be-half of the

consortium of Indian Lenders, that they are unable to consider its re-quest for critical interim funding. Since no emergency funding from the lenders or any other source is forthcoming, the airline will not be able to pay for fuel or other critical services to keep the opera-tions going. Consequently, with immediate effect, Jet Airways is compelled to can-cel all its international and domestic

flights. The last flight was operated on 17th April 2019.

This decision has been taken after a painstaking evaluation of all alternatives that were made available to the Company and after receiving guidance and advice on the same from its Board of Directors. Jet Airways has informed the DGCA, and the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Finance and other relevant government institutions, of this course of action.

Over the last several weeks and months, the company has tried every means possi-ble to seek both interim and long-term funding. Unfortunately, despite its very best efforts, the airline has been left with no other choice today but to go ahead with a temporary suspension of flight operations. This has been a very difficult decision but without interim funding, the airline is simply unable to conduct flight operations in a manner that delivers to the very rea-sonable expectations of its guests, employees, partners and service providers.

After 25 years of sharing the Joy of Flying with Indian and international guests, Jet Airways has been forced to take this extreme measure as prolonged and sustained efforts with lenders and authorities did not yield the desired results. Essential services needed to support guest services and the re-commencement of the flight operations will be kept onboard until further notice. Jet Airways will now await the bid finalisation process by SBI and the consortium of Indian Lenders.

In its response to the airline, the lenders have said, “The Expressions of Interest (EOI) have been received and bid documents have been issued to the eligible recip-ients today. The bid documents inter alia has solicited plans for a quick revival of the company. The bid process will conclude on 10th May 2019 … We are actively working to try and ensure that the bid process leads to a viable solution for the company.”

Jet Airways will continue to support the bid process initiated by the lenders.

INDIGO STRENGTHENS MUMBAI AS A KEY TRAVEL HUB WITH 3 NEW INTERNATIONAL AND 20

ADDITIONAL DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

IndiGo reinforces its commitment to enhance connectivity to and from Mumbai,

with the launch of 3 new international flights and increasing frequency on domestic sectors. IndiGo announces Jeddah and Dammam as its 17th and 18th international destinations. Mumbai will also be connected to Abu Dhabi, which is already an existing IndiGo destination. Effective June 05, 2019, the airline will operate daily non-stop flights between Mumbai-Jeddah and Mumbai-Abu Dhabi. Effective July 05, 2019, the airline will operate daily non-stop flights between Mumbai-Dammam.

Additionally, given the rush in summer traffic and the shortfall in industry capacity, IndiGo is temporarily adding approximately 20 new departures each from Mumbai and Delhi in a phased manner from April 15, 2019. This is an effort to make it easier for customers to find affordable fares during the busy season.

Mr. William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said, “We are strengthening Mumbai as a key travel hub for domestic and international connectivity from India. We are pleased to announce Jeddah and Dammam as our 17th and 18th international destinations effective June 05, 2019 and July 05, 2019 respectively. Jeddah being the commercial capital and the gateway for Haj, Dammam being the growth centre in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi being a major cultural and commercial centre in UAE, are critical markets for strengthening our presence in the Middle-East. Mumbai is the commercial hub of India and we see great potential connecting the Middle-East with this city, further bolstering the extensive cultural, business and tourism links between India and the Middle East.”

Mr. Boulter further added, “With the addition of these new international flights and enhanced domestic frequency, we are committed to expanding our network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travellers. It is our constant endeavour to provide flexibility of choice to our customers as IndiGo continues to offer on-time, affordable, courteous and hassle-free flying experience consistently.”

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A350 XWB RECEIVES TYPE CERTIFICATE FROM TRANSPORT MINISTRY OF JAPAN

J apan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation, and Tourism (MLITT) has

issued Type Certification for the Airbus A350 XWB, enabling the A350 XWB first customer from the country Japan Airlines to operate the aircraft. The type certification covers the aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.

Airbus Japan President Stephane Ginoux said, “Receiving the A350 XWB Type Certification from the Japan’s authority is a great achievement. We are very pleased that Japan Airlines will join soon other world class carriers flying the world’s most modern widebody aircraft”.

JAL placed an order for 31 A350 XWBs (18 A350-900s and 13 A350-1000s) in 2013. It was JAL’s first ever order for Airbus aircraft.

The carrier’s first A350-900 is scheduled for delivery in the middle of the year. JAL’s A350 XWB fleet will enter service on major domestic routes starting with its Haneda - Fukuoka route from September, replacing older-generation widebody types.

The A350 XWB is the world’s most modern and eco-efficient aircraft family shaping the future of air travel. It is the long-range leader in the large wide-body market (300 to 400+ seats). The A350 XWB offers by design unrivalled operational flexibility and efficiency for all market segments up to ultra-long haul (15,000km). It features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions. The A350 XWB’s Airspace by Airbus cabin is the quietest of any twin-aisle and offers

passengers and crews the most modern in-flight products for the most comfortable flying experience.

SPICEJET TO LAUNCH 28 NEW FLIGHTS CONNECTING MUMBAI & DELHI

SpiceJet announced the launch of 28 new flights connecting the key metros

of Mumbai and Delhi with other cities on its domestic network. Of these, 14 will connect Mumbai; eight will connect Delhi while the rest will connect the two metros with each other. All the new flights are effective 26th April, 2019.

The new flights from Mumbai are on the Mumbai-Jaipur-Mumbai, Mumbai-Amritsar-Mumbai, Mumbai-Mangalore-Mumbai and Mumbai-Coimbatore-Mumbai sectors while the airline has also enhanced operations with additional frequencies from the city on the routes of Mumbai-Patna-Mumbai, Mumbai-Hyderabad-Mumbai and Mumbai-Kolkata-Mumbai.

SpiceJet will also introduce two new frequencies each from Delhi to Patna and Bengaluru besides three additional frequencies on the Mumbai-Delhi-Mumbai sector. All the new flights introduced will be operational daily.

The new flights from Delhi to Mumbai and Bengaluru will operate from Terminal 2 and have a 4 digit flight number starting with 8. Additionally 4 digit flight numbers starting with 6 from Mumbai will operate from Terminal 2 in Mumbai.

Shilpa Bhatia Chief Sales and Revenue Officer SpiceJet, said: “We are happy to announce additional flights from Delhi and Mumbai. We hope these new flights will help minimise passenger inconvenience caused as a result shortage of capacity in the Indian aviation market.”

SpiceJet has also announced a slew of new non-stop international flights to Hong Kong, Jeddah, Dubai, Colombo, Dhaka, Riyadh, Bangkok and Kathmandu from the metro effective May-end. The airline will deploy its Boeing 737-800 NG aircrafts on all the routes.

With the new flights, passengers from Jaipur, Mangaluru, Amritsar and Coimbatore will be able to easily travel to a host of other

cities both on SpiceJet’s domestic as well as international network via Mumbai and Delhi.

VISTARA CROWNED ‘BEST AIRLINE – INDIA’ AND ‘BEST REGIONAL AIRLINE – ASIA’ IN TRIPADVISOR’S TRAVELLERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

V istara has been awarded the titles ‘Best Airline - India’ and ‘Best Regional Airline

– Asia’ in the third edition of TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice® Awards 2019 for Airlines. The accolades come to Vistara from the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor, for the second consecutive year. TripAdvisor has awarded the world’s top carriers based on the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for airlines by TripAdvisor flyers, gathered over a 12-month period.

Trip Advisor’s President – Flights, Cruise & Car, Mr. Bryan Saltzburg and Country Manager – India, Mr. Nikhil Ganju, presented the awards to Team Vistara, including Vistara’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Leslie Thng, Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer, Mr. Sanjiv Kapoor, and representatives of the airline’s cabin crew and ground services staff that earn such laurels for Vistara.

Mr. Leslie Thng, Chief Executive Officer of Vistara, said: “We are delighted to receive the awards from TripAdvisor. These awards truly testify the dedication and commitment of our staff across the country to delivering a seamless, world-class experience with a touch of intuitive thoughtfulness to millions of our customers. We take this opportunity to also thank our customers who found Vistara worth the valuable time they spared to submit their reviews and ratings in our favour on TripAdvisor. We assure our customers that we’ll continue to invest in making air travel an experience with Vistara that they always look forward to.”

“Congratulations to Vistara for being named a Travellers’ Choice Airlines winner

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again this year. The awards recognize travellers’ favourite airlines worldwide based on reviews and ratings from our global community,” said Bryan Saltzburg, president of TripAdvisor Flights, Cruise & Car.“This accolade from consumers is a testament to Vistara’s outstanding service, world-renowned quality and great value.”

AIRBUS AND SAFRAN WIN CRYSTAL CABIN AWARD WITH LOWER DECK PAX EXPERIENCE MODULES

A irbus, in cooperation with Safran, has won the 2019 Crystal Cabin Award in

the category Cabin Concepts. The Lower Deck Pax Experience Modules consists of enabling extension of passengers’ space into the cargo hold.

Airbus and Safran have partnered to develop and market lower-deck modules with a variety of flexible passenger solutions in the cargo hold, such as beds, and stretching, playground or business areas. The modules, which would fit inside aircraft cargo compartments, offer new opportunities for additional services to passengers, improving their experience while enabling airlines to differentiate and add value for their commercial operations. The new passenger modules could be easily interchangeable with regular cargo containers if required, as aircraft cargo floors and cargo loading systems would not be affected - the passenger module would sit directly on it.

Sören Scholz, Airbus Senior Vice President Cabin & Cargo Programme, said: “We are delighted to have won the Crystal Cabin Award together with Safran for the Lower Deck Pax Experience Modules. Innovation is our main driver for success, and we are continuously striving to offer the

latest innovative solutions to airlines and passengers worldwide. I congratulate the team on their great job and well-deserved success.”

“We would like to thank the jury of the Crystal Cabin Award for recognising the opportunities that the Lower Deck Modules will bring to improve the Passenger Experience, and we look forward to further build on our experience in lower-deck solutions together with Airbus“, said Norman Jordan, CEO of Safran Cabin.

The Crystal Cabin Award is the leading international award for excellence in aircraft interior innovation, sponsored by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. This year, more than 100 concepts, from all over the world, were presented across eight categories.

WOW AIR CEASES OPERATIONS AND CANCELS ALL FLIGHTS

I celandic budget carrier Wow Air has ceased operations and cancelled all

flights, hours after suspending services while it attempted a last-ditch financial rescue. The struggling carrier had been trying to arrange a debt-to-equity conversion with bondholders after talks with potential investment partners collapsed. But the airline, which had called a temporary halt to flights on 28 March, states that it has now “ceased operation”.

“All Wow Air flights have been cancelled,” it adds, advising passengers to check availability for travel and possible rescue fares with other airlines.

Passengers could be entitled to compensation, it adds, and it also indicates that claims should be filed with any administrator “in case of a bankruptcy”.

Wow Air had commenced services in mid-2012, adopting a similar model to

Icelandair by offering transatlantic service by way of transit through Reykjavik. It had originally operated single-aisle aircraft but subsequently expanded to twin-aisle types before running into financial difficulties and sustaining heavy losses. Wow Air is owned by investment vehicle Titan Fjarfestingafelag.

SPICEJET TO EXPAND ITS BOMBARDIER FLEET; INDUCT FIVE MORE Q400S

SpiceJet, the country’s favourite carrier, will add five 90-seater Q400 aircraft

taking its Bombardier fleet size to 32. Three of these planes will join SpiceJet’s fleet in the next ten days while the remaining two will be inducted by June. The airline had last week announced the induction of 16 Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft on dry lease.

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, said: “As part of our efforts to augment capacity and minimize passenger inconvenience, SpiceJet will induct five more Q400s in addition to the 16 B737s we announced last week. The sudden reduction of aviation capacity should in no way hamper air connectivity to the smaller towns and cities of India and as the country’s largest regional operator, SpiceJet will make all possible efforts in this direction.”

The 90-seater variant is part of SpiceJet’s second purchase order for up to 50 Q400 turboprops placed in September 2017. This was the largest ever single order for the Q400 turboprop aircraft program valued at up to US $1.7 billion. The airline has already inducted five planes as part of this order. SpiceJet also operates a 78-seater variant of the same aircraft. Besides the Q400 fleet, SpiceJet has a fleet of 48 Boeing 737s and one B737 freighter.

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AIRBUS LAUNCHES “SKYWISE HEALTH MONITORING” WITH U.S. AIRLINE ALLEGIANT AIR AS EARLY ADOPTER

A irbus has launched first operations of a new Skywise service – Skywise Health

Monitoring (SHM) – with Allegiant Air on its A320s. Dynamically coupled with Skywise Reliability Services (SRS) and Skywise Predictive Maintenance (SPM), SHM is hosted on Skywise, gathering live diagnostic feeds from the aircraft through its ACARS* link to the airline’s information system.

Using the power of the Skywise aviation data platform, SHM collates and centralises the alerts, flight-deck effects, maintenance messages etc., prioritises them, correlates any faults with the relevant troubleshooting procedures, highlights operational impacts, provides the maintenance history of the system (from the logbook and MIS** information collected through Skywise Core and stored in the data lake), allowing effective tracking of the alerts.

When fully deployed, and following the in-service feedback from Allegiant Air and other “early adopters,” SHM will support airlines’ Maintenance Control Centers, Line Maintenance and Engineering departments in identifying, prioritising, analysing and handling in-service events, enabling quicker decision-making and preparation of the optimal solution to ensure aircraft on-time dispatch and minimising AOG risks.

Overall, SHM saves airlines time and decreases the cost of unscheduled maintenance. Natively interfaced with SPM and SRS to provide an integrated user experience, and also ready to harness the new on-board Flight Operations and Maintenance Exchanger (“FOMAX”) data router which can capture over 20,000 real-

time aircraft parameters, SHM enables end-to-end unscheduled event management/fixes, for example by anticipating tools and parts’ availability closest to the aircraft. More early adopters will join in the months to come to pilot SHM for other Airbus aircraft, including the A330, A350 and A380.

BEL CMD WINS DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER AWARD

M r Gowtama M V, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL),

has received the Distinguished Engineer Award instituted by the Engineering Council of India. Mr Gowtama received the award from Mr Anil Baijal, retired IAS officer and the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, at a ceremony held in New Delhi.

INDIGO AWARDED THE RECOGNITION OF TOP AIRLINE BY ABSOLUTE PASSENGER GROWTH (SOUTH ASIA) BY CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP

IndiGo – India’s largest airline was named “Top Airline by Absolute Passenger

Growth – South Asia” by Singapore-based Changi Airport Group. In 2018, IndiGo’s

traffic in Changi grew by more than 1,44,000 passengers, representing a rise of 57% as compared to 2017. With the stellar increase in traffic, IndiGo registered the strongest growth amongst all South Asian carriers operating in Changi in 2018.

Mr. William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said, “We are delighted to receive this award, and it is a testament of our commitment towards international expansion in Asia. On behalf of 6E family, I want to thank the Changi Airport Group for recognizing IndiGo’s efforts to build a robust network with global service standards.”

Mr. Boulter further added, “IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travellers. It is our constant endeavour to provide more flexibility of choice to our customers as IndiGo continues to offer them on-time, affordable, courteous and hassle-free flying experience always.”

TAP AIR PORTUGAL TAKES DELIVERY OF ITS FIRST A321LR

L isbon-based TAP Air Portugal has taken delivery of its first of twelve A321LRs on

order, becoming the first airline to operate a combined A330neo and A321LR fleet. The A321LR is the world’s most flexible and capable large single-aisle aircraft. Powered by CFM engines, TAP’s A321LR is configured with 171 seats (16 full flat Business, 48 Eco Premium and 107 Ecomomy seats).

The combination of the A321LR and the A330neo within a single fleet provides operators a powerful lever to cover the needs of the medium- to long-haul market. With both newest-generation single-aisle (20% fuel burn reduction) and widebody aircraft (25% fuel burn reduction), airlines benefit from an unrivalled commonality for operations while passengers experience a higher and harmonised comfort standards.

“The A321LR is critical for TAP’s

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expansion plans. With its superior range we can comfortably explore markets in North America, South America and Africa from Portugal, and it’ll fit in seamlessly with our A330neos,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, TAP Air Portugal. “In North America it allows us to explore markets on the East Coast, such as New York, Boston, Montreal or Washington. In Brazil the A321LR can open new markets in the Northeast and complement existing services to cities like Recife, Natal, Fortaleza or Salvador,” he added. “The aircraft are equipped with the latest-generation full flat business class and high comfort economy seats, a full suite of in-flight entertainment (IFE) and connectivity, as well as free messaging services”.

TAP’s A321LR will be operated on the Lisbon-Tel Aviv route at its entry into service.

“We applaud TAP Air Portugal for becoming the first airline to leverage the benefits of the A321LR and the A330neo in a common fleet. The A321LR and A330neo working in tandem have the middle market segment nicely covered. The ‘Airbus NEO Midsize Aircraft’ - let’s call them the ‘A-NMA’s,’ are a winning, seamless combination - unprecedented capacity and transatlantic range with single aisle cost with the A321LR, and unbeatable unit costs and flexibility for true long haul with the A330neo. Both with the most contemporary technology and cabin comfort in their class,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer.

EMBRAER E195-E2 GRANTED CERTIFICATION BY ANAC, FAA AND EASA’

Embraer received the Type Certificate for the E195-E2 from three regulatory

authorities: ANAC, the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil); the FAA (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration) and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency). The E195-E2 is the biggest of the three members of the E-Jets E2 family of commercial airplanes and the largest commercial aircraft Embraer has ever made.

“Just like the E190-E2, we once again obtained type certification simultaneously from three major world regulatory authorities,” said Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva, Embraer President & CEO. “This is another great achievement from our engineering and program teams. They’ve built, and now have certification for, the most efficient single-aisle jet on the market. And they’ve done it again right on schedule and exceeding specification.”

“Our flight tests confirmed that the aircraft is better than its original specification. Fuel consumption is 1.4% lower than expected - that’s 25.4% less fuel per seat compared to the current-generation E195. Maintenance costs are 20% lower,” said John Slattery, President & CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation.

“There’s no question that airlines are going to love this airplane’s economics. The E195-E2 is the ideal aircraft for growing regional business and complementing existing low-cost and mainline fleets.”

The E195-E2 will enter service in the second half of 2019 with Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A. Binter Canarias, of Spain, will also receive its first E195-E2 in 2019. Embraer used two prototype aircraft in the E195-E2 certification campaign, one for aerodynamic and performance tests, the other for the interior and validation of maintenance tasks.

The E195-E2 is the most environmentally friendly aircraft in its class. It has the lowest levels of external noise and emissions. The cumulative margin to ICAO Stage IV noise limit ranges from 19 to 20 EPNdB, 4.0 EPNdB better than its direct competitor. Like the E190-E2, the E195-E2 has the longest maintenance intervals in the single-aisle jet category with 10,000 flight hours for basic checks and no calendar limit for typical E-Jet operations. This means an additional 15 days of aircraft utilization over a period of ten years compared to current generation E-Jets.

OPTIMAL START TO OPERATIONS FOR MANTA AIR

M anta Air, the new domestic carrier of the Republic of Maldives, has signed

a Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA) with ATR, the world leader in the regional aviation market. This five-year contract covers the Maldivian airline’s full fleet for the repair and overhaul of easily replaceable components (Line Replaceable Units), propeller maintenance and an on-site leased stock of spare parts.

This long-term agreement also includes on-site technical support, through which a dedicated Customer Support representative assists Manta Air in their daily operations. The airline is benefitting from tailored recommendations to make an optimal start to operations, based on its very specific needs, and ATR’s expertise to enhance aircraft reliability.

“Manta Air’s aim is to raise the standards of the domestic aviation industry by providing the best flying experience for our passengers, and increased connectivity in the Maldives. As a tailor-made maintenance package, the ATR GMA responds specifically to our needs, and ATR’s expertise will ensure our brand new ATR 72-600s fly as much as possible. Our passengers depend on a reliable service and ATR’s GMA is a valuable tool to help us deliver this.” declared Edward Alsford, Chief Operation Officer of Manta Air.

Tom Anderson, Senior Vice-President Programs and Customer Services of ATR added: “Through this partnership, Manta Air’s is benefitting from our support and expertise from the very first stages of operations, enabling them to get the most value possible from their latest generation ATR aircraft. In an increasingly competitive market, initial parts provisioning, anticipation of spares requirements, parts reliability, repair management, maintenance costs optimisation and stock management are some of our operators’ crucial challenges.”

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AIR MAURITIUS TAKES DELIVERY OF ITS FIRST A330NEO

A ir Mauritius has taken delivery of its first A330-900, on lease from ALC

during a ceremony held in Toulouse. The national carrier of the Republic of Mauritius is the first A330neo operator based in the southern hemisphere, and the first airline in the world to operate a combination of both the A330neo and A350 XWB.

Benefiting from the A330neo’s unbeatable operating economics and award-winning Airspace cabin, the aircraft (named Aapravasi Ghat in reference to Mauritius’ history) will feature a two-class cabin with 28 business class seats and 260 economy class seats. The carrier will deploy the aircraft on routes connecting Mauritius to Europe (mainly London and Geneva), India and South East Asian routes and on regional destinations including Johannesburg, Antananarivo and Reunion Island.

Air Mauritius CEO Somas Appavou stated: “I am delighted to welcome our first Airbus A330neo, another milestone in our fleet modernisation programme. The addition of two A330neos to our fleet will bring more flexibility and efficiency to our operations while supporting our network strategy. The A330neo offers similar levels of comfort as the A350 XWB, which has received very favourable feedback from our customers. I strongly believe that with the addition of the A330neo to our fleet, Air Mauritius will further reinforce its focus and emphasis on the customer who are at the very core of our business model.”

“Sugar and spice and all things nice! Like its namesake, inspired by the island’s history in developing the sugar industry, their first A330neo will pioneer Air Mauritius into a whole different level of efficiency and flexibility by operating both the A330neo and the A350 XWB, our latest generation widebodies”, said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer. “Passengers will enjoy unmatched levels comfort in our award

winning ‘Airspace by Airbus’ cabins on both aircraft. Well done to our trusted partner on being the world’s first airline to operate the A330neo and the A350 XWB together - a sweet combination!”

Air Mauritius currently operates nine Airbus aircraft, of which two A350-900s, three A340-300s, two A330-200s and two A319s on its regional and long haul services.

BOMBARDIER SIGNS FIRM PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR SIX Q400 TURBOPROPS

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced that a customer, who has

requested to remain unidentified at this time, has signed an order to acquire six new Q400 aircraft. Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately US$ 202 million.

“The Q400 aircraft offers the perfect balance of passenger comfort and operating economics while maintaining its unmatched range and speed advantage versus other turboprops,” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The demand for turboprop aircraft worldwide is tremendous and the Q Series aircraft are ideally positioned to meet the needs of regional airlines as they offer a unique ability to serve diverse and challenging environments. The Q400 offers the lowest seat costs amongst turboprops, with an enhanced passenger experience and a proven 99.5 per cent reliability.”

ANA TAKES DELIVERY OF AIRLINE’S FIRST BOEING 787-10 DREAMLINER

Boeing delivered the first of three 787-10 airplanes to ANA the original

launch customer of the 787 Dreamliner. With this milestone delivery, ANA becomes

the first airline in Asia to operate the entire Dreamliner family.

As a stretch of the popular 787-9, the 787-10 carries a total of 330 seats in a standard two-class configuration, adding about 40 more passengers, while setting new benchmarks for fuel efficiency and operating economics with 25 percent better fuel per seat.

“Over the past several years, the Boeing 787 has formed the backbone of our world-class fleet and today we are excited to introduce the latest member of the Dreamliner family, the 787-10,” said Shinya Katanozaka, President and CEO of ANA HOLDINGS Inc. “The added capacity of the 787-10 provides our passengers with the most innovative and memorable flying experience, while also delivering the lowest operating cost per seat and tremendous efficiency overall.”

The market-leading fuel efficiency of the 787 has enabled ANA and more than 50 other airlines to open at least 210 new non-stop routes around the world. With over 800 Dreamliners in service around the world, the 787 has helped airlines save 35 billion pounds of fuel since its launch in 2011.

This delivery marks the 67th Dreamliner to join ANA’s fleet of 36 787-8s and 30 787-9s, the largest 787 fleet in the world. The SKYTRAX rated five-star airline plans to operate the new super-efficient 787-10 on its popular Tokyo-Singapore route.

“ANA is one of the most respected and globally-renowned airlines in the industry, and we are honored to partner with them on yet another 787 milestone. We continue to support them as they move forward with their plan to operate one of the youngest, and most efficient widebody fleets in the world, which now includes the entire 787 family and will soon include the new 777X,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing for The Boeing Company.

In addition to being the launch customer for the 787, ANA was one of the first airlines in Asia to sign up for the 787 Landing Gear Exchange program. The program provides customers with reliable, Boeing-certified landing gear exchanges when and where they are needed, greatly reducing maintenance time and returning airplanes to service in a timely manner.

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BOMBARDIER CELEBRATES DELIVERY OF FIRST CRJ900 AIRCRAFT TO UGANDA AIRLINES

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft celebrated the delivery of the first two

of four CRJ900 aircraft ordered by Uganda National Airlines Company in July 2018. The new airline has selected Bombardier and the CRJ900 regional jets fitted with the ATMOSPHÈRE cabin for its upcoming debut, making it the first operator in Africa with this enhanced cabin experience.

The CRJ900 delivery ceremony held today at Bombardier’s Mirabel, Québec facility, was attended by executives of both Uganda Airlines and Bombardier Commercial Aircraft as well as several shop floor employees who build the CRJ900 aircraft.

“We are thrilled to commence our operations with the world’s leading regional jet, and we look forward to providing the most modern passenger experience in regional aviation to the people of Uganda and across Africa,” said Ephraim Bagenda, CEO, Uganda National Airlines.”

“We congratulate Uganda Airlines for taking delivery of their very first CRJ900 jetliner fitted with the ATMOSPHÈRE cabin in a dual-class configuration with 76 seats, including 12 first class seats. The CRJ Series is recognized for its superior economics and efficiency and I am confident that it will be the stepping stone for the development of Uganda’s regional air travel”, said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

HAECO GROUP SELECTS BOEING AS SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTION PROVIDER

Boeing and HAECO Group have signed a consumables and expendables services

agreement naming Boeing as an integrated

supply chain solution provider for global MRO support.

The agreement, managed by Boeing Distribution Services Inc. (BDSI), accelerates availability of Boeing’s parts and products to customers and takes advantage of stock availability and process efficiencies realized through Boeing’s acquisition of KLX Aerospace Solutions, now known as BDSI.

James Barrington, HAECO Group Director of Airframe Services said, “We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with Boeing. Boeing is well-equipped to deliver around-the-clock support for our customers worldwide through their technical expertise, OEM knowledge, and the aviation industry’s most comprehensive global parts distribution network.”

Boeing will support HAECO with its portfolio of Boeing proprietary parts, vendor parts and distributed products that are readily available from multiple centers of excellence around the globe.

“We are honored to be a provider for HAECO, and are proud of the collaborative and efficient approach we bring to the partnership through layered support across Boeing,” said Ken Shaw, vice president of Supply Chain for Boeing Global Services. “This agreement is a result of the one-stop shop created when Boeing, Aviall and legacy KLX expertise and resources came together to create more responsive and cost competitive supply chain capabilities for customers.”

HK BELLAWINGS JET LIMITED OF HONG KONG FIRMS UP ORDER FOR FOUR MORE BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 7500 BUSINESS JETS

Bombardier is pleased to announce that Hong Kong aircraft management

company HK Bellawings Jet Limited firmed up an order for four Global 7500 business jets. This news comes as the flagship Global 7500 aircraft arrives at the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE), its first airshow since entering service.

“We are proud to announce this firm order as the Global 7500 aircraft makes its public debut at ABACE, one of the world’s most important aerospace exhibitions,” said Khader Mattar, Vice President of Sales for the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and China, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “Our flagship jet has been causing a sensation since entering service less than four months ago, and this order underscores that this aircraft, with its unparalleled range and four true living spaces, is ideal for the Greater China region.”

HK Bellawings first announced their intent to purchase up to 18 Global 6500 and Global 7500 aircraft, for a potential value of $1.14 billion US, in May 2018 at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. Hours earlier, Bombardier had stunned the industry by launching two new long-range, large-cabin business jets, the Global 5500 and Global 6500 aircraft.

In September 2018, HK Bellawings firmed up its order of four Global 6500 and two Global 7500 business jets, for an approximate value of $370 million US, based on current list prices for typically equipped aircraft. Today, HK Bellawings and Bombardier are pleased to confirm that four more

Global 7500 aircraft are now part of that firm purchase, bringing the total of firm aircraft orders to 10. This latest announcement represents a value of approximately $291 million US, based on current list prices.

“We are thrilled to offer our customers access to the unparalleled Global 7500 aircraft as part of our unmatched fleet,” said HK Bellawings President Mr. YJ Zhang. “The Global 6500 and Global 7500 aircraft align with HK Bellawings’ rapid development to be a one-stop business aviation solution. As the operator that will manage one of the world’s largest fleet of Global 6500 and Global 7500 aircraft, HK Bellawings Jet will further expand our business scope and continuously pursue higher goals.”

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BOMBARDIER CELEBRATES DELIVERY OF Q400 AIRCRAFT TO QAZAQ AIR

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft celebrated the delivery of the first of

two Q400 aircraft ordered by Qazaq Air JSC of Kazakhstan (“Qazaq Air”) in 2017. The order followed Qazaq Air’s successful launch of domestic service in Kazakhstan in July 2015, using three leased Q400 aircraft.

Qazaq Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Adel Dauletbek and the airline’s Head of Public Relations, Sergey Khetsuriani, joined the airline’s flight and acceptance crew during a special delivery ceremony at Bombardier’s Toronto site where the Q400 aircraft is manufactured. H.E. Akylbek Kamaldinov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Canada was in attendance as well as Bombardier Commercial Aircraft’s team which included Ross Mitchell, Vice President, Commercial Operations and Mark Gilbert, Director, Sales.

“We are delighted with the performance of our fleet of Q400 turboprops and are excited to welcome the additional aircraft into our operation,” said Mr. Dauletbek. “With our larger fleet, our customers will benefit from the expansion of our route network within Kazakhstan, as well as to nearby cities in the Central Asian region.”

“We congratulate Qazaq Air on the growth of its operations and expansion of its network,” said Mr. Mitchell. “The Q400 aircraft continues to prove itself in some of the most challenging locations around the world. The aircraft’s speed, range and fuel efficiency, and especially its certification for operations down to -54°C make it ideal for operations on Qazaq Air’s long routes in the Kazakh market.”

AMERICAN AIRLINES LAUNCHES A321NEO SERVICE WITH NEW CABIN, LARGER OVERHEAD LUGGAGE BINS

American Airlines is starting scheduled flights with the first of its 100 new

Airbus A321neo aircraft on order. These aircraft come equipped with an all-new cabin interior designed for enhanced passenger comfort and convenience, including larger Airspace XL overhead luggage bins that increase carry-on bag capacity.

American is the launch customer for the Airspace XL bins, which provide approximately 40 percent more overhead storage space for passengers on board the 196-seat aircraft. In addition to equipping its new A321neos with the XL bins, American also plans to retrofit its entire in-service fleet of earlier A321 models – more than 200 aircraft – with the cabin features included on the new A321neos.

Ingo Wuggetzer, Airbus’ Vice President of Cabin Marketing said: “We are very pleased that American Airlines’ first A321neos with the Airspace XL bins are now entering service. We constantly work with airline customers to improve our aircraft cabins, and American in particular played an instrumental role with us in developing our biggest and best overhead bins to date.”

The Airspace XL bins accommodate larger luggage – up 24” x 16” x 10” – allowing standard roll-on bags to be loaded on their sides instead of being inserted flat. This creates room for up to four bags in each bin instead of the current three. The larger bins will significantly reduce the number of passenger bags checked at the gate, and sent to the cargo hold.

American‘s selected cabin layout allows

the airline greater flexibility in seating arrangements and use of cabin space. The two class cabin will gain an additional row of first-class seats, bringing the total to 20. Outfitting the A321neo with a free wireless inflight-entertainment (IFE) system allows passengers to select a wide-range of options from their own devices. LED mood lighting will enhance the cabin environment.

Powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines and ETOPS certified for lengthy over water flights, the A321neo will allow American to carry larger loads on its longer, more densely travelled routes such as Los Angeles and Phoenix to Orlando, or West Coast hubs to Hawaii.

UGANDA AIRLINES FIRMS UP ORDERS FOR TWO AIRBUS A330NEO AIRCRAFT

Uganda Airlines, the national carrier of Uganda, has firmed up its order for two

A330-800 airliners, the latest version of the most popular A330 widebody airliner. Fitted with the new Airspace by Airbus cabin, the A330neo will bring a range of benefits to Uganda Airlines and its customers, offering unrivalled efficiencies combined with the most modern cabin.

Uganda Airlines plans to use the A330-800 to build its medium- and long-haul network with the aircraft offering cutting-edge technology along with more efficient operations.

Launched in July 2014, the A330neo Family is the new generation A330, comprising two versions: the A330-800 and A330-900, sharing 99% commonality. It builds on the proven economics, versatility and reliability of the A330 Family, while reducing fuel consumption by about 25% per seat versus previous generation competitors and increasing range by up to 1,500 nm compared to the majority of A330s in operation. The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce’s latest-generation Trent 7000 engines and features a new wing with increased span and new A350 XWB-inspired Sharklets. The cabin provides the comfort of the new Airspace amenities including state-of-the-art passenger in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi connectivity systems, amongst others.

QUICK UPDATE


APPOINTMENTS

AIRBUS APPOINTS JEAN-MARC NASR HEAD OF SPACE SYSTEMS

A irbus has appointed Jean-Marc Nasr Executive Vice

President Space Systems within the Airbus Defence and Space division. Nasr will assume his new duties on 1 June 2019 and succeeds Nicolas Chamussy whose next assignment is subject to further notice.

In his new role, Nasr will be Member of the Airbus Defence and Space’ Executive Committee and report to Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. Presently, Nasr serves as Head of Region Asia Pacific for Airbus and Airbus Defence and Space. Johan Pelissier currently Head of South East Asia within Airbus Defence and Space, will succeed Jean-Marc Nasr in his current function and will be acting Head of Region Asia Pacific for Airbus Defence and Space as of June 1, 2019.

NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR EMBRAER

Embraer S.A., the Brazilian plane maker, has announced the nomination of Francisco Gomes Neto to take over from Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva in the position of President and CEO, which should

become a formal appointment after the election process which will be held at the forthcoming General Shareholder’s Meeting on April 22. Neto is currently the president of Marcopolo, the Brazilian bus and coach manufacturer.

The role will be a challenging one for Neto with Embraer having recently hived of its commercial plane manufacturing division and related services, forming a new joint-venture company with Boeing holding an 80 percent stake and Embraer a 20% stake. This move had led to considerable opposition owing to the fact that this division was primarily responsible for the whole company operating at a profit. Last month Boeing announced B. Marc Allen, a Boeing executive, as President and Embraer airliner head John Slattery as CEO. Neto will now be responsible for the existing military aircraft and executive jet operations.

With an Electrical Engineering degree, a specialization in Business Administration and an MBA in Controllership and Finance, Francisco Gomes Neto built his career in the automotive industry, holding CEO positions over the last 20 years, both in Brazil and in the United States. Over the past three years, he has served as CEO of Marcopolo, in which he successfully led the company’s transformation, generating strong sales growth and market value for the business. Previously, he was the CEO Americas for Mann+Hummel and President of Knorr Bremse (global leader in control systems for commercial vehicles), among other leadership positions.

“With vast international experience and focus on industrial sector management, I am confident that Francisco Gomes Neto has the right profile and competencies to lead Embraer through this period of transformation of the company and of the global aerospace sector,” said Alexandre Silva, Chairman of Embraer’s Board of Directors, about the nomination.

JET AVIATION APPOINTS JEREMIE CAILLET AS VICE PRESIDENT VIP COMPLETION PROGRAMS

Jet Aviation has appointed Jeremie Caillet Vice President VIP Completion Programs,

effective immediately. Caillet succeeds Neil Boyle, SVP Global Completions, who is retiring at the end of May 2019. Boyle will remain active with the company through its senior advisory board.

In his new role, Caillet will be responsible for the successful execution and delivery of all VIP Completions projects, while providing leadership and direction for all aspects of VIP Completions programs. Caillet previously worked for Dassault Falcon Jet in the US and joined Jet Aviation in 2008 as Engineering Team Leader.


APPOINTMENTS

IAG APPOINTS NEW CFO

International Airlines Group (IAG) has released that Enrique Dupuy de Lôme is to step down from his role as chief financial officer and Board executive director at IAG’s Annual General Meeting in June 2019. He will be replaced by Steve Gunning, currently chief financial

officer at British Airways, whose appointment as a Board executive director will be proposed to the AGM.

Enrique Dupuy has been IAG CFO since the Group was founded in January 2011. He was previously Iberia CFO from 1990 and has also worked in finance roles at Instituto Nacional de Industria and Teneo.

Steve Gunning has been British Airways CFO since January 2016 and acting director of IAG Global Business Services since December 2017. Before that he was chief executive of IAG Cargo from 2011.

FINNAIR APPOINTS OLE ORVÉR AS CCO, NICKLAS ILEBRAND AS SVP, STRATEGY

F innair has appointed two new members to its Executive Board. Ole Orvér has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer, and Nicklas Ilebrand as Senior Vice President, Strategy. Both new Executive Board members will start in their roles on May 1, 2019.

Ole Orvér has a long international career in several airlines, including Qatar Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Air Berlin and SAS. In these airlines, he has mainly served in leadership positions in strategy, network management and sales. Most recently, he has worked as a consultant for both airlines and airport operators.

Nicklas Ilebrand has previously worked at Nordea mainly in strategy and product and business development roles. He worked most recently as the Head of Product and Business Development of Personal Banking at Nordea Bank. Prior to that, he worked in international business consulting at McKinsey. He has also served on the board of several companies.


APPOINTMENTS

WIZZ AIR APPOINTS ANDREW S. BRODERICK TO BOARD OF THE COMPANY

W izz Air Holdings has appointed Andrew S. Broderick to the Board of the Company as non-independent non-executive director with effect from April 16, 2019.

Andrew S. Broderick has been a Director of Indigo Partners, a private equity fund focused on air transportation, since July 2008. Broderick has served on the board of directors of Frontier Airlines Holdings, an airline based in the United States, since January 2018 and JetSMART Airlines SpA, an airline based in Chile, since September 2018. Additionally, he has served as an alternate on the board of directors for Concesionaria Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V., an airline based in Mexico doing business as Volaris, since July 2010.

At the same time, John R. Wilson has informed the Company of his decision to resign as a Director of the Company with immediate effect after more than 14 years of service as the Company’s non-independent non-executive director.

GUILLAUME FAURY FORMALLY APPOINTED AIRBUS CEO

A irbus shareholders passed all resolutions at its 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM), including the appointment of Guillaume Faury as an Executive Member

of the Board of Directors for three years.

At a Board Meeting immediately following the AGM, Guillaume Faury was formally appointed Airbus Chief Executive Officer (CEO), replacing outgoing CEO Tom Enders whose Board Mandate expired at the close of the AGM. Airbus announced last October that its Board of Directors had selected Faury, previously President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, as its next CEO.

Shareholders also approved the re-election of Non-Executive Board Members Catherine Guillouard, Claudia Nemat and Carlos Tavares for a period of three years. Hermann-Josef Lamberti informed the Board of Directors that he doesn’t wish to seek a renewal of his Board mandate at the 2020 AGM after 12 years as a Board Member and 11 years as Chairman of the Audit Committee. At the Board Meeting, it was decided that Catherine Guillouard will replace Hermann-Josef Lamberti as Chair of the Audit Committee while Jean-Pierre Clamadieu will join the Ethics and Compliance Committee with immediate effect.

Upon the recommendation of the Remuneration, Nomination and Governance Committee (RNGC), the Board has selected René Obermann to succeed Denis Ranque as Chairman of the Airbus Board of Directors when his current mandate expires at the close of the 2020 AGM. This succession was diligently prepared with the support of an external independent head hunter and the Board reached a decision after a thorough examination of all potential external and internal candidates.


One of the most premier events of the aviation world, The European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) 2019, like

very year will bring together the best of European aviation business in one platform this May. That includes business leaders, decision makers, flight personnel fractional providers, charter companies, avionics firms and almost every aspect of aviation business. EBACE is jointly hosted by the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), one of the leading associations for business aviation in Europe, along with National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), a leader in business aviation industry across United States. In spite of the fact that EBACE is the major European business aviation

event, but that doesn’t stop attendees from other continents like North America, South America, Asia, Middle East and Africa.

EBCAE in all probability is destined to be an impressive extravaganza slotted to take place over three days, i.e. from May 21-23, 2019. The event will be held at Palexpo, located right at the heart of Geneva and adjacent EBACE Static Display of Aircraft at the Geneva International Airport which again holds a motorway and a railway station in vicinity.

Why one should attend EBACE 2019• Over 400 Exhibitors Showcasing the

Latest Products & Services: Get critical face-time with new and existing vendors

COVER STORY

EBACE 2019

PREVIEW


COVER STORY

across 40,000 square meters.

• Spectacular Static Display: Featuring 50+ aircraft – this is the best way to see a side-by-side comparison of business airplanes, conveniently located right at the Geneva International Airport.

• Networking with 13,000 Business Aviation Professionals: Meet with business owners, executives, flight department personnel and other industry leaders to exchange knowledge and best practices.

• 20 High Quality Education Sessions: Topics range from safety to advancing your career – helping you enhance your current operation, and providing information to those considering using an airplane for business.

• Opportunities for Young Professionals (YoPros): EBACE is also an ideal venue for rising stars in the industry and those looking to attract new talent to their organization, and will offer education and networking opportunities to bring those two groups together.

EBACE Schedule

Tuesday, 21 May10:00 – 18:00

Wednesday, 22 May9:00 – 18:00

Thursday, 23 May9:00 – 16:00 Exhibit Halls9:00 – 14:00 Static Display

General InformationEmail: [email protected]


Airport Focus

Located amidst idyllic landscape in Malabar coast of the country, at 344 feet height from the Mean Sea Level,

Kannur International Airport at the North of Kerala, the fourth International airport of the state which every Keralite proudly enjoys was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of the state Mr. PinarayiVijayan in presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu on 9December, 2018. South to Mangalore International Airport and North to Kozhikode International Airport (Calicut) the catchment area for Kannur airport was perceptibly small and therefore, several aviation veterans expressed doubts if this greenfield airport would ever be flourished. The 9 million passenger capacity terminal building was designed to cater 80% International and 20% domestic passengers. However, statistics of the last four months reveals otherwise.

The airport was inaugurated by an International flight of Air India Express to Abu Dhabi. Since its operations all the flights of Air India Express carried more than 95% load reinforcing the expected potential of international passengers from Kannur and surrounding area to UAE. Subsequently Go Air and Indigo introduced their Middle East connectivity. In the month of April Kannur Airport is now connected with Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Sharjah, Riyadh, Doha, Muscat and Kuwait. Kannur Airport now connects 10 domestic destinations Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Cochin, Calicut, Goa and Hubli. Besides Air India, Indigo and Go Air are the domestic carriers.

The number of international passengers in the last week of December 2018, mere 698 increased to 15181 in the last week of April 2019clocking a multifold increase. Overall passengers in a weektoo increased 22.36 times during this period. Accordingly, aircraft movement grew 6 fold from 56 movements

in a week to 322 in a week by the end of April, 2019.

Kannur Airport and residents of the area now eagerly waits to see how fast the foreign birds land at their soil.

Kannur takes off


Destination Focus

An Eastern city with a Western outlook, Baku is an exceptional combination of antiquity and

novelty with several sites of interest. A

constantly evolving tapestry of life and energy from bazaar to Jazz clubs, prepare to be mesmerized!

For millennia, Azerbaijan has been

at the crossroads of history. Azerbaijan’s unique geography and location have resulted in a cuisine influenced by the land’s natural ingredients. It has also assimilated the flavours of the travellers that passed through its heartlands. Indulge your palate with unique flavours and expect a plethora of gourmet options to delight food connoisseurs.

If you just have a few daysto travel this Eidbelow are the top five things you must do in Azerbaijan:

1. Check out the primitive petroglyphs of Gobustan situated 60 km from Baku

Rising out of the semi-desert Gobustan is With Eid around the corner, indulge yourselfwith an enchanting getaway to the Pearl of the Caucasus:

Azerbaijan

AZERBAIJAN5things to do in

this Eid


Destination Focus

a UNESCO World Heritage site of more than 6,000 rock engravings, which go back 40,000 years. You can also see graffiti by a Roman legionary - the furthest east it has ever been found. The Petroglyphs of Gobustan are artistic chronicles of the past. They bear great importance both for the study of the pre-history of humanity and spheres of primitive art. Gobustan’s monuments spans across a period of approximately 20 thousand years beginning from the end of Upper Palaeolithic till the beginning of our era.

Besides that, did you know that about 350 out of the 800 mud volcanoes known in the World are located in Azerbaijan? Most of them are situated near the Gobustan preserve. Some of the volcanoes are considered natural monuments and resources of Azerbaijan.

2. Ride a Gondola in Baku Boulevard

Unwind and breathe in the salty fresh air of the Caspian ocean while you stroll acrossthe Baku Boulevard. Within it, you

will find a small Venetian dream made up of a myriad of islands with gondolas sailing through the canals and restaurants dotted across the shore.

• Mini Venice, 73 Neftchilar Ave, Baku 1004, Azerbaijan

3. Soak in the fascinating craftsmanship of Sheki Khan Palace

Azerbaijani craftsmen are famed for their ‘Shebeke’– a mosaic of coloured glass set in wooden latticework and assembled without nails or glue. Consists of 5,000 wooden and glass details in average,‘Shebeke’ of Sheki Khan Palace is unique, making it a real visual feast.

The perfect ending to the day at the Palace would involve savouring on a lip-smacking meal. Indigenous to the Sheki region, piti is a warm and homely lamb stew. Interestingly, it is also a gustatory delight with the intricate process of separating the broth from the mince, you can personally sprinkle in the spice you prefer and blend it altogether to create that perfect flavour profile. This is sure to take your imagination to the ancient times of Sheki when it was famed for being the key spot to stop at on the silk route.

The night cannot end without a chance to bite into the crunchy sweetness of pakhlava.


Destination Focus

Coated with flakes of golden skin and stuffed with crunchy nuts and filo pastry doused in a delicate sugar syrup, it’s hard to stop at just one small piece.

• Sheki, Azerbaijan is a 4.5-hour drive from Baku and you can gobble up some pitiat Gagarin restaurant and pakhlava at Aliahmed Sweet House which is a 10-minute drive from Sheki Palace

4. Rejuvenate your body and senses

Getting messy never felt so therapeutic. Spend the day indulging in therapeutic wellness treatments where the curative properties of crude oil baths (yes – soaking in liquid oil) is used to treat musculoskeletal system diseases, as well as neurological, urological, gynaecological, skin and other ailments.

• Soak up the healing properties of Azerbaijan’s natural resources and gentle climate with views of the landscape boasting awe-inspiring and vibrant colours at Chinar Hotel & Spa Naftalan, which is a 4-hour drive from Baku. The Naftalan Health Centre, located in Baku isanother option for the ones who has limited time, but want to apply this unique treatment.

5. Discover Icherisheher

The walls of Icherisheher whispers the ancient mysteries of the city. Known as old town or inner city, it is located in the heart of Baku

and is a maze of narrow roads spotted with limestone buildings. A sight that’s difficult to miss is the Shirvanshahs’ Palace and Maiden Tower, both listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites List. The Palace itself is known as the Pearl of Azerbaijani architecture as it is made up of several different structures built throughout the ages with each adding a beautiful amalgamation of medieval, Asian and Islamic influences.

Another mystery is the Maiden Tower. This cylindrical stark tower has baffled historians and to date has theories aplenty about its origins and the exact date of construction. Despite that, it is one of the most iconic structures in the city housing a museum covering the history of Baku and marked a r o u n d it are

beautiful scriptures that hint at the possible roots of this historical feat. It is also home to the International Festival of Arts and regularly showcasing work from innovative artists against its mystic backdrop.

Besides that,Icherisheher offers some of the most eccentric and outstanding feats. The Museum of Miniature Books, a Guinness Book record-holder, open to all for free, houses the largest number of miniature books at 5,600 and don’t forget to spot your national flag to find books from your home country. Another place to stop by is the Ali Shamsi Studio, a wonderland of paintings that transport you to another dimension of reality and mind-boggling installations.

You will often find the artist and philosopher Ali Shamsi there

who can talk you through the burgeoning art

scene in the city.


BUSINESS AVIATION

Gulfstream G650ER shatters speed record for farthest business jet flight in history

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp announced the ultra long-range Gulfstream

G650ER once again proved its unrivaled performance, beating a recent competitor speed record while at the same time increasing the distance flown for the farthest business jet flight in history.

The G650ER flew from Singapore to Tucson, Ariz., at an average speed of 597 miles per hour/960 kilometers per hour over a distance of 8,379 nautical miles/15,518 kilometers. The G650ER’s performance beat the previous record by 44 minutes and more than 225 nm/417 km, asserting the aircraft’s title for flying farther faster than any other jet.

The G650ER departed Singapore’s Changi Airport at 4:53 p.m. local time March 29, crossing the Pacific at an average speed of Mach 0.85 and arriving in Tucson at 5:16 p.m. local time March 29, with fuel in excess of National Business Aviation Association instrument flight rules reserves. The flight took 15 hours and 23 minutes.

“The G650ER has no equal when it comes to its incredible combination of speed and range,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Aerospace. “Worldwide, you just can’t go farther faster, and this record proves it. With 350 aircraft in service, the G650 and G650ER show day in and day out that they are class-creating and -leading aircraft that set the standard when they were announced and continue to do so today. Simply put, all others follow.”

The Bombardier Global 7500 Aircraft, World’s Largest and Longest-Range Business Jet, Makes ABACE Debut in China

Bombardier is proud to announce that its flagship business jet, the Global 7500 aircraft, will make its first public appearance in China at the Asian Business Aviation

Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) from April 16 to 18, 2019. It will be the aircraft’s first presence at an airshow since it entered service.

“We are thrilled to have the game-changing Global 7500 aircraft on display at ABACE,” said Khader Mattar, Vice President of Sales for the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and China, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “With its range, comfort and smooth ride, the Global 7500 aircraft is ideally suited to meet the needs of business jet customers in the Greater China region.”

Interest in this unique business jet has only intensified since the Global 7500 aircraft entered service at the end of 2018 and continues to surpass expectations in terms of cabin experience and performance.

The Global 7500 aircraft’s published range of 7,700 nautical miles is the longest in business aviation. It can connect the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong non-stop to the cities of New York, London or Milan. This aircraft can also fly nonstop from Singapore to Vancouver.*

The Global 7500 aircraft provides invaluable access to demanding, long-range flights in an environment of spaciousness, comfort and productivity. The elevated cabin experience aboard the Global 7500 aircraft is on display during an ongoing world tour, during which visitors have praised the aircraft’s intuitive design and cabin innovations.

Within its four true living spaces, the Global 7500 aircraft offers a fully-equipped kitchen and a master suite with a permanent bed and stand-up shower available. The aircraft also debuts Bombardier’s patented Nuage seat, meticulously designed for maximum comfort, and the revolutionary nice Touch cabin management system, featuring business aviation’s first application of an OLED display.

The Global 7500 aircraft is the winner of the 2019 Aviation Week Grand Laureate Award as well as the 2018 Red Dot Award for Product Design.


BUSINESS AVIATION

The HondaJet Elite Receives Canadian Type Certification

Honda Aircraft Company announced that the HondaJet Elite has received type

certification from Canada’s Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), demonstrating that the aircraft meets the safety standards set by the organization. HondaJet Elite deliveries in the region will begin immediately.

The HondaJet Elite holds type certifications around the world, including, the United States (Federal Aviation Administration), Europe (European Aviation Safety Agency), Mexico (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), Brazil (National Civil Aviation Agency), India (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) and Japan (Japan Civil

Aviation Bureau).

“Following the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the HondaJet in Canada, we are pleased the HondaJet Elite has now also received type certification in the region,” said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “As the popularity of the HondaJet Elite increases around the globe,

we are proud of the strong relationships we have with aviation bureaus worldwide, including Transport Canada.”

“As the authorized HondaJet dealer in Canada, we are excited to offer Honda Aircraft Company’s latest technological feat, the HondaJet Elite,” said Marshall Myles, CEO of Skyservice Business Aviation (HondaJet Canada). “Our HondaJet Elite customers in the region are looking forward to the delivery of their aircraft,” he added.

The most delivered aircraft in its class for two consecutive years, the HondaJet fleet is currently comprised of 118 aircraft around the globe and has demonstrated a dispatch reliability of 99.7%. Honda Aircraft Company’s sales and service footprint spans territories in North America, Europe, Middle and South America, Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, India and Japan.

ACJ319neo makes successful first flight

The ACJ319neo[1] successfully completed a first flight lasting one hour and 55 min.

on 24 April 2019, beginning a short flight-test programme to verify its corporate jet features – such as the extra fuel tanks in its cargo-hold, which enable intercontinental range.

Built for K5 Aviation of Germany, the aircraft will be outfitted with a VVIP cabin by Fokker Techniek in the Netherlands after delivery. The ACJ319neo is derived from the A320neo Family of airliners, and features new engines and wingtip-mounted Sharklets.

K5 Aviation’s ACJ319neo is fitted with five additional centre tanks (ACTs) in its cargo-hold, and includes improvements such as a lower cabin-altitude for greater passenger comfort. Corporate jet orders and commitments for ACJ320neo Family-derived aircraft now total 14.

Textron Aviation JV receives order from CFIC for fleet of 8 Citation XLS+ aircraft

Textron Aviation Inc announced that

Cessna-AVIC Aircraft (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd., a Textron Aviation joint venture in China, has signed agreements with the Flight Inspection Center of CAAC (CFIC) for eight new Cessna Citation XLS+ business jets. Deliveries of the aircraft are expected to take place from 2019 to 2021.The two companies held a signing ceremony during the Asian Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (ABACE) at the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport.

“This recent order by the CFIC demonstrates the Center’s continued confidence in the products and services provided by Textron Aviation,” said Kevin Wu, international vice president of sales, Greater China and Mongolia. “We continue to fully support the operations of the CFIC and its mission to propel the development of the civil aviation safety system in China.”

The eight XLS+ aircraft, which will be outfitted with special flight inspection equipment, will facilitate the expansion of the CFIC fleet and its ability to respond to highly challenging missions throughout the region, such as fulfilling inspection and certification missions for the communication, navigation, radar and flight programs of newly built airports, as well as to perform regular flight inspection missions for airports already in operation. This will help ensure a smooth implementation of airport construction plans and safe operation of corresponding air routes during China’s Thirteenth Five-Year Plan period.

“The successful purchase of these aircraft is only possible with the great support for flight inspection operations from the Party Group of Civil Aviation Administration of China, which is significant to the fleet construction of CFIC and ensuring civil aviation transportation safety,” said XIONG Jie, Director of CFIC.


BUSINESS AVIATION

Growing Gulfstream G500 in-service fleet gains momentum with real-world missions

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp announced the all-new Gulfstream G500 in-service

fleet has already amassed nearly 2,000 flight hours around the world, demonstrating the aircraft’s maturity, capabilities and popularity.

“From the beginning of the G500 program, we worked to design and deliver a mature, proven performer,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Aerospace. “As the in-service G500 fleet grows and flies around the world, our customers are proving the aircraft can do everything we promised.”

The G500 entered service in September 2018, and already, the 10 aircraft delivered by the end of 2018 have completed trips around the world, flying into and out of the U.S., Europe, the Pacific Islands, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Early customers of the G500 are based in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Combined with the operations logged in flight test, the G500 fleet has achieved more than 7,000 flight hours and 2,575 landings.

The G500’s performance capabilities include the ability to travel 4,400 nautical miles/8,149 kilometers at Mach 0.90 and 5,200 nm/9,630 km at Mach 0.85. The aircraft features the award-winning Symmetry Flight DeckTM and offers the signature Gulfstream Cabin Experience, with 14 panoramic windows, low cabin altitudes, a cabin designed to be the quietest in business aviation, high-speed connectivity and Gulfstream’s bespoke interior design tailored to each customer’s wishes.

Embraer Praetor 600 Business Jet Outperforms on Certification

Embraer announces that the company’s new Praetor 600

super-midsize business jet was granted its Type Certificate by Brazil’s Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC—Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil), having been announced in October 2018 at NBAA-BACE and becoming the only super-midsize business jet to be certified since 2014.

The Praetor 600 is the best performing super-midsize jet ever developed, surpassing all its main design goals and becoming capable of flying beyond 4,000 nautical miles in long-range cruise speed or beyond 3,700 nautical miles at Mach .80 from runways shorter than 4,500ft, complemented by an outstanding payload capability.

“Our engineering and program teams have outperformed again by passionately designing, developing and certifying the class-leading Praetor 600 business jet, exceeding specifications and expectations, and ahead of schedule,” said Paulo César Souza e Silva, Embraer CEO. “This advanced aircraft reflects not only our journey of innovation, it is also a preview of the future of this great company.”

“The most disruptive and technologically advanced super-midsize business jet has arrived. The Praetor 600 will fascinate our customers with the highest performance, technology and comfort in its class and raise the customer experience to an unprecedented level,” said Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. “I want to thank and congratulate the Embraer family for bringing to market an aircraft that will create true value for customers and shareholders alike.”

The Praetor 600 is now the farthest-flying super-midsize jet, able to make nonstop flights between London and New York, São Paulo and Miami, Dubai and London. With four passengers and NBAA IFR Reserves, the Praetor 600 has an intercontinental range of 4,018 nautical miles (7,441 km). Take Off Field Length for such a mission is only 4,436 ft (1,352 m). At M0.80, range is 3,719 nm (6,887 km) with four passengers and NBBA IFR Reserves.

Australia receives first Falcon 7X VIP Aircraft from Dassault Aviation

The Commonwealth of Australia has taken delivery of the first of three very long range Falcon 7X trijets it has acquired from Dassault Aviation to be operated by the Royal

Australian Air Force (RAAF) for government VIP service. The other two aircraft will be handed over in the following months. The VIP units are being delivered with the latest connectivity solutions, intended to provide seamless access to high-speed broadband data anywhere in the world.

“We are extremely honoured that Australia has once again demonstrated its confidence in the Falcon product line,” said Eric Trappier, Chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation. “The RAAF already has decades of successful experience operating Dassault aircraft, from the Mirage III fighter to the Falcon 20 and Falcon 900 business jets.”

The Falcon 7X offers a combination of range and operational flexibility that no other large-cabin business jet can match. The 5,950 nm / 11,000 km 7X can fly from Canberra to any point in Asia nonstop, or link Canberra to Washington or London in one hop. It can land on short and challenging runways and operate across a wide range of environmental conditions, including extremely hot, humid and dry desert climates. The aircraft’s three-engine design provides additional safety margin, freeing operators from twin-engine operating constraints when flying intercontinental, transoceanic routes.


DEFENSE & MILITARY

HAL Turnover Crosses 19,400 Crores

H industan Aeronautics Limited recorded a turnover of over Rs. 19,400 crores (provisional and unaudited) for the financial year

ended on March 31, 2019 (corresponding figure for the previous year was Rs. 18,284 crores). The Company has posted a revenue growth in excess of 6% during 2018-19 as compared to 3.8% during 2017-18.

The performance of the Company in 2018-19 has encouraged us to focus more on design and development of indigenous products and technologies, develop aerospace and defence manufacturing eco-system and to be more dedicated towards meeting the current and future requirements of customers, says Shri R. Madhavan, CMD-HAL. This strategy will also help HAL to be on the growth track in meeting the expectations of the shareholders, he adds.

The HAL expects continued “Excellent” MoU rating for the FY 2018-19 from Government of India for meeting all the relevant parameters

related to its performance. In the FY 2018-19, HAL has produced 41 new aircraft / helicopters and 98 new engines and has carried out overhaul of 213 aircraft / helicopters and 540 engines. HAL’s R&D projects are on track and are tailor made for the requirement of the armed forces.

HAL has produced 12 new ALHs against the contract of 40, out of which six were produced ahead of schedule for the Indian Army.

Northrop Grumman Infrared Countermeasures System for the KC-135 Achieves Milestone C

The Northrop Grumman Corporation Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures

(LAIRCM) pod for the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft has achieved Milestone C. This critical milestone, awarded by the Department of Defense Milestone Decision Authority, marks the end of the development and testing phase and enables the beginning of production and deployment.

The Generation 3 podded LAIRCM system, known previously as Guardian™, is an infrared countermeasure system that detects, tracks and jams incoming missiles. It incorporates advanced missile warning sensors, a compact laser pointer/tracker and a processor in a single pod that can be readily transferred between aircraft to meet rapidly changing mission requirements. This mature system leverages Northrop Grumman’s decades-long countermeasures experience and requires no aircrew intervention. KC-135 aircrews can focus on their critical refueling,

aeromedical evacuation and cargo missions while gaining the full survivability benefit the LAIRCM system provides.

To achieve Milestone C, Northrop Grumman worked closely with the KC-135 Program Office, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command to thoroughly test LAIRCM for KC-135 in the laboratory and the field.

“In this changing threat environment, the LAIRCM Generation 3 pod is ready to

provide much-needed protection to KC-135 aircrews as they carry out their critical support missions,” said Bob Gough, vice president, land and avionics C4ISR, Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman's infrared countermeasure systems have been installed on more than 1,800 large and small fixed wing, rotary wing and tilt-rotor platforms of more than 80 types.


DEFENSE & MILITARY

AST & Science Announces Successful Launch of Its First Satellite

AST & Science announced that its first satellite, designated BlueWalker 1, has been successfully

launched, stabilized in orbit and is ready for operations. The BlueWalker 1 nano-satellite was launched into orbit on a PSLC-C45 launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India April 1. The satellite is functioning satisfactorily and is ready to move into full operation.

BlueWalker 1 is flying in a stable low-Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of about 500 miles. It will serve as a testbed for AST & Science patented technologies in space over the next several years.

“This is an important step forward in completing the development and testing of our patented technology, which underpins our plan to deploy large numbers of ultra-powerful LEO satellites in space for a variety of defense and commercial applications,” said Abel Avellan, chairman and CEO of AST & Science.

“The new technology, which is being tested and validated on the BlueWalker satellites, will be used for the satellite modules that we will produce at our new manufacturing plant in Midland, Texas,” Avellan added. “This factory has the capacity to build up to 100,000 satellite modules per year.”

Earlier this year, AST & Science opened a new U.S. office in the Washington, D.C. area and a design center for RF and electronics in Israel, complementing the corporate headquarters and 85,000 sq. ft. high-volume manufacturing plant in the Midland Space Port Business Park. AST & Science also acquired a controlling interest in NanoAvionics in 2018. The company has assembled a global team of 94 engineers and scientists, 18 of whom are PhDs, according to Avellan.

Northrop Grumman Awarded $3.2 Billion Multi-Year Contract for 24 E-2D Aircraft

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a multi-year contract modification to deliver an additional 24 E-2D Advanced

Hawkeye aircraft to the U.S. Navy. The fixed-price-incentive-firm contract is valued at $3.2 billion; the contract also includes an option for nine additional foreign military sales aircraft. Production of the 24 U.S. Navy aircraft funded by the five-year contract is expected to be complete in 2026.

The E-2D is the U.S. Navy’s airborne early warning and command and control aircraft system. The carrier-based aircraft provides expanded battlespace awareness for carrier strike groups. Its two-generation leap in radar technology allows the E-2D to work with ship-, air- and land-based combat systems to track and defeat air, ship and cruise missiles at extended range. The aircraft can also be used in a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capacity for civilian emergency coordination.

“This aircraft continues to demonstrate its strategic value to our warfighters with early warning, command and control,” said Jane Bishop, vice president and integrated product team leader, manned airborne surveillance programs, Northrop Grumman. “With this contract, we’ll continue production of these highly specialized aircraft while delivering innovative solutions that outpace advancing threats over the life of the fleet.”

Under the current program of record Northrop Grumman has delivered 37 E-2D to the U.S. Navy to date, completing all major production milestones on time. In addition to the production and sustainment of the E-2D, Northrop Grumman will deliver a series of capability upgrades. The third upgrade is slated for release in fall 2019 and includes an aerial refueling capability to significantly extend the aircraft’s endurance.


Commissioning of Indian Coast Guard Vessel C-441

A new Coast Guard vessel is commissioned by Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala Sri Tom Jose at Vizhinjam harbour, under the aegis of Regional

Commander Western Region, Inspector General Vijay D. Chafekar. The function was witnessed by senior officers from Army, Navy, Air Force, BSF, Police, Airport Authority, Central & State Authorities and National Cadet Corps.

The function was conducted with full ceremony of parading the guard and band. Indian Coast Guard Ship C-441 is capable to undertake multifarious tasks such as close coast surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and rendering assistance to boats and crafts in distress at sea and will enhance the search and rescue capacity of Kerala seas. The ship is commanded by Assistant Commandant Amit K Choudhary and has 13 crew onboard with specialisation in various fields.

HAL Re-Commences Flight Testing of Modified Intermediate Jet Trainer (HJT 36)

HAL recommenced flight testing of modified Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) from its Bengaluru facilities. The flight was flawless and its success is an important step

towards the IJT programme.

The flight testing of IJT (HJT36), designed and developed by HAL for the stage-II training of IAF pilots was put on hold after the aircraft had encountered problem in the spin test flights in the year 2016.

“HAL continued its R&D efforts and undertook modification of IJT LSP4 aircraft based on extensive and comprehensive wind tunnel studies”, says Mr. R. Madhavan, CMD, HAL. HAL’s research, design and technical teams carried out the modifications required with more challenges ahead.

Raytheon's new DeepStrike missile rocket motor passes critical test

Raytheon Company completed a successful static test of the new DeepStrike® missile

rocket motor, which moved the advanced, surface-to-surface weapon closer to its maiden flight test later this year. The company is offering the DeepStrike missile for the U.S. Army's Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM, program to replace the aging Army Tactical Missile System that is approaching the end of its service life.

"Testing shows us how initial data assessments line up and validates them for the next phase in development," said Dr. Thomas Bussing, Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems vice president. "This test confirms our design for the DeepStrike propulsion system is solid and moves us one step closer to extending the Army's reach and doubling the load-out of long-range fires."

The rocket motor test at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in West Virginia is the latest in a series of milestones for the DeepStrike missile. Raytheon recently concluded a successful preliminary design review for the weapon.

Raytheon's new, long-range precision strike missile features an innovative, two-in-the-pod design and will fly farther, faster, and give the Army twice the firepower at half the cost per missile. It is also more maneuverable and has a modular, open architecture to simplify system upgrades.

"With our expertise in advanced weapon systems, Raytheon is best positioned to provide an affordable, low-risk solution that gives the Army an overwhelming advantage over our nation's adversaries," Bussing said.

The DeepStrike missile will defeat fixed land targets 60-499 kilometers away, and get there faster than current systems.

DEFENSE & MILITARY


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The Rotorcraft Asia 2019 and Unmanned Systems Asia 2019, the region’s first integrated platform for

rotorcraft and unmanned systems, received exceptional response and participation from the breadth of leading industry companies and experts, regulators and top executives, establishing the shows as marquee events, critical to propelling the region’s growth in rotorcraft and unmanned systems.

Held from 9 to 11 April, the second edition hosted over 3,500 trade attendees from 62 countries, of which 27 percent attendees were from overseas. The attendees engaged in high-quality discussions on industry challenges, showcased innovative solutions in urban mobility, and forged strategic partnerships to unlock and drive the industry’s growth potential in the region.

“These second editions of Rotorcraft Asia and Unmanned Systems Asia has reinforced Singapore’s position as the leader in providing key strategic platforms for the

region’s rotorcraft and unmanned systems industries to converge, forge partnerships and tap into the markets’ burgeoning growth potential”, said Mr Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director, Experia Events. “We are encouraged by the positive response to the events and the fact that key industry players are looking at Rotorcraft Asia and Unmanned Systems Asia as the region’s must-attend events

and key touchpoint with its offering of business collaborations, thought leadership conferences and networking opportunities. We will continue to have a pulse on the industry and bring more exciting dimensions to the future editions.”

Fuelling the Next Growth Industry in Urban Mobility

Rotorcraft Asia and Unmanned Systems Asia sets the pace for Asia Pacific’s growth projection

Rotorcraft Asia 2019


This year’s Rotorcraft Asia and Unmanned Systems Asia debuted the Urban Mobility Showcase, Asia Pacific’s first platform dedicated to showcasing cutting edge electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) technologies and innovations. Key highlights included the unveiling of Volocopter’s fully eVTOL aircraft that is capable of transporting two passengers for

about 30km, as well as the Drone Operations Centre developed by Garuda Robotics and the FutureFlight Consortium to enable drone operations in security and delivery applications, which made its first public appearance at the Singapore Pavilion.

Commercially, the event has facilitated some 370 strategic meetings between VIP buyers, visitors and exhibitors. These

included public sector representatives from the Royal Brunei Technical Services, Ministry of National Defense of Cambodia, Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, Royal Malaysia Police, South Korea Defence Acquisition Program Administration and the Myanmar Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Irrigation. From the commercial side, participants included Aerohawk Air Sdn Bhd,



BP Oil & Energy, Heliservices Ltd, Philjets Aero Services Inc., Pelita Air Service and the Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services.

“We are very focused on specific products because we are at a point where we are ready to acquire them for our business needs. Being in the VIP Buyers Programme is very beneficial as we were able to get a first-hand look at what was trending and what was available. Hence Rotorcraft Asia and Unmanned Systems Asia is a strategic channel for efficient business matching as we were able to connect with the right suppliers and manufacturing outfits”, said P. Surendra Singam, Managing Director of Aerohawk Air Sdn Bhd.

Catalyst for Strategic Partnerships Across the Region

Rotorcraft Asia and Unmanned Systems Asia also saw the announcement of several significant collaborations, affirming its position as an effective strategic platform of choice for leading industry companies, solutions providers and innovators from across the industry.

Key announcements made at the events include the upcoming launch of ‘The Singapore UAS Community’ by the Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore) with the support of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and

Enterprise Singapore, which will serve as the voice of the UAS industry and support continued growth in Singapore. Additionally, AeroLion Technologies and Surbana Jurong have joined hands to develop unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies, or drone solutions, for built and natural environments. Under a memorandum of understanding, the parties will develop UAV solutions for project applications such as land reclamation, workplace safety, site progression and fault detection in enclosed areas such as building and tunnels.

On the rotorcraft side, Luxaviation Helicopters had announced that Philippines-based helicopter charter operator PhilJets will join as the latest member of the group’s Helicopters Charter Alliance. This integration will complement the alliance’s existing global capabilities and provide members with VIP helicopter charter access in the Asia Pacific region.

Ten innovative showcases were also presented at What’s Next, a joint strategic platform where start-ups had the opportunity to showcase their capabilities and pitch business ideas and offerings to investors, accelerator and corporate partners. Some of the highlights include multi fusion sensor proprietary technology for high precision infrastructure inspection and real-time accuracy developed by the winning team

from BrashTech, as well as the exciting showcase by NimbusUAV, a local start-up, which specialises in offering custom-crafted purpose-built UAV platform to increase productivity and efficiency for businesses.

“There are about four million infrastructures around the world that all need inspection, real-time accuracy and speed. What we are very focused on is inventing new ideas and new technologies that can be extremely valuable to very large infrastructure companies - and there is a massive number of those”, said Brian Peace, CEO, BrashTech. Peace also added, “It is a small way for us to change the world and I feel great about winning and I was very surprised! Singapore is my home now and we are building the company here with R&D facilities. We are also planning to take the technology into different parts of the world focusing on building up our momentum with large players like Continental.”

The third edition of Rotorcraft Asia and Unmanned Systems Asia, will return on 30 March to 1 April 2021 at Changi Exhibition Centre and will continue to demonstrate industry relevance to exhibitors and visitors by anticipating market trends, introducing new features as well as offering exhibitors the opportunity to present their latest and most innovative technologies to potential buyers.



RNI No. : TNENG/2014/59266

Postal Regn No: TN / CH(C) / 505 / 15-17, Publication Date: 1st of Every Month.Postal Permission Date: 5th or 7th of Every Month


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