Civil Aviation Authority

There many news on flights on different developments going on globally .Below find the round up on flight news,

SAUDI ARABIA CONTRACTS FOR S-76Ds

The Kingdom of Saudia Arabia's Ministry of Interior has signed a contract to produce twelve Sikorsky S-76D helicopters and has taken options to acquire eight additional S-76Ds, this has been announced by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. The S-76D is the latest model in the highly successful S-76 helicopter line.Sikorsky has produced and delivered nearly 800 S-76 helicopters.

A400M WING PASSES CRITICAL TEST

The critical static test requires for certification for the highly advanced all-composite wing of the Airbus Military A400M has passed the ultimate-load up-bend test. During the test the wing was subjected to a load equal to 150% of the maximum bending load (limit load) predicted to be encountered in service. The wingtips of the full-size A400M static test specimen moved upwards 1, 41 metres (4, 6 feet) during the test which was completed at Airbus Military's Getafe, Madrid facility recently.

INTERJET WINS CONTRACTS

Interjet which is based at Lanseria International Airport has received approval from the South Africa Air Force (SAAF) and Armscor to provide steady state product support on the SAAF Raytheon King Air as well as the Cessna Caravan aircraft. This was announced in August this year by Interjet CEO, Paul Ludick who further said "The contract will include all levels of serviceable which allows the SAAF to provide the necessary readiness as required". Interjet recently received its B-BBEE accreditation for both maintenance and avionics departments which is a requirement to be met for medium and large companies in South Africa.

G450 SETS SPEED RECORD

A long-range Gulfstream G450 business jet recently established a city-pair speed record between Tokyo and Hong Kong. The G450 took off from Tokyo's Narita International Airport and flew the 1,694 nautical mile distance at an average cruise speed of Mach 0, 85, landing three hours and 58 minutes later at Hong Kong International Airport.

MALTESE HOT POTATO

In Malta during the past weeks a partenavia P68C Victor has been seen with huge ICCAT titles on the port side.ICCAT stands for international commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna. Lately, the issue of tuna fishing and penning has been a hot potato on the Mediterranean island of Malta, with fishermen being confronted by vessels from non-government organizations, namely Green Peace and Sea Shepherd. Maltese rural affairs Minister, George Pullicino, recently described the NGOs tactics as similar to those of "private armies". The issue of tuna fishing, which the Maltese Government insists is entirely legal, has also been raised at high level meetings in Luxembourg.

CATHY ORDERS 30 A350 XWBs

Following the signature of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Airbus for the order of 30 aircraft, Cathy Pacific Airways has selected the all-new A350 XWB to form the backbone of its future mid-size wide-body fleet. With the capability of flying over 8000 nautical miles non-stop, the airline has selected the A350-900 variant of the aircraft.

FIRST T-6C FOR RMAF

The first of 24 Beech craft T-6C Military trainers ordered by the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) has been rolled out by Hawker Beech craft Corp. The RMAF is replacing its existing fleet of T-34 and T-37 jet trainers with the T-6Cs.The T-6Cs upgraded avionics include a head-up display, up front control panel, three multifunction displays and hands-on throttle and stick and in addition to the hard-point wings.

The RMAF order represents a government-to government agreement between Morocco and the U.S. In addition to the 24 aircraft, the contract includes aircraft ferry services, site survey, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, facility infrastructure support, personnel training and training equipment, and other related elements of technical and logistics support.

COMAIR EXPANDS AFRICAN NETWORK

From November Comair, Operator of British Airways in South Africa and kulula.com,is again expanding its African route network and will offer five return flights per week between Johannesburg and Daresalam,in Tanzania. The new route and the flights will be operated by British Airways and will also be integrated and sold through kulula.com distribution network.

TRANSATLANTIC JOINT BUSINESS

British Airways ,American Airlines and Iberia have received final regulatory approval from the European Commission to enter into a joint business agreement on transatlantic flights. The airlines anticipate that they will receive the final decision on transatlantic anti-trust immunity from the US Department of Transportation shortly. The transatlantic joint business will strengthen competition across the Atlantic by enabling the oneworld alliance to compete on a level playing field with the other global alliances that already have anti-trust immunity. The airlines plan to launch the transatlantic joint business this autumn.

LUFHANSAS SECOND A380

Lufthansa has received its second Airbus A380 which was recently ferried from Hamburg to Frankfurt prior to being named "Munchen" at a festive ceremony at Munich Airport. Its inclusion in the Lufthansa fleet in August has already raised frequencies ex Frankfurt to Tokyo from thrice-weekly to daily services and has opened the way for the type to be introduced to the South African service from next month.

LANDMARK DESTINATION

Kenya Airways recently broadened its network by launching regular flights between Nairobi and Angola's capital city, Luanda.

POSEIDON ENTERS FLIGHT TEST

Boeings new P-8A Poseidon aircraft T3 successfully completed its first flight test in Seattle recently and during the two-hour and 48 minute flight Boeing and US Navy test pilots performed airborne systems checks including engine accelerations and decelerations, autopilot flight modes, and auxiliary power unit and engine shutdowns and starts. The T3 is the P-8A programmes mission-system and weapon-certification aircraft. In the coming weeks, T3 will join the two P-8A test aircraft currently at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md, and complete additional ground and flight tests.

The Navy plans to purchase 117 P-8A anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to replace its P-3 fleet. Initial operational capability is planned for 2013.

ALAFCO OPTS FOR A350-900

ALAFCO, the Kuwait –based international aviation lease and finance company, has converted its existing firm order for 12 Airbus A350-800s placed in 2007, into the higher capacity A350-900 model. The A350-900 is the first of the three members of the A350 XWB family to be introduced and will enter service in mid-2013.The A350-900 typically has a capacity of around 40 more seats than the smaller 800 model.

RED BULL AIR RACES CANCELLED

The Red Bull Air Races have been cancelled for next year, according to a statement issued by the organizers in August. The one-year hiatus is needed to develop strong host city partnerships and secure a "long-term race calendar", according to Red Bull. Some late-in-the –game venue changes and cancellations disrupted the race schedule for this year, and a couple of near-accidents raised safety concerns.

CRITICAL DESIGN REVIEW

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., has announced the successful completion of the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter programme critical design review (CDR) event, signaling the program me is ready to proceed to assembly ,test and evaluation. Over the past four years, the CH-53K helicopter team has successfully completed numerous major reviews, including the system requirements review (SRR),system functional review (SFR), systems preliminary design review(PDR), 77 supplier-level critical design reviews (CDRs), 64 supplier and internal software reviews and 16 sub-system CDRs.

SVT FOR BARONS, BONANZAS

Hawker Beech craft Corp. has announced that Garmin's Synthetic Vision Technology (STV) and other associated avionics improvements will be included as standard equipment on its piston-engine Beech craft Baron and Bonanza Aircraft. Following the receipt of Supplement Type Certificates covering both models, the upgraded offerings were introduced on production aircraft as from August.

AWARD FOR ‘FATHER OF BOEING 747

Legendary Boeing aeronautical engineer, Joe Sutter, credited with leading the development of the iconic 747 jetliner ,won the inaugural Flightglobal Lifetime Achievement Award,Flight International magazine announced at the 2010 Farnborough International Air show recently " Joe Sutter helped shrink our planet for tens of millions of ordinary travelers," said Murdo Morrison, editor of Flight International. Sutter joined Boeing in 1946 as an aerodynamics specialist and worked on the Boeing 377,Dash -80,707,727,and 737.In 1965, he took on the role of chief project engineer of the new 747 programme,which pioneered the twin-aisle wide-body concept.

‘FIRST' FOR ARIK AIR

Nigeria's largest commercial airline, Arik Air, has scored another first by becoming, the first Nigerian airline to be re-certified by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The regulatory body announced recently that the airline had met the Federal Governments requirement of the new Civil Aviation Regulations. NCAA director-general, Dr. Harold Demuren, said Arik Air had fulfilled the 6th of the eight critical elements as stipulated by the United States of Americas Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

According to Dr. Demuren, the sixth element involved licensing and certification and one of the country's airlines needed to meet the new regulation. He expressed optimism that soon Nigeria would bag Category 1 status as the country was close to the end of the certification exercise by the American regulatory body.

ONE TIME TO MAPUTO

Voted by World Travel Awards for two in a row as Africa's leading low cost carrier,1 time Airline, in August launched a five-times –a-week service between Johannesburg and Maputo, Mozambique. It thus makes use of the full capacity granted to operate this route, in relation to existing bilateral agreements. 1times prices started at about 50% less than its competitors and current lowest airfare on the route is R2663 return inclusive, with 1times lowest fare coming in at R672 one-way all inclusive. Government –imposed airport taxes of R475 per way is included in the all-inclusive fare.

NEW A350 XWB HANGAR

From mid-2011 the worlds largest fuselage made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) will be assembled in Hamburg, Germany ,less than a year after Airbus celebrated the "topping-out" of the new A350 XWB fuselage assembly hangar. Completion of the hanger is expected within the next few weeks. Then the jigs, tools and machinery will be set up with start of production scheduled for spring 2011. Airbus is investing over Euros 150-million in A350 XWB hangar (including jigs, tools and machinery) in Hamburg.

East Africa has been the hub for both cargo and passengers flights especially within Eastern,Central,Southern,Northern Africa, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan & Europe. It serves the Humanitarian & Relief Flights for cargo and passengers, Air Ambulance, Emergency & Medical Evacuation Flights,V.I.P Executive Private Flights, Executive Private Jet Flights, Cargo for both bulky and unbulky globally. Also it is the hub for flights to war torn countries like DR Congo, Central Africa Republic, Mozambique, South Sudan, Chad, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Darfur among other countries.

There are International flights arriving into and departing in Kenya at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Moi International Airport Mombassa and connecting to various countries in Africa. These flights also fly in tourists who arrive and depart directly from Moi International Airport to Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo East/West, Malindi, Lamu, Diani Beach, Wasini Island, and Funzi Island in Kenya

And to Zanzibar and Pemba Island in Tanzania. The tourist can take commercial flights to Masai Mara and Amboseli and private charter flights to other destinations as there is only one daily service to Masai Mara via Malindi, Ukunda ,Amboseli to Masai Mara and in the afternoon back to Mombassa for the rest you can take road transport or private charter.

Arriving flights at Jomo Kenyatta fly in tourists who connect direct to National Parks & Reserves or drive to Wilson Airport to connect either commercial flights or private charters. Since the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority do not grant permission to foreign aircraft to fly cargo out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport without an Air Service License which you must have a registered company in Kenya there are air charter operators that you can partner with and use their license.

Air news around the World,

(a) Kenyan Flights Expansion.

The National Carrier Kenya Airways has leased Boeing 767-300 ER from ILFC for an 18-month period in addition to the existing B767-300ER. Also Jet link Express has leased an additional Bombardier CRJ, bringing its fleet to three for CRJs.

(b) Rwanda Expands its Scheduled Services to South Africa.

Rwanda has again introduced scheduled services linking its capital city Kigali direct to Johannesburg. It also during the month of February 2010 introduced flights to the Tanzanian port city of Daresalam via Bujumbura and flights to Goma and Kinshasa in the DRC will follow by end of March 2010.It has also plans to add one each BOEING 767 and Boeing 737-800 in March 2010 in addition of the two recently acquired Bombardier CRJ regional Jets.

(c) Nigeria Increases its Scheduled Services.

Arik Air ,Nigeria's largest Airline, has expanded its extensive regional services with the launch of flights between Abuja and Accra (Ghana) Bajui(Gambia) and Dakar(Senegal).This being new services introduced by Arik Air from Nigeria's capital,Abuja,to points in West Africa and will operate twice weekly non-stop services between Abuja and Accra using Boeing 737-700 aircraft. In supplement, Arik Air has launched further regional services between Lagos and Cotonou (Benin) and Dakar (Senegal) including new non-stops services between Lagos and Dakar. A Bombardier CRJ900s aircraft operate the routes, one of the four CRJ1900s in the airlines fleet.

(d) DR Congo's BizAfrika Congo And SA Express Enter into A Joint Venture Forming Congo Express.

Lubumbashi, Kinshasha, Mbuji Mayi is now being served by a new regional airline Congo Express. The airline is a joint venture and collaboration between established Congolese business, BizAfrika Congo and SA Express, one of the fastest growing regional carriers on the continent. Congo Express is set to flourish as an extension of the recently re-launched SA Express brand, which aims to offer customers abespoke, seamless travel experience. Siza Mzimela, CEO of SA Express is proudly positioned as the premier intra-regional African brand.

The airlines long-term strategy is to transform air transport in the region-stimulating markets, developing hubs and providing those all important links between lucrative destinations. They are delighted to take this first step in achieving their goal.The joint venture took over 4 years before the marriage was formalized.SA Express holds 49% of Congo Express shares in this joint venture. Its operations will be rolled out in three phase as disclosed by Didier Kindambu the Managing Director Congo Express the first being Lubumbashi-Kinshasha and Kinshasha-Mbuju Mayi routes. Next will be to increase the domestic routes to serve other airports within DRC, followed by an extension of services beyond the borders of the DRC.

Its corporate identity will be similar to those of SA Express, yet uniquely distinctive. The logo reflects the colours of the national flag of DRC and will be reflected in the livery of the aircraft servicing the route, and also in the chic uniform to be worn by staff. Its maintaince will be done by SA Express, who boasts a commendable safety record. The Johannesburg –Lubumbashi route has since flourished, currently frequenting the DRC 6-days a week. Congo Express will operate 7 days a week between Lubumbashi and Kinshasa and 4 times a week between Lubumbashi and Mbuji Mayi.

(e) Ethiopian Airline Orders 10 Next-Generations 737-800s

Ethiopian Airlines have announced an order of 10 next—Generation 737-800s With Boeing in Seattle and this order is valued at $767-million at list prices.

Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Airlines last year became the first African Carrier to order and operate the ultra-long range 777-200LR. Ethiopian also was the first African Carrier to order the B787 Dream liner, ordering 10 in 2005.

(f) Togolese Carrier starts Flights

Lome-ASKY, a new Togolese carrier started operations recently with two wet-leased 737-700s from Ethiopian Airlines, and began operations as Ethiopian West African hub.

(g)Virgin Wins "Flight Deal of the Century"

Australian airline, Virgin Blue has been awarded the contract for passenger services between Perth and two Indian Ocean territories after winning a Federal Government tender to conduct flights to Christmas and the Cocos Island. Details of the "can't lose" Federal Government contract were revealed at WAtoday.com.au last year. The Government subsidizes the flight once the revenue falls beneath agreed minimum threshold, and did so to the tune of $ 972,000 in the last financial year.

The services were previously operated by Cob ham Aviation, the former National Jet, which actually lost the contract in 2008 but continued to operate them after the winning bidder, Sky Air World, went into administration. The airline will start thrice-weekly flights in April 2010 from Perth to both territories, and flights between the territories and Virgin Blue would boost its domestic network to 30 destinations.

From Perth, Christmas and Cocos Islands are two of the best, unspoilt and truly unique island holiday destinations the region has to offer. With other markets this airline has entered, they are confident the new services will further stimulate tourism of these most remarkable jewels in the Indian Ocean and also help to strengthen relations with the mainland. While the new flights were within the Australian domestic network, all services to and fro Australia will arrive into and depart from Perth International Airport.

(h) Indian Airline to Fly to South Africa.

India's largest passenger airline, Jet Airways (India) Ltd, is set to become the countries first carrier to fly to South Africa and is keen to commence flights ahead of the Football World Cup scheduled to start on June 11, 2010. The airline is also entering into a code share agreement with Kenya Airways to connect to the northern regions of Africa, coinciding with India's recent thrust to improve economic diplomacy in the continent.

Permission for Jet Air to schedule non-stop daily flights from Mumbai to Johannesburg has been requested from the Indian authorities but the airline is still waiting for formal clearance to be given by the aviation Ministry. clause in the bilateral rights with South Africa allowed for only one carrier to fly from Mumbai but that restriction was lifted some time ago leaving the way clear for Jet Airways to seek approval for the airline to use the route.

With these air news the users of aviation services will be always aware of the new routes introduced, new aircrafts manufactured, new travel regulations, ,aviation events of the year, safety and security alerts.