Forty-five electric vehicles introduced at Mumbai International Airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), announced it has introduced its first batch of electric vehicles (EVs). This announcement comes soon after achieving the recent recognition for its resilient sustainable efforts as the ‘Best Sustainable Airport of the Year’ by the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) in its 14th International ASSOCHAM Conference & Awards for Civil Aviation. To reduce dependency on fossil fuels, CSMIA has introduced 45 EVs by replacing its existing fleet of fossil fuel powered vehicles. This is part of the airport’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and to promote sustainable transportation. CSMIA intends to replace all its combustion-powered vehicles with electric vehicles as part of its Operational Net Zero mission by 2029. This move is a significant step towards CSMIA’s Operational Net Zero plan, which aims to reduce the airport’s environmental impact. In addition to the 45 EVs being introduced in January, CSMIA is also exploring the deployment of 60 more EVs in the next fiscal year, including ambulances, forward command post, security and airside operations & maintenance utility vehicles. The remaining vehicles will be replaced in a phased-wise manner. CSMIA is also planning to engage with stakeholders operating at the airport to switch to EV’s in support of CSMIA’s Operational Net Zero by 2029 goal.
Liebherr-Aerospace installs hydrogen test bench: Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse is developing a new power generation system as part of the France Relance (France Relaunch) plan with the support of the French Civil Aviation Authority (Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile). In order to test and assess this solution in a representative environment, Liebherr, supported by the Région Occitanie, recently installed a hydrogen test bench in its test centre at its Toulouse site. This new investment in test facilities will enable Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse to demonstrate the ability to generate electrical power, using fuel cells, to supply the major non-propulsive electrical systems of a new generation single-aisle aircraft, while ensuring the thermal management of the whole (fuel cells and electrical systems). In addition to these substantial investments in hydrogen, Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse is also developing new systems and equipment with lower emissions, particularly of CO2, and is working with the wider aeronautical industry and other academic institutions to step up development of the systems and equipment needed for the next generation of zero-emission aircraft.
Dnata, Emirates Leisure Retail and SEGAP join forces with Zanzibar Airports Authority: Dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider, has launched operations at Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) with its partners Emirates Leisure Retail and SEGAP, a joint venture between airport infrastructure and operations specialists Egis, and private equity fund manager AIIM (African Infrastructure Investment Managers). The three companies will work closely together to deliver world-class services for airlines and passengers at the newly built international terminal (T3) of ZNZ. The partnership is expected to significantly contribute to the government’s target of boosting its trade and tourism sectors. The investment of dnata, Emirates Leisure Retail and SEGAP represents over US$10 million and, to date, has created some 500 local jobs with the companies.
Emirates operates flight with 100% SAF: Emirates has operated its first milestone demonstration flight on a Boeing 777-300ER, powering one of its engines with 100 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The flight took off from Dubai International Airport (DXB), and was commanded by Captain Fali Vajifdar and Captain Khalid Nasser Akram, flying for more than one hour over the Dubai coastline. The demonstration flight powered by SAF holds particular significance as the UAE declares 2023 the ‘Year of Sustainability’. The year will showcase the UAE’s commitment to seek innovative solutions to challenges such as energy, climate change and other issues related to sustainability. The flight supports collective industry efforts to enable a future of 100 percent SAF flying and help advance the UAE’s sustainability objectives. Emirates’ demonstration flight, the first in the Middle East and North Africa to be powered by 100 percent SAF, supports broader efforts to reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions as the industry looks to scale up its use of SAF. The flights will also help to refine the playbook for future SAF demonstrations, and support future certification where 100% drop-in SAF fuel is approved for aircraft. Currently, SAF is approved for use in all aircraft, but only in blends of up to 50 percent with conventional jet fuel.
Blackhawk Aerospace Composites is now Aerospace Composites Solutions: Blackhawk Aerospace Composites, a comprehensive aerospace composite design and manufacturing firm, announced that it has rebranded and changed its name to Aerospace Composites Solutions (ACS). The company’s new name reflects an expanded focus in niche aerospace and defence applications as the result of ownership change at the beginning of the year. Blackhawk Aerospace co-founder and chairman Matt Shieman increased his ownership of Blackhawk’s composite division. He now leads ACS as president. Blackhawk Aerospace co-founder Dale Griffin joins Shieman in leadership as director and investor. Under this new leadership, ACS will remain focused on niche markets, including developing and manufacturing pods and fairings supporting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, and fire suppression tanks to support aerial firefighting efforts. The company is also expanding into new business arenas through manufacturing drones and providing original equipment manufacturers with aviation parts.
ADB SAFEGATE introduces the Intelligent AiPRON: ADB SAFEGATE has launched the Intelligent AiPRON, an innovative platform for managing airport apron operations in the face of today’s challenges. The holistic, intelligent approach utilizes machine learning technologies to provide better predictability of operations and bring the elasticity required to ensure a consistent level of safety, productivity, efficiency, and passenger experience despite sudden market changes. The Intelligent AiPRON portfolio includes five add-on software modules that are easy to deploy via a unified web portal. Intelligent AiPRON is founded on the concept of Augmented Intelligence, a subsection of AI machine learning, designed to assist and improve human decision making with more thorough analysis of information and data collected.
Watson Farley & Williams opens Seoul office: Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) announced it has opened its 18th international office in Seoul, South Korea with the arrival of new Partners Eugene Chang and Philip Kim who join the firm from K&L Gates and Herbert Smith Freehills respectively. WFW Seoul will offer services across the firm’s core sectors with a particular focus on maritime, aviation, energy and disputes work and will expand the firm’s offering across Asia and worldwide. Having a dedicated office in South Korea will also enable the firm to develop its existing South Korean-based relationships and will provide an excellent launchpad for establishing a strong presence in the country.
Kellstrom Aerospace, Global Filtration sign distribution deal: Kellstrom Aerospace has appointed Global Filtration as worldwide aviation commercial aftermarket distributor of commercial aerospace filtration products eligible for installation on a broad range of aircraft. This commercial aftermarket partnership will allow Kellstrom Aerospace to provide an even greater number of high-quality savings solutions for airlines and MRO customers with Factory New Air Filters including HEPA Cabin Air Filters, Hydraulic Filters and Nitrogen Generating Systems (NGS) Prefilters and Filter Kits. “We are delighted to announce our latest aftermarket distribution channel partnership with Global Filtration, Inc., and we are very excited to add their products to our comprehensive compliment of niche savings opportunities for our valued global customer base consisting of over 2,000 Airlines and MROs in ninety (90) countries,” said Daniel Adamski, executive vice president for distribution at Kellstrom Aerospace.
Nile Air signs deal with AFI KLM E&M: AFI KLM E&M and Nile Air announced the conclusion of a dedicated Component Support agreement for the Egyptian airline’s fleet of 6 A320-200s. The solutions package designed by AFI KLM E&M will cover an extensive range of components, including various key models such as accessories and LRUs for CFM56-5B and IAE V2500 engines. In addition to repairs, the services provided to Nile Air will include access to a spare parts pool and the availability of a Main Base Kit (MBK) within local reach of the customer’s facilities. Over the course of its previous collaborations with Nile Air in Component/Engine/APU support, AFI KLM E&M has demonstrated the superior levels of quality and reliability offered by its services, to the customer’s great satisfaction. Mohamed Nagy, CEO of Nile Air, underlined “the proximity and positive relations between our two groups. During our previous co-operations, the AFI KLM E&M teams have proven their ability to design and implement high-performance solutions adapted to our precise needs. There’s no doubt that their A320 component support will bring tangible added value to our operations, helping to ensure optimal availability for our fleet.”
StandardAero creates CFM56-7B service centre at DFW: StandardAero has achieved a number of milestones associated with the introduction of a service centre for the CFM International CFM56-7B turbofan engine at its DFW Centre of Excellence at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. StandardAero’s CFM56-7B service centre will significantly expand the engine support options available at DFW to operators of the Boeing 737 Next Generation family of aircraft. The DFW facility has now added the CFM56-7B to the operations specifications for its FAA Part 145 Repair Station, thereby enabling StandardAero’s skilled team of professionals to provide powerplant support services to Boeing 737NG operators. StandardAero is already authorised by CFM International to provide a full range of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for the CFM56-7B from its facility in Winnipeg, Canada, and DFW-based technicians are cross-training with their established Winnipeg counterparts.
TT Electronics expands Honeywell Aerospace partnership: TT Electronics plc, a global provider of engineered technologies for performance critical applications, announced that it has been selected as a strategic manufacturing partner by Honeywell Aerospace. The company will be providing engineering support, manufacturing, and full systems integration for Honeywell Anthem – Honeywell’s new, integrated cockpit avionics suite. Unveiled to the public in late 2021, the Honeywell Anthem flight deck is the industry’s first cloud-connected cockpit system. Anthem is powered by a flexible software platform that can be customised for virtually every type of aircraft, including large passenger and cargo planes, business jets, helicopters, general aviation aircraft, and the rapidly emerging class of advanced air-mobility (AAM) vehicles. Following several years of prototype development and supply chain support, TT has been selected as one of two strategic manufacturing partners to support multiple line replaceable units (LRUs) that comprise the Honeywell Anthem avionics suite.
Ramco Aviation signs deal with Nova Systems: Enterprise aviation software provider Ramco Systems announced that its Aviation M&E MRO Suite V5.9 has been selected by Nova Systems, a global engineering services and technology solutions company. Ramco’s Aviation Software will provide Nova Systems modules covering Aviation Manufacturing, Maintenance, Supply Chain Management and Compliance Management. The solution’s robust workflow and reporting capabilities will enable Nova Systems to streamline their Part 21J, Part 21G and Part 145 operations, meet their industry-specific requirements for material management and provide them with actionable insights. Nova Systems General Manager Aerospace Capability Cher Min Teo said: “We were looking for an aviation specific MRP that would provide the platform for us to build and scale our aviation solution and services business. We selected Ramco’s suite after a comprehensive evaluation of various suppliers and systems.”
Ontic signs licence deal with Honeywell: Ontic, the leading licensor and manufacturer of complex engineered parts for the global aerospace and defence industries, has entered into a new license agreement with Honeywell for its vacuum generator and check valve waste management product line, marking the 42nd license agreement between the companies. Extending across Boeing platforms including the 737, 747, 757, 767 and 777, the vacuum generator provides the vacuum required for vital flushing systems when on the ground or flying under 16,000 feet. The check valve then regulates the pressure and air flow during the vacuum process and pressurisation – an essential operation to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers on board. As part of this license, Ontic will adopt all existing contracts, including service center agreements, to ensure global operators continue to receive expert maintenance support and availability of spare parts. This system has been fitted to every Boeing platform since 1983 and production is set to continue in support of new aircraft as well as those currently in service. By entering this license with Honeywell, Ontic can continue to deliver essential product lines to new and existing platforms for Boeing and the wider operator community.
Wencor Group acquires Aero-Glen International: Wencor Group, a solutions provider to the aerospace and defence markets, announced the acquisition of Aero-Glen International, LLC. Aero-Glen International, based in Fort Worth, Texas and celebrating its 47th year servicing the aerospace market, is a full-line stocking distributor offering value-added services and kitting solutions that include aerospace fasteners, fittings, machined parts, and other specialised hardware. The company serves a diverse and global customer base, including domestic, international, commercial, and military customers. Aero-Glen is the first company in the United States to successfully complete the Joint Surveillance Voluntary Assessment Program and effectively meet the stringent requirements of CMMC 2.0 Level 2 compliance.
Lufthansa Technik provides condition monitoring to Avianca: Lufthansa Technik and Colombian carrier Avianca have signed a five-year contract that will provide digital Condition Monitoring through the AVIATAR platform. With the new contract, Avianca will be able to receive instant and real-time information about the configuration and condition of its Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft as well as their engines and components – during flight and on ground, all consolidated in one place. Avianca will be joining a growing list of customers in the Americas taking advantage of AVIATAR products. Based on aircraft and maintenance data, Condition Monitoring provides an overview of the overall operational aircraft condition. The immediate detection of faults increases troubleshooting efficiency and enables proactive corrective actions leading to higher aircraft availability.
Horizon Aircraft and 3C sign MOU: 3C and Horizon Aircraft signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) under which the two companies will collaborate on aspects of the continued development and path to certification of Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X5 programme. The MOU establishes a framework for ongoing expansion of collaboration as the Cavorite X5 programme evolves and will give Horizon access to services and expertise that includes; gap analysis, certification planning, certifiable design consulting, training, flight test planning and execution, and eventual airworthiness approval. The collaboration will also enable both companies to work together on future business development opportunities and strengthen the case for this exciting “made-in-Canada” programme.
Frankfurt Airport, SITA sign biometrics deal: Beginning this year, passengers traveling through Frankfurt Airport (Fraport) can breeze through the various steps in the journey – from check-in to boarding – simply by scanning their faces at biometric touchpoints across the airport. This solution will be rolled out and available to all interested airlines at the airport. The implementation will see additional biometric touchpoints installed by spring 2023. From enrolment at a kiosk or counter, to pre-security automated gates and self-boarding gates, passengers can use biometric technology to seamlessly pass through each stage of the journey by simply scanning their face. The project breaks new ground in the development of digital travel by providing a true common-use biometric platform at all Fraport terminals, open to all airlines operating at the airport. It combines day of travel enrolment, Star Alliance Biometrics, and additional biometric hubs under the umbrella of the SITA Smart Path platform.
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