GE Aerospace renews contract with ITP Aero: GE Aerospace has granted aircraft engine and components manufacturer ITP Aero a service contract extension to conduct maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for CT7 engines at its facility in Albacete, Spain. ITP Aero is the ninth-largest aircraft engine and components manufacturing company in the world. The company’s scope of work includes research and development, manufacturing, and assembly and testing of aircraft engines, as well as MRO services for a wide range aerospace customers. “We are pleased to continue our service arrangement with ITP Aero who has been a proven customer service leader for our CT7 customers for over a decade,” says Elissa Lee, Director of GE Aerospace’s Commercial Turboshaft Engines. With more than 100 million flight hours, GE’s CT7/T700 family of turboshaft and turboprop engines reside across the globe in every environment an aircraft can operate. Among these engines, the CT7-2 is known for its rugged, fuel efficient and exceptional performance and provides reliable power to helicopters used in a variety of roles from executive transport to fire fighting and rescue.
FAA to hold safety summit on 15 March: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is holding a safety summit 10:30 a.m. on 15 March regarding the recent rash of airplane incidents. The FAA also reportedly is forming a team of experts to review airline safety. This comes in the wake of numerous recent airline incidents including a former White House official and 9/11 Commission Official who was killed recently during a flight upset caused by the Bombardier Challenger business jet on which she was traveling reportedly experienced a pitch trim system problem. Also making recent headlines was Southwest Flight 9017, a Boeing 737 MAX jet, that experienced auto trim problems and was forced to return to the Phoenix airport when pilots had to manually control the plane after take-off on 24 February. Pilots reported that the “trim system is not working” and declared an emergency. The FAA’s 15 March safety summit is being lived streamed: It will be live streamed:
Avolon delivers first A320neos to ITA Airways: Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company, has delivered three new Airbus A320-200neos to ITA Airways. A further two aircraft will be delivered later in the year, supporting ITA Airway’s target for its portfolio to comprise 80 percent new generation fuel efficient aircraft by 2026. The newly delivered aircraft are the first A320neos in ITA Airway’s fleet. Carrying the company’s striking new blue livery, these aircraft will support its short and medium haul services in the 2023 summer season. Paul Geaney, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Avolon commented: “We are delighted to support ITA Airways with the delivery of the first A320neos in their fleet. One of our core commitments is to help customers make the transition to fuel efficient new technology aircraft, and this deal demonstrates how a lessor like Avolon can help airlines achieve their sustainability ambitions.”
Hong Kong Airlines adding flights to Japan: Following the relaxation of global travel restrictions, Hong Kong Airlines will launch four-times weekly nonstop flights connecting Hong Kong and Fukuoka from 7 April 2023. The new service will offer passengers additional flight options to popular destinations in Japan, while also boosting travel flexibility. Situated off the southwest coast of Japan, Fukuoka is renowned for its beauty, surrounded by the beautiful ocean and picturesque mountains that offer stunning seaside scenery. The harbour city is also named as the metropolis of southern Japan and the gateway to Kyushu. Over the centuries, the city has found a balance of combining modern urbanity with its glorious history, boasting many buildings that have been lovingly preserved from the Meiji period. Hong Kong Airlines adjusts its business strategy and network from time to time to respond to changing market conditions. With the anticipated increasing travel demands, the company also announced that it would resume five-times weekly service to Bali Denpasar and daily service to Shanghai Hongqiao starting from 17 April.
SAEI and Collins Aerospace sign FlightSense and ASCENTIA agreements: Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) and Collins Aerospace announced a 10-year FlightSense agreement for Saudia Airlines’ entire A320, A330 and Boeing 787 fleet. Collins will provide SAEI with asset pooling support and services for aircraft. The relationship has potential to expand as SAEI extends its client base to additional airline operators. The SAEI roadmap for growth uses digitalization and predictive maintenance to elevate performance and reliability. To this end the collaboration includes Collins Aerospace’s fully integrated ASCENTIA Performance Health Monitoring (PHM) system, providing a 24/7 fleet monitoring team to SAEI. The PHM system, which uses advanced analytics and human experience, will provide SAEI and Saudia Airlines with advanced maintenance recommendations to reduce fleet downtime. “SAEI, as a modern MRO entity, is focused on technology-enabled solutions to improve forecasting and planning accuracy and reduce inefficiency. The implementation of FlightSense and the maintenance services with Collins aligns with these objectives,” commented Fahd Cynndy, Chief Executive Officer for SAEI.
Sabre and Finnair launch NDC content to Sabre-connected travel agents: Sabre and Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, have announced that Finnair’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) content is now available through Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS). The two companies have also concluded a renewed long-term distribution agreement that covers both NDC and traditional content. Starting March 2023, Finnair is rolling out its NDC content globally in multiple waves, with the first wave including 34 countries. Sabre-connected agencies and developer partners can now shop, book and service Finnair’s NDC content by using the Sabre Offer and Order APIs, Sabre Red 360 and GetThere. Finnair is the first European airline to distribute its NDC content through the Sabre marketplace. To date, thousands of agencies are shopping, booking and servicing NDC content through the Sabre GDS in more than 130 countries.
Embraer closes US$200 million credit facility in the US: Embraer has closed a US$200 million credit facility to finance purchases from direct suppliers in the United States. This financing is being provided by Citibank and guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), the country’s official export credit agency. This credit facility with EXIM and Citibank will support Embraer’s efforts to diversify its credit operations in the aviation market worldwide, providing the company with additional financing options and improving its loan profile. “This credit facility will help us to improve even more our debt profile and to strengthen our long-term relationship with American suppliers. Diversifying our credit operations and looking for new opportunities in our main markets are key to keep improving efficiency in our financial operations,” said Antonio Carlos Garcia, Chief Financial Officer of Embraer.
DFS Aviation Services and UFA supply equipment to ATC academy in Baku: Azerbaijani air navigation services provider Azeraeronavigatsiya and National Aviation Academy (NAA) of Azerbaijan will introduce the certified training programme of DFS Academy to train their air traffic controllers in Baku. Simulation experts from UFA are providing radar and tower simulators, which will be supplemented by DFS training content and the corresponding simulator exercises. This collaboration means AZANS will get the certified DFS Academy training programmes being ready for incorporation to National Aviation Academy (NAA) programme. Over the past months, experts from the DFS Group, UFA and AZANS have been working on a turnkey solution that will enable AZANS to train its staff based on the high-quality standards of the DFS Group. Farhan Guliyev, Director at AZANS is certain: “This project takes the long-standing and successful partnership between the DFS Group, UFA, NAA and AZANS to a new level, and charts an innovative approach for the future of air navigation services in Azerbaijan.”
Expanded capabilities for Becker digital intercom: Becker Avionics announced it has made recent enhancements to its DVCS 6100 and AMU 6500 digital intercom systems. The two systems can now be utilised together in a hybrid system. As an example, pairing of the two systems into one aircraft would allow DVCS 6100 controls in the cockpit for the pilots, and AMU 6500 controls in the passenger compartment. The pilots would be advantaged by unsurpassed Human Machine Interface, and the systems redundancy functions of the DVCS 6100. The passengers utilising the AMU 6500 control heads could connect via the 6500s Bluetooth function to their favourite music source and enjoy stereo sound. Passengers could also have access to satellite communications on a two-way line, operating as if it was a normal phone conversation. Each position can select either push to talk or voice activation for internal aircraft communication. Another expansion of the AMU 6500 system is the ACU6510 control unit. The AMU 6500 controls twelve radios. Now with three AMU 6500 units and six AMU6510 units a total of nine positions are available in the aircraft with full transmit and receive capability. Each position will have all the native features of the AMU 6500. This includes Bluetooth, stereo and 3D audio.
CPaT wins deal with cargo operator Cygnus Air: CPaT Global announced it has been awarded a new contract with Cygnus Air. CPaT will be providing Cygnus Air with an unlimited pricing structure that includes enhanced tailored Aircraft Systems Courses, including CPaT’s General Subjects portfolio, and Aircraft Procedures for their Boeing B757-200 Fleet. “CPaT is thrilled to announce that our Boeing B757-200 Aircraft System courses and Aircraft Procedures have been selected by Cygnus Air as the comprehensive e-learning solution to meet their unique training needs,” said Capt. Greg Darrow, Vice President of Sales. “We look forward to supporting their operations and enhancing the skills of their flight crew.” Cygnus Air is a cargo airline based in Madrid, Spain. It is a privately owned airline operating scheduled flights to destinations mainly in Europe. Its main base is Madrid Barajas International Airport. Cygnus is part of the Swiftair Group.
ADB SAFEGATE and Fraport AG announce strategic partnership: ADB SAFEGATE and Fraport AG announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) combining efforts to bring seamless integration between the tower and apron operations with industry leading digital solutions. The parties agreed to enter the strategic partnership based on a common interest to drive digitalization, automation and a positive impact on sustainability at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Germany’s largest aviation hub. The MoU will set up a general framework for managed services to support the high availability of the safety critical ADB SAFEGATE systems at FRA. Additionally, the partnership ensures continued collaboration on long-term product roadmap development aiming to enhance and strengthen synergies within ADB SAFEGATE’s tower and apron solutions. “Strong partnerships and collaboration are key to achieve our digitalisation and sustainability goals,” says Daniel Kösters, Senior Vice President Aviation Airside, Fraport AG. “We look forward to working with ADB SAFEGATE to bring technology for our customers and operations to the next level. One important goal is to enhance and stabilise operations especially in low visibility conditions.”
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