Eurowings, Lufthansa Systems partner on AI assistant: Lufthansa Systems announced that Eurowings is the launching customer for the cutting-edge AI-powered operations control assistant NetLine/Ops ++ aiOCC. The web-based AI assistant supports airline operations controllers in increasing the stability and efficiency of daily operations. Both companies worked closely together on this project. The smart assistant, which is integrated into NetLine/Ops ++, the next-generation operations control system from Lufthansa Systems, has been in use at the Eurowings operations control centre (OCC) in Cologne since 2023. NetLine/Ops ++ aiOCC analyzes historical data and monitors all events around aircraft, rotation, passengers, and crews simultaneously to identify delay risks ahead of time. Then, it generates concrete recommendations on improving operations in real time, which is critical in this working environment. To enable the user to make an informed decision, the system provides additional information regarding the impact of the proposed solution on the overall resilience, the buffer, and the propagated delay. The smart assistant focuses on recommendations, the decision always remains with the operations controller. Even if no delay is visible yet, the system can already suggest an improvement. The agent offers the greatest potential in the morning, as there is significantly more room for action. For example, the agent suggests swapping legs EW9212 and EW9213 of AC EXS for legs EW9442 and EW9443 of AC EXW, which will decrease the propagated delay by 20 minutes. This improves overall punctuality and provides more buffer time to further stabilize the schedule. The controller checks this suggestion, implements it, or rejects it with good reason. All user feedback is evaluated in the background to improve the AI agent continuously.
IAE AG and FTAI Aviation sign V2500 service deal: FTAI Aviation and IAE International Aero Engines AG (IAE) announced a five-year EngineWise maintenance services agreement for V2500 engines. The agreement includes over 100 full-performance restoration shop visits. IAE is a multinational consortium comprised of Pratt & Whitney, Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH, Japanese Aero Engines Corporation and MTU Aero Engines AG. FTAI Aviation focuses on engine leasing and currently owns and is committed to over 140 V2500 engines and looks to grow its portfolio to 200 by 2025. The V2500 engine offers the most fuel-efficient propulsion system in its class, with up to 3% fuel burn and emissions advantage over prior generation engines. It is a versatile engine, powering commercial, cargo and military aircraft, with a long track record of providing reliable and efficient performance. The V2500 engine is backed by an established global network of 13 facilities for maintenance, repair and overhaul, including eight IAE partner facilities, of which three are managed by Pratt & Whitney and its joint ventures: the Turkish Engine Center in Istanbul, the Shanghai Engine Center in China and the Christchurch Engine Center in New Zealand.
Liebherr to provide next-gen flight control computers for Airbus: Two new integrated flight control computers for the A320 family will be developed as well as manufactured at Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH (Germany) and Liebherr-Electronics and Drives GmbH in Lindau (Germany). Both sites work closely on designing the innovative solution for the Airbus flight control system to be installed on Airbus aircraft. The awarded contract is the outcome of Liebherr’s clear focus on R&D for highly integrated solutions in the area of high performance and multicore processing control computers. Liebherr´s flight control computers correspond to the highest safety requirements and bring an increased operational reliability. They provide support for future functionality and contribute to reducing pilot’s workload. Liebherr´s solution is a platform developed from a modular concept, that provides high computing performance and possibilities for future upgrades, adjustments, and additional functions to fit the overall customer’s needs. The Liebherr flight control computers will complement computers developed by Airbus to ensure dissimilarity and maximum safety. Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH is Liebherr’s centre of competence for flight control systems, landing gears, gearboxes, electronics, and software. Liebherr Electronics and Drives GmbH is the centre of competence for electronic hardware development and production. Together they provide the electronic system competence for the flight control computers out of one hand.
Yahsat contracts Airbus for Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 satellites: Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (Yahsat), the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider announced that it has contracted Airbus Defence and Space, a leading satellite manufacturer, for its new geostationary telecommunications satellites, Al Yah 4 (“AY4”) and Al Yah 5 (“AY5”). Airbus will design and build the AY4 and AY5 satellites based on the Eurostar Neo platform, with each having flexible payloads and benefitting from the strong heritage of the Eurostar family. The flexible multi-band payloads can be fully reconfigured while in orbit, capable of adjusting the coverage area, capacity and frequency “on the fly” to meet evolving mission scenarios. Both AY4 and AY5 satellites will offer secure governmental communications over a wide geographical area across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia. The new advanced satellites will eventually replace Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2, which were launched in 2011 and 2012, respectively, and based on a previous version of the Airbus-built Eurostar platform. Airbus will design and manufacture both AY4 and AY5 satellites and will also provide ground control segment components. Both spacecraft will have a design life of 15 years and are planned to be launched in 2027 and 2028 respectively.
PA Consulting, DecisionBrain, TGIS Aviation collaborate on engines: PA Consulting has announced a collaboration with DecisionBrain and TGIS Aviation to work to reduce airlines’ operational and lease return costs for their aircraft engines, while enhancing efficiency and end-of-life asset opportunity. Trials with commercial airlines have already identified through-life savings of £500 million, and individual savings of £200 million for a single European flag carrier. The partnership combines PA’s deep aviation finance expertise, DecisonBrain’s advanced decision intelligence technology, and TGIS’s powerplant management expertise, to create a new aircraft engine cost-optimisation service, known as Optima. Optima uses advanced optimisation technologies to drive down total engine life costs by balancing fleet management, contract terms, and retirement strategies. It does this by drawing together billions of maintenance combinations, operational scenarios, and contractual constraints, to consider a wider and deeper range of operating, contractual, and maintenance scenarios than previously humanly possible.
Aviation SaaS company QOCO Systems nails new investments: QOCO Systems, a provider of aviation software solutions, announced that it has received an investment of several million euros to accelerate its international expansion. The investor, Finnish private equity company Juuri Partners, becomes a minority shareholder of QOCO Systems, supporting the company’s international growth and product development. The investment will be used mainly to recruit new talent in software development, sales, and marketing. QOCO Systems helps airlines, MROs, and OEMs around the world to increase their operational efficiency with advanced SaaS solutions, driving the digitalization of aircraft maintenance operations and planning. The company recently launched MRO – Assignment, a modern solution that combines HR, maintenance, and flight ops systems into one easy-to-use interface. QOCO Systems’ clients include Rolls-Royce, Finnair, and TAP Air Portugal, among others. QOCO Systems’ current team includes 50 people representing 13 different nationalities, operating in Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the UK. The company prides itself on its ability to attract and onboard skilled experts from different countries and cultures. Going forward, QOCO Systems’ strategic focus will be in Europe and the Middle East, but it is also preparing for North American expansion at the end of 2024. In the US, the company has an existing client relationship with Endeavor Air, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. QOCO Systems is also in negotiations with various clients in other regions around the globe.
Kahala Aviation Group relaunches as K2 Aviation: Kahala Aviation Group, an aircraft lessor in the aviation industry since the early 2000s, has relaunched under the new brand name K2 Aviation. Building on a legacy of experience and providing unique solutions for lessors, airlines, and capital partners, K2 Aviation is set to re-enter the market with a strategic focus on mid to end-of-life commercial aircraft investments globally. K2 Aviation’s mission is to leverage its deep industry knowledge and robust network to maximize the value of mid-life and end-of-life commercial aircraft. This strategic focus aims to create significant investment opportunities and offer tailored solutions to meet the evolving needs of its clients. The partners of K2 Aviation possess extensive knowledge in all aspects of aircraft and engine leasing with experience ranging from narrowbody, regional, turboprop and widebody aircraft operating with passenger and cargo airlines. Charles Graham, Executive Chairman of K2 Aviation, expressed his enthusiasm for the relaunch: “K2 Aviation represents the evolution of Kahala’s successful journey. Our rebranding reflects our commitment to adapting and thriving in the dynamic aviation market. With our core focus and exceptional team, we are excited to drive new growth and value for our partners.”
Etihad, Egyptair sign MOU: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Egyptair have signalled their intent to strengthen their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to enhance commercial and operational ties to provide travellers with wider choices, higher quality services and increased value. The existing codeshare agreement gives customers of both airlines enhanced connectivity to destinations across each other’s networks, between Egypt and the UAE as well beyond Cairo into Africa and beyond Abu Dhabi into Asia. The agreement enables guests to book their entire journey on a single ticket and have their baggage checked through seamlessly to their end destination. This MOU will see codeshares between the two airlines extended, giving one-stop access for EGYPTAIR travellers to more of Etihad’s network in addition to several destinations in Asia and Australia that already exist. Equally it gives Etihad customers seamless access to further destinations on EGYPTAIR Network, on top of the routes already in scope.
Boeing site at Embry-Riddle will add jobs: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Boeing formally announced a new partnership Tuesday, June 11, 2024, that will bring 400 high-paying jobs to Volusia County, Florida, through 2026. New employees at this state-of-the-art centre of excellence will perform engineering work for Boeing’s Defense, Space and Security aircraft programs and advanced technology capabilities. Boeing will lease the entire Cici and Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology, located in Embry-Riddle’s Research Park, on the university’s Daytona Beach Campus. The centre, which has been under construction for the past two years, will open for business by fall of 2024. By year’s end, Boeing has committed to employ 200 highly trained workers at its new facility, aptly named Boeing Daytona Beach. The other 200 roles are set to be filled over the course of 2025-2026. “Today is a momentous day — not just for Embry-Riddle or for the city of Daytona Beach, but for all of Florida,” said Mori Hosseini, chairman of Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees. “Four-hundred people and their loved ones will live and work here, invest in our local economy and, more broadly, in the future of aviation and aerospace. It’s an incredible impact, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the State of Florida, and Cici and Hyatt Brown.”
Arajet inducts 10th Boeing 737 MAX: Arajet’s 10th Boeing 737 MAX arrived in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic as the airline continues to grow its fuel-efficient fleet. This 737-8 delivery through a lessor supports Arajet’s growth strategy throughout the Americas as the airline plans to more than double its routes in the next few years. Since launching in 2022, Arajet has grown its all-737 MAX fleet to serve 23 destinations in 16 countries, including Canada, Mexico and Argentina. Arajet’s performance earned it recognition as the Startup Airline of the year at the World Aviation Summit in 2023. With 737-8 jets that can fly up to 3,500 nautical miles, the airline operates some of the longest routes in the region ─ efficiently connecting the Caribbean to North and South America. “The versatility and efficiency of the 737 MAX supports Arajet’s commitment to provide safe, affordable travel for its customers,” said Mike Wilson, Boeing vice president of Commercial Sales for Latin America and the Caribbean. “By introducing the 10th 737-8 to its fleet, Arajet reaches an important milestone as the airline further connects the Dominican Republic with the rest of the Americas.”
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