Siemens, SITA team up on Kansas City systems: Siemens and SITA are providing the Kansas City Aviation Department with future-proof, scalable technologies for the Kansas City International (MCI) Airport’s New Terminal project, dubbed Build KCI. The new 1 million sq ft, 39-gate terminal will include a variety of building automation, fire and life safety systems, and security systems from Siemens as well as IT networks and next-generation airport systems from SITA. These solutions will help create a smart airport terminal that can grow with the aviation department’s long-term needs, decrease operation and maintenance costs and enhance the passenger experience through automation. Important to the project is the need for a seamless transition from the construction to the operation phase, delivered through integrated life safety and emergency communications systems, a virtualised IT network and agile passenger touchpoints. In addition, the airport wanted to implement interactive technology that could be easily understood by airport staff, while also deploying next-generation passenger touchpoints such as touchless kiosks, flight information display systems and video walls that provide a more intuitive journey through the new terminal. Siemens is using its Desigo CC platform to integrate airport and facility systems with a converged network. Access control, video surveillance, distributed antenna, airport common use systems, multi-user flight information displays, IpTV, VoIP, and various other building automation, fire, life safety, and security systems will be incorporated. Fire alarm, public address, and digital displays will be integrated with the Desigo CC mass notification system. The Desigo CC platform will, in turn, be integrated with the airport asset management platform.
Honeywell, Lufthansa Technik sign LEAP MRO agreement: Honeywell and Lufthansa Technik have signed an extensive collaboration agreement for the maintenance of Honeywell components installed on CFM International’s LEAP series engines which are used in Airbus A320neo Family, Boeing 737 MAX and COMAC C919 aircraft. Under this agreement, Lufthansa Technik will develop Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities for the Honeywell components. The company will be able to offer improved and OEM-certified aftermarket services, with increased component reliability and reduced operator life-cycle costs. Lufthansa Technik and Honeywell have enjoyed a long standing, collaborative relationship including Lufthansa Technik as the licensed component repair centre and exclusive global asset provider for all Honeywell products on Airbus A350 aircraft. Moreover, Lufthansa Technik brings a new level of predictive health management expertise to airlines, with the inclusion of Honeywell Forge analytics on Lufthansa Technik’s AVIATAR platform.
Rex, Flight Centre reach new deal: Rex announced it has signed an agreement with the Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) which has significantly extended the airline’s consumer reach and commercial footprint in the aviation industry. The deal is the latest of several new contracts negotiated over recent months by the airline and aligns Rex with one of the world’s largest travel retailers and corporate travel managers. The preferred partnership agreement with FLT enables the company to sell and promote Rex to its large leisure and corporate travel customer-base throughout Australia and around the world. “This will give consumers even greater access to both our national, regional and domestic networks and will further enhance our brand awareness,” Rex Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM, said. “It also means we will be in an even stronger position once lockdowns are lifted and borders re-open to capture more of the pent-up demand from travellers keen to fly again.” Rex’s domestic jet network currently encompasses four capital cities – Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra, plus the Gold Coast – while also covering 61 regional and remote centres throughout Australia.”
ADAC Luftrettung takes delivery of five-bladed H145s: ADAC Luftrettung, one of Europe’s biggest Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operators, has taken delivery of its first two five-bladed H145s. Furthermore, the German HEMS operator will upgrade its current fleet of 14 four-bladed H145s to the five-bladed rotor system. ADAC Luftrettung operates more than 50 Airbus helicopters from their 37 stations throughout Germany. In June, an ADAC H145 was the first HEMS helicopter to fly with sustainable aviation fuel. “By investing in new aircraft alongside the upgrade of our existing H145 fleet, we are focusing on state-of-the-art flight technology for rescue missions. This benefits people in need and our crews alike and improves our emergency medical care in the air for the long term. In this way, we will continue to ensure patient and flight safety, which are our top priorities, at the very highest level in the future,” said Frédéric Bruder, managing director of ADAC Luftrettung. The new version of Airbus’ best-selling H145 light twin-engine helicopter was unveiled at Heli-Expo 2019 in Atlanta. This latest upgrade adds a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission H145, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150 kg. The simplicity of the new bearingless main rotor design will also ease maintenance operations, further improving the benchmark serviceability and reliability of the H145, while improving ride comfort for both passengers and crew. The helicopter’s high-mounted tail boom and wide opening clam-shell doors facilitate access to the H145’s spacious cabin. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class.
ALSIM sells AL250 simulator to GoldWings Flight Academy: ALSIM announced the sale of an AL250 to GoldWings Flight Academy based in Warsaw and Krakow, Poland. The AL250 simulator addresses initial phase training needs (PPL, CPL, IR/ME) and is SEP/MEP re-configurable simulator certified as an EASA FNPT II. In addition, it offers both classic and glass cockpit instrumentation for each flight model at the simple flick of a switch. This device has been extremely well received since its creation and more than 75 of these have already been installed and are in successful operation worldwide. GoldWings Flight Academy is an air training organisation in Poland, operating a modern fleet of aircraft equipped with the newest avionics available on the market. Working all year round in two bases. Warsaw and Kraków, providing 5 stars quality flight training from zero to airline pilot + 500 hours on option.
APOC heads to Miami: Alongside the recent announcement that APOC is trebling the size of its European facility to meet the expansion of its narrowbody inventory and consignment programme, the company announced that it has opened a new stock hub in Miami. This is the second part of its on-going strategic plan to expand its global footprint, and it follows the launch of its Singapore base last November. Karim Grinate, Vice President – Operations at APOC, confirms that its comprehensive stock of modern A320 family and 737NG components will provide local markets with faster access to their growing spares inventory. “The US is a key market for APOC and because domestic and international operators’ have emerged swiftly from the air traffic problems caused by COVID, we see demand increasing at a faster rate than other global sectors. We can offer the most desirable units and manage logistics with overnight truck deliveries. This avoids expensive airfreight, and possible complications at customs. Having the Miami base means APOC can offer a better service. Importantly however, Miami is the traditional gateway for the Caribbean, LATAM and South America, so we can reach those customers more effectively too.”
Airbus celebrates 1,000th aircraft covered by FHS: flyadeal, the low-cost Jeddah-based airline owned by Saudi Arabian Airlines, signed a long-term Flight Hour Services (FHS) agreement to support its A320 fleet. The agreement includes the 1,000th aircraft supported by Airbus Flight Hour Services. The carrier will benefit from integrated material services including spare pool access, on-site-stock at the main base and components engineering and repairs. Through the FHS contract, Airbus will guarantee spare parts availability, contributing to securing aircraft technical performance. Airbus has finalised 11 Flight Hour Services contracts with operators worldwide over the last six months. The latest contract agreements demonstrate the continued interest in Airbus’s integrated maintenance service, proving more relevant than ever in post-crisis times when airlines need to carefully monitor their costs and contain investments.
P7 Aviation expands in UAE: P7 Aviation announced it is developing a four-bay simulator training centre expansion in the United Arab Emirates and is extending its training offering to include simulator pilot training solutions in the United Kingdom. This expansion follows the recent investment P7 Aviation made in a Boeing 747 Full Flight Simulator which joined its Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 Full Flight Simulator training capabilities in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Additionally, P7 Aviation announced its expanded training location capacity in being able to provide Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 Full Flight Simulator training solutions to airlines and individuals through its location in London, United Kingdom. The group’s infrastructure will now be able to offer airlines and individuals pilot training courses on the following aircraft types; Airbus A320, Boeing B737NG, Boeing B737 Classic and Boeing B747. The devices are all EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) approved and used by a wide range of airlines, airline pilots and commercial pilot license holders.