Online aviation training start-up Aeroclass gets seed funding: Aviation e-learning platform Aeroclass has attracted US$1.2 million in seed funding from AeroCity Tech Ventures, a venture capital investing in aviation technologies. According to the company’s CEO and co-founder, Lukas Rasciauskas, Aeroclass aims to revolutionise the aviation training industry by offering aeronautical professionals high-quality training on a convenient, ‘any time, any place’ platform. “The global pandemic has highlighted a long-standing problem with aviation training. The previously rigid sector was for the longest time in need of someone to come and shake the market from the ground up. That’s why we are here.”
Liebherr gets exclusive Lineage 1000 deal: Liebherr-Aerospace has been selected by Embraer as its exclusive provider of landing gear overhaul services for the whole Lineage 1000 fleet for the next 10 years. The overhauls will be performed at Liebherr-Aerospace’s OEM facility in Lindenberg (Germany). The Embraer Lineage 1000 is an ultra-large private jet based on the successful E190 commercial aircraft platform. After its entry-into-service, in 2009, Embraer launched a new variant, the Lineage 1000E, in 2013, and today the aircraft is operated all over the world. The complete landing gear system for the Lineage 1000 has been developed, manufactured and certified by the OEM Liebherr-Aerospace in Lindenberg (Germany), Liebherr’s centre of competence for flight controls, actuation, landing gear systems, gears, gearboxes as well as electronics.
LATAM Airlines to upgrade A320 family: LATAM Airlines is to upgrade their A320 Family fleet with Airbus’ “Descent Profile Optimisation” (DPO) function – a fuel-saving enhancement to the aircraft’s on-board Flight Management System (FMS) performance database. This upgrade will be performed on over 200 of their A320 family fleet, becoming the biggest Airbus fleet equipped with this powerful fuel saving solution. All the equipment kits required for the installation of the DPO performance software on LATAM’s A320 family fleet will start to be delivered from the end of 2021 until early 2022. The DPO function allows aircraft to descend from cruise altitude using only idle engine thrust, which reduces fuel consumption, bringing proportional CO2 and NOx (nitrogen oxide emissions) reductions. To further enhance the fuel reduction DPO maximises the time spent at efficient cruise level -by not starting the descent too early- and subsequently minimising the amount of time spent at an inefficient ‘level-off’ stage at the bottom of the descent –when the aircraft’s engines generate thrust to maintain level flight in dense air prior to final landing approach.
CPaT wins deal with Itapemirim: CPaT Global announced it has been awarded a new contract by Itapemirim Transportes Aereos (Itapemirim) for the provision of Aircraft Systems courses, and CPaT’s General Subjects library for initial and recurrent training on the Airbus A320. “CPaT is pleased to have won this award with Itapemirim, a start-up airline in Brazil,” said Capt. Greg Darrow, CPaT’s vice president of Sales. “This award demonstrates CPaT’s reputation in South America, as the leading provider for aviation training distance learning in the region.” Itapemirim was founded in 2020, and flies to 13 Brazilian cities. By Dec. 2021, the airline will be present in 15 destinations across Brazil and have 10 aircraft in its fleet.
Baines Simmons and Redline secure new contracts: Air Partner, the global aviation services group, is seeing momentum build in its Safety & Security division, with both Baines Simmons and Redline continuing to secure new business wins. Aviation safety and fatigue risk management consultancy Baines Simmons has been awarded a contract by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), the UK’s largest ferry operator in terms of ships and destinations served, to implement a “Just Culture” programme to build on its excellent safety record, ensuring open and honest safety reporting and increased staff engagement. Redline, a leading provider of global security solutions, has won a new contract with London Gatwick Airport and agreed a 12-month contract extension with Manchester Airports Group, both for the provision of a quality assurance covert testing programme.
Indra wins deal for European air nav network: Europe’s leading air navigation body, EUROCONTROL, has selected Indra for the digital transformation of the operational systems of the EUROCONTROL Network Manager. EUROCONTROL, in its capacity as the Network Manager, designated by the European Commission, cooperates closely with air navigation service providers (ANSPS), airports, airlines and the military across 43 states. Indra’s digitalization of EUROCONTROL’s operational systems will facilitate a more accurate flight operation planning, which will increase punctuality and security, enhance the ability to manage more air traffic in Europe and increase the sustainability of air traffic. Ignacio Mataix, Chief Executive Officer of Indra, states: “The combination of Indra’s dimensions with our worldwide leadership and experience in the development of the most cutting-edge Air Traffic systems, together with our unique ability to create a multidisciplinary team of specialists that respond to all aspects of the project, has played a key role in placing Indra in a unique position to meet this challenge.”
EmbraerX, Pyka partner on agriculture drones: EmbraerX and Pyka, an Oakland-based start-up working at the forefront of autonomous aviation, announced a partnership to accelerate the future of autonomous aerial agriculture operations. The collaboration is focused on technology, certification, operations, and future commercialisation of Pyka’s Pelican, a 100 percent electric and autonomous fixed-wing agricultural aircraft. By using agile experimentation processes, the companies will work together to accelerate the entry of Pyka’s best-in-class autonomous solutions into service in the precision agriculture sector. EmbraerX is committed to exploring disruptive products and services that could revolutionize the business, including new market segments for Embraer’s agriculture aviation business. Both companies will pursue opportunities to scale commercial services as autonomous aircraft operations in Brazil evolve in the coming years. Pyka’s Pelican is already flying for customers in Central America, aiming for a high level of productivity, cost-efficiency, safety and sustainability.
Gazprom Neft, Aeroflot join forces: Gazprom Neft has entered into a partnership with Aeroflot to produce Russia’s first ever minimum-carbon-footprint sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The partnership between Gazprom Neft and Aeroflot will lead to the development of aviation-fuel formulations that comply with international requirements on limiting greenhouse gas emissions and the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) CORSIA environmental programme. The new aviation fuel will be adapted for use on various types of aircraft, and will be certified under Russian and international aviation safety standards. A working group on developing Russian SAF is also expected to include Russian and international aircraft manufacturers.
For Editorial Inquiries Contact:
Editor Matt Driskill at matt.driskill@asianaviation.com
For Advertising Inquiries Contact:
Head of Sales Kay Rolland at kay.rolland@asianaviation.com
