Vietjet resumes international services: Vietjet has resumed regular international flights connecting Vietnam’s major hubs with Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei, and others. Specifically, flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok are scheduled to depart every Friday. The service from Hanoi to Seoul (Incheon International Airport) is scheduled to depart on 15 April 2021. The flights from Hanoi to Tokyo (Narita International Airport) are scheduled to depart on various dates in April started on the 6th. The services from Hanoi to Taipei are scheduled to depart from 11 April. All services from Vietnam will only serve the passengers, who meet the immigration regulations of the arriving countries and territories. They are usually Vietnamese people studying, working or visiting relatives overseas and/or foreigners returning home from Vietnam. Passengers should actively seek detailed information at the embassies and diplomatic agencies of related countries to complete required procedures and papers to make the immigration process faster and more efficient on arrivals. The flights carrying passengers into Vietnam will continue to comply with the current regulations of the government of Vietnam, following the slots allocated by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.
Ansat Helicopter equipped with new winch: Kazan Helicopters has received approval from the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) to install an onboard hoist winch on the Ansat helicopter. The new option significantly expands the helicopter’s functionality, allowing it to safely lift and lower people and cargo weighing up to 272 kg. The onboard winch increases the efficiency of the helicopter in search and rescue operations and allows to carry out loading and unloading operations while hovering. It can be easily mounted and dismounted using quick couplings. While using the winch, it is still possible to access the engine compartment for servicing. Ansat is a light multipurpose twin-engine helicopter, serial production of which is deployed at Kazan Helicopters. According to the helicopter certificate, its design allows converting it into a cargo version or into a passenger rotorcraft that can lift up to seven people. In May 2015, the modification of the helicopter with a medical module was certified. Ansat is certified for use in the temperatures ranging between -45°С and +50°С, and in high mountains.
Leonardo awarded warning system contract at DFW: Leonardo, through its US subsidiary Selex ES, will provide Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport with its AeroBOSS Runway Incursion Warning System (RIWS), part of the company’s portfolio of airport surface management systems, surveillance, en route navigation and precision approach and landing systems. The AeroBOSS RIWS can alert drivers of vehicles to any potential hazards before they enter the runway area. By doing so, the technology will help prevent runway incursions, enhance coordination between ground vehicles and improve overall safety. The contract includes the supply of hardware and software as well as the integration of RIWS technology onto 500 vehicles. There are nearly 3,100 airports worldwide with commercial air carrier service, but only a small percentage have runway incursion prevention systems. AeroBOSS has been developed for Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and airports to improve safety in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The RIWS programme is expected to become a model for other airports. Selex ES Inc. is currently delivering the same world-class level of safety to more than 25 airports worldwide.
MNG Airlines invests in next-generation freighter: MNG Airlines has entered into a contract with Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), joint venture of ST Engineering and Airbus, for the Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversion of two Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The first A330 aircraft has been inducted for conversion on 1 April, while conversion for the second aircraft will commence in 2022. Conversions will be carried out at EFW’s facility in Dresden, Germany. With these two A330-300P2F conversion freighters, MNG Airlines will add further capacity to its network, complementing its current Airbus aircraft fleet of four converted A300-600RF and one factory-produced A330-200F. The A330-300P2F provides best-in-class versatility and about 23% more volume than its closest competitor B767-300ER. Depending on the weight variants, the conversion freighter can offer a gross payload of up to 63 tonnes per flight and a range capability of up to 3600nm. “We are excited to welcome MNG Airlines as a new A330P2F programme customer,” said Dr Andreas Sperl, CEO of EFW. “We look forward to a good working relationship with MNG Airlines and to supporting them strongly to meet the growing international and regional air freight demand.”
CASL and HK Express sign cabin deal: China Aircraft Services Limited (CASL) announced that it has signed a new cabin cleaning contract for the entire fleet of HK Express at Hong Kong International Airport. Starting from 2 April, CASL will provide cabin cleaning service to the airline’s Airbus 320 family fleet. CASL will also provide cabin disinfection, contributing its part to aviation’s continued success in ensuring flying safe for passengers, particularly during COVID-19. “The new agreement represents an enhancement of our relationship with our key local client, HK Express, upon our existing line and base maintenance services to the carrier. We thank the airline’s vote of trust during the pandemic and we strongly believe that this all-in-one service will result in smoother flight operations”, said Angus Cheung, CASL’s senior advisor to the chairman. “HK Express is committed to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our passengers and crew, especially during these uncertain times.” said Mandy Ng, CEO of HK Express. “On top of the stringent COVID-19 precaution measures we have implemented, with CASL’s experienced and dedicated cabin cleaning team, we are confident in sustaining high quality cabin conditions for our customers.”
Schiebel awarded new deal with EMSA: Schiebel has won another contract with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). Schiebel, with its CAMCOPTER S-100, is one of the service providers for EMSA’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) operations carrying out ship emission monitoring and general maritime surveillance for EU member states. The scope of the contract includes monitoring the sulphur content of ships’ emissions to ensure compliance with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) sulphur emission limits from sea going vessels, as well as maritime situational awareness for coastal authorities. This contract comes in addition to the one awarded in 2018 under which Schiebel provided EMSA and local authorities in Croatia and Finland with maritime surveillance services and which is still ongoing. The CAMCOPTER S-100 operates day and night and can carry multiple payloads with a combined weight of up to 50 kg. Due to its minimal footprint and size, it is ideally suited for maritime operations.
WINGX says business aviation back on track: Business aviation activity in March 2021 is up 30 percent on the same period in March 2020 and 8 percent down compared to March 2019, according to the latest report from WINGX. The year-on-year rebound reflects the relatively unlocked economies compared to the second half of March 2020, when lockdown policies had been enforced across most of the world. Despite the relative easing of restrictions, scheduled airline activity is still down by 18 percent compared to March 2020, and 44 percent less than ‘normality’ in March 2019. Global cargo activity is 17 percent up in March YOY, and 13 percent up on comparative 2019. Back in 2019, business aviation activity represented 14 percent of all fixed wing activity globally, whereas in March 2021 the share is 20 percent. Outside the US and Europe, the Asian region has seen the biggest YOY gains in March as these regions now mostly out of lockdown. Year to date, business jet activity in Asia is up 18 percent and Australia is up 11 percent. First 3-month trends in China, Nigeria, and the UAE are up by more than 70 percent. Business jet activity in Saudi Arabia is down 7 percent in sectors, down 32 percent in flight hours. Business jet arrivals in Turks and Caicos are up 32 percent this year. Flight activity in Mexico is trailing by 5 percent this year, by 25 percent out of top airport Toluca, but flights out of Cabo San Lucas are up 45 percent this year. Elsewhere, activity out of Al Maktoum airport is up almost three times this year vs 2020, and Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv has seen an additional 35 percent activity in business jet departures.
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
