Stratos adds executives to team: Stratos has announced the addition of two industry professionals to its team: Hongtao (Henry) Li as Head of Greater China on various strategic marketing initiatives and based in Hong Kong, and Kevin Moynihan as Lease Manager based in Shannon, Ireland. Li has accumulated over 20 years of experience with top OEMs and international airlines and most recently held the role of Sales Director at Airbus (China) covering aircraft sales and after sales services. Moynihan is a chartered accountant and most recently worked at Phoenix American Financial Services and was responsible for leading various activities in ABS deals. He began his career in KPMG Ireland where he worked on audits in the manufacturing and production industry.
Air New Zealand supports sustainably endorsed tourism: Air New Zealand has announced it will move to sell only activities and attractions awarded a Qualmark endorsement for their commitment to quality, safety and sustainability from 31 March 2022. The airline’s dedicated website, developed in partnership with Bookme, currently promotes over 465 Qualmark-endorsed New Zealand visitor activities with the ambition to increase that number as more businesses achieve a Qualmark award. To become a Qualmark-awarded activity, businesses are assessed on four key criteria: economic, social and people, environment and culture, and health and safety. Following the evaluation, a Qualmark business will receive a Bronze, Silver or Gold award based on their performance under the Sustainable Tourism Business Award Criteria. Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty says the pandemic has accelerated the airline’s commitment to becoming more sustainable and we are committed to supporting businesses that share the same goals.
Babcock Australasia aircrew duo awarded commendation: Two Babcock Australasia (Babcock) aircrew have been recognised for their recovery and first aid efforts to rescue a driver whose vehicle was driven into the Murray River in South Australia. Senior Base Pilot, Adam Richter, and Senior Base Aircrew Officer, Sam Fielder, were awarded the Commissioner’s Community Policing Commendation by South Australian Police (SAPOL) Deputy Commissioner, Linda Williams, at a ceremony at Babcock’s hangar at Adelaide Airport. During a SAPOL search operation near Bowhill in September, Babcock’s aircrew, together with two SAPOL Officers, recovered the driver after his vehicle went off a cliff into the river. As the first responders to the incident, Richter and Fielder provided immediate first aid before transporting the injured driver to a location where he could be treated by a SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) Special Operations Team Paramedic. They then transported the patient to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. SAPOL Officer in Charge Special Tasks and Rescue Group (STAR Group), Craig Wall, said the Babcock aircrew are well deserving of this recognition. “The Commissioners Community Policing Commendation is in recognition of outstanding commitment and professionalism in assisting police, as we saw from Adam and Sam in September,” Wall said. “We’re pleased to see the teamwork and high level of aviation ability and initiative which exists between SAPOL and Babcock, particularly when the safety of our community and police officers is at stake.”
RAS receives EASA Part 145 approval: RAS, an aircraft interior, exterior, and completions company based at the UK’s Biggin Hill airport, announced its receipt of EASA Part 145 approval. Since the UK’s departure from the European Union in December 2020, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are no longer a part of the European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA), with both entities controlling their own Part 145 systems. To continue serving its European client base, RAS – as a subsidiary of JETMS and an integral family member of the Avia Solutions Group – decided in 2020 to apply for EASA Part 145 approval to complement its existing UK CAA approvals. Approval was cleared on November 19th, 2021 following initial approval from the UK CAA on January 1st, 2021. Throughout 2021 the EASA had reviewed all of the documentation relevant to the Part 145 verification process before making its final approval. EASA Part 145 Approval is a company level certification to the European Commission Regulation (ECR) standards of design, production, maintenance and operation of aircraft components.
Vueling signs deal with CEFA Aviation: Vueling has chosen the leading flight visualisation software CEFA FAS to meet their flight safety needs and enhance pilot training. Spain’s full-service carrier continues to invest in its capability to ensure safe operations. CEFA FAS will allow the airline’s flight safety department to easily translate aircraft data into meaningful animation to analyse flights better. “Safety is naturally considered to be an absolute priority at Vueling. We are confident that by choosing CEFA FAS software, we have taken a big step to ensure we remain safe while continuing to develop our network,” said Captain Manuel Ortega, Head of Safety. Over the years, CEFA FAS software has become a must to any airline wanting to improve Safety. Among its many benefits, it supports crews to gain better familiarity with terrains. Especially in these critical times of reduced flying activity and skills erosion, flight animations produced by CEFA FAS can help mitigate unstable approaches at hotspots identified through FDM.
AJW Group buys A320 CFM56 engine, names new exec: AJW Group announced the successful purchase of a CFM56-5B engine for teardown to support its expanding engine inventory and engine management programmes. The associated high-quality engine parts will be stored at AJW Groups global facilities to support the needs of worldwide A320 family operators. Customers will benefit from access to AJW’s pool of high-quality spare parts to support their ongoing operations. The company also announced it has named Tony Whitty as director of Aircraft and Engine Procurement. Whitty, who joined the business on 29 November 2021, will be responsible for aircraft and engine acquisitions across the AJW Group. Whitty will use his extensive and diverse experience in aircraft remarketing for airlines, banks and other aircraft owners to assist AJW Group in its aircraft and engine trading business.
Cathay Pacific opts for HBO Max: Cathay Pacific is premiering the HBO Max branded channel in Asia for the first time, becoming the first airline in Asia Pacific to introduce HBO Max Originals to its seatback inflight entertainment (IFE) experience. Hong Kong’s home airline will debut the HBO Max brand starting 1 January 2022, bringing more than 200 hours of content in the first three months to every seat. The HBO Max library includes award-winning recent hits such as the first three seasons of Succession, as well as The White Lotus, The Undoing and Mare of Easttown, along with original series such as Friends: The Reunion, Hacks, Gossip Girl (2021) and The Flight Attendant, along with all-time classics including Sex and the City, The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, Band of Brothers and much more.
Inmarsat’s GX Aviation certified by FAA: Inmarsat announced that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved and certified an advanced, next-generation terminal that will optimise further the performance of its market-leading GX Aviation inflight broadband solution. The recently awarded Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) authorises the powerful new Falcon 300 terminal to be installed on Boeing 737 aircraft, marking a significant milestone for the lightweight, low-drag solution. Developed with GDC Advanced Technology, a leader in engineering and technical services, modifications and electronic systems, the terminal includes GDC’s dual modem manager (MODMAN), with components by Kontron, together with a proven, reliable flat panel antenna by ThinKom. The certification was obtained under GDC’s Organization Designation Authorisation (ODA) programme from its facility in Fort Worth, Texas. STCs for additional aircraft types are now underway, in addition to linefit plans for Boeing and Airbus airframes, reinforcing Falcon 300’s suitability for a wide range of fleets.
Tamarack Aerospace Group tests SMARTWING: The King Air 350 being flight tested across the US joins the King Air 200 modification on its evaluation journey, both featuring Tamarack patented load alleviation capabilities identified as the most dramatic sustainable technology available today in aviation. Military and civilian customers alike are showing great interest in Tamarack’s latest King Air modification. Tamarack’s King Air 350 Performance SMARTWING prototype joins the King Air 200 which has already been modified on a national performance evaluation tour. Both airframes are the military versions of the patented sustainability supporting Tamarack Active Winglet load alleviation technology. The King Air 350 is in the initial flight evaluation phase to gather baseline data that will be compared to the predicted increased capabilities of the aircraft once the Performance SMARTWING modification is installed.
Travelport signs multiple deals: Travelport announced it has reached a commercial agreement with Air France-KLM to enable the distribution of the airline group’s NDC content via Travelport+, Travelport’s next-generation content distribution and travel retailing platform. Agents that sign an access agreement with Air France-KLM will be able to access its NDC content and services through Travelport+ in an integrated agent workflow: via the agency point-of-sale Smartpoint, or through modern and lightweight API connections. Travelport also announced it has signed agreements with British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling. By channelling its NDC content through the next-generation Travelport+ platform, IAG will be able to offer travel retailers a wider range of content – including Additional Price Points and an expanded selection of ancillary products – while taking advantage of modern digital retailing tools such as intelligent storefronts to merchandise them effectively.
Skye Aviation orders additional eFlyer 800s: Bye Aerospace announced that Skye Aviation, LLC, an aircraft leasing company featuring all-electric airplanes, has completed purchase deposits for two additional eFlyer 800 aircraft and paid option agreements for three additional eFlyer 800s. Bye Aerospace announced the eFlyer 800 programme earlier in 2021 in response to growing demands for all-electric regional business airplanes with five-fold reduced operating costs compared to legacy turboprops, high speed and altitude, plus increased capacity and utility. The eight seat eFlyer 800 twin turbo-prop category also has a best-in-class 65-inch-wide cabin for business transportation. A higher density 12-seat configuration is being studied for commuter operators, while an increase in motor rating to balance aircraft and payload weight increases is also being considered.
J&C Aero becomes Honeywell Aerospace’s authorised STC partner: J&C Aero, an international aviation design and production company, has received a new EASA Aircraft Model List STC that enables the company to install and produce installation kits for Honeywell Aerospace’s portable RESCU 406SG Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). The company also became Honeywell’s authorised ELT engineering STC provider. The latest approval (EASA STC #10077419) enables J&C Aero engineers to produce installation kits for and install the ELT both in the cockpit and cabin. The approval covers widebody Airbus A330/340/350/380, as well as narrow- and widebody Boeing (737/747/757/767/777/787) aircraft types. In addition, with the receipt of the new AML STC, J&C Aero becomes an Authorised STC Partner of Honeywell Aerospace, eligible to provide ELT-related engineering support to other maintenance organisations and airlines worldwide.
Air Works rebrands: Air Works, India’s largest independent MRO and aviation services major, has unveiled its new identity with a refreshed brand logo. Celebrating its 71-year-old legacy as the dominant player in the Indian Aviation, Aerospace and Defense space with a resilient and adaptive attitude, the brand’s logo signifies an identity that is bold solid, bold, confident, and contemporary. The invigorated identity expresses Air Works’ strengths and values but retains its versatility to the core. The logo change comes after more than a decade, as the company is readying to don a bold new avatar that doesn’t just emphasise its values and industry acclaimed workmanship, but also conveys its market-leading position, at the global level, via strong, assertive colors. As the Indian aviation and aerospace industry leapfrogs into a higher trajectory with burgeoning users both on the civil and defence side, Air Works with its new brand identity is well-placed to cash in from these emerging opportunities.
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