AAV News in Brief 04 August 2025

IFA Academy adds ALSIM AL250 simulator: IFA Academy has chosen ALSIM to enhance its pilot training with the addition of the AL250 simulator at its Viseu base in Portugal. The AL250 simulator addresses the initial phase of training needs (PPL, CPL, IR/ME) and is a SEP/MEP reconfigurable simulator certified as an EASA FNPT II. In addition, it offers both classic and glass cockpits for each flight model at the simple flick of a switch. This device has been extremely well received since its creation, and more than 100 units have already been installed and are in successful operation worldwide. This simulator will deliver a fully immersive and highly realistic experience, replicating the flight characteristics of three aircraft types: the Cessna 172, Piper PA28R Arrow, and Piper PA44. Its flexibility in offering both analog and EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System) cockpit configurations will also allow our students to seamlessly adapt to diverse flight scenarios and operational standards. EPCOR and Riyadh Air sign deal for APS5000 support: EPCOR, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M), has signed a long-term agreement with Saudi Arabia’s new airline, Riyadh Air for the full maintenance and support of APS5000 Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) powering Riyadh Air’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The agreement establishes a long-term contract that reflects strong trust and technical alignment between the two parties. The deal includes comprehensive APU services designed to ensure optimal fleet availability and long-term operational efficiency for Riyadh Air. Under this agreement, EPCOR will provide Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, and Modification services, as well as APS5000 availability, On-wing Support and Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) coverage plus advanced Predictive Maintenance services of Prognos for APU. The support package was designed through close collaboration between engineering and commercial teams from both companies, resulting in a customized, end-to-end maintenance solution. The agreement provides long-term reliability for Riyadh Air in line with their expansion plans. Diehl Aviation breaks grown on new Romanian facility: Diehl Aviation officially broke ground on July 30 for its new production facility in Craiova, located in the Dolj region of Romania. This expansion is a key part of the company’s strategy to strengthen its manufacturing footprint and meet growing demand in the aviation industry. The facility will primarily produce products and components for commercial passenger aircraft, ensuring reliable deliveries as production rates continue to rise. Craiova was selected for its strategic advantages: The Dolj region offers excellent infrastructure, including direct access to major highways and Craiova International Airport, enabling efficient logistics and seamless connectivity to suppliers and customers. The region is also known for its strong availability of skilled professionals, supporting high-quality production standards. As an EU member, Romania provides political stability, economic security, and strong market integration. Competitive operating costs combined with a modern, business-friendly environment create an ideal setting for sustainable growth. LOT Polish Airlines receives first Recaro seats for 737 MAX 8: Star Alliance member LOT Polish Airlines has received its first shipment of RECARO Aircraft Seating products, which will be installed on both its Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Airbus A220 aircraft. The initial set was manufactured at RECARO’s facility in Świebodzin and will be fitted into one of the 13 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft that are set to join the Polish carrier’s fleet by the end of 2026. In total, LOT will take delivery of about 14,000 modern, ergonomic seats – with passenger comfort as a top priority. The new RECARO R2 seats combine lightweight construction with advanced ergonomics and high functionality. Each seat features a dedicated 60W power outlet for fast charging of electronic devices, as well as a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) holder for easy use of a tablet or smartphone. For extra comfort, the seats are equipped with six-way adjustable headrests, extended armrests, contoured backrests with comfort-enhancing foam, and lightweight sliding tray tables. The new seats are part of LOT Polish Airlines’ broader initiative to modernise its aircraft cabins. The interiors of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet will be completely redesigned, drawing inspiration from LOT Polish Airlines’ Polonez business lounges in Warsaw and Chicago. The goal is to create a unified look across the entire fleet, aligning the new design with the cabin style of the Boeing 787 Dreamliners – which are also set for a comprehensive interior upgrade. This retrofit will take passenger comfort to an even higher level across all classes of service. SITA revenue grows in 2024: With global IT spend in air transport soaring to an estimated $37 billion in 2024, the race is on to modernise fast. As infrastructure strains under rising passenger numbers, the focus is firmly on smarter systems, seamless journeys, and sustainable operations. Announcing SITA’s results at the company’s recent Annual General Assembly, SITA CEO David Lavorel said: “With air traffic set to grow 7% between 2025-2027, infrastructure will continue to be stretched. At the same time, travelers are expecting more convenience than ever, and regulatory pressure is rising. But the opportunities to do things better through transformation are huge. Our role is to deliver the travel tech the industry needs for new levels of efficiency in the flow of passengers, the movement of aircraft, and the fluidity of operations.” SITA’s 8.3% revenue growth to US$1.6 billion in 2024 is driven by strong performance across its Airports, Borders, and Aircraft businesses, and all four of its geographies. Strategic acquisitions and product innovations fuelled this momentum, allowing customers to transform quickly and operate with greater agility. The newly released SITA Group Impact Report 2024 shows how SITA is helping airports, airlines, and governments respond by delivering smart, data-driven technologies to keep passengers, baggage, and operations flowing smoothly and sustainably. A key milestone in the year was SITA’s acquisition of Materna IPS, expanding its ability to deliver fast, self-service passenger journeys through the industry’s most powerful passenger processing portfolio. SITA also acquired ASISTIM, adding centralized airline operations control services, and launched SmartSea, bringing the company’s travel tech expertise into cruise and rail. Its most recent acquisition is Italian airport design experts CCM, to create future-ready travel spaces, planning for optimum passenger flow and baggage handling in the early stages of airport and terminal design. Thales Joins the Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS) Programme: Thales is extending its ‘STEM for ALL’ programme to Singapore, the first launch outside Europe, with its dedicated mission to advance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education among youth. In its inaugural intake, four nominated scholars will undertake engineering or research roles in strategic sectors including air traffic management, public security, cybersecurity and digital identity, working within Thales businesses and research labs like the Thales Digital Factory. With engineers comprising one-third of Thales Singapore’s 2,000+ employees, the Group has a strong interest in promoting STEM education and growing the next generation of engineering talent. On 29 July, Thales was proud to join SgIS as a Sponsorship Organisation at its launch event and to present awards to the scholars, aligning with the government’s mandate to develop young talent in Singapore’s strategic sectors. Established in 2012, SgIS is an initiative which partners government and industries to nurture a strong core of Singaporean talent in 16 strategic industries which include Aerospace & Aviation and Engineering. It is the only government-led, multi-industry scholarship under the Ministry of Education which provides talented Singaporean students access to close to 150 Sponsoring Organisations, giving them development opportunities as they further their studies and begin their professional careers. Porter Airlines adopts flydocs products: flydocs has signed a three-year software deal with Porter Airlines, the third-largest airline in Canada, as its first Lifecycle Asset Management (LAM) customer in the Americas. flydocs will also fully digitise all aircraft records with its market-leading Digital Records Management (DRM) software, across its growing fleet that currently stands at 75 aircraft. By integrating both DRM and LAM, flydocs will not only enhance Porter Airlines’ operational efficiency and fleet management capabilities but also gain real-time visibility of its assets to meet lease return conditions. This consolidated view of fleet-wide lease return events can support Porter Airlines in aligning asset management strategies with engineering priorities and making smarter decisions on maintenance planning, cost avoidance and reducing risk during aircraft transitions, supported by predictive analytics and scenario modelling. In collaboration with flydocs’ Digital Tech Ops Ecosystem partner AMOS, the leading maintenance and engineering (M&E) software developed by Swiss Aviation-Software Ltd., flydocs will ensure a seamless interface between the airlines’ flydocs and AMOS environments to support digital aircraft compliance on demand and embrace a fully paperless approach to its records and asset management. 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