AAV News in Brief 19 July 2021

Deutsche Aircraft progresses on D328ecoTM landing gear: As a key milestone within the D328ecoTM aircraft development programme, Deutsche Aircraft announced it has successfully concluded the first series of tests at the facilities of the Germany-based partner Heggemann on the new landing gear, currently in development to be fitted onto the D328ecoTM aircraft. The landing gear development programme has now officially entered into the detail design phase. As part of the development programme, Heggemann is building three testbeds for systems engineering bench tests as well as evaluation on first prototypes for the D328ecoTM. Heggemann will provide the complete landing gear structures and systems of both main- and nose landing gear. This new landing gear will allow the D328ecoTM to inherit the robustness of its predecessor D328, and will increase operational capabilities towards the higher aircraft operational weight. Furthermore, the new landing gears will support unpaved runway operation, on a variety of rough surfaces such as grass, gravel, ice and sand. ALSIM ALX for Liberty University: ALSIM Simulators announced the sale of an ALX to Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA. This will be Liberty’s first ALSIM simulator. Liberty opted for all available flight models in the ALSIM ALX, which starts with a single engine piston close to a Cessna 172 and reconfigures to a medium jet similar to an Airbus 320.The ALX has many advanced features including complex overhead, dual FMS and ALSIM’s new visual system. The versatile device provides a wide range of flight training services from a student pilot’s first flight with an analogue flight deck to the more advanced jet orientation training. The ALX is ALSIM’s best-selling device to date with more than 100 installed worldwide. Liberty owns and operates over 25+ aircraft primarily Cessna 172, and Piper Seminoles. Two years ago Liberty moved into a world class simulator facility that provides exceptional training environment with over 19 certified training devices including four Level 5 FTDs. Liberty also has a nationwide network of 90+ affiliate flight schools that enable aspiring pilots to pursue an online Bachelor of Science in Aviation degree while completing their flight training at an approved Flight Training Affiliate (FTA) located near their place of residence. iTEC Alliance launches iTEC OneSky: The iTEC Alliance has launched iTEC OneSky, the next step in cooperation and development of its highly advanced air traffic management system to respond to the challenges faced by aviation as it looks to recover from the impact of covid-19 and play its role in tackling climate change. Developed by some of the world’s most advanced Air Navigation Service Providers and technology partner, Indra, iTEC OneSky will incorporate a range of new technologies that will enhance the safety and efficiency of air traffic management. iTEC OneSky will be a new version derived from the current iTEC system, which is deployed in some of Europe’s largest area control centres such Karlsruhe in Germany and Prestwick in the UK and has recently come into operation in Vilnius area control centre in Lithuania. The system will support customer aims to fly in a more sustainable way and will help mitigate an increasing cyber threat to service provision. Antonov Airlines carriers medical supplies: Antonov Airlines has safely transported medical supplies at short notice from Germany to Namibia on the world’s largest aircraft, the AN-225 “Mriya”. The mission was executed under the Strategic Airlift International Solution (SALIS) programme. The AN-225, which has recently returned to commercial operation took off from its home base at Kyiv-Antonov, Ukraine and flew to Liepzig-Halle airport, Germany to load the cargo destined for Windhoek, Namibia with one refuelling and rest stop in Accra, Ghana. AN-225 has the biggest aircraft cargo cabin and is the best option to accommodate the greatest volume of humanitarian cargoes. The medical and humanitarian cargo, provided by German Military Medical Command, was a mixture of masks, anti-viral gowns, medicines, and other personal protective equipment (PPE), transported on behalf of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence at the request of the Namibian government. Antonov Airlines frequently transports humanitarian aid on its AN-225 and fleet of seven AN-124-100s to rapidly support emergency services and governments by carrying volumes of cargo that cannot be matched by other aircraft. SITA acquires Safety Line: SITA announced the acquisition of Safety Line S.A.S., the Paris-based start-up specialising in digital solutions for aviation safety and efficiency. This acquisition will strengthen SITA’s Digital Day of Operations portfolio, helping airlines drive more efficiencies and fuel savings around the aircraft while taking immediate and sustainable steps to reduce their carbon footprint. With air transport accounting for about 3 percent of the worldwide carbon emissions, there is growing pressure on airlines to reduce their overall emissions. At the same time the COVID-19 pandemic requires airlines to make their aircraft operations leaner, in particular reducing costly fuel burn. Safety Line has successfully applied predictive analytics to deliver significant improvements to aircraft operations, strongly complementing SITA’s existing portfolio. With this acquisition, SITA will accelerate the development of sustainable solutions that can be integrated with its existing suite of airline and airport solutions. Cessna Citation Longitude achieves EASA certification: Textron Aviation announced its flagship Cessna Citation Longitude super-midsize business jet achieved certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), clearing the way for customer deliveries to begin in the region. The largest jet in the Cessna Citation line-up, the Longitude was designed with business and return on investment at the forefront, with the lowest direct operating cost of any super-midsize jet. Capable of flying from Geneva to Dubai or Rome to New Delhi, the Longitude offers class-leading comfort, the quietest cabin in class, and advanced connectivity for those focused on staying productive in the air. As a clean-sheet aircraft, the Longitude was designed with innovation front of mind, and a cabin experience shaped around customer input and a broad range of mission capabilities. ThinKom unveils new Q/V-band phased-array antennas: ThinKom Solutions announced the  development of a new phased-array user terminal specifically designed for operation in the higher millimeter-wave (MMW) frequency bands for evolving next-generation communication satellites. The new low-profile antenna, based on ThinKom’s patented VICTS (Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub) technology, will operate in the Q- and V-band frequencies (37.5-42.5 GHz and 47.2-51.4 GHz). These bands have been designated for adoption by major satellite operators in low-, medium-, geostationary and highly elliptical orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO and HEO). Similar Q-band MMW antennas have already been built and on-satellite tested by ThinKom for Q-band aeronautical and ground-mobile use. ThinKom’s full-duplex terminal is 75 cm square and less than 10 cm in height, weighing less than 23 Kg and requiring less than 100 watts of prime power; yet providing the same functionality as two separate 50-cm diameter stabilized parabolic dish antenna radome enclosures. Kambr, Navitaire partner on LCC revenue management: Kambr and Navitaire, an Amadeus company, have announced a partnership to help low-cost carriers (LCCs) accelerate revenue opportunities leveraging real-time data by enhancing the existing integration of Kambr’s Eddy revenue management (RM) system and Navitaire’s New Skies digital reservations and retailing solution. Both companies bring deep experience working with LCCs that recognize the value of tight integration to deliver greater efficiency and speed to market. Navitaire has more than 60 LCCs that rely on its digital sales, advanced retailing, and ancillary revenue generation and optimization capabilities – key elements of an LCC’s value proposition. LCCs favour Kambr and its Eddy RM system for its intuitive, efficient workflows and easy integration with a wide variety of data sources and data science practices. Kambr’s and Navitaire’s strengths are a natural fit, especially for supporting fast-growing LCCs. Cleartrip signs deal with Sabre: Cleartrip has signed a multi-year deal with Sabre that will see Sabre become Cleartrip’s global distribution system (GDS) partner and is part of the OTA’s strategy to streamline its GDS relationships. Focusing on advanced technology to spur growth, Cleartrip will be able to create compelling booking experiences for customers and provide an enhanced level of expertise to help people travel again. One key feature of Sabre’s technology will be its Bargain Finder Max API, which will help Cleartrip create customised booking experiences for travellers by tailoring search results for the most relevant fares based on a range of itinerary preferences. “This is an important partnership for Cleartrip, and we are excited by the prospects of this collaboration,” said Amit Taneja, chief commercial officer. “Our mission at Cleartrip is to make travel simple for our customers by leveraging best-in-class products and technologies. This mission is even more relevant as the travel recovery plays out in our key regions. Sabre is well positioned to deliver us next-generation technology, and this will be an essential component in providing a superior customer experience as our key regions revive.” TOPCAST signs distribution agreement with CROUZET: Topcast Aviation Supplies announced that it has extended its long-term agreement with CROUZET. Under the new agreement, TOPCAST is an official distributor for all CROUZET components, including switches & position sensors, electrical protection and cockpit controls, to offer globally. TOPCAST has been the aircraft components distributor in support of CROUZET’s business growth since 2001. Over the years of partnerships, its territory development expanded from 10 Asia-Pacific countries/regions to global distribution in the immediate future. The company is committed to providing reliable and high-quality aviation supplies and MRO services to strengthen mutual business growth. Ethiopian Airlines Group awards deal to OEMServices: Ethiopian Airlines group has signed a multi-year large component support agreement with OEMServices, for the airlines’ A350 fleet. With the support of major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), Overservices’ Original Integrated Services will cover the Pool Access, 24/7 from its Dubai facility, Engineering and Repair Services fleet of Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Under the scope of this contract, OEMServices will be supporting Ethiopian Airlines’ 24 Airbus A350-900, of which currently 16 are in service and 8 on-order to be delivered, backed by its unique long-term in-depth know-how of the aviation industry’s supply chain. OEMServices will extend its existing pool in Dubai to cover A350 aircraft components and to service current and future Middle East & African customers. flyadeal receives all new Airbus A320neo: flyadeal, the low-cost Jeddah-based airline owned by Saudi Arabian Airlines, has taken delivery of a new A320neo, the first out of 30 to be delivered in the next three years. The aircraft is the first out of 65 A320neo family aircraft ordered by Saudi Arabian Airline at the Paris Airshow 2019, and will join flyadeal’s all Airbus fleet. Powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, the A320neo will offer flyadeal outstanding operational, economic and environmental performance. flyadeal’s A320neo is configured with 186 seats in a comfortable all Economy Class layout. Passengers onboard the aircraft will benefit from the widest cabin of any single-aisle aircraft in the sky, as well as the latest cabin feature offering optimum passenger comfort. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]