AAV News in Brief 21 July 2024

Etihad welcomes new MRO trainees: Etihad Engineering welcomed the first batch of aircraft maintenance trainees from Vision Concept Aviation Training Institute (VCATI) who graduated after completing their Aircraft Maintenance On the Job Experience (OJE) Programme. Etihad Engineering’s collaboration with VCATI is part of the company’s long-standing commitment to develop and nurture the next generation of aviation professionals by imparting valuable hands-on industry experience to young students at its state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Abu Dhabi. The OJE programme is managed by Etihad Engineering Technical Training, the onsite training facility of the company which trains more than 10,000 aviation professionals through more than 600 courses every year. The OJE programme with VCATI was launched in December 2022 with the induction of the first batch of aviation students, and more batches have arrived at the facility since the first induction. Indra signs deal to US airports: Indra will supply Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) systems for the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the civil aviation authority that manages the country’s air traffic. The FAA has approved Indra’s SAI solution, called AeroBOSS, to improve air traffic control situational awareness and reduce the risk of runway incursions that have increased globally in recent years. This solution can be delivered to over 250 FAA staffed air traffic control towers and to any of the approximately 200 additional airports managed through the FAA’s Federal Contract Tower program that request it. The FAA has included Indra’s SAI technology on its Qualified Product List (QPL) for its acquisition and deployment at US airports. This innovative solution uses ADS-B surveillance technology to receive data on the aircraft’s position and satellite connections and 5G networks to transmit it and report surface aircraft movements to air traffic controllers. The system contributes to comprehensive airport safety management and reduces the risk of surface incidents. Indra has successfully completed the initial deployment of its SAI system at Dallas Love Field Airport, in Texas. This technology will enhance automatic surface monitoring through the ADS-B surveillance system and cloud connectivity, while it is also characterized by its rapid deployment and implementation capabilities. Finnair unveils new Schengen Lounge in Helsinki: Finnair has revealed its new Schengen Lounge in Helsinki Airport, designed to bring unparalleled comfort and convenience to customers. The new lounge has been crafted based on customer feedback and inspired by Finnair’s Nordic design language and comforting colour scheme. It follows the same palette and design introduced to the airline’s non-Schengen lounges, first unveiled at Helsinki Airport in 2019. The new lounge’s design, led by Studio Joanna Laajisto, captures the essence of the Nordics with wooden textures, soft forms, and warm colours. Adding a touch of local craftsmanship to the setting, the furniture has also been sourced from renowned Nordic designers, such as Artek, Nikari, and Gubi. With seating for up to 440 customers, the newly designed Schengen lounge is set to leave customers feeling runway ready, with unparalleled views of Helsinki Airport. Based on customer feedback, the lounge will also feature an exclusive Platinum Corner for Finnair Plus Platinum and Platinum Lumo members to enjoy. Dnata wins new contracts: Dnata secured a multi-year contract with Azul Airlines at Orlando International Airport (MCO) in the USA. Dnata will provide its safe and reliable ramp services to the Brazilian carrier, which operates a twice-daily service between Aeroporto Internacional de Recife-Guararapes (REC) and Orlando. dnata’s dedicated team will contribute to a quality travel experience for 175,000 passengers on Azul Airline’s over 600 annual flights. Including Azul Airlines, dnata now provides ground handling services to three airlines in Orlando with a team of 150 aviation professionals, who ensure the safe and timely operations of over 12,000 flights a year. Dnata also said it has been awarded a multi-year contract by British Airways at Newark International Airport (EWR) in the USA. The new contract expands the two parties’ long-standing partnership which now covers five cities, including Boston, Dallas, Houston, Nashville and Newark, in the USA. Boeing delivers rocket stage to NASA: Boeing has provided NASA with the second core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Built at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF), the core stage is designed to send the Artemis II crew to lunar orbit for the first time in 50 years. The Boeing-built rocket stage, which is the largest component of the Artemis II mission, will be loaded onto the Pegasus barge and transported 900 miles to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Once there, it will be integrated with the other Artemis II components, including the upper stage, solid rocket boosters, and NASA’s Orion spacecraft inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. This integration is a crucial step in preparation for the Artemis II launch, scheduled for 2025. The delivery of Core Stage 2 signifies a major achievement in the development of the SLS rocket. This core stage, measuring over 200 feet tall and powered by four RS-25 engines, alongside two solid-fueled booster rockets, will provide the 8.8 million pounds of necessary thrust to propel Artemis II and future missions into space. ARTEX GADSS distress tracking solution gets approved: ARTEX announced that its new flagship product, the ARTEX ELT-DT Distress Tracking (DT) ELT, is the first ELT-DT to receive TSO C142b (DO-227A) approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A separate TSO for both the battery and the ELT-DT System are required for full FAA certification. The ARTEX ELT-DT, also known as the ACR Electronics ELT 5000, forms part of an aircraft system that is designed to meet the new Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System regulatory requirements, including distress tracking capabilities that enable search and rescue teams to swiftly locate aircraft in emergency situations that will be available on Boeing and Embraer aircraft in 2024. In addition to its compliance with TSO C142b, the ARTEX ELT 5000 is finalising its certification to FAA TSO C126c, which is expected soon. HyPrSpace conducts first test of its hybrid rocket: HyPrSpace recently announced the success of the first bench test of its engine at DGA Missile Tests on its site in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles (Gironde). This test marks a crucial step in validating its patented hybrid propulsion technology and demonstrates the successful transition from their theoretical models to full-scale applications. The tests of the Terminator engine aimed to verify that the propulsion technology developed by HyPrSpace, supported by the General Directorate of Armament (DGA) and the Defense Innovation Agency, achieves the predictive performance of their theoretical models. This success also validates the transition from a prototype to a full-scale operational version, experimentally confirming the reliability and efficiency of the technology. At the same time, HyPrSpace has acquired key skills in the operability of a rocket engine using cryogenic fuel, ensuring safe and efficient future launches. The internally developed data acquisition system has also been validated, ensuring its proper functioning and performance in real conditions. The next development steps will focus on integrating the liquid oxygen (LOX) tank into the engine, adding a thrust vector control (TVC) system, and conducting tests simulating real space flight conditions. These successive iterations will bring HyPrSpace closer to finalising an engine ready for the suborbital mission planned for 2026. Alaska Airlines taps Fox TMS for training: Alaska Airlines, one of the largest airlines in North America, has chosen Fox TMS to streamline and optimise its AQP Program along with resource management, scheduling optimization, qualification management, and performance evaluation processes. One of the key highlights is the extensive system utilization by Alaska and Horizon pilots and cabin crew, empowering them with user-friendly interfaces and advanced functionalities to streamline their tasks and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. “We are honoured to be selected by Alaska to support their AQP program and related operations,” said Yuval Sive, VP of Sales at Qualtero. “Our solution is tailored to meet the specific needs of airlines like Alaska, providing them with a comprehensive platform to manage their qualifications, resources, and performance effectively. We look forward to our partnership with Alaska to drive operational excellence and innovation.” Eurowings introduced AVIATAR’s Electronic Technical Logbook: Eurowings Technik is the first CAMO organisation in the Lufthansa Group to complete the introduction of the AVIATAR Electronic Technical Logbook (eTLB) for the entire fleet of Eurowings’ flight operations. As a result, paper-based processes in the cockpit, such as the documentation of pre-flight checks and the recording of technical defects by the cockpit crew on forms, which had to be entered manually and therefore with a time delay into various systems, are now redundant. By connecting to AMOS, the maintenance and engineering software used by Eurowings Technik, the digital logbook solution enables communication between crew and maintenance in nearly real time and provides information on the technical condition of the respective aircraft. New train approved for LAX: The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved an agreement that sets a construction completion date of December 8, 2025, for Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) Automated People Mover (APM) train. The train will begin full operations in January 2026. It will be available to ticketed passengers, their guests and airport employees for free, and is expected to carry 30 million passengers a year, resulting in an estimated 42 million fewer vehicle miles annually. LAX’s train will operate 24/7, with trains arriving at stations every 2 minutes during peak hours (from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.). Running on 2.25 miles of elevated guideway, it will connect to six stations: three inside the Central Terminal Area, one at LAX’s Economy Parking facility, one connecting to Metro’s LAX/Metro Transit Center station (with transfers to the C and K lines) and one at LAX’s Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility. Total end-to-end travel time will be 10 minutes with a top speed of 47 miles per hour. Second ALSIM AL250 for Executive Compass Flight Institute: The Canadian flying school, Executive Compass Flight Institute, has renewed its confidence in ALSIM by purchasing its second AL250 simulator. The AL250 simulator addresses initial phase training needs (PPL, CPL, IR/ME) and is SEP/MEP re–configurable simulator certified as an EASA FNPT II. In addition, it offers both classic and glass cockpit 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 of these have already been installed and are in successful operation worldwide. Mark Gibbons, Executive Compass Flight Institute’s Chief Flight Instructor, states: “Choosing the AL250 simulator for our flight school provides training benefits that align strongly with our goal of delivering comprehensive and advanced pilot training across our Private Pilot Licence, Commercial Pilot Licence, Multi Engine and Instrument Rating Programs. The AL250 is known for its high fidelity and realistic flight simulation, which is crucial for effective pilot training. Its state-of-the-art technology mimics real-world flying conditions and aircraft responses, allowing our students to experience and learn from near-authentic scenarios – whether it’s flying VFR as a Private Pilot Student or IFR in a Multi Engine for your Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC). Its user-friendly interface also ensures that our instructors and students maximize their training time without needing extensive background on simulator systems. This accessibility helps both our new and advanced students to focus more on mastering piloting skills rather than navigating complex simulator software.” AAR reports record fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 results: AAR reported fourth quarter fiscal year 2024 consolidated sales of $656.5 million and income from continuing operations of $9.1 million, or $0.26 per diluted share. For the fourth quarter of the prior year, the company reported sales of $553.3 million and income from continuing operations of $23.2 million, or $0.66 per diluted share. Our adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024 were $0.88, compared to $0.83 in the fourth quarter of the prior year. Consolidated fourth quarter sales increased 19% over the prior year quarter. Consolidated sales to commercial customers increased 20% over the prior year quarter, primarily due to the acquisition of the Product Support business and strong demand for our new parts distribution activities. Sales to government customers increased 15% primarily due to increased order volume for our new parts distribution activities and improved performance across our government program activities. Sales to commercial customers were 70% of consolidated sales, compared to 69% in the prior year quarter. BOC Aviation signs largest club loan: BOC Aviation announced that it has closed a self-arranged club loan transaction with 25 banks globally totalling US$2.3 billion. The five-year transaction is the largest the Company has signed to date, exceeding the US$1.375 billion club loan that the Company signed in October 2023. The transaction comprises four facilities provided by banks globally to BOC Aviation and BOC Aviation (Ireland). DBS Bank Ltd. acted as the Global Coordinator and Documentation Agent with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Singapore Branch, acting as Facility Agent for all four facilities. The proceeds will be used for general working capital purposes, capital expenditure and refinancing of existing debts. “We are grateful to have a strong panel of banking partners, which has supported our largest club loan transaction. The transaction, which closed at highly competitive pricing levels, provides us with additional resources as we expand our modern aircraft portfolio,” said Wu Jianguang, Chief Financial Officer, BOC Aviation. Vallair signs MOU with Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority: Vallair, the multi-disciplinary MRO and mature aircraft asset specialist, and the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate in fields of aeronautical training, aircraft maintenance, aircraft disassembly, and workforce training & development. The agreement has identified the global requirement for qualified airworthiness, maintenance and teardown personnel, and consider the economic opportunities at secondary airports in Cameroon to establish these activities. In addition, Vallair will be welcoming two students from Cameroon in September who are both studying to achieve a Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance & Recycling (CAMRA). These students have already graduated and will continue their advanced training at Vallair. The CAMRA diploma is the result of a partnership between the CCAA, via its training school, and the University of Yaoundé 1, via the National Advanced School of Engineering. It is designed to meet the aviation industry and authorities’ need for high-level aviation managers responsible for aircraft maintenance, continuing airworthiness management, and the management of end-of-life aircraft in compliance with safety & environmental protection standards and recommended practices. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]