Aviation News in Brief 19 Nov 2019

Collins Aerospace lands first India-based ARINC PaxLink contract with FlyBig: FlyBig, an India-based airline start-up, has selected Collins Aerospace’s ARINC PaxLink Passenger Services System (PSS) to help streamline its airline and travel operations. With the addition of PaxLink, FlyBig will have the ability to manage reservations, inventory, distribution and departure control with one integrated cloud-based system. Implementation is set to begin before the end of the year and FlyBig should be operational with PaxLink by the first quarter of 2020. FlyBig is an India-based regional commuter airline. Lockheed Martin LM-100J freighter gets FAA Type Certificate update: The civil-certified version of the military C-130J Super Hercules made by Lockheed Martin, the LM-100J. received its type design update certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 15 November. This particular FAA certification allows the LM-100J to operate from any commercial airfield in the world. In 2014, Lockheed Martin announced it would update its existing FAA A1SO type certificate for its Model L-382J aircraft to be marketed as the LM-100J, a civil-certified production variant of the military proven C-130J Super Hercules. The LM-100J is the modernised version of the Lockheed Martin L-100 freighter (Lockheed Model 382). Through select design changes, the LM-100J performs as a civil multi-purpose aircraft capable of rapid and efficient cargo transport and select specialised mission requirements. Emirates and GE Aviation expand digital partnership: GE Aviation and Emirates are working together toward adoption of GE’s electronic Flight Operations Quality Assurance (eFOQA) and Flight Pulse among the Emirates pilot community. The proposed project plans to start with Emirates fleet of B777 and A380 aircraft and Emirates pilots. Emirates and GE Aviation intend for FlightPulse and eFOQA to be implemented into Emirates operations in 2020. FlightPulse is a mobile app that uses aircraft data and smart analytics to enable pilots to access their own flying metrics and trends. GE’s FOQA analytics service is an online solution for airline flight data monitoring/FOQA programs. The core offering provides data ingestion, processing analytics, and has options for expanded data sources, analytics editing, and data exporting/integration with systems. Leonardo signs several deals at Dubai: Leonardo announced several deals it has signed at the Dubai Airshow. It said that Petroleum Air Services of Egypt will add a sixth AW139 intermediate twin helicopter to its fleet by year end. The aircraft will be used to perform offshore transport operations in Egypt. Leonardo also said it has signed contracts with Abu Dhabi Aviation for five helicopters including three intermediate AW139s and two light-intermediate AW169s. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2020. The agreement, which represents ADA’s first order for the AW169 helicopters, will expand ADA’s fleet of Leonardo helicopters which already incorporates 16 intermediate AW139 helicopters, primarily supporting the oil and gas industry. L3Harris awarded training contract: L3Harris was awarded a contract with the Prince Sultan Aviation Academy, the training arm of Saudi Arabian Airlines, to provide a new A320 Reality Seven Full Flight Simulator and Enhanced Flat Panel Trainer. They are scheduled to be delivered and installed at the PSAA training centre in Jeddah in mid-2020. Egyptair and GE Aviation sign MOU: Egyptair and GE Aviation signed an MOU at the Dubai Airshow for support of its CFM56-7B MRO  efforts. Under the MOU, GE Aviation will provide guidance to help improve the efficiency of Egyptair’s CFM56-7B overhaul processes. Egyptair operates 70 aircraft with about half powered by GE and CFM56 engines. Gold Coast Airport extends deal with SITA: Gold Coast Airport has extended its partnership with SITA for passenger and baggage technology until 2024. The agreement continues the airport’s relationship with SITA, which has been in place for more than 10 years. Gold Coast Airport uses SITA AirportConnect Open with self-service bag drop and check-in kiosks.