Aviation News in Brief 2 Dec 2019

Perth Airport chooses Amadeus: Perth Airport has committed to an extensive upgrade of its passenger handling systems with applications from Amadeus and ICM Airport Technics (an Amadeus company). The agreement sees Perth build on its use of Amadeus’ cloud-based passenger handling platform, which has been in operation since 2015. The new upgrades will allow the airport to scale services up and down to match peaks and troughs in demand. Automation is at the heart of Perth’s passenger experience strategy with the introduction of ICM’s Hybrid Auto Bag Drop units and check-in kiosks, along with ICM’s common use self-service platform. The hybrid functionality means passengers can check-in and drop their bags independently, or the same units can be switched to full-service mode and staffed for conventional check-in. This provides both airlines and travellers at Perth with the flexibility they need to ensure a smooth journey for everyone, whether they are frequent fliers or occasional holiday-makers. Amadeus Passenger Verification will be installed, allowing validation of a passenger’s permissions to go airside using their boarding pass, making this step of the passenger journey quicker and easier. Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown remarked: “The passenger experience is paramount and with new automated technologies we can serve more passengers to a higher standard, supporting the growth of our airport. The expansion of cloud-enabled technology at Perth Airport will significantly improve the passenger handling process. Our airline partners can also expect continuous improvements from the integrated technology.” Mi-171A2 helicopter certified in India and Colombia: The Mi-171A2 helicopter has been certified in India and Colombia. It allows Russian Helicopters (part of Rostec State Corporation) to start exporting the latest modification of the multirole civilian helicopter. The Civil Aviation Department of India confirmed that the standard design of Mi-171A2 complied with Indian civilian aviation requirements (CAR). The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation had previously approved a type certificate for VK-2500PS-03 helicopter turboshaft engine installed in Mi-171A2 helicopters for JSC “UEC-Klimov”. The validated Mi-171A2 type certificate was also issued by the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics of Colombia (UAEAC). The decision of the Colombian authorities gives Russian Helicopters an opportunity to supply machines of this type to Colombia. New Zealand training for Saudi Arabian air traffic control graduates: A group of 25 Saudi Arabian students have graduated from an air traffic control (ATC) training programme provided by Airways International Ltd, following two years of studies in New Zealand. Their graduation marked the students’ successful completion of a two-year scholarship provided by the Ministry of Education and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia, for the training of air traffic controllers for Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS). Airways has been training Saudi Arabian students at its ATC training facility in Palmerston North since 2010. This is the sixth group of students to train with Airways in New Zealand, bringing the total number of students to 170 since 2010. Another group of Saudi Arabian students will complete their training in New Zealand in April 2020. The scholarship gave the students a unique opportunity to live and study in New Zealand on their journey to become certified air traffic controllers. The students spent the first 12 months studying English at Kaplan International College and Auckland University of Technology, and then completed a 12-month ATC training programme with Airways in Palmerston North. ST Engineering’s aerospace arm secures MRO deal with Japan Transocean Air: ST Engineering announced that its aerospace arm, has secured a 15-year engine Maintenance-By-the-Hour (MBHTM) contract from Japan Transocean Air. Under the agreement, ST Engineering will provide an integrated suite of engine MRO solutions that include off-wing maintenance support, on-wing services and technical support to the airline’s Boeing 737NG fleet. These services will be provided over a period of 15 years starting from 2020 at the Group’s engine MRO facilities in Singapore. Japan Transocean Air is a subsidiary of the Japan Airlines Group, which ST Engineering has been a longstanding partner of in MRO solutions, from integrated component services for their Boeing 737-800 fleet to airframe maintenance for their Boeing 737NG fleet. VietJet announces new routes connecting to Seoul: VietJet has announced the operation plans of routes that connect some of Vietnam’s large tourism and fast economy growing destinations, including Da Lat, Can Tho, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc with Seoul. The announcement, attended by Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea Hong Nam-Ki and senior leaders from both the South Korean and Vietnamese governments, took place during the Vietnam – South Korea Business Forum in November. By connecting Seoul with Dalat in the Central Highlands, Can Tho in the Mekong Delta in Southwest Vietnam, Nha Trang on the south central coast of Vietnam and Phu Quoc, known as Vietnam’s “Pearl Island”, VietJet’s routes will boost tourism and trade as well as cultural exchanges between these two countries while also helping to forge even closer links between South Korea and all of ASEAN, one of the world’s fastest growing economic blocks. According to the announced plan, the Seoul (Incheon) – Can Tho route will operate three return flights per week, Seoul (Incheon) – Da Lat route will fly four return flights per week, each with a flying time of more than five hours per leg, starting from January, 2020. The two current routes linking Seoul (Incheon) to Nha Trang and Phu Quoc will also increase the frequency to meet the high demand of passengers. Airbus celebrates the 100th A220 aircraft produced: Airbus has celebrated the 100th A220 aircraft produced for a customer during a ceremony at the aircraft programme’s headquarters in Mirabel, Canada. The aircraft, an A220-300, destined for Riga, Latvia-based airBaltic, features a brand new and comfortable cabin layout with 149 seats plus a modernised livery. The A220 family is assembled at Airbus’ main Final Assembly Line in Mirabel and more recently, also at the programme’s second assembly line in Mobile, Alabama. The world’s first A220 (formerly called the C Series) was delivered in June 2016 to A220-100 launch operator SWISS. A319neo and P&W engines receive EASA certification for A320 family: The A319neo with PW1100G engines received its EASA Type Certification. This completes the programme of Type Certifications across the full A320neo family, comprising: A320neo, A321neo and A319neo – each with P&W PW1100G and CFM LEAP-1A engine options. After having flown with CFM engines initially, the A319neo flight-test aircraft, MSN6464, first flew with P&W engines on 25 April 2019. Thus far the aircraft has flown around 240 flight hours / 90 flights with the P&W engines. A319neo Type Certificate comes after the certification of A319neo with CFM engines on 14th December 2018, and the certification of the corporate version ACJ319neo on 9 July 2019. As of today in total, there are 83 A319neo orders and commitments, with further sales campaigns ongoing. After the delivery of two ACJ319neo aircraft in 2019, the deliveries of the airline version will start in 2020. For airlines the A319 can accommodate up to 160 passengers and can operate from short runways and high airport altitudes; while in a corporate jet configuration it can fly long range missions of up to 6,750nm.