Aviation News in Brief 7 September 2020

Mi-171A2 certified in South Korea: The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has validated the type certificate of Mi-171A2 helicopter, serially produced at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant of the Russian Helicopters. Validation of Mi-171A2 certificate confirms the compliance of design with local flight safety requirements and authorizes its use in the Republic of Korea. The first foreign operator of the Mi-171A2 was the Republic of Kazakhstan. In addition, its certificate has been validated by the aviation authorities of India and Colombia. Its validation is also planned in China, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and several other countries. Its modern, high performance VK-2500 engines give Mi-171A2 fundamentally new possibilities for operation in high-mountain and high-temperature regions. Due to its more efficient X-shaped tail rotor, a new main rotor with all-composite blades, and improved aerodynamic profile, the cruise and maximum speeds of Mi-171A2 helicopter are 10 percent higher and its load capacity is 25 percent greater than those of serial Mi-8/17 helicopters. The Mi-171A2 comes with a modern digital “glass cockpit” avionics suite which allows to reduce its crew to two persons. Video cameras provide a better view during external load operations. Its flight safety is improved by modern terrain awareness and warning systems, airborne and obstacle collision avoidance systems. Depending on the operator needs, Mi-171A2 helicopter can perform search and rescue missions, medical and cargo operations, fight fires or carry passengers in daylight and during night, and at temperatures from -50°C to + 50°C. Vietjet starts self-handling ground operations amid the pandemic: Vietjet ha started its own ground operations at the Noi Bai International Airport in the capital Hanoi, becoming the first ever private carrier to set up its own ground-handling arm in Vietnam.  The move aims to improve the airline’s service quality, independently and flexibly adjust its own flight schedule to meet seasonal flight operations, especially in peak season, and effectively manage its operation costs. “The launch of Vietjet ground services in Hanoi is one of the milestones of Vietjet’s strategic development to optimise our cost-reducing opportunities while enhancing ground handling service quality and facilitating more sources of revenue,” said Vietjet Vice President Nguyen Thanh Son. Additionally, in preparation for the bounce back of the aviation market post-pandemic, Vietjet has developed plans for various new e-commerce products, which will be released soon. Airbus Canada transfers A220 material management services to Satair: Airbus Canada has officially transferred the overall A220 material management services offer to Satair, as part of the programme integration into Airbus. Since July, Satair, an Airbus services company, has taken the lead on global material support and services for A220 operators, working in close coordination with the A220 programme team in Airbus Canada. The transfer represents a key milestone for Airbus and a significant step in the overall further integration of the A220 programme. “All A220 customers will benefit from the same level of service and global network offered by Satair on all other Airbus platforms”, said Rob Dewar, senior vice president, A220 Customer Services, Customer Satisfaction and Product Policy. “This is a significant contributor to improving the overall satisfaction of our growing A220 customer base worldwide.” The A220 material management services transition to Satair started officially on 1 July. Overall Satair is now in charge of a wide range of value-adding activities including planning & inventory; purchasing; quality inspection; certification; warehousing & distribution; customer order handling; 24/7 AOG handling; initial provisioning and tool lease. Cirrus Aircraft, Garmin announced Safe Return: Cirrus Aircraft and Garmin International announced Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of the Cirrus Vision Jet Safe Return system, which uses Garmin’s autoland technology that allows passengers to land the Vision Jet with the touch of a button. With Safe Return and the Collier Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), the Vision Jet provides the most comprehensive, must-have total safety solution in general aviation. The Safe Return activation button is purposefully located on the cabin’s ceiling for easy access by passengers in the Vision Jet cabin and can be activated, if needed, within minutes of the aircraft’s take-off. Once activated by the touch of a button, Safe Return assumes control of the aircraft and transforms the Vision Jet into an autonomous vehicle that navigates to the nearest suitable airport for landing, communicates with air traffic control, lands and brings the aircraft safely to a complete stop, allowing passengers to exit the aircraft. This revolutionary system is powered by the Cirrus Perspective+ by Garmin flight deck, which uses all available aircraft data to calculate a flight plan, avoid terrain and weather, initiate China Airlines to increase pax services for North America, Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea: China Airlines is continuing to assess travel demand as well as national border restrictions and quarantine policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting from September, passenger services will resume for northeast Asian routes such as Osaka, Fukuoka and Nagoya. More flights will also be added to Tokyo (NRT) and Seoul (ICN) routes. In October, flight frequency will be increased for Southeast Asian destinations including Bangkok, Singapore, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Manila, Phnom Penh and Yangon. Daily passenger services will also operate on the Taipei (Taoyuan)-Jakarta route. On North American routes, flight frequency is being increased in response to travel demand for Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver and New York. On European routes, services will be available for Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and London (LHR). Passenger services are available for Oceania routes such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. Flights on routes such as Hong Kong, Shanghai (PVG), Beijing, Xiamen and Chengdu are also available. Virgin Australia creditors approved buyout: Creditors of insolvent carrier Virgin Australia have backed a US$2.6 billion buyout offer from US private equity firm Bain Capital that will keep the airline running and help them recover part of the debts they are owed. The Australian airline’s administrators said a creditors’ meeting had accepted the deeds of the company arrangement formalising the sale to Bain for A$3.5 billion dollars. The approval had been expected after the union representing the bulk of Virgin’s workers threw its support behind the proposal to revive the stricken carrier. The transaction will wipe out Virgin’s existing shareholders, which include Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and HNA Group and Nanshan Group from China. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]