50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

World aircraft news

aircraft related aviation news

Etihad adds weekly services to Philippines

Etihad Airways will add three new weekly services between Abu Dhabi and Manila from 1 May 2016, offering a total of 17 return flights per week.  Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said the new services would enable Etihad Airways to offer guests more choice when travelling between the Philippines and the UAE. “The Abu Dhabi-Manila route is on...

Finnair to add additional seats to its Airbus narrow body fleet

Finnair has announced this plan to add extra seats to its Airbus narrow body fleet: Due to a growing need for feeder traffic capacity, Finnair has decided to improve the space efficiency of its current Airbus narrow-body fleet, operating mainly on its European routes. According to the plan, seats will be added to the aircraft primarily without changing the leg space available to the passenger,...

Russian government agrees to bail out UTair Airline

The Russian government is stepping in to support UTair Airline with Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev signing a resolution guaranteeing RUB9.5 billion ($138.6 million) to help secure loans. UTair faced financial difficulties in 2014 due to economic changes and a decrease in passenger demand. It reported a 2014 net loss of RUB61.66 billion ($1.09 billion). In February 2015, it was announced...

Op-Ed: Amazon Prime Air – Attack of the Drones?

This is an Amazon Prime Air delivery vehicle, it has a range of fifteen miles: (Photo Credits: Amazon) But, because it has Jeremy Clarkson as its spokesman, I don’t care. I use Amazon all the time. After all, I lead an esoteric life of hermitage, I hate brick and mortar stores, I order incredibly hard-to-find books on Russian aviation and local traffic terrifies me. ...

Royal Saudi Air Force to acquire 30 An-178 transports

Saudi Arabia has tentatively signed for 30 examples of the developmental Antonov An-178 tactical transport, in a deal that could eventually see the Kingdom producing the aircraft locally. Detailed in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Antonov and Saudi company Taqnia Aeronautics, the deal will see the partners deliver the aircraft to the Royal Saudi Air Force. It further builds on t...

Lufthansa trials UAV at Frankfurt

Lufthansa has flight-tested an unmanned air vehicle at Frankfurt airport as the airline plans to employ the technology for aerial surveillance purposes for third-party customers. Together with airport operator Fraport and German air navigation service provider DFS, Lufthansa has tested a remote-controlled, camera-equipped UAV around runway 07L/25R, northwest of the...

Second Bell 525 joins test campaign with three following in 2016

Bell Helicopter’s first 525 “Relentless” commercial helicopter now has a companion on the test and certification campaignwith Flight Test Vehicle-2 (FTV-2) joining the programme last week, the company confirms. The company says it remains on track to achieve certification of the 9.1t super-medium-class helicopter in 2017, with three more developmental 525s coming online i...

New appointment for easyJet

easyJet has appointed Jacky Simmonds as Group People Director and that she will join the airline on 4 January 2016. Prior to this appointment Jacky was TUI Group’s Global Human Resources Director, having worked for TUI for fifteen years. She is also a non-Executive Director of Wolseley PLC where she is Chair of the Remuneration Committee. Jacky will succeed Alita Benson who has been the a...

Introducing AirCorps Aviation Reverse Engineering

AirCorps Aviation is redefining WWII Aircraft Restoration & Maintenance to allow aircraft built in the 20th Century to fly through the 21st Century.  The renowned Bemidji, MN based vintage aviation company, has introduced a new service for its clients called AirCorps Aviation Reverse Engineering  which uses state-of-the-art technology that allows for accurate scans of parts, both big...

U.S.-Cuba aviation deal allows 110 scheduled flights a day

The United States and Cuba have struck a deal to allow as many as 110 regular airline flights a day, allowing a surge of American travel to Cuba that could eventually flood the island with hundreds of thousands more U.S. visitors a year, officials said Thursday on the anniversary of detente between the Cold War foes. The deal reached Wednesday night after three days of talks in Washington opens...

Congress Passes Key Funding Bill That Aids Aviation

Aviation trade groups are applauding Congress for passing a $2 trillion package of tax policy changes and funding for 2016 that will aid the aviation industry. The legislation includes key funding for general-aviation manufacturers in safety, certification and alternative fuels for piston-engine aircraft and other measures. The bill also makes an R&D tax credit permanent, and it extends...

Irish aviation firm ASL lands €100m funding deal

Irish aviation services provider ASL Aviation has reached an agreement to access $110m (€101.5m) in funding to help fuel its expansion plans. Two banks are providing the credit facility. French financial services company BNP Paribas will make $60m available, while Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking are pledging $50m. ASL chief financial officer Mark O'Kelly said that the agreement is a...