A Swiss-Austrian consortium will test large-area laser scanning applications in the Swiss Alps, using innovative drones. The partners are Dufour Aerospace, RIEGL, BSF Swissphoto and the SLF, who will collaborate for a series of test flights over several months. There is growing interest among various private and public stakeholders in high-resolution, up-to-date and cost-effective data, parti...
Leonardo and Bristow Group announced a framework agreement including firm orders for 10 AW189 super medium helicopters plus 10 options. Bristow is currently operating 21 AW189 helicopters globally with another five due off the assembly line in 2024. The new framework agreement covers a fleet expansion plan for the 2025-2028 period. Bristow uses the AW189 in its Offshore Energy Services business li...
The global fleet of just under 250 PC-21 training aircraft recently set a historic milestone with a total of over 500,000 successful hours in the air. Experience with current PC-21 customers shows that the state-of-the-art Pilatus training system can help reduce the cost of training future pilots by over 50 percent. Ioannis Papachristofilou, recently appointed VP Government Aviation at Pi...
Global investors are anticipating the first commercial passenger routes of eVTOL aircraft to be operational in the next few years as the Future Air Mobility market continues to advance rapidly, according to new global research from New Horizon Aircraft. Its global study with senior executives at leading investment firms in Japan, the US, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Asi...
VIP Completions unveiled the interior of a completely refurbished Boeing Business Jet. This particular aircraft offers exceptional levels of luxury, comfort, personalized décor and the conveniences of latest-generation technologies. It seats and comfortably sleeps 12 passengers. VIP Completions team has extensively refurbished six BBJs, two Boeing 757s, a Boeing 767 and a Boe...
Saudi Arabia THC has signed a historic framework agreement with Airbus, including up to 120 Airbus helicopters of various types set to be delivered over the next five to seven years. Part of the deal is a firm order for eight H125 along with 10 H145 that are converted options from an earlier contract, bringing THC’s total firm Airbus helicopter fleet to 60, 25 of whi...
Safran Aircraft Engines will create a new foundry works in Rennes, Brittany, to manufacture turbine blades for its major engine programs: the M88 in the defense sector and the CFM International LEAP in commercial aviation.These activities will be grouped together in a new entity called Safran Turbine Airfoils, located at the heart of the La Janais industrial excellence cluster in Rennes,...
Sikorsky unveiled its plan to build, test and fly a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing demonstrator with a tilt-wing configuration. The design is the first in a series of large, next generation VTOL aircraft — ranging from more traditional helicopters to winged configurations — which will feature varying degrees of electrification, and an advanced autonomy system fo...
AFI KLM E&M and Bonza reached an argeement for component support for growing Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet. The support defined by AFI KLM E&M covers a broad scope tailored to Bonza's requirements, including repair services, pool access and the provision of a Main Base Kit (MBK), as well as logistical and AOG support for airframe and LEAP-1B engine LRU’s. It will be manag...
First Aviation Services is excited to announce the addition of main rotor blade repair capabilities for the AS350/H130 model aircraft. Historically, First Aviation and its subsidiary Aviation Blade Services, are best known for being the largest independent Sikorsky rotor blade MRO with a major presence in the Black Hawk market covering hundreds of parts. To expand main rotor blade repair...
AutoFlight presented the world first inter-city electric air-taxi demonstration flight between the southern Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai. AutoFlight five-seater Prosperity eVTOL aircraft completed a significant milestone by autonomously flying the 50km (31 miles) route from Shenzhen to Zhuhai. The flight from Shenzhen to Zhuhai across the Pearl River Del...
Elixir Aircraft has finalized its capital financing of 40 million euros over the next five years. The financing was completed by raising funds from several investors, including Innovacom, Bpifrance and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region. These funds will be allocated to the construction of a new factory in La Rochelle, as well as to the recruitment of personnel to expedite delivery rates. The airc...
