GAMA wrapped up its latest board of directors meeting on October 24, naming its next slate of officers and paving the way for further expansion of the association with a new associate member category for electric and hybrid propulsion aircraft. The new 2016 board will be led by Duncan Aviation president and CEO Aaron Hilkemann as chairman. Hilkemann, who has been vice chair,...
A new business jet forecast released today by industry analyst Brian Foley predicts the delivery of 8,594 business jets worth $238 billion over the next decade. While the number of units is increasing, Foley expects the mix to contain less costly light and midsize jets and fewer more expensive large-cabin aircraft, meaning that values could decrease or remain flat at best. “Common se...
Governors in Alabama and West Virginia, and political leaders of 20 cities and counties, are the latest to announce or restate their support for business aviation. In Alabama, Gov. Robert Bentley declared October 2015 as "General Aviation Appreciation Month, noting, "The general aviation industry in Alabama contributes $800 million in first round impacts to the state’s econo...
Asia-Pacific airlines saw an overall passenger growth of 6% in September year-over-year, but lackluster numbers from the regional cargo sector, according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). AAPA associate airlines carried 22 million international passengers in September 2015, an RPM growth of 7.4%. AAPA said the figures reflect “broad support on both short- and long-haul r...
Emirates and Alaska Airlines have announced today a new codeshare agreement which will see it market more than 300 daily Alaska Airlines flights, pending US government approval. According to a mailed statement, the agreement will allow customers to purchase connecting flights on both carriers under a single reservation system with reciprocal lounge access and priority services fo...
In a further consolidation move in the French helicopter operator industry, the HBG holding company has taken over the Loc'Héli group and is thus claiming the largest fleet in the country, with a combined 117 aircraft. HBG is adding three companies to its portfolio—Hélicoptères de France and HDF Maintenance in full ownership, as well as...
Boeing has completed the power-on milestone for the first 737 Max 8 as the re-engined and updated single-aisle aircraft is pieced together on a new assembly line in Renton, Washington. The power-on milestone activated a modernised cockpit featuring four 787-style multi-function displays supplied by Rockwell Collins. The 737 Max electrical s system was adapted to support the improved cockpit...
Blackstone and MB Aerospace (MBAe) announced that private equity funds managed by Blackstone have agreed to acquire MBAe, a leading Tier I engine component manufacturer and repair business, from Arlington Capital Partners. MB Aerospace has facilities across the U.S., U.K., and Poland. The company has a well-balanced manufacturing model providing complex machined and fabricated assemblies into p...
Delta TechOps, the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business of Delta Air Lines, and Rolls-Royce are teaming up, bringing advanced jet engines from Rolls-Royce to a 100,000-ft² expanded engine shop at Delta’s Technical Operations Center in Atlanta. Rolls-Royce has named Delta TechOps an approved maintenance center for Trent civil aircraft engines to better serve jet engine cust...
Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) has authorized Pobeda (DP, Moscow, Vnukovo) to begin international operations following amendments to local laws governing the issuance of foreign traffic rights. Though the agency earlier this year rejected the LCC's application to begin international operations, the Russian Ministry of Transport has since revised a requirement t...
Royal Jordanian (RJ), in collaboration with the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, hosted “Think Pink” day at RJ's headquarters. This event is part of the annual awareness campaign “Stay in my life… get screened”, which is organized by the Jordan Breast Cancer Programme (JBCP). “Think Pink” day is held in order to help increase awareness about the bene...
Flynas and Amadeus have renewed a long-term Full Content Agreement (FCA) that sees Saudi Arabia's flagship low cost airline benefit from Amadeus' global network of travel agencies. Amadeus subscribers will continue to access the full range of Flynas fares, availability and schedules, under the same terms as the airline’s website, call centres and ticket offices. “We...
British Airways Comair aircraft crash lands at OR Tambo International following a failure with the landing gear. News24 reports that an unusual vibration was felt shortly before the landing gear collapsed. As the left landing gear collapsed, the aircraft hit the runway at an angle. All crew and passengers were able to safely evacuate the aircraft, however for safety...
The fifth Marrakech International Airshow will be held next year from 27-30th April. The Airshow will be held at the Basic School of the Royal Air Forces. The Marrakech International Airshow is part of a strategy to develop the Moroccan aviation base and consolidate the aviation sector. Next year’s show will be organised by the GIPLANET society, an Italian mana...
Bristow Africa has signed a partnership agreement with Eastern Airways to offer multiple daily return flights between Lagos and Port Harcourt City, ch-aviation reports. The firm announced in a statement that it would employ a pair of ex-Eastern ERJ-135s to operate up to 6 daily chartered flights. "This will be the first full branded Bristow fixed-wing aircraft in the Bristow...
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released a statement in support of the changes made to South Africa's visa and immigration regulations. However, in spite of its support, IATA suggests a need for urgency in announcing the changes: “We urge the South African Government to communicate the changes clearly, expeditiously and effectively to all markets so that th...
Alan Dron spoke to Ralf Nagel, who aims to blend German efficiency with Middle East hospitality as he switches FlyEgypt from a charter operator to a hybrid carrier. Astonishingly, only 3% of tourists who fly to Egypt do so on board an Egyptian airliner. Captain Ralf Nagel, CEO of new Cairo-based carrier FlyEgypt, hopes to redress that imbalance, at least slightly. The airline began services i...
GE Aviation assembled the 1,000th GEnx engine, just a mere five years after the first production engine was built at GE's Durham, North Carolina. "The GEnx was the fastest selling engine in GE's history, and now it is the fastest production ramp up of a GE widebody engine program," said Tom Levin, general manager of the GEnx/CF6 engine product lines at GE Aviation. "GEnx...
Lufthansa officials have confirmed that the airline has stopped its operations in Muscat from October 25. Last Saturday, Times of Oman had reported that Lufthansa had ended its 35-year-long Muscat operations. However, in the news story, it was incorrectly reported that that passengers from Oman will be served by Swiss Air. According to the airline, passengers from Oman will be served...
FL Technics Training, a global provider of aviation technical training services, continues expanding its already extensive list of clients from the rapidly emerging Southeast Asia. The company has signed a contract with SIA Engineering (Philippines), an MRO company with over 15 000 sq. m. of modern hangars in the Philippines. Under the reached agreement, SIAEP engineers have undergone...
Austria-based Eurowings Europe, which is part of the new Eurowings, published job postings for flight attendants with and without work experience. From the start of flight operations in Vienna in March 2016, the company will initially have a need for the recruitment of approximately 18 new flight attendants and six experienced flight attendants per month. Eurowings Europe offers attractive care...