World AirNews June 2018

SNIPPETS
LATEST WORLD AIR
NEWS
A round up of aviaon news briefs
from around the world
SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE
MUSEUM RECEIVES $1 MILLION GIFT
Washington D.C. -- Smithsonian’s National Air
and Space Museum has received a $1-million
gift from AAR Corp, its chairman and CEO,
David P. Storch, and the family of its founder Ira
J. Eichner. The gift supports the construction
of the new Design Hangar in the transformed
“How Things Fly” exhibition at the
flagship building in Washington, D.C., scheduled
to open in 2024. The gift will also provide
funding for programming in advance of and
during construction, and will expand educational
opportunities to students and teachers
across the country with the creation of an online
teacher portal.
“The support of AAR, David Storch and
Ira Eichner’s family is crucial to expanding
the footprint of our museumspace and
programme by building on the success of
the Design Hangar as a makerspace where
visitors can create or build something with their
own hands,” said Ellen Stofan, the Director
of the National Air and Space Museum.
“This gift will help fuel the passions and
imaginations of the next generation of
aerospace visionaries and explorers.”
In appreciation of the gift, the museum will
rename the space the “AAR Design Hangar.”
A previous gift from AAR Corp.
and Storch funded the first iteration of
the Design Hangar and the development
of programming in the space.
Since its opening in 2014, almost
62 000 visitors have engaged in
hands-on learning experiences in core
STEM topics in the Design Hangar.
With a high average visit time of
30 minutes, this unique maker-space
deepens visitors’ understanding of concepts
in physics and engineering.
“I am proud to build upon our continued
support of this interactive exhibit designed
to increase students’ awareness
of and interest in aviation,” Storch said.
“I have a passion for inspiring the next
generation of aerospace leaders, and AAR has
a keen interest in building the talent pipeline
for the future of aircraft maintenance.”
AAR NOW EXCLUSIVE GLOBAL
DISTRIBUTOR FOR IAE V2500
PNEUMATIC STARTER
WOOD DALE, Illinois – More news from AAR
is that a strategic partnership with Sumitomo
Precision Products (SPP) Co., Ltd.,has been
announced to provide global support to airlines
and MRO customers for the IAE V2500 Pneumatic
Starter and Starter Air Valve.
AAR’s OEM Aftermarket Solutions group
will utilize its global customer support team
and warehousing network to provide customer
support for the starter, starter air valve,
and related sub-assembly components.
“With the help of AAR’s globally allocated
customer support network, SPP is
truly excited and strongly committed to
provide better component service to V2500
engine operators and MRO customers,”
said the SPP Product Support team.
NEW LONDON – DURBAN NON-STOP
SERVICE BY BA
London -- British Airways has announced that it
will begin flying three times weekly direct from
London to Durban, starting on October 29.
The service will be the only non-stop link
between Europe and Durban and will provide
a more convenient alternative for KwaZulu-Natal’s
business travellers and holidaymakers
wanting to get to the UK and Europe.
Sue Petrie, British Airways’ commercial
manager in Southern Africa, and Sihle Zikalala,
MEC for the Department of Economic Development,
Tourism and Environmental Affairs
in KZN, say that the direct flights present new
investment and trade opportunities and should
help grow international tourism for KZN.
SUDANESE AIRLINE LAUNCHES SERVICE
TO ETHIOPIA
Addis Ababa - Badr Airlines, a private airline
based in Khartoum, Sudan, has launched a
new scheduled service to Addis Ababa using a
Boeing 737 on the twice-weekly schedule.
The new service fills the gap caused by the
suspension last year by Sudan Airways, the
country’s flag carrier , of its services between
the two capital cities due to reported “commercial
difficulties”.
Abbas Alrazm, commercial manager of Badr
World Airnews | June 2018
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Airlines, told reporters that the airline had decided
to open a new route to Addis Ababa because
of the existing good diplomatic relation between
Sudan and Ethiopia. Alrazm is reported as
saying that the trade and investment relationship
between the two countries was growing.
“More Sudanese investors and traders were
coming to Ethiopia. Tourism was also growing.
And the people of Sudan and Ethiopia have a
long history and strong cultural relationship.”
Established in 2004, Badr Airlines is based in
Khartoum It operates eleven aircraft of which
six are B737s, two Ilyssiun Il-76 Freighters and
three Dassault Falcons. The airline serves
seven domestic destinations in Sudan and also
operates six scheduled regional flights to Dubai,
UAE, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Cairo, Egypt, Kano,
Nigeria, and Juba and Wau, in South Sudan.
ET TO OPERATE ACCRA -TEXAS, DIRECT
Accra -- Ethiopian Airlines is to operate direct
flights between Accra, Ghana, and Texas, USA,
following the granting of Fifth Freedom Rights to
the Addis Ababa-based airline.
The new service, when it commences, will
further improve direct connectivity between
Ghana and the USA, and offer passengers
more travelling options. It is also expected
to accelerate trade and investment between
two countries which have had good bilateral
relations for about six decades..
Texas is the second largest state in the
United States by both area and population.
It is geographically located in the south-central
region of the North American country
and the major industries in Texas include
petroleum and natural gas, farming, steel,
banking, and tourism.. South African Airways,
and US carrier, Delta Airlines, also
operate direct flights between Ghana and the
US. Delta flies between Kotoka and Dulles
International Airport, Washington, D.C
AIRLINK INTRODUCES BUSINESS CLASS ON
TWO ROUTES
Johannesburg – Airlink’s E-Jet services
between Johannesburg - Pietermaritzburg and
Johannesburg - Kasane (Botswana) offer an
intra-continental style business class service,
providing travellers with enhanced comfort
by way of a generous seat pitch in economy
SNIPPETS
class, and an expansive business class seating,
with large eye-level windows allowing in lots of
natural light and ample overhead bin space to
accommodate carryon items. Every seat offers
either a window or an aisle option. The E190
E-jets are configured with six business and 92
two plus two abreast economy class seats
Pietermaritzburg Airport is less congested,
and offers travellers a hassle-free
airport and travel experience. It is convenient
for business in Pinetown, Kloof, Hillcrest,
Hilton, Howick and the Midlands.
Airlink’s direct flights from Johannesburg to
Kasane offer travellers an exclusive African
river safari experience on the Chobe River.
Through its alliance with SAA, travellers can
enjoy convenient connections with SAA, their
Star Alliance Partner airlines and other carriers
throughout Southern Africa and the world.
IBA DIGS DEEPER
London/Dublin -- IBA, the independent
aviation consultancy is experiencing, increasing
interest in the helicopter sector. There are more
investor enquiries, rig utilisation is increasing,
and interest in the super medium sector all point
to a more buoyant market.
The global commercial helicopter market was
valued at US$8,2-billion in 2017 and it is expected
to increase to US$11,6 billion by 2027. Key
factors expected to drive the market for commercial
helicopters aside from offshore oil and gas
include rising demand from emerging economies
in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Latin American
markets, along with increased utilisation of existing
helicopters across many different sectors
like emergency services, law enforcement, para
public and corporate transport and tourism.
According to IBA there are over 33,000
helicopters operational today counting
both piston and turbine engine driven aircraft.
The majority of commercially driven
operators fly turbine helicopters.
Out of around 22,000 turbine helicopters,
the majority (90%) are owned
by the operators and 10% leased.
From the start of 2017 onwards there
has been some evidence of a recovery
and numbers are increasing. Oil, currently
at circa $70/bbl, has crept back into
the value that will interest operators.
Viability of deep-water offshore oil
production is about $80/bbl. Sources estimate
that between $50/bbl to $65/bbl
will spark exploration back up again.
SAAB UNVEILS AEROSTRUCTURE
PLANT IN BRAZIL
São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil -- Saab
Aeronáutica Montagens (SAM), has unveiled
its new aerostructure plant in the city of São
Bernardo do Campo, in São Paulo state, Brazil.
World Airnews | June 2018
— 75 —
This is another important step in the Gripen
Programme in Brazil.
Saab Aeronáutica Montagens (SAM) will
produce aero structures for the Brazilian
Gripen fighter and is preparing to become
part of Saab´s global supply chain.
SAM will be responsible for producing six
complex structural parts for Gripen acquired
by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), such as
the tail cone, aerodynamic brakes, wing
box, front fuselage for the single-seat and
two-seat versions and the rear fuselage for
the single-seat version of the aircraft.
"This is the beginning of the plant installation.
We are setting up the office, hiring
personnel and suppliers. By 2020 the entire
plant structure will be ready to start manufacturing
Gripen components," explained
Marcelo Lima, SAM's Director-General.
When the operations starts at SAM in 2020, it
will be with 55 employees. That number will, until
2024, increase to 200. Among them engineers
and technicians, who until then will be trained
in Linköping, Sweden, for up to 24 months.
"The new jobs in the plant will be for highly
skilled people to work on complex fuselage
structures, both metallic and composite,
driving our technology transfer programme.
At the end of this project, we will have added
more than 84,000 hours of training for SAM
employees alone," says Marcelo Lima.
SERVICING HELICOPTERS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
Helicopters and Aviation cc
Tel: 011 659 1022/3/4
trioavi@netactive.co.za | www.triohelicopters.co.za
HEAD OFFICE TRIO HELICOPTERS AND AVIATION CC
Hangar 44 Gate 5 Lanseria International Airport
Tel: 011 659 1022/23/24 | Fax: 011 659 1188
Authorised to service Piston and Turbine
helicopters up to 5 700 kg
* Eurocopter AS 350 series
* Robinson R22, R44 & R66
* Fairchild Hiller FH 1100 & 12 series
* Enstrom 280 & Enstrom 480
* Schweiser 269 series
* Bell 206 series
* Bell 47
Well-equipped Service Centre in Bloemfontein
TRIO HELICOPTERS AND AVIATION CC
Hangar 6B, New Tempe Airport, Bloemfontein
Tel: 082 560 8808