NewsAvianca posts $245 million 2017 net profit after pilot strike adjustmentsIn results adjusted to reflect a 51-day pilots’ strike affecting nearly half of its fourth quarter, Colombia-based Avianca Holdings reported $245 million in adjusted net income for 2017, more than doubling the company’s net profit over 2016. On a non-adjusted basis, Avianca reported $82 million in net profit for the year, an 85.5% increase over $44.2 million in 2016.
LinkNorthrop Grumman to develop DHS next-gen biometrics programThe US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded US aerospace technology company Northrop Grumman with a $95 million contract to develop its Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology (HART) system, the biometric identification program DHS will employ as the next-generation successor to IDENT, DHS’ existing biometric ID system originally developed in 1994. While DHS’ Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) is the office in charge of the HART program, Northrop Grumman will development the first two increments of the project and will serve as systems developer and integrator over the 42-month development period.
LinkSouth Africa’s CemAir restarts flights after regulator lifts suspensionSouth Africa-based regional carrier CemAir is gradually restoring its schedules after the country’s civil aviation regulator lifted its suspension of the airline’s Aircraft Maintenance Organization (AMO). The South African CAA (SACAA) ended the suspension on Feb. 24, three weeks after it began. The SACAA also grounded 12 of CemAir’s fleet. The company operates a mixture of Bombardier CRJ100 and 200s and is introducing the CRJ900. It also operates Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s and Beech 1900 commuter aircraft.
LinkAIA forecasts $150 billion market for large commercial UAVsThe advent of large, commercial unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) for cargo and passengers is closer than most people believe.
LinkIrish startup Aer Southeast plans 2018 launchIrish regional startup Aer Southeast, which originally planned to launch from Waterford Airport in 2017, is expecting to begin flights this year. On Feb. 23, Aer Southeast announced the latest timeline through its official Facebook account, which showed a Saab 340 in its livery.
LinkEfficiency measures, currency movements improve SAS figuresScandinavian Airlines (SAS) reported improved figures for the first quarter of its financial year, noting that long-term efforts to improve its market position continue to bear fruit.
LinkDubai airport to temporarily close southern runway in 2019Dubai Airports has confirmed plans to close Dubai International Airport’s (DXB) southern runway (12R-30L) for a 45-day period in 2019. It cited necessary upgrade work to strengthen and resurface the runway (one of two at the airport) and adjacent taxiways. The work is scheduled to take place from April 16-May 30, 2019, when DXB believes there will be lower passenger traffic than at other times of the year. Nevertheless, airlines will be required to reduce their operations to DXB over the 45-day period. The runway work will cause a significant capacity reduction resulting from single runway operations.
LinkThai Airways posts 2017 net loss; optimistic after ICAO safety upgrade Thai Airways predicts the removal of Thailand from ICAO’s red flag safety list will boost the country’s aviation industry this year, although airlines are still waiting for the US FAA to follow with its own safety upgrade.
LinkSmartLynx A320 damaged by bounce during flight trainingEstonian investigators are probing a landing incident involving an Airbus A320 during a training flight at Tallinn. The SmartLynx Estonia aircraft (ES-SAN) had seven people on board and, on 28 February, was conducting approach and landing exercises.
LinkVietJet will make widebody decision by year-endVietnam low-cost carrier VietJet Air will make a decision on whether to obtain widebody aircraft by the end of 2018. The carrier, which operates narrowbody aircraft mainly on domestic routes, is considering three options, says carrier vice president Nguyen Thi Thuy Binh. These are the Boeing 787, Airbus A330neo, and the A350.
LinkSriwijaya shelves plans for IPO after tough 2017Sriwijaya Air Group has suspended plans for an initial public offering, following a dismal year for Indonesia’s airlines. The privately-owned carrier was previously targeting to have its shares listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange last May, following three consecutive years of profitability.
LinkBBAM entities to buy AirAsia’s aircraft leasing portfolioAirAsia has chosen to sell the aircraft portfolio of its Asia Aviation Capital unit to entities managed by BBAM in a $1.18 billion deal. Under the deal, FLY Leasing, Incline B Aviation and Nomura Babcock and Brown will together acquire 84 Airbus A320s and 14 engines from Asia Aviation Capital, with the engines and 79 aircraft to be leased back to AirAsia and its affiliates.
LinkUnited eyes A330neo and NMA for fleet replacementUnited Airlines is considering the Airbus A330-800neo and Boeing New Mid-market Airplane (NMA) among options to replace its fleet of aging Boeing 757s and 767s. The Chicago-based carrier is looking at replacements for its 77 757-200 and -300s, and 51 767-300ERs in the near term, a presentation by senior vice-president of finance, procurement and treasurer Gerry Laderman on 27 February shows.
LinkQatar open to codeshare discussions with AmericanQatar Airways is open to discussions with American Airlines on resuming the carriers' codeshare, following an agreement in the open-skies dispute between Qatar and the USA. "We are always open to those discussions," says Gunter Saurwein, vice-president of the Americas at Qatar Airways, on interest in resuming its codeshare with American at an event at Washington Dulles International airport on 27 February.
LinkSouthwest plans to add 80 flights per week from San Jose, Calif.Southwest Airlines will boost service at Mineta San Jose International Airport in California with 80 new flights set to debut in March, April and May, including the airport's first-ever international route. The added flights will include new nonstop service to eight cities and more frequent daily flights to destinations already served from San Jose.
LinkBehind the scenes with a flight attendantFlight attendants do much more than keep passengers safe and happy. In this piece, follow United Airlines flight attendant Robert "Bingo" Bingochea as he checks in with his team, readies his plane for flight and carries out his duties.
LinkNewark, N.J., airport's revamped terminal will have 33 gatesThe $2.7 billion redevelopment of Terminal A in New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport will result in a 1-million-square-foot terminal with 33 gates and a new name: Terminal One. The new terminal is expected to partially open in 2021 and fully open in 2022.
LinkBell 525 certification approval schedule slips to 2019Bell’s chosen name for the super-medium 525 helicopter, Relentless, has become equally appropriate for the company’s lengthy pursuit of airworthiness certification. After originally promising to receive a US Federal Aviation Administration Part 29 certificate in 2015 upon program launch six years ago, Bell now expects the required validation for the 19-seat, fly-by-wire helicopter to come four years later in 2019, says Bell’s vice president of 525 sales and business development Larry Thimmesch.
LinkMD Helicopters delays MD6XX certification to 2020MD Helicopters (MDHI) has delayed certification for the 2.5t MD6XX civil helicopter by at least two years to focus the small manufacturer's resources on delivering a surge of orders from military customers, says chief executive Lynn Tilton. The delay comes only a year after Tilton unveiled a mock-up of the MD6XX and promised to complete certification by the end of 2018.
LinkSikorsky's new product search narrows to concepts over 5tSikorsky’s ongoing pursuit of its next civil rotorcraft has narrowed to concepts in a size class over 4.5t (10,000lb), further distancing the Lockheed Martin company from the light helicopter market after it disposed of the Schweizer brand earlier this year. The sizing strategy is driven by Sikorsky’s view that its resources and skills are best applied to large and complex rotorcraft systems, says Dana Fiatarone, Sikorsky’s vice-president of commercial systems and services.
LinkDassault launches 6X as it bids to put 5X nightmare behind itDassault has closed the book on its unhappy experience with its Safran Silvercrest-powered 5X by launching a replacement model that is essentially a 5X but optimized around a variant of Pratt & Whitney's PW800 geared turbofan engine. Unsurprisingly called 6X, the aircraft – scheduled for first flight in 2021 followed by certification and first delivery in 2022 – will share wings and most systems with the 5X but will be 51cm (20in) longer and adds 300nm (555km) to take range to 5,500nm at Mach 0.80. Like the its ill-fated predecessor, the 6X features the largest cabin cross-section of any purpose-built business jet, at 198cm high by 258cm wide.
LinkAdapted Falcons to meet French air force EW needDassault will adapt a trio of Falcon business jets with Thales mission equipment for operations with the French air force, after Paris selected the combination for its "Epicure" airborne electronic warfare (EW) requirement. Announcing the decision by the French defense ministry on 1 March, the airframer did not disclose which model from its current range would be adapted for the EW role. However, it confirms: "The required level of performance of the Epicure Falcons necessitates highly complex integration work."
LinkIsrael concerned over Su-57 debut in SyriaRussia's surprise deployment of Sukhoi Su-57s to a base inside Syria has positioned its new stealth fighter within the same region of operations as the Israeli air force's Lockheed Martin F-35I. Video footage appearing to show Su-57s arriving in Syria was confirmed by pictures captured by an Israeli imaging satellite. The new type's deployment marks the peak of Moscow's direct intervention so far in Syria's long-running civil war.
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