Oman airport extension delayed, may cost more

MUSCAT – The extension of Oman’s main airport in Muscat will be delayed by two years and may cost the state up to an extra $500 million after runway excavations hit seawater, a government official said on Wednesday.

“The Muscat airport extension will now be completed in 2014, not in 2012 as expected due to soft ground which contractors come across in some places,” the official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

He said it would cost the government up to $500 million to pay for reinforcements to fill affected ground in places where civil work excavations hit seawater.

Last year, Oman awarded a joint venture of Turkey’s TAV Construction and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Co  $1.17 billion contract for civil works for the Muscat airport.

This is the second snag to hit the seaside Muscat airport after the cyclone Gonu that hit Oman in 2007 forced a master plan modification.

Oman has yet to award the construction contract for the terminal building at Muscat airport after four international firms were shortlisted in 2009.

The airport currently handles about 4 million passengers a year and will be able to handle 12 million passengers after the extension. Oman is also building new airports at Duqm, Ras Al Hadd, Musandam and Sohar

Source: business.maktoob.com

Boeing Delivers EGYPTAIRs First 777-300ER for Long-Haul Fleet Upgrade

SEATTLE, March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — EGYPTAIR and leasing company GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) took delivery Monday of the first Boeing (NYSE: BA) 777-300ER (Extended Range) commercial jetliner to join EGYPTAIR’s fleet. EGYPTAIR operates a fleet of five Boeing 777-200ERs, five 737-500s and 12 737-800s, with another eight 737-800s on order directly from Boeing. The Egyptian flag carrier is leasing the new 777-300ER from GECAS and will take an additional five 777-300ERs on lease through the second quarter of 2011 to continue upgrading its long-haul service.

“This delivery is a substantial milestone in the history of EGYPTAIR. We will continue to bring the latest to our customers who deserve the best of everything. This is a continuation of the long term partnership with Boeing,” said Hussein Massoud, chairman of EGYPTAIR Holding Company.

“The 777-200ER has always been one of the strongest performers in our fleet for fuel efficiency and reliability. The 777-300ER’s additional improvements in fuel efficiency and seat-mile costs will directly benefit our bottom line,” said EGYPTAIR Airlines Chairman Capt. Alaa Ashour. “The 777-300ER is an important part of our fleet modernization and growth plans to achieve greater profitability.”

EGYPTAIR’s new 777-300ER has 346 seats including 49 lie-flat beds with a 78-inch seat pitch, plus an in-seat entertainment system throughout the cabin. A member of the Star Alliance, EGYPTAIR will operate 777-300ERs on routes to London, Tokyo and North America.

United Signs Firm Order for 25 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft

Airline becomes 33rd customer for newest Airbus model

United has formalized a commitment originally announced in December 2009, signing a firm order for 25 A350-900 XWB aircraft, the newest twin-engine widebody from Airbus. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Deliveries of the aircraft will begin in 2016 and run through 2019.

“This is the latest chapter in a very strong relationship that has spanned two decades,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer – Customers. “From the delivery of the first United A320 in November 1993 to today, Airbus and United have worked together successfully to weather challenging market periods. It’s a true testament to what the A350 XWB has to offer that one of the largest airlines in the world has selected it to be an instrumental part of their future.”

“With this order we are investing in United’s future, gaining a widebody aircraft that will help us reduce operating costs while still providing state-of-the-art comfort to our customers,” said John Tague, President of United Airlines. “The A350 XWB will also help us reduce fuel burn and our overall environmental footprint in comparison to older technology aircraft.”

Mark King, President – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, added: “This represents a significant endorsement of our Trent XWB technology and its operational advantage. We are delighted that United Airlines has put its trust in the long-term performance advantages of Trent technology and TotalCare®.”

The A350 XWB is a new family of mid-size widebody airliners. The highly efficient aircraft brings together the latest in aerodynamics, design and advanced technologies to provide a 25-percent step-change in fuel efficiency compared to current aircraft in the same size category. The A350 XWB airframe will have 53 percent composite materials, lightening the weight thereby maximizing fuel economy. Featuring an entirely new, very quiet, cabin with extra space and comfort, passengers will enjoy more headroom, wide panoramic windows and more overhead storage area.

The three passenger versions have true long-range capability and flexibility. The A350-800 will fly 270 passengers in a three-class configuration 8300 nautical miles. The 314-seat A350-900 and 350-seat A350-1000 will offer similar long-range performance.

The order book for the aircraft type now stands at 530 aircraft. Final assembly of the first aircraft is anticipated in 2011, with the first delivery (of an A350-900) scheduled for 2013.

Boeing 787 Begins First Flight-Test Operations Outside of Washington

VICTORVILLE, Calif., March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The second Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner, ZA002, landed at 10:53 a.m. local time today in Victorville, Calif. This marks the beginning of the first flight-test operations outside of Washington state for the program.

The airplane will be stationed at Victorville for approximately three weeks. The crew will conduct ground effects testing among other activities.

During ground effects testing, the pilots fly the airplane very close to the runway to gather data regarding the aerodynamic effects and performance of the airplane during the takeoff and landing phases of flight. Quantifying this performance is part of the certification requirements for all new airplanes.

“Victorville’s airfield is the former George Air Force Base,” said Randy Neville, chief pilot for ZA002. “There is ample ramp space for parking and plenty of on-site facilities. There is a long runway and plenty of level, clear land along the approach to the runway. We can operate there without disrupting air traffic control or other commercial aircraft.”

A crew of more than 150 employees will be stationed at Victorville while the airplane is there. These include the flight test engineers and support personnel required to prepare the airplane for each day’s flights and to monitor performance and test equipment.

“Our confidence in the reliability of this airplane grows day by day,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. “Taking the airplane out of state for the first time is a big step, but one we’re ready for.”

Source: Boeing

EMBRAER’S LEGACY 500 EXECUTIVE JET MOCK-UP DEBUTS IN INDIA

After being exhibited at the Singapore Airshow, the mock-up is now in Mumbai 

São José dos Campos, March 9, 2010 

Embraer’s Legacy 500 executive jet mock-up has reached Mumbai, India. The full-size model will be on display at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotel, March 15-18. This stop is part of the world tour to promote the Company’s midsize jet, and follows its exhibition at the Singapore Airshow, last month.“The Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 aircraft are bringing new standards to the midlight and midsize executive jet categories,” said José Eduardo Costas, Embraer Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Asia Pacific – Executive Jets. “With an exclusive flat-floor stand-up cabin, comfortable interior designed in partnership with BMW DesignworksUSA, and state-of-the-art technology, including a full fly-by-wire flight control system, these jets are designed to be a reliable and convenientbusiness tool for customers.”The Company continues working in the Indian market, not only promoting its products, in general, but especially focusing on putting a comprehensive support network in place to guarantee the high reliability of its aircraft throughout the region.

After having its Legacy 600 certified and operating in the skies of India for the last five years, the Phenom 100 gained approval, in December 2009, from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Embraer has 14 jets operating in India in the commercial, executive and defense aviation segments. Furthermore, the Company has about 30 firm orders for the Phenom jets in the country, with the first delivery of the Phenom 100 scheduled for this year. 

The midsize Legacy 500 and midlight Legacy 450 design concepts were presented on September 24, 2007 during a press conference at the 60th National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Annual Meeting & Convention, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The development programs were formally approved by Embraer’s Board six months later, and they were commercially launched during a ceremony at the European Business Aircraft Conference and Exhibition (EBACE), May 20-22, 2008, in Geneva, Switzerland. Development work on the Legacy 500 is ongoing at Embraer and supplier facilities, and the first flight is on schedule to occur in the second half of 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hawaiian orders one more A330-200 for long-haul operation

Adds eco-efficiency to the fleet

Hawaiian Airlines, which becomes a new Airbus operator this spring, has placed a firm order for an additional A330-200 aircraft. The purchase joins an existing Hawaiian order for six A330-200s and six A350 XWB-800s from Airbus, as well as three leased A330s that will be operated by the airline.

The newly ordered aircraft will be delivered in 2011 and will transport 294 passengers in a comfortable two-class configuration. All of the A330 aircraft operated by the airline will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines.

“We are delighted by the additional vote of confidence from Hawaiian, which has chosen Airbus aircraft for its long-range fleet expansion,” said John Leahy, Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer – Customers. “The A330 offers unrivaled fuel efficiency as well as passenger comfort, while also producing very low emissions and noise. I’m confident that Hawaiian’s passengers and employees will come to love this aircraft.”

With a true wide-body fuselage creating very high comfort standards, the A330-200 is able to accommodate seat and class configurations to suit diverse customer requirements. Its large under-floor cargo holds can also carry standard pallets and containers side-by-side. It also has the excellent operational flexibility necessary to serve a wide range of route structures, providing operators with very low operating cost per seat.

The twin engine A330 is one of the most widely used wide body aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,000 orders for the various versions of the aircraft. More than 600 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is currently flying with over 80 airlines worldwide.

Source: Airbus

Airbus to increase A320 Family production rate

2010 total deliveries to match previous year’s record level

Airbus will increase the monthly production rate for its single-aisle A320 Family from the current rate of 34 to 36, starting December 2010. The production rate for the long-range A330/A340 Family will be maintained at the current level of eight per month.

Airbus’ decision to raise its single-aisle production rate is driven by the continuing demand for its eco-efficient aircraft and a record backlog in excess of some 2,300 A320 Family aircraft.

“Leading economic indices and business confidence indicators are showing an upward trend again. We see this reflected in the continuing solid demand for our eco-efficient products and our robust backlog. Thanks to our proactive order book management we have been able to keep production stable during the year of the downturn, but now it is definitely time to think ahead,” said Tom Williams, Executive Vice President, Programmes. “Aviation is a long-term growth industry. With our prudent decision we will be ready when the market recovers.”

Airbus delivered a total of 498 aircraft in 2009, including 402 A320 Family aircraft, both new company records for a single year. The company target for deliveries in 2010 is to remain at a similar level to 2009.

Source: Airbus

China Plans To Buy 218 Aircraft This Year

Source: Reuters

Boeing and Turkish Airlines Finalize Order for 20 Next-Generation 737s

SEATTLE, March 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Turkish Airlines have finalized an order for 20 Next-Generation 737 airplanes. The order includes 10 737-800s and 10 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplanes. The 737-900ER will be the latest 737 family member to join the Turkish Airlines fleet. The order is valued at $1.6 billion at current list prices. Turkish Airlines currently operates a fleet of 66 Boeing airplanes, including 58 Next-Generation 737s. The order was posted previously to Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries Web site as an unidentified customer.

The 737-900ER is the newest member of the 737 family, combining aerodynamic and other design changes to provide more room for up to 215 passengers while retaining the high performance that gives the Next-Generation 737 family world-class flexibility and efficiency.

“The 737-800 is the backbone of the Turkish Airlines fleet and proves its value on a daily basis offering unmatched levels of efficiency and reliability,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 737-900ER will fit seamlessly into Turkish Airlines’ operations, sharing the same pilots, systems and nearly 100 percent spares commonality with the airlines’ current Next-Generation 737 fleet. We are also very proud to provide Turkish Airlines’ new 737s with the Boeing Sky Interior, which will be a perfect complement to the carrier’s high levels of service and passenger comfort.”

All of the new Turkish Airlines’ Next-Generation 737 airplanes will be fitted with the latest 737 Boeing Sky Interior. Based on the cabin design of the 787 Dreamliner, the all-new Sky Interior features soft blue overhead lighting, contemporary sculpted sidewalls and window reveals that draw passengers’ eyes to the airplane’s windows, giving passengers a greater connection to the flying experience. The new design offers larger, pivoting overhead stowage bins that add to the openness of the cabin. The bins give more passengers room to store carry-on luggage near their own seats, adding both extra convenience and extra legroom.

Based in Istanbul, Turkish Airlines is one of the fastest growing and prosperous airlines in the world. It carries approximately 25 million passengers a year, with direct flights to 120 international and 37 domestic destinations. The airline was founded in 1933 with a fleet of five airplanes that carried a total of 28 passengers. The airline made its first domestic flight in 1933 and the first international flight in 1947.

Source: Boeing
Picture: Rob Vogelaar ZAP16 Group

USAF Bagram Airmen respond to aircraft emergency

3/8/2010 - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) – Airmen assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group here were some of the first responders on the scene after an Airbus A300 crew performed an emergency landing March 1 here.

The aircraft, contracted to DHL International, was carrying mail and cargo when an unsafe gear indicator alerted the crew to a problem.

The crew touched down after a visual inspection by tower members to ensure the landing gear was extended. Upon landing, the main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft slid to a stop between the runway and a taxi area.

“We were actually accomplishing some work on the flightline when the incident occurred,” said Tech. Sgt. Alexander Figliola, a 455th EMXG crash and recovery technician. “A call came over the radio for an in-flight emergency notification system for all emergency responders to come to the flightline.”

Sergeant Figliola, deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, said as the aircraft touched down it appeared to be all right, but as it settled on the ground and slowed its airspeed, the left side landing gear collapsed and the aircraft began to slide down the runway. He said it finally came to a stop between the runway and a taxiway.

“We were cleared on the runway so we all rushed to the scene not really knowing what to expect,” Sergeant Figliola said. “When we arrived at the aircraft, people were sliding down the emergency slide and the fire department was putting out a small fire around the engine. We were relieved because the situation could have been much worse.”

Once the scene had calmed, Sergeant Figliola’s team began to assess damage to the aircraft and airfield. They also discussed how to move the large aircraft and restore air traffic to the flight line.

“As soon as we saw that everyone was all right, we automatically started discussing the location and what we were going to need to get the aircraft out of the way,” he added. “We knew that we had a lot of prep work ahead of us. We began to coordinate with other units on base to get the heavy equipment and supplies needed to get it out of the way.”

Sergeant Figliola explained the primary mission of crash and recovery is to respond to incidents of this nature and assess damage to aircraft. They also remove damaged aircraft.

This particular incident provided unique challenges because although the team is trained on all air frames, their primary mission had been fighter aircraft. They needed to make adjustments to compensate for the size, weight and location of the aircraft, and the weather.

“Weather was one of the key factors to how we were going to move the plane,” said Sergeant Figliola, a native of Beverly Hills, Fla. “It was raining and the ground was pretty soft, that along with the weight of the aircraft that was still loaded with cargo and fuel made it pretty messy.”

The crash and recovery team, with help from the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, the U.S. Army and members of other 455th EMXG flights used a 120-ton, civilian-contracted crane to raise the left wing of the aircraft, he explained.

Sergeant Figliola said once the left wing was raised, a 40-foot flatbed trailer substituted as the left side landing gear and a heavy expanded mobile tactical truck, normally used to tow up armored vehicles and heavy equipment, pulled the aircraft approximately 100 feet to a taxiway parallel to the active runway.

“Our crash and recovery team responds to all in-flight emergencies to ensure the safety of the aircrew and the aircraft while also ensuring runway operability,” said Lt. Col. Jacqueline Mongeon, the455th EMXG deputy commander.

Colonel Mongeon, deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., said the crash and recovery team responds to any aircraft incident in a six country region and is trained to handle any airframe. They constantly perform periodic preventive maintenance on their equipment and accomplish training to ensure they are prepared for incidents like this; although, they would prefer there not be a need.

“It was truly a joint effort,” she added. “Our team performed superbly. After their initial assessment of the incident they developed a plan to ensure the safety of the ground personnel, lift and move the aircraft and re-open the runway to large frame aircraft as expeditiously as possible. They were able to accomplish all of this within 24 hours of being tasked.”

“I can’t say enough about the crew that I worked with,” Sergeant Figliola said. “None of us had a great deal of hands-on experience with such a large airframe, but we all worked together to accomplish the mission and get the runway operational as safely and efficiently as possible.”

An Airbus A300B4-203F cargo plane, reportedly registered TC-ACB, ACT Airlines/DHL Airways suffered a landing mishap at Bagram Air Base (BPM), Afghanistan. It came to rest on the left runway shoulder of runway 03, approximately 500 ft north of taxiway Charlie and just south of the 3000 feet remaining distance marker.
It has been reported that the airplane suffered a collapse of, presumably the left hand, main undercarriage.

Source: USAF by Staff Sgt. Richard Williams
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

U.S. Air Force photo by/Tech. Sgt. Jeromy K. Cross

Sharp Ocean Signs Contract For Two Grand New And One AW119Ke

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that its authorized distributor Sharp Ocean has signed a contract for two Grand New light twin helicopters and one AW119Ke single engine helicopter. The aircraft will be delivered to Indian private customers and used to perform VIP transport missions. This purchase marks the entrance of the Grand New into the Indian helicopter market and further strengthens the presence of AgustaWestland in the country adding its latest generation Grand to the successful range of commercial helicopters sold in India. The order further expands the presence of the world best selling light twin helicopter for VIP/corporate transport duties on the Indian helicopter market where AgustaWestland has already sold more than 20 light twin helicopters including the AW109 Power and Grand models. Furthermore, the AW119Ke single engine proves once more successful on the Indian market.

AgustaWestland is proud to have been doing business in India for almost 40 years and the company has seen rapid growth in the Indian commercial helicopter market in recent years for its products. Over 30 aircraft have so far been sold including the AW119Ke single engine, the AW109 Power and the Grand light twins and the AW139 medium twin. An evolution of the highly successful Grand helicopter, the Grand New features the most modern developments in avionics while retaining the outstanding Grand’s characteristics. As the first light twin helicopter on the market fully compliant with the latest advanced global positioning system-based navigation requirements for all weather operations, the Grand New offers operators unprecedented opportunities for the exploitation of rotorcraft capabilities, setting a new standard. Orders for around 290 helicopters have been placed by almost 150 customers in over 30 countries worldwide, to perform a wide range of commercial and public service missions.


The 8-seat AW119Ke is the top-of-the-range helicopter in the single engine market and has excellent performance, even in extremely hot and high operating environments. Over 190 AW119 helicopters have been ordered to date by almost 90 customers in nearly 30 countries. Thanks to its outstanding features in terms of performance, cabin space and safety, the AW119Ke is perfectly suited to perform many tasks including VIP/corporate transport, utility, fire-fighting, EMS, offshore transport, law enforcement and military duties.

Financial suppport for new Fokker Aircraft

The Dutch ministry of finance has reserved a credit of 20 million Euros for the development of a new Fokker aircraft.

NG Aircraft is allready working at this plan for a year and a half and thinks the first aircraft can be ready in five years.

The goal is to develop an aircraft that is far less damaging for the environment than comparable aircraft. The European comity still has to approve the State-support.

Source: NOS

 

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