A University of Maryland student team has once again achieved new aviation heights, this time by successfully lifting a helicopter and passenger through the sole use of solar power. After successfully completing the longest duration flight for a human-powered helicopter in fall of 2013, the UMD Gamera Team, a student team originally inspired in 2012 by the American Helicopter Society's Siko...
Air France expects a further decline in bookings over the coming months as a result of terrorist attacks and a cabin crew strike that took place during the summer, the airline’s boss Jean-Marc Janaillac said. Bookings were down 5 per cent in July and August and the drop had accelerated to between 5 and 10 per cent for the remainder of the year, he said in Paris. He said the biggest drop i...
Lufthansa Technik and MTU Aero Engines are looking into options to jointly provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for the PW1000G family of geared turbofan engines. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the possibility of establishing an MRO joint venture at a globally competitive location. First decisio...
Virgin Australia will launch services from Melbourne to Los Angeles and Perth to Abu Dhabi in 2017, increasing competition and choice for Australian travellers. On 4 April 2017, Virgin Australia will introduce five services each week between Melbourne and Los Angeles using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.* On 9 June 2017, Virgin Australia will introduce three services each week between Perth and Abu...
This June, ENGINEERING Holding opened an engine MRO shop in its subsidiary S 7 ENGINEERING’s Moscow base. CFM56 engines maintained in the new shop are among the most widely-used power plants in aviation today, and are utilized on some the world’s most popular aircraft like Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 NG. S 7 ENGINEERING’s EASA Part 145 certificate was extended for main...
BACA has added its voice to the ever increasing number of industry leaders that are calling on the UK government to make a decision regarding a new runway in the South East. Many organisations have published data regarding the level of trade that the UK is losing as runway capacity becomes increasingly constrained at major airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick. At the end of 2015 BACA commissio...
Bombardier Business Aircraft announced strategic changes to its leadership team and organizational structure. The changes, which take effect immediately, are designed to optimize functional alignment and strengthen the company’s customer experience. Jean-Christophe Gallagher, formerly Vice President, Strategy, Marketing and Innovation, has been named Vice President and General Manager, Cu...
Charity Rhino911 will operate a Bell 407GT in an attempt to curb the problem of illegal Rhino poaching in South Africa. The non-profit organization established by Fred Hees, President of BBM Inc. in cooperation with Heli Africa Wildlife will use the Bell 407GT to try and reduce the rising number of Rhino killed particularly in relation to the surging demand for illegal Rhino horn. Rhi...
JetBlue announced a ten-year renewable jet fuel purchase agreement with SG Preston, a bioenergy company. The airline is partnering with SG Preston to purchase renewable jet fuel made from rapidly renewable, bio-based feedstocks that do not compete with food production. This marks one of the largest renewable jet fuel purchase agreements in aviation history, and the largest, long-term, binding comm...
The Airbus chief Tom Enders said on Monday he did not rule out job cuts at the European aircraft manufacturer after a media report said the group was considering slashing costs. "You never exclude anything when you’re talking about efficiency and synergy but we’re in the process of thinking it all through, how we can make our corporate structures leaner and more efficient,"...
The first four Su-35 fighter jets from a 24 aircraft arms deal between the two allies are to be delivered before the end of the year according to a statement by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aviation plant. This week the governor of Khabarovsk Krai, a federal area located in the Russian Far East, said in a statement during the opening of a new aircraft production plant that Ch...
Aircraft lessors around the world continue to benefit from increased air travel, strong airline profitability, low interest rates and generally accessible funding markets, according to Fitch Ratings’ latest North American FI Chart of the Month and Aircraft Leasing Sector Review report. As the reports highlight, however, these variables are cyclical in nature or prone to temporary disruption,...
