|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LATEST NEWS
|
|
Thursday, February 23rd, 2023
|
|
|
|
|
Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW) is a German centre of excellence for aircraft maintenance and Airbus freighter conversions. The company has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with China’s Sichuan Haite Hi-Tech (Haite), a publicly listed aircraft solutions provider, to collaborate on Airbus Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversions.
|
Under the terms of the partnership, Haite will be responsible for carrying out P2F conversions for EFW’s A321P2F programme at Haite’s facility in Tianjin, China. This will be the first third-party conversion house for EFW’s A321P2F programme, and Haite will commence proceedings with one conversion line and induct the first A321 aircraft for conversion in the third quarter of 2023. This will bring to four the number of global conversion sites EFW has for its A321P2F programme, namely San Antonio, U.S., Singapore, and Guangzhou and Tianjin, China.
|
“We are pleased to gain a renowned partner in China through our latest collaboration with Haite, which is well experienced in freighter conversions,” said Jordi Boto, CEO of EFW. “This new partnership will greatly support our strategy to expand the global network for our narrowbody P2F programme. It will also further strengthen our presence in China, which is one of the largest and fastest growing aviation markets in the world."
|
EFW’s family of Airbus P2F programmes – A320P2F, A321P2F and A330P2F – are developed in collaboration with ST Engineering and Airbus, with EFW holding the Supplemental Type Certificate and leading in the overall programmes. ST Engineering is a global technology, defence, and engineering group with a diverse portfolio of businesses across the aerospace, smart city, defence, and public security segments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lufthansa has reported important leadership changes of commercial core functions at the Lufthansa Group and Lufthansa Airlines. Heiko Reitz will be the new CCO of Lufthansa Airlines and Dr Stefan Kreuzpaintner will now be responsible for network, alliance and partner management of the Lufthansa Group.
|
Reitz has made several key strategy decisions for network, alliance and partner management in recent years and drove harmonisation and further development of holistic commercial customer offerings, also with airline partners. He further developed the Lufthansa Group joint ventures and expanded important partnerships like with Deutsche Bahn. As crisis manager during the COVID-19 pandemic, he made a major contribution to stabilising the company. Looking forward, he will apply his strategic experience gained from Lufthansa Group to daily operations, at key customer interfaces while expanding and realigning Lufthansa Airlines' premium offers.
|
As a member of the Lufthansa Airlines Board Dr Stefan Kreuzpaintner played a key role in further developing and strengthening core brand commercial structures and pushing ahead with the strategic premium positioning while coping with the very difficult COVID-19 pandemic situation. Following crisis management, he pushed introduction of the new long-haul Lufthansa premium product "Allegris". At the Lufthansa Munich hub, he reinforced the expansion of the successful strategic partnership with the airport. His prior experience in sales, revenue and marketing management positions will enable him to expand the links between Lufthansa and its Group partners. This will include network planning for all hub airlines and development of further commercial partnerships and joint ventures of the Group as well as continuing to represent Group interests in Munich as “Konzernbeauftragter”.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Safran Nacelles and AFI KLM E&M have signed a license agreement for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the Airbus A320neo’s LEAP-1A nacelles. Over 2,500 nacelles produced by Safran Nacelles are currently in service on Airbus A320neo aircraft that are powered by CFM International’s LEAP-1A engines.
|
Through this agreement, the company ensures that the growing fleets of A320neo can benefit from the best standards in nacelle repair, guaranteed by the OEM. In addition, with the support of the Safran Nacelles' and AFI KLM E&M’s global network of MRO stations, A320neo operators are assured to find a station nearby so that repair time can be shortened and the cost of logistics reduced.
|
By acquiring a license from Safran Nacelles, the OEM of the A320neo’s LEAP-1A nacelles, AFI KLM E&M is expanding its industrial capabilities. The company will have access to the OEM tooling and rotable asset pool, in addition to its own resources and assets.
|
Alain Berger, Safran Nacelles’ Executive Vice President – Customer Support & Services, stated: "We are delighted to welcome AFI KLM E&M in our licensed MRO network for A320neo’s LEAP-1A nacelles support. We’re familiar with the quality and reliability of the support solutions offered by the AFI KLM E&M, which is, and shall remain, a valuable partner for us in the after-sales market."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neste has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with European carrier Wizz Air, for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from 2025. The MoU gives Wizz Air the opportunity to purchase 36,000 tonnes of SAF from Neste per annum for the supply across the airline’s route network in Europe and the UK. This co-operation ensures that Wizz Air can progress in accordance with its plan for the reduction of CO2 intensity per passenger kilometre.
|
This announcement is a key part of the airline’s environmental strategy to reduce carbon emissions intensity by 25% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. In 2022, Wizz Air achieved its lowest ever annual carbon intensity, which amounted to 55.2 grams per passenger/km. The airline has been continuously adding new Airbus A321neo aircraft to its fleet and replacing older aircraft, with the share of new “neo” technology aircraft within Wizz Air’s fleet planned to surpass 50% by the end of the 2023 financial year. The new Airbus A321neo aircraft incorporates the latest technology, offering significant environmental benefits and can currently fly with up to 50% SAF blend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spirit AeroSystems has announced an agreement with GMR Aero Technic to be the Spirit authorised repair centre in India for Boeing and other aircraft.
|
GMR Aero Technic, a subsidiary of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), is a third-party airframe Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facility offering base maintenance, line maintenance, limited shop and component support and cabin interiors at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad.
|
“Spirit AeroSystems is pleased to work with GMR Aero Technic to extend its footprint into India, offering repair and design knowledge and experience for its customers' operations,” said Kailash Krishnaswamy, Senior Vice President of Spirit Aftermarket Services. “Through this agreement, GMR Aero Technic will expand its offerings to its customers by leveraging Spirit’s structural component repair expertise for Boeing and other aircraft. We are delighted that we can jointly now offer repairs of structural components of the 737 MAX and other platforms in the fast-growing Indian MRO industry.”
|
Commenting on the agreement, GMR Aero Technic CEO Ashok Gopinath said, “We are pleased to announce our strategic partnership with Spirit AeroSystems for providing a one-stop solution to our customers by establishing repair capabilities for nacelles and radomes jointly in India. This partnership reaffirms our commitment to provide world-class MRO services and further contribute to the Make in India initiative by providing value-added services to our customers in this part of the world.”
|
Initially, GMR Aero Technic will provide repair services of nacelles, radomes and flight control surfaces for all narrow-bodies, including Boeing’s 737 NG and MAX aircraft.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Indonesian Air Force (IDAF) has taken delivery of the first of five C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical air-lifters from Lockheed Martin, commemorating a new era in Hercules operations for the longtime C-130 operator.
|
The IDAF's new C-130J-30s offer increased cargo capacity, speed, range, power, performance and lower operating costs over its legacy C-130s to support the IDAF's wide range of mission requirements for decades to come. These new C-130J-30s expand the IDAF's ability to partner on missions and training opportunities with allies and regional forces that also operate Super Hercules.
|
Indonesia has operated C-130s since the 1960s, using its Hercules fleet for critical national and regional missions such as delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief, as well as providing military and peacekeeping support around the Pacific Rim.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strategic Development Fund (SDF), the investment arm of UAE’s Tawazun is investing US$3 million through its venture capital programme in Mayman Aerospace (a JetPack Aviation Corp. brand), the U.S.-based manufacturer of the innovative dual-use Speeder Air Utility Vehicle (AUV).
|
As part of SDF’s strategy to invest in dual-use technologies serving both defence and civilian sectors, SDF recognises Speeder’s transformative capability as a unique and entirely new class of high-performance VTOL aircraft. Speeder delivers a previously impossible combination of compact size, speed, payload and range performance by means of vectored thrust from its gimbaled turbine engines. Such high performance is possible thanks to the energy density of jet fuel, including sustainable aviation fuel. The funds will be used to continue the Speeder flight test programme and progress the aircraft toward certification.
|
“We recognise that Mayman Aerospace has demonstrated unique competence in this highly complex engineering. SDF believes Speeder will deliver valuable, practical applications for defence forces in the very near future. The optimisation of Speeder’s existing propulsion control system, which can be adapted to future technologies, combined with its flexible operating capabilities influenced our decision to invest,” says Mohamed Musabah Al Mazrouei, Director – Investments and Portfolio Management.
|
|
“This investment is testament to SDF’s trust in Mayman Aerospace and belief in our unique technology. Speeder’s potential to support multiple military applications is unparalleled and with the new investment we can transition our high-speed VTOL aircraft from flight test to robust commercialisation. The possibilities are limitless and we are delighted that SDF understands the incredible potential. We look forward to working with them to advance the new era of aviation for the military, civil and commercial sectors,” says David Mayman, CEO and founder Mayman Aerospace.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
click here to download the latest PDF edition
|
|
|
|
click here to download the latest PDF edition
|
click here to subscribe to our other free publications
|
|
AIRCRAFT & ENGINE MARKETPLACE
|
click here to view in PDF aircraft and engines available for sale and lease
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interested in advertising with AviTrader?
|
|
Vice President Sales & Business Development
|
|
|
|
|
