Category: Aircraft & Engines

Airbus Helicopters in the U.K. is to provide four additional H145 helicopters as part of an expansion of the U.K. Military Flight Training System (UKMFTS). The new helicopters will join the existing fleet of 29 H135s and three H145s, known respectively as Juno and Jupiter in UKMFTS service. They will be delivered during 2020. Operated by Ascent Flight Training Management primarily from RAF Shawbury and also RAF Valley on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, the aircraft are used to train all U.K. military helicopter pilots and rear crew. Airbus Helicopters is fully embedded at both bases as the rotary Read more

Willis Lease Finance has entered into a ConstantAccess™ agreement with Scandinavian Airlines System, whereby Willis Lease will guarantee availability of CFM56-5C engines to cover requirements due to both planned and unplanned removals of engines powering the airline’s fleet of eight A340 aircraft. “Over the next 36 months, as we transition into our new fleet of latest- technology and most fuel-efficient Airbus A350 aircraft, the Willis Lease ConstantAccess™ product will play a critical role providing SAS with a seamless and very efficient engine support transition service,” said Niklas Hårdänge, Vice President of Fleet Management for SAS.

Leonardo’s new Falco Xplorer drone aircraft has performed its maiden flight. Falco Xplorer S/N0001 took off from Trapani Air Force base on January 15, cruised over the Gulf of Trapani in a dedicated fly zone, for around 60 minutes and then returned to base, landing safely. The maiden flight is a significant milestone which has been achieved through technical and engineering support, at the test flight planning stages and with other related activities, by the Italian Air Force Test Flight Centre. The Remotely-Piloted Air System (RPAS), which combines endurance of over 24h with a maximum payload of 350kg, will now Read more

Specialist regional aircraft lessor, TrueNoord, is leasing two new Dash 8-400 aircraft to Philippine Airlines on long-term operating lease agreements. MSN 4610 has been delivered and MSN 4612 will join the fleet in February. These aircraft are the first Dash 8-400 aircraft manufactured by De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited to enter service in TrueNoord’s portfolio and have been financed within the new US$360 million warehouse facility which was announced last October and which is underwritten by Citibank, Société Générale and Royal Bank of Canada. The Dash 8-400 aircraft will enter PAL’s commercial service in February and will be based Read more

Aircraft remarketing specialist Airstream International Group has arranged the lease of an ATR 42-500 aircraft on behalf of Gladiator Leasing Limited. The 2003-manufactured aircraft, serial number 621, was leased to interCaribbean Airways. Airstream continues to enjoy a close relationship with Gladiator Leasing Limited and Erste Bank, having remarketed a number of their aircraft, and is pleased to have arranged the acquisition of interCaribbean’s first ATR42-500.

China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC), a full value-chain aircraft solutions provider for global airlines, has reached an agreement with Airbus on its remaining backlog, and includes an additional order of 40 A321neo aircraft. It also includes a conversion of 15 of its existing A320neo backlog into A321neos. Together with a previous order for 11 A321neos, CALC’s total order for the type rises to 66. CALC’s order is an endorsement for the A321neo and reaffirms the market demand for the aircraft. To date, from CALC’s total order for 252 A320 Family aircraft, 87 have been delivered of which one is an Read more