Category: Aircraft & Engines

Airbus Helicopters has secured an H160 order from Derazona Helicopters in Indonesia, launching this new rotorcraft in the country’s oil and gas sector. The multi-mission H160 will play an important role in the expansion plans of the Indonesian operator for oil and gas, off-shore, utility and commercial passenger transportation. The aircraft has been designed from the very beginning to comply with the demanding conditions of oil and gas operations. The aircraft’s compact size will be an added advantage to landing on oil platforms. Powered by Safran Helicopter Engines’ latest Arrano engines, the H160 enjoys a 15% reduction in fuel burn, Read more

On behalf of a U.S.-based regional aircraft specialist, Skyworld Aviation has sold an Embraer ERJ 145 LR aircraft, serial number 14500842, to a new private operator of the type – XE Jet. The aircraft will ferry to South Africa for base maintenance prior to entering domestic service in Nigeria during late May under its new registration 5N-BZM.  XE Jet plans to put three ERJ 145 aircraft into service during the first half of 2021. This is the 9th aircraft/major component transaction Skyworld has carried out for the previous owner who specializes in trading / leasing of aircraft and component support in the regional aircraft sector.

Tigerair Taiwan has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. The airline placed the initial engine order in 2019 and has a mixed fleet of 15 purchased and leased aircraft. Tigerair Taiwan, a low-cost carrier established in 2014 and headquartered in Taiwan, is a subsidiary of China Airlines and currently operates 11 A320ceo aircraft powered by the V2500® engine. The airline believes that Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines will help it become more environmentally sustainable, while also becoming more competitive as a low-cost carrier (LCC). “We are thrilled to receive our first A320neo Read more

Predicting the weather even more accurately, analyzing climate changes even more precisely, researching even better how the world is developing. This is the goal of a globally unique cooperation between Lufthansa and several research institutes. Converting an aircraft into a climate research plane poses major challenges. Lufthansa has chosen the most modern and economical long-haul jet in its fleet – an Airbus A350-900 named “Erfurt” (registration D-AIXJ). In three stages, the “Erfurt” will now become a flying research laboratory.  In Lufthansa Technik’s hangar in Malta, the first and most extensive conversion work was carried out. Preparations were made for a Read more

The Pegasus Vertical Business Jet (VBJ), being developed in South Africa, is entering its next phase with two quarter-scale models which will be ready for testing and engineering by May 2021 and a full-scale, unmanned hover model by the end of the year. This follows the successful hover demonstration of a 1/8-scale model in July last year and the registration of patent rights in South Africa, Europe, and the U.S. The aircraft is set to revolutionize business travel globally and free travelers from the burden of the time-consuming drive to the airport. The aircraft, which combines and enhances the characteristics Read more

Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced that it has taken the decision to retire its 13 Pratt & Whitney-powered Boeing 777s a year earlier than scheduled. The news follows on from the grounding of the aircraft in February after a United Airlines 777 with Pratt & Whitney engines shed debris after what was later identified as a cracked fan blade consistent with metal fatigue. In February, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had ordered immediate inspection of all 777 planes with PW4000 engines before further flights. In addition, JAL had a problem last December with a Tokyo-bound 777 with Pratt & Whitney Read more

Robinson Helicopter Company has delivered one R66 Police Helicopter, serial number 1025, to Florida’s Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO). PCSO’s R66 Police helicopter is the first R66 Police helicopter configured with a Wescam MX-10 EO/IR imaging system and an HD infrared sensor, a system widely used by homeland security and law enforcement agencies. In addition to a standard Spectrolab SX-7 Starsun searchlight system, PCSO’s R66 includes an optional Aerocomputers UC-6000 digital mapping system, auxiliary fuel tank, impact resistant windshield, Garmin’s G500H TXi 1060 flight display with synthetic vision, and NVG-rated instruments for a future NVG certification. PCSO air support flies Read more