BlueBird Aero Systems completes delivery of 100 VTOL UAVs to European customer

Wander B VTOL ©BlueBird Aero Systems

BlueBird Aero Systems, partially owned (50% of shares) by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has completed the delivery of 100 WanderB-VTOL UAVs to a European customer. The Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAVs are part of a transaction involving over 150 WanderB-VTOL and ThunderB-VTOL UAVs worth tens of millions of dollars (USD). This is the world’s largest number of VTOL UAVs delivered to any customer at one time, and was completed within the agreed timetable despite COVID-19 conditions. The transaction reflects a globally emerging trend of VTOL UAVs, which provide important benefits for land and maritime applications as they combine the Read more

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Airbus establishes Zero-Emission Development Centres in Germany and France

ZEROe concept aircraft formation flight ©Airbus

Airbus has decided to concentrate its efforts for metallic hydrogen tanks in a complementary setup by creating Zero-Emission Development Centres (ZEDC) at its sites in Bremen (Germany) and in Nantes (France). The goal of the ZEDC is to achieve cost-competitive cryogenic tank manufacturing to support the successful future market launch of ZEROe and to accelerate the development of hydrogen-propulsion technologies. The design and integration of tank structures is crucial to the performance of a future hydrogen aircraft. The technology developments will cover the full product and industrial capabilities from elementary parts, assembly, systems integration and the cryogenic testing of the Read more

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Emirates records annual loss of US$6.0 billion

©Emirates

The Emirates Group has posted its first year of loss in over 30 years caused by a significant drop in revenue, fully attributed to the impact of COVID-19 related flight and travel restrictions throughout its entire financial year 2020-21. The Emirates Group posted a loss of AED 22.1 billion (US$6.0 billion) for the financial year ended March 31, 2021 compared with an AED 1.7 billion (US$ 456 million) profit for last year. The Group’s revenue was AED 35.6 billion (US$ 9.7 billion), a decline of 66% over last year’s results. The Group’s cash balance was AED 19.8 billion (US$ 5.4 Read more

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SPI to manage donation of multiple jet engines from Cadence Business Finance to aircraft mechanic training programs

General Electric CF34 jet engine

On behalf of Cadence Business Finance (CBF), Sage-Popovich (SPI) will be coordinating the donation of multiple CF34 and ALF 502 engines to aviation mechanic schools. Nick Popovich, the company Chairman, has always supported the aviation learning community. When it came time to clear these engines out of storage, the CBF team generously offered them up for donation to any aircraft mechanic school for training purposes. The General Electric CF34 is a turbofan jet engine used on a number of business and regional jets, including the Bombardier Challenger and CRJ series, the Embraer E-Jets, and the Comac ARJ21. First manufactured in Read more

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ASQS expands global footprint with office opening in Calgary

ASQS (Advanced Safety and Quality Solutions), a leading Vienna-based aviation quality and safety management software provider, has announced the opening of its new office in Calgary, Alberta. The subsidiary in Calgary, ASQS Safety and Quality Solutions Inc., will allow ASQS to further expand not only its global footprint but also its customer support services by being available to clients and prospects in three time zones beginning June 2021. Since its foundation in 2009, ASQS has grown its client base to more than 220 aviation companies including small to large airlines, helicopter and business jet operators, ground handling agents/FBOs, MROs and Read more

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Archer unveils two-seater prototype eVTOL as forerunner to five-seat urban taxi

The two-seater prototype eVTOL uban taxi "Maker" ©Archer

Santa Clara-based aviation startup Archer Aviation (Archer) unveiled its new two-seat electric vertical and take-off (eVTOL) urban taxi in Los Angles on June 10. Given the name ‘Maker’, the aircraft is a prototype of a four-passenger (five-seater) eVTOL aircraft it anticipates launching in 2024. Maker has a top speed of 150mph, has a range of 60 miles, weighs 3,324lbs and has 12 rotors –  six to the front and six to the rear of its 40-foot wings. Maker is a “full-scale, two-passenger demonstrator aircraft,” said Adam Goldstein, one of Archer’s co-founders. “Its purpose is to serve as a certification test Read more

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Vallair leases first Airbus A321F in Europe to SmartLynx Malta

SmartLynx Malta will operate the A321F on behalf of DHL ©Vallair

Vallair, the mature aircraft asset and cargo conversion specialist dedicated to the support of both operators and lessors, has delivered its second Airbus A321 freighter conversion. This is the first ever A321F to be operated by a European based carrier.  Having received its STC from the FAA in April 2021, the aircraft bearing MSN 891, has been prepared for delivery at Vallair’s specialist MRO & Painting facility in Montpellier, France immediately following its conversion in the U.S.A. The aircraft has been leased by Vallair to SmartLynx Malta who will now operate the aircraft on behalf of DHL. Maintenance requirements for Read more

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GOL to acquire Brazilian airline MAP Transportes Aéreos

GOL Boeing 737 MAX 8 ©AirTeamImages

GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A., Brazil’s largest domestic airline, has entered into an agreement to acquire Manaus-based MAP Transportes Aéreos (MAP), a Brazilian domestic airline with flight routes to regional destinations and São Paulo’s Congonhas Airport. The acquisition reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to expanding the demand for passenger air transportation in Brazil and what its management perceives to be an unparalleled market opportunity for rational consolidation in the Brazilian aviation market, as the country’s economy recovers from COVID-19. “Over the past year, we have consistently emphasized that GOL is well-positioned for growth in the post-pandemic cycle, due to prudent Read more

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Air New Zealand to establish crew base in Brisbane

Air New Zealand Airbus A320 ©AirTeamImages

Air New Zealand has extended its agreement with the Australian Government to operate flights between Norfolk Island and Australia from August 30, 2021 until the end of August 2023. Under the agreement, Air New Zealand will use its A320 aircraft to operate up to three flights per week from Brisbane and three flights from Sydney. Air New Zealand Chief Operating Officer Carrie Hurihanganui says the airline will establish a temporary pilot and cabin crew base in Brisbane until November 30, to ensure potential disruptions to the travel bubble will not affect continuity of services to Norfolk Island. “Prior to the trans-Tasman bubble opening, crew operating domestic Read more

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Ed Sims President and CEO of WestJet to retire

Ed Sims

WestJet has reported that President and CEO, Ed Sims, will retire at the end of 2021. In four years with WestJet, Sims was responsible for the successful introduction of the company’s Boeing 787 long-haul aircraft, the launch of two new airline ventures, the significant expansion of WestJet’s international network, as well as the continued growth of WestJet Vacations, WestJet Cargo, and the WestJet Rewards program. Sims will remain as President and Chief Executive, as well as a member of the WestJet Group board of directors until December 2021. Moving forward, he will continue in a senior advisory role with Onex Read more

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