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LATEST NEWS
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Monday, November 18th, 2019
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Virgin Galactic unveiled its Future Astronaut Readiness Program at the global headquarters of Under Armour, who are providing the spacesuits for all Virgin Galactic’s customers. A number of Future astronauts, who will be among the first to participate in space flight with Virgin Galactic, were in attendance and underwent guidance and instruction from a number of key team members, as well as carrying out certain flight preparation activities.
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For those in attendance, the most exciting part of the experience was being fitted for their personal space suits, which will then be ready for them when they venture into space. All passengers will then be allowed to keep their space suit after they have completed their space flight from Spaceport America. In a press release issued by Virgin Galactic” it stated that: “As part of the Readiness Program, in sessions led by Chief Astronaut Instructor, Beth Moses, and Chief Pilot, Dave Mackay, we shared more detailed information with Future Astronauts about what to expect from preparation time at Spaceport America and from the spaceflight itself. Both Beth and Dave flew to space in February this year, so were able to provide exciting insights based on actual experience.”
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All future astronauts will have to undergo rigorous training, meet specific fitness levels that are applicable to all government space agency astronauts, and will also be subject to a rigorous medical examination and specially designed medical consultations from the in-house medical team. In the press release, George Whitesides, CEO, Virgin Galactic, said: ‘’Introducing our Astronaut Readiness Program to our first customers marks an exciting point in our journey as we move closer to the start of commercial service. It is an important step in the process to ensure that our customers are prepared and equipped with the knowledge and training that will help ensure that they savor every second of their spaceflight which we hope will go beyond expectations. My introduction to Virgin Galactic was as a customer, so I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of involving Future Astronauts as we prepare each individual for the trip of a lifetime.’’
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Currently, Virgin Galactic has over 600 Future Astronauts from 60 countries signed up to fly on its SpaceShipTwo.
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Boeing and Biman Bangladesh Airlines (Biman) announced at the 2019 Dubai Airshow that the carrier is expanding its 787 Dreamliner fleet with two additional airplanes valued at US$585 million at list prices.
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The purchase – recorded in October as an unidentified order on Boeing's website – complements Biman's fleet of 787-8 jets with the larger and longer-range 787-9 variant. The national flag carrier of Bangladesh says the addition of the 787-9 will help modernize its fleet and expand its international network.
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MRO solutions provider Sanad Aerotech, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company PJSC (Mubadala), has signed a landmark agreement with GE Aviation (GE) to provide maintenance services to GE for the next-generation of narrow body and wide body aircraft. Under this agreement, the Abu Dhabi based company will provide performance restoration overhaul services on the GEnx-1B engine as well as continued time (quick turn) overhauls on CFM International's LEAP engines for GE.
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Effective January 1, 2020, Sanad Aerotech will expand its existing maintenance and repair services to include full overhaul on 315 GEnx engines until 2035, and quick turn on 237 LEAP engines until 2030 at its Abu Dhabi shop.
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The LEAP engine, which powers Boeing, Airbus aircraft and Comac C919 boasts a 18,000-plus worldwide order book, making it the world's most in-demand commercial airplane engine.
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Joramco, the Amman based MRO and the engineering arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has won another base maintenance contract from Kenya Airways, Kenya’s flag carrier, to perform seven heavy checks and modifications on its 787 aircraft. The checks will commence in 2020, between January and September.
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A new customer for Joramco is Corendon Airlines, a Turkish leisure airline headquartered in Antalya. The airline has signed its first agreement with Joramco for heavy maintenance work on four Boing 737NG aircraft of the carrier’s fleet. These checks are planned to commence during Winter 2019/2020.
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Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has delivered the first of two factory new Airbus A350-900 aircraft to Fiji Airways during a delivery ceremony at the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France. Both aircraft are being delivered on long-term leases.
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The Airbus A350 XWB is the first of the type to enter Fiji Airways’ fleet, making Fiji Airways the first airline in the South Pacific region to operate this all-new, modern aircraft. The technologically advanced, fuel efficient aircraft will position Fiji Airways as a leader of the environmentally conscious, sustainable travel industry in the South Pacific.
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Jet Aviation Dubai and the University of South Wales (USW) Dubai have announced their cooperation to help support the development of aspiring aviation professionals. Effective immediately, Jet Aviation will provide required on-the-job training opportunities to students in Dubai enrolled at USW Dubai, while USW will support tuition for qualified Jet Aviation employees.
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This collaboration will help to help build an industry-ready cohort of local aircraft maintenance engineers and related professionals for the aviation industry, fostering teaching, learning, training and knowledge transfer to aspiring aviation professionals in Dubai.
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Jet Aviation’s EASA, FAA and GCAA approved maintenance facility in Dubai will cooperate with USW by offering industrial training and internships to aviation students at USW Dubai. Meanwhile, USW will provide Jet Aviation employees with the unique development opportunity of pursuing a BSc in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering or an MSc in Aviation Engineering and Management at the USW Dubai Campus.
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Embraer and Cairo-based CIAF Leasing have signed a firm order for three E190 aircraft. The deal has a value of US$161.4 million at current list prices and will be added to Embraer’s fourth quarter backlog. The three new aircraft will join CIAF’s existing fleet of three E170s, two of which are on lease with Jasmin Airways, the other with Air Cairo. CIAF are also due to receive two E195s in mid-November.
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Furthermore Air Peace has decided to order three additional E195-E2s, confirming purchase rights from the original contract, signed in April this year. The order was signed on November 17, at the Dubai Air Show.
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These new E195-E2s will be included in Embraer’s 2019 fourth-quarter backlog and have a value of US$212.6 million, based on Embraer’s current list prices. Set to be the first E-Jets E2 operator in Africa, Air Peace’s firm order, announced in April this year, is now for 13 E195-E2s with 17 purchase rights for the same model. The first delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of 2020.
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BOC Aviation has delivered the first of ten new Airbus A320neo aircraft to Air China. The aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF™ PW1100G-JM engines.
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SalamAir and GECAS have entered into a lease agreement for two Airbus A321neo to enter service with Oman’s first low-cost carrier. The aircraft are from GECAS’ new order skyline and are outfit with the latest technology CFM-LEAP engines.
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Based in Oman’s Muscat International Airport and serving routes between 28 destinations across 16 countries, SalamAir will be among the first to operate the A321neo in the Middle East.
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AeroCentury an independent aircraft leasing company, has reported a third quarter 2019 net loss of US$8.2 million, compared to a net loss of US$4.5 million for the third quarter of 2018. In the first nine months of 2019, the Company reported a net loss of US$9.6 million, compared to net loss of US$4.2 million in the first nine months of 2018.
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Third quarter and year-to-date 2019 results reflect the combined operations of AeroCentury and its subsidiary, JetFleet Holding (JetFleet), which was acquired by the Company on October 1, 2018.
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EBITDA was (US$5.2) million compared to US$5.3 million in the preceding quarter and US$0.1 million a year ago. Average portfolio utilization was 97% during the third quarter of 2019, compared to 98% during the second quarter and 93% in the third quarter of 2018. The decrease from the second quarter was a result of the return of four aircraft in late September 2019. The increase from the previous year was a result of the purchase of two on-lease aircraft during the second quarter of 2018 and sales of off-lease assets during the second half of 2018. Total revenues increased 235% to US$24.0 million for the third quarter of 2019, compared to US$7.2 million in the preceding quarter, and increased 375% from US$5.1 million in the third quarter a year ago.
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Total operating expenses increased 374% to US$34.5 million from US$7.3 million in the preceding quarter, and increased 220% from US$10.8 million in the year-ago quarter.
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Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first of two H145M multipurpose helicopters for defence and security missions to the Government of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg.
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Together with the helicopters, Airbus also provides a training and support package to its customer. The delivery of the second helicopter is scheduled before the end of the year. The delivered H145M is the first H145 in Luxembourg.
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Dedienne Aerospace is expanding its United Arab Emirates footprint by moving into a new facility in Dubai Jebel Ali, to accommodate continued business growth.
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Strategically located on a logistic corridor between the main Dubai Port and the main Dubai Cargo Airport (DWC), the new 3000 m² facility will supply aerospace tooling, maintenance and support services for the growing GCC market, along with Africa and Turkey, with it’s prestigious tooling/GSE solutions. The new site will have great proximity to Dubai South Zone, the new aviation district of Dubai, allowing even faster, responsive servicing of Dedienne Aerospace’s customers for years to come. Operational in February 2020, Dedienne Aerospace Dubai will provide a large range of products and services to support CFM, LEAP, GE, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney programs, aiming to strengthen supply to airline customers such as Emirates, Etihad, Fly Dubai of the UAE, as well Turkish Technik, Joramco and the further expanding African market.
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With infrastructure in Singapore, Mexico, Europe, China and the America’s, Dedienne Aerospace consolidates its worldwide presence with this new Dubai facility dedicated to the Middle-East and Africa customers. The geographic proximity and in-region expertise is a major asset to support LEAP & GE customers on-site for example, with the support and resources of the global Dedienne network too. Dedienne’s expertise with EIS provisioning will be of crucial value in the region, as airline customers enter into service with the inaugural GE9X engine, as well as the ever-expanding CFM and Rolls Royce engine programs, of which we are holding long-standing experience in supply and excellent aftermarket support.
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Work on the first head-of-state cabin conversion of an Airbus A350 long-haul aircraft will begin next year at Lufthansa Technik. The German Federal Government's Special Air Mission Wing, will be the user of the aircraft. It will be equipped with a special transitional cabin for the transportation of delegations.
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The transitional cabin will be tailored precisely to the customer's specific requirements, featuring an office area and spacious conference area, adjoined by a multi-functional lounge area. The rest of the cabin area will be available to the accompanying delegations.
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It will be equipped with modern, comfortable seats, a generous number of washrooms and a kitchen designed to cater for up to 150 people. Preparations have already begun at the company's VIP workshops in Hamburg, where the aircraft is expected in April 2020.
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