Daily2018-02-20

Tuesday, July 31st, 2018

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LATEST NEWS

1,500-page report on disappearance of flight MH370 sheds no further light and angers relatives

The release of a 1,500-page report into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 four years ago has done little other than disprove a number of previously put forward theories, anger relatives of those who were on board the ill-fated flight who had been hoping for answers, and confirm that investigators still do not know what happened.
Kok Soo Chon was the lead investigator and he has confirmed that the flight certainly deviated from its intended flight path and that this was made under manual control as opposed to the result of system anomalies.
Malaysian investigators confirmed that they had considered every single suggestion, whether a conspiracy theory, rumor or item of gossip, and had narrowed down the reason for the disappearance of the flight to one of seven plausible theories.
Malaysian and Vietnamese air traffic controllers came under specific criticism for a twenty-minute window between when the plane went missing and anyone was alerted, thus delaying search and rescue operations.
The report stated that the pilot and first officer had been well rested and were not under any obvious financial, emotional or psychological stress.
Kok was clear to state that “we cannot rule out unlawful interference by a third party,” in particular pointing to the cessation of all communication and the turning back of the plane. However, it was felt this was not a terrorist attack as no terrorist group had claimed responsibility for the flight’s disappearance.
While Malaysian authorities announced this as a “final” report and though the search for the missing flight was officially called off earlier this year, Kok began the press conference for the release of the report by clarifying that it was not a final report and that the search might continue.

ePlane

Delta to fly nonstop between its Detroit hub and San Jose, Calif.

Delta will debut year-round service linking Silicon Valley and the Motor City on Nov. 15. This route will provide the only nonstop service between Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport and Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport.
"This new nonstop Delta service connects the largest unserved markets from both Detroit and San Jose," said Joe Esposito, Delta's Senior Vice President – Network Planning. "Additionally, Detroit service provides San Jose customers with nonstop access to all seven Delta hubs, opening up more choice and more options for their travel."
With more than 400 daily departures, Detroit is the primary connecting hub for San Jose customers to the U.S. Northeast and Europe.

AerCap Holdings N.V. reports financial results for second quarter 2018

AerCap Holdings N.V. has reported net income of US$254.2 million for the second quarter of 2018 and US$519.6 million for the first half of 2018.
Highlights:
- 90 aircraft transactions executed in the second quarter of 2018, including 17 widebody transactions.
- 20 aircraft purchased for $1.5 billion.
- 6.6 years average age of owned fleet.
- 7.1 years average remaining lease term.
- 98.9% fleet utilization rate for the second quarter of 2018.
- Closed on US$2.7 billion of debt financing.
- US$11.7 billion of available liquidity and adjusted debt/equity ratio of 2.8 to 1.
- Book value per share of US$59.25, an increase of 12% since June 30, 2017.
- Repurchased 1.9 million shares in the second quarter of 2018 for US$101 million.
Basic lease rents were US$1,023.1 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared with US$1,053.5 million for the same period in 2017. The decrease was primarily due to the sale of mid-life and older aircraft from April 2017 through June 2018.
Maintenance rents and other receipts were US$107.9 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared with US$104.1 million for the same period in 2017.
Net gain on sale of assets for the second quarter of 2018 was US$51.2 million, relating to 30 aircraft sold and four aircraft reclassified to finance leases, compared with US$69.5 million for the same period in 2017, relating to 24 aircraft sold and six aircraft reclassified to finance leases. The decrease was primarily due to the composition of asset sales.
Other income for the second quarter of 2018 was US$12.4 million, compared with US$36.7 million for the same period in 2017. Other income for the second quarter of 2017 included contractual payments related to a lease termination agreement.

TP Aerospace

Bombardier delivers another Challenger 650 aircraft to Swiss Air-Rescue Rega

Bombardier has delivered another Challenger 650 aircraft converted into an air ambulance to longstanding customer Swiss Air-Rescue Rega. The Swiss air ambulance service will soon take possession of a third Challenger 650 aircraft, completing the replacement of its earlier-generation Challenger 604 fleet.
Swiss Air-Rescue Rega, a non-profit foundation and one of the world's pioneers in aeromedical evacuation, carries out air-rescue operations in Switzerland with a fleet of 17 rescue helicopters and repatriates patients from abroad with three ambulance jets. Rega acquired its first Challenger aircraft in 1982 and has operated Challenger aircraft ever since.

Luxembourg Defence orders two H145Ms

The Government of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg has ordered two H145M multipurpose helicopters for defence and security missions. Together with the helicopters, Airbus will also provide a training and support package to its customer. The helicopters will be delivered before the end of 2019 and will enter into service beginning of 2020.
With a maximum take-off weight of 3.7 tonnes, the H145M can be used for a wide range of tasks, including troop and passenger transport, surveillance, air rescue, reconnaissance and medical evacuation. The helicopters will be equipped with a hoist, a fast roping system, a high-performance camera, a search light, advanced communication systems and will have provisions to install a light armour protection kit. The latest technologies to allow the helicopter to operate in adverse weather conditions and during nighttime are incorporated in the design. The helicopters will be operated and serviced at Luxembourg Findel Airport.
The H145M is a tried-and-tested light twin-engine helicopter that was first delivered in 2015 to the German Armed Forces and has since been ordered by Hungary, Thailand and the Republic of Serbia. Mission readiness of the H145Ms already in service is above 95%.

AFI KLM 787

Gulf Air adopts Honeywell's GoDirect Flight Efficiency software

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has selected Honeywell’s GoDirect® Flight Efficiency analytics software to reduce fuel costs across its entire Airbus and Boeing fleet and to help minimize the carbon footprint of the airline. The innovative Connected Aircraft service analyzes a multitude of flight-related factors to optimize fuel efficiency, aiming to help the airline reduce its fuel consumption and lower associated operational costs, which can run to hundreds of millions of dollars.
GoDirect Flight Efficiency uses a set of unique algorithms and data analytics to inform fuel-saving decisions both on the flight deck and at the operations base. It allows flight operation crews to find and resolve fuel inefficiencies while informing pilots about shortcuts, optimal climb speeds, cruise altitudes, and other opportunities to reduce fuel usage. Existing users of the service have reported fuel savings of up to 5%.
Honeywell’s GoDirect Flight Efficiency software boasts a user-friendly interface and integrates with existing aircraft components to produce more than 100 predefined analysis reports. These reports improve flight-planning capabilities and empower pilots with unprecedented levels of insight, helping to expand their knowledge of operations and allowing them to learn from previous flights.

First Boeing Apache, Chinook helicopters for India complete inaugural flights

Boeing and India have taken a significant step toward modernizing the Indian Air Force’s helicopter fleet by completing the first flights of Apache and Chinook helicopters destined for delivery next year.
“We look forward to delivering this phenomenal capability to India,” said David Koopersmith, vice president and general manager, Boeing Vertical Lift. “From coastal operations to high-altitude mountainous missions, these aircraft will play vital roles with the Indian armed forces.”
India ultimately will receive 22 AH-64E Apache attack, and 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook transport, helicopters.

C&L Aviation

Bombardier names Doug Cai President, Bombardier Aerospace, China

Effective September 1, 2018, Doug Cai is appointed President, Bombardier Aerospace, China. In this newly created position, based in Shanghai, Cai will work closely with Bombardier’s aerospace units to accelerate commercial and business aircraft sales and drive other business development opportunities across China in support of Bombardier’s growth strategy.
Cai brings more than 20 years of aerospace and industrial experience to Bombardier. Most recently, he served as President, China for the Pratt & Whitney division of United Technologies.

Airbus launches ab initio Pilot Cadet Training Programme

In its latest Global Services Forecast, Airbus predicts that a total of 540,000 new pilots will be needed over the next two decades. To help meet this demand, it is launching the Airbus Pilot Cadet Training Programme to include ab initio training.
The programme is being launched in partnership with Escuela de Aviacion Mexico (EAM), located near to the Airbus Mexico Training Centre. After completing their initial training with EAM, cadets will qualify at the Airbus Mexico Training centre to become Airbus A320 pilots.
Airbus will leverage its EASA-based programme to offer an innovative, high-quality and cost-effective ab initio training. Airbus customers will be able to delegate pilot screening activities and to recruit competent pilots trained to global harmonised standards.
Cadets will benefit from a complete and fully integrated Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) programme built upon Airbus’ high standards and worldwide experience in pilot training. The Airbus Pilot Cadet Training Programme aims to equip cadets with the skills and mindset required to become an “operationally-ready pilot”. Thanks to Airbus’ introduction of competency-based training throughout the entire curriculum, the programme focuses on the all-important development of the key pilot competencies. Global standards set by the Airbus Flight Training reference will ensure a harmonised, high quality training. Airbus also provides a bridge course from local licence to EASA licence, allowing cadets to enlarge their scope of future employers while ensuring the same high standards from a harmonised training curriculum.
The programme will be open to young people over 18 years old who have graduated from high school. Candidates will undergo screening tests online and on-site. The first batch of Airbus cadets is expected to start training in January 2019, graduating in July 2020. Similar partnerships are planned across the globe over the coming years.
Airbus has been offering training courses since its creation some 50 years ago and has always taken a comprehensive and innovative approach via its unique cockpit commonality concept and the regular introduction of the latest technologies or learning concepts (e.g. learning by doing).
Airbus tripled its training locations worldwide in the last few years. With an extensive and growing global network, Airbus has created a complete flight training package, allowing its customers to benefit from its training expertise closer to their home base, ensuring a wider range of competent candidates make it to the cockpit.

MTU

Bombardier’s Belfast plant receives £12m in aid from U.K. Government

On a visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the U.K. government is to provide Bombardier with £12 million (US$15.7 million) in funding for the development of a thrust reverser for the new Airbus A320 NEO nacelle.
Visiting Bombardier’s production line in Belfast, the Chancellor commented: "We are backing Bombardier with £12m of new money to help develop cutting edge technology - here in Northern Ireland - for modern aircraft," adding: "This will help to secure jobs for Northern Ireland's economy and cement the U.K.'s role as a leading manufacturer of hi-tech aircraft components." He also welcomed the new orders for 60 A220s which was announced at the Farnborough International Airshow last week.
The Bombardier plant in Belfast is responsible for the manufacture of the wings for the A220, which was originally the Bombardier CSeries jet prior to Airbus’ investment in the program.
The news of the government funding is the second boost the Belfast plant has received this year. Until recently it was threatened with closure after Boeing launched a complaint against Bombardier over what was suspected to be a ‘dumping’ exercise when Delta Airlines acquired CSeries jets from the Canadian plane manufacturer at below cost price.
The US Department of Commerce recommended a near 300% punitive duty on sales of the jets for five years, putting around 1,000 jobs in Belfast at risk, but the International Trade Commission (ITC) in the U.S. ruled against Boeing and in favor of Bombardier in January.

ISIS arranges lease of Go2Sky's third Boeing 737-800NG aircraft

Go2Sky of Slovakia has leased one Boeing 737-800 aircraft, MSN 32604, from a Dublin-based lessor.
The aircraft was manufactured in 2002 and was previously operated by Hainan Airlines since new. It was delivered in Tallinn on July 25, 2018 after a bridging check, white paint and 189Y reconfiguration performed by Magnetic MRO. The lease was arranged by ISIS Aviation Services of Norwich, England acting as sole agent on behalf of Go2Sky.
Go2Sky is an IOSA-certified ACMI specialist Boeing 737 operator with past clients including prestigious operators such as Lufthansa, Norwegian and TUI.

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