GippsAero Successfully Completes First Flight Of New Turbo-Prop Aircraft

GippsAero, the Australian aircraft manufacturer and subsidiary of the Mahindra Group, has successfully completed the first flight of its new aircraft, the GA10. The aircraft, which is the first single turbo-prop to be designed and developed in Australia, is a 10 seat multi role aircraft based on the very successful GA8 AIRVAN utility aircraft. The first flight took place at GippsAero’s home base at Latrobe Regional Airport in eastern Victoria on Tuesday the 1st of May 2012.

Powered by a Rolls-Royce 250 turbo prop engine, the GA10 fits a unique niche in the market and will suit a wide range of applications from passenger and freight work to air survey and surveillance roles.

Arvind Mehra, Executive Director and CEO of Mahindra Aerospace said “We are extremely proud of the successful first flight of our first turboprop. It is another important milestone towards reaching our goal of providing a family of economical utility aircraft to the aviation market”

With the completion of first flight the GippsAero engineering team will subject the prototype to an intensive programme of static and flight test to gain a CASA Type Certificate for the GA10. It is anticipated that the new type will be available for customer delivery in the first half of 2013.

The company is also soon to announce details of a deposit program that will provide an opportunity for operators to secure a purchase position.

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Emirates takes delivery of 69th 777-300ER

Emirates took delivery of its 69th Boeing 777-300ER on 16-May-2012

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Boeing Delivers UPS's 50th 767 Freighter

Boeing BA) and UPS celebrated the delivery today of the cargo operator's 50th 767-300 Freighter. The airplane joins the world's largest 767 Freighter fleet.

"The Boeing 767 Freighter is the workhorse of our fleet," said UPS Airlines President Mitch Nichols. "This versatile widebody is an important element in UPS's global logistics network, helping us reach over 200 countries and territories each day."

The 767 Freighter is based on the popular 767-300ER (extended range) passenger airplane. Able to carry approximately 58 tons (52.7 tonnes) of revenue cargo with intercontinental range, the 767 Freighter is ideal for developing new long-haul, regional or feeder markets.

"UPS is one of the world's premiere air-cargo carriers," said John Wojick, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of North America Sales. "They have demonstrated the versatility and high reliability of the 767 Freighter, helping establish it as the preferred airplane for the mid-sized freighter market."

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A330 freighter conversions given go ahead

ST Aerospace and EADS EFW have finalised the agreement to establish the collaboration for the launch of the A330 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversion programme which has been in demand from several of the major Middle Eastern carriers since the MoU for the project was first announced at the Singapore Airshow earlier this year.

ST Aerospace leads the A330P2F engineering development work in collaboration with Airbus and EADS EFW, while EADS EFW will lead the industrial phase and undertake marketing and sales activities, supported by Airbus. Most of the conversions will take place at EADS EFW facilities in Dresden, Germany, with the potential for additional capacity at ST Aerospace.

“The strong demand from airlines for a programme to convert used A330s from passenger configuration into an attractive freighter is clear,” says Tom Williams, EVP of Programmes at Airbus. “Together with ST Aerospace and our sister company EADS EFW we have the perfect partnership to bring efficiency, reliability and profitability to our operators.”

Approximately 2,700 freighters will be required over the next 20 years, and around half of these will be in the mid-sized freighter segment, including 900 conversions. Addressing this requirement, both the A330-200P2F and the A330-300P2F facilitate the change to environmentally-friendly, new-technology converted freighters, while recognising the operators’ focus on capital cost.

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A380 repair bill weighs down EADS profits

Airbus parent EADS spent 158 million euros (A$205m) fixing wing cracks in A380 superjumbo jets during the first quarter of the year, throwing a wrench in its plans to improve the program’s profitability.

Despite the massive repair bill and the wider economic troubles in Europe, however, EADS still reported healthy first-quarter profits of 133 million euros. Revenues climbed 16 per cent from the same period last year to 11.4 billion euros, driven in part by healthy deliveries of commercial aircraft. Airbus has said it expects to deliver about 570 aircraft this year, up from 534 last year.

“Demand for commercial aircraft and civil helicopters remains healthy and our institutional business fared reasonably well despite European budget pressures and an uncertain economic environment,” said Louis Gallois, CEO of EADS, which also includes Eurocopter.

Still, EADS acknowledged that its target of delivering 30 A380s this year has been made “more challenging” by the wing cracks. First discovered late last year, the hairline cracks on brackets connecting metal ribs to the wing’s interior have since been found in virtually the entire global A380 fleet, including those operated by Qantas.

Airbus says the cracks do not pose a safety risk, but the European air safety regulator has ordered inspections of all A380s. EADS said the 158 million euro first-quarter repair bill would be a one-off expense representing a permanent fix to the problem.

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Boeing announces the final leg of 787 Dream Tour

The Boeing (Chicago) 787 Dream Tour will draw to a close with a seventh leg of international trips. During the tour, a refurbished flight test airplane has demonstrated the Dreamliner’s capabilities to more than 59,000 guests with an estimated 6,000 more to see it during the upcoming stops.

On May 23, the airplane known as ZA003 will depart Boeing Field for Sydney, Australia. Airline officials, government representatives, Boeing employees, suppliers and members of the media will tour the airplane during this leg of the tour. Below are the landing dates for each stop during leg seven.

◦May 24 – Sydney, Australia
◦May 29 – Auckland, New Zealand
◦May 31 – Darwin, Australia
◦June 1 – Tashkent, Uzbekistan
◦June 3 – Casablanca, Morocco

Upon completion of the tour, ZA003 will go through a scheduled maintenance period and resume its duties in the 787 flight test fleet. While certification of the baseline 787 models has completed, additional testing is being conducted on airline-specific features, product enhancements, and technologies that will be introduced on the next member of the 787 family, the 787-9

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Bombardier Delivers First Q400 NextGen Aircraft to Polish Carrier Eurolot

Bombardier Aerospace has delivered the first of eightQ400 NextGen turboprop airliners ordered by new customer Eurolot S.A. of Warsaw, Poland. The Polish carrier also holds options on an additional 12 of the aircraft.

Eurolot was represented at the handover ceremony by Bartlomiej Matusewicz, Vice President, Operations & Technical. Several Bombardier employees were also in attendance.

“This is a very important event for Eurolot as it marks the beginning of our fleet renewal and replacement program, as we accelerate our expansion with new regional routes,” said Mr. Matusewicz. “The European market is extremely competitive however, with the introduction of the Q400 NextGen aircraft, we now have a modern, technologically advanced, fuel-efficient, comfortable turboprop with significant operational flexibility and performance capabilities.Bombardier’s Q400 NextGen aircraft will allow us to cover more ground and gain more market access and we’re honoured to be the first airline to introduce the aircraft to the Polish community.”

“Bombardier is making headway in many new markets around the world and the introduction of the first Q400 NextGenaircraft to Poland speaks to our global reach and to the aircraft’s operating flexibility,” said Chet Fuller, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “We are proud to see our Q400 NextGen aircraft in Eurolot’s colors. With its jet-like speed, strong environmental credentials and enhanced interior, we know that the Q400 NextGen aircraft will be an excellent addition to the airline’s fleet.

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Airbus is displaying an ACJ319 at EBACE

Features widest and tallest cabin of any business jet

Airbus is again exhibiting an ACJ319 at the EBACE show in Geneva, giving visitors the opportunity to see how the widest and tallest corporate jet cabin fits into the same ramp space as traditional business jets.
The Airbus ACJ319 is the newest in the Comlux fleet, is being exhibited for the first time, and features a cabin by Comlux America. It is certificated to carry 19 passengers, and features lounge areas, club seating and two private rooms that convert to bedrooms, one of which has an ensuite bathroom.
More than 15 Airbus corporate jets are offered for VVIP charter worldwide by almost 15 companies, highlighting their popular appeal.
“Exhibiting an Airbus corporate jet alongside traditional offerings from other manufacturers allows potential customers to see and touch what we have to offer, which is quite simply the best cabin in the sky,” comments Airbus COO, Customers, John Leahy. “Airbus corporate jet cabins offer more where it counts, in comfort, space and freedom of movement,” he adds.
With extra fuel-tanks for intercontinental range, the Airbus ACJ319 can fly nonstop from Europe to much of Africa, the Americas and Asia, and one-stop to most of the world.
Airbus corporate jets are derived from the world’s most modern aircraft family, delivering benefits such as fuel-efficiency, reliability and ease of maintenance.
These benefits are enhanced by regular product improvements, which enable them to maintain their competitive edge over time.
Airbus corporate jets have won some 170 orders since the company delivered its first corporate jet in the mid-Eighties, and are the only bizjets flying on every continent, including Antarctica.

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