Month: November 2008

Uzbekistan Airways orders 4 767s

Boeing announced that Uzbekistan Airways has ordered four 767-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes.
“We are eager to strengthen our Boeing fleet with 767s to continue competing successfully and meet continued demand for air travel in our region,” said Valeri Tyan, general director of Uzbekistan Airways. “Today’s order is yet another step forward in our strong relationship with Boeing. We look forward to operating the 787 and benefiting from its advanced performance features. Until then, the 767-300ER is the economical and logical choice to fulfill our interim capacity targets and our growth plans.”

Uzbekistan Airways Boeing 767-300ER

Uzbekistan Airways, based in Tashkent, is Uzbekistan’s national airline. In addition to the airplanes ordered, the airline operates six Boeing 757-200s and five 767-300ERs.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

Embraer delivers first E190 to KLM Cityhopper

On Friday Embraer delivered the first EMBRAER 190 jet to KLM cityhopper, the regional airline subsidiary of KLM, during a ceremony to be held at Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The deal with the Dutch airline was announced in August 2007 and includes ten firm orders, plus nine options, for the EMBRAER 190.

KLM Cityhopper Embraer 190

“It is a real pleasure to deliver the first EMBRAER 190 jet to KLM cityhopper and a great honor to see the company as part of the Air France/KLM Group, following France’s Régional, flying their colors on Embraer E-Jets,” said Mauro Kern, Embraer Executive Vice
President, Airline Market. “KLM cityhopper is an important KLM arm that handles a large portion of its highly competitive European
network, and we are proud to see our aircraft playing such a significant role.”

KLM cityhopper’s EMBRAER 190 is configured with 100 seats in a comfortable, single-class layout. The first aircraft entering service will initiate the process of replacing the oldest Fokker 100s, in order to enhance the airline’s operational performance and maintainability. “We are very pleased to take delivery of our first EMBRAER 190 jet, and welcome it into KLM’s European network,” said Michel Coumans, Managing Director of KLM cityhopper. “This aircraft will enable us to improve our operational performance throughout Europe, with a superior product for our customers, while considerably reducing emissions.”

KLM cityhopper is a 100% subsidiary of KLM. The airline runs over 50% of KLM’s European network, and its fleet currently consists of 55 aircraft, including 20 Fokker 100, 21 Fokker 70 and 14 Fokker 50 aircraft. Within the KLM network, KLM cityhopper runs 270 flights a day to 45 destinations.

Source: Embraer
Photo: Embraer

Grupo Marsans orders 61 Airbus aircraft

Airbus S.A.S. Logo Grupo Marsans, the largest tourism and transport group in Spain and fourth in Europe, has signed a firm order with Airbus for the purchase of 61 Airbus aircraft including four A380s, ten A350-900s, five A330-200s and 42 A320 Family aircraft (of which 12 A319s, 25 A320s and five A321s). These aircraft will be operated by Grupo Marsans’ subsidiary or related airlines. This new order adds to the previous order for 12 A330-200s and will bring Grupo Marsans’ total orders with Airbus to 73 aircraft.

On the occasion of the announcement, Gonzalo Pascual, President of Grupo Marsans, said: “This important order allows Grupo Marsans to put into action its mid and long term development plan, to enhance our position on the short and long haul sector by incorporating the most efficient aircraft available on the market today and tomorrow. In addition to the overall fleet enhancement this represents, we are particularly proud that, with the A380, we will become the first A380 customer and operator in Spain and Latin America.”

“This order, which basically covers all our product range, including the most recent ones such as the A380 and A350, represents a major vote of confidence. It will allow Grupo Marsans to benefit from the operational commonality of the Airbus product range in the best way possible,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. “With this purchase, Grupo Marsans, who control various airlines in Europe and Latin America, will have the most efficient and modern aircraft fleet available to further strengthen and develop their operations both within Spain, regionally and internationally”, he added.

Source: Airbus

Learjet Crashed in Mexico City

Several people – including Mexico’s Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino – have been killed in a plane crash in the centre of Mexico City. Juan Camilo Mourino was a mayor figure in Mexico’s increasingly violent fight against drug trafficking cartels.
The Learjet 45 (XC-VMC) crashed into evening rush hour traffic, setting fire to around 20 cars. Around 40 people on the ground were injured. The crash threw the western area of Mexico City into chaos as thousands of motorists were caught up in massive traffic jams.

Video by AP

Video by Reuters

BBC story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7709877.stm

Air China Cargo orders 3 747-400 BCF

Boeing and Air China Cargo today announced that the carrier will add 3 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF) to its cargo fleet.
The modification work on the three Combi airplanes will take place at Taikoo Aircraft Engineering (TAECO) in Xiamen, China. They previously were operated by Air China.

“We look forward to our Boeing 747-400BCFs being of the same high quality as the factory-built freighters we operate,” said Air China Cargo President Yao Jun. “Since Boeing is responsible for the modification, we know that these airplanes will receive the superior customer support that we have come to expect from Boeing.”
Air China Cargo Boeing 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF)
Air China Cargo currently operates eight freighters, including three 747-400 Freighters delivered new in 2005, 2006 and 2008, as well as two other 747-400 Freighters on lease and three 747-200 Freighters.
“The 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter provides an economical solution for Air China Cargo to profitably grow its business,” said Dan da Silva, vice president of Sales for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. “Air China Cargo recognizes, as does the world, the superior reliability, efficiency and value of the 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter.”

Modifications include a side cargo door addition, a strengthened main-deck floor, full main-deck lining installation, provisions for a new cargo handling system and complete revisions to the airplane systems. The 747-400BCF has positions for 30 pallets on the main deck – volume which is comparable to the 747-400 production freighter.

Air China Cargo, which was formed in late 2003, provides cargo services to 36 cities in 27 countries around the world.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

BOC Aviation orders 20 A320 family aircraft

BOC Aviation, the Singapore-based aircraft leasing unit of Bank of China, has placed additional firm orders with Airbus for 20 A320 Family aircraft. The announcement was made today at the Zhuhai Air Show in China.

“Our latest orders reflect ongoing demand for leased aircraft from the A320 Family at both full service and low cost airlines around the world,” said Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, BOC Aviation. “The decision to acquire these additional aircraft also represents a sound investment in a proven asset, offering long term value for our business.”

“The order from BOC Aviation is another vote of confidence in the proven appeal of the A320 Family, especially as airlines around the world look to replace older aircraft with newer, more efficient models,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “It also reflects the proven underlying value of the A320 Family as a long term investment for the aircraft leasing community.”

BOC Aviation, formerly known as Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE), is the largest Asia-based aircraft leasing company. Altogether, the company has now ordered 98 single aisle aircraft directly from Airbus, of which 58 have already been delivered. The lessor also has five A330-200F freighters on firm order for future delivery.

Source: Airbus

Rollout of first F-15SG to Singapore

Boeing today rolled out the first F-15SG jet fighter to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). The F-15SG is a variant of the F-15E.

“The rollout of F-15SG1, on schedule, demonstrates that we’re off to a great start as the RSAF builds to a procurement of 24 F-15SG aircraft,” said Mark Bass, Boeing F-15 Program vice president. “The F-15SG has significant capabilities that will allow the RSAF to expand into new missions with new capabilities and to operate in the sophisticated Singapore defense environment for decades to come.”
The capabilities of the F-15SG are a blend of speed, power and agility – a combination that makes the aircraft the ultimate multirole fighter, versatile in all missions.
“The F-15SG for Singapore moves the RSAF into the next generation of fighter aircraft capability,” said Dan Korte, Boeing vice president and general manager for Global Strike Systems. “We are proud that the F-15 Eagle’s proven legacy and Boeing’s expertise in multirole fighter aircraft continue in the capable hands of the RSAF.”

Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15SG

The F-15SG’s integrated sensor suite, which includes an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and a third-generation SNIPER targeting pod, will provide the RSAF with long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities.

F-15SG1 successfully completed its first flight from Lambert International Airport in St. Louis on Sept. 16. The aircraft now will undergo a one-year flight test program to confirm aircraft performance. Flight testing will take place at Boeing facilities in St. Louis and in Palmdale, Calif. F-15SG production deliveries will begin in the second quarter of 2009. The final aircraft in this procurement will be delivered to the RSAF in 2012.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

AirAsia X received its first A330

AirAsia X, the long haul low cost unit of the Malaysia-based AirAsia Group, has taken delivery of its first new A330-300. The aircraft was handed over at ceremony at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse on Friday.

The new aircraft is the first of 25 A330-300s ordered by AirAsia X for the development of its long haul operation, linking Kuala Lumpur with destinations in Australia, North Asia, the Middle East and Europe, complementing the existing AirAsia network.

AirAsia X Airbus A330-300

Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, the carrier’s new A330 offers accommodation for 383 passengers in a two-class layout, with 355 seats in Economy and 28 in the airline’s new XL premium class.

In total, the AirAsia Group has placed firm orders with Airbus for 200 aircraft, comprising 25 A330s for AirAsia X and 175 single aisle A320s for the short haul operation.

Source: Airbus
Photo: Airbus

Air Europe Boeing 737 overran Runway in Lanzarote

Yesterday Air Europe flight AEA196, a Boeing 737, overran the runway in Lanzarote. The plane came to rest just close to the perimeter fence. Nobody was hurt.

Raw video by BBC

Photos
http://keithhatfield.fotopic.net/p54623518.html
http://keithhatfield.fotopic.net/p54623517.html
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&p=27404158#post27404158

Thanks to prop-er