Maintenance

16.07.2010 2:00

Signature adds Falcon 2000 after UK approval

Signature Aircraft Charter has added its first Dassault Falcon 2000 to its charter fleet following UK Civil Aviation Authority approval. The Luton, UK-based operator becomes the first European charter company to operate the type. The fixed-base operator (FBO) is building an additional 7,000m2 (75,000ft2) hangar at Luton next year and is looking to acquire up to five more FBOs through partnership in major European financial centres. Signature operates at Paris Le Bourget as well as Luton and Southampton in the UK. The company lost flight support operations at London City this month after the airport decided to run business aviation facilities itself after rejecting nine tenders. [Read more]

16.07.2010 2:00

Partners go ahead with broadband services

The aerospace consortium comprising Airbus, ARINC, Astrium and Tenzing Communications intends to complete the business plan for its broadband connectivity services next month. The partners are going ahead with development of broadband entertainment and communication services despite the downturn and intend to start testing their services on the Airbus Flight Information System (AFIS) testbed in February, according to Simon Glenister, ARINC marketing director. The services, which will compete with Boeing's Connexion, will form part of AFIS, which is intended to connect an aircraft to the ground in real-time (Flight International 18-24 September). The initial focus of the services is passenger internet and live television, but will include cockpit and cabin crew communication services. Although the post-11 September crisis is expected to slow the take-up of new in-flight services, the partners still believe there will be a few early pioneers of broadband conne [Read more]

16.07.2010 2:00

TAT to evaluate Ansat and BK117

VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW West Siberia-based operator plans to add 25 helicopters and 10 turboprops to fleets over next five years Russian airline and heavylift helicopter operator Tyumen Avia Trans (TAT) plans to upgrade its helicopter fleet over the next five years with 25 medium-weight helicopters. The West Siberia-based operator has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kazan Helicopters for the Ansat light utility helicopter and is also evaluating the Eurocopter BK117 to add to its fleet of 18 Mil Mi-26s, sevenMi-10s, eight Mi-6s and 141 Mi-8s. TAT's MoU with Kazan is for the Ansat, powered by two Pratt Whitney-Rus PK207 engines and fitted with western avionics. As an alternative, TAT is considering the BK117, the purchase of which would be dependent on the Russian government lifting a 30% import duty on foreign aircraft, which effectively prohibits such deals. Eurocopter would also have to establish a maintenance base at TA [Read more]

16.07.2010 2:00

Slump ends boom in entertainment

Spending on in-flight entertainment (IFE) and communications is expected to fall this year for the first time in 10 years as airlines defer and cancel aircraft deliveries. The end of the IFE boom is also expected to hit the take-up of new technologies, particularly broadband connectivity. Broad-band services will need to be justified on the basis of operational requirements and not just passenger entertainment, according to IFE specialist training and consultancy company Inflight Management Development Centre (IMDC). Before 11 September, airline spending on IFE this year was expected to top $2.2 billion, up from $2.02 billion last year. In its Inflight Entertainment and Communications Outlook 2001, IMDC now predicts it will fall to $1.95 billion. It is the first time since the early 1990s that IFE spending has failed to rise as airlines moved towards seatback systems, says IMDC's Wale Adepoju. IMDC says that due to the downturn the main IFE system s [Read more]

15.07.2010 2:00

Pacific Aerospace makes major push into Mexico and South America

New Zealand aircraft-maker Pacific Aerospace has received regulatory approval from Mexico for its P-750 XSTOL single turboprop and has applied for approval... [Read more]

14.07.2010 2:00

Japan issues request for information for VIP jets

Japan has issued a request for information for business aircraft to provide VIP transport for the country's top politicians. It is unclear however if the government will proceed with a deal [Read more]

14.07.2010 2:00

Cobham expands Australian operation with BAe jets

Cobham Aviation Services Australia has leased two more jets from BAE Systems, paving the way for the multinational company to expand its air service offering... [Read more]

14.07.2010 2:00

Business aviation in brief

Avinode has launched a new empty leg link that allows charter providers to market empty legs from its online charter marketplace straight to end-users via the operator's website. [Read more]