Supernal and Sigma Air Mobility Collaborate on AAM Market Development

Supernal LLC – Hyundai Motor Group's (HMG) Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company – and Sigma Air Mobility – a Luxaviation Group company – today announced a joint effort to identify and develop targeted markets for future AAM infrastructure and investments, targeting key markets in South and Southeast Asia and potential opportunities in Southern Europe. The collaboration is intended to leverage the companies' combined expertise to lead in the visioning, launch and scale-up of decarbonized and accessible air mobility networks in these regions, with Sigma operating Supernal electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and providing vertiport development and operations and related services.

Announced at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow, the partnership unites Supernal and HMG's expertise in eVTOL design and manufacturing with Sigma and Luxaviation Group's global presence and extensive expertise in aviation fleet and infrastructure operations, training and technical services. Together the two parent companies operate in more than 60 countries, with HMG's global presence in 42 countries and Luxaviation operating in 23.

Supernal is reimagining intra-city mobility through the creation of an eVTOL vehicle that will travel 60 miles and cruise at 120 miles-per-hour to meet the growing demand for efficient transportation options in urban environments. Supernal is displaying S-A2, its full-scale eVTOL vehicle product concept, at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow. Supernal will achieve commercial aviation safety levels and enable scalable manufacturing of its vehicles, aligning its development timeline with the broader ecosystem to enable operators to enter the market in 2028.

Avolon expands CFM portfolio with 150 LEAP-1A engines

       Avolon, a leading global aviation finance company, announced an order for 150 LEAP-1A engines to power 75 new Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The agreement also includes purchase rights for 150 additional LEAP-1A engines.

"These engines will power our orderbook of A320neo family aircraft and put us in an excellent position to service our customers narrowbody requirements out to 2030 and beyond," said Andy Cronin, CEO of Avolon. "Engine innovation has been one of the key tools to lower emissions and support the industry's decarbonization journey. We are delighted to continue our strong partnership with CFM International, and excited about leveraging their engines to support the transition of our fleet to more fuel-efficient technology."

Avolon, which has been a CFM customer since its launch in 2010, has a portfolio of 323 CFM-powered aircraft, including CFM56 and LEAP, as well as 180 aircraft powered by LEAP engines on order. 

Berniq Airways orders six A320neo Family aircraft to support growth

Berniq Airways, Libya’s airline, has placed a firm order with Airbus for six A320neo Family aircraft. The airline already operates six A320s and intends to further develop its regional and international routes with the additional A320neo Family aircraft.

Waseem Ezzway, Chairman of Berniq Airways said, "We are proud to be the first airline in Libya to order the advanced A320neo Family aircraft. This significant investment marks a new chapter for Berniq Airways as we continue to lead the way in modernizing our fleet and enhancing our service offerings.”

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business said, “It is a pleasure to see Berniq Airways expanding its fleet with the world's best-in-class single-aisle aircraft. The A320neo family will enable Berniq Airways to provide its customers with unparalleled comfort while offering the airline exceptional economic advantages.”

The A320 Family is the world’s most popular single-aisle aircraft having won more than 18,000 orders from more than 300 customers around the world. The A321neo is the largest member of Airbus’ A320neo Family, offering unparalleled range and performance. By incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo brings a 50% noise reduction and at least 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximising passenger comfort in the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky.

As with all Airbus aircraft, the entire A320 Family is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The manufacturer is targeting to have its aircraft up to 100% SAF capable by 2030.

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American Airlines to launch automated tag for mobility devices

American Airlines to launch an automated tag for mobility devices, part of an ongoing commitment to improve wheelchair and mobility device handling across its network. Developed in-house by American’s Technology team, the tags are currently used in the airports where American and its regional partners operate.

“American is committed to improving the travel experience for our customers who use wheelchairs and mobility devices,” said Julie Rath, American’s Senior Vice President of Airports, Reservations and Service Recovery. “Streamlining the check-in and tagging process is an industry-leading effort that will help us further improve how we handle wheelchairs for our customers who entrust us to transport their devices on their journey.”

New automated tags, replacing the previous manual tags, feature customer- and device-specific data like itineraries, delivery points, device weight, battery type and the number of items removed and taken on board. This additional information will ensure more accurate and consistent information for team members handling the devices and provide enhanced visibility of the devices throughout customers’ travel journeys. The automation also enables the device's information to be more easily shared across frontline team members’ applications, ensuring team members have the right information at the right time.

American has launched multiple improvements across its operation to deliver a positive, more seamless travel experience for customers with wheelchairs and mobility devices. These actions have helped American improve handling of these devices. American’s handling rate for mobility devices improved by nearly 13% from the first half of 2023 to the first half of 2024.

Hands-on training for team members: With the help of an outside organization, American offers in-person mobility device training to its Airport Customer Service and Customer Operations team members and vendor partners, which supplements comprehensive web-based training delivered to all American airport team members.

Investing in airport infrastructure: Wheelchair movers have been deployed and lifts are being installed at the airline’s hubs and other airports with high mobility device traffic, which helps lower the risk of damaging mobility devices and team member injury.

Streamlining the traveller experience: American made it easier for customers to add and maintain wheelchairs and other mobility devices as part of their travel profiles. Starting this fall, customers can conveniently access their saved travel preferences, such as traveling with a mobility device or service animal and apply their details to any upcoming trip when managing on aa.com. Enabling customers to manage these needs digitally ensures the airline has the necessary information to safety and securely transport devices.

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Airports under attack.....

European airports have been warned they now face unprecedented attacks by various eco-terrorist groups such as Just Stop Oil,  Last Generation and Folk Mot Fossilmakten. The campaign groups have sped up their 'international uprising' for the height of summer travel getaways and there are said to be plans for a mass invasion of both Orly and Charles de Gaulle Airports in Paris in the opening days of the Olympics.

Nine Just Stop Oil members have been arrested at London's Heathrow Airport on suspicion of conspiring to interfere with a site of key national infrastructure under the Public Order Act. The group had planned to cut through the security fence in multiple locations and block one of the main runways. 

Scores of flights have been cancelled, delayed or diverted at Cologne-Bonn Airport today after five terrorists from Last Generation glued themselves to the tarmac on the taxiway and all operations had to be halted. 

Oil Kills confirmed that five of its activists had been intercepted at Barcelona El Prat Airport before they could damage too much property. In Finland, other protesters blocked security gates at Helsinki Vantaa Airport and another group Folk Mot Fossilmakten cut through the security fence in Oslo to block a taxiway at Gardermoen Airport before officers removed them some 30 minutes later.

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Pilot survives as 18 people perish in Kathmandu plane crash

The pilot is the only survivor of a plane crash at Nepal's capital, Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. It is understood that eighteen other people perished in the plane crash that appears to have caught fire just after its take-off from the airport on Wednesday.

 

The aircraft, belonging to Saurya Airlines is said to have been carrying out a test flight with 17 company employees and two crew at the time of the crash. The flight was scheduled to go to Pokhara in the country's west, a key tourist hub. 

The flight was part of a routine maintenance check and crashed at around 05:30GMT,  that's about 11:15 local time, just moments after take off.  An eyewitness told the AFP news agency "There was a very loud noise, it sounded like maybe a truck had overturned on the road.  We ran after we saw [the crash]. The plane then hit the ground and caught fire. We were about to run to the site but then there was an explosion so we ran away again,"

"Shortly after takeoff ... the aircraft veered off to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway," the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal advised in a statement.  In videos of the scene, it appears that the aircraft tilted sideways before attempting to level out and hitting the ground, close to the airport. 

Dan Bahadur Karki, a spokesperson for the local police told BBC Nepali 'that the pilot sustained injuries to his eyes and forehead but was not in a life-threatening condition. 

Mukesh Khanal, head of marketing at Saurya Airlines said: The plane was scheduled to undergo maintenance for a month beginning Thursday ... It is unclear why it crashed"

It is understood the aircraft was one of two Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jets Saurya Airlines has in its fleet

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Qatar Airways orders 20 extra Boeing 777-9 jets.......

Boeing and Qatar Airways announced this week at the Farnborough AirShow an order for 20 more Boeing 777-9 aeroplanes, but it is not a new order,  it is a recycled order by Boeing to enhance its media reputation at the air show. The order was originally announced earlier this year and was marked as unidentified on Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website.

"Qatar Airways is proud to announce an expansion to the existing Boeing 777X aircraft order with an additional 20, totalling 94 Boeing 777X aircraft," said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer. "

"Qatar Airways is a leader in our industry, and we are honored the airline added 20 more 777-9 jets to its large Boeing order book," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We appreciate their confidence that Boeing's market-leading widebody family will provide outstanding fuel efficiency and a superior passenger experience for its global operations."

In addition to the 777X family, Qatar Airways has 12 787 Dreamliner and 25 737 MAX aircraft on order. 

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SKY Airline selects RTX's Pratt & Whitney GTF engine to power up to 39 Airbus A320neo family aircraft

Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, announced that Chilean-based SKY Airline has entered into a memorandum of understanding to select the GTF engine to power 10 firm Airbus A321XLR aircraft, with options for 29 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft. With this selection, SKY Airline becomes a first-time Pratt & Whitney customer.

"This selection is a testament to SKY Airline's confidence in the GTF engine over the long term," said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney. "These engines and aircraft will enable SKY to continue its route expansion while delivering industry-leading fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions."

Pratt & Whitney plans to provide long-term maintenance services via an EngineWise™ Comprehensive service agreement.

American Airlines orders 180 CF34 engines to power new Embraer 175 fleet

GE Aerospace announced that American Airlines has finalized an order for 180 CF34-8E engines plus spares to power its fleet of 90 new Embraer 175 regional jets.

"The CF34 engine has a long track record of success with American Airlines and we're grateful the American team is putting its trust in us again," said Russell Stokes, President and CEO, Commercial Engines and Services, GE Aerospace. "This order, along with the CFM deals announced this spring with American, highlight our continued success at providing our customers industry-leading products and services."

More than 7,500 CF34 engines are in service with more than 900 Regional and Business Jet operators globally. The CF34-8E has accumulated more than 40 million flight hours and 29 million cycles since entering service on the Embraer E170/175 in 2004. Today, the CF34 engine line, which includes -3, -8, and -10 models, powers more than 2,500 regional commercial aircraft.

"The reliability and performance of the CF34 engine has been critical to our success for many years," said American's CFO Devon May. "We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with GE Aerospace as we invest in modernizing and strengthening our domestic and regional fleet."

New £21 million fund from British Airways to put 200 aspiring pilots from all backgrounds through training

                                  British Airways has announced a £21 million investment to give up to 200 prospective pilots the chance to follow their dream of flying for a commercial airline without the worry of self-funding the £100,000 cost of training, opening the door to being a pilot to more people than ever before.

The Speedbird Pilot Academy aims to attract the very best talent for the future generation of pilots while boosting social mobility and diversity within the airline’s pilot community. The airline works with community groups to help encourage applicants from people who may have previously been put off from applying due to cost.

Launched last year and open to applicants annually, the Academy is already training 100 future British Airways pilots who managed to beat off competition from more than 20,000 candidates to have the cost of their tuition paid for by the airline. Funding was in place for an initial 100 places on the 2025 programme, which has now been increased to 200.

It takes two years to complete training and become a qualified First Officer with the airline. British Airways currently employs around 4,000 pilots.

British Airways made the announcement during the airline’s appearance at Farnborough International Airshow, where it is exhibiting a brand new A320neo aircraft complete with new interiors. The aircraft flew into the show powered by more than 35 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

Leasing giant Avolon orders 310 engines at Farnborough Air Show

160 engines ordered from Pratt & Whitney and 150 from CFM International

Engine orders valued at over US$5 billion at current list prices

Options to purchase 310 further engines

Avolon, a leading global aviation finance company, announces orders for 310 new engines to power 155 Airbus A320neo family aircraft in its order book. Avolon has ordered 160 GTF engines from Pratt & Whitney, and 150 LEAP-1A engines from CFM International.

The combined orders, announced today at the Farnborough Airshow, are valued at over US$5 billion at current list prices. The agreement also includes options to purchase a further 160 Pratt & Whitney engines and 150 CFM International engines. The orders represent Avolon’s largest ever engine commitment.

Both engine types help to lower carbon emissions by delivering at least 15% reduced fuel consumption compared to previous generation engine technology, and also reduced noise levels. Transitioning the global fleet to new technology aircraft is the biggest near-term action that can be taken to reduce aviation emissions, and Avolon is committed to a target of having over 75% of its fleet comprising the youngest, most fuel-efficient aircraft by the end of 2025. Beyond its 2025 target, the evolution of its fleet will be supported by deliveries of the A320 neo family aircraft out to 2032 that these engines will power.

Avolon currently has 115 A320neo family aircraft in its delivered and managed fleet, of which 39 are powered by Pratt & Whitney engines and 76 by CFM International engines. Following its order for 100 A321neo aircraft in December 2023, Avolon now has an orderbook of 279 A320neo family aircraft.

Andy Cronin, CEO Avolon, commented: “These engines will power our orderbook of A320neo family aircraft and put us in an excellent position to service our customers’ narrowbody requirements out to 2030 and beyond.  Engine innovation has been one of the key tools to lower emissions and support the industry’s decarbonisation journey. We are delighted to be working with both Pratt & Whitney and CFM International, and excited about leveraging their engines to support the transition of our fleet to more fuel-efficient technology.”

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Macquarie AirFinance puts on order for 20 Boeing 737 MAX jets

Boeing and Macquarie AirFinance announced this week that the lessor has made its first direct order for Boeing aeroplanes. The purchase of 20 737 MAX 8s doubles Macquarie AirFinance's existing 737 MAX 8 order book, which it acquired from ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Co. in 2023.  By expanding its 737 MAX portfolio, Macquarie AirFinance will scale up its fleet of the poorly designed aircraft that continue to suffer safety issues following two fatal crashes. 

"The continued expansion and renewal of our fleet underscores our confidence in the strong future growth prospects of global commercial air transport. This order increases our existing OEM order book to 86 firm aircraft and will enable our airline partners to access the most modern, fuel-efficient aircraft," said Eamonn Bane, CEO of Macquarie AirFinance.

"As single-aisle fleet renewals gain momentum, Macquarie AirFinance's choice of the 737-8 will allow its customers to phase out older aeroplanes and operate the industry's most fuel-efficient jets," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Lessors such as Macquarie AirFinance are key partners to Boeing and our airline customers, supporting aeroplane deliveries and offering financial solutions to carriers that want to renew or grow their fleets with the 737 MAX."

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Airbus Racer speeds past 400 km/h

Airbus’s Racer high-speed helicopter demonstrator, developed in the frame of the European Research Clean Sky 2 project, has reached its fast cruise speed target of 407 km/h (220 kts). On 21 June, less than two months after its first flight, the Racer demonstrator exceeded its level speed objective of 407 km/h (220 kts) by reaching 420 km/h (227 kts) in its initial configuration. In just seven flights and about nine hours of flight testing, almost all of the flight envelope has been opened.

“This achievement in such a short space of time is really a testimony to the hard work of our 40 partners in 13 European countries to bring all of this innovation to flight. On top of its performance, the aircraft's aerodynamic behaviour and stability are promising. We are all looking forward to the next phase of flight testing, especially the eco-mode which will enable us to shut down one engine in forward flight, thus reducing fuel consumption, and lowering the CO2 emissions,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.

The flight test crew consisted of Hervé Jammayrac, Chief Flight Test Pilot, Dominique Fournier, Flight Test Engineer, and Christophe Skorlic, Test Flight Engineer. The next phase of flight testing will focus on single-engine operations and finalise the flight envelope.

Optimised for a cruise speed of more than 400 km/h, the Racer demonstrator aims to achieve the best trade-off between speed, cost-efficiency, and mission performance. The Racer also targets a fuel consumption reduction of around 20%, compared to current generation helicopters in the same maximum take-off weight category, thanks to aerodynamic optimisation and an innovative eco-mode propulsion system. Developed with Safran Helicopter Engines, the hybrid-electrical eco-mode system allows one of the two Aneto-1X engines to be paused while in cruise flight, thus contributing to cutting CO2 emissions. The Racer also aims to demonstrate how its particular architecture can contribute to lowering its operational acoustic footprint.

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Japan Airlines finalises order for 31 Airbus aircraft......

Japan Airlines finalises order for A350-900s and A321neo aircraft

Japan Airlines (JAL) has signed a firm order with Airbus for 20 A350-900 widebody aircraft and 11 single-aisle A321neo, finalising a commitment announced earlier this year.

The order was announced at the Farnborough Air Show 2024 during a signing ceremony with Yukio Nakagawa, Executive Officer and Senior Vice President Procurement of Japan Airlines, and Christian Scherer, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Commercial Aircraft business.

The new A350-900s will join the carrier’s A350 fleet serving international routes, while the A321neo will operate on domestic services within Japan. To date, JAL has ordered a total of 52 A350s, with 18 in service. The A321neo contract represents JAL’s first order for the Airbus single-aisle product line.

Executive Officer and Senior Vice President Procurement of Japan Airlines Yukio Nakagawa said, “We are delighted to have signed the firm order for the introduction of additional A350s and new A321s. We will accelerate the introduction of the state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient aircraft to provide our passengers with excellent service and to reduce CO₂ emissions. We believe that this additional introduction of Airbus aircraft will further deepen our partnership.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Aircraft business, Airbus, Christian Scherer said, “We thank Japan Airlines for placing its confidence once again in the A350. In addition, we celebrate a new milestone in our partnership with the airline following its order for the A321neo. We are committed to providing our full support to Japan Airlines as its growing fleet is deployed on more routes across its network, both domestically and internationally.”

RTX's Pratt & Whitney delivers F100 engine in support of Poland's F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet

Pratt & Whitney, an RTX  business, has announced the delivery of an F100 engine to Poland. This delivery supports Poland's ongoing efforts to strengthen the readiness of its F-16 fleet, which is powered exclusively by Pratt & Whitney engines.

"This is the first of several engines we'll deliver to our Polish ally this year to ensure they have the propulsion power they need to address current and future threats," said Josh Goodman, senior director of the F100 Program at Pratt & Whitney. "The Pratt & Whitney F100 is the mainstay powerplant for 23 global air forces, and we are seeing increased demand for our latest generation F100 engine."

Currently produced in Middletown, Connecticut, the original F100 engines powering the Polish F-16 fleet were manufactured at Pratt & Whitney's Rzeszów facility. Today, nearly 20 years later, that facility produces F100 static structures and critical rotating parts in support of new F100 engines and worldwide sustainment.

The F100 boasts operationally proven technologies, such as advanced materials and thermal coatings, improved turbine cooling capabilities and prognostic health management. Across global F-16 and F-15 fleets, the F100 has flown more than 30 million engine flight hours, which is nearly three times as many hours as other fourth-generation fighter engines.

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Embraer announces sale of six A-29 Super Tucano at Farnborough

 

The agreement provides for the delivery of six aircraft to the Paraguayan Air Force starting in 2025.

Embraer announced this week during the Farnborough International Airshow, the most important aerospace industry event of the year, the sale of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to the Paraguayan Air Force (FAP).

As a multi-mission aircraft, the A-29 provides the Air Forces with versatility for armed reconnaissance, close air support, light attack, and advanced training missions on a single platform, which exponentially increases the institutions' availability and operational flexibility. The operation, with deliveries scheduled from 2025, includes mission equipment and an integrated logistics services agreement.

"We are honoured by the Paraguayan Air Force (FAP) decision and very pleased to be able to announce more A-29 Super Tucano sales, which is a leading aircraft in the international market in its segment. We are confident that the A-29 meets the current and future needs of the FAP", says Fabio Caparica, Commercial Vice President for Latin America at Embraer Defense & Security.

"Defense is a pure public good because it provides society with a service that contributes solely and exclusively to the stability of the nation as an essential element for an integrated development of a country. This has a positive impact not only on issues related to national sovereignty but also on all areas of development. The Paraguayan Air Force (FAP) has the constitutional mission of safeguarding territorial integrity and, within its scope, exercising effective sovereignty over airspace, facing new threats, such as combating drug trafficking and transnational organized crime", said Air General Júlio Rubén Fullaondo Céspedes, Commander of the Paraguayan Air Force. "To face emerging threats, we are in the process of modernizing our aerial and detection capabilities, and we intend to be up to the technological standards that allow us to correctly apply the measures established in the Law on Surveillance and Protection of Paraguayan Airspace in a to effectively contribute to the preservation of regional and international peace and security".

Virgin Atlantic orders seven additional Airbus A330neo aircraft

Virgin Atlantic has placed a firm order for seven A330neo aircraft as part of its wider fleet transformation. The agreement takes Virgin Atlantic’s commitment for the A330neo to 19 aircraft in total, providing improved economics.

The order was announced during the Farnborough Airshow onboard Virgin Atlantic’s A330neo, named ‘Ruby Rebel’, and registered as GB-VSRB after founder Sir Richard Branson, to celebrate the airline's 40th anniversary.

Shai Weiss, CEO, of Virgin Atlantic said, “Today, we complete our multi-billion-dollar fleet transformation, with the purchase of seven additional A330-900s, which we know our customers and our people love to fly. Flying the youngest fleet is the most readily available and significant lever towards decarbonising long-haul aviation and we are proud to already operate one of the youngest and most fuel and carbon-efficient fleets across the Atlantic.”

“Our special partnership with Airbus began with the arrival of ‘Lady in Red’ in 1993, with our most recent arrival, ‘Ruby Rebel’, arriving to mark our 40th birthday this year. Virgin Atlantic has flown more than 60 Airbus tails in the last three decades. While not first to the party, they’ve been our main dance partner, making our customers smile ever since.”

Avolon selects RTX's Pratt & Whitney GTF engines to power up to 160 Airbus A320neo family aircraft

The agreement is Avolon's first direct GTF engine order

Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, announced this week, that Avolon has selected GTF engines to power 80 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The order means Avolon will have 158 GTF-powered aircraft in its delivered and committed fleet, with options for engines to power 80 additional aircraft.

This order represents one of Pratt & Whitney's largest transactions with a lessor for its GTF engines.

"We are building on our collaboration with Avolon, who remains at the forefront of the lessor community," said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney. "GTF engines will provide Avolon's customers with unmatched fuel efficiency and the lowest carbon emissions available for single-aisle aircraft."

"These engines will power our large orderbook of A320neo family aircraft and put us in an excellent position to service our customers' narrowbody requirements out to 2030 and beyond," said Andy Cronin, chief executive officer at Avolon. "Engine innovation has been one of the key tools to lower emissions and support the industry's decarbonization journey. We value Pratt & Whitney's strong customer focus and are excited about leveraging their GTF engines to support the transition of our fleet to more fuel-efficient technology."

Avolon currently has a portfolio of 81 V2500-powered A320ceo family aircraft and 39 GTF-powered A320neo family aircraft in its delivered fleet.  Working with 142 airlines in 63 countries, Avolon has an owned, managed, and committed fleet of 1,029 aircraft, as of 30 June 2024. 

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units.

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British Airways releases new inflight safety video

British Airways premieres its brand-new safety video, “A British Original Period Drama” inspired by some of Britain’s famous period literature, TV and film and starring more than 40 of the airline's colleagues. 

The airline is refreshing its film to keep customers engaged in the important safety messages being delivered. Knowing the popularity of British dramas in the UK and overseas, the airline chose this genre to resonate with its global audiences. 

The film depicts ladies and lords of the manor, as well as housekeepers and butlers going about their everyday lives in period Britain, before being abruptly interrupted by present-day British Airways colleagues demonstrating the safety briefing.  

At one point in the film, a 19th century socialite marvels at a moving picture, more commonly known in the 21st century as a laptop, before being reminded to store personal electronic devices before take-off.  

The characters continue to be bewildered by modern day contraptions, and when posed with the question “Is it a winged creature of the air or, perchance, a celestial contrivance navigating the skies?” Ellis Brett, an Apprentice in Aircraft Maintenance, responds with “No, ma'am. That's a British Airways A350.” 

HIF Global signs collaboration agreement with Airbus for Sustainable Aviation Fuels

The agreement paves the way for e-Fuels, made from renewable electricity, water, and recycled carbon dioxide, to reduce net CO2 emissions in the aviation sector, HIF Global has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus to advance the global development of e-Fuels for aviation ("e-Sustainable Aviation Fuel" or "e-SAF") via the methanol to jet fuel ("MTJ") pathway. The MoU provides a framework for negotiation of definitive agreements in relation to four key workstreams: technical, project development, commercial and advocacy.

The collaboration was signed at the Farnborough Air Show in England, one of the most prestigious global aerospace, aviation and defense industry fairs. 

Cessna Caravan flight deck to feature cockpit advancements enhancing the flight experience for pilots

Textron Aviation is introducing significant enhancements to its legendary Cessna Caravan and Cessna Grand Caravan EX utility turboprop aircraft. A brighter, modernized flight deck with new backlit panels, along with other amenities designed to elevate the pilot experience, are the direct result of continuous conversations with customers. The enhancements, which are expected to be available in 2025, will be standard on all new Caravan and Grand Caravan EX aircraft.

“The enhancements to the Cessna Caravan flight deck demonstrate our continued commitment to providing the best possible flight experience for our customers,” said Christopher Crow, vice president, Piston and Utility Sales. “Our ongoing investments in this family of aircraft continues to build on the Caravan’s nearly 40-year history of success as the utility aircraft of choice for customers around the world.”

One of the most notable changes to both aircraft is the all-new black cockpit panels, creating a more contemporary appearance. The Caravan will also have Electroluminescent Lighting panels to match current Grand Caravan EX models, providing additional backlight for greater visibility in dimly lit environments.

Other enhancements to the Cessna Caravan and Grand Caravan EX include:

A wider cockpit boarding ladder for easier access to the captain’s side of the aircraft

Four circular, adjustable air nozzles to replace the previous two rectangular cockpit air vents

Two USB-C charging ports to replace the 12V power adapter on the lower center pedestal of the cockpit

Two USB-C charging ports on the right-hand subpanel for the copilot

Standard power headset jacks (LEMO plugs) alongside the existing General Aviation plugs, offering operators greater flexibility in powering active noise cancelling headsets

Headset hooks underneath the cockpit glareshield

Cessna Caravan family of aircraft

Cirrus celebrates 10,000 SR Series deliveries with limited edition aircraft

Cirrus, the world’s best-selling high-performance single-engine piston aircraft manufacturer, revealed a one-of-a-kind, Limited-Edition SR Series aircraft to commemorate 10,000 SR Series deliveries. The 10,000th SR Series aircraft celebrates Cirrus’ past, present and future as well as the team who made this milestone possible.

Since the first delivery of the SR Series in 1999, Cirrus has pursued its guiding principles of delivering an aviation experience that is the pinnacle of innovation, quality and safety to its customers. This commitment is a testament to Cirrus’ perseverance and the SR Series’ continued evolution and success in delivering the next generation of personal aviation.

“The SR Series has reached a monumental achievement with 10,000 deliveries and owners that live the Cirrus Life,” said Zean Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer. “From the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) to the Perspective Touch+ flight deck, Cirrus continuously innovates to provide owners with personal aircraft that set the industry standard for aviation safety, luxury, convenience and ease of ownership. We are honored to celebrate 10,000 SR Series aircraft deliveries with our team members, partners and stakeholders.”

The SR Series continues to be the best-selling high-performance single-engine piston aircraft for 22 years. Cirrus achieved the 10,000th aircraft milestone because of its relentless innovation and ability to create industry-leading products and owner services.

Airbus and partners invest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel financing fund

Airbus, the Air France-KLM Group, Associated Energy Group, LLC, BNP Paribas, Burnham Sterling, Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc. and Qantas Airways Limited co-invested in a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) financing fund to accelerate the production of SAF.

The corporate partners worked with investment manager Burnham Sterling Asset Management to establish the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Financing Alliance (SAFFA) investment fund in which Airbus is the Anchor Investor. The commitment from the seven partners is amounting to an aggregate of approx. US$200 million.

Each partner brings experience and financial expertise to the fund with the ambition to accelerate the availability of SAF by investing mainly in technologically mature SAF-producing projects using for instance waste-based feedstocks. Investments will be diversified across various SAF's production pathways and also by region.

Successful flight trials for future 5G infrastructure

An advanced airborne 5G connectivity system has been successfully integrated to a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft, completing a series of demonstration flights. 

A team of UK companies completes flight trials for 5G infrastructure from the sky! 

The groundbreaking technology is being developed by a number of UK companies led by Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL), a leading Non-Terrestrial Networks telecoms developer, with design, integration and demonstration flights provided by manufacturer Britten-Norman. 

SPL is at the forefront of developing airborne antennas to deliver widescale high performance 5G coverage. This technology offers numerous valuable applications, such as quickly restoring networks after major disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis, where traditional mobile network infrastructure has been disrupted. 

On 18th July 2024, the project team were joined by distinguished guests from potential customers and investors to observe the installation of the array under real flight conditions during an event at Britten-Norman’s Solent Airport aircraft maintenance (MRO) facility. The trial, conducted by Britten-Norman’s Flight Test Organisation, aimed to demonstrate the aircraft's capability to operate safely with the large 5G phased array antenna installed. Key aspects of the flight test programme included assessment of aircraft performance and handling qualities, covering both normal and emergency operation. This will support full certification of the system, enabling integration in terrestrial telecoms network at connection speeds of up to 200Mbps over 15,000km2. 

The turboprop BN2T-4S Islander variant was chosen for its robust design, all-weather capability, exceptional endurance and payload capacity. In addition, the aircraft’s modular design makes it an ideal platform for integration of large mission system payloads, whilst retaining a rapid re-role capability for other taskings.

The next phase of the project involves demonstrating the technology via a connection to a private UK-based national 5G telecommunications network.

GA Telesis Engine Services (GATES) to use sustainable aviation fuel for its engine testing in collaboration with DHL

GA Telesis Engine Services, a global leader in aircraft jet engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), is proud to announce a milestone in its commitment to sustainability and environmental protection through the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) provided by Neste, the world's leading producer of SAF and renewable diesel. This strategic initiative to choose SAF underscores GATES's long-term dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting more sustainable aviation practices.

In collaboration with DHL, the world's leading logistics company, and highlighting DHL's role as GATES launch customer for SAF, GATES will begin integrating Neste-produced SAF into its engine testing operations in Finland. This partnership marks a significant milestone, by reducing GATES' aircraft engine testing operations' greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%* over the fuel's life cycle compared to using conventional jet fuel when Neste SAF is used unblended in the testing.

Key Highlights of the Initiative:

Commitment to Sustainability: As part of our unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, GA Telesis Engine Services is dedicated to implementing sustainable practices across all aspects of our operations. The introduction of SAF is a critical step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a more sustainable future for aviation.

Collaboration with DHL: DHL, renowned for its leadership in logistics and sustainability, will be GA Telesis Engine Services' first customer to benefit from our SAF integration. This collaboration is a testament to our shared vision of driving innovation and sustainability within the aviation industry.

Environmental Impact: The use of Neste-produced SAF unblended, at 100% concentration, has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%* over the life cycle of the fuel compared to using conventional jet fuel. By purchasing Neste-produced SAF an amount that results in 25% of SAF in its fuel blend, the Company aims to significantly lower its environmental impact from aircraft engine testing and contribute to efforts to combat climate change.

Innovation and Leadership: GA Telesis Engine Services is committed to being at the forefront of innovation in the MRO industry. The introduction of SAF is part of its corporate parent's commitment to environmental protection and its broader strategy to embrace cutting-edge technologies and practices that enhance efficiency and sustainability.

"We are thrilled to announce this important step in our sustainability journey," said Gunnar Sigurfinnsson, President of GA Telesis Engine Services. "Our collaboration with DHL exemplifies our commitment to environmental responsibility and our dedication to pioneering sustainable solutions within the aviation industry. By integrating SAF into our operations, we are taking meaningful action to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the environment for future generations."

DHL's Executive Vice President of Aviation Express Global, Robert Hyslop, added, "DHL is already one of the world's largest users of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and we are making significant progress towards achieving a 30% SAF share by 2030. Therefore we are proud to now partner with GA Telesis Engine Services in their groundbreaking initiative. Sustainability is an integral part of corporate strategy, and this collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver excellence sustainably. Together, we will make significant strides towards a more sustainable future."

GA Telesis Engine Services Oy is committed to continuous improvement and innovation in sustainability practices. GATES will continue to explore and implement solutions that support our environmental goals and drive positive change within the aviation industry.

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