General News

AerFin has signed a rotable component support agreement with European ACMI and charter specialist operator SmartLynx (SLX), supporting its fleet of newly inducted Airbus A330 aircraft, as the operator expands into the long-haul market segment.

The fully bespoke component support agreement includes an on-site provision of A330 inventory at SmartLynx’s numerous operating bases, to help meet the immediate operational needs of its fleet of five A330 aircraft. The agreement follows the recent introduction of five A330 aircraft which will initially be used as Zero-LOPA configured global cargo-carriers following the expansion of the airline’s ACMI service portfolio.

Chris Hooley, Director – Airframe Services, said: “We have seen the cargo market rise exponentially due to the demands caused by COVID-19, we are therefore delighted to provide SmartLynx with a tailored, flexible and cost-effective solution that will support the airline in its new venture in the A330 program. Delivering long-term, innovative solutions that exceed our customer expectation remains our number one priority – we’re delighted to be a part of this exciting journey with the airline”.

Robert Woods, SmartLynx’s – VP Technical, commented “Following our expansion into the long-haul market segment, SmartLynx was seeking a flexible rotable component solution from a trusted partner. As an ACMI carrier, we required a partner who could fully support our fluid A330 operational network to ensure that we can continue to deliver an exceptional service to our customers. We selected AerFin based on its ability to provide this flexibility and quality of service at a competitive price point and are now looking forward to building a long and prosperous partnership together”.

Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier of Vietnam, has awarded StandardAero a new contract for the support for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engines powering its fleet of ATR 72-500 regional turboprops. StandardAero will support the airline from its OEM-authorized PW100 Designated Overhaul Facility (DOF) in Gonesse, France.

This new contract award extends the long-standing relationship between the two companies. StandardAero has supported Vietnam Airlines’ PW127M engine fleet from its Gonesse facility since 2013, providing a range of services including overhauls, hot section inspections (HSIs) and engine repairs.

Commenting on the agreement for Vietnam Airlines, Tran Ngoc Tu said: “Vietnam Airlines is pleased to continue the partnership with our trusted and long-term partner StandardAero. As the national flag carrier of Vietnam, we are focused on recovery, growth and future expansion, and it is especially important for us to be able to rely on dependable service partners such as StandardAero.”

“We are truly appreciative of Vietnam Airline’s decision to continue utilizing StandardAero as its PW127M service provider of choice,” commented Lewis Prebble, President of Airlines and Fleets for StandardAero. “We are delighted to continue our close relationship with the airline, and to continue contributing to VNA’s continuing success through industry-leading support.”

Vietnam Airlines – a member of SkyTeam Alliance – is the flag carrier of Vietnam and the major carrier in the South East Asia, serving 22 domestic and 33 international destinations. Vietnam Airlines has spearheaded Vietnam’s aviation market – one of the fastest-growing domestic markets in the world – throughout 20 years of development at a double-digit annual growth rate. Positioning itself as a modern carrier with an internationally recognizable brand characterised by Vietnamese traditional culture, Vietnam Airlines aims to achieve five-star status and become a major airline in Asia.

StandardAero is a Designated Overhaul Facility (DOF) for the P&WC PW100 family, with overhaul facility locations in Summerside, PE, Canada and Gonesse, France, supported by five service center locations across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. With more than 25 years of reliable turboprop MRO experience, the company provides engine support options and recommendations that are tailored to operators’ specific needs. StandardAero’s service offering on the PW100 family also includes engine condition trend monitoring (ECTM) services, as a CAMP Systems Designated Analysis Centre (DAC).

JANA, Inc., a leading engineering, and technical documentation services company, has announced the rebranding of Aircraft Systems and Manufacturing, Inc. (ASM) to JANA Engineering.

Ean Niland, President of JANA, Inc., states that the move is the last piece of the transition plan that began when JANA purchased ASM in 2017. “We are undertaking this rebranding effort to reflect the reality that ASM has grown to become an integral part of the JANA family, and its inclusion is an important step toward achieving the overall company goals that were established when JANA purchased ASM nearly five years ago.”

Under the new name, JANA Engineering will continue to serve the Aerospace industry, with emphasis on operators and commercial carriers, component OEMs, airframe OEMs, and MROs. As the world leader in advanced avionics integration, JANA Engineering can offer FAA Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) services, STC certifications, design and engineering for avionics integration, fabrication/assembly, and kitting capabilities, and 24/7 AOG support.

As part of the transition, the company name, logo, and website will adopt the present JANA branding. The content from ASM’s website has been incorporated into the existing JANA site and can be found at janacorp.com/engineering. These changes, however, will not affect JANA Engineering’s ability to deliver top-notch customer service and solutions to clients. Our primary focus is, and always will be, ensuring that all projects receive the highest level of attention and follow-through.

Airbus has signed its first Flight Hour Services (FHS) contract with a North American customer. US-based airline JetBlue is acquiring long-term Airbus components maintenance services for its 70 A220 aircraft on order. The A220 started operations with JetBlue in April 2021.

The maintenance-by-the-hour service contract includes material services with on-site-parts stock management, as well as access to Airbus’ pool of parts, engineering and repair services.

“As for all Airbus aircraft programmes, A220 customers are benefitting from Airbus’ renowned maintenance FHS programme. We are extremely proud  to welcome JetBlue as our first FHS customer in North America and be able to further increase its A220 fleet’s availability in support of traffic resuming”, said Dominik Wacht, Head of Airbus Customer Services, North America.

“With a substantially lower direct operating cost over other aircraft in our fleet from both fuel and non-fuel savings, the A220 also helps further reset JetBlue’s maintenance costs well into the decade,” said Bill Cade, Vice President Technical Operations, JetBlue. “Airbus’ FHS solution helps support our long-term financial goals as they relate to maintenance and supports our ability to offer low fares and award-winning service to more JetBlue customers.”

JetBlue will be the third A220 airline operator to use Airbus’ FHS service. Over 150 A220s have been delivered to nine airlines operating routes in Asia, America, Europe and Africa, proving the great versatility of Airbus’ latest family member.

This first FHS contract for Airbus in North America confirms the growing expansion of Airbus’ maintenance-by-the-hour solution to accompany traffic restart: over the last six months, eleven FHS contracts have been signed with operators worldwide.

ACIA Aero Leasing (ACIA), a leading provider of regional aircraft leasing and lease management services, announced today the completion of a mandate to deliver a fleet of three ATR 72-600 aircraft to support the commercial launch of Nigeria’s newest low-cost carrier, Lagos-based Green Africa.

Seizing on the opportunity to launch a new value passenger airline amid the pandemic-induced market disruption, Green Africa laid out a roadmap for their market entry by deploying ACIA’s ATR aircraft to deliver low-cost, short-haul connectivity between Nigerian cities to stimulate the region’s economic development and business activity.

“We are thrilled to have partnered with Green Africa’s experienced local and international management team to get their airline off the ground while supporting their ambitious mission to spur regional economic development through increased connectivity,” commented ACIA Aero Leasing Chief Executive Officer Mick Mooney.

As the aviation community positions for the sector for its nascent recovery, start-up carriers, such as Green Africa, are economizing on the opportunity to sustainably enter into service, scale, and be better positioned to serve customers in a post-pandemic environment. Aided by the benefits of fuel-efficiency and advantageous operating economics of the latest technology ATR 72-600, Green Africa has introduced affordable fares and new city-pair options.

Babawande Afolabi, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Green Africa, said: “Receiving our third aircraft today signifies Green Africa’s readiness to enter into service and start serving our customers. ACIA Aero Leasing has been a very supportive partner and we are proud of this relationship.”

“ACIA’s portfolio has a significant African focus and Nigeria is a core target market as we believe there will be significant growth,” asserted Elze LeRoux, ACIA Aero Leasing General Manager for Africa. “Our ultimate goal is to be a significant part of our customers’ long-term success. The team’s knowledge of African operations and the challenges faced by operators have been key to getting these first aircraft delivered to Green Africa.”

Green Africa plans to deploy the ATRs primarily across Nigeria between now and December 2022, with plans for expansion into the broader African continent and the addition of two to three new airport bases in Nigeria over the period of twelve to 18 months.

“Our commercial team continues to actively pursue opportunities to deliver financing options to our existing and potential customers, both within Africa and beyond. We can get deals done in environments from which other lessors might shy away, focusing on getting results for our customers and ensuring that the aircraft are delivered on time, despite the challenges that the pandemic continues to pose,” concluded Mooney.

Liebherr-Aerospace has been selected by Airbus to supply the cockpit static inverter for the Airbus A320 and A330 families. The agreement marks a historic milestone for the company:  It is the first contract in the segment of aircraft systems ATA Chapter 24 – Electrical Systems – and opens Liebherr the door to deploy its know-how and latest stand-alone power electronics technologies in this high potential business sector.

Toulouse (France), June 2021 – Liebherr-Aerospace’s cockpit static inverter will replace the current version. It offers a more reliable, lightweight, fully digital solution and is based on wide band-gap technology together with enhanced connection functions.

Two Liebherr companies have developed the cockpit static inverter:  Liebherr-Elektronik GmbH, based in Lindau (Germany), Liebherr’s center of excellence for electronics and a major player in its field, is responsible for all activities regarding the hardware, including production, and Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS, Liebherr’s center of excellence for air management systems in Toulouse (France), provides the inverter’s software.  Both companies have vast experience in power electronics and joined forces to offer Airbus the latest technology.

“Airbus and Liebherr have been cooperating since the very beginnings of Airbus. Every civil Airbus aircraft model fly with Liebherr technology on board. Now, we are incredibly happy to add stand-alone power electronics to our already broad systems and components portfolio, and we are looking forward to further expanding our collaboration with Airbus in Power-on-Board technologies”, explains Francis Carla, Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer, Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS.

Brazil’s CAA has granted approved for a new airline, Itapemirim Transportes Aéreos (ITA), after 12 months of approvals including several certification flights in April. The airline’s parent, Itapemirim, is an intercity bus company operated six Boeing 727 freighters and two passenger Cessna Caravans in the mid-1990s.

ITA has announced plans for rapid growth, with its current fleet of two Airbus A320s to increase to ten when flights begin in late June. The LCC intends to serve 35 destinations with the first year of operations with its new fleet of A320s and A319s. The initial flights will connect major cities, including Brasilia, São Paulo, Rio, Curitiba, and Salvador. Itapemirim’s bus fleets will allow integration of air service with the 2,700 cities served by bus. The company painted its first A320, delivered in March, in the bus fleet’s bright yellow livery at the Digex MRO in São José dos Campos.

The Canadian ultra-low-cost carrier Flair has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX to support its summer expansion.

The delivered aircraft registered as C-FLEJ is one of the 13 new Boeing 737 MAX airplanes Flair said it would be ordering in January 2021.

“Our efficient new aircraft will provide us the foundation to execute our ULCC business model. These planes will enable us to keep fares low while expanding our service to meet travel demand,” said Stephen Jones, President & CEO of Flair Airlines (January 2021) at the time of the announcement.

Before this recent delivery, the airline’s fleet included only three 737-800s. Lufthansa Technik will maintain the new fleet. It will undertake repair and overhaul of components for the MAX 8s.

Earlier, Flair also assured everyone in a statement of their control over the Boeing 737 MAX safety concerns: “In advance of the new 737-8 aircraft joining our fleet of existing 737-800s, Flair’s team of pilots, maintenance professionals, flight attendants and safety officers will conduct extensive testing and training programmes.”