Two Royal Moroccan Patrol Vessels in Valletta Port

Two Royal Moroccan naval vessels El Lahiq (308) and El Hamiss (316) - both El Lahiq Class (Type Osprey-55) Patrol Vessels - have arrived this afternoon in Valletta Port (Grand Habour) on a four-day courtesy visit.

The two patrol vessels are presently berthing alongside at Deep Water Quay no.2 and they're scheduled to sail from Malta this Saturday, April 30th, at 0900LT.

TM/DCA publishes the latest update of the Maltese National Aircraft Register

Transport Malta/Directorate of Civil Aviation has published today the latest update of the Malta National Aircraft Register.

New addition/s*: None

Cancellation/s*:

• 9H-AFU - Bombardier CL-600 Challenger 800 (Carre Aviation Ltd.), re-registered as VH-VMX (Fallbrook Pty. Ltd.)
• 9H-BOB - British Aeropsace BAe.125-800B (Orion Malta Ltd.), re-registered as P4-JCC

*since last register update on April 5, 2011.

A second pair of French AF Mirage F.1s divert to Malta IAP this week

Two French Air Force Mirage F.1CR fighter jets (657/112-CL & 620/112-CT) were forced to divert to Malta IAP this afternoon after one of the jets declared an emeregy to Malta ATC due to a hydraulic problem.

The troubled Mirage (657/112-CL) was the first to land on RWY13 at 1425LT and it managed to slow down with the aid of its parachute breaking system and vacated on loop alpha at the end of the runway. The second Mirage landed on RWY13 uneventfully 20-mins afterwards after dumping excessive fuel.

The troublefree Mirage (620/112-CT) is expected to re-depart from Malta tomorrow morning, while the second jet will remain grounded at Malta IAP until being repaired by French AF engineers.

Two French AF Mirage F.1CRs divert to Malta IAP

Two French Air Force Mirage F.1CR fighter jets (615/118-MZ & 657/112-CL), on their way to a reconnaissance mission over Libya from their base in Corsica, were forced to divert to Malta IAP this afternoon after reporting to be low on fuel after being unable to refuel in midair due to a technical issue.

The two Mirage F.1CRs have landed at Malta IAP just after 1400LT after they were given clearance to land by the Maltese authorities. Once they were refuelled, the jets departing again at 1630LT back to Corsica.

FS LV Le Henaff in Valletta Port

The French naval vessel FS Lieutenant de Vaisseau Le Henaff (F 789) - a D'Estienne d'Orves Class Corvette - has arrived this morning at 0900LT in Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) on a four-day visit.

FS LV Le Henaff is currently berthing alongside at Deep Water Quay no.2 and she's scheduled to sail from Malta this Saturday, April 23rd, at 0900LT.

M.I.A. plc releases traffic results for March 2011

Passenger movements at Malta Int'l Airport grew by 16.4% during the month of March 2011 reaching 240,360, i.e. the highest number ever registered in March. This was brought about by a record seat capacity for the month, which reached 340,975 seats, i.e. an increase of 18.6% over March 2010.

These figures include the extraordinary influx of traffic, i.e. a total of 7,465 pax movements, which can be directly linked to the evacuation from Libya, including departing traffic on unscheduled aircraft movements. Therefore, excluding this traffic which was generated by the evacuation from Libya via Malta, March traffic would have reached around 232,895 passenger movements, that is an increase of around 12.8%. Passenger movements by means of military and private aircraft had no impact on the results, since this traffic is excluded from official figures.

The average seat load factor registered a decrease of -1.3 PPD when compared to March 2010, reaching 70.5%, whilst aircraft movements for the month grew by 14.1% over the corresponding period last year to a total of 2,061. Likewise the maximum take-off (MTOW) weight registered an increase of 17.4% over March 2010, whilst cargo and mail was 12.9% lower than that recorded during the same month in 2010, i.e. a total of 1,457 tonnes.

The Spanish, French and Italian markets once again grew remarkably in March by 56.3%, 49.4% and 14.4% respectively, whereas the U.K. market grew by a more modest 3.2% and the German market suffered a decrease of 3.6%.

For the first quarter of 2011, passenger movements at Malta IAP registered an increase of 16.3%, aircraft movements registered an increase of 14.6%, whereas the average Seat Load Factor remained the same. The increase was mostly due to the 16.5% increase in seat capacity over the same first three months of the year. The MTOW registered an increase of 15.3% whereas Cargo and Mail decreased by 4.8% between January and March 2011 over the same period of 2010.

(www.maltairport.com)

TM/DCA publishes the latest addition of the Maltese National Aircraft Register

Transport Malta/Directorate of Civil Aviation has published today the latest edition of the Maltese National Aircraft Register.

New additions*:

• 9H-AVK - Airbus A319-115X CJ (Comlux Malta Ltd.)
• 9H-BOF - Hawker Beechcraft Corp. Hawker 900XP (Orion Malta Ltd.)
• 9H-LLC - Bombardier BD-700 Global Express (Carre Aviation Ltd.)

Cancellation*:

• 9H-AFP: Bombardier BD-700 Global Express XRS (Comlux Malta Ltd.), re-registered as VH-ZZH (Avwest Pty Ltd.)

* since last register update on March 9, 2011.

Ukrainian Navy Kostiantyn Olshansky in Valletta Port

Ukrainian Navy's Ropucha I Class (Project 775) Large Landing Ship Kostiantyn Olshansky (U 204) has sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this afternoon at 1235LT with 193 workers and their families evacuated from Libya.

The Ukrainian Landing Ship is presently berthing alongside at Deep Water Quay-4 and she's scheduled to sail from Malta tomorrow, Wednesday April 6th, at 1700LT.

AFM commissions first new King Air maritime patrol aircraft

The AFM this morning formally commissioned a Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air maritime patrol aircraft, the first to be delivered brand new and tailored to the needs of the AFM. A second will be delivered next year. Each twin-engined aircraft costs just over €9.6 million, mostly financed by the E.U. External Borders Fund.

The aircraft gives the AFM far greater endurance and capability than the Islander aircraft used so far, with the equipment suite including more sophisticated search radar, infra-red equipment and communication facilities. The aircraft is also faster and more comfortable for the crew.

AFM Commander Brigadier M. Xuereb said this was a historic day for the AFM in view of the quantum leap in capability it would now enjoy. The delivery of this aircraft had coincided with a delicate time for the Central Mediterranean, he said.

Prime Minister L. Gonzi thanked the AFM for its services, notable in rescuing migrants. He then poured champagne to inaugurate the new aircraft.

The AFM will also be building a new hangar for its Air Wing, which currently also includes Alouette helicopters as well as the Islanders and Bulldog single-engined trainers.

(www.timesofmalta.com)