Royal Air Force Tornado GR.4 diverts to Malta IAP

A Royal Air Force Tornado GR.4A (ZG709/120) was forced to divert to Malta IAP this evening after the crew reported an engine problem. The British fighter-bomber landed safely on RWY31 at about 2216LT after the airport emergency services were deployed on the taxiways for an any eventuality.

Royal Danish Air Force F-16AM diverts to Malta IAP

A Royal Danish Air Force F-16AM Fighting Falcon (E-597), part of ship of two F-16AM single-seaters, was forced to divert to Malta IAP this afternoon after the pilot reported a engine problem. The Danish fighter-jet landed safely on RWY31 at about 1604lt. The airport emergency services were deployed on the adjacent taxiways for an any eventuality. The second F-16 (E-605) did not land, it continued to Sigonella AB, Sicily.

Royal Air Force Tornado GR.4 diverts to Malta IAP

A Royal Air Force Tornado GR.4 (ZG775/134) was forced to divert to Malta IAP this early morning after the crew reported that they were low on fuel. The British jet departed again after refuelling, around 0630lt.

Two French AF Mirage 2000s divert to Malta IAP

Two French Air Force Mirage 2000s (651/133-LG & 324/116-CX) were forced to divert to Malta IAP early this morning after the crew reported that they were low on fuel. The two jets departed again after a brief tech-stop.

Royal Air Force Tornado GR.4 diverts to Malta IAP

A Royal Air Force Tornado GR.4 (ZG791/137) was forced to divert to Malta IAP this early morning after the crew reported a hydraulic failure. The British fighter-bomber landed safely on RWY31 at about 0500LT. The airport emergency services were deployed on the adjacent taxiways for an any eventuality.

TM/DCA publishes the latest update of the Malta Aircraft Register

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

New addition/s:*

• 9H-GMT - Falcon 900EX (Comlux Malta Ltd.)

Canellation/s:*

• 9H-AFT - Airbus ACJ318 (Comlux Malta Ltd.), re-registered as OE-LUX (Tyrolean Jet Service)

*since last register update of July 18, 2011.

Royal Air Force Tornado GR.4 diverts to Malta IAP

A Royal Air Force Tornado GR.4 (ZA463/028) was forced to divert to Malta IAP this afternoon after the crew reported a engine generator failure. The British fighter-bomber landed safely on RWY31 at 1408LT. The airport emergency services were deployed on the adjacent taxiways for an any eventuality.

Royal Navy HMS Albion in Valletta Port

The Royal naval vessel HMS Albion (L 14) - an Albion class amphibious landing platform dock - has sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this morning at 1015lt on a three-day visit.

HMS Albion is currently portside alongside at Pinto-4/5 Wharf, and she's expected to sail from Malta on Wednesday, July 27th, at 1100lt.

Icelandic Coast Guard ICGV Tyr in Valletta Port

The Icelandic coast guard vessel ICGV Tyr - an Aegir class - has sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this morning at 0835LT on a two-day courtesy visit.

This is Tyr's third port-call in the Grand Habour this year. The first two visits where from 29th to 30th May and from 17th to 18th June.

ICGV Tyr is currently portside alongside at Pinto-1 Wharf, and she's expected to sail from Malta tomorrow, Tuesday, July 26th, at 1300LT.

Royal Navy HMS Sutherland in Valletta Port

The Royal naval frigate HMS Sutherland (F 81) - a Duke class (Type 23) - has sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this morning at 0940lt on a one-day visit for bunkers and stores.

HMS Sutherland is currently starboard alongside at Pinto-4/5 Wharf, and she's expected to sail from Malta today at 1945lt.

M.I.A. plc releases traffic results: January to June 2011

Passenger movements at Malta IAP in the first six months of 2011 grew by 12.7% over the corresponding period of 2010, reaching 1,556,058 passengers. Aircraft movements and seat capacity for the same period were +4.4% and +6.8% respectively, on those between January and June of last year. The average seat load factor in the same six months was 3.7PPD more than the first half of 2010, with, the maximum take-off weight registering an increase of 3.6% over the same period last year, whilst cargo and mail registered a 4.8% drop.

The core markets all registered an increase in the first half of this year over the same period in 2010. The United Kingdom, which is still the top destination, registered an increase of 7%; with second ranked Italy registering an increase of 5.5%. A significant increase of 21% and 22.3% were registered in the German and French markets respectively. Spain also registered a notable increase of 14.9%.

June 2011: In so far as the month of June is concerned, passenger movements registered a 4.4% increase whereas there was a decrease of 7.8% in the aircraft movements when compared to June 2010. The increase in passenger numbers is clearly due to the considerable increase in the seat load factor, which in June increased by 7.3PPD. The decrease in aircraft movements led also to a decrease in the seat capacity of 5.5% and a decrease in the MTOW of 7.3%. Cargo and Mail also registered a decrease of 10.3% over the month of June of 2010.

Forecast 2011: In view of the consolidation of the positive results achieved during the first six months of the year, Malta IAP expects passenger movements to reach 3.4 million in 2011, an estimated increase of 3.2% over 2010.

(Source: maltairport.com)

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-AFS - Fokker F28-0070 (Aircraft Leasing No.3 Pty. Ltd., Australia), re-registered as VH-QQX.
• 9H-AFZ - Fokker F28-0070 (Aircraft Leasing No.3 Pty. Ltd., Australia), re-registered as VH-QQY.

*since last register update on July 1, 2011.

French Navy FS Rubis outside territorial waters

French naval attack submarine FS Rubis (S 601) - a Rubis class (nuclear-powered) - has arrived outside Maltese territorial waters this morning for a conveyance operation.

Royal Navy HMS Richmond in Valletta Port

The Royal naval frigate HMS Richmond (F 239) - a Duke class (Type 23) - has sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this morning at 1140lt on a three-day courtesy visit.

HMS Richmond is currently portside alongside at Pinto-4/5 Wharf, and she's expected to sail from Malta on Saturday, July 16th, at 1100lt.

Two French AF Mirage 2000s departing from Malta IAP

Two French AF Mirage 2000s divert to Malta IAP

Two armed French Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jets (660/113-JF & 304/116-CA) were forced to divert to Malta IAP this afternoon after the crew one of the aircraft (304/116-CA) declared an emergency to Malta ATC that they have the refuelling probe damaged during air-to-air refuelling. Both Mirages landed safely at Malta IAP, but the second Mirage (660/113-JF) has burst a tyre upon landing. Both aircraft are currently grounded at Malta IAP.

Light aircraft crash lands in a field in Kercem, Gozo

A light aircraft has crash landed in a field in Kercem, Gozo, this afternoon. The incident happened at around 3 p.m and involved a single-engined Tecnam P92J aircraft (9H-ADU) used by the European Flight Academy.

Capt John Dixon, director of training, said the aircraft was on a routine training flight and had to make a forced landing. The instructor and the student who were on board were not seriously hurt. Both men, who are from Birkirkara, got out of the wreckage unaided.

Capt Dixon said that while the cause of the incident would be investigated, it appeared that the cause was severe turbulence caused by high temperatures. The pilot had reported no technical malfunction.

The incident happened shortly after 3 p.m. The control tower lost contact with the aircraft and it was then spotted in the field by the seaplane which operates between the two islands.

The plane was extensively damaged but fortunately did not catch fire. Two fire engines and an ambulance were on the scene.

(Source: timesofmalta.com)

Italian Navy NMM Amerigo Vespucci in Valletta Port

The Italian Navy sail training ship NMM Amerigo Vespucci (A 5312) has sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this morning on a four-day courtesy visit.

Amerigo Vespucci was built at the (formerly Royal) Naval Shipyard of Castellammare di Stabia (Naples); she was launched on February 22, 1931, and was put into service in July of that year. The ship is a full rigged three-masted steel hull 82.4m long, with an overall length of 101m including the bowsprit and a maximum width of 15.5m. She has a draught of about 7m and a displacement at full load of 4146 tons. The three steel masts are 50, 54, and 43 metres high and carry sails totalling 2824 m².

Amerigo Vespucci is currently port-side alongside at Pinto-4/5 Wharf and she'll be open to the public today between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and tomorrow between 10 a.m. and Noon and 3 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. She's scheduled to sail from Malta this Wednesday, July 13th, at 1430LT.

Canadian Forces HMCS Charlottetown in Valletta Port

The Canadian naval frigate HMCS Charlottetwon (FFH 339) - a Halifax class - has arrived this morning in Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) on a four-day courtesy visit.

The Canadian frigate has onboard a CH-124B Sea King helicopter, serial 12424.

HMCS Charlottetown is currently port-side alongside at Pinto-3 Wharf, and she's expected to sail from Malta on Monday, July 11th, at 0600LT.

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*:

• 9H-GIA - Cessna 421C Golden Eagle (GS Wings Srl, Italy)
  

Cancellation/s*: None

*since last register update on June 9, 2011.