Second FREMM for the Italian Navy launched

Fincantieri's Riva Trigoso SY (Genoa) has celebrated the launch of the frigate “Virginio Fasan”, which is due for delivery at the end of 2012. The vessel is the second of a series of FREMM vessels - Multi Mission European Frigates - which were ordered by the Italian Navy within the framework of an Italo-French program of cooperation.

Godmother to the ship was Mrs G. Fasan, daughter of the officer Virginio Fasan. The frigate was named in honour of the 3rd Class Chief Mechanic of the Navy who drowned in the waters of Asinara on Sep. 9th, 1943, on board the destroyer “Vivaldi". Virginio Fasan took part in all the war operations carried out by the vessel and was awarded a silver medal for his service in the waters of Pantelleria in June 1942. (Source: Fincantieri)

AVWest signs firm order for five Global 6000s

Bombardier Aerospace has announced that AVWest of Australia has placed firm orders for five Global 6000 ultra long-range jets, featuring the new Vision Flight Deck. The total value of this overall order is approximately US$292.5 million, based on the 2012 list price for typically equipped aircraft. (Source: Bombardier Aerospace)

Airbus wins first corporate jet sale in Japan

Airbus has won its first corporate jet sale in Japan, adding a new customer and building on its widespread and growing presence in the important Asia-Pacific market. The aircraft, an Airbus ACJ319, has the widest and tallest cabin of any corporate jet, while being similar in size externally to traditional business jets. (Source: Airbus)

Air Malta's 9H-AEF returns to Malta IAP in OLT Express livery

Air Malta's A320 '9H-AEF' has returned to Malta IAP this afternoon, around 1230LT, from Budapest where it has been resprayed by Lufthansa Technik in the livery of its future operator OLT Express. The A320 is being dry-leased by Air Malta to OLT Express for a number of years. It will to re-registered as 'SP-IAD' by the end of the month before being delivered to Poland.

Air New Zealand orders two more B787s

Air New Zealand has ordered two more Boeing 787s, boosting the airline’s order book for those planes to ten. Air New Zealand’s other eight orders are for the B787-9, a larger variant of the plane. Boeing didn’t specify which version it sold to the airline for the new orders. List prices on the B787-9 are US$227.8 million each. (Source: AP/aviationnewsdaily.com)

Air France B747 diverts to Malta IAP

An Air France B747-400 (F-GISD), performing flight AFR3591 from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International (Mauritius) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle (France) had to divert to Malta International Airport this early morning due to medical emergency. The aircraft landed safely around 0440LT and departed again, to Paris-CDG, around 0645LT.

Embraer sells Super Tucano to three African countries

Embraer Defense and Security hasdisclosed today that it has signed contracts with three African nations for the acquisition of the A-29 Super Tucanos. The Burkina Faso AF, the first operator of this model in Africa, has already received three aircraft that are used on border patrol missions. The Angola AF recently acquired six of this aircraft for the same mission, and the first three will be delivered in 2012. Also, the Mauritanian AF chose the A-29 to carry out counter-insurgency missions. The total value of the contracts – including an extensive logistical, training, and replacement parts package – comes to more than US$180 million. (Source: Embraer Defense & Security)

U.K.'s MoD signs agreeement for an eighth C-17

Boeing has today announced that the U.K. Ministry of Defence has signed an agreement for the acquisition of one C-17 Globemaster III, bringing the Royal Air Force (RAF) fleet of the world’s most advanced airlifters to a total of eight. Boeing is scheduled to deliver the eighth C-17 later this year. (Source: Boeing)

BA Cityflyer to add one more E190

British Airways has signed today a contract with Embraer for the purchase of one more Embraer 190 jet. The aircraft will be operated by London City Airport-based BA CityFlyer, British Airways' wholly owned regional subsidiary. When delivered during the third quarter of 2012, it will bolster the airline’s total fleet size to 14 E-Jets. (Source: Embraer)

Air Malta rebrands A320 to reflect Valletta's candidacy for European capital of culture

It was a grand arrival for Air Malta's Airbus A320 9H-AEO this afternoon, which has been rebranded with the Valletta 2018 logo to promote Valletta’s bid to become European Capital of Culture 2018. 

The aircraft returned to Malta from Shannon in Ireland where it had been getting its brand new look, sporting Valletta's iconic skyline, in the past days. It came to Malta with flight number KM2018, a number specifically chosen to commemorate the event.

Prior to landing, Captain L. Gatt, who was flying the aircraft, performed a fly-past over the Luqa airstrip and upon landing, it was given a water cannon salute by two vehicles from M.I.A.'s fire-fighting section that were parked on each side of the taxiway. (Source: timesofmalta.com)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register - update 23/3/2012

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

New addition/s:

• 9H-SNT - Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV (c/n. 28R-8031016) registered to European Pilot Academy (ex D-EVAH)

Cancellation/s: none

M.I.A. plc reports 11% rise in profit in 2011

Malta International Airport p.l.c. has reported a pre-tax profit of €18.92 million in 2011, an increase of 11.5% over 2010 (€16.97 million). The company said that passenger traffic increased by 6.5% over the record year figures of 2010.

As a result of this increase in passenger traffic, revenue increased from €51.34 million to €52.43 million. The revenue from the aviation sector increased from €38.39 million to €39.20 million whilst the Retail and Property sector increased from €12.46 million to €12.62 million.

The operating costs of the Group were maintained at the 2010 level. Staff costs decreased by 10.5% or €0.94 million mostly as a result of early retirement schemes initiated in previous years. However, a new retirement scheme was initiated in 2011 costing approximately €1 million. (Source: timesofmalta.com)

Russia's MoD signs order for 30 Su-30SM fighters

Russia's Defense Ministry (MoD) has signed an order with aircraft-maker Irkut for 30 Su-30SM multirole fighter aircraft, a military spokesman said on Thursday. "According to the contract, the company will deliver 30 of these aircraft to the Russian Defense Ministry by 2015," he said. The value of the deal was not disclosed. The Su-30SM is a two-seat derivative of the earlier Su-27UB and the MKI variant supplied to India, and is capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions with a wide variety of precision-guided munitions. The aircraft features thrust-vectoring engines to enhance manueverability. (Source: RIA Novosti)

Israel signs contract for sixth Dolphin-class submarine

Israel signed a contract Wednesday to purchase its sixth Dolphin-class submarine for a reported US$530 million. Germany will fund a third of the vessel's cost. In May 2011, a special ministerial committee decided to accept the recommendations of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who promoted its purchase. Israel already operates three Dolphins and bought two more from Germany in 2006. (Source: Ynet News/defense-aerospace.com)

French Navy commissions the experimental patrol vessel L’Adroit

The French Navy has commissioned the experimental patrol vessel L’Adroit on Mar. 19th. Fitted with a significant number of technical innovations, the ship was handed over to the navy on Oct. 21st, 2011, for a three-year trial period, during which she will carry out a wide variety of naval missions such as fisheries inspection and protection, anti-drugs operations, environmental protection, humanitarian assistance, and search and rescue at sea.

Crewed by two full crews which alternate ever four months, L’Adroit is designed to remain at sea for extended periods - up to 220 days per year. With an overall length of 87m, it has a range of 8,000 nautical miles. It can remain at sea for over three weeks at a stretch, sail at speeds of up to 21 knots, and operate both helicopters and drones. She requires a crew of only 30 officers and ratings, and can in addition also carry up to 30 pax. (Source: defense-aerospace.com)

Boeing receives FAA certification for GEnx-powered B787-8 Dreamliner

Boeing has received an amended type certificate today from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the B787-8 Dreamliner equipped with General Electric GEnx engines. The amended type certificate from the FAA formally recognizes that the B787 with GE engines has demonstrated compliance with rigorous federal regulations. The achievement caps off the most robust flight and ground test program ever conducted in the company's history. (Source: Boeing)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register - update 20/3/2012

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

New addition/s: none

Cancellation/s:

• 9H-AFX - Vulcanair P68C (c/n. 231) registered to Dover Bay AB, Sweden

RwandaAir signs order for up to four CRJ900s

Rwanda's RwandAir has signed a firm order with Bombardier Aerospace for two CRJ900 NextGen regional jets. The transaction also includes options on two additional CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. RwandAir will become the first operator of CRJ900 aircraft in Eastern Africa. Based on the list price of the CRJ900 NextGen airliner, the firm-order contract is valued at approximately US$89 million. The value of the contract would increase to US$185 million should both options be exercised. (Source: Bombardier Aerospace)

UPS agrees to acquire TNT Express for €5.2 billion

Freight giant UPS has agreed in principle to acquire TNT Express through an all-cash offer which values TNT at €5.16 billion (US$6.77 billion). UPS will pay €9.50 per share for TNT Express, says the U.S. firm, a premium of nearly 54% on the share price on Feb. 16th. It states that the transaction will "create a global leader in the logistics industry" with over €45 billion in annual revenues. (Source: flightglobal.com)

U.S. Navy orders four more Littoral Combat Ships

USN has awarded construction contracts to Lockheed Martin and Austal for four more Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) on Mar. 16th, bringing the total number of LCS vessels under order or in service to 12. Lockheed Martin received US$715 million for two ships, or US$357.5 million apiece. Austal USA received US$691.6 million for two ships, at US$345.8 million each.

Lockheed will build the Little Rock (LCS 9) and Sioux City (LCS 11) at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wis. The ships are to be delivered in February and August 2016, respectively. Austal USA will build the Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) and Omaha (LCS 12) at its yard in Mobile, Ala. The Giffords is to be delivered in August 2015, while the Omaha is to follow in March 2016. (Source: defensenews.com)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register - update 15/3/2012

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

New addition/s:

• 9H-FED - Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express (c/n. 9234) registered to Hyperion Aviation Ltd. (ex OE-LAF)

Cancellation/s: none

Fleet Watch: commercial aviation deliveries in 2011

A total of 1,255 commercial aircraft deliveries took place in 2011, including 771 narrowbody and 212 widebody aircraft, an all-time high for both market groups. Regional jet and turboprop deliveries totalled 154 and 118, respectively.

It was yet another record year for Airbus, which delivered 519 commercial aircraft in 2011, 27 more than in the year before. The manufacturer delivered 412 A320 Family aircraft as well as 81 A330s and 26 A380s.

Boeing, which delivered 446 commercial aircraft in 2010, also surpassed itself with 464 deliveries in 2011. The company delivered 359 B737s, 73 B777s, 20 B767s and nine B747s. Boeing also introduced the new B787 to the market with three deliveries to All Nippon Airways.

In the regional market, Bombardier and Embraer delivered 103 and 102 commercial aircraft, respectively. It was a record year for ATR, which delivered 53 commercial turboprops. (Source: flightblobal.com)

Fleet Watch: commercial aviation net orders in 2011

2011 was another strong year for commercial aviation as a total of 2,796 net orders were made. Net orders for 2011 represented an increase of 78% on the previous year. Apart from the regional jet market, each segment benefited from a considerable increase in orders.

Airbus emerged as the leader in the 2011 commercial order battle with 1,425 net orders for the year, while Boeing totalled 788. In the regional market, ATR, Embraer and Sukhoi booked 157, 160 and 73 orders, respectively. Comac took in 95 orders for the C919 narrowbody and 10 orders for the ARJ21. Bombardier totalled 43 orders for the CSeries and nine Q400s. (Source: flightglobal.com)

Japan's MoD signs contract for a EC225 helicopter

Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has signed a contract with Eurocopter on Mar. 8th to acquire an EC225, a heavy twin-engine helicopter from Eurocopter’s Super Puma family. The Super Puma helo will to be operated by the Japanese ground self defense force for passenger transport. It is a replacement for the same helicopter model which was submerged during the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March last year. (Source: Eurocopter)

DSNS transfers second frigate to the Royal Moroccan Navy

On Mar. 10th, after successful sea trials and finishing of outfitting details, the second out of three Sigma class frigate, Sultan Moulay Ismail, built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) in Vlissingen, was transferred to the Royal Moroccan Navy. The ship was delivered, on schedule and meeting all the requirements as stated in the contract, to the full satisfaction of the customer.

After commissioning, the crew will continue with another three weeks of Sail Safety Training in Den Helder and North Sea. This training will be conducted by training teams of the Royal Netherlands Navy. At the beginning of April, after conclusion of this training period, frigate Sultan Moulay Ismail will start her maiden voyage to Morocco. (Source: DSNS)

A320 '9H-AEF' departs Malta IAP for the last time in KM livery

Air Malta's Airbus A320-214 (9H-AEF, c/n. 2142) has departed from Malta IAP for the last time this morning in full Air Malta livery to Budapest for respray in the colours of its new opeator. The A320 is being dry-leased by Air Malta to OLT Express (formerly Yes Airlines) for a couple of years. The aircraft will be de-registered from the Maltese Aircraft Register and will be re-registered on the Polish Aircraft Register by the end of the month.

Eurolot signs for up to 20 Q400 NextGens

Bombardier Aerospace has announced that Eurolot S.A. of Warsaw, Poland has signed a firm order to acquire eight Q400 NextGen airliners. The transaction includes options for an additional 12 Q400 NextGen aircraft. Based on the list price for the Q400 NextGen airliner, the firm order contract is valued at approximately US$246 million. The contract value would increase to US$625 million should all 12 options be converted to firm orders. (Source: Bombardier Aerospace)

Boeing receives FMS contract for 84 F-15s for Saudi Arabia

USAF has awarded Boeing a US$11.4 billion contract to fulfill the foreign military sales (FMS) requirement of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to procure 84 new F-15 Saudi advanced aircraft with systems and munitions. This particular undefinitized contract action covers development efforts for the new aircraft and retrofit as well as procurement of the 84 new production aircraft. Work is expected to be completed October 2020. (Source: U.S. Department of Defense)

Boeing delivers first production P-8A Poseidon to USN

Boeing has officially delivered the first production P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy in Seattle on Mar. 4th. The P-8A is the first of 13 anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft Boeing will deliver as part of a low-rate initial production contract awarded in 2011. (Source: Boeing)

M.I.A. plc releases traffic results for February 2012

Passenger movements at Malta IAP in February reached 169,689, 3% less when compared to February 2011. Seat capacity for the month decreased to 245,231 seats, i.e. 10.6% less than Feb-11. The average seat load factor grew by 5.5% in this same month, following a similar increase (5.1%) registered in Jan-12.

M.I.A. plc in a statement pointed out that the month’s results need to take into consideration the extraordinary influx of traffic arrivals from Libya for a total of 5,500 passenger movements in February last year. Moreover, one must also factor in the extra day (29th), due to the leap year, on which Malta Airport had 5,364 passenger movements.

The German and UAE markets grew remarkably in February, by 34.6% and 18.6% respectively, and the U.K. market grew by a slight 0.1%. The French and Italian market decreased by 24.6% and 14.4% respectively.

January-February 2012: For the first two months of the year, passenger movements decreased by 2.6%, with aircraft movements decreasing by 9.6% and seat capacity decreasing by 10.2%. In the same period, the average seat load factor registered an increase of 5.2 percentage points, the minimum take-off weight decreased by 8.9%, whereas cargo and mail were almost the same with an increase of 1.9%. (Source: timesofmalta.com)

AFM receives its second B200 King Air aircraft

The Armed Forces of Malta has taken delivery today of its second Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air maritime patrol aircraft.

The aircraft (carrying test registration D-IMPB) was flown to Malta direct from Braunschweig, Germany, piloted by Captain K. Kuehl, the test pilot of Aerodata and Major G. Abela. It was escorted into Maltese airspace by the AFM's first King Air, AS1126, flown by Major M. Said and Lieutenant P. Carabez.

The 'new' King Air touched down on RWY 31 at Malta IAP at 1503LT, after performing a very low flypast accompanied by King Air AS1126. The second King Air will be commissioned into the Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta in the coming weeks as 'AS1227'.

U.S. Navy USS Mount Whitney in Valletta Port

The United States Navy Blue Ridge class command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this afternoon at 1225LT for scheduled maintenance at Palumbo SY.

USS Whidbey Island is presently berthing alongside at Parlatorio-South Wharf (alongside Dock no.6) in French Creek, and she's scheduled to sail from the Grand Harbour on Monday, March 19th, at 1000LT.

Air Malta to operate again charter flights to U.K. regional airports this summer

This summer Air Malta will again operate charter flights to and from six regional airports in the UK. As from May 1st, the Maltese airline will operate weekly charter flights to/from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Newcastle and Norwich airports. The charter operations to these airports will be in addition to the airline’s regular schedule services to and from London Heathrow and Gatwick airports as well as to Manchester. These charter services will run till Oct. 30th. (Source: di-ve.com)

General Atomics receives USAF contract for two Block 1 MQ-9 Reapers

U.S. Air Force has awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems a US$38.4 million firm-price-incentive-firm (FPIF) and firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract to procure two modified Block 1 MQ-9 Aircraft (FPIF) and two Aircraft Containers (FFP). Work is expected to be completed November 2013. (Source: U.S. Department of Defense)

Air Astana signs order for four B763s and three B787-8s

Boeing and Air Astana have announced an order for four Boeing 767-300ERs (Extended Range) and three Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The order is valued at US$1.3 billion at current list prices, making this the largest single order for commercial airplanes in Kazakhstan's history. (Source: Boeing)

Russia's MoD signs contract for 92 Su-34s

The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) has signed a deal for 92 Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers from the Sukhoi aircraft maker, the ministry said on Thursday. The deal under which the warplanes are to be delivered by 2020 was signed by Defense Minister A. Serdyukov and Sukhoi General Director I. Ozar. This is one of the largest warplane contracts under the government arms procurement program and it will help replace all of the Su-24 bombers currently in service with the "4+ generation" aircraft, Serdyukov said. (RIA Novosti)

Kazakhstan's MoD signs contract for two C295s

Airbus Military has signed a firm contract with Kazspetsexport, a State Company belonging to the Kazakhstan's MoD, to supply two C295s plus the related service support package for spare parts and ground support equipment. The aircraft will be operated by the Air Forces of Kazakhstan in support of their transport missions throughout the nation's vast territory. Additionally, a MoU has been signed for a further six C295s. The first two aircraft will be delivered by April 2013. (Source: Airbus Military)