RFA Diligence in Valletta Port

The Royal Feet Auxiliary forward repair ship RFA Diligence (A 132) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning on a five-day courtesy visit.

RFA Diligence is presently berthing alongside at Pinto-3 Wharf, and she's scheduled to sail from the Grand Harbour on Friday, May 4th, at 0845LT.

USC delivers Project 11356 Frigate to India

Official handover ceremony of the first out of three Project 11356 frigates was held on Apr. 27th at Yantar Shipyard (affiliate of United Shipbuilding Corporation, USC) in Kaliningrad.

The up-to-date ship built for Indian Navy under name of INS Teg was developed by Severnoye Design Bureau. (Source: rusnavy.com / Photo: Indian Navy)

Corvette Makhachkala launched

Project 21630 corvette Makhachkala was launched on Apr. 27th at JSC Almaz Shipbuilding Firm. It is third and the last Buyan-class corvette built in St. Petersburg for Caspian Flotilla.

The launching was attended by Leningrad Naval Base Commander Capt 1 Rank O. Zhuravlev, representative of Republic of Dagestan in St. Petersburg G. Gasanov, and Director General of JSC Almaz Shipbuilding Firm L. Grabovets. (Source: rusnavy.com)

China Eastern Airlines commits to buy 20 B773 ERs

Boeing has announced today that China Eastern Airlines has agreed to buy 20 Boeing 777-300ERs (Extended Range), as the airline plans to expand its capacity to meet growing demand in Asia-Pacific and China. The agreement requires Chinese Government approval, and Boeing looks forward to working with China Eastern Airlines to obtain approval, after which time the order will be posted to Boeing's Orders & Deliveries Website.(Source: Boeing)

First new-build Sharklet-equipped A320 completed in Toulouse

Airbus has produced the first new-build A320 with Sharklets. Depicted here at its roll-out in Toulouse, MSN 5098 will be one of several A320 Family aircraft in the certification flight-test campaign starting in May this year and lasting around 600 flight hours. These Sharklet tests follow the successful ‘early flight-test’ campaign with Airbus’ A320 MSN 001 test aircraft.

In total, seven new-build A320 Family aircraft fitted with both CFM56 and V2500 engine types will test the production-standard Sharklets. The results of the tests will lead up to the certification of these fuel-saving devices on each combination of aircraft model and engine selection. The first member of the family to enter service with Sharklets will be the CFM56-powered A320, from the fourth quarter of 2012. (Source: Airbus)

Afriqiyah signs for three more A330s

Libya's Afriqiyah Airways is ordering another three Airbus A330s, after finalising an agreement with the European airframer. The carrier says the agreement is for A330-300s. It will receive the first aircraft in the second quarter of 2013. No engine selection has been given but Tripoli-based Afriqiyah's current A332s are fitted with General Electric CF6 powerplants. Afriqiyah states that its chief signed the deal for the additional jets on Apr. 23rd. (Source: flightglobal.com)

Romanian Ministry of Health orders two more EC135s

The Romanian Ministry of Health’s Eurocopter EC135 helicopter fleet will be increased with two additional helicopters ordered as part of a framework contract signed last year covering a total six of the twin-engine rotorcraft.  

This new agreement will lead to deliveries of the latest two EC135s during 2012, and provides follow-on to an initial helicopter ordered and delivered last year in the framework contract with the Eurocopter Romania affiliate. (Source: Eurocopter)

General Dynamics NASSCO delivers USNS Medgar Evers

General Dynamics NASSCO has today delivered the USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13), thirteen ships of the T-AKE (Lewis and Clark) class, to the U.S. Navy. The ship is named in honor of the slain African-American civil rights leader from Mississippi who served as the state's first-ever field secretary for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. (Source: General Dynamics NASSCO)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register - update 24/4/2012

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

New addition/s

• 9H-BDT - Tecnam P2006T (c/n. 018) registered to Triton Services Ltd. (T7-CSR)

Cancellation/s:

• 9H-AGC - Airbus ACJ319-133 (c/n. 4583) registered to Hilly Sky Group Ltd., British Virgin Islands

Northrop contracted to build new Firescout variant

Northrop Grumman has received a new US$262.3 million contract to develop and build a new MQ-8C version of the Firescout unmanned rotorcraft, the U.S. Navy announced Apr 23rd. The aircraft will port all of the avionics and data-links of the existing MQ-8B to the much larger Bell 407 helicopter airframe, says G. Vardoulakis, Northrop's tactical unmanned aircraft chief.

The new airframe will greatly increase the MQ-8's range and endurance-the on-station time will almost triple. The USN contract calls for Northrop to build and test two developmental aircraft over the next 26 months. The company is also contracted to build six low rate production aircraft at the same time. (Source: flightglobal.com / Photo: Northrop Grumman)

HMS Dragon commissions in the Royal Navy

HMS Dragon (D 35) – the fourth of the Royal Navy’s new powerful Type 45 destroyers – has been formally commissioned into the fleet today. Hundreds of guests including families of the 190 ship’s company attended a colourful ‘Christening’ ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base which marks the ship’s transition into front-line service.  

Reflecting the ship’s strong Welsh connections (the ship is affiliated to the city of Cardiff), among the principal guests was Secretary of State for Wales, the Rt Hon C. Gillan. Also present were S. Boissier - the ship’s sponsor who launched the vessel at BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard on the River Clyde in November 2008 - and Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral C. Montgomery. The ceremony was conducted by the Venerable S. Brown, Chaplain of the Fleet. (Source: Royal Navy)

Bhoja Air B732 crashes 5-km from Islamabad airport in Pakistan

A Bhoja Air Boeing 737-200 (AP-BKC) performing flight B4-213 from Karachi to Islamabad (Pakistan) with 121 passengers and six crew, impacted terrain about 5-km short of and slightly left of the extended runway center line of Islamabad's RWY 30 near Jinnah Gardens, completely broke up and burst into flames at about 1850LT (1350z). Ten houses on the ground were destroyed, their occupants are reported safe however, the crash site extends over an area of about 1-km, the main wreckage came to rest about 4-km short of the runway. All occupants of the aircraft perished in the crash. (Source: avherald.com / Photo: AFP/Aamir Qureshi)

SNMCMG2 in Valletta Port

NATO's Mine Countermeasure Group 2 (SNMCMG2) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning on a four-day visit. 

The group consists of: the Turkish Navy TCG Sokullu Mehmet Pahsa (A 577) - flagship and TCG Akcakoca (M 268), the Royal Navy HMS Ledbury (M 30), the Spanish Navy SPS Turia (M 36), the German Navy FGS Sulzbach-Rosenberg (M 1062) and the Italian Navy ITS Alghero (M 5556)

SNMCMG2 is currently under the command of Captain Abdulhamit Sener from Turkish Navy.

The vessels are currently berthing alongside at Pinto-3 and Pinto-4/5 wharves, and they are scheduled to sail from Valletta Port on Monday, 23rd April, at 0600LT.

Libyan Airlines to restart Malta operations today

Libyan Airlines will restart operations to and from Malta today after wet-leasing an aircraft to circumvent the ban imposed by the European Commission earlier this month. The airline will fly out twice weekly, Monday and Thursday, after managing to strike a wet-leasing agreement with Nouvelair, Tunisia’s leading private airline. Libyan Airlines' representative in Malta, Kevin Farrugia, said the new aircraft, an Airbus A320, would allow the airline to continue flying between Libya and Malta. (Source: timesofmalta.com)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register - update 18/4/2012

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

New addition/s:

• 9H-AGC - Airbus ACJ319-133 (c/n. 4583) registered to Hilly Sky Group Ltd. (ex VP-CAS)

Cancellation/s: none

NASSCO begins construction of the future USNS John Glenn

General Dynamics NASSCO today began construction of the future USNS John Glenn, the second ship of the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) program. The 765-foot long ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in the first quarter of 2014. When in service, the ship will be used as an offshore staging area for Navy and U.S. Marine Corps personnel and equipment. (Source: General Dynamics NASSCO)

USN names third Zumwalt-class destroyer USS Lyndon B. Johnson

U.S. Secretary of the Navy R. Mabus announced today that the next Zumwalt-class destroyer will be named the USS Lyndon B. Johnson. The selection of Lyndon B. Johnson, designated DDG 1002, continues the Navy tradition of naming ships after presidents and honors the nation's 36th president. USS Lyndon B. Johnson is the 34th ship named by the Navy after a U.S. president. (Source: navy.mil)

Future USS Somerset launched

The future USS Somerset (LPD 25) launched Apr 14th from Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Avondale Shipyard, marking a key milestone in the ship's construction process. LPD 25 is the ninth ship of the San Antonio class, and is named in honor of the courage of the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville in Somerset County, Pa., on 9/11. (Source: navy.mil)

USN names five new submarines

U.S. Secretary of the Navy R. Mabus has announced today the next five Virginia-class attack submarines will be named the USS Illinois, the USS Washington, the USS Colorado, the USS Indiana, and the USS South Dakota. Mabus named the Virginia-class submarines to honor the great contributions and support these states have given the military through the years. None of the five states has had a ship named for it for more than 49 years. The most recent to serve was the battleship the USS Indiana, which was decommissioned in October 1963. (Source: U.S. Department of Defense)

Lockheed Martin receives USN contract for two additional F-35 JSFs

U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin Corp a US$258.8 million not-to-exceed undefinitized modification to the previously awarded F-35 Joint Strike Fighter low rate initial production Lot 5 contract, for one additional conventional take-off and landing aircraft for the Air Force, and one additional carrier variant aircraft for the Navy. Work is expected to be completed by February 2014. (Source: U.S. Department of Defense)

USGC awards contract option for two additional HC-144A Ocean Sentry MPAs

The U.S. Coast Guard has exercised a US$78.5 million contract option to purchase the service’s 16th and 17th HC-144A Ocean Sentry Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The HC-144A is based on the Airbus Military CN235 tactical airlifte. The option is part of a contract awarded in August 2010 for three aircraft, plus options for up to six additional aircraft. (Source: Airbus Military)

Garuda Indonesia orders 11 more A330s

Garuda Indonesia  has placed a firm order with Airbus for 11 more A330-300 widebody aircraft. The contract was signed today in Jakarta. The order is the third to be placed by Garuda Indonesia for the A330 since July 2010, with the carrier now having a total of 21 aircraft on firm order for future delivery. All the aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines. (Source: Airbus)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register - update 11/4/2012

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

New addition/s: none 

Cancellation/s:  

• 9H-AAR - Casa 212-200 (c/n. 161) registered to Medavia (re-registered as N602AR to EP Aviation LLC).

• 9H-AAS - Casa 212-200 (c/n. 162) registered to Medavia (re-registered as N603AR to EP Aviation LLC).

Malta IAP closed after hoax call meant to delay migrants' deportation from Malta

A hoax call about migrants having entered Malta IAP perimeter this morning may have been an attempt to hinder the deportation of a group of 35 migrants to Ghana, officials suspect. The call was made to the control tower at about 10 a.m., shortly before the Air Malta plane carrying the migrants was due to leave for Accra. The call forced a brief closure of the airport while airport officials and soldiers conducted a search, but found nothing. A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt was diverted to Palermo as a consequence of the airport closure. (Source: timesofmalta.com)

Transaero finilizes order for four 787-8 Dreamliners

Russia's Transaero Airlines has finilized an order with Boeing for four 787-8 Dreamliners. The signing ceremony for the order, valued at US$744 million at list prices, made history by being held onboard the 787 during a demonstration flight for Transaero's executives, employees and special guests. (Source: Boeing)

Air Malta to operate daily flight to Tripoli by May 4th

Air Malta said today that it will be operating a daily service to Tripoli. The current schedule of five flights per week will be increased to six as from Apr. 18th when a flight on Wednesdays will be added. A Friday service will be launched on May 4th. Air Malta CEO P. Davies said that since the re-start of services to Tripoli on Nov. 28th, 2011, Air Malta had registered a steady increase in passenger demand (Source: timesofmalta.com)

M.I.A. plc releases first quater traffic results

Passenger traffic at Malta IAP for the first quarter of 2012 experienced a decline of 4.7% when compared to the same period in 2011. This drop, which is equivalent to a reduction of 27,427 passenger movements, was brought about by a decline of 10% in seat capacity. 

The average Seat Load Factor for the quarter was stronger than that achieved in the same period last year - 69% in 2012 as opposed to 65% in 2011. Cargo and Mail for the first three months were marginally lower than 2011, registering a drop of 0.5%, whilst the maximum take-off weight which to a certain extent is dependent on aircraft movements, dropped by 8.1%.

A look at the airport’s core markets reveals that the U.K. registered the same level of traffic as that of 2011, 33%. Italy on the other hand registered a 6% increase in the Seat Load Factor (from 56% in 2011 to 62% this year) whilst passenger movements for this market dropped by 16%. On a more positive note, the German market experienced growth both in terms of seat capacity as well as Seat Load Factor, resulting in a substantial increase in passenger movements of 21%. The French and Spanish markets registered drops in passenger movements of 11% and 38% respectively.

March 2012: Passenger movements at Malta IAP in March 2012 reached 221,912. The decrease in passenger movements, when compared to the same month last year, is equivalent to 7.7%. Seat capacity for the month was 9.9% less than last year, whilst the average seat load factor increased by 1.7% over March 2011. Excluding the effect of the unrest in North Africa last year, passenger movements for March 2012 would have been 5.5% less than last year. (Source: maltairport.com)

Eurocopter to supply six EC725s to PT Dirgantara for customization and delivery to Indonesian AF

A contract was signed today between Eurocopter and PT Dirgantara Indonesia/IndonesianAerospace for the supply of six EC725. To be received in 2014, Indonesian Aerospace will customize and deliver these combat search and rescue configured helicopters to the Indonesian Air Force under a contract signed with the Indonesian Ministry of Defence last month. (Source: Eurocopter)

Construction begins on the third Zumwalt class destroyer for USN

U.S. Sen. S. Collins joined Chief of Naval Operations Adm. J. Greenert and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works President J. Geiger to start the fabrication of the third Zumwalt class destoyer (DDG 1002) for the U.S. Navy during a ceremony at the BIW shipyard in Bath, Maine, Apr 4th. DDG 1002 is expected to deliver to the Navy in fiscal year 2018. (Source: navy.mil)

Algerian MoD confirms purchase of two frigates

The Algerian Defence Ministry has sent a letter to the German manufacturer ThyssenKrupp Marine SystemsKrupp (TKMS), in relation to the Contract No. 674/889, signed on Mar. 26th, confirming the purchase of two Meko A200 frigates. The contract is worth €2.1 billion which is very high compared to SA Valor-class Meko.

It underlies supply of two MEKO A200N frigates and six AgustaWestland Super Lynx helicopters, including the weapon systems which will be supplied by Saab Bofors Dynamics via Diehl BGT, namely RBS15 MkIII anti-ship missiles, Umkhonto-IR surface-to-air missiles for the Meko and Mokopa air-to-ground missiles for the helios in addition to 82 MU-90. (Source: navaltoday.com)

Indian Navy commissions nuclear submarine Chakra

Project 971 Schuka-B nuclear-powered attack submarine K-152 Nerpa leased to India for a ten-year long period was officially commissioned today into Indian Navy as INS Chakra. The commissioning ceremony took place at Vishakhapatnam naval base in the Andhra Pradesh state. INS Chakra is a third-generation submarine. Displacement is 12,800 tons; test depth is 600 meters; max submerged speed is 30 knots. Armament may include cruise missiles, torpedoes and rocket torpedoes. (Source: rusnavy.com / Photo: TNN)

German Navy FGS Oste in Valletta Port

The German naval auxiliary Oste class (Type 42) fleet service ship FGS Oste (A 52) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning around 0900LT on a courtesy visit.

FGS Oste is presently berthing alongside at Deep Water Quay 1 (then to shift to Pinto 4/5 Wharf) and she's expected to sail from Valletta Port today week, April 12th, at 1000LT.

JAL signs for an additional E170

Japan Airlines (JAL) has signed an amendment to the original contract, signed in June 2007 with the Embraer, for an additional E170 jet. The value of the deal, at list price, is US$38 million. As the previous ones, this E170 will powered by GE CF34-8E engines and configured for 76 passengers in a single class, and will be operated by J-AIR, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of JAL. Delivery is planned for the last quarter of 2012. (Source: Embraer)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register - update 3/4/2012

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

New addition/s: none

Cancellation/s:

• 9H-AEF - Airbus A320-214 (c/n. 2142) registered to Air Malta plc (re-registered as SP-IAD to OLT Express)

Air Wing, AFM commissions its second B200 King Air

The Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta has this morning commissioned into service, during an official ceremony at apron-7 at Malta IAP, its second Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air (A1227) maritime patrol aircraft. This second King Air, delivered brand new and tailored to AFMs' needs at Malta IAP on Mar. 5th, 2012, was co-financed, like the first King Air (AS1126) already in service, from the E.U.'s External Border Funds.

Air Malta's 9H-AEP departs Malta IAP on dry lease to OLT Express

Air Malta's Airbus A320 '9H-AEF' has departed this morning around 0900LT from Malta IAP on its delivery flight to OLT Express in Warsaw, Poland, in full OLT Express livery. This A320 is being dry leased by Air Malta to OLT Express for a number of years. A number Air Malta's pilots will also be seconded with OLT Express during the lease period. The aircraft will be the de-registered from the Malta Aircraft Register and re-registered on the Polish Aircraft Register as 'SP-IAD'.

TAAG orders three additional B777ERs

Angola's flag-carrier TAAG Linhas Aereas de Angola has today finalized an order with Boeing for three additional 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes. The order, valued at $895 million at list prices, also includes purchase rights for three additional 777-300ERs. (Source: Boeing)

Icelandair adds two B752s to its fleet

Due to the expansion of Icelandair's route network the company will deploy 16 aircraft in its operations next summer, as compared to 14 aircraft in the summer of 2011. Contracts have been finalised for two Boeing 757-200s that will join the Icelandair fleet in the coming months. One of the aircraft was purchased, while the other has been leased for a term of 20 months. (Source: Icelandair)

China Eastern cancels order for 24 B787s and reorders B737NGs

China Eastern Airlines has cancelled the order for 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and reordered 45 Boeing 737NG airplanes, according to the latest data released by the Boeing Company on March 29, 2012. Insiders said that it indicates that China Eastern has shifted its focus from the international service to domestic service. (Source: China People’s Daily)

Air France launches flight operations to Malta IAP

Air France has launched today flight operations on schedule between Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS/LFBO) and Malta Int'l Airport. This first flight, operted by an Airbus A319 (F-GRHD), has landing at Malta IAP at 0909LT. Air France will be operating two weekly flights between Toulouse-Blagnac and Malta IAP on Saturdays and Sundays.