Bombardier Aerospace receives firm orders for eight Global business aircraft from an undisclosed customer

Bombardier Aerospace has announced today that it has received firm orders for a total of eight Global business aircraft from an undisclosed customer. The orders consist of three Global 6000 and five Global 8000 jets. The transaction is valued at approximately US$507 million based on the 2012 list price for typically equipped aircraft. (Source: Bombardier Aerospace)

Corvette Volgodonsk commissioned into Russian Navy

The ensign-hoisting ceremony on Project 21630 corvette Volgodonsk took place in St. Petersburg on Friday, Jun. 29th at JSC Almaz Marine Yard. 

Before hoisting of the St. Andrew's Flag (Russian naval ensign), commander of 13th Repaired Ship Brigade Capt 1 Rank Ali Hasbulayev read off the naval commander's order No. 010 dated Jun. 26th, 2012 on commission of the Project 21630 corvette Volgodonsk (serial number 702) into Russian Navy's 73rd Harbor Defense Brigade based in Astrakhan. 

In the next week the corvette will be towed to her basing site in the Caspian Flotilla via inland waterways. (Source: rusnavy.com)

Air Finland files for bankruptcy

Air Finland has terminated all operations and filed for bankruptcy. The Helsinki-based charter airline began operations in 2003. The carrier, which flew 400,000 passengers annually, blamed high fuel prices and low usage as the reasons for grounding the fleet. It was reported today by Finnish news agency STT that the airline still had 1,000 customers stranded abroad. (Source: dfnionline.com)

Rostekhnologii lease arm firms order for 35 MS-21s

Russian state corporation Rostekhnologii's leasing arm Aviakapital-Servis has firmed an order for 35 Irkut MS-21 twinjets. The deal, signed in Moscow, is valued at a list price of US$2.32 billion. Irkut is expected to deliver the 35 aircraft - made up of 18 -200 and 17 -300 variants - between 2022 and 2025. The aircraft will all be powered by Aviadvigatel PD-14 engines. In August 2011, Rostekhnologii and Irkut entered into a contract for 50 MS-21s and options for 35 more. These aircraft are due to be delivered between 2017 and 2022. (Source: flightglobal.com)

Chile's LAN Airlines completes its takeover of Brazilian airline TAM

Chile’s LAN Airlines said Friday it has completed its takeover of Brazilian airline TAM, creating Latin America’s biggest airline, LATAM Airlines Group.The deal, which began in May, concluded after 99.9% of TAM shareholders exchanged their shares of the company for those of LAN, at a rate of 0.9 shares of the Chilean airline for each share of the Brazilian airline in the last step to create the aerospace giant. (Source: aviationnewsdaily.com)

Italian Coast Guard M. Fiorillo in Valletta Port

The Italian Coast Guard offshore-patrol vessel Michele Fiorillo (CP 904) - a Diciotti class - has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this evening on a brief visit. This is M. Fiorillo's fifth visit in Valletta Port this month.

Guardia Costiera M. Fiorillo is presently berthing alongside at Gun Wharf and she's scheduled to sail from the Grand Harbour on Monday, June 25th, at 1400LT.

Syria confirms shooting down of Turkish F-4 Phantom

Syria has confirmed that it has shot down a McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom fighter operated by the Turkish air force after it allegedly "violated Syrian airspace" on Friday June 22nd. 

According to the official Syrian news agency Sana, the two-seat fighter entered Syrian airspace at around 1140LT from the west at "very low altitude and at high speed over territorial waters". It was hit by anti-aircraft artillery around 1-km from land and subsequently crashed into Syrian territorial waters 10-km west of the village of Om al-Tuyour in the province of Lattakia. (Source: flightglobal.com)

ICBC Leasing signs deal for up to ten Legacy 650s

ICBC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd (ICBC Leasing), has signed a deal for up to ten Legacy 650 large executive jets, including five firm orders and five options, with Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co. Ltd. (HEAI), Embraer’s joint-venture with Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of 2013. The order makes ICBC Leasing the launch customer of HEAI’s Legacy 600/650 program. (Source: Embraer)

Bell Boeing receives contract for one CV-22 for USAF

U.S. Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Bell Boeing Joint Project Office a US$74.4 million modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-fee V-22 multi-year production contract to provide one additional CV-22 combat loss replacement aircraft for the Air Force. Work is expected to be completed in November 2014. (Source: U.S. Department of Defense)

Transaero Airlines signs firm contract for six SSJ-100s

Transaero Airlines JSC has signed a firm contract with JSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft for six Sukhoi Superjet 100-95B aircraft with ten options. The firm order is valued at US$212.4m at list prices. The deal could reach US$566.4m if options are converted into firm orders. The SSJ-100 aircraft for Transaero will feature a comfortable two-class 90-seat layout (8 in business class and 82 in economy class). Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2015 and continue through 2017. This order follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2011. (Source: avitrader.com)

Transaero Airlines firms up order for four A380s

Transaero Airlines, Russia’s second largest airline, has completed a purchase agreement with Airbus for four A380 aircraft. The agreement was signed today by O. Pleshakova, Transaero Airlines CEO and C. Buckley, Airbus’ Executive Vice President Europe, Asia and the Pacific on the first day of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum. 

This order follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2011. The deal will be financed with the support of VEB Leasing Transaero becomes the first customer for the A380 in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe. The aircraft will feature a three class cabin layout, seating about 700 passengers. Transaero will announce the engine selection soon. (Source: Airbus)

Nordic Aviation Capital orders 12 CRJ1000 NextGens

Bombardier Aerospace has announced today that a wholly owned subsidiary of Nordic Aviation Capital A/S of Billund, Denmark has signed a firm purchase agreement for twelve CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft. Nordic Aviation Capital has confirmed that the aircraft will be leased to Garuda Indonesia, Bombardier’s previously announced launch customer for the CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region. Based on the list price of the CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately US$595 million.

Boeing receives USAF contract for two C-17s

Boeing has been awarded two U.S. Air Force firm-fixed priced contracts (US$171.5 million and US$169.8 million respectively) for the procurement of two C-17A Globemaster IIIs. Work on the first aircraft is expected to be completed by Nov. 21st, 2012, and on the second aircraft by May 23rd, 2012. (Source: U.S. Department of Defense)

Avianca-Taca converts three 787 options

Latin American airline Avianca-Taca has converted three B787-8 options, taking its total order of the aircraft type to 15. The carrier converted the options last month, its chief financial officer Gerardo Grajales Lopez tells Flightglobal Pro. Avianca-Taca will receive its first 787 in April 2014, he adds. The airline had initially expected the first aircraft in the second half of 2010 but delays to the 787 programme have since pushed this back. Four 787s will be added to the carrier's fleet in 2014, followed by three in 2015, three in 2016 and two in 2017. The three options that were recently converted will be delivered in 2019, says Lopez. (Source: flightglobal.com)

Thomson Airways B763 diverts to Malta IAP

A Thomson Airways Boeing 767-300 (G-OOAN), performing flight TOM076 from London-Gatwick (U.K.) to Mombasa (Kenya), was forced to divert to Malta IAP early this morning, around 0220LT (0020z), after a heated argument developed between a young man and his girlfriend. The couple were taken into custody by the local police after the aircraft landed safely in Malta. The aircraft continued with its flight to Mombasa later in the evening, departing around 1845LT (1645z).

ANA converts order for four 787-8s to -9 variant

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has converted its order for four Boeing 787-8s, due to be delivered from the 2013 fiscal year, to the -9 variant. The launch customer of the 787 has 55 of the aircraft type on order. This consists of 36 -8s and 19 -9s. To date, ANA has taken delivery of seven -8s, operating them on domestic services as well as its long-haul Haneda-Frankfurt route. (Source: flightglobal.com)

BAE Systems awarded an MoD contract to convert two BAe.146s to military configuration for the RAF

BAE Systems has been awarded a £15.5 million contract by the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the conversion of two BAe.146-200QC (Quick Change) aircraft from commercial to military configuration for use by the Royal Air Force.

The two aircraft, which have been acquired by the MoD in a separate transaction with TNT Airways S.A of Belgium, will be used after conversion in both passenger and freight roles to augment in-theatre tactical aircraft numbers during the upcoming extraction phase of Operation Herrick, the current Afghanistan campaign. (Source: BAE Systems)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register - update 14/6/2012

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

New addition/s: none 

Cancellation/s:

• 9H-LLC - Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express (c/n. 9098) registered to Carre Aviation Ltd.

NetJets announces US$9.6 billion in Bombardier, Cessna private jet orders

Fractional ownership provider NetJets has placed orders that could end up totalling US$9.6 billion with Bombardier and Cessna for up to 425 new private jets. 

If all options are exercised, the deal could ultimately comprise up to 275 Bombardier Challenger aircraft, and up to 150 Cessna Citation Latitudes.

The deal with Bombardier includes firm orders for 100 jets, comprising 75 Challenger 300s, with deliveries to start in 2014, and 25 Challenger 605s, with deliveries to begin in 2015; and options for 125 more.

The Cessna component of the deal includes firm orders for 25 Cessna Citation Latitudes, with deliveries to commence in 2016, and options for 125 more. (Source: flightglobal.com)

Ryanair reports May record on Malta routes

Ryanair said today that it carried a record of over 94,000 passengers to Malta during May 2012, an increase of over 20,000 over May last year. M.I.A. plc earlier this month reported that passenger traffic at the airport last month was a record 344,000, up 19,000 over May 2011. Ryanair said it now accounts for 27% of all pax to/from Malta.

"While Ryanair continues to grow passenger and tourist numbers, other airlines keep reducing their traffic," it said. "Ryanair’s growth in Malta is due to our commitment to low fares, no fuel surcharges and our determination to grow tourism and jobs, spokesman S. McNamara said. (Source: timesofmalta.com)

Royal Navy HMS Atherstone & HMS Shoreham in Valletta Port

Two Royal Navy mine coutermeasure vessels HMS Atherstone (M 38) and HMS Shoreham (M 112) - a Hunt class and a Sandown class respectively - have sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this late afternoon on a five-day courtesy visit.

The two British MCMVs are presently berthing alongside at Wine Wharf, and they're expected to sail from Malta on Wednesday, June 13th.

Norwegian firms up order for 100 A320neos

Norwegian has firmed up its order for 100 A320neo aircraft with Airbus. This follows a commitment signed in January. The order makes Norwegian a new Airbus customer, and as well, one of the biggest A320neo customers. The new aircraft will feature a single class cabin layout, seating approximately 180 passengers. The A320neo will support the carrier’s growth and modernization strategy. (Source: Airbus)

Cameroon AF orders an Airbus Military CN235

Airbus Military is pleased to welcome the Cameroon Air Force as a new customer with an order for a single CN235 medium transport. The CN235 is a robust aircraft with a six tonne payload that is well-proven in hot, dusty and humid conditions throughout Africa. (Source: Airbus Military)

ALC firms up order for 36 A320neo Family aircraft

Air Lease Corporation (ALC), the Los Angeles based aircraft leasing company, has signed a firm contract for 36 A320neo Family aircraft, 20 of which will be of the larger A321neo model in line with the market trend towards larger aircraft across all market segments, plus 14 options. This firm contract follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed at the 2011 Paris Le Bourget Airshow. Engine selection for the aircraft will be made at a later date. (Source: Airbus)

German Navy FGSs Gepard & Hermelin in Valletta Port

Two German Navy fast-attack crafts, FGS S71 Gepard (P 1621) and FGS S73 Hermelin (P 6123) - both Gepard class (type 143A) - have sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this afternoon on a two-day courtesy visit.

The two German crafts are presently berthing alongside at Pinto-3 Wharf and are scheduled to sail from the Grand Harbour tomorrow, June 7th, at 1000LT.

HII launches the future USS America

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has announced today that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division launched the U.S. Navy's next amphibious assault ship, America (LHA 6), from the company's floating drydock on Monday. 

The ship, weighing more than 29,000 tons in its current state, became one of the largest objects moved across land when it was translated to the drydock two weeks ago. Following additional planning and preparation, the launch process occurred utilizing the drydock's ballast system on Monday afternoon, and the ship floated free. (Source: Huntington Ingalls Industries)

Indonesia's MoD sign SIGMA 10514 contract

Indonesia's MoD and Dutch Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) have signed a contract for the engineering, build and delivery of a SIGMA 10514 Guided Missile Frigate, PKR – Perusak Kawal Ruda. The PKR will be built for the Indonesian Navy, TNI AL, and is to be delivered in 2016. The main missions and tasks of the SIGMA PKR 10514 will be in the domains of naval warfare as well as Maritime Security missions and tasks. Also, the ship may be used for humanitarian support tasks. (Source: navaltoday.com)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register - update 5/6/2012

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

New addition/s:

• 9H-UCM - TL-2000 Sting Carbon Microlight (c/n. 06-ST-185), registered to 'Private' 

Cancellation/s: none

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

Passenger movements at Malta IAP grew by 5.8% during the month of May reaching 344,008 passengers – which is a record for the month under review. Aircraft movements and seat capacity also registered an increase on those registered during May 2011, with an increase of 2.2% and 2.7% respectively. The average seat load factor went up by 2.2% over the same month last year. The increase in aircraft movements resulted also in an increase in the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 3%, whilst cargo and mail registered a 3.8% increase.

All five major markets registered growth during May 2012 when compared to the same month last year. The highest increase – 18.7% – was registered in the Spanish market, followed by an increase of 6% in the German market, 5.8% in the French market, and 3.5% from the U.K.. The Italian market registered an increase of 2.3%.

January – May 2012. Passenger traffic for the period between January and May 2012 stands at the same level of last year, with a slight 0.4% decrease. The increases registered in April and May have countered the decrease registered in the first quarter of the year. Aircraft movements registered a decrease of 4.7% when compared to the same period in 2011. Seat capacity was 5.2% lower whilst the average seat load factor increased by 3.6%. In the same period, the MTOW decreased by 3.3% whereas cargo and mail increased by 4.7% over the same period in 2011. (Source: maltairport.com)

Boeing delivers final Wedgetail AEW&C to Australia

Boeing has delivered the sixth and final Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force on May 2nd. "I would like to congratulate Boeing in achieving another key milestone in the delivery of the Wedgetail capability. 2 Squadron now has a full complement of aircraft and additional capability that will enable Initial Operational Capability to be declared later this year," said Air Vice-Marshal C. Deeble, program manager, Collins and Wedgetail, Defence Materiel Organisation. (Source: Boeing)

USN commissions attack submarine USS Mississippi

The U.S. Navy has commissioned USS Mississippi (SSN 782), the ninth Virginia-class attack submarine, during a ceremony in Pascagoula, Miss., on June 2nd. Mississippi, built under a unique teaming agreement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries - Newport News, was delivered to the Navy in just over 62 months - the fastest delivery yet for a Virginia class submarine. (Source: navy.mil / Photo: USN/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter D. Lawlor)

Dana Air MD83 crashes in Lagos while trying to return back to the airport

A Dana Air McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (5N-RAM) performing flight 9J-1993 from Lagos to Abuja (Nigeria) with 147 passengers and six crew, was climbing out of Lagos when the crew reported engine problems and decided to return to Lagos. On downwind to RWY 18L at about 1500LT (1400z) the aircraft collided with a power line, crashed into a built up area about 1nm abeam threshold RWY 18L at the intersection of Toyin Street and Olowu Street and burst into flames. All occupants of the aircraft perished in the crash. (Source: avherald.com)

Portuguese Navy NRP Corte-Real in Valletta Port

The Portuguese Navy Vasco de Gama class (Type Meko-200) frigate NRP Corte-Real (F 332) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this evening on a four-day courtesy visit.

NRP Corte-Real is presently alongside at Pinto-4/5 Wharf, and she's scheduled to sail from the Grand Harbour on Monday, June 4th, at 1800LT.

French Navy FS L'Adroit in Valletta Port

The French Navy Gowing class offshore patrol vessel FS L'Adroit (P 725) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this evening on a four-day courtesy visit.

FS L'Ardroit is presently alongside at Pinto-3 Wharf, and she's scheduled to sail from the Grand Harbour on Monday, June 4th, at 1600LT.

German Navy FGS Berlin in Valletta Port

The German Navy Berlin class (Type 702) multi-product replenishment ship FGS Berlin (A 1411) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning on a four-day courtesy visit.

FGS Berlin is presently alongside at Deep Water Quay 1/2, and she's scheduled to sail from the Grand Harbour on Monday, June 4th, at 1000LT.