Two Indian AF Mi-17 helicopters collide in mid-air in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region

Two MI-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) collided in mid-air in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region on Thursday, killing all nine IAF personnel aboard. The collision occurred over Sarmat village, when the personnel were on a routine training mission. Each of the helicopters, which took off from the nearby Jamnagar airbase, carried a pilot, a co-pilot and two other trainees. One of them also carried a training officer practising target bombing. (Source: thehindu.com)

ICBC Leasing orders 50 A320 Family aircraft

China's ICBC Financial Leasing Co. Ltd.  (ICBC Leasing) has signed an agreement with Airbus for a total of 50 A320 Family aircraft, including 30 A320ceo and 20 A320neo. The aircraft purchase agreement was signed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing by Li Xiaopeng, Senior Executive Vice President of ICBC and Chairman of ICBC Leasing, and F. Bregier, President and CEO of Airbus. (Source: Airbus)

Philippine Airlines places firm order for 54 Airbus aircraft

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has placed a firm order with Airbus covering 34 A321ceo, ten A321neo and ten A330-300s. The aircraft are being purchased under a major fleet modernisation programme at the airline, with deliveries starting in 2013. PAL will announce engine selections for all the aircraft at a later date. (Source: Airbus)

Qantas cancels order for 35 Boeing 787-9s

Qantas has cancelled an order for 35 Boeing 787-9 aircraft to reduce capital expenditure by $8.5 billion. Deliveries of 15 B787-8s to Jetstar, its low-cost subsidiary, will continue as planned, adds Australia's flag carrier. The B787-8s will allow the transfer of A330s from Jetstar to Qantas Domestic, and the eventual retirement of Qantas's B767 fleet. The group will retain and bring forward 50 B787-9 options and purchase rights by two years, with the aircraft available for delivery from 2016 if needed. (Source: flightglobal.com)

Air Malta reduces losses in first quarter (Apr-Jun)

Air Malta said today that it made an operating loss of €6.1 million in the first quarter of its financial year (April-June) -€1.2 million lower than projected and €3.9 million lower than in the same period last year. The airline registered an increased turnover on budget of €2.1m. The airline said that during the quarter it carried 472,000 passengers and increased its passenger load factor by 2.6% to 75%.

Peter Davies, CEO said: "Air Malta is particularly pleased with these results as they continue to show that we are on track with the Restructuring Plan. We are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to maintain this momentum and achieve our planned results at the end of this financial year. This we can achieve, despite some setbacks which we need to manage that include the OLT Express aircraft lease termination. (Source: timesofmalta.com)

Lockheed Martin receives USAF contract for one C-130J Super Hercules for Norway

U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a US$83 million contract modification for one C-130J production aircraft.  The work is expected to be completed by July 31, 2015. AFLMC/WLNNC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio is the contracting activity.  One hundred precent foreign military sales to Norway. (Source: U.S. Department of Defense)

JSC Admiralteyskie Verfi SY lays down keel of SSK Stary Oskol for Russian Navy

Keel-laying ceremony of diesel electric submarine (SSK) Stary Oskol for Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) took place today in 12th workshop of JSC Admiralteyskie Verfi SY. Project 06363 diesel electric submarine Stary Oskol (serial number 01672, tactical number B-262) is the third sub in series being built by Admiralteyskie Verfi for Russian Navy. Just like the lead sub and the first serial one, SSK Stary Oskol is meant to reinforce BSF submarine fleet. According to Russian Navy's plans, Admiralteyskie Verfi will build six subs of that kind for Black Sea Fleet. (Source: rusnavy.com / Photo: Donbass.ua)

Maltese-registered plane in drug investigation

A Maltese-registered Bombardier private plane has been impounded by the Spanish police in the Canary Islands after it was allegedly found to be carrying a ton of cocaine. According to reports in the Spanish media, the drug was concealed in boxes carrying Red Cross markings. The plane had previously flown from Venezuela to Miami and then the Canary Islands. The Colombian pilot and two Germans are under arrest. (Source: timesofmalta.com)

The Bombardier private plane is BD-700 Global Express, with registration 9H-FED, registered to Hyperion Aviation.

USS Porter collides with bulk oil tanker M/V Otowasan

No one was hurt when a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer and a large Japanese owned merchant vessel collided near the Strait of Hormuz on Aug. 12th. The collision between USS Porter (DDG 78) and the Panamanian-flagged bulk oil tanker M/V Otowasan occurred at approximately 0100LT. 

USS Porter transited under its own power to Jebel Ali, UAE and is now pierside for assessment and repair. The incident is under investigation. (Source: navy.mil / Photo: USN/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Sunderman)

Royal Navy HMS Middleton in Valletta Port

The Royal naval mine countermeasure vessel, HMS Middleton (M 34) - Hunt class - has sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this evening on a four-day courtesy visit. 

The British MCMV is presently berthing alongside at Pinto-1/2 Wharf, and she's  expected to sail from Malta on Wednesday, August 15th, at 0700LT

Royal Navy HMS Pembroke in Valletta Port

The Royal naval mine countermeasure vessel, HMS Pembroke (M 107) - Sandown class - has sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this morning on a four-day courtesy visit. 

The British MCMV is presently berthing alongside at Pinto-1/2 Wharf, and she's  expected to sail from Malta on Wednesday, August 15th, at 0700LT.

Italian low-cost carrier Wind Jet stops flights

Italian low-cost carrier Wind Jet has stopped all flights as from midnight last night. Following the failure in the recent negotations with Alitalia for its take-over by the Italian giant and the difficulty arisen for the supply of fuel to its aircraft at airports, Wind Jet has decided to suspend operations at all airports with effect from midnight.  A number of Wind Jet's aircraft have been returned to their leasing company last night. Two Wind Jet A320s were ferried to Malta IAP, landing between midnight and 0130LT, joining other five Wind Jet aircraft that were already at Lufthansa Technik Malta.

Indonesian Navy KRI Dewaruci in Valletta Port

The Indonesian Navy sail training ship KRI Dewaruci has sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this morning on a five-day courtesy visit. KRI Dewaruci is a Class A tall ship and the only barquentine owned and operated by the Indonesian Navy. She is used as a sail training vessel for naval cadets and is the largest tall ship in the Indonesian fleet.

Built in Germany by HC Stülcken & Sohn. Construction on the Dewaruci began in 1932, but was suspended due to the outbreak of WWII, which caused heavy damage to the shipyard where she was being constructed. She was finally completed in 1952 and launched in 1953. Since then, she has been based out of Surabaya on the Java Sea. Her name and figurehead represent and display the mythological Javanese wayang god of truth and courage.

The Indonesian training ship is presently berthing alongside at Pinto-3 Wharf, and she's scheduled to sail from Malta on Tuesday, August 14th, at 1000LT

Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS Evertsen in Valletta Port

The Royal Netherlands naval frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F 805) - De Zeven Provincien class - has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this evening on a three-day courtesy visit.

The Royal Netherlands frigate is presently berthing alongside at Pinto-4/5 Wharf and she's scheduled to sail from Valletta Port on Sunday, August 12th, at 0800LT.

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register - update 10/8/2012

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

New addition/s: 

• 9H-OPE - Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 (c/n. 9440), registered to VistaJet (ex 9H-VJB)

Cancellation/s: 

• 9H-VJB - Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 (c/n. 9440), registered to VistaJet (re-registered as 9H-OPE)

Royal Jordanian A320 diverts to Malta IAP

A Royal Jordanian Airbus A320-200 (JY-AYU), operating flight RJA6053, was forced to divert to Malta IAP this morning, reason unkown. The aircraft landed safely on RWY 31 around 0430LT. The aircraft departed again from Malta IAP around 0755LT to Tripoli International, Libya.

Cathay Pacific firms orders for 26 A350-1000s

Cathay Pacific has firmed an agreement with Airbus to convert 16 of its Airbus A350-900 aircraft on order into the larger -1000 variant and has exercised an option to purchase 10 new -1000s. The Hong Kong-based operator signed a supplemental agreement with Airbus on Aug 8th, 2012, after its major shareholders approved the move. 

The conversion to the larger variant is expected to cost Cathay an additional US$1.087 billion at list prices. The carrier's 2010 order for 30 -900s is worth $7.82 billion at list prices. The additional 10 new -1000s to be purchased is expected to cost $3.286 billion at list prices. Delivery of the 26 aircraft is scheduled to start in 2018, through to 2020. (Source: flightglobal.com)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register - update 7/8/2012

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

New addition/s: 

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

Cancellation/s: none

Ingalls Shipbuilding starts fabrication on LPD 27

On Monday Huntington Ingalls Industries has began construction on the amphibious transport dock LPD 27. The ship, being built at the company's Ingalls Shipbuilding division, is the 11th ship in the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) class of ships. 

On July 27th Ingalls was awarded a US$1.5 billion contract to build LPD 27. The start of fabrication milestone marks the first 100 tons of steel being cut for units on the LPD 27. The next major event is keel laying, currently scheduled for second quarter of 2013, and delivery of LPD 27 is scheduled for mid-2017. (Source:  Huntington Ingalls Industries)

Corsair B744 diverts to Malta IAP

A Corsair Boeing B747-400 (F-HSUN), operating flight CRL903 from St. Denis (Reunion) to Paris-Orly (France) was forced to divert to Malta IAP this morning, reason unkown. The aircraft landed safely on RWY 31 around 0510LT. The aircraft departed again from Malta IAP around 0635LT to Paris-Orly.

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

Following the 1.6% growth reported for the first half of 2012, passenger movements at Malta IAP in July increased by 7.1% reaching an all-time record, for any month ever, of 445,232 passengers. The previous record for any one month was achieved in August 2010 with 427,924 passengers.

In July, aircraft movements and seat capacity increased by 4.8% and 5.7% respectively over the corresponding period last year, whilst the average seat load factor (SLF) increased by 1.1% to reach 85.1%. This increase in SLF is the 16th monthly consecutive growth. The maximum take-off weight also increased by 5.6% on that registered in July last year, whilst cargo and mail were 8% higher than that recorded during the same month in 2011.

All the core markets, with the exception of Germany, registered increases during the month of July with Italy, France and Spain and showing an increase of 10.2%, 9.7% and 3.5% respectively. The largest market, the United Kingdom, resulted in an increase of 2.4%. The German market on the other hand registered a slight decrease of 1%.

January – July 2012: The results for the first seven months of the year, in terms of passenger movements therefore show an increase of 2.8% when compared to the same period last year, totalling 2.02 million passenger movements. This overall increase in the first seven months was mostly due to the record number of passengers in the month of July. (Source: maltairport.com)

French Navy commissions LHD FS Dixmude

The third Projection and Command Vessel (BPC) of the French Navy was admitted to active service, after several years of construction and testing. The Chief of Staff of the Navy signed on Jul 27th the document admitting the 'Dixmude' to active duty. The High Commission of Armaments and the Permanent Commission for Programs and Trials, after meeting on board the ship a few days earlier, both gave their approval. 

This commissioning represents a major landmark for the latest Mistral-class BPC ship, and is the culmination of several years of perseverance by manufacturers, engineers and technicians, as well as sailors, involved in this complex project. (Source: defense-aerospace.com / Photo: French MoD)

Malta IAP to waive landing fees once again this winter

Following last year’s initiative of giving a 100% refund to all scheduled airlines on all their landing fees last winter, Malta International Airport plc will once again waive landing fees for the coming winter season with the aim to further stimulate traffic during the shoulder/winter months. 

This initiative forms part of Malta Airport’s Incentive Programme for airlines which has just been updated. The first Airline Incentive Scheme – launched back in 2007 – was aimed to attract airlines interested to start off their operations to Malta or looking at increasing their presence on the Maltese Islands. The Scheme targeted markets which back then were considered strategic, like the Iberian peninsula, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. (Source: maltairport.com)

Xiamen Airlines commits to purchase 40 B738s

Boeing has announced today that Xiamen Airlines has agreed to purchase 40 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s. The airline plans to use the airplanes for more international routes to meet growing passenger traffic in Asia-Pacific and China. The order, which is valued at US$3.5 billion at list prices, requires Chinese Government approval and Boeing will work with Xiamen Airlines to obtain approval. After that time the order will be posted to Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website. (Source: Boeing)

SilkAir commits to 31 B737 MAX 8s and 23 B738s

Boeing confirms that SilkAir has announced a commitment today to order 31 B737 MAX 8s and 23 Next-Generation B737-800s. When finalized, the agreement will be worth US$4.9 billion at list prices. Boeing congratulates SilkAir for selecting the B737 and looks forward to finalizing this order at which time the airplanes will be posted to the Boeing Orders & Delivers website as a firm order. (Boeing)

EL AL orders two additional B737-900ERs

Boeing and EL AL have announced that the Israeli national carrier has finalized an order for two additional Next-Generation 737-900ERs (Extended Range), adding to EL AL's previous order in March 2011, bringing the total number to six B737-900ERs on order. The two-airplane order is valued at approximately US$179.2 million at current list prices. (Source: Boeing)

WestJet firms order for up to 45 Q400 NextGen aircraft

Bombardier Aerospace has announced today that the conditional order placed by WestJet, an Alberta partnership on June 28, 2012, has been converted to a firm purchase agreement for up to 45 Q400 NextGen airliners. The transaction includes 20 firm-ordered Q400 NextGen aircraft and options on an additional 25 of the aircraft. WestJet’s letter of intent to acquire these aircraft was announced on May 1st, 2012. Based on the Q400 NextGen aircraft list price, the firm order is valued at approximately US$683 million and could increase to approximately US$1.59 billion if the 25 options are converted to firm orders. (Source: Bombardier Aerospace)

Baltiysky Zavod cuts metal for first Russian Mistral

JSC Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding on Aug 1, 2012 began cutting metal for the hull of the first Mistral-class amphibious assault ship for Russian Navy. Baltiysky Zavod started cutting metal for the first Russian Mistral right after Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard handed over the first package of design engineering documentation adapted to the yard's capacities. The ship is supposed to be laid down on Oct. 1st. Expectedly, cutting metal for the second helicopter-carrier will start in May 2013. Baltiysky Zavod is the shipyard appointed to build floating parts for hulls of Mistral-class landing ships. Admiralteyskie Verfi is involved in construction as design organization. (Source: RIA Novosti)