Germany Navy FGS Luebeck in Valletta Port

The German Navy Bremen-class frigate FGS Luebeck (F 214) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning on a courtesy visit. 

The German frigate is presently berthing alongside at Deep Water Qauy no. 4, and she's expected to sail from Malta on Wednesday, October 1st. (29-Sep-2014)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register update

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

New addition/s: 

• 9H-VJH - Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 (c/n. 9580), registered to VistaJet Ltd. (ex C-GVWR)

Cancellation/s: 

• 9H-MQT - Fokker F28 Mk.400 (c/n. 10295), registered to Miniliner srl, Italy
• 9H-XRS - Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express XRS (c/n. 9329), registered to Comlux Malta Ltd. (re-registered as 'M-SIRI')

(Source: Transport Malta, 25-Sep-2014)

Turkish Stars cancels its participation at 2014 Malta International Airshow, Red Arrows to display on both days

The Malta Aviation Society, organizers of the airX Malta International Airshow informs the public that due to circumstances beyond its control, the aerobatic team Turkish Stars will not be participating in the Airshow. 

Once faced with this situation the organising committee managed to secure the RAF Red Arrows for both days of the airshow. 

This year's event will feature 3 display teams - the Italian team Frecce Tricolori, the Spanish team Patrulla Aguila and now the world famous RAF Red Arrows, all on both days of the event. (Source: maltairshow.com, 23-Sep-2014)

German Navy FGS Braunschweig in Valletta Port

The German Navy Braunschweig-class corvette FGS Braunschweig (F 260) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning on a courtesy visit. 

The German corvette is presently berthing alongside at Magazine wharf, and she's expected to sail from Malta on Thursday, September 25th. (23-Sep-2014)

Italian AF donates Texan T6G trainer to Malta Aviation Museum

The Italian Air Force has donated a North American, Texan T6G trainer aircraft to the Malta Aviation Museum. The Texan T6G was a two-seat trainer used during WWII to train pilots, mostly in the United States and Canada. 

The aircraft donated to the Malta Aviation Museum was one of several hundred handed over by the United States to friendly nations during 1952-1953 to help them rebuild their air forces. After serving with at least two Italian Air Force flying schools the aircraft was retired and placed in storage.  

Aircraft engineers from the Aviation Museum, led by David Polidano, travelled to Forli to dismantle the aircraft and load it on a trailer for shipment to Ta’Qali. The aircraft finally ‘landed’ at Ta’Qali last Saturday and will be reassembled for display.

The museum said the donation was made possible by Col L. Mariz, Commanding Officer of the Italian Military Mission Malta, Maj M. Lumia, ex Brig (rtd) M. Xuereb, Col M. Said AFM and Warrant Officer O. Bennett AFM. (Source: timesofmalta.com, 22-Sep-2014)

ULS Airlines Cargo diverts to Malta IAP due to low visibilty at Misrata

An ULS Airlines Cargo Airbus A310-300 freighter (TC-LER), operating cargo flt GO-451 from Istanbul-Ataturk (Turkey) to Misrata (Libya), had to divert to Malta IAP this morning due to low visibility at Misrata airport. The freighter continued with its flight to Misrata after two-hours on the ground at Malta IAP. (22-Sep-2014)

USN confirms participation with a P-3C at the 2014 Malta International Airshow

The United States Navy has confirmed participation with a P-3C Orion coming from Patrol Squadron 4 the Skinny Dragons. VP-4 is based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. At this time a squadron detachment is based in NAS Sigonella in Sicily, for patrol in the Mediterranean and further afield. (Source: maltairshow, 20-Sep-2014)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register update

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

New addition/s: 

• 9H-KAZ - Hawker Beechcraft Corp. Hawker 900XP (c/n. HA-0034), registered to Hyperion Aviation Ltd. (ex OK-KAZ)
• 9H-VJG - Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 (c/n. 9580), registered to VistaJet Ltd.. (ex C-GVRY)

Cancellation/s: 

• 9H-BOF - Hawker Beechcraft Corp. Hawker 900XP (c/n. HA-0177), registered to Orion (Malta) Ltd. 

(Source: Transport Malta, 18-Sep-2014)

Russian Navy RFS Kildin in Valletta Port

The Russian Navy Project 861M (converted Moma-class) intelligence ship RFS Kildin has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning on a courtesy visit.

The Russian intelligence ship is currently berthing alongside at Pinto-3 wharf, and she's expected to sail from Malta this Sunday, September 21st. (18-Sep-2014)

Air Malta A320 to fly in formation flight with the Red Arrows at the 2014 Malta International Airshow

An Air Malta Airbus A320 will fly in formation with the Red Arrows aerobatics team during the Malta International Airshow on Sunday week. The airshow will be held on Saturday and Sunday Sep. 27th and 28th, and, for the first time, will feature four aerobatic display teams.

Capt Martin Ferrando, who will pilot the Air Malta A320 said detailed preparations for the flypast were made over the past week. This, he said, would be a unique and spectacular display. The Air Malta plane will join the nine jets that make up the Red Arrows some six miles out at sea and fly back in formation over the Grand Harbour and onto the runway. (Source: timesofmalta.com, 16-Sep-2014)

AFM confirms participation at the 2014 Malta International Airshow

Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) confirms the participation both in the static display as well as in the flying display programme, through its Air Wing. Included in the flying display repertoire shall be the Alouette III SAR helicopter. The Alouette III will be flying the Malta flag to signal the beginning of the afternoon aerial display on both days of the show and shall be on static display as well, accompanied by the Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air, a Britten Norman BN-2 Islander, a Bulldog primary training aircraft and for the first time AFM's new twin-engined helicopter, the AgustaWestland AW-139. (Source: maltairshow.com, 12-Sep-2014)

Air Malta adding a third weekly flight to Djerba

Air Malta announced today that it will be increasing its schedule between Malta and Djerba with an additional weekly frequency every Tuesday with effect from Sep. 16th. The Maltese airline will therefore be operating three weekly flights to/from the Tunisian city every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. (Source: maltatoday.com.mt, 11-Sep-2014)

Finnair to offer seasonal services to Malta next year

Next summer Finnair will add seasonal flights to Malta International Airport from Finland's capital Helsinki, with timetables designed for optimal connections with Finnair's network of Asian destinations. Service to Malta begins Apr. 2nd and lasts until late October. Flights to Malta IAP will operate twice a week - Mondays and Thursdays - with A321 Sharklet aircraft. (Source: maltatoday.com, 9-Sep-2014)

M.I.A. plc releases traffic results for August 2014

Malta IAP hosted 8.6% more passengers in August than it did during the same month last year welcoming 551,179 passengers. 

CEO M. Klaushofer said the growth was the result of an unprecedented increase in the number of aircraft seats being taken up, resulting in a seat load factor of 86.5%. Seat capacity increased by 6.6%, while flight movements rose by 5.1%.

"August's success was due to marked growth in some of the airport's major markets, namely the U.K., France, Germany and Italy," he said. Italy saw the highest growth - an increase of 16.5% due to the new routes added for the summer. Traffic from Germany and France grew by 10.4% and 9.1% respectively, followed by the U.K which grew by 8.7%.

The maximum take-off weight increased by 7.1% and cargo mail increased by 4.6%. 

Between January and August, MIA hosted more than 2.9 million passengers resulting in an eight per cent increase over the same months last year. (Source: timesofmalta.com, 5-Sep-2014)

Egyptian AF confirms a K-8E for static display at 2014 Malta International Airshow

For the first time ever in the history of the Malta International Airshow, Egypt will be participating with a K-8E trainer in the static display. 

The K-8E Karakorum is a two-seat intermediate jet trainer and light attack aircraft designed in the People's Republic of China by China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The primary contractor for this plane is the Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation.

The K-8 variant was developed for export to Egypt in 1999, featuring 33 modifications to the airframe and avionics. Built in Egypt from Chinese-supplied kits, production of 80 Egyptian-built Chinese kits was completed in 2005, with license production of an additional 40 K-8Es undertaken thereafter. (Source: maltairshow.com, 2-Sep-2014)

Hellenic AF cancels its participation at 2014 Malta International Airshow

The Hellenic Air Force has informed us that the F-4E Phantom II from the Hellenic Air Force has cancelled its participation for the static display in this year's edition of the airX Malta International Airshow. The Malta Aviation Society continues to work on other possible participants as we approach the event, now with less than 25 days from the 2014 airX Malta International Airshow. (Source: maltairshow.com, 1-Sep-2014)