Yahsat has started a long-term strategic partnership with UAE communications solutions company X SAT FZE. Under the agreement, X SAT is committed to capacity on Yahsat's upcoming Ka-band satellite, Al Yah 3, to be launched later this year.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that “Creating Sustainable and Safe Operations in an Interconnected World” will be the theme for the inaugural Safety and Flight Ops Conference.

South African Airways (SAA) has recently launched its new-look website at www.flysaa.com, which promises more speed, more options and more simplicity.

Satcom Direct (SD) will host its first inflight connectivity workshop in Africa on 6 April 2017.

Astronautics Corporation of America and Vector Aerospace, that has facilities in South African and Kenya, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together to obtain supplemental type certificates (STCs) for installation of the Astronautics RoadRunner electronic flight instrument (EFI).

Global defence and aerospace equipment manufacturer Leonardo said it has been contracted by Austrian aerospace company Schiebel Corporation to supply the PicoSAR active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar surveillance system to equip units of the Campcopter S-100 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) being provided to an unnamed North African customer.

Travelport has become the first GDS to be granted with both 'Aggregator Level One' certification and 'IT Provider Level Two' status by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as part of its New Distribution Capability (NDC) programme.

With Africa predicted to be one of the fastest-growing aviation regions over the next 20 years, the pressure on its aviation infrastructure is set to grow. Jon Lake reports.