Aerospace

Being served lunch on board a flight is a simple process but not many passengers realise the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to make sure food is delivered fresh to such high standards. Marcelle Nethersole reports.

Med Airways officially started in 2001 under its former name, Flying Carpet, and was the first company in Lebanon to receive an Air Operator Certificate.

MEA Ground Handling enjoys the lion's share of the airline business at Beirut International. But the company is hungry for more, writes Brendan Gallagher, and is casting its eyes further afield.

Lebanon's cargo flag carrier has been rescued and is looking at new opportunities. Alan Peaford meets the man behind TMA's rising.

It was more than 70 years ago that the Aero Club of Lebanon first opened its doors in Beirut following a presidential decree to form the club. These were the heydays of Lebanon, with the Mediterranean resorts competing with the cote d'Azur for the attentions of the rich and the famous.

Commercial flight training in Lebanon is in its infancy. Brendan Gallagher calls on a flying school that plans to grow up fast.

Despite the challenges, one company has been keen to keep Beirut as its regional headquarters. Alan Peaford reports.

Business aviation operators in Beirut are used to taking risks, so when it came to selecting an aircraft to launch an operation, Open Sky Aviation was prepared to take a big one and order an aircraft that hadn't yet been built.

Lebanon's business/VIP sector is in good health and full of plans for the future. But, writes Brendan Gallagher, its prospects will be brighter still if the “grey” market in illegal charters can be cleaned up.

Jon Lake reviews the Lebanese Air Force and looks at the challenges it faces in today's environment.

Alan Peaford meets the man behind the growth plan of Lebanon's civil aviation industry.

A small and mountainous country, Lebanon was once the Middle East's tourist hotspot until it was struck by civil war and Israeli invasion. But now the country is healing those wounds and is ready to resume its tourist status again. Marcelle Nethersole reports.

Jordan's Marka Airport, in the heart of the capital Amman, has a difficult balance to maintain. Although scheduled airlines are now operating from Queen Alia International Airport 40km outside the city, Marka still plays an essential role for civil aviation, with a growing number of business jets, and it is also a major base for the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

An airport is a complex structure. In order to ensure fast, smooth and efficient operations from day one, authorities need to rely on experienced consultancy that will successfully mix all the complex elements of airport operations and provide a high level of safety, security and service to users.

While MEBAA is fostering an environment in which business aviation can flourish, the MEBA show is also making a major contribution.

Finding a new fighter has taken Morocco more than 20 years! Finally, though, after a long and thorough search – and latterly after a hard-fought sales battle with Dassault – Lockheed Martin received a $233.6 million firm fixed-price contract in May 2008.

Sukhoi's iconic fighter is performing with the Algerian air force. Jon Lake reports.

Jon Lake looks at the background to the potential contracts between Saudi and the US.

For almost 100 years Germany has been known in the aviation industry for its efficiency and its technology. Today the country provides some of the leading consultants, who are introducing new systems to the airports and airlines of the MENA region. Arabian Aerospace meets three of them.

IATA's Simplifying the Business is a call to airlines and airports to work to improve the passenger experience – and in so doing save costs for the airlines. Replacing paper tickets with e-tickets was the first stage of the digital revolution that will affect everybody involved in air transport. Now the industry is looking at removing queues, improving relationships with the customer and increasing revenue. Alan Peaford reports.

The Middle East region is currently enjoying a frenzy of airport development. Often overshadowed by flamboyant terminal designs, hidden networks of technologies are the crucial backbone of commercial flight. Ground-based operations are taking advantage of the benefits ushered in by recent innovations in airport and aerospace engineering. These technologies are aimed at elevating efficiency in airport ground services. Report by Keith Mwanalushi.

Having placed the launch order for the new Airbus A330-200F freighter at Farnborough in 2008, Etihad formally received its first aircraft at this year's Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) show.

With a strong tradition in building aircraft, Russian manufacturers are looking at taking on new markers. Jon Lake reports.

Launching just months before the global recession hit the freight business caused major problems for the UAE's first dedicated cargo airline. A major change in direction was necessary for survival.

The coming year will see major changes at Jordan's Royal Falcon airline. New equipment, routes and a change of home base will mark the next step in the development of the young airline.