AgustaWestland, Airbus and Bell will make their mark this year with a new class of commercial helicopter. Described as the super-mediums, the light-heavies and even the intermediate-heavies, the AW189, EC175 and Bell 525 Relentless will target what is likely to become a crowded market. While all three have approached it from a different perspective, and each comes with its own unique selling points, the biggest question is, who will steal the crown?
According to an ongoing investigation, the UPS pilots flying an Airbus A300-600 that slammed into a hill short of Runway 18 at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (Ala.) Airport on Aug. 14 had improperly programmed the aircraft’s automation system, and failed to follow standard operating procedures during the early morning approach after a flight from Louisville, Ky. Whether fatigue, training or documentation may have played a role in the pilots’ performance are key elements of an investigative hearing the NTSB held in Washington Feb. 20.
Landmark Aviation added a significant anchor in the Northwest with its acquisition of Galvin Flying Services, one of the oldest fixed-base operations in the region.
Transport Canada (TC), prompted by findings in the probe of a 2010 Air Nelson Q300 that landed without its nose gear fully extended, has ordered Dash 8 Classic operators to fix a faulty landing gear lockdown indication system that can mask a gear malfunction. The airworthiness directive (AD), published earlier this month and effective Feb. 27, gives operators 100 days or 600 hr. to inspect landing gear alternate indication phototransistors. Follow-up checks are required at the same interval.
Airbus and China’s COMAC are the latest aircraft manufacturers to collaborate on air traffic management and sustainable aviation, with senior executives signing an agreement to pursue joint projects.
Investigators probing the crash of a police helicopter in Scotland are questioning why both engines flamed out despite the aircraft still having 10-15 min. of fuel left. The Airbus—formerly Eurocopter—EC135T2 operated for Police Scotland by Bond Air Services had been on a routine police mission and was returning back to its base at Glasgow City Heliport when it crashed onto the Clutha Vaults public house late in the evening of Nov. 29, 2013. All three crew onboard the helicopter were killed as were six patrons in the bar when the aircraft crashed through the roof.
As the civil helicopter industry everywhere continues to expand and support economic growth, inconsistent safety methods and programs remain a stumbling block in many nations. Too often, growth in helicopter operations also means an increase in accidents.
More than six months after the end of a nine-month halt to flights over hazardous environments by the Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) EC225, all operators of the heavy helicopters, the majority of which are used to support oil and gas platforms, have returned it to the air having implemented a series of interim fixes certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) last July.
As poor countries develop, air travel expands much faster than incomes. But as people become richer, that gearing ratio tends to fall: Air travel still grows faster than incomes, but not so much faster. And then the economy itself slows, as its game of catch-up takes it closer to the leading edge of advanced countries. For Chinese commercial aviation, that may be just as well. After experiencing the most powerful episode of airline expansion in history, the country is straining to provide infrastructure for the sector.
On the back of regional sales at the Singapore Airshow, manufacturer Airbus is putting serious money back into the Asian region with a swathe of support and infrastructure deals valued at some US$70-80 million. With Boeing predicting 12,820 new aircraft and Airbus 10,940 across Asia Pacific over the next 20 years, there is an agreement on the importance of the market. But with—so far—a claimed 80+% market share, Airbus is eager to maintain its lead in the US$1.5+ trillion potential sales bonanza.
Sikorsky Aircraft is bringing oil and gas platform operations into the 21st century with a new satellite-based approach system that takes the human calculation and guesswork out of legacy rig approaches in instrument conditions and at night. The system offers operators an automated arrival tool to reduce crew loading while increasing situational awareness.
Embattled Kuwait Airways has achieved another step in its complex restructuring process with Airbus confirming the Kuwaiti national carrier has ordered 25 aircraft, comprising ten A350-900 and 15 A320neo family aircraft. According to the official KUNA news agency, Kuwait Airways also has taken options for ten more aircraft—five A320neos and five A350s—and has also signed lease contracts for seven A320s and five A330s.
Despite delivering record revenues and profits in 2013, MTU Aero Engines faces a challenging near-term stretch in part due to slow aftermarket growth and aircraft program delays that will hold up the flow of its engines into service.
A new “North American Trusted Traveler” program among Canada, Mexico and the U.S. is winning plaudits from airport lobbyists across the continent, including the Airports Council International- North America and Canadian Airports Council. They spoke the day after the presidents and prime minister of the three countries announced the move at their Toluca, Mexico summit. The program entails “mutual recognition” of the countries’ Nexus, Global Entry, Sentri and Viajero Confiable programs, according to the White House.
Middle East lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise is considering reinventing itself as a widebody specialist and may be in the market for more aircraft in 2014. DAE, which has a $3.3 billion portfolio including Airbus A320s, Boeing 737s, A330s and 777s, has been through a turbulent few years triggering it to cancel orders for a number of aircraft including 70 A320s, 30 A350s and 35 737NGs. Talks over a potential tie-up between UK-based BBA Aviation and “certain parts” of DAE also collapsed without a deal last September.
Qatar Airways has acquired a pair of slots at London Heathrow Airport to launch an all-business-class service to its hub at Doha, using an Airbus A319 fitted with 40 lie-flat seats in a 2-2 configuration, despite the unsuccessful history of scheduled all business-class products. The daily service—which will start on May 15—will be Qatar’s sixth daily frequency on the route and London Heathrow’s first all business-class service.
Flybe plans to phase out its entire fleet of 14 Embraer 195s from its UK scheduled operation and is seeking 16 additional aircraft, as it shifts to a turboprop-focused fleet off the back of a £150 million ($250 million) capital increase. The moves are the latest steps in the restructuring of Flybe, Europe’s largest regional, which has been through a complete senior management and shareholder overhaul over the last year.
Air France-KLM is expanding its existing alliance with Gol, investing €100 million ($137 million) in the Brazilian carrier, including $52 million in a 1.5% stake in the carrier. The transaction strengthens Gol’s ties with important Skyteam members, but it does not necessarily mean the airline will become an alliance member in the short term. In fact, Gol itself has indicated that it sees that option as a more medium-term possibility, if at all. Delta bought a 3% stake in the carrier in late 2011 for $100 million.
Budget carrier Norwegian is playing down reports that it might buy into U.S. carriers, should its newly formed Irish arm fail to secure a permit for trans-Atlantic operations. Norwegian Air International (NAI), the long-haul division of Norwegian Air Shuttle, recently secured an Irish air operator’s certificate (AOC) even though it has no operations to or from Ireland.
