Africa

Rolls-Royce has officially started building the world’s largest engine, UltraFan, which it says will redefine sustainable travel for decades to come.

Bell Textron will begin incorporating Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into all Bell Training Academy (BTA) and customer demonstration fleet aircraft. Bell will be the first rotorcraft customer to receive SAF supply from global aviation fuel supplier, Avfuel Corporation.

While the rest of the world grapples with the Covid-19 traffic downturn, Uganda Airlines will branch out into long-haul operations in early 2021 after receiving its first Airbus A330-800neo.

With Saudi Arabia offering proposals for peace in Yemen we talk about the challenges the Kingdom and its allies have faced with home-made or unsophisticated weapons as well as the more sophisticated missiles. Just how do you train against drones just 30-feet above a highway travelling at the speed of a fast truck and heading towards an oil refinery or another vital installation.

Airbus has launched a travel companion app called Tripset.

Gulfstream Aerospace has made the 100th customer delivery of the next-generation Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600 programme. The 100th aircraft is a G500.

South Africa’s little-heralded but substantial expertise in satellites and their sensors is being resurrected by a new entrant.

The International Partners for Aviation Development, Innovation and Sustainability (iPADIS) and the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) have signed an MoU that establishes a framework for mutual cooperation on the future sustainable development of civil aviation on the African continent.`

Carriers believe a 'trusted' health pass is needed for passengers in the post-COVID-19 world.

Another phase of the fatigue test of the new L-39NG jet aircraft from the Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody was successfully completed at the Czech Aerospace Research Centre in Prague.

Etihad Airways has said it will recommence twice weekly services to Nairobi on May 4 2021.

On this day last year, Ethiopian Airlines operated its first cargo only service on a passenger aircraft with its Boeing B787-900.

IATA has launched the Enhanced Partner Identification and Connectivity (EPIC) platform to support the digitisation of the global air cargo supply chain.

RwandAir is the first African airline to vaccinate all staff against Covid-19, which will position the carrier as one of the safest on the continent.

The French Government is to assist west African nations in the fight against Jihadist insurgents and terrorists by supplying more Tétras CS and CSM light intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, writes Jon Lake.

EgyptAir has applied its new uniforms for cabin crew.

Uganda Airlines denies it is in debit as claimed by the country’s Auditor General, saying its revenues have been 10% below budget for the six months it has been flying, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Egypt’s Air Cairo is to start services to Conakry in Guinea via Niamey, Niger.

The 'Trusted Travel Pass' is being introduced by the airline and the African Union.

Zimbabwe’s Gweru Airport and PLM Middle East announced a strategic partnership for Airport Development with a 176 million dollars investment plan at the 2021 Arab Aviation Summit (AAS).

On World Water Day, how can the government achieve the sustainable use of water for the benefit of all South Africans?

Airbus has been selected by Eutelsat to build EUTELSAT 36D, a new generation multi-mission geostationary telecommunications satellite, which will replace and enhance capacity at 36°East, a key orbital slot for Eutelsat for TV broadcasting (DTH) and government services over Africa, Russia and Europe.

While many African aviation businesses were grounded during the pandemic outbreak, one Kenyan airline was taking time out to restructure and revise its strategy for growth. It has now come out of the blocks with action rather than words, as Alan Peaford discovers.

Government ministers across West Africa have jointly issued a 15-point post-covid recovery plan for the air transport industry in the region.

In 4Q20 Embraer delivered 28 commercial jets and 43 executive jets (23 light jets and 20 large jets), for a total of 44 commercial and 86 executive aircraft (56 light jets and 30 large jets) delivered in 2020.