Skycontrol news archive for april 2008

30/04/08: Lindbergh Foundation to Offer Rare Collectibles and Aviation Activities in Global Online Auction

MINNEAPOLIS (April 30, 2008) — The Lindbergh Foundation announced today that in connection with its 31st annual Lindbergh Award Celebration in May , several one-of-a-kind items will be available for on-line bidding. Kelley Welf, Director of Communications for the Foundation, confirmed that online bidding for twelve unique items is opening today at www.lindberghfoundation.org , and will close for on-line bidding on May 15 at 4 p.m. CDT. John King, Co-Chairman of King Schools and Chairman of the Lindbergh Foundation Board of Directors, noted, “The Foundation wants the global audience of aviation enthusiasts to have its chance to participate in an auction that would otherwise have been limited to attendees of our Celebration in Atlanta. This auction—like our work at the Lindbergh Foundation—is just too special to keep to ourselves.” Miles O’Brien, CNN Correspondent and Lindbergh Foundation Director, referred to the offering he’ll be hosting and added, “I’m looking forward to meeting the lucky bidder who’ll spend some time with us here at CNN studios in our ‘behind the scenes tour and lunch.’ It’s a great chance to support the Lindbergh Foundation’s work and have some fun doing it!”

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30/04/08: SkyTrac to Provide Satellite Communication (SatCom) and Flight Following to Sloan Helicopters

Kelowna, BC, Canada, April 29, 2008 – SkyTrac is pleased to announce it has been selected to provide satellite communication (SatCom) and flight following systems to Sloan Helicopters, a provider of helicopter charter services for the oil and gas and forest management. Based in Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta, Sloan Helicopters will install SkyTrac on its fleet of Eurocopter EC120B and Robinson RH44 Raven II aircraft to enhance operational safety while operating in remote locations. “Our need for satellite-based communication and flight following is driven by safety,” said Kim Rossi, Operations Manager and Chief Pilot at Sloan Helicopters. “Serving the oil and gas and forestry sectors, we operate in remote locations where communication is difficult and emergency services are not close at hand. With SkyTrac’s system, we are always in contact with our helicopters and crew and are aware of their locations.”

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30/04/08: Emirates Posts New Record Profits

Dubai, 30th April 2008 - The Emirates Group today reported its 20th consecutive year of net profit, notching a new profit record despite soaring oil prices and challenging business conditions in the second half of its 2007-08 fiscal year.Group net profits increased 54.1 per cent to AED 5.3 billion (US$ 1.45 billion) for the financial year ended 31st March 2008, on revenues of AED 41.2 billion ($ 11.2 billion) compared to the previous year’s AED 31.1 billion ($ 8.5 billion). The Group net margin improved to 13.2 percent from 11.4 percent in the previous year.

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30/04/08: Aviareto appoints new Managing Director

Dublin, 30 April 2008 – Rob Cowan has been appointed as Managing Director of Aviareto, the Dublin-based operator of the International Registry of Mobile Assets for the air transport industry. Cowan, previously Head of Operations, succeeds Niall Greene, who has stepped down as the Managing Director of Aviareto but remains on the Board of Directors. Cowan will be responsible for all aspects of the management and operation of the International Registry, the first and largest global database of its kind, which defines the priority of interests on airframes, aircraft engines and helicopters. The Registry is nearing its third year of operation and has over 250,000 objects from 40 manufacturers registered on the system.

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30/04/08: UK’s first charter Citation Mustang proves a hit for London Executive Aviation: Europe’s First Mustang Fleet Operator Says Aircraft Surpasses Expectations for Customers and Crew

London, England, April 30, 2008 – The first Cessna Citation Mustang on the UK charter market has proved an immediate success with customers, according to charter operator London Executive Aviation (‘LEA’). G-LEAI, which is the first of ten Mustangs joining the LEA fleet, began operations in mid February 2008 and quickly found favour with customers attracted to its value and suitability for European travel. The Mustang’s low acquisition and operating cost have enabled LEA to reduce its entry price for jet chartering by up to 30 percent.

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30/04/08: Clarins Paris new partner for the Solar Impulse project

Paris, 30 April 2008. – Once again the Clarins group shows its fundamental openness to innovation by joining the Solar Impulse Project launched by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg as an Official Supporter. Monsieur Christian Courtin-Clarins, chairman of the board of the Clarins group, announced that he was totally in support of this Swiss vision of technology and innovation and the respect for the environment represented by the solar-powered aircraft project. The Clarins distribution network, which covers 150 pays, will provide Solar Impulse with numerous opportunities to give the project and its messages worldwide international visibility. The project aims to encourage economy in the use of energy, technological progress towards more efficient use of energy, and in particular the use of renewable energies.

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30/04/08: Thales Alenia Space delivers Jason-2 satellite to its Californian launch base

Cannes, April 30, 2008 – The Jason-2 satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space, left its integration centre in Cannes for its launch site. The satellite is slated for a June 15 launch from the Vandenberg Air Force Base (California, USA) by a Delta II rocket. The Jason-2 operational oceanographic mission involves a quadripartite collaboration between French space agency CNES, its American counterpart NASA, and the two meteorological organizations Eumetsat and NOAA, in charge of data analysis. Designed to study the Earth’s oceans and climate, Jason-2 will take over from its predecessor, Jason-1, which has already been in orbit for seven years and is still operational. Jason-2 will provide an opportunity for the launch of new services, including maritime forecasts for ships, and coupling of this data with weather forecasts.

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30/04/08: Eclipse Aviation Expands Global Reach with India and Australia Certifications: First foreign approvals for Eclipse 500 Jet(r)

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - May 1, 2008 - Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world’s first very light jet (VLJ), today announced that it has received certification to register and operate the Eclipse 500(r) in India and Australia. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India granted the first foreign country Eclipse 500 certification on April 7, 2008 and the Civil Aviation Safety Agency (CASA) in Australia approved the Eclipse 500 on April 22, 2008. These certifications expand Eclipse Aviation’s global reach and allow its customers to register and operate their Eclipse 500 jets in these two countries.

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30/04/08: Airstream Completes Dry Lease of Two Boeing 737-800 Aircraft

Airstream International Group has arranged the lease of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft on behalf of Hapag-Lloyd, a subsidiary of Tui AG. The aircraft are being leased by Travel Service of the Czech Republic and will operate on charter flights from central Europe to destinations in Europe and North Africa.

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30/04/08: SRA to Acquire Era Corporation

FAIRFAX, Va., April 30, 2008 — SRA International, Inc. (NYSE: SRX), a leading provider of technology and strategic consulting services and solutions to government organizations, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Era Corporation, a privately held provider of advanced surveillance technologies for the air traffic management, airport operations, military and security markets. Era is a pioneer and leading supplier of next-generation surveillance and flight tracking solutions. The company has nearly 300 employees and develops multilateration, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and other technologies that deliver high-performance, high-reliability surveillance solutions to more than 100 customers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia. The company is headquartered in Reston, Va. with production facilities and research & development centers in the U.S. and Czech Republic.

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30/04/08: Delta Celebrates 30 Years of Trans-Atlantic Service: Delta’s first nonstop trans-Atlantic flight to London’s Gatwick Airport puts the airline, the city of Atlanta and its airport on unstoppable globalization path

ATLANTA, April 30, 2008 – Thirty years ago today, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) Flight No. 10 took its maiden flight from Atlanta to London’s Gatwick International Airport taking Delta customers across the Atlantic for the first time. The departure from what was then known as Original poster for Delta’s London inauguralHartsfield Atlanta International Airport marked a significant milestone in the growth of the airline, the city of Atlanta, and what is now the world’s largest airport. “Delta is confident that this new Atlanta-London air route will be a major catalyst in an expansion of international business and tourism here,” accurately predicted R. S. Maurer, then Delta’s vice chairman of the Board, during inaugural flight ceremonies held April 30, 1978, at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. “Today is a dream come true. For Delta, this is a dream of more than a decade in length. For several of you here, I suspect that you have for even longer a period waited for Atlanta and Georgia to take this great step forward as a vital world air transportation center.”

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30/04/08: Embraer shows Phenom 300 Jet mock-up in eur-Avia 2008 in France: The aircraft full-scale mock-up is shown for the first time in the French Riviera

São José dos Campos, April 30, 2008 – Embraer will showcase, for the first time, a full-scale mock-up of the Phenom 300 executive jet at Eur-Avia 2008 in Cannes, France, May 2-4. Eur-Avia, now in its second edition, is an annual international exhibition dedicated to general aviation in the south of France. The event will be staged at Cannes Mandelieu Airport (LFMD), a popular and prestigious airport for VIPs and business leaders flying in on their private aircraft. “We are delighted to be a part of this important event, showcasing the mock-up of the Phenom 300 jet to attendees in Cannes,” said Colin Steven, Embraer Vice President, Marketing and Sales – Europe, Africa and Middle East, Executive Jets. “The Phenom 300 jet, which has just performed its maiden flight, ahead of schedule, this week, offers great comfort combined with performance, ideal range, and operational advantages, such as single-point refueling and external lavatory service that is exceptional for an aircraft in this category, besides plenty of on-board technologies to fulfill the needs of our customers.”

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30/04/08: Gulfstream recognizes anniversary of first G450 flight

SAVANNAH, Ga., April 30, 2008 - Five years ago today, the first Gulfstream G450 made its maiden flight. Departing from Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, Gulfstream Chief Test Pilot John O’Meara and Senior Experimental Test Pilot Jake Howard put the large-cabin, long-range business jet through its preliminary paces. During the 2-hour, 30-minute test flight, the G450 reached an altitude of 41,000 feet and a speed of 0.80 Mach, or nearly 581 miles per hour. The aircraft was officially unveiled during the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) annual meeting on Oct. 6, 2003. Less than a year later, on Aug. 12, 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Type Certificate (TC) for the G450. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) validated the FAA certification on Nov. 19, 2004.

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30/04/08: Next-Generation Bombardier Challenger 605 Jets To Join Flexjet Fleet

DALLAS, April 30, 2008 - Challenger 605 jets are among 24 new aircraft to enter service with Flexjet in 2008. Introduction of new jets every year gives Flexjet one of the youngest fractional jet ownership fleets. Bombardier Flexjet, the fractional business jet ownership program of Bombardier Aerospace, has announced the induction of Bombardier’s new Challenger 605 jets into the Flexjet fractional fleet. “We are pleased to offer our customers the ultimate fractional jet ownership experience with the introduction of the Challenger 605 business jet, which provides superior wide-cabin comfort, technology, flexibility and productivity,” said Mike McQuay, president, Bombardier Flexjet. “This newly redesigned jet is tailored for Flexjet owners. It seats more passengers, features a cutting-edge information, communication and entertainment system and offers enhanced safety systems.”

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30/04/08: Boeing Declines Swiss Request for Proposal for New Fighter Aircraft

ST. LOUIS, April 30, 2008 — After a thorough review of Switzerland’s requirements for partial replacement of its Tiger fighter aircraft, Boeing [NYSE: BA] has decided not to enter the competition due to the disparity between the requirements for an F-5 replacement aircraft and the next-generation capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet. Boeing values its long-standing partnership with Switzerland and looks forward to continuing its support and modernization of the F-18C/D as the Swiss Air Force moves into the future.

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30/04/08: Boeing and Australian College of Kuwait Complete Vocational Training Project

KUWAIT CITY, April 30, 2008 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and the Australian College of Kuwait have completed a joint vocational training project, satisfying an offset requirement of Kuwait’s purchase of 16 AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters in 2002. The National Offset Company (NOC) and the Kuwait Ministry of Finance announced the milestone Tuesday in Kuwait. “The Australian College of Kuwait Board of Trustees is delighted to see the project with Boeing completed on time and within budget,” said Chairman Abdullah Al Sharhan. “The specialized aviation and avionics equipment, and the transfer of aerospace technology, will ensure that students at the college are exposed to practical, hands-on vocational training of world-class standards. Our students are benefiting enormously from this significant development and will continue to benefit for many years to come.” Through the offset commitment, Boeing provided technical management and aerospace expertise, including the provisioning, installation and commissioning of specialized aviation and engineering equipment, training, and advanced technology transfer to the school.

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30/04/08: First Boeing 777 Freighter Leaves Factory

SEATTLE, April 30, 2008 — Progress continues on the first Boeing 777 Freighter as the company’s newest cargo airplane was towed out of its factory in Everett, Wash. and onto the flight line Tuesday night. Work will continue on the 777 Freighter to prepare for flight test this summer and to paint the airplane in the Boeing livery.

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29/04/08: New Head of Corporate & Marketing Communications named

Zurich, April 29, 2008 - SR Technics has announced a change at the top in its communications team. Regula Weyermann, Senior Vice President Corporate & Marketing Communications, will leave the company at the end of May to take on a new challenge in another industry. She will be succeeded by Marco Imboden, who is currently the company’s Vice President Marketing Communications. Regula Weyermann joined SR Technics as Senior Vice President Corporate Communications and a member of Group Executive Management in July 2006 to provide communications expertise for the company’s then-planned IPO. Following SR Technics’ sale to its present owners in autumn 2006, she assumed additional responsibility for groupwide marketing communications. She will leave the company at the end of May to take on a new challenge in another industry.

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29/04/08: Regional Air Express cooperates with MT-Propeller Metroliner soon with new five-blade Propeller

Regional Air Express, based at the Airport Münster-Osnabrück cooperates with the company MT-Propeller, domiciled in Straubingen. The company, specialised in innovative technologies regarding the construction of propellers, has developed a new five blade prop for the Honeywell TPE Turboprop, formerly known as Garett. In order to certify this new Propeller for the aircraft type Swearingen Metroliner, tests are still to begin in 2008. Regional Air Express will provide an aircraft of this type for the tests and the certification programme. After granted admission, Regional Air Express, as the first airline worldwide, will outfit all four of their Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner with the new five-blade prop.

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29/04/08: Jeppesen Qualified to Provide FAA RNP Consulting Services

ENGLEWOOD, COLO., April 28, 2008 – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently granted approval to Jeppesen to provide qualified Required Navigation Performance (RNP) consultant services to the aviation industry. Approval as a qualified consultant allows Jeppesen representatives to guide airlines and other aircraft operators through the FAA’s RNP operations approval process and makes Jeppesen one of the very few designated entities to perform these services. Jeppesen will also offer RNP services for non-U.S. operators looking to implement RNP operations worldwide.

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29/04/08: Tunisair chooses Airbus to modernise and expand its fleet with A350s, A330s and A320s

North African airline Tunisair has signed a letter of acceptance of the Airbus proposal for the acquisition of three A350-800s, three A330-200s and ten A320s, as part of an important fleet development plan that will modernise and expand the fleet of this growing airline. With this acquisition, Tunisair is the third African airline to order the all-new A350 XWB. Tunisair currently already has 12 A320s, four A319s of which two with extended range capability and three A300-600s in operation. The all-new, eco-efficient A350s will provide the right aircraft at the right time for the long-term development plans of Tunisair for long haul routes to North America and Asia. Meanwhile, the A330s will allow the airline to modernize its wide-body fleet and seamlessly enter the long haul market with new routes to North America in the near future with the most modern and cost efficient aircraft in the market today. Furthermore, the A320s will allow Tunisair to renew and expand its regional operations with more efficient and cost effective aircraft complementing its current fleet.

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29/04/08: Aeroflot Selects Teledyne Controls’ Class 2 EFB for A320 and B767 Fleet

El Segundo, CA – April 29, 2008 – Teledyne Controls, a business unit of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), announced today that Aeroflot Russian Airlines has selected Teledyne’s Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) system for installation on its fleet of A320 and B767, encompassing a total of 56 aircraft. Teledyne Controls’ EFB will be instrumental in enabling Aeroflot’s crewmembers to access crucial information on the flight deck and leverage Jeppesen’s Navigational solution in all phases of flight. Teledyne will supply all EFB hardware components, along with the associated aircraft installation kits, including certification. The EFB deployment is expected to start at the end of Q2 2008.

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29/04/08: Embraer 190 Jet receives 120-minute ETOPS approval: Aircraft is the first in the world to meet the new FAA certification requirements

São José dos Campos, April 29, 2008 – The EMBRAER 190 jet received ETOPS (Extended Operations) certification for 120 minutes, this month, from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This third member of the E-Jets family, seating up to 114 passengers, had already obtained the same certification from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional da Aviação Civil - ANAC), in February of this year. The ETOPS 120 rating enables the EMBRAER 190 to fly routes that have a diversion airport up to 120 minutes from the flight path. Therefore, the jet can fly long distances over oceans, deserts and other inhospitable areas, thus increasing its operational capability, everywhere in the world, especially in Southeast Asia and Oceania. This new EMBRAER 190 feature is already available on regular Air Niugini flights connecting Papua New Guinea and Australia.

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29/04/08: Embraer E-Jets operators hold first maintenance forum: Event takes place in Clermont-Ferrand, France, hosted by Régional Airlines

São José dos Campos, April 29, 2008 – Embraer is participating in the first E-Jets Operators Maintenance Forum (OMF), organized by the operators of this aircraft family, in conjunction with Embraer, April 29 and 30, in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Hosted by Régional Airlines, the main focus of this debut event is on sharing maintenance best practices. “It is always a great opportunity to support and interact with our customers in such an important event,” said Acir Padilha, Embraer Vice President, Customer Support – Airline Market. “This type of encounter is one more opportunity for us to ascertain customer needs, learning directly from them, in order to guide our actions in maintenance support and services towards continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.”

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29/04/08: First Phenom 300 Executive Jet performs maiden flight: Embraer’s all-new light jet successfully flies from the Gavião Peixoto plant

São José dos Campos, April 29, 2008 – The Embraer Phenom 300, a standard-setter for the light jet category, successfully took to the air on its maiden flight, today, from the Company’s Gavião Peixoto test runway. In the coming months, the first Phenom 300, serial number 99801, will participate in the flight test campaign along with three additional Phenom 300 jets. It is expected to enter service in the second semester of 2009. “This first flight of the Phenom 300 executive jet is a very special and historic moment for all of us at Embraer, and I congratulate every Embraer employee for making this possible,” said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President and CEO. “We unveiled the Phenom jets nearly three years ago, making a clear statement to the business aviation community of our commitment to becoming a long-term player in the executive aviation market. The first flight of the Phenom 300 further confirms our determination and is another solid step in Embraer’s strategy to offer its customers a product line that fully meets increasingly demanding customer expectations.”

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