Number 62 – 08 August 2024

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Aeronca LC – 1937

The Aeronca L was a 1930s American cabin monoplane designed and built, in small numbers, by Aeronca Aircraft. It differed significantly from other Aeronca planes by the use of radial engines, streamlining and a cantilever low wing.

Quite unlike other Aeronca designs, the Model L was a ‘cantilever’ (no external struts for bracing) low-wing monoplane, that featured side-by-side seating in a completely enclosed cabin. The design reflected the greater attention being paid to aerodynamics in the period, including large wheel spats for the fixed undercarriage and a Townend ring for the engine. The aircraft was of mixed construction with a welded steel fuselage and wings with spruce spars and ribs, all covered with fabric. Initial attempts to use Aeronca’s own engines proved inadequate and the company turned to small radial engines from other suppliers, particularly neighbouring Cincinnati engine manufacturer LeBlond.

The Model L was mainly flown by private pilot owners and the plane was not a big seller. Difficulty with engine sources and a destructive flood, in 1937, at Aeronca’s factory at Cincinnati’s Lunken Airport, took the energy out of the programme and Aeronca went back to high-wing light aircraft. With the end of sales to Aeronca, LeBlond sold their engine-manufacturing operation to an Aeronca-rival plane maker, Kansas City-based Rearwin Aircraft, who resumed production of the engines under the brand name ‘Ken-Royce,’ largely for use in Rearwin planes. 

Variants

LA: Fitted with a 70 hp (52 kW) LeBlond 5DE engine, nine built.

LB: Fitted with an 85 hp (63 kW) LeBlond 5DF engine, 29 built.

LC: Fitted with a 90 hp (67 kW) Warner Scarab Jr engine, 15 built.

LCS: A single LC, (NC16289), was fitted with floats to become the LCS, carrying a load of 659 lb (299 kg) for 450 mi (391 nmi; 724 km) at 100 mph (87 knots; 161 km/h).

LD: Fitted with a 90 hp (67 kW) Lambert R-266 5-cyl. radial engine.

Surviving aircraft

The EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin has a 1937 Aeronca LC in its collection. This is the red Aeronca in the photograph. The Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum of Hood River, Oregon, has an airworthy Aeronca LC. Aeronca LB N16271 was in final stages of restoration as of January of 2015; Aeronca LC NC17442 (# 2056) is also on display in the museum.

Those persons that correctly identified this week’s mystery aircraft:

Pierre Brittz, Erwin Stam, Piet Steyn, Hilton Carroll, Brian Ross, Richardt du Plessis, Johan Venter, Jeremy Rorich, Rennie van Zyl, Sean Richter, Colin Austen, Steve Dewsbery, Clint Futter, Charlie Hugo, Wouter van der Waal, P Rossouw, Andre Visser, John Moen, Jan Sime, Bruce Prescott, Selwyn Kimber, Aiden ‘O Mahony, Kevin Farr, Rex Tweedie, Sergio Antao, Danie Viljoen, Karl Jensen, Ahmed Bassa, Keith Chiazzari (29 correct answers).

SAA executive faces criminal charges over sensitive data

(Report from The Citizen)

A criminal complaint has been filed against South African Airways (SAA) head of sales and marketing Carla da Silva and several other staff members that report to her. Last week the charge was laid by her former employer, Airlink and comes on the heels of civil action for the alleged theft of sensitive data from the airline. The complaint alleges industrial espionage and theft of incorporeal property after Da Silva purportedly copied a key database containing sensitive information belonging to Airlink. It is alleged Da Silva copied the information prior to leaving the Airlink’s employment late last year.

Airlink chief executive Rodger Foster said the company was compelled to report it as a suspected crime. “Airlink has reported the matter to the law enforcement authorities for possible prosecution of Ms da Silva and other ex-employees who may be guilty of the same conduct,” he said. The complaint includes the registration of a criminal case of theft of incorporeal property in terms of the Cybercrimes Act. Incorporeal property is the intangible assets that lack physical form but hold value or legal rights. This can take the shape of intellectual property like the Airlink database, for example, goodwill and financial instruments. These assets are protected by law. A report was filed with the Hawks in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, which was reportedly reviewed by the Priority Crime Management Centre, who have since issued a reference number in this regard, a source close to the investigation told The Citizen.

Forensic investigator Chad Thomas of IRS Forensic Investigators said that the criminal complaint laid by Airlink could be a game-changer. “In the past, it was very difficult to prove the espionage, but with the Cybercrimes Act coming into effect in December 2021, has provided a mechanism for defining the theft of incorporeal property as being the same as the common law charge of theft.”

In her responding civil affidavit, Da Silva argued the information Airlink claimed was proprietary, was in fact freely available publicly. She also suggested that Airlink had simply threatened, but not acted on its allegations. Not so, said Foster. “Airlink is confident it has irrefutable evidence and grounds for the civil action it has brought against Ms da Silva and her co-respondents.” Airlink’s affidavit claimed the information was proprietary, sensitive and confidential.

Foster added since commencing civil action and laying a criminal complaint, it had become aware of a further data breach. “We have since been made aware of and have evidence of more suspected breaches and will follow our rights accordingly,” he said. A source told The Citizen the fresh discovery related to copied budgets, allegedly also with Da Silva at the centre of the matter. Foster said Airlink reported the matter to industry bodies and regulators. “Similarly, we were duty-bound to notify affected industry bodies such as the International Air Transport Association, affected travel agents and the Information Regulator of South Africa of the data breach and the circumstances thereof.”

In April this year Airlink went to court to compel SAA to destroy the company’s information held by Da Silva and staff. Foster said that they complied. “The respondents (SAA, Da Silva and others) complied with the high court order to confirm under oath that they have deleted the electronic file with Airlink proprietary information and all variants thereof,” Foster said.

SAA did not respond to any questions from The Citizen. Da Silva responded by e-mail saying: “As you know, this matter is being opposed by SAA and is currently pending in court.”

Editor’s comment: Unfortunately, the shameful Da Silva matter appears to have been ‘well-orchestrated’ by SAA’s management since clearly, she used her time at AirLink to obtain proprietary and sensitive information whilst she was in a ‘trusted position’ at the airline. As this story unfolds, African Pilot will keep you informed about the progress. Having also been on the other side due to the blatant heft by a competitor magazine of African Pilot’s pictures that were subsequently published in that magazine, I will be most interested in the outcome of this Airlink case in the courts. 

SAA and SAAT fingered in bribery case in the United States

South Africa’s Zondo Judicial Commission of Inquiry’s findings of corruption between 2016 and 2020 at South African Airways (SAA), its maintenance subsidiary South African Airways Technical (SAAT) and ground handler Swissport have led to the first foreign prosecution related to the bribery schemes. According to CH-aviation research, Julian Aires, president of JM International, a US-based aircraft component services company, has pleaded guilty to violating the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the District Court of Columbia. On 11 June the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Aires with conspiring to violate the FCPA’s anti-bribery provisions. The case was unsealed on 15 July following a plea agreement. According to Standford Law School’s FCPA Clearing House investigations, sanctions are still pending and the case remains ongoing.

The case documents state that between January 2016 and January 2020, Aires and co-conspirators bribed South African officials to secure and maintain a five-year contract for JM Aviation South Africa (Pty) Ltd, a joint venture between JM International and Illinois-based air services provider AAR, to provide components and repair services to SAAT. They paid cash and wire-transfer bribes to SAA and SAAT officials, disguising them as ‘consulting fees’ and using codenames for the officials such as ‘Cuz’ (cousin), ‘Sissy’ (little sister) and ‘Boetie’ (little brother). Proceeds from the SAAT contract were then divided among Aires and his co-conspirators. Between 2016 and 2020, USD5.3 million was paid in ‘commissions, success fees and advance payments’ in connection with the SAAT contract, a portion of which was paid as bribes.

The Zondo Commission’s 874-page report published in January 2022 concluded that the USD125 million contract with JM Aviation / JM International and AAR had been ‘unlawful, irregular and unfair’ as bribes and kickbacks were paid to SAAT’s then chairwoman and chartered accountant, Yakhe Kwinana and then procurement head and lawyer, Nontsasa Memela. They did so by fraudulently fabricating agreements to ensure that they appeared as though they were arms-length transactions unrelated to the decision-making in SAAT at the time.

In another bribery scheme before the US court, Aires and his associates paid South African officials USD2.7 million in connection with two 2016 transactions involving SAA. This relates to kickbacks for a ground-handling contract between SAA and Swissport. According to the Zondo Commission, SAA concluded a five-year ground handling contract a month after Swissport had secured a service-level agreement with JM Aviation. Under this agreement, the US company was paid ZAR28.5 million rands (USD1.5 million), which was used to pay the kickbacks to those who had assisted in ‘facilitating’ the finalisation of the SAA / Swissport contract. The South African officials were businessman Daluxolo Peter, reported to have received ZAR20 million (USD1 million); former JM Aviation director Vuyisile Ndzeku; former SAA head of procurement Lester Peter and Nontsasa Memela. The Commission also noted that JM Aviation never paid the South African Revenue Services (SARS) Value Added Tax (VAT) on the ZAR28.5 million it received from Swissport before concluding the ground-handling contract with SAA.

According to Mike Koehler of the FCPA Professor law blog, the US legal action against Aires is likely to lead to further FCPA investigations.  He points out that AAR’s most recent annual report (19 July 2024) reveals that the company has been investigating potential FCPA violations in Nepal and South Africa. “Based on these investigations, in fiscal 2019, we self-reported these matters to the US Department of Justice, the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the UK Serious Fraud Office. The company is fully cooperating with the reviews by these agencies, although we are unable at this time to predict what action, if any, they may take,” it stated. CH-aviation has reached out to AAR for comment. The Zondo Commission said its intention was to engage with the DOJ on the role AAR had played in the scheme. AAR has been fingered by the Nepali authorities over its involvement in Nepal Airlines’ acquisition of two A330-200s.

In May 2023, South Africa’s former public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan referred to legal investigations in South Africa when he disclosed that a ZAR1.3 billion (USD67.6 million) civil claim had been lodged concerning an irregular contract with JM Aviation, while a criminal case had also been opened with the South African Police Services (SAPS).

Russian long-range delegation to South Africa being discussed

Apparently, SAAF specialists and Russian military aviators spent time at Air Force Base (AFB) Hoedspruit in Limpopo as ‘part of reconnaissance’ ahead of Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) in September. The Russian military aviation delegation, reported as coming from the ranks of VKS Long Range Aviation (LRA) by AFB Hoedspruit Corporate Communication, was led by Major General Sergei Kuvaldin, Deputy Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

No information is presently available on the possibility of VKS aircraft types and positioning at AFB Hoedspruit posting which followed a visit to AAD venue AFB Waterkloof. A visit by the Tu-160 to South Africa was on the agenda of the Russian delegation while at AFB Waterkloof. Designed more than 50 years go by the Tupolev Design Bureau Tu-160 is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing nuclear-capable heavy strategic bomber and airborne missile platform, two of which touched down at the SAAF transport centre of excellence base in October 2019. At the time support for the historic non-stop 11000 km (9 560 nautical mile) Tu-160 flight to South Africa came from an Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft and an Ilyushin Il-62 passenger jet, which preceded the long-range bombers by a few days. If Russia does bring the Tu-160s back to South Africa for AAD 2024, they will again be supported by an An-124 and Il-62.

A pair of Tu-160s visit would bolster the Russian presence at AAD 2024. A number of Russian defence companies will be taking part in the exhibition, with Aeroscan 3D scanning, Katod electronics manufacturer, Roscosmos Corporation, Rosoboronexport, Technodinamika for civil aviation and United Aircraft Corporation confirmed as exhibitors.

10 August
Pietermaritzburg airshow Oribi airport
Contact E-mail: sally@creativespacemedia.co.za Tel: 011 467 3314

Papua rebels kill New Zealand helicopter pilot

Separatists in the West Papua Liberation Army shot and killed a pilot for Indonesian aviation company PT Intan Angkasa Air Service after he had dropped off four passengers at the remote village of Alama. The passengers were not harmed because they were indigenous people from the village. Glen Malcolm Conning, a New Zealander, has been identified as the dead pilot by Faizal Ramadhani, a national police member and head of the joint security peace force in Papua. The helicopter was set on fire after Conning was killed. The killing comes as an escalation of the decades-long separatist movement in the resource-rich province, which is ruled by Indonesia.

The murder of the pilot also came almost 18 months after the abduction of another New Zealand pilot, Phillip Merhtens. His future looks a little brighter after rebels issued a statement last Saturday saying he was going to be released. So far, he has not surfaced and is presumed to still be in captivity. He was taken after landing a Pilatus Porter at a remote village in February of 2023. The rebels also set that aircraft on fire.

Editor’s remarks: What goes on in the heads of these criminals that kill an innocent pilot just doing his job? This is a very sad story and my belief is that the only solution is to halt all aid to these savages via any method, especially from the air. 

Citation runs off runway after losing electrical power, catches fire

On Monday morning a Cessna Citation X crashed near the end of the runway and caught fire at the Chautauqua County / Jamestown Airport (JWH) in Ellicot, New York. All on board were able to make it out safely before the plane burst into flames and was destroyed in the fire. The plane took off from the Chautauqua County /  Dunkirk Airport (DKK) on its way to Florida when it lost power, according to reports. At a press conference with the Chautauqua County government, officials confirmed there were two on board, the pilot and the copilot. Manager of Airports for Chautauqua County Shannon Fischer reported that the plane lost electrical power and they believe the pilots could not make any emergency calls before crash-landing at approximately 10h12 local time. She said the pilot landed about 200 feet short of the runway but was able to keep the plane straight as it veered off at the end. The names of the two on board have not been identified but Fischer said it was a male pilot and copilot, ages currently unknown. Fischer commended the pilots for quickly landing and exiting the plane. Falconer Fire Department reported that one person was transported to the hospital by helicopter.

Chautauqua County Emergency Services Director Noel Guttman said the teams responded quickly but the biggest challenge was getting water. He reported that all necessary teams arrived at the scene quickly and there was a huge response from outside departments, like volunteer fire services. They have not fully investigated the scene, as they are waiting for investigators to arrive, but they said the plane was on the grass so there was not a burn mark on the runway. Fischer said there was oil, due to the fire and another official reported fluid debris at the scene. The officials noted that the EPA would be contacted to ensure there were no environmental concerns with the fuel spillage.

After engine failure a Piper Arrow crashed on golf course and slid into a building

On Sunday, a Piper Arrow (N135DG) experienced engine failure after take-off from the Sacramento McClellan Airport (MCC) and crash-landed on a golf course, sliding into the wall of the pro shop. The pilot suffered minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged but there were no reported injuries on the ground. Security video captured the moment the plane attempted a landing on the course at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, sliding and then crashing into the side of the building.

“He laid it down on part of a fairway, it skipped across the putting green and made very minor contact with the building,” Fire Department Public Information Officer Justin Sylvia told The Sacramento Bee. “There were some paint marks on the building and the pilot only had a scratch to his hand.”

Fox 40 reported that Sylvia said the plane was leaking some fuel but the situation was being monitored. Some golfers witnessed the event, watching as the plane slid right into a building. Justin Owens, who was chipping on the practice green, told The Sacramento Bee he saw the plane coming down just over his shoulder and watched as it crash landed and continued into the pro shop, but he was relieved to see the pilot exit the plane a minute later. “It really happened so fast that I did not have much time to react,” Owens said to The Sacramento Bee.

Haggin Oaks Golf Complex said the damage to the facility was minor, thanking the fire department and law enforcement for their swift action and professional reaction. Due to the cleanup efforts and safety precautions, the restaurant and pro shop were closed for the remainder of the day. The Golf Super Shop and driving range were to remain open. According to the FAA Registry, N135DG is registered to SG Solutions in Reno, Nevada.

As sonic booms rock Beirut, Hezbollah chief vows a ‘strong and effective’ retaliation

In the middle of the day Beirut was rocked as three sonic booms caused by Israeli jets as they hit the city, breaking some glass windows and sending civilians scattering. It was a move that seemed design to send a message to Hezbollah as the region waits on tenterhooks to find out if or more likely, when  the Lebanese-based group launches an attack on Israel. It also seemed timed to coincide with a speech by Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, who was set to speak at the one-week memorial of Fuad Shukr, a top Hezbollah officer killed in a July 30 Israeli strike in the suburbs of Beirut. But the Hezbollah leader dismissed the show of force in his opening comments as ‘very childish’ before promising that the conflict will come at a time of the group’s choosing.

“Our response is coming and it will be strong and effective,” Nasrallah said. “Regardless of any consequences, the anti-Israel resistance cannot let the assassination go unpunished. God willing, our response will come, whether separately or together with the axis of resistance,” Nasrallah stressed today, referring to a coalition of Iranian-backed groups. He did not specify a timeline for the retaliation, nor whether it will be an orchestrated attack from Iran and Hezbollah simultaneously. “The Americans thought that Iran would respond at dawn on Monday, but this turned out to be untrue. The Israeli wait for the response is part of the response and the punishment, because the battle is psychological, moral and military,” he added. Nasrallah confessed that Shukr’s killing is an ‘Israeli achievement’ but he assured that it is not a ‘victory.’ He said that his assassination is a ‘big loss’ but it will not weaken Hezbollah.”

Last week’s strike on Shukr, who was designated by the US Department of State as ‘a Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ for his purported role in bombing of a US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut that killed scores of Americans in the 1980s, was only the second time Israel has struck Beirut since the start of the regional conflict.

Olympics draw in record business jet arrivals to Paris airports

According to WingX’s weekly Global Market Tracker In Week 30 (22-28 July) of this year, there were 74,198 business jet sectors flown, on par with W30 of 2023. Part 135 and 91K business jet activity grew two per cent compared to W30 in 2023, reaching 39,722 sectors flown. Globally the last four-week trend for business jet departures is also on par with last year; over the last four weeks Part 135 and 91K departures are two per cent ahead of last year. Nearly a quarter of business jet flights in Week 30 were operated by aircraft management programmes.

In Week 30, there were 50,871 business jet sectors recorded departing North American airports, on par with Week 30 last year. In the US, the world’s busiest business jet market, Week 30 activity rose one per cent compared to last year, with just under 49,000 departures were recorded. 94 per cent of business jet activity in North America originated in the US, with 48,998 departures in Week 30, which is one per cent ahead of last year. The month to date trend in the US is two per cent ahead of last year, in contrast to Canada, which is down seven per cent, both well ahead of a comparable 2019. Month to date, flight hours in the US are three per cent ahead of last year, with 14,458 active business jet tails this month.

In the last week, Week 30, trans-Atlantic business jet activity saw an Olympic related boost. Business jets from New York airports into Paris airports were well ahead of comparable last year, with 20 flights in Week 30 this year and just three in Week 30 last year. Unsurprisingly Paris, where most of the Olympic events are being held, was the top destination city across all US to France connections. Vista Jet and NetJets led US to France flights last week.

As July draws to a close, Florida, California and Texas are the strongest US states in terms of business jet departures. Florida and California are up two per cent, while Texas is up one per cent compared to last year. New York state continues to see strong YoY growth, with Colorado dipping two per cent behind last year. NetJets, Flexjet and Vista Global are the top three operator’s month to date, with all three enjoying strong growth compared to the last five years. In terms of flights hours, NetJets fleet is enjoying 54 per cent growth compared to five years ago, while the Flexjet fleet is recording more than 100 per cent growth in flight hours versus five years ago.

Following the conclusion of the UEFA Euros tournament, European business jet activity is seeing its second sport related uplift owing to the hosting of the Olympic Games. As the world’s top athletes arrived in France for the start of the Games last week, so did the business jets; in Week 30 business jet activity in France rose 17 per cent compared to Week 30 last year. The Europe wide trend was up by four per cent compared to W30 last year, with the UK recording a 10 per cent jump compared to last year. Month to date business jet arrivals into France are on par with last year, the Olympics related traffic lifting arrivals towards the end of the month. On the day of the opening ceremony (26 July), 382 business jet arrivals were recorded into French airports.

The Olympic surfing events are being held in Tahiti in French Polynesia. Its Faa’a International airport recorded 13 business jet arrivals during last week (22-28 July), up from 10 during the previous week. Most of the Olympic events are being held in Paris, with Parisian airports seeing a 58 per cent uplift in business jet arrivals compared to same time last year. Paris Le Bourget recorded 713 business jet arrivals last week, up 53 per cent YoY. New York saw a large YoY bump in business jet flights to Paris airports last week, up 200 per cent YoY.

Cathay Group orders the A330neo

Hong Kong’s Cathay Group has placed a firm order with Airbus for 30 A330-900 widebody aircraft. The order follows a thorough evaluation by the airline under its mid-size widebody fleet renewal programme.

The newly ordered aircraft will enable Cathay to modernise its earlier generation A330-300 fleet and expand its operations on high-capacity regional routes. The aircraft will also offer flexibility to serve longer range destinations. As with all A330neo aircraft, the fleet will be powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.

Ronald Lam, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer said: “As Cathay completes the final stretch of its rebuilding journey, we are turning the page to modernisation and growth, both in terms of scope and quality. We are delighted to announce this new order for state-of-the-art A330neo aircraft. This substantial investment reflects not only our immense confidence in Hong Kong’s leading international aviation hub status, but also represents our commitment to fostering our home city’s ongoing development.”

“The A330 is an aircraft type that has been serving Cathay Pacific well for nearly 30 years. These new aircraft will principally serve our regional destinations in Asia, while also providing the flexibility to serve longer-haul destinations as required. The improved fuel  efficiency of these A330neos, together with their high standards of comfort, will enable us to further elevate the experience we provide for our customers while also contributing towards our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Aircraft said: “This latest order from Cathay, one of the world’s most experienced A330 operators, is a major endorsement of the latest generation A330neo. It is the natural successor for existing A330 fleets, bringing the highest levels of technical and operational commonality and significant reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions. In addition, the award-winning Airspace cabin provides a whole new flight experience.”

The A330-900 is capable of flying 7,200 nm / 13,330 km non-stop and features the award-winning Airspace cabin, offering a superior flight experience. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A330neo is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with the aim to increase this to 100% by 2030. At the end of July, the A330 Family had won 1,805 firm orders from more than 130 customers worldwide, with 1,469 aircraft in service on long, medium and short haul routes around the world.

Boeing adds to orderbook

Boeing and Qatar Airways announced the Middle Eastern airline placed an order for 20 more 777-9 airplanes, which will be the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient twin-engine jet. The order, which expands the carrier’s 777X order book to nearly 100 airplanes, was finalised this year and listed as unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website. The award-winning airline helped launch the 777X programme and now has on order 60 777-9 passenger airplanes. Qatar Airways is also the inaugural launch customer for the 777-8 Freighter and has 34 of the next generation cargo jet on order.

“Qatar Airways is proud to announce an expansion to the existing Boeing 777X aircraft order with an additional 20, totalling 94 Boeing 777X aircraft,” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer. “We, as the World’s Best Airline, are an industry leader and operate one of the youngest fleets, offering unparalleled innovation and quality. Keeping an eye on the future, we continue to ensure that all Qatar Airways passengers are only met with the best products and services available in the industry.”

Earlier this month, Boeing began certification flight testing for the 777-9, which will offer a new level of passenger comfort with a spacious cabin, better humidity, a quiet environment and increased natural light. In addition to the 777X family, Qatar Airways has 12 787 Dreamliner and 25 737 MAX aircraft on order.

Macquarie AirFinance places first Boeing order

Boeing and Macquarie AirFinance announced that the lessor has made its first direct order for Boeing airplanes. The purchase of 20 737-8s doubles Macquarie AirFinance’s existing 737-8 order book, which it acquired from ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Co. in 2023. By expanding its 737 MAX portfolio, Macquarie AirFinance will scale-up its fleet of fuel-efficient, new generation airplanes to meet the growing demand of its airline customers. “The continued expansion and renewal of our fleet underscores our confidence in the strong future growth prospects of global commercial air transport. This order increases our existing OEM order book to 86 firm aircraft and will enable our airline partners to access the most modern, fuel-efficient aircraft,” said Eamonn Bane, CEO of Macquarie AirFinance. Known for its versatility, the 737-8 can carry up to 210 passengers based on configuration with a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km). The 737 MAX family is well-suited to support airline fleet modernisation plans by reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes they replace.

Lufthansa Technik, Boeing sign cabin modification deal

Boeing and Lufthansa Technik announced an agreement to designate Lufthansa Technik as the first Boeing-licensed Service Center (BLSC) for cabin modifications on 787 Dreamliner airplanes, bringing additional choice and capacity to the market. As a BLSC, Lufthansa Technik is licensed to perform interior modifications on the 787 as an external MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) service provider. “We are pleased to bring additional interior modification capacity to 787 owners and operators by designating Lufthansa Technik as a Boeing Licensed Service Center. Through this novel collaboration, customers will benefit from Lufthansa Technik’s decades of MRO experience and familiarity with the 787 platform,” said Doug Backhus, vice president of Boeing Cabins, Modifications and Maintenance. Operators, lessors and other companies with 787 cabin modification needs will now have the choice to work with Lufthansa Technik. As a BLSC for 787 cabin modifications, Lufthansa Technik can design a new cabin interior, provide the associated engineering and perform the integration in accordance with the customer’s wishes. Along with the license granted by Boeing, Lufthansa Technik will also cover certification of the modification projects. The cabin modifications on the popular long-haul widebody will be performed at one of the MRO provider’s global network facilities. The two parties will continue to make the necessary preparations to enable Lufthansa Technik to start its first 787 cabin modification project in 2025. The BLSC will complement Boeing’s existing 787 Interior Modifications offerings with additional capacity for the market. This agreement on 787 cabin modifications follows the completion of the first base maintenance event on a 787 Dreamliner this April at Lufthansa Technik Malta.

National Airlines buying four 777 freighters

Boeing and National Airlines announced  the global carrier has committed to place its first order for four 777 Freighters. Currently the longest-range twin-engine freighter with unrivalled payload capacity, the 777 Freighter will help maximise the airline’s commercial cargo service and boost market share across its global operations. “We are elated by this remarkable order of four Boeing 777 Freighters. This demonstrates our commitment to offering efficient, resourceful and modern air freight services to support our global customers’ increasing transportation demands,” said Christopher Alf, chairman of National Airlines. “The order affirms our fleet growth plan as we enter into the next chapter of National. We sincerely appreciate the support by Boeing and all its associated teams in this journey ahead.” Once finalised, National Airlines’ first direct purchase of Boeing airplanes will be posted to Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website. “We appreciate National Airlines for its trust in Boeing and the 777 Freighter to grow the carrier’s global fleet and deliver greater value for its customers,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “With its cargo capacity, range and reliability, operators continue to rely on the 777 freighter to build their future fleets, making it the best-selling freighter of all time.” The 777 freighters will join National Airline’s expanding fleet of nine 747-400 freighters. Designed to integrate seamlessly with existing 747 operations, the 777 freighter allows carriers to easily transfer cargo between the two airplanes to streamline ground logistics and leverage additional cost savings through fleet commonality.

Grant awarded to prepare Appalachian airports for electric aircraft

Researchers at Ohio University have received a $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to work with 36 airports in Ohio, Kentucky and North Carolina to investigate what needs to be done to prepare for electric aircraft. According to a story in The Ohio Newsroom by Erin Gottsacker, General Aviation airports could be the ‘leaders’ in an electric future.

The story quotes Brent Lane, a senior executive in residence with Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs and one of the researchers working to prepare Appalachian airports for the future, who notes: “We started out wanting to make sure that Appalachia was not left out. But we actually think our Appalachian airports could be the leaders in this.” According to ARC officials, using the grant, along with $176,590 in matching funds, the researchers will work with state departments of aviation to prepare a plan to integrate new aviation technologies at smaller airports in 36 ‘distressed and at-risk’ Appalachian counties in Ohio, Kentucky and North Carolina.

Dragon rescue for Starliner crew is looking more likely

It is looking more likely that test pilots Sunni Williams and Butch Wilmore will not be going Boeing for their trip back to earth from the International Space Station. Instead, there are reports now leaking out of NASA that a SpaceX Dragon capsule will do a quick turnaround launch from Cape Canaveral to pick them up and take them home. Before that can happen, the problem-plagued Starliner crew capsule that took them to the ISS will be sent back empty to make room for the Dragon to dock. Several space publications are reporting anonymous sources as saying there is at least an even chance the Starliner will be considered too risky for an occupied re-entry.

The decision will likely be announced soon because there is a long-scheduled Dragon flight scheduled to bring four long-term tenants to the ISS on 18 August. The sources are now saying that flight, dubbed Crew Nine, will be pushed to 24 September and two pilots will take their capsule to the ISS for the sole purpose of picking up Williams and Wilmore, who NASA continues to insist are not ‘stranded’ on the station. The Crew Nine mission is supposed to take three NASA astronauts and one Russian to the ISS for a six-month rotation. The Starliner has major issues with its manoeuvring thrusters and has sprung at least five helium leaks.

Joby applies for aircraft certification in Australia

On Tuesday 6 August Joby Aviation, developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, announced it has formally applied for its revolutionary aircraft to be certified for use in Australia. Joby’s application to Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for the validation of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification builds on a bi-lateral agreement between the US regulator and CASA and it lays the groundwork for the introduction of quiet, emissions-free air taxis in Australia.

“We are incredibly excited about the potential for air taxis to offer new and more sustainable ways to travel around Australia’s global cities,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby. “With commercial powered-lift operations already considered in CASA’s regulatory frameworks, we are pleased to be working with Australian authorities using a regulatory path to market that is actively being pursued by numerous countries around the world.”

Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and zero operating emissions. To date, Joby has completed more than 33,000 miles of all-electric flight with full-scale prototype aircraft and, in November 2023, Joby became the first electric air taxi company to fly in a major US city, taking off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in New York and demonstrating its aircraft’s quiet acoustics for an audience including Mayor Eric Adams, who announced the city’s intention to electrify the heliport.

Type certification is a multi-year process which sees a company undertake rigorous testing and documentation across each aircraft system to prove the aircraft meets safety standards and is ready for commercial operations. Joby was the first electric air taxi developer to have its FAA certification basis published in the US Federal Register and was also the first company to complete the first, second and third of five stages of the FAA type certification process required for commercial service. Joby has also applied to have its FAA type certificate, once received, validated by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

In June 2024, the Company announced it had received FAA authorisation to use a suite of software tools developed in-house, called ‘ElevateOS’, that are designed to enable high-tempo, on-demand air taxi operations. Joby has been actively developing and testing these software tools, in-house, since acquiring Uber Elevate, the air taxi division of Uber in 2021. In 2019, Uber Elevate launched and ran UberCopter, the world’s first on-demand, multi-modal air taxi service, using traditional helicopters that were bookable via the Uber app. Joby is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and has raised more than $2 billion of funding to date, including investments from Toyota, Delta Air Lines, SK Telecom, Uber and Baillie Gifford.

Textron eAviation Joins NBAA’s AAM Roundtable

Textron eAviation has become the latest OEM to join NBAA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Roundtable. Established in 2021, the roundtable focuses on maintaining the US position as a global leader in aviation and aerospace, as well as harnessing the full safety, economic, environmental and national security potential of AAM. Founding members of the group include Archer, Beta Technologies, Hillwood Aviation, Joby Aviation, Lilium, Overair, Supernal and Wisk.

“In just a few years, NBAA’s AAM Roundtable has proven to be a powerful voice in the development and advancement of these exciting and sustainable technologies,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “We are pleased that Textron eAviation has joined in this effort to advance the safety-driven integration of AAM vehicles and supporting infrastructure into our National Airspace System.”

The NBAA AAM Roundtable claims two key legislative victories on Capitol Hill in 2022: The Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act (S.516) and the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernisation Act (AAIM Act). The former established an interagency working group to review and examine factors that will allow the maturation of the AAM ecosystem within the US and develop an AAM national strategy. Recently the AAM Roundtable worked with the bipartisan congressional AAM Caucus and leading authorisers in Congress to advance pro-AAM policies in legislation to reauthorise funding for the FAA. These priorities are reflected in the FAA reauthorisation bill, which passed earlier this year.

China restricts exports of Drones that could be converted for war

China is restricting exports of civilian drones that could be modified and used for military purposes amid Western accusations that the country is supplying Russia in its war against Ukraine. On Wednesday s, China’s Commerce Ministry said it would attach export controls to drones that could be converted and deployed on the battlefield, as well as certain equipment, such as infrared lasers. At the same time, the country will lift unspecified temporary restrictions on certain consumer drones. About a year ago, China imposed export controls on both civilian and military drones that could be used for ‘non-peaceful purposes.’ The changes will take effect on 1 September 2024

Western countries have been angling for greater restrictions on China, which is the world’s largest exporter of consumer drones, but sanctions and export controls have not entirely quelled concerns.

For example, DJI, the country’s largest drone manufacturer, suspended direct sales to Russia and Ukraine, but the company’s aircraft are still reaching the battlefield. In response, the US has sanctioned individual Chinese companies suspected of supplying Russia with drones via third-party networks and countries, such as through Iran.

US lawmakers have been particularly harsh on Chinese drone manufacturers, comparing DJI to TikTok and pushing for an array of restrictive bills. One measure, the American Security Drone Act, was even included in the 2024 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), barring procurement of Chinese drones by federal agencies. Another bill, the Countering CCP Drones Act, aims to add DJI, Autel and other Chinese manufacturers to the Federal Communication Commission’s covered list, which would effectively end all new sales to the US at both the federal and consumer levels. Some US senators are working to get the legislation added to next year’s NDAA. The anti-China bills come amid FBI and Department of Homeland Security assessments that the drones could pose a cybersecurity threat, coupled with allegations that the aircraft are using their cameras to spy on Americans and transmit data back to China.

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