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Story and image from Embraer

Pretoria, South Africa, September 25, 2024 – Embraer, a global leader in the aerospace industry, is proud to announce the spotlight appearance of its C-390 Millennium multi-mission military transport aircraft at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition, held at Waterkloof Air Force Base, September 18-22.

As one of the world’s premier defense and aviation showcases, AAD provides a strategic platform for Embraer to demonstrate the exceptional capabilities of the C-390 to a global audience of defense, aviation experts and political authorities.

At this edition, Embraer had the pleasure of presenting all the capabilities of the C-390 Millennium to the president of South Africa, the Honourable President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Defense, Mrs. Angie Motshekga. This new generation aircraft also attracted great interest from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), which had the opportunity to evaluate it.

The aircraft is particularly appreciated for its capability to carry up to 26 tons of cargo at high speed and perform a wide spectrum of missions anytime in the most demanding operational conditions. Since 2019, the C-390 Millennium has demonstrated its operational efficiency for its end users, performing tactical troop, cargo, vehicles, and equipment transport, medical evacuation, disaster management, humanitarian aid, quick crisis response, search and rescue, aerial refueling and firefighting.

Story by Rolls-Royce, image from Lürssen

Rolls-Royce and the Bremen, Germany based shipyard group Lürssen are now working even more closely together on the refit of yachts. Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems division and Lürssen Yacht Refit & Services have signed a framework agreement that regulates the co-operation in the overhaul of mtu propulsion systems and will further improve the service for yacht customers.

Many of the world’s largest yachts are built by Lürssen, often equipped with mtu propulsion systems from Rolls-Royce. In addition to new builds, Lürssen also offers its discerning customers comprehensive refit solutions in the areas of overhaul, modernisation and conversion of yachts up to almost 200 metres long. Refits are carried out, for example, in the event of a scheduled dry docking or because a new owner would like to have the interior changed to suit his requirements. In addition, a yacht refit also offers the opportunity to equip the propulsion system with the latest technologies for sustainable operation of the ship, thus contributing to the energy transition.

The experienced Rolls-Royce technicians and the specialists at Lürssen Yacht Refit & Services have been working closely and successfully together for many years on the overhaul of mtu propulsion systems on yachts – from the engine to the mtu NautIQ ship automation system. The agreement that has now been concluded reorganises the cooperation, accelerates processes, simplifies procedures and defines common standards. This will significantly reduce the time required for overhaul work on engines and propulsion systems – mostly mtu Series 4000 engines.

The framework agreement also ensures faster and more flexible deployment of Rolls-Royce specialists at the shipyard and better availability of spare parts. At the same time, Lürssen technicians will be specially trained to carry out certain work on mtu engines in accordance with specified Rolls-Royce standards. With this package, both partners are creating the conditions to speed up the refit process and hand over the ship to its owner.

Story and image from Alstom

Mexico City, D.F., Mexico, September 20, 2024 – Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has delivered the first Long Distance train for the Tren Maya project to the Federal Government and the National Fund for Tourism Development (FONATUR) / Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA). These trains, a key part of the transformative Tren Maya project, are manufactured in Mexico by Mexican workers and will provide an elevated level of safety, comfort and modernity, providing the best possible passenger experience and allowing for both day and night operation.

The sleeper cars create an atmosphere of tranquility and intimacy, allowing passengers to enjoy both reclining seats and multi-functional cabins. During the day the cabins provide ideal spaces for working, relaxing and eating. At night, they become comfortable single bunks.

The Long Distance Train (P’atal) offers a versatile travel experience. In addition to offering seats in preferential and tourist categories, it has a restaurant car and a cafeteria car, allowing travelers to enjoy a wide variety of dining options along the way.

With capacity to accommodate 260 passengers, the Long Distance train has been designed to offer comfort and accessibility. This train includes 238 standard seats, 4 specific spaces for passengers with reduced mobility and 18 seats distributed in its 9 cabins. This configuration improves the capacity of the previous standard model by 17%, providing more space and a more inclusive and comfortable experience for all travelers.

Story and Image from Boeing

Birmingham, England, United Kingdom, Sept. 20, 2024, PRNewswire – Boeing (NYSE: BA) has completed the first flight of the UK’s E-7 Wedgetail for the Royal Air Force (RAF).

A Boeing flight-test crew conducted functional checks during the first flight from Birmingham Airport, marking a significant milestone in the programme’s test and evaluation phase.

Currently unpainted, the aircraft is one of three 737 NG aircraft on British soil undergoing modification by a highly skilled team of over 100 people at STS Aviation Services in Birmingham.

Story by Qantas, Image by Airbus

Qantas is adding further capacity to the US with the launch of direct flights between Melbourne and Honolulu starting in early May of 2025*.

On sale from today, the new service will boost capacity to the USA by adding more than 40,000 seats per year to the Hawaiian capital, in addition to existing Sydney to Honolulu services with Qantas and Jetstar which collectively operate eight times per week. The new Qantas flights will operate three times per week with an Airbus A330 aircraft.

Coincing with the launch of the new Qantas service, Jetstar will cease its current twice weekly Dreamliner 787 Melbourne to Honolulu flights from 30 April 2025, with the aircraft to be depolyed on another long-haul route.

The Qantas route announcement comes as the Flying Kangaroo launches a 7-day North and South America Red Tail Sale, with more than 50,000 seats discounted across the Qantas network from today.

Economy sale fares start from $1,049 return, with more than 30 routes on sale, including Sydney and Brisbane to Los Angeles ($1,199), Sydney to Vancouver ($1,599), Melbourne to Honolulu ($1,049) and Melbourne to Dallas ($1,699).

*Subject to government and regulatory approval.

StoryImage and Story from Alstom

August 29, 2024 – Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has signed a contract with Captrain Polska – an independent railway operator offering transport services throughout Europe. Alstom will deliver 3 third-generation Traxx Universal locomotives, which will serve the intermodal operations. The units will be homologated in at least six countries, including Poland, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium and Luxembourg. The Alstom site in Kassel, Germany, will be responsible to produce the units. The locomotives’ car-body shells will be manufactured at the Alstom facility in Wrocław, Poland.

The Traxx Universal locomotives have been approved in 20 countries, where they cover a total annual distance of more than 300 million kilometres. The third-generation multi-system units can reach a top speed of 160 km per hour and can handle heavier trains compared to other locomotives in the same class. They offer a flexible design based on a strong, modular platform approach compatible with many applications (single or multi-country freight and passenger transport) and available in various configurations (AC, DC and multi-system). The units will be equipped with the leading signalling system Onvia (formerly known as Atlas), Alstom’s onboard solution for the European Train Control System (ETCS). This system offers the most extensive coverage across various countries and lines. During the warranty period, Alstom will be ECM (Entity in Charge of Maintenance) and undertake preventive maintenance for the locomotives. As part of the contract, Captrain Poland employees will also be trained to perform maintenance on the locomotives themselves.

Since 2000, Alstom has produced over 5,700 locomotives, that have started operation and have been used in many European countries, as well as in Asia, North America and Africa. Alstom is the leading locomotive services provider, maintaining more than 2,450 locomotives around the world, including over 600 Traxx locomotives.

Image and story from Alstom

São Paulo, Brazil, August 29, 2024 – Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, celebrates a decade of operation of Line 15-Prata of the São Paulo Metro, a pioneer in monorail technology in Brazil and Latin America. Since its opening on August 30, 2014, the line has played a key role in transforming urban mobility in the metropolis, connecting densely populated areas to the city center and significantly reducing travel times.

lstom designed, manufactured, installed and delivered the existing fleet on Line 15, as well as the onboard and trackside signalling. The 27 Innovia™ 300 trains supplied for the line are equipped with the Cityflo™ 650 signalling system, which allows flexible integration with auxiliary systems such as passenger information panels, closed-circuit television and telecommunications. It also features a regenerative braking system, an intelligent energy management system and LED lighting.

The Line 15’s monorail also features driverless technology using track markers for guidance, positioning and collision prevention of trains. Another technical resource is transmitters responsible for locating and identifying the time required for opening platform doors, which results in more efficient operations and a better experience for passengers when boarding/landing. The trains are also equipped with advanced fire extinguishing systems to ensure safety.

Mojave Desert, California, August 26, 2024 Press release – Today, XB-1 successfully completed its second flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California with Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg at the controls. The landing gear was retracted and extended for the first time. The XB-1 team also assessed aircraft handling qualities, and demonstrated a new stability augmentation system, or roll damper.