Category: Avionics (Page 16 of 43)

Air Peace orders 5 new Embraer E175 aircraft for fleet expansion

September 14, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Abuja, Nigeria, 14 September 2023 – Nigeria based Air Peace, West Africa’s largest airline, has placed a firm order for five Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) E175 aircraft. This strategic decision marks a significant step forward and is in alignment with Air Peace’s ongoing strategy of modernising its fleet. This acquisition is in line with Air Peace’s determination to become the operator of the largest and youngest fleet of aircraft in Africa. It reinforces Air Peace’s commitment to enhancing its domestic and regional network connectivity and paves the way for further regional expansion. Deliveries of the 88 seat aircraft start in 2024. The value of the order, at list price, is US$288.3m.

Already an operator of Embraer’s newest and largest jet, the E195-E2, these smaller aircraft will complement the airlines’ existing fleet, allowing Air Peace to dynamically match capacity to demand, protecting yields and route viability.

About Embraer

A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services & Support to customers after-sales.

SMBC Aviation Capital orders 25 Boeing 737 MAX jets

September 13, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Seattle, Washington, September 13, 2023, PRNewswire – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and SMBC Aviation Capital announced today the airplane lessor is ordering 25 737-8s. The new order increases SMBC’s backlog to 81 737 MAX jets focused on the market-leading 737-8.

With travel demand surging around the globe, lessors are looking to increase their single-aisle portfolios to provide airlines with more fuel-efficient jets capable of operating across various route networks.

The 737-8 provides flexibility across airline’s networks while reducing fuel use and emissions by up to 20% and on average. Each airplane will save up to 8 million pounds of CO₂ emissions annually compared to those airplanes it replaces. Boeing has secured more than 400 737 MAX family orders in 2023.

The 737-8 seats 162 to 210 passengers depending on configuration with a range of 3,500 nautical miles and operates profitably on short- and medium-haul routes.

Airbus delivers first C295 to India

September 13, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Seville, Spain, September 13, 2023 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) Defence and Space has officially handed over in fly-away condition the first of 56 C295 aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) to begin replacing its ageing Avro 748 fleet.

The C295, in transport configuration and with an indigenous electronic warfare suite, will leave Airbus’ production site in Seville, Spain, for Delhi, India, in the next few days, piloted by a joint IAF and Airbus crew.

The first 16 C295’s of the 56 aircraft on order will be assembled at the San Pablo Sur site in Seville, Spain, with the second aircraft due to be delivered in May 2024 and the next 14 rolled out at a rate of one per month until August 2025.

First C295 ‘Make in India’ in 2026

To boost self-reliance in the defence-manufacturing sector in India, the remaining 40 C295s of the IAF order will be manufactured and assembled – in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) – at a Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara in western India.

The production of components of these aircraft has already started in the Main Constituent Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad, southern India. These parts will be shipped to the Vadovara FAL, which is expected to be operational by November 2024.

The first ‘Make in India’ C295 will roll out of the Vadodara FAL in September 2026 in what will be a milestone for the Indian aerospace industry; the final aircraft expected to be delivered to the IAF by August 2031.

BAE Systems & L3Harris deliver first EC-37B Compass Call aircraft to the U.S. Air Force

September 12, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

BAE Systems PLC (London: BAES) and L3Harris Technologies Inc. (NYSE: LXH) delivered the first of 10 EC-37B Compass Call aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for formal combined developmental and operational testing. The next-generation system evolves the Air Force’s 40-year mission of employing electromagnetic attack (EA) capabilities in support of U.S. and coalition air, surface, and special operations forces.

Mission system prime BAE Systems produces the Compass Call Airborne Electromagnetic Attack mission system at its Hudson, New Hampshire facility. The system disrupts enemy communications, radars and navigation systems, and suppresses enemy air defenses by preventing the transmission of essential information between adversaries, weapon systems and command-and-control networks.

Platform integration prime L3Harris integrated the EC-130H Compass Call mission system into a modern Gulfstream G550 business jet at its Waco, Texas aircraft missionization center. The EC-37B has increased speed, endurance and high-altitude operation for improved survivability and range to deliver EA effects.

Airbus and PHI Group sign for 20 H175 & 8 H160 helicopters

September 12, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Marignane, France, September 12, 2023 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) and PHI Group Inc (PHI) have signed a framework agreement that includes commitments for 20 super-medium H175 helicopters and 8 H160s to serve the energy market worldwide, including in the US. These 28 state-of-the-art helicopters will better position PHI to respond to the energy market’s expected growing offshore transportation needs. These commitments are composed of firm orders as well as purchase options that PHI may exercise during the course of the framework agreement.

PHI has been supporting the energy industry for 74 years. Today, PHI operates over 200 helicopters across the globe serving a number of markets, including energy and air medical. PHI’s Airbus fleet consists of H125, H135, H145, H160 and H175 family helicopters – with the H175 being the latest addition.

In service since 2015, Airbus’ H175 belongs to the super-medium class of helicopters, combining long-range with smooth flight qualities, making it the perfect solution for several mission profiles, including offshore crew change, public services, and private and business aviation. 54 H175s currently in service have accumulated around 195,000 flight hours, of which 170,000 are flying for the energy sector.

Designed as a multi-role helicopter capable of performing a wide range of missions, the H160 integrates Airbus’ latest technological innovations. With its light maintenance plan, the H160 optimises operating costs and offers a new standard in availability. The helicopter is powered by two of the latest Arrano engines from SafranHelicopter Engines that offer a 15% reduction in fuel burn. Both the H175 and H160 are already certified to fly with as much as 50% sustainable aviation fuel.

Heart Aerospace & Honeywell to collaborate on Flight Controls for ES-30 electric airplane

September 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Swedish electric airplane maker Heart Aerospace and Honeywell, a leader in aerospace technology, have announced a collaboration to integrate Honeywell’s next-generation flight control system into the new ES-30 regional electric airplane.

Honeywell International Inc (NASDAQ: HON) was selected by Heart Aerospace for the Joint Definition Phase of Heart’s ES-30 airplane, and the goal, once the phase has been completed successfully, is to fully integrate Honeywell’s compact Fly-by-Wire system into development for production.

Honeywell’s next-generation compact Fly-by-Wire system is in an advanced stage of development on multiple aircraft, and its functions are adaptable to the ES-30, allowing Heart to bring its airplane to market quickly and cost-effectively.

The ES-30 is a regional electric airplane with a 30-passenger standard seating capacity and is driven by electric motors powered by batteries. It will have a fully electric zero-emissions range of 200 kilometers, an extended hybrid range of 400 kilometers with 30 passengers, and flexibility to fly up to 800 kilometers with 25 passengers, all with typical airline reserves.

Heart Aerospace has 250 firm orders for the ES-30, with options and purchase rights for an additional 120 planes.

Gulfstream G700 and G800 engines earn FAA certification

September 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Savannah, Georgia, September 8, 2023 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced the all-new Gulfstream G700 and Gulfstream G800 Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines have earned Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, bringing the aircraft program another step closer towards entry into service and customer deliveries.

The G700 and G800 feature high-speed, aerodynamic Gulfstream wing design as well as an all-new winglet designed for the two new aircraft. Along with the Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, these innovations help reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The G700 features the most spacious cabin in the industry and can fly 6,650 nautical miles/12,316 kilometers at Mach 0.90 or 7,750 nm/14,353 km at Mach 0.85, and its maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935 makes it the fastest aircraft in the Gulfstream fleet. The G800 can travel 7,000 nm/12,964 km at Mach 0.90 and 8,000 nm/14,816 km at Mach 0.85, the longest range in the business aviation industry.

The G700 and G800 both include the Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck with the industry’s only electronically linked active control sidesticks, the most extensive use of touch-screen technology in business aviation and Gulfstream’s award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System.

In the cabin, the G700 and G800 feature the Gulfstream Cabin Experience with 100% fresh air, the industry’s lowest cabin altitude, whisper-quiet noise levels and abundant natural light from iconic Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows.

LATAM Group receives new Boeing 787-9

September 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Santiago, Chile, September, 2023 – LATAM group (OTC: LTMAY) has received delivery of a new Boeing 787-9 directly from Charleston (United States) to Santiago (Chile), and is the only group of airlines in South America operating this model.

The Boeing 787-9 is equipped with advanced technology that allows it to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20-30% compared to the previous technology thanks to its lightweight materials, state-of-the-art engines, and modern aerodynamics.

Its arrival is part of LATAM group’s fleet renewal and modernization strategy, which will enable it to have 37 Dreamliners including the 787-8 variant by the end of this year, becoming one of the most modern and efficient fleets in South America. With this, the LATAM group aims to finish 2023 with a fleet of 332 aircraft, of which 78 are Wide Body and 254 are Narrow Body.

LATAM group’s new aircraft will feature 300 seats and has the capacity to cover an approximate distance of 14,010 km. Additionally, it boasts larger windows, spacious overhead compartments, technology that detects and counteracts turbulence for a smoother flight, and onboard diagnostic systems that allow the aircraft to self-monitor and automatically report maintenance requirements to ground systems.

Lockheed Martin unveils Slovakia’s first F-16 block 70 aircraft

September 10, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Greenville, South Carolina, September 7, 2023 – The first F-16 Block 70 aircraft for the Slovak Republic was unveiled at Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) facility in Greenville, South Carolina, during a visit from the country’s Minister of Defence, Martin Sklenar.

The Slovak Republic will be the first European country to receive this newest and most capable version of the Fighting Falcon. The F-16 Block 70 aircraft will deliver decades of 21st Century Security capabilities in support of the Slovak Republic’s national security.

This F-16 Block 70 jet is the first of 14 to be delivered to the Slovak Republic.

Saab opens new radar production site in Fareham, Hampshire, England

September 9, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Saab (SAAB-B.ST) UK’s Sensor Systems business operates from Saab’s site in Fareham, with a team also located in Farnborough. The skilled staff in Fareham primarily produce and integrate the new Deployment Set, a configuration of the Giraffe 1X highly mobile, compact, rapidly deployed, software-based, 3D AESA radar. This increases Saab’s production capacity for its Giraffe 1X Deployment Set and the first units are already in production at the Fareham site.

Saab UK’s Sensor Systems business will also act as a Centre of Excellence developing follow-on UK Intellectual Property in the radar domain. It will also grow to maintain existing radars in-service with the UK Ministry of Defence, such as Giraffe 1X and Giraffe AMB air defence radars and artillery locating MAMBA (Arthur) radars.

Saab UK’s Fareham site has been growing with the announcement in February 2023 of the expansion of its Underwater Systems business of Seaeye autonomous and remotely operated vehicles. Across the UK, Saab has eight principal sites which focus on software engineering, underwater robotics, training services, radars and more.

Saab UK’s presence has been growing at pace, with employee numbers quadrupling through consolidation, acquisition and organic growth, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation.

The whole site in Fareham benefits 400 jobs at Saab, in established and future roles across various business activities.

Archives