Tag: Georgia (Page 4 of 4)

Gulfstream Aerospace Expands Wisconsin Service Center

August 24, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Gulfstream’s expanded facility in Appleton, Wisconsin. The $40 million, 190,000 square-foot building can accommodate 12 Gulfstream G650ER aircraft and employs more than 100 people. (Gulfstream photo)

SAVANNAH, Ga., Aug. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced it has officially expanded its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations at Wisconsin’s Appleton International Airport with the opening of a newly built aircraft maintenance facility. The facility has been operational since Aug. 10.

The nearly 190,000 square-foot/17,652-square-meter building, northeast of the airport terminal, was constructed with an investment of approximately $40 million. The expansion to the Appleton service center includes 101,853 sq ft/9,462 sq m of hangar space, which will accommodate 12 Gulfstream G650ER or G650 aircraft. In addition to offices, back shops and general support space, the expansion adds a new sales and design center and increased customer access to Gulfstream’s design portfolio. The project, announced in February 2018, has resulted in nearly 100 new jobs at Gulfstream Appleton, with the potential for more in the next few years.

“This is a very exciting day for Appleton and the entire Fox Valley,” said Derek Zimmerman, president, Gulfstream Customer Support. “This beautiful facility represents the most significant expansion we’ve had in the 20 years we’ve been here. It is a tremendous asset to our site and the community. It will help us enhance the reliability of our growing fleet, support more customers and elevate their experience, continue to maintain a high level of safety and provide a world-class workplace for our employees.

“We are thankful to General Dynamics, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Regional Partnership, the Outagamie County Executive, the Outagamie County Board of Supervisors and the town of Greenville Board for their essential support.”

Gulfstream announced the maintenance facility opening before an audience of employees and state and local dignitaries, including Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. The company will open four other expanded or new service centers in 2019 and 2020: Savannah, Georgia; Van Nuys, California; Palm Beach, Florida; and Farnborough, England.

Gulfstream Appleton is home to a service center and a large-cabin completions facility spread over approximately 500,000 sq ft/46,452 sq m. It offers customers a broad range of services, including major inspections, structural modifications, major avionics installations and safety upgrades. Its MRO operation is certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, European Aviation Safety Agency, Civil Aviation Administration of China and seven other civil aviation authorities worldwide. In 2018, Appleton had nearly 500 aircraft visits.

Gulfstream Appleton’s new facility has several sustainable features, including sensitive land protection, rainwater management system, enhanced control systems for heating and cooling, optimized energy performance and electric vehicle charging stations. It is expected to receive U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.

Ryanair’s Low Fares Coming To Georgia

August 21, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

4 New Routes, 170,000 Customers Annually At Tbilisi & Kutaisi Expected

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (21 August) announced its first ever flights from Georgia, the 39^th country in the Ryanair network, with a new route from Tbilisi to Milan Bergamo and two new routes from Kutaisi to Bologna and Marseille, which start in November as part of Ryanair’s Winter 2019 schedule. Ryanair will also connect Tbilisi to Cologne in April as part of Ryanair’s Summer 2020 schedule and deliver 170,000 customers annually to/from Ryanair’s Georgian airports.

Ryanair’s Georgia 19/20 schedule will deliver:

2 new routes from Tbilisi to Milan Bergamo (4 pw) starting from November & Cologne (2pw) from April20
2 new routes from Kutaisi to Bologna (2 pw) & Marseille (2 pw)
170,000 customers p.a.
Over 100* “on-site” jobs p.a.

Georgian consumers and visitors can now book their holidays as far out as October 2020, enjoying even lower fares and Ryanair’s recently announced 2019 customer care improvements, including:

Lowest Fares –find a cheaper fare within 3 hours, get paid the difference plus €5 MyRyanair credit
Punctuality – deliver 90% target (excl. ATC) or 5% off following month’s air fares
Customer Care Charter – EU261 claims processed in 10 days, new 24/7 support, connect in 2 mins
Care Improvements – 48-hour free of charge grace period for changes to bookings
Environmental Improvements – carbon offset programme, environmental partners & plastic free in 5 years
New Ryanair Choice – €199 annual fee for free seats, fast-track & priority boarding for freq. guests
Digital Improvements – new fare finder, sports tickets, bespoke travel guides & faster mobile

To celebrate the launch of its first Georgian airports, Ryanair has launched a seat sale with fares from just €9.99, for travel in November and December, which must be booked by midnight Friday (23 Aug) only on the Ryanair.com website.

Ryanair’s David O’Brien said:

“We’re pleased to announce Ryanair’s low fares have arrived at Tbilisi and Kutaisi, our newest airports and 1^st airports in Georgia. These four new routes that will start in November (except Cologne, starting in April next year), will further promote Georgian tourism, and will deliver over 170,000 customers annually to/from two European countries to one of Europe’s fastest-growing tourism destinations. We look forward to developing new Georgian traffic growth, new routes, and jobs in the coming years.

To celebrate, we are releasing seats for sale on our network from just €9.99 for travel in November and December which are available for booking until midnight Friday (23 Aug). Since these amazing low fares will be snapped up quickly, customers should log onto www.ryanair.com and avoid missing out.”

Welcome to Tbilisi International Airport

Allegiant Airlines Announces Aircraft Base in the Lehigh Valley

August 21, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Aug. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — State and local officials joined executives from Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) today as the company announced plans to establish a two-aircraft base at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Allegiant’s growth plans in the state include creating at least 66 new, high-wage jobs.

The Las Vegas-based company is investing $50 million to establish its new base of operations, which will house two Airbus aircraft. The company, which focuses on linking travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class leisure destinations, plans to begin its base operations at Lehigh Valley International Airport on February 12, 2020. Lehigh Valley will become the airline’s 18^thaircraft base.

The Lehigh Valley is a two-county region in eastern Pennsylvania consisting of 62 municipalities and three cities; Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton. Located one hour north of Philadelphia and 90 minutes west of New York City, the Lehigh Valley is the 69th largest metropolitan region in the United States, with a $40.1 billion GDP that is larger than that of two entire states, Wyoming and Vermont. With more than 15,000 businesses contributing to an incredibly diverse industry base, Lehigh Valley is the fastest growing and third most populous region in the state of Pennsylvania, with a population of more than 670,000 residents. Site Selection named the Lehigh Valley one of the top five fastest-growing regions with under a million people in the United States in 2018, and the fastest-growing region of its size in the Northeast U.S. for a third consecutive year.

Speaking at today’s announcement were Hilarie Grey, managing director of corporate communications for Allegiant Travel Company, Tom Stoudt, executive director at LVIA, Don Cunningham, president & CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and Pennsylvania Senate Majority Appropriations Chairman Pat Browne (R-Lehigh). Senator Browne secured a state grant to help offset capital costs of the expansion at LVIA and make the Lehigh Valley airport a more attractive option for Allegiant’s growth.

“Lehigh Valley International Airport continues to be a vital asset for the Lehigh Valley and a significant driving force for our growing economy. Today’s announcement ushers in a new era of leisure and commercial travel possibilities for the airport and our region,” Senator Browne said. “I applaud Allegiant for recognizing the importance LVIA plays in air travel and for choosing to expand their presence at the airport. I commend their commitment to creating additional high-paying jobs, capital investment and potential expansion of routes along with their continued dedication to being involved partners with the community. I was pleased to work with Allegiant on this endeavor to enhance our airport and provide state financial support to ensure the Lehigh Valley was able to secure this important opportunity.”

“Lehigh Valley is a perfect location for a permanent base, which will further establish Allegiant as a hometown airline in eastern Pennsylvania,” said Keith Hansen, vice president of government affairs for Allegiant. “It has been a great area for Allegiant, where passenger demand has grown steadily over the years. As a base airport, having locally-based aircraft and crews will give us a host of options for both new service and expanded operational hours. This will mean more opportunities for affordable, convenient travel for local residents and visitors to the area.”

“Excitement is sky high throughout the Lehigh Valley with the news of an Allegiant Crew Base landing at ABE,” said Thomas R. Stoudt, Executive Director, Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority. “Since day one, Allegiant has demonstrated a strong commitment by providing air travelers affordable options and also have supported impactful regional initiatives. Now, they’ve created employment opportunities for this region which makes your neighborhood airport a more critical economic asset.”

Allegiant began operating at ABE in 2005 and currently offers seven non-stop routes – to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando/Sanford, St. Pete-Clearwater and Punta Gorda, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee and Savannah, Georgia. Allegiant currently carries more than 280,000 annual passengers through Lehigh Valley.

Allegiant, which employs more than 4,300 team members across the U.S., plans to immediately begin hiring pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and ground personnel to support the operations. The majority of the new positions are expected to offer salaries that are more than double the state’s average wage. Interested applicants may apply online.

“The convenience and success of the Lehigh Valley Airport is a critical factor in both the economic and population growth of the Lehigh Valley,” said Don Cunningham, president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. “Allegiant Air selecting the Lehigh Valley to expand its operation and to add a large group of maintenance and flight crew employees is another indicator of the Lehigh Valley’s economic growth and the increased activity at the Lehigh Valley Airport.”

Airbus Begins U.S. Production of A220 Aircraft

August 5, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Airbus has today officially begun manufacturing the A220 in the U.S. The first team of A220 production workers began work at Airbus’ Mobile, Alabama-based production facility following their recent return from on-the-job training in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, where the A220 programme and primary final assembly line are located.

“The expansion of our commercial aircraft production in Mobile to a second product line – with 400 additional jobs to support it – further solidifies Airbus’ standing as a truly global aircraft manufacturer, and confirms without a doubt that Airbus is an important part of America’s manufacturing landscape,” said Airbus Americas Chairman & CEO C. Jeffrey Knittel. “With Mobile, and our production network in Asia, Canada and Europe, we have strategically created a worldwide industrial base to better serve our customers.”

Airbus announced plans for the addition of A220 manufacturing in Mobile in October 2017. Construction on the main A220 flowline hangar and other support buildings for the new A220 began at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley at the beginning of this year. Airbus is producing the first few aircraft within some current A320 Family buildings and newly-built support hangars. The first U.S.-made A220 – an A220-300 destined for Delta Air Lines – is scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2020. By the middle of the next decade, the facility will produce between 40 and 50 A220 aircraft per year.

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market; it delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency and wide-body passenger comfort in a single-aisle aircraft. The A220 brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer at least 20% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. The A220 offers the performance of larger single-aisle aircraft. With an order book of 551 aircraft as of end of June 2019, the A220 has all the credentials to win the lion’s share of the 100-to-150-seat aircraft market, estimated to represent 7,000 aircraft over the next 20 years.

Airbus has strong and longstanding ties to the United States, with Airbus aircraft being operated by the largest airlines in America. Additionally, Airbus is a major partner of U.S. aerospace companies and workers. The company has purchased $48 billion of components and materials from American suppliers in the last three years alone, and supports more than 275,000 American jobs. Among its facilities in the U.S. Airbus has: engineering centers in Kansas and Alabama; training facilities in Florida and Colorado; materials support and headquarters in Virginia; an innovative think tank (A3) in California; a drone data analysis business (Airbus Aerial) in Atlanta, Georgia; helicopter manufacturing and assembly facilities in Texas and Mississippi; and a satellite manufacturing facility (OneWeb) in Florida.

@Airbus @AirbusintheUS #A220

B-roll video of the start of production may be found at http://a320mobile.com

Pioneer Railcorp Shareholders Approve Merger with BRX

July 19, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

PEORIA, Ill., July 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Pioneer Railcorp (OTC: PRRR, “Pioneer”), a railroad holding company that owns short-line railroads and several other railroad-related businesses including a railroad equipment company and a contract switching services company, today announced that its shareholders have approved the previously announced definitive merger agreement with BRX Transportation Holdings, LLC (“BRX”), an entity formed by Brookhaven Rail Partners (“Brookhaven”), Related Infrastructure (“Related”) and Stephens Capital Partners LLC (“Stephens”). The proposal to approve the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby was approved with voting results as follows:

Under the terms of the merger agreement, BRX will acquire through merger all of the outstanding shares of Pioneer’s Class A common stock. Shareholders other than Heartland will receive $18.81 per share in cash and the Heartland shares will be cancelled without consideration.

Consummation of the merger remains subject to various closing conditions, including operating performance by Pioneer within a specified working capital floor and debt ceiling. Subject to satisfaction of the closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close in late July 2019. Upon closing of the transaction, Pioneer will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of BRX and its Class A common stock will cease trading on the OTC Markets.

Arnold & Porter is acting as legal advisor to BRX in this transaction. BMO Capital Markets is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Pioneer in connection with this transaction and Briggs and Morgan, P.A. is acting as Pioneer’s legal advisor.

About Pioneer
Pioneer Railcorp is the parent company of 15 short-line common carrier railroad operations, an equipment leasing company, two service companies and a contract services switching company. Pioneer and its subsidiaries operate in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. For more information on Pioneer, please visit www.Pioneer-Railcorp.com

About Brookhaven
Brookhaven Rail Partners is an affiliate of Denver-based Brookhaven Capital Partners, a privately held, real estate and infrastructure investment and management firm. Brookhaven and its principals have a 25-year track record of investing in, operating and developing critical transportation assets that support industry, and promote new economic development, community investment, and job creation. For more information on Brookhaven, please visit www.BrookhavenPartners.com

Hellenic Navy Receives First Updated P-3 Orion Patrol Aircraft

May 17, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Leaders from the Greece Ministry of National Defense; Hellenic Air Force, Navy and Army; Lockheed Martin and Hellenic Aerospace Industries participated in a ceremony for the delivery of the first modernized P-3 Orion. (Photo special to Lockheed Martin)

ATHENS, Greece, May 17, 2019 – Representatives from the Hellenic Navy, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) hosted a ceremony on today at HAI’s facility near Athens, Greece, for the delivery of the first P-3B maritime patrol aircraft (interim solution aircraft) as part of the Hellenic Navy P-3B maritime patrol aircraft mid-life upgrade and modernization program implementation.

The event was attended by senior leaders from the Greek government and the Hellenic ministry of National Defense, the Hellenic Navy and Air Force, as well as representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Lockheed Martin and HAI. Local government officials also attended the ceremony.

The government-to-government agreement between the United States and Greece was announced in 2015, providing for the re-activation of one Hellenic Navy P-3B Orion maritime patrol aircraft, which is the aircraft delivered today. This agreement also includes the modernization of four Hellenic Navy P-3B aircraft through the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) Program.

MLU kits provide an extension of service life by 15,000 flight hours. In addition, this contract provides for phased depot maintenance; a Greece indigenous mission integration and management system; new avionics; and other ancillary hardware and services.

Evangelos Apostolakis, Greece’s minister of National Defense (MoD), welcomed the delivery of the first interim solution P-3B Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the Hellenic Navy and underlined the operational benefits of their upgrading program of at a national and international level. The MoD stated that this program meets the optimal cost-effectiveness solution, underlining at the same time its contribution to the reinforcement of the domestic defense industry.

The P-3 Orion is the model in maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, and is used for homeland security, anti-piracy operations, humanitarian relief, search and rescue, intelligence gathering, antisubmarine warfare and, recently, to assist in air traffic control and natural disaster relief support. The Hellenic Navy operated the P-3 fleet for 15 years.

“The Hellenic Navy needed enhancements and improvements for its maritime patrol aircraft. The delivery of this first aircraft will cover, initially, an operational requirement of vital importance, while the Hellenic Navy prepares for the delivery of the fully modernized P-3s in the coming years,” said Rear Adm. Nikolaos Tsounis, chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff.

Work on the Hellenic Navy P-3s is performed at HAI facilities in Greece, as well as at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Marietta, Georgia, and Greenville, South Carolina. Lockheed Martin is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the P-3 Orion.

“Today we are especially proud as the delivery of this first aircraft, represents an important step in enhancing Greece’s maritime patrol capability. The P-3 MLU and Avionics Modernization Program provides state-of-the-art operational advantages to the Hellenic Navy to not only support present mission requirements, but future ones as well,” said Karmyn Norwood, vice president of International Programs for Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin. “This program also exemplifies the power of partnership, from the support of the U.S. Navy and the Hellenic Navy to the outstanding work delivered by the HAI team. Together, we provide the best resources and value to Greece.”

The domestic defense industry in Greece is providing 30 percent of the overall program value, drawing considerable industrial, financial and technological benefits for the autonomous operation and support of the specific weapon system.

“Through this program, the Hellenic Aerospace Industry was given the opportunity to participate in a program of high technical and operational value,” said Zacharias Gikas, chairman of the HAI Board of Directors. “HAI salutes the delivery of this first aircraft as a significant achievement in the effort for a successful program integration. HAI management and employees will continue to effectively work together in delivering the best possible results to the Hellenic government and the Hellenic Navy.”

Find out more about the P-3 Orion here: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/P3

Airbus Helicopters Unveils New H145 at Heli-Expo 2019

March 6, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Airbus Helicopters is unveiling a new version of its best-selling H145 light twin-engine helicopter at Heli-Expo 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. Visible in the Airbus booth at the show, this latest upgrade brings a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission H145, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150 kg while delivering new levels of comfort, simplicity and connectivity.

“We’re extremely happy to be able to showcase the new H145 to our customers here in Atlanta as this upgrade owes a lot to the feedback they have provided us over the years about the aircraft,” said Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. “Our teams have worked hard to quickly bring to the market a set of innovations that we believe will contribute to the success of our customers’ operations. It is their trust in the H145 and all its predecessor variants over the last decades that have made it the fantastic helicopter it has become today, and I want to thank them for their continuous support”.

The H145’s new five-bladed rotor brings a significant increase in overall performance, with a maximum take-off weight raised to 3,800 kg and a useful load now equivalent to the aircraft’s empty weight. The simplicity of the new bearingless main rotor design will also ease maintenance operations, further improving the benchmark serviceability and reliability of the H145, while improving ride comfort for both passengers and crew. The reduced rotor diameter will allow the H145 to operate in more confined areas.

The new H145 introduces new levels of on-board connectivity to customers and operators through the integration of the wireless Airborne Communication System (wACS), allowing seamless and secure transmission of data generated by the helicopter in real-time, including in-flight.

EASA certification of the new H145 is planned for early 2020, with first deliveries to follow later that year. This upgrade will also be offered to current H145 customers as a retrofit option in order to deliver the same improvements in terms of useful load, simplified maintenance and comfort to the existing version of the H145.

Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class.

About Airbus

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2018 it generated revenues of € 64 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

Image and story from http://www.airbus.com

Gulfstream To Showcase Aircraft At Aviation Africa 2019

February 20, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

SAVANNAH, Ga., Feb. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced it will showcase the clean-sheet, record-breaking Gulfstream G500 along with the class-leading, super-midsize Gulfstream G280 at the 2019 Aviation Africa Summit & Exhibition from Feb. 27-28 in Kigali, Rwanda. Gulfstream’s exhibition will be at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, and the aircraft will be on static display at Kigali International Airport.

“Gulfstream is committed to customers in sub-Saharan Africa and growing business aviation in the region,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “Rwanda has made great investments in business aviation, and we are proud to support those efforts with our presence and static display in Kigali. Whether flying from country to country or intercontinentally, the G500 and G280 offer operators ideal options for this region.”

The award-winning G500 can fly 5,200 nautical miles/9,630 kilometers at its long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.85 and can easily connect Kigali to London at Mach 0.90 or Kigali to Singapore at Mach 0.87. When it entered service in September 2018, the G500 had already achieved 22 city-pair records around the world and currently holds a total of 32 city-pair records. The G500 that will be on display at Aviation Africa is in service with Qatar Airways’ Qatar Executive fleet.

The high-performing and agile G280 can fly 3,600 nm/6,667 km at Mach 0.80, and can travel nonstop from Kigali to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at Mach 0.84 or Kigali to Bangalore, India, at Mach 0.80. The aircraft can easily access smaller airports, reach high altitudes quickly and offers excellent takeoff and landing performance.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,800 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the Gulfstream G280^™, the Gulfstream G550^™, the Gulfstream G500^™, the Gulfstream G600^™, the Gulfstream G650^™and the Gulfstream G650ER^™. We invite you to visit our website for more information and photos at www.gulfstreamnews.com.

More information about General Dynamics is available at www.generaldynamics.com.

4 New Routes, 170,000 Customers Annually At Tbilisi & Kutaisi Expected

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