Tag: Role (Page 1 of 3)

Lufthansa City Airlines to start flight operations in Summer 2024

October 25, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

October 25, 2023 – Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Xetra: LHAG) newly established City Airlines will start flight operations in the summer of 2024. The airline was founded last year and received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the German Federal Aviation Authority back in June. It will operate its flights from the Munich and Frankfurt hubs and thus also offer feeder flights for Lufthansa. City Airlines will operate alongside Lufthansa CityLine. Recruitment of operational staff will begin in November 2023, with pilots and cabin crew members needed for the launch.

The competitive strengthening of the short-haul network is essential for the market position of Lufthansa Group and for the planned growth of the long-haul segment in the German market.

In order to position City Airlines for the long term, English-speaking pilots are also being considered in the recruitment process for cockpit roles. Applicants with prior experience will be given preference during hiring. For Group employees interested in switching to City Airlines, offers with voluntary switching conditions can be negotiated. This includes Lufthansa CityLine staff in particular.

Talks with the social partners to agree on conditions for competitive and secure jobs have already begun.

Lufthansa customers and passengers can look forward to a Lufthansa customer experience on board City Airlines aircraft. While City Airlines will start operations with Airbus A319 aircraft, Lufthansa Group is currently also evaluating the possibility of using Airbus A220 or Embraer aircraft.

Airbus signs 1.2 billion Euro contracts for support of France’s A330 MRTT fleet

October 24, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Getafe, Spain – 23 October 2023 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) Defence and Space has signed two contracts valued at 1.2 billion euros in total with France’s Direction generale de l’armement (DGA) and Direction de la Maintenance Aeronautique (DMAe) for the Capability Enhancement and the In-Service Support of the French A330 MRTT’s (Multi Role Tanker Transport) fleet.

Standard 2 contract: Stepping stone of the Multi Role Tanker Transport of the future

The Standard 2 contract provides for the capability extension of the French MRTTs, focused on connectivity as a key pillar and also self-protection capabilities. With the aim of being connected in all circumstances, including jammed environments and extreme weather conditions, the aircraft will be equipped with the MELISSA satcom station.

These new capabilities will convert the French A330 MRTT into a high bandwidth communication relay node, with command and control capabilities, and will build the stepping stone of the A330 MRTT’s integration into the future air combat cloud within the FCAS.

10 years In-service support

The second contract covers the In-Service Support of the ‘Phénix’ fleet for 10 years, plus two optional years, at the Istres Air Base, southern France, home to the 31st Strategic Air Refuelling and Transport Wing. Airbus, as the prime contractor, together with its preferred partners in France, will be responsible for fleet modernisation, maintenance, logistics and technical support to ensure the aircraft’s operational availability. The local Airbus team in France will be doubled to support these activities.

Saab receives Carl-Gustaf order from Japan

October 20, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

SAAB AB (Stockholm: SAABb) has received an order from the Japan Self-Defense Forces, JGSDF, for the supply of the man-portable, multi-role weapon system Carl-Gustaf^®. The order includes over 300 systems and deliveries will take place in 2025.

Carl-Gustaf is a man-portable multi-role weapon system that provides high tactical flexibility through its wide range of ammunition types. It is extremely light-weight, and has established itself as the main shoulder launched weapon in many countries. It has been in use with the Japan Self-Defense Forces since 1979.

Proven to deliver results on the battlefield, Carl-Gustaf provides the effectiveness soldiers need. The wide range of ammunition types for Carl-Gustaf makes it flexible and able to handle any situation, whether it is to defeat an armoured vehicle or structure, or illuminating the battlefield during night operations.

The Carl-Gustaf system has a long and distinguished history, which stretches back to 1948, and is now supplied to more than 40 countries around the world.

Beechcraft King Air 360 reaches 100th delivery

October 18, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Wichita, Kansas, Business Wire, October 18, 2023 – Textron Aviation today announced the delivery of the 100th Beechcraft King Air 360 turboprop to the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center (CBCC), a longtime Textron Aviation customer. This delivery further solidifies the Beechcraft King Air’s place as the world’s most popular family of business turboprop aircraft.

The Beechcraft King Air 360/360ER is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company.

Nearly 7,800 Beechcraft King Air turboprops have been delivered to customers around the world since 1964, making it the world’s best-selling business turboprop family. The worldwide fleet has surpassed 62 million flight hours in its 59 years, serving roles in all branches of the U.S. military and flying both commercial and special mission roles around the world.

Airbus and Republic of Singapore successfully complete air to air refuelling flight test

October 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Getafe, Madrid, Spain, October 11, 2023 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) worked together to successfully complete the automatic air-to-air refuelling (A3R) flight test campaign with the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and F-15 fighter, ahead of its certification in the first half of 2024.

Over the course of three weeks in August, a RSAF A330 MRTT made more than 500 automated wet and dry contacts with the air force’s full fleet of receiver aircraft, including the F-15SG aircraft, a customised variant of the US-built F-15E Strike Eagle air-to-ground fighter jet.

The flight tests with F-15SG were conducted in Singapore, covering the whole operational AAR envelope in different weather conditions under the supervision of the Spanish certifying authority, called INTA (National Institute for Aerospace Technology).

Canadian Government orders 4 new Airbus A330 MRTT’s

July 27, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Getafe, Spain / Ottawa, Canada – 25 July 2023 – The Government of Canada has awarded Airbus (OTC: EADSY) Defence and Space with a contract for four newly-built Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft (MRTT) and for the conversion of five used A330-200s in a quest to strengthen Canada’s continental defence capabilities. The current contract has an order value of approximately CAD $3 billion or 2.1€ billion (excluding taxes).

Known as the Strategic Tanker Transport Capability (STTC), this new fleet of aircraft will replace the ageing CC-150 Polaris (A310 MRTT), operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The existing A310 fleet is being used to perform air-to-air refuelling operations, military and personnel and cargo airlift, medical evacuations, as well as strategic transport of Government of Canada officials.

The newly-built A330-200s will be assembled at the A330 aircraft Final Assembly Line in Toulouse, France. Scheduled to enter into conversion at A330 MRTT facilities in Getafe, Spain, in mid-2025, the first MRTT will be delivered to the RCAF in 2027.

Under the agreement, the A330 MRTTs will be equipped with both the hose and drogue and a boom as refuelling options, cybersecurity solutions and countermeasures. All of them could be installed with the also included Airbus Medical Evacuation kit solution, consisting of 2 Intensive Care Units and additional stretchers.

The contract covers a full suite of training services including the most advanced training devices such as the Full Flight Simulator to prepare and maintain crew readiness as part of the modernisation of the Canadian Armed Forces’ air operational training infrastructure.

Following an open procurement process, in April 2021, Airbus was selected as the only qualified supplier for the CC-150 tanker replacement. With 76 orders from 15 customers and able to carry up to 300 troops, the A330 MRTT accumulates 90 percent market share outside the U.S.A. and more than 270,000 flight hours. As a mature platform, the aircraft has been proven in combat in theatres of operations like the Middle East and the Eastern Flank in Europe, with interoperability, mission success and availability rates as highlights of its performance.

JetBlue Names Susan Pfingstler as Vice President JetBlue University

July 25, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

New York, July 24, 2023, (BUSINESS WIRE) – JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) today announced the appointment of Susan Pfingstler to vice president, JetBlue University. In this role, Pfingstler will oversee the carrier’s award-winning training programs and facilities. She will report to Warren Christie, JetBlue’s head of safety, security, fleet operations and JetBlue University.

From locations in Orlando, New York and Salt Lake City, JetBlue University offers new hire and recurrent training for JetBlue’s airports, customer support (reservations), flight operations, inflight, system operations, and technical operations (maintenance) crewmembers, as well as pilot training services for a variety of other airlines around the world.

Pfingstler comes to JetBlue from United Airlines where she served as the managing director, network operations, air traffic control strategy. Previously, she held positions with the Federal Aviation Administration, the International Air Transport Association, and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. She spent the first decade of her career as a New York City-based pilot in both the corporate and Part 121 airline arenas.

Pfingstler holds a bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is a Board Member of NASA’s Advisory Council Aeronautics Committee and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

BAE Systems wins Multi-million pound contract to equip Royal Air Force Typhoons with latest advanced radar capabilities

July 5, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded BAE Systems (OTC: BAESY) a £870m contract to deliver a new radar to enhance the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Typhoon fighter jet fleet and strengthen the aircraft’s control of the airspace whilst providing cutting-edge electronic warfare capabilities.

The contract, awarded by the Ministry of Defence to BAE Systems, will see further development of technology and integration work on the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 radar by BAE Systems and Leonardo UK. The work is expected to lead to initial flight testing in 2024.

BAE Systems leads the overall design, development, manufacture and upgrade of the Typhoon aircraft for the UK and Leonardo is the lead for the aircraft’s main sensing and survivability systems including its radar and defensive aids sub-system.

The contract is part of the UK Government announcement made in July 2022, to invest £2.35 billion in the continued technology advancements in Typhoon capabilities, as recognition of its long-term role supporting national security and defence priorities.

Typhoon is a highly capable and extremely agile multi-role combat aircraft. It is capable of being deployed for the full spectrum of air operations, including air policing, peace support and high-intensity conflict. The RAF Typhoons are deployed alongside F-35B Lightning II to provide frontline capability for the UK.

The Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs across all regions of the UK every year, contributing £1.4 billion to the economy annually. The ECRS Mk2 radar programme sustains more than 600 highly-skilled jobs across the country, including more than 300 at Leonardo’s site in Edinburgh, more than 100 electronic warfare specialists at the company’s site in Luton, and 120 advanced engineers at BAE Systems’ site in Lancashire.

SWISS Reduces Geneva Flight Operations to Minimum Due to Travel Restrictions

February 3, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

In view of the tighter travel restrictions announced by the Swiss Federal Council on 27 January and the resulting decline in demand for air travel, SWISS has been compelled to temporarily reduce its flight operations to an absolute minimum at Geneva Airport until the end of February. SWISS remains fully committed to its Geneva business and operations in the longer term, and will continue to strive to keep Western Switzerland as well connected as possible with its global Zurich-based network. Further changes are also being made to SWISS’s Zurich flight schedules. Travellers affected by flight cancellations can rebook free of charge or have the price of their ticket refunded.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is temporarily reducing its already-downsized flight operations in Geneva to an absolute minimum until the end of February with effect from today (Monday 1 February), in view of the tighter travel restrictions announced by the Swiss government. The action is being taken because SWISS’s Geneva services are point-to-point operations that do not generate additional business through a feeder function (as is the case at SWISS’s Zurich hub). Geneva Airport also currently lacks traveller testing facilities. The 13 weekly services between Geneva and SWISS’s Zurich hub will continue to operate, as will the seven weekly frequencies between Geneva and the Frankfurt hub of Lufthansa. So SWISS will continue to keep Western Switzerland connected with its global route network in these still difficult times.

SWISS remains fully committed to its long-term strategy of maintaining a strong presence in Geneva and further expanding its present range of point-to-point air services. “Geneva is and remains an extremely important location for us,” confirms SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “And as soon as conditions permit and the demand for air travel returns, we will steadily expand our services from Geneva again, as we will from Zurich, too.”

Zurich schedules also affected

Many of the short- and long-haul SWISS services that are currently being offered from and to Zurich can continue to be operated, in view of their feeder function and/or their cargo-carrying role. But the already substantially diminished range of flights here, too, is being further reduced with effect from 1 February. As a result, SWISS will only be operating some 10 per cent of the February services which it provided in 2019.

Travellers whose flight is cancelled as a result of these developments can rebook free of charge or have the price of their ticket refunded.

Airbus Signs Maintenance Digital Services Contract With Royal Australian Air Force

January 29, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Airbus (Paris: AIR.PA) has signed a contract to provide a digital services focus for the maintenance of the Air Refueling Boom System (ARBS) on the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (A330 MRTT) fleet.

Based on the Airbus suite of digital services SmartForce, this service is intended to support the operator in reducing maintenance costs and improving fleet availability by optimizing the fault diagnosis and troubleshooting tasks for the ARBS of the tanker aircraft, based on data analytics applications.

The Central Data System plays a key role, allowing operators to draw on the flight data recorded by the Mission Recording System and provides information outputs about issues registered during the flight and recommended maintenance actions to fix them.

Within the KC-30A Enterprise, the Central Data System is a joint development built upon a successful long-standing collaboration among Airbus, the Commonwealth of Australia (CoA) and the Australian KC-30A Through Life Support (TLS) provider Northrop Grumman Australia, in sharing data and defining the architecture of the system.

Future proposed development of the capability will allow customers which apply this technology to their fleet to be able to extend the ARBS analytics to entire aircraft level diagnostics.

SmartForce is a suite of services enabling military operators to exploit aircraft data to improve troubleshooting, optimize maintenance effort, predict maintenance actions and plan smartly for material demand and improving the fleet availability. SmartForce capitalizes on the new power of big data analytics coupled to secured connectivity to maximize mission readiness.

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