Alis Aerolinee Italiane Selects The All New A330-200F To Start Cargo Operations
July 17, 2008
Alis Aerolinee Italiane, an Italian cargo start-up company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the acquisition of five A330-200 Freighter aircraft, plus three options. An engine choice has not been made yet.
With an important cargo market potential, Alis Aerolinee Italiane intends to establish direct links between Northern Italy and long haul markets such as North America, India, China, Japan and South-East Asia.
“By opting for the A330-200F for our operations, we start with the most modern cargo aircraft available on the market in its category. The A330-200F offers superior economics, operational flexibility and overall better value for money what made it the logical choice for Alis and its shareholders,” said Alcide Leali, founder and CEO of Alis Aerolinee Italiane. “We are fully convinced that the A330-200 Freighter aircraft will greatly contribute to our development plans and allow us to operate the most modern and efficient fleet of cargo aircraft in Italy”.
Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers, John Leahy said, “We are proud to have been selected as Alis’s strategic partner in this exciting new project with our all-new A330-200F. This is another endorsement for our game changing A330 Freighter and a recognition of the opportunities the A330F offers carriers who want to run a flexible and optimized freighter operation on mid to long haul routes”.
The A330-200F is the latest addition to the very popular A330 Family of which over 540 aircraft are presently in service with more than 70 operators worldwide. This extensive operator base will greatly facilitate the entry into service of the new all-cargo variant into existing A330 fleets. As for all Airbus aircraft currently in production, the A330-200F will also benefit from Airbus’ unique full operational commonality. The now well recognised Airbus Fly-By-Wire technology also enables faster pilot transitioning to and from other Airbus aircraft, both passenger and freighter.
The A330-200F can carry up to 64 metric tonnes over 4,000 nautical miles/7400 km in its standard version. When selecting the optional payload mode operators can carry 69 metric tonnes up to 3,200 nautical miles/5930km. These range and payload capabilities will enable operators to grow their business by opening up or extending cargo routes currently operated. Thanks to an optimized fuselage cross-section, it has the interior flexibility to carry a wide variety of pallet and container sizes for maximum interlining capability, offering 30 percent more volume than any freighter in its class. Total firm orders for the aircraft stand at 77 from nine customers.
Airbus is an EADS Company
Synergy Aerospace Signs Contract For Ten A350 XWB
July 17, 2008
Synergy Aerospace, main shareholder of Avianca and SAM in Colombia, Oceanair in Brazil and VIP in Ecuador, has signed a contract with Airbus for ten A350-800s. This contract firms up the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Synergy Aerospace and Airbus in February 2008.
“After having ordered 57 Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft, we at the group have again selected Airbus aircraft for the modernisation of our fleets”, said German Efromovich, President of Synergy Aerospace. “The A350 XWB is simply the best choice for our affiliates, fulfilling our high expectations on passenger comfort and operational efficiency.”
“The A350 XWB will make Synergy Aerospace’s affiliates even more competitive; in terms of fuel savings and operational efficiency this aircraft is unbeatable. It has the widest fuselage, giving airlines ample cabin configuration flexibility, and the passenger maximum comfort and space. It simply offers more of all this with less fuel burn and environmental impact”, said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.
The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) Family is Airbus’ response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. With a range of up to 8,300 nm / 15,400 km, it is available in three basic passenger versions: the A350-800 accommodating 270 passengers, the A350-900 seating 314, and the A350-1000 for 350 passengers in a typical three-class layout. The A350 has the widest fuselage in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort, the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile cost of any aircraft in this market segment.
Powered by two new generation Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines delivering each up to 92,000 lbs of thrust, the A350 XWB Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental concerns. Orders for the aircraft stand at more than 350 from over 20 customers.
Airbus is an EADS company.
Aviation Capital Group Places $325 Million Order for CFM56-5B Engines
July 17, 2008
FARNBOROUGH, England — July 17, 2008 — Aviation Capital Group (ACG) today announced that is has selected CFM International’s CFM56-5B engine to power 25 firm Airbus A320 family aircraft. The order is valued at approximately $325 million (U.S.) at list price and the aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2010 and 2012.
CFM56-5B engines are produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company.
ACG is a global jet aircraft leasing and asset management company. Founded in 1989, the company is actively engaged in aircraft acquisition and leasing to international airlines and provides advisory services for aircraft investors and institutional clients worldwide. In addition to the 25 new A320s, ACG also has outstanding orders for 60 CFM56-7B-powered Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft.
“The broad industry acceptance of the CFM56 product line makes it an obvious asset to our portfolio,” said R. Stephen Hannahs, ACG Group managing director and CEO. “We think this engine/airplane combination fits perfectly with our strategy to meet client needs for modern, cost-effective and fuel-efficient aircraft.”
ACG owns and manages a portfolio of more than 200 single- and twin-aisle commercial jets. This portfolio includes the Airbus A320 family, Airbus A330, Boeing 737 Classics and Next Generations, Boeing 757, 767 and freighters. The company has more than 100 737NGs, A319s, A320s and A321s on order. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, ACG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific LifeCorp, the parent company of Pacific Life Insurance Company
All of ACG’s new CFM56-5B engines will be in the Tech Insertion configuration. This technology will provide operators with a 1 percent improvement in fuel consumption over the life of the product, compared to the base CFM56-5B engine. This lower fuel consumption will also lower CO2, reducing these emissions by 200 tons per aircraft per year. Improved analytic design tools have also enabled CFM to further optimize the Tech Insertion combustor so that it will provide 25 percent lower NOx emissions.
Over the engine’s life cycle, Tech Insertion will also provide operators with longer time on wing and will lower maintenance costs by between five and 12 percent, depending on the thrust rating. These benefits are achieved through improvements to the high-pressure compressor and the high- and low-pressure turbines.
Ryanair Signs Three-Year OnPoint Agreement Extension
July 17, 2008
FARNBOROUGH, England – July 17, 2008 – Ryanair and GE Aviation have signed a three-year extension to include all current firm and option aircraft on order by Ryanair to its current OnPoint Solutions agreement with GE Aviation’s Services business for the airline’s fleet of CFM56-7B* engines.
The original agreement was signed in 2004; today’s new agreement keeps it in force until 2017. In addition, it expands the coverage of the agreement to include the new Tech Insertion engines first introduced into the Ryanair fleet in 2007 and which provide reduced fuel burn and lower emissions,
This all-inclusive maintenance contract includes the repair and overhaul of engine components, the provision of spare parts, fleet technical support and the maintenance and overhaul of the CFM56-7B engines.
“We’ve built a great relationship with GE over the last several years and are pleased to sign this extension,” said Michael Hickey, Ryanair’s director of engineering. “Over the past four years, the OnPoint program has enabled us to significantly reduce the maintenance and overhaul costs for our CFM56-7B engine fleet. This extension now takes that relationship even further into the future and encompasses the new Tech Insertion engines we began incorporating in the fleet last year, along with all the engines we currently have on order. It puts Ryanair in a great position going forward because we know exactly what our costs are going to be.”
Ryanair was Europe’s original low fares airline and is still Europe’s largest low fares carrier. In FY 2008, Ryanair will carry 58 million passengers on 713 low fare routes across 26 European countries. The airline operates the largest CFM56-7B-powered Boeing 737 fleet in Europe, with 166 currently in service and firm orders for 135 additional aircraft scheduled for delivery over the next four years. .
“We are obviously pleased to sign this extension with Ryanair,” said Mark Tivey, regional general manager of commercial engine for GE Aviation. “The initial contract has been working very well, and provided a firm footing on which to grow our cooperative relationship.”
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.
Mooney and Air Touring, Ltd. Are Exhibiting at Farnborough Air Show
July 16, 2008
Mooney and Air Touring, Ltd. Are Exhibiting at Farnborough Air Show
Kerrville, TX— Mooney Airplane Company and Air Touring, Ltd. are jointly displaying a new Mooney Acclaim Type S at the Farnborough Air Show, this week. The two companies generated significant attention last month by displaying the world’s fastest piston single engine airplane at the annual Aero Expo London event at Wycombe Air Park, June 13-15.
“The Farnborough Air Show attracts thousands of exhibitors and attendees every two years and represents another opportunity for us to show the industry’s highest performing single engine piston airplane to prospects from all over the world,” said Mooney’s Manager of International Sales Susan Harrison. “ Having an airplane at Farnborough certainly extends our reach beyond the UK since it is truly one of the top 3 international aviation events. A static display at this show can accomplish almost as much as a multi-national tour simply because so many prospects and potential customers make it a point to attend every two years.”
“The Farnborough Air Show is a tradition among members of the aviation community. It provides an exceptional platform for us to show off the Acclaim Type S. Based on the response it generated last month at Aero Expo London, we expect to see serious potential buyers making a second visit to see it, as well,” said Air Touring Sales Director Mike McNulty.
The Farnborough International Air Show is a seven-day international trade fair for the aerospace business which is held biennially in England. The air show is organized by Farnborough International Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of British aerospace industry’s body the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) to demonstrate both civilian and military aircraft to potential customers and investors. Initially an annual event, it began its biennial schedule in 1962, and currently takes place in even-numbered years, alternating with the Paris Air Show. For more information on Mooney’s participation, go to www.mooney.com.
About Mooney Airplane Company
Mooney Airplane Company, located in Kerrville, Texas, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mooney Aerospace Group, Ltd., a general aviation holding company. Mooney Airplane Company currently produces the world’s fastest, most efficient single engine piston-powered aircraft – the Acclaim, Ovation3 and Ovation2 GX. All come with standard equipment that includes the Garmin G1000 integrated avionics suite and the Garmin GFC 700 Automatic Flight Control. Since its inception in 1946, the company has manufactured and delivered more than 11,000 aircraft worldwide. Today, 7,000 customers in the United States and 1,000 more overseas fly these proven, high-performance airplanes. For more information, visit www.mooney.com.
Pratt & Whitney Wins US$100 Million Engine Order from TAM Linhas Aereas
July 16, 2008
FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW – July 15, 2008 – TAM Linhas Aereas has selected Pratt & Whitney PW4000-100” engines to power two new Airbus A330 aircraft in a deal valued at more than US$100 million. The contract includes installed and spare engines for two firm A330-200 aircraft and a 12-year service agreement provided by Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).
“In a time of soaring fuel prices and growing environmental concerns, the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engine with the Advantage70™ technology upgrade provides excellent fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs for our new A330 aircraft,” said Captain David Barioni Neto, president and CEO, TAM Linhas Aereas, S.A. “As a long-time customer of Pratt & Whitney, we are happy to continue our relationship with this new order.”
This new order for PW4000 engines is in addition to an order for engines to power six new A330 aircraft that was announced last year. São Paulo-based TAM Airlines currently operates seven A330s with Pratt & Whitney PW4168A model engines.
“TAM is a market leader in South America and we are excited to have the opportunity to continue our partnership by powering their long-haul fleet expansion,” said Todd Kallman, president of Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. “We are proud that TAM continues to show confidence in Pratt & Whitney engines as demonstrated by this follow on order for the PW4000-100” engine.”
The PW4170 model engines with Advantage70 technology will bring improved environmental and economic performance for the A330 family of aircraft. The Advantage70 technology upgrade delivers enhanced engine performance, lower fuel consumption, increased durability and reduced maintenance costs.
Pratt & Whitney has over 16,000 aircraft engines installed with hundreds of airlines around the world. Additionally, Pratt & Whitney is a leading partner in two joint venture companies that manufacture commercial aircraft engines: International Aero Engines, which makes the V2500 for the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, and the Engine Alliance, whose GP7200 engine is FAR 33 certified for the new Airbus A380.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.
This release includes “forward looking statements” concerning anticipated business opportunities that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in forward looking statements include changes in the health of the global economy and the aerospace industry. For information identifying other important economic, political, regulatory, legal, technological, competitive and other uncertainties, see UTC’s 10-K, 10-Q and other reports filed with the SEC.
Dick Fair (Left), Vice President of Pratt & Whitney
Commercial Engines, with Libano Barroso, CFO, TAM Linhas Aereas.
SkyBOOKS Captures Significant Sales
July 16, 2008
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (July 14, 2008) – SkyBOOKS, a Bell Helicopter and Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, this week announced that several fleet operators opted to sign multi-year service contracts for SkyBOOKS electronic based system that includes maintenance programs, flight logs, pilot logs, and other tracking systems.”SkyBOOKS provides a single source solution for the management of all flight operations data that can be applied to a single aircraft or an entire fleet,” said John Willis, SkyBOOKS chief operating officer.
“With the application of Skybooks electronic platforms, the future of aircraft maintenance has arrived. We anticipate this service will provide substantial benefits to the aviation community in the coming years,” said Mike Blake, executive vice-president for Bell’s customer solutions organization
Recent orders have come from Gulf Coast Aviation based in Houston, TX where they operate an eight aircraft fleet; RVR Air Charter in Ft. Worth, TX where they operate a fleet of 12 aircraft ranging from Citation Jets to Falcon 50s; Helicopter Express, operating the largest fleet with 19 units, based in Atlanta, GA , in a mixed Bell and Eurocopter rotary wing fleet; and the Jacksonville, FL Sherriff’s Office operating three Bell 206 and one Piper fixed wing.
All these fleet operators expressed a common reason for selecting SkyBOOKS: to help carry out their fiduciary obligations and ensuring their asset protection with a system that provides real time condition insight, allowing them better planning, inventory control and management of their fleets. Additionally the warranty tracking capability will allow cost recovery that previously did not exist.
SkyBOOKS customers indicate they find the system very intuitive and the analyst support personnel very responsive. Customers can simply send a copy of the Return to Service documents via fax or email to their analyst who will immediately update the system maintenance event schedule and load all supporting documents in the on-line vault. Super users can be trained to provide their own updates and utilize the SkyBOOKS analyst as their outsourced quality department to confirm the actions taken.
About Bell Helicopter
Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell’s global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company , Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.
Hawker Pacific Places Large Order of Bell Helicopters
July 16, 2008
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (July 14, 2008) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced that Hawker Pacific Pty Ltd, its sales representative in Australia, has ordered 12 Bell 407 and two Bell 206B3 helicopters.”Hawker Pacific has represented Bell Helicopter extremely well since 2004,” said Glenn Murray, Bell’s regional sales manager. “Their territory now includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. By placing these orders, Hawker Pacific will be much better positioned to optimize delivery schedule to customers and will enable Bell Helicopter to continue growing its presence in this region.”
“Strong growth in the Oceania market ranges from aviation logistics support in Papua New Guinea, aerial support of mining operations in New Caledonia and corporate / private operators in Australia / New Zealand” said Alan Smith Hawker Pacific’s CEO. “Feedback from customers indicates that the Bell 407 is a strong performer at altitude, with excellent reliability and ease of maintenance. Hawker Pacific estimates that helicopter growth in this region will continue due to increasing demands for energy resources, emergency medical services and logistics support services.”
About Bell Helicopter
Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell’s global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company , Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.
British Airways Selects CFM56-5B to Power New Airbus A318 Aircraft
July 16, 2008
FARNBOROUGH, England – July 16, 2008 – British Airways has selected CFM International’s CFM56-5B engine to power two Airbus A318 aircraft in an engine order valued at more than $25 million U.S. at list price. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2009.
CFM International (CFM) is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company.
British Airways is a long-time CFM customer and currently operates a fleet of more than 80 CFM56 engines (including spares), powering Classic Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family aircraft. The airline will use the new A318s on is all business-class route between London City and New York’s John F. Kennedy airport.
“The CFM56-5B-powered A318 will bring great operating economics to this route,” said Willie Walsh, chief executive officer of British Airways. “The Tech Insertion package brings a wealth of benefits—lower fuel burn, lower emissions, lower maintenance costs—all coupled with the outstanding reliability of the CFM56 product line”.
The CFM56-5B9/3 engines powering British Airways new A318 aircraft will be the Tech Insertion configuration, which incorporates advanced technologies to provide operators with improved fuel burn and lower maintenance costs. Improved analytic design tools enabled CFM to optimize the Tech Insertion combustor so that it will provide 25 percent lower NOx emissions, providing even grater margin to the new International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Committee of Aviation Environmental Protection emissions standards (CAEP /6 regulations) which took effect in early 2008.
The CFM56-5B is the engine of choice overall for the Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 and is popular with major airlines, low-cost carriers, and leasing companies alike. More than 3,200 CFM56-5B engines have been delivered to date, and the fleet is growing at a rate of about 40 engines per month. Primary factors behind the engine’s broad-based acceptance include this industry’s best reliability, durability, lower environmental impact, low cost of ownership, and world-class customer and product support. The CFM56-5B is the only engine that can power every model of the A320 family, from the small A318 up to the A321, with the same bill of materials. For more information on CFM International, visit us at www.cfm56.com.
Southwest CFM56 Engines Granted TRUEngineTM Status
July 16, 2008
FARNBOROUGH, England — July 16, 2008 — Southwest Airlines has become one of the first CFM International customers to achieve the TRUEngineTM designation for more than 1,100 CFM56-3 and CFM56-7B engines in its fleet.
TRUEngineTM is a designation of CFM International (CFM), a 50/50 joint company of Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company.
“Our long-standing relationship with CFM has consistently provided us with exceptional quality, reliability, and value,” said Mike Van de Ven, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines. “Achieving TRUEngine status is one more way in which Southwest Airlines can differentiate our fleet from our competitors.”
The TRUEngineTM designation will be available to all CFM56 engines meeting the criteria and several fleets of engines are currently being evaluated.
To qualify for TRUEngineTM status, the engine configuration, engine overhaul practices, spare parts and repairs used to service the engine must be consistent with CFM requirements for that engine model. In addition, all maintenance must comply with CFM-issued engine manuals and other maintenance recommendations. The qualification data is obtained through a combination of fleet operational and maintenance records.
Commercial jet engines typically are in service for more than 25 years and change ownership at least once in their operational life. The engine’s configuration, material content, maintenance history, and supportability impact overall value as it changes ownership.
The TRUEngineTM designation also facilitates CFM’s ability to provide technical support. Jet engines contain multiple, complex systems whose interactions must be carefully controlled. CFM’s engine support is built upon technical expertise for genuine CFM56 parts and configurations, as well as data gained from the vast operational history of the global CFM56 engine population.
CFM designs and continually improves the CFM56 family, the world’s most utilized commercial jet engine. Nearly 16,000 CFM56 engines are in commercial service powering several aircraft models, most prominently the Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 families, with nearly 500 operators worldwide.
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