Number 39 – 20 May 2024

“There are three simple rules for making a smooth landing. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” Unknown

ACSA addresses jet fuel shortages at OR Tambo

In light of recent media reports regarding potential fuel shortages at its airports, including OR Tambo International Airport, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has responded to a request from the South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA) to assist in discussions to resolve a tax dispute affecting fuel infrastructure. ACSA has been engaged in discussions with SAPIA, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and individual petroleum companies to resolve the tax dispute relating to the use of the multi-product pipeline from Durban to Johannesburg as well as related storage facilities. Concerned about the negative impact of the fuel shortage on its airport operations, ACSA has been part of deliberations with these parties.

The primary challenge arises from the scheduled temporary shutdown of the inland refinery, a major source of jet fuel for OR Tambo International Airport. This shutdown, anticipated between May and June, necessitates increased reliance on imported fuel from Durban. These eventualities have been anticipated and jet fuel supply will continue, making use of the said alternative routes.

Key points highlighted by ACSA:

• Collaborative efforts: ACSA has participated in discussions with relevant stakeholders to develop contingency plans and mitigate potential disruptions to airport operations.
• Impact of refinery shutdown: The planned refinery shutdown coincides with challenges posed by the SARS impasse, contributing to the potential crisis in jet fuel supply.
• Stock levels and contingency planning: While fuel stock levels at OR Tambo International Airport have dipped below the recommended five days’ cover due to the refinery shutdown preparations, ACSA and stakeholders are finalising contingency plans to address potential short-term interruptions in the jet fuel supply chain.
• Communication and engagement: ACSA is maintaining communication with SARS, SAPIA, fuel suppliers and airlines to obtain up-to-date information on actions being taken to mitigate the potential crisis.

ACSA has emphasised that its priority is to ensure uninterrupted airport operations amid these challenges. The company is collaborating closely with all stakeholders to develop and implement effective contingency plans. We urge patience from stakeholders as we work towards resolving these matters.

Lowveld air show at Nelspruit

CALC delivers first Airbus A320ceo to South African Airways

China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited (CALC), along with its subsidiaries, has announced the successful delivery of the first of three Airbus A320ceo aircraft to South African Airways (SAA) in the carrier’s 90th year of operations. The 2016-vintage A320ceo, equipped with IAE V2527-A5 engines, was previously part of Vietnamese airline Pacific Airlines’ fleet before being promptly redelivered to SAA. By initiating a partnership with South Africa’s flag carrier as a new client, the delivery highlights CALC’s commitment to expanding its presence across the African continent and underscores its global business operations, particularly in the southern hemisphere. CALC maintains its steadfast commitment to maximising asset value across the aircraft full-life cycle and ensuring smooth transitions for used aircraft, leveraging its adaptability and extensive global network. In 2023, the Group successfully repossessed nine aircraft and swiftly redelivered them to several leading overseas airlines. As of 31 March 2024, the Group had 171 owned aircraft, 27 managed aircraft and 135 aircraft on backlog.

ATNS and CSIR make meaningful strides in the deployment of Passive Radar Technology

Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) SOC Limited and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are working together to improve civil aviation safety in South Africa and beyond. The two entities signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) in 2017, which was renewed in April 2023. The MoU outlines the deployment of Passive Radar System technology for civil aviation operations, and both entities are making significant progress in meeting its requirements. The CSIR developed the technology, while ATNS provides the technical know-how on the system configuration, to meet Air Traffic Management technical standards requirements, in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation Standards and Recommended Practices (ICAO SARPs).

ATNS and CSIR engineering teams are currently at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) to measure and survey Passive Radar site coverage. The aim is to determine the coverage that the system will provide in the area once deployed. This exercise will also determine the sites and the number of radar antennas to be installed.

Passive Radar is a type of radar that uses third-party illuminators, like public broadcasting services (for example Radio), to locate and track aircraft by processing the signals reflected from them. Passive radar does not require a dedicated transmitter subsystem, making it a cost-effective radar solution that requires no spectrum licensing and has significantly lower acquisition and operational costs compared to a conventional radar system. Passive Radar can be used for air surveillance or to fill gaps in active radar networks, and in the long term, may replace primary surveillance radars.

Deploying a Passive Radar at KMIA is an ideal opportunity to test the system, refine the current software and hardware solutions as well as to monitor continued Passive Radar performance characterisation testing over a predetermined period. This will include a robust systems engineering approach followed by customisation updating, verification and validation of the Air Traffic Control Passive Radar technology.

EAA of South Africa Annual General Meeting

Notice of the EAA of SA’s AGM has been issued for 28 May 2024 starting at 18h30.

Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82900861949?pwd=UXNyMFhvYnRtR0xOSEpTRlVXVUFjQT09

Meeting ID: 829 0086 1949

Passcode: EAA2024AGM

Meeting requirements

Since this will be a virtual meeting, nominations will close on 20 May and voting are available until 16h00 on Tuesday 28 May 2024. All proposals should be communicated to me direct or by reply to this email before 26 May 2024.

As this is a virtual meeting, proxies are not required for voting, however these can be submitted in writing for other matters. Please submit this by reply to this e-mail:  

EAA of SA Communication: eaaofsouthafrica@38644997.mailchimpapp.com

Thanks and regards

Paul Lastrucci

National President

EAA of South Africa

Armscor acquisitions for SAPS rotorcraft and UAVs

According to information, Armscor is managing three tenders for the SAPS, with one ECAC/2023/117  for a ‘troop carrier’ helicopter and the other two ECAC/2023/116 and ECAC/2023/118 for unmanned aerial vehicles. The closing date for the troop-carrying helicopter bid was 5 March 2024. Armscor has overseen the procurement of multiple new helicopters for the SAPS Air Wing, with Business Day reporting seven are being acquired for R400 million. To date three H125 light utility Airbus Helicopters  rotorcraft have been delivered to the SAPS. Securing single rights for any product submission as well as Defence Industrial Participation and National Industrial Participation need corporate approval, which takes time, more so if a foreign company is involved.

Visit to NAMPO on Friday 17 May

On Friday I flew with MCC Aviation’s Cessna Grand Caravan to NAMPO together with 11 other passengers and two pilots. The outward-bound flight of 45 minutes was a great deal faster than having to drive (estimated four hours) on several seriously damaged roads. On arrival we were all greeted by the Absolute Aviation and Century Avionics who had a large marquee on the edge of the airfield parking area where all arriving pilots could enjoy a cup of coffee and the hospitality of the two Lanseria-based companies. After spending time exploring the well-managed agricultural show that had some aviation interest including an Airbus B3 helicopter on the Airbus show stand and the Century Avionics show stand within the largest hall as well as several drone spraying companies we returned to the airfield in the late afternoon. The comfortable flight back to Lanseria took only 35 Minutes due to a tailwind and the pilots Ian Seadon and Liezl Hafkamp performed a ‘straight-in landing’.  More about this experience with all the details of how many aircraft and helicopters arrived at NAPMO 2024 in the June edition of African Pilot.      

Tedderfield breakfast fly-in and Sling Factory visit

On Saturday morning I travelled to Tedderfield Air Park south of Johannesburg to attend one of the fly-in breakfasts that are staged every two months. Saturday’s fly-in or drive to Tedderfield included an excellent Sling Factory tour that was conducted by Andrew Pitman who is the CEO of the company. Although I know the Sling assembly factory based at the airfield very well, it was great to spend time with as many as 30 to 40 other interested persons who were delighted to be informed about how the Sling series of light aircraft are manufactured. A full report with pictures will be presented in the June 2024 edition of African Pilot.

21 to 23 May
Air Finance Africa Conference and Exhibition Sandton Convention Centre
Contact Nick Fadugba E-mail: nickfadugba@africanaviation.com

23 to 25 May
SAPFA President’s Trophy Air Race at Louis Trichardt civil airfield (FALO)
Contact David Le Roux E-mail: David@pilotinsure.co.za Cell: 073 338 5200
Contact Iaan Myburgh E-mail: race@sapfa.co.za  Cell: 082 449 2531

23 to 27 May
NAC fly-away to Magoebaskloof 
Contact Agnes Phillips E-mail: agnes.phillips@nac.co.za Cell: 082 893 3399

25 May
Tempe airshow Bloemfontein
Contact Conrad Botha E-mail: rowco24cc@mailbox.co.za Cell 082 465 4045

25 May
EAA Young Aviators Pancake fly-in to Heidelberg airfield
Contact Kerry Puzey E-mail: kerry.p@puzey.co.za

28 May
EAA of South Africa’s AGM online meeting (virtual) starting at 18h30
EAA of SA Communication: eaaofsouthafrica@38644997.mailchimpapp.com

28 to 30 May
EBACE business aircraft show Geneva, Switzerland
Website: www.ebace.aero VP Exhibitions Sacha Carey E-mail: scarey@nbaa.org

June

1 June
Potchefstroom airshow
Contact E-mail: sally@creativespacemedia.co.za Tel: 011 467 3314

1 June
EAA Chapter 322 monthly gathering EAA Auditorium Rand Airport
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

1 June
SAA Museum Society Specialised Tour limited to nine adults
Contact E-mail: events@saamuseum.co.za Cell: 076 879 5044

6 & 7 June
Drones and Unmanned Aviation Conference Emperors Palace Convention Centre
Contact Ms Maria Ndlovu E-mail: info@bussynet.co.za Tel: +27 11 074 7095

6 to 8 June
France Air Expo International General Aviation Show 
Lyon Bron Airport www.franceairexpo.com  

6 to 10 June
Zimbabwe Air Rally (50 years)
Contact E-mail: zimairrally@gmail.com Website: www.zimairrally.com 

7 to 9 June
Bona Bona annual fly-in
Booking details visit website

Since I will be covering the Zimbabwe Air Rally I will be looking for someone to cover this year’s Bona Bona fly-in for African Pilot Please e-mail: editor@africanpilot.co.za

8 June
EAA South Africa Young Eagles day Lanseria International Airport
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

15 June
Maputo airshow
Contact Gavin Neil E-mail: gavin@haps.co.mz

15 & 16 June
SAC Event KwaZulu Natal venue TBA
Contact Quintin Hawthorne E-mail: pak02496@pixie.co.za

15 & 16 June
Hluhluwe fly-in to Doornkuil farm near Hluhluwe
Website: www.hluhluweflyin.online

Contact Christiaan Kleyn Cell: 082 945 7362, E-mail: kleyn.ac@gmail.com or
Mike Currie 084 506 7610
Coordinates of the runway: 27°59’22.5″S 32°18’27.1″E

20 June
Rand Airport Safety Symposium at the Harvard Cafe
Contact Dave le Roux PilotInsure E-mail: david@pilotinsure.co.za

28 to 30 June
EAA Taildraggers fly-in to Warmbaths airfield
Richard Nicholson E-mail: Richard.nicholson1963@gmail.com Cell: 082 490 6227

29 June
SAPFA Speed Rally at Warmbaths airfield
Contact David le Roux E-mail: david@pilotinsure.co.za  Cell: 073 338 5200 

29 June
Polokwane airshow at Gaal airport
Contact Robin Tapinos E-mail: airshow.polokwane@gmail.com Cell: 074 117 6384

29 June
FAPE Open Day at Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport
General Aviation Area, Boeing Street, Walmer

Delta plane catches fire after landing in Seattle

Beechcraft Bonanza V35 suffers in-flight breakup in Tennessee, killing three

On Wednesday afternoon a Beechcraft Bonanza V35 (N47WT) suffered an in-flight breakup killing three people. The Bonanza took off from the Louisiana Regional Airport (REG) in Gonzales, Louisiana on Wednesday morning heading for Bowman Field (LOU) in Louisville, Kentucky. According to Flight Aware, the plane was flying at about 7,000 feet before changing course and climbing to 9,600. Within seconds the plane begins dropping altitude at a rate of 4,000 fpm. At about 12h05 there was a call to 911 reporting an explosion. The plane appears to have suffered an in-flight breakup, with a resulting debris field covering a half-mile radius near Franklin, Tennessee.

The FAA issued a notice about the crash, stating the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances. The NTSB said it is investigating but there is no official confirmation from either the FAA or NTSB that the Beech V35 suffered an in-flight breakup. Officials gave an update in a press conference Wednesday evening. Chief Deputy Mark Elrod stated that responders arrived and immediately began searching the scene for the possibility of survivors but it quickly became evident that this was a search and recovery mission. He said an in-flight breakup was likely. Elrod reported that the NTSB was headed to the scene and would conduct a more thorough search on Thursday.

According to the FAA Registry, the plane was manufactured in 1966 and has been registered to Lucius J Doucet III since January. A family source told Baton Rouge WJHL News Channel 11 that Doucet was the pilot. Doucet is a plastic surgeon in the Baton Rouge area. According to his staff bio at the Williamson Cosmetic Center, Doucet said aviation is his favourite hobby. He leaves behind three children. The identities of the two other victims have been identified as Giselle and Jean-Luc Doucet, two of Doucet’s children. LSU posted a statement on Thursday evening, sharing that the two senior, who were scheduled to graduate on Friday, were killed in the crash with their father.

sh3>Boeing’s aircraft deliveries to North America at a 22-year high at 293 units

According to Stocklytics.com, the aerospace giant marks a 22-year high in the North American market, with deliveries climbing to 293 units, over 50% of its cumulative deliveries in 2023. Boeing’s 2023 deliveries represent a major milestone for the corporation. Several airlines have responded positively to Boeing’s focus on innovation and sustainability as they look to update their fleets and lessen their impact on the environment. While Boeing has been successful, reports of malfunctions are raising growing concerns about the safety of its aircraft. Boeing must proactively address these issues in aircraft production to prevent a decline in its performance.

Before 2019, Boeing out delivered all of its standing rivals, including Airbus. However, following the harrowing incident with the crash of the 737 Max 8 in 2019, Boeing faced devastating consequences, plunging its long-held monopoly. The 737 model was grounded in more than 50 countries worldwide for nearly two years, with sales plummeting to 157 units in 2020 from 380 in 2019.

Before then, Boeing had also faced similar safety concerns tracing back to 2018 with the fall of Lion Air 610 and the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines flight, which barely lasted seven minutes in the air. Consequently, 2023 marked a recovery period for the American aircraft manufacturer, with 528 units delivered. This is a notable increase from the 480 units delivered in 2022. The United States and Canada contributed the most to the latest sales, whilst the European market trailed them, with roughly 96 aircraft deliveries. Boeing received over 1314 new orders, up from 2022’s 774. This successful year underscores the possible return of the aircraft’s dominance.

However, the January 2024 incident may halt Boeing’s full-blown recovery. Analysts predict a significant delay in deliveries following revamped regulatory scrutiny. Alaska and United Airlines are investigating the 737 Max 9 blowout, with Boeing’s shares plunging by close to 30%

Boeing, in comparison to Airbus

The augmented audits and regulatory checks have caused a significant slip in Boeing’s deliveries, with roughly 29 units added to its count in March, while Airbus is blooming with 63 units delivered. Compared to last year’s deliveries for March, Boeing falls short by a considerable number, following the recorded 64 units delivered and Airbus 61.

Year-to-date, Boeing and Airbus have delivered 83 and 142 aircraft compared to 130 and 127, respectively, during the first quarter of 2023. Even with Boeing making a significant comeback with its blazing trajectory in 2023, Airbus took the lead on the delivery front, with 735 units delivered, hinting at a substantial takeover in the airline industry.

Luxaviation boosts ExecuJet FBO chain with the purchase of SkyValet

On Friday Global aviation services provider Luxaviation Group strengthened its ExecuJet FBO division with a blockbuster European acquisition. The Luxembourg-based company purchased the Sky Valet FBO chain, with its 17 owned locations in Spain and Portugal from parent company Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur in a move that brings it to 30 locations worldwide. Counting Sky Valet’s Connect affiliate program adds an additional 25 FBOs to the ExecuJet network.

“This acquisition represents a pivotal moment for Luxaviation Group and our continued expansion in the global FBO market,” said CEO Patrick Hansen. “Together with SkyValet, we continue expanding the reach of the ExecuJet network and our ambition of sustainability, setting new benchmarks in the industry.”

Managing the integration will be Michel Tohane, president of Luxaviation’s FBO division. He is quite familiar with the Sky Valet brand, having served as its executive VP before joining Luxaviation in 2021.

“Being one of the global leaders in the FBO industry provides us today not only with the opportunity to further grow regionally but we also have the ambition to push the green agenda of the group and of business aviation as an industry,” Tohane explained. “A recent example of Luxaviation’s commitment to transitioning towards more sustainable air transport is the provisioning of sustainable aviation fuel to its clients at its Paris Le Bourget FBO.”

Russian airlines now repairing Western engines rather than replacing them

Western sanctions imposed on the Russian aviation industry since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have hit hard. Not only are new Western-built aircraft no longer available to be acquired by Russian carriers, but spare parts for those already flying with these airlines are increasingly hard to come by. Despite this, the aviation industry in Russia is trying to find ways around the restrictions. The aircraft manufacturing industry within the country has been ramping up production over the past two years to meet the requirements of Russian-based airlines which are still seeing rising demand for their services, both domestically as well as to certain overseas destinations such as Dubai.  Now, one aircraft maintenance and repair organisation (MRO), S7 Technics is reported to have developed in-house knowledge and expertise to offer Russian carriers overhaul services on leading Western-built jet engines so that the life of Boeing and Airbus aircraft still flying in Russia can be prolonged. 

According to the Russian-language newspaper Kommersant, S7 Technics has mastered a complex type of overhaul of CFM56 engines installed on both Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 family aircraft to win new business from domestic airlines. While the convention was previously to simply replace the engines that required overhaul with others from the aftermarket, as this avenue is no longer available, S7 Technics is now offering CFM56 full overhaul services. According to Kommersant, there are about 800 CFM56 engines currently in Russia, the largest operator of the powerplant being the Aeroflot group. S7 Technics (part of the S7 Group) is reported to have developed the expertise required to carry out ‘even the most complex’ types of overhauls of CFM56-5B and 7B aero engines used on 737s and A320s and is now actively marketing its services in the Russian airline marketplace.  

While various types of repairs have historically been carried out by MROs within the Russian Federation, the most complex work associated with the restoration of the hot core sections of engines has, up until recently, remained an issue. However, according to Kommersant, S7 is now offering maintenance services for the complete overhaul of low-pressure turbine (LPT) modules, low-pressure compressor (LPC) modules, as well as the hot core section of the powerplant.  

S7 Technics confirmed to Kommersant that it began repairing the hot core sections of CFM56-5B and 7B engines in October 2022 and has so far completed 12 overhauls in the S7 Technics workshop in Moscow. “The aircraft are successfully operated in the fleet of Russian airlines,” said an S7 Technics spokesperson. “Since 2015, S7 Technics has been engaged in local repairs of the CFM-56 – disassembling the engine to eliminate the defect, followed by assembly and replacement of compressor blades, turbines and combustion chambers. In total, more than 300 repairs were carried out in Domodedovo (Moscow) and Minvody.”  The S7 Technics spokesperson goes on to state: “In the future, S7 Technics is considering creating a facility for testing these engines after major overhauls.”

According to sources speaking with Kommersant, S7 Technics has developed the know-how to carry out full-engine overhauls due to the demand for such vital services within Russia. According to the sources, the duration of a simple C-check has grown from three to four months to more than eight months and the most complex D-Check, which previously lasted less than a year, can now take up to a year and a half. In addition, the costs of an overhaul of LPT and LPC CFM56 engines in Russia will now be comparable to prices abroad ‘and lower than the purchase price’ of a used engine. According to the source, the CFM56 is known for offering a long service life. The typical flight time, depending on operating conditions, is 40,000 to 60,000 flight hours, or 10,000 to 20,000 thousand take-off and landing cycles without removal from the wing, approximately eight to 12 years.

According to the source, the A320 and 737 families still form the basis of the narrowbody fleet of the Russian Federation. Therefore, there are potentially several carriers that might benefit from this work. However, when questioned about S7 Technics’ capabilities to carry out work on CFM56 engines, both Aeroflot and Ural Airlines did not provide comment to Kommersant reporters. 

For many years S7 Technics had been licensed to and engaged in the overhaul of Honeywell auxiliary power units (APUs) used on Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s. According to data provided by the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, in 2024, S7 Technics also received permission to overhaul the Honeywell-made APUs used in the Russian-built Sukhoi SSJ 100 ‘SuperJet’. While the S7 Technics overhaul of the CFM56 engines is not certified by the manufacturers themselves, the Russian authorities appear to have provided their own certification for this work to be carried out by the organisation. 

P&WC’s PW545D engine receives Transport Canada type certification

Pratt & Whitney Canada’s (P&WC) PW545D engine is one step closer to entry into service with type certification granted on 9 May, by Transport Canada Civil Aviation. In May 2023, Textron Aviation announced its new Cessna Citation Ascend business jet would be powered by PW545D twin engines.

“As the latest derivative in the PW500-engine family, we look forward to the Ascend’s entry into service,” said Cedric Gauthier, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, General Aviation, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “Certification was granted following 630 hours of engine testing, in addition to 230 hours of flight testing on the Ascend prototype test aircraft.”

The new PW545D engine incorporates an advanced mixer and efficiency improvements in the compressor and turbine sections, thereby lowering fuel burn and reducing operating temperatures. The new engine is also equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) technology, which is included with many PW500 models. This enables the Citation Ascend to integrate new auto-throttle technology that simplifies engine operation, maximises efficiency and reduces pilot workload.

There are approximately 4,600 PW500 engines in service today, with more than 5,000 manufactured. The fleet has flown approximately 24.5 million hours. PW500 engines also power other aircraft in the Textron Aviation portfolio, such as the Cessna Citation Bravo, Excel, XLS, XLS+, Ultra Encore and Encore+. In addition to a family of business jets, Textron Aviation also manufactures twin- and single-engine turboprops, many of which are powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada engines.

Emirates to pay five months’ salary as staff bonus after record profit of $5.1B

The Emirates Group will award eligible employees five months’ (20 weeks) salary as a bonus after the company announced a significant profit of AED 18.7 billion (US$5.1 billion). This marks an impressive 71% surge from the previous year’s AED 10.9 billion (US$3.0 billion). The group’s workforce rose by 10% to 112,406, its largest employee workforce to date as Emirates and Dnata saw significant profit and revenue increases in 2023. The company also recently announced it will be sprucing up offers for its global pilot recruitment programme with improved benefits, higher salaries and better perks.

In an e-mail seen by UAE media outlet Khaleej Times, Emirates Airline and Group Chief Executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum expressed gratitude to the group’s employees for their ‘heroic efforts’.  Al Maktoum commended their dedication “for powering our collective ambitions and for achieving them,” adding that employees deserve “every dirham of the 20-week profit share”.

In April 2024, Emirates was called out by A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge, a Facebook group consisting of over a million aviation professionals for ‘forcing’ crew to report for flights during the extreme floods that hit the UAE. An open letter sent by Emirates President Sir Tim Clark to customers regarding the disruption also received unfavourable feedback because the statement failed to mention the efforts of crew members during the record storms. In 2023, Emirates employees also received a 24-week bonus when the group posted a Dh10.6 billion ($2.9 billion) profit in the fiscal year that ended on 31 March 2024.

Singapore Airlines to give staff eight months’ salary bonus after record profit

All Singapore Airlines staff will receive eight months’ worth of salary as bonus after the Singapore Airlines Group reported a record profit of SG$2.7 Billion ($1.99 Billion) for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2024. A memo viewed by The Straits Times indicated that staff, including pilots, will receive 7.94 months profit-sharing bonus. In 2023, the group’s staff also received a bonus worth 6.65 months’ salary when SIA Group posted a record SG$2.1 Billion net profit ($1.5 Billion). The financial year 2023 / 2024 has delivered the highest full year operating and net profits in the group’s history. The group credits robust travel demand for air travel which resulted in record passenger revenue.

According to the group, demand for air travel was boosted by a rebound in North Asia as China, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan fully reopened their borders. Altogether, Singapore Airlines and Scoot carried a combined 36.4 million passengers, up 37.6% compared to the previous year. The group reported that, although cargo loads increased 1.7% due to strong e-commerce demand, yields were 42.2% lower than the previous year, itself nearly 30% above pre-pandemic levels.

As of 31 March 2024, the group’s operating fleet consisted of 200 aircraft with an average age of seven years and three months. In April 2024, the group added one Airbus A350-900 and two Embraer E 190-E2 aircraft to its fleet. The group foresees that demand for travel will remain healthy in the first quarter of FY 2024 / 2025, due to strong bookings to the North Asia and South East Asian region.

Greece reportedly in talks to acquire up to 10 new Rafale fighters

As first reported by the Greek portal Defence Review on 10 May 2024, the talks between the Greek authorities and the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation have progressed to an advanced stage. Discussions are focused on acquiring up to 10 fighters built to the upcoming F4 standard. Executives from Dassault are expected to visit Athens in the coming weeks for negotiations.  “The Hellenic Air Force General Staff has expressed the need to acquire 8 to 10 additional new aircraft to form another fighter squadron,” Defence Review reported. “Furthermore, he explicitly and categorically stated to the leadership of the Ministry of Defence that this is a fundamental condition for the withdrawal of Mirage 2000-5s to cover operational needs.”

In January 2021, the French government received an order for 18 Rafale jets from Greece. 12 of these were previously used aircraft from the French Air Force, while the other six were brand-new jets manufactured to the F3R standard. The order also included a range of weapons, including Exocet anti-ship missiles and SCALP cruise missiles. In 2022, the Hellenic Air Force retired its Mirage 2000 EGM / BGM fleet. It still operates 24 Mirage 2000-5 air superiority fighters, currently flown by the 331 Squadron ‘Theseus.’ The modernisation of these fighters, notably with Link-16 terminals to enhance communication with other aircraft, has been put on hold due to cost and effectiveness concerns. 

Greece announced plans to acquire up to 40 Rafale jets before 2025, along with 40 Lockheed Martin F-35A fifth-generation fighters.

SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 booster on a record-breaking 21st flight

SpaceX reached a new reusability milestone with its Falcon 9 rocket with a Starlink launch from Florida on Friday night 17 May 2024. The first stage booster, tail number B1062, launched for a record 21st time, the first in SpaceX’s rocket fleet to do so. The launch of Starlink 6-59 mission added 23 more satellites to the growing low Earth orbit internet constellation and was the company’s 36th dedicated Starlink launch of the year. Since making its debut in November 2020, B1062 launched two GPS satellites, eight astronauts over two missions (Inspiration4 and Ax-1) along with 13 Starlink flights. To date, it sent 553 payloads to orbit, including the two Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Prior to its 17 May flight, it most recently launched about a month ago on the Starlink 6-49 mission. Like last time, about 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1062 landed on the SpaceX droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’ This was the 70th booster landing using ASOG and the 309th Falcon 9 booster landing to date. According to the most recent statistics published by expert orbital tracker and astronomer Jonathan McDowell, as of the morning of 17 May there were 6,017 total Starlink satellites on orbit and 5,941 in operation. Prior to the launch of the Starlink 6-59 mission, a total of 6,436 satellites launched to LEO with 788 going up in 2024.

While SpaceX was preparing for its Friday night Falcon 9 launch, it has also been busy down in southern Texas working towards the fourth integrated flight test of its Starship rocket. The nearly 400-foot-tall rocket was stacked at the launch pad at SpaceX’s Starbase facility on Wednesday, 15 May.  The following day, it conducted a partial wet dress rehearsal where it practiced loading liquid methane and liquid oxygen onboard the vehicle. A launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowing for the next flight test of the vehicle is still pending, but in a 11 May reply on X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX founder Elon Musk suggested that a launch was ‘probably three to five weeks’ away.

In an event hosted by the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation on 14 May, Kathy Leuders, SpaceX’s Starbase general manager, said they are working towards having a license by the end of May or beginning of June. “We are going be ready as always. We are going to have the vehicle stacked and the first day we get that license, we are going to fly,” Leuders said. She also noted in her talk that have also begun testing Starship rockets beyond the fourth flight. In response to an audience question, she addressed an issue on Ship 31 captured by LabPadre’s cameras, which shows a pulsating flashing coming from the rocket.

“We were testing our next round of vehicles, next round of Starships and we had a test anomaly that we are assessing right now and understanding what that means,” Leaders said. “We are always working on vehicles, but when there is a problem on a vehicle that is in the flow, you want to make sure that you can separate the cause of that problem from your flight vehicle and so what the teams are doing right now is really going in and saying is it the same design exactly? Is there some other reason for us to have separation to make sure we’re not going into a flight test with there being an issue.” While SpaceX has not commented further on the anomaly, by moving forward with the wet dress rehearsal on 16 May they likely either fixed the issue or feel comfortable that it would not impact Ship 29, which is being used on IFT-4.

Textron eAviation’s Nexus eVTOL aircraft could fly in 2025

The Nexus eVTOL aircraft is coming together at Textron eAviation’s Wichita headquarters as the company prepares to begin flight testing its hybrid electric Nuuva V300 cargo drone. Having certified the world’s first all-electric trainer airplane, the Velis Electro, the Textron Inc. business unit is working to solidify its foothold in the electric aviation industry, building on the company’s decades of experience in aircraft development and manufacturing.

Textron Inc. launched the eAviation business unit in 2022, the same year it acquired Pipistrel, the European aircraft manufacturer behind the Velis Electro. Shortly afterward, the eAviation unit took over the Nexus programme from Textron’s Bell subsidiary, which had been working on plans for the eVTOL air taxi since 2019. Following a rocky start to the Nexus programme under Bell, Textron’s eAviation subsidiary has hit the ground running and aims to begin flight testing in 2025.

The Nexus is an all-electric, piloted eVTOL aircraft with room for three or four passengers. It is designed to fly around 100 nautical miles on a single charge with a cruise speed of 120 knots. Textron eAviation sees the Nexus working for a variety of use cases, including urban air mobility, emergency medical services, humanitarian aid, law enforcement and special missions. While Textron eAviation is overseeing the development work, the Nexus project represents a collaborative effort across the various business units of Textron Inc. “We lean into Bell for their tiltrotor technology, we lean into McCauley for its propeller technology and we lean into Pipistrel for its battery technology,” Shortt said. “The aircraft is being built with our engineering, but the piece-part components are largely done through a collaboration with Textron Aviation,” she added. “We send our materials over and then Textron Aviation’s people are able to build the parts for us.”

Flight testing with the Nexus prototype is expected to begin in early 2025 and will take place at a flight test facility that Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) is building near McConnell Air Force Base in southern Wichita. NIAR, which has recently participated in battery drop tests with electric aircraft developers such as Archer Aviation and Beta Technologies, announced on 6 May that it broke ground on a new flight test facility specifically dedicated to eVTOL aircraft. The new facility will include ground-based test rigs as well as a ‘hover ramp,’ Shortt explained. “It is a controlled environment where our team will be able to validate the performance of the aircraft. They will be able to replicate a flight mode by the way that the ramp is built without wheels ever leaving the ground,” Shortt said. Once the team is satisfied with the hover ramp test results, it will move on to tethered hover flights. Textron eAviation is also in the process of building a ground control station for the Nexus at a hangar in Wichita, which will enable remotely piloted flight testing of the fully fly-by-wire aircraft. This is purely for testing purposes, Shortt explained. “Even though it is envisioned to be piloted, when we start flying it, we will fly it in an unmanned configuration.”

Nuuva prototype expected to fly this year

While Textron eAviation prepares to begin flight testing the Nexus prototype in 2025, the company’s Pipistrel subsidiary is preparing to fly its first prototype of the Nuuva V300 cargo drone even sooner. The Pipistrel team is now assembling the first Nuuva V300 prototype in Gorizia, Italy and the aircraft is on track to make its first test flight in the second half of this year, Shortt said.

The Nuuva V300 is a hybrid-electric, ultra-long-range eVTOL aircraft designed to carry around 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of cargo up to 300 kilometres. Pipistrel announced the Nuuva programme in 2020 and announced that Honeywell would supply various systems, including its compact fly-by-wire flight controls and satcom system. Honeywell also supplies its Small UAV satcom system for Pipistrel’s Surveyor fixed-wing surveillance drone, which is already on the market. Shortt said Textron is not yet ready to reveal an anticipated timeline for certification and service entry of the Nuuva V300 aircraft and it is not taking orders from customers at this time.

When the Nuuva V300 enters service, it will meet the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s SAIL IV (specific assurance and integrity) requirements for medium-risk uncrewed aircraft systems, meaning that it is permitted to fly over populated areas without a formal type certificate. Operators in Europe would be required to obtain their own operational authorisation from EASA after the regulator approves the aircraft separately via the issuance of a design verification report.

Eventually, Textron aims to progress to the more advanced SAIL VI operations, “which would be fully integrated into the airspace and operating with detect-and-avoid capabilities,” Shortt said. For SAIL VI operations, the aircraft will need to go through a formal type certification process under EASA’s Part 21 rules. In addition to the V300, Textron eAviation will explore other cargo UAV solutions to serve additional markets such as light courier last-mile delivery services, for example.

Airbus achieves Eurodrones preliminary design review

The Eurodrone programme has successfully performed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR). Led by Airbus Defence and Space as prime contractor, this major programme milestone has been completed with OCCAR and representatives of the four customer nations (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) in the presence of the three Major Sub-Contractors (MSC), Airbus Defence and Space Spain, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo.

The PDR proves that the initial design of the aircraft has consistently matured, paving the way to proceed with the detailed design. It is the outcome of different technical assessments and evaluations conducted, such as Wind Tunnel Testing to confirm the aerodynamic configuration of Eurodrone, the overall design to ensure demonstration of operational capability and the validation of a fully representative Digital Twin. From the very beginning, the Eurodrone programme benefits from both design philosophies, physical and digital.

Supported by and based on the knowledge already gathered, the Eurodrone programme enters into a new phase to reach the Critical Design Review (CDR), which will represent the final step and closure of architecture and system design. “Performing the Preliminary Design Review for the development of Eurodrone represents an important step forward for this key European defence programme”, said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. “It shows a real joint effort and collaborative spirit from all industrial partners and the Customer community to ensure European sovereignty and independence in this critical segment of unmanned long endurance ISTAR capability.”

Provided with innovative cutting-edge technology and designed to become one of the main pillars of any future combat air system, the Eurodrone will be an indispensable capability to facilitate international conflict prevention and crisis management, ensuring operational superiority to the nations, especially in the context of Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.

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