Indian Air Force Selects Pilatus PC-7 MkII Training System

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is proud to announce that the Indian Air Force has entered today into a contract in excess of 500 Million Swiss Francs to procure a fleet of 75 PC-7 MkII turboprop aircraft, together with an integrated ground based training system and a comprehensive logistics support package. The contract also contains an option clause for extending the scope of this contract within three years from initial signature and we are optimistic that this will indeed be executed.

The Indian Air Force joins more than 30 other countries to modernise its training pipeline with the most modern, capable and cost effective system for Basic Flying Training on the market today. The Indian Air Force is the fourth largest air force in the world with approximately 170,000 personnel and 1,500 aircraft operating from more than 60 air bases. This contract will extend the fleet of Pilatus turboprop trainers to more than 900 aircraft operating worldwide.

Delivery of the aircraft and the complete training system is scheduled to commence in Q4 2012. The decision to select the PC-7 MkII training system was made after a thorough evaluation by the Indian Air Force, which looked at all available options. Pilatus Aircraft Ltd views this contract for the Indian Air Force as a major success and believes it will encourage other forces to take a close look at our pilot training solution.

Coupled to this award will be the establishment of in-country depot level maintenance capabilities, which includes the required transfer of technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), enabling in-country maintenance of the platform throughout its service life of over 30 years. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was established in 1940 with the Government of India as primary shareholder, having approximately 35,000 employees based at eight sites across India.

Pilatus has also entered into a separate off-set contract with the Government of India for 30% of the value of this contract and we view this as a major opportunity. Pilatus has significant confidence in the Indian Defence market with its highly skilled workforce and it is our intention to leverage the offset opportunity to establish manufacturing capability for the region in support of our business plans for India.

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is committed to serving the Indian Air Force with its world renowned dedication to Swiss precision and quality, through delivering and supporting the most advanced Basic Flight Training turboprop trainer aircraft in the world – the Pilatus PC-7 MkII.

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Eurocopter and Turbomeca inaugurate a training center specializing in engine maintenance in México

Eurocopter de México (EMSA) and Turbomeca México (Safran Group) have signed a cooperation agreement for the training of helicopter maintenance technicians and recently opened their first joint training center in Mexico, which is also the first of its kind on the American continent to offer Spanish-speaking instructors.

This new center, inaugurated today by Eurocopter's Executive Vice President Global Business and Services, Dominique Maudet, and Vice President Customer Support and Sales for Turbomeca, Serge Maillé, will complement the training activities by EMSA, which has already provided training for more than 150 technicians and 100 helicopter pilots since 2010. From now on, operators in the region will benefit from complete helicopter training in Spanish and in one location, focusing on four basic areas: mechanics, avionics, piloting and engine maintenance.

"The flight safety of our aircraft is a key priority that Eurocopter shares with Turbomeca, one of our longest-standing business partners," said Dominique Maudet. "Training is an essential pillar of our strategy to improve flight safety and optimize the availability of the helicopters operated by our customers all over the world."


Serge Maillé commented that "these new facilities will enable Eurocopter de México S.A. and Turbomeca México to better serve our Spanish-speaking customers. This cooperation will also be useful for technicians working for customers of both these companies in Latin America."

The inauguration ceremony for this new center located on the EMSA site at Mexico City International Airport was also attended by Sergio Romero Orozco, Director General of the Mexican Department of Civil Aviation (DGAC) and Serge Durand, CEO of EMSA.

The new joint training center has 3 theoretical and practical classrooms offering courses to familiarize trainees with the parts and tools necessary for maintenance of Turbomeca's Arriel and Makila models, the engines used in Eurocopter's AS350, EC130, EC145, EC225 and EC725 helicopters and the Dauphin family of helicopters.

Eurocopter has more than 20 training centers all over the world for both civil and military pilots, technicians and aerospace experts.

About Turbomeca México
As part of its global growth strategy, Turbomeca (Safran Group) recently opened its new subsidiary Turbomeca México (TMEX) in Mexico City to support operators of Turbomeca engines in Mexico, Central America and northern South America (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela). This branch also handles sales of all Turbomeca products and services in the region.

About Turbomeca
Turbomeca (Safran Group) is the leading helicopter engine manufacturer and has produced over 69,000 turbines based on its own designs since the company was founded. It offers the world's largest range of engines to 2,350 customers in 155 countries, providing a proximity service through its network of 17 sites, 26 Maintenance Centers, 24 Repair & Overhaul Centers and 90 field representatives and field technicians. Turbomecca has also organized a network of more than 40 Turbomeca-certified instructors in 14 training centers around the world, where the company's objective is to operate in the local language whenever possible.

About Eurocopter de México
Eurocopter has been present in Mexico for 30 years through its Mexican subsidiary, Eurocopter de México (EMSA). Based at Mexico City International Airport and staffed by 200 employees, EMSA is responsible for technical support and sales of helicopters in the region comprising Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. EMSA has its own spare parts logistics platform (MEXLOG) and offers a range of services that includes maintenance services, helicopter hangars, aircraft design, assembly, painting and customization and ab-initio training for technicians and pilots through its Heliescuela training academy in Veracruz. EMSA is building an industrial facility to manufacture aircraft parts and subassemblies in Querétaro, with completion scheduled for 2013.

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Air Asia receives its 100th A320 from Airbus with a special flair

Air Asia marked another milestone on the way to becoming the largest A320 operator worldwide by accepting its 100th aircraft today, celebrating this event with a special touch that underscores the close relationship established between this low-cost carrier and Airbus.

24 May 2012 (photo and PR)
The carrier's latest fleet addition carries the wording: "Thank you Louis Gallois" on its main passenger door, saluting the former Airbus CEO – who will complete his current role as the CEO of parent company EADS next week.

During a ceremony at Airbus' Toulouse, France delivery centre, the A320 was unveiled in the presence of Gallois, who was welcomed by Air Asia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, and joined by Airbus President and CEO Thomas Enders, along with John Leahy, Airbus' Chief Operating Officer – Customers.  Attending the event were members of the international press, who gathered in Toulouse for Airbus' annual Innovation Days event.

"Air Asia could not have reached this point in our amazing story without the tremendous support we've received from Airbus, going back to the start of our relationship in 2004," Fernandes told the journalists.  "No airline could have grown like ours without the support of such a great partner as Airbus, who has seen us through both the good and bad times."

Air Asia has gone from its origins as a two-aircraft airline carrying 200,000 passengers annually a decade ago to becoming the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region's leading low-cost carrier, with the goal of transporting 33 million passengers in 2012.

"Gallois has played an enormous role in helping us achieve this growth, and naming the 100th aircraft after him is one way to thank this friend of our airline for his warmth, friendship, patience, and especially his belief – which is a key element at Airbus," he added.  "What Airbus did was believe two guys from the music industry who had a dream about making it easier to fly, and they have stayed with that belief in helping us deliver on that ambition and transforming travel in Asia forever."

The airline currently has 375 A320s on order, including Airbus' A320neo (new engine option) version.  Fernandes said Air Asia's innovative route structure includes 50 percent of routes that were not previously operated by other carriers, with many of these segments using the A320's operational flexibility – including opening access to many airports.

"The A320 delivers fantastic reliability, and we work these aircraft very hard: flying them almost 14 hours a day – conducting eight landings and takeoffs, performing turnarounds in 25 minutes," he added.

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Boeing Conducts Inaugural Flight of First 787 Built in South Carolina

Dreamliner on track for mid-year delivery to Air India
 

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C., May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) today marked another 787 milestone as the first Dreamliner built in South Carolina completed its first flight. Piloted by Tim Berg and Randy Neville, the airplane successfully conducted a five-hour test flight. More than 5,000 Boeing South Carolina employees watched a live broadcast of the airplane as it took off from Charleston International Airport.  

"This is a proud moment for our Boeing South Carolina team and for Boeing," said Jack Jones, vice president/general manager, Boeing South Carolina. "In April, we gathered on the flightline to watch this airplane roll out of final assembly. Today, we watched as this airplane successfully completed its first production flight - one step closer to delivering our first South Carolina-built 787 Dreamliner to our customer."

Today's production flight test profile tested the airplane's controls and systems in a series of scenarios designed to verify the airplane operates as designed. The tests occurred in all stages of flight beginning prior to taxi, through final landing and taxi.

During the flight, the crew checked the functionality of onboard systems at high and medium altitudes. They also checked backup and critical safety elements including cabin pressurization, avionics, and navigation and communications systems. In addition, they shut down and re-started each engine during flight.

"First flight of this South Carolina-built airplane is a significant achievement and our teammates did a great job working together to make this happen," said Berg. "The airplane performed exactly as we expected."

The airplane will be flown to Ft. Worth, Texas to be painted with Air India's livery before returning to Boeing South Carolina for a mid-2012 delivery.

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Marine Corps' F-35B Makes Historic First Flight

 

 

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Marine Corps' F-35B Makes Historic First Flight

via Aero-News Network on 5/23/12

New Fighter To Replace Legacy Aircraft The Marine Corps' fifth generation fighter, the F-35B Lightning II, made its first flight at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, Tuesday, signaling the start of the next era of Marine Aviation on the cusp of last weekend's Centennial of Marine Aviation celebrations in Washington D.C.

 

 

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SpaceX Dragon Transports Student Experiments to Space Station

 

 

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SpaceX Dragon Transports Student Experiments to Space Station

via Aero-News Network on 5/23/12

Fifteen Experiments Focusing On Physical, Chemical, And Biological Systems The SpaceX Dragon capsule, which on Tuesday became the first commercially developed and built spacecraft to launch to the International Space Station, is carrying among its cargo a suite of 15 science experiments designed by students.

 

 

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Salta desde un helicoptero a 2400ft AGL sin paracaidas (y sobrevive)

http://blog.sandglasspatrol.com/index.php/noticias/55-exhibiciones/1062-salta-desde-un-helicoptero-a-2400ft-agl-sin-paracaidas-y-sobrevive

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OJO #Spotters! El Solar Impulse aterrizará en Madrid-Barajas este viernes

 

 

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El Solar Impulse aterrizará en el aeropuerto de Madrid Barajas este viernes

via Frikinauticos2.0, por Sandglasspatrol.com by Carla de Oyarbide on 5/22/12

El ya conocido "Solar Impulse" llegará al aeropuerto madrileño de Barajas, en la madrugada de este viernes durante una escala que hará entre la localidad suiza de Payerne y Rabat. Según informaron los responsables del vuelo, el avión descansará en Barajas varios días antes de atravesar el Estrecho de Gibraltar para llegar, finalmente, a Rabat, donde fue invitado por la Agencia M

 

 

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