Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews March 1, 2015 ATEM pages 14-21 edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?eid=4a23d1fb-bf2f-4d6b-9602-1681cc2bcacc&skip=true

SINGAPORE AIR SHOW  »  2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS February 13, 2014, 12:10 AM UK -based  ACLAS  Global is opening a $3 million spares warehouse in the Tax Free Zone at Singapore’s Changi airport to support its growing customers for  ATR  in the region. The facility that will maintain a range of rotables, consumables and de-ice product types, will be operational from Feb17. There are more than 300  ATR s in the region, a number that is growing rapidly, said Gordon Bilbey, product development manager,  ACLAS  to  AIN . With Asia’s high humidity conditions, focus is likely to be on supplying avionics parts. With a 24/7 operation, the extensively stocked spares service will ensure a faster, more cost-effective service to  ATR  customers, significantly reducing  AOG  time and costs. Singapore, said Bilbey “was extremely reasonable” and there would be no detrimental effect to pri...

Neelam Mathews Feb 17, 2013 Air Works India Engineering Pvt Ltd. (Air Works) is continuing its acquisition spree. It has acquired Aero Technique Espace (ATE) a French aircraft painting company, AerospaceDiary learns. This move is sure to strengthen Air Works’ market position as a provider of painting services to the European commercial and military aircraft market. It acquired Air Livery recently. Air Works can be assured of long-term contracts as ATE is a well established paint application company, painting new aircraft for Airbus and ATR at its facilities in Chateauroux and Toulouse in southern France. The company, which employs around 150 people, is a recognized brand within its target market and as is AWs policy, will continue to retain the “ATE” brand name post acquisition. Christian Lalane, who has now taken over as the Managing Director, ATE, said: “The recent modernization of the complete Chateauroux site now offers a state-of-the-art, environmentally compliant wid...

Neelam Mathews Dec 14, 2012 The increasing presence of ATR -600 operators in Asia and the Pacific underpins the need for a new Training Center in Singapore that has been inaugurated both for commercial aircraft pilots and maintenance crew. It is located in the Seletar Aerospace Park, a major hub for the Singapore aerospace industry.  The new center has the capacity to train more than 600 pilots and maintenance crew per year. The facility features the new Full Flight Simulator (FFS), an integrated suite of flight training devices and advanced classroom settings to provide both pilot and maintenance training for multiple ATR aircraft platforms. The new FFS enables training for both ATR 42-600s and ATR 72-600s variants. Fully equipped, the facility and its flight training equipment have recently been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).   “We are pleased to expand our presence with this new training facility focused on the rapidly growin...

Neelam Mathews Nov 22, 2012 ATR's newest flight training center in Singapore is now officially approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and is ready to start training courses shortly. The center will provide a high level of training programs from flight crew type rating through recurrent training to differences courses. Strategically located in the Seletar Aerospace Park, a major hub for the Singapore aerospace industry, the center will officially be inaugurated mid-December this year. The EASA certification of the new ATR Training Center in Singapore gives way to a long term operational approval of the flight training equipment. It covers the Full Flight Simulator (FFS) for ATR -600 series, the maintenance/flight simulation training devices (MFSTD) and a brief/debrief station. This FFS is the second for ATR's -600 series program. The very first one is located at the main ATR Training Center in Toulouse, France, along with a Full Flight Trainer (FFT) fo...

With a highly dispersed population, a wide range of airport facility capabilities, lots of short-haul routes and cash-strapped passengers, Asia could be seen as a problem area for airline operators. But one class of aircraft – the turboprop – is proving that all these hurdles can be overcome to offer a viable business mode l. By Neelam Mathews AS ASIAN SKIES OPEN  AND MORE secondary airports with short runways are developed, the need for propeller driven turboprops is being recognised. With low buy-in and maintenance costs, high usage rates, low running costs and small-airfield landing capability, turboprops look like the perfect solution to Asia’s dispersed yet large population. They offer convenience, tested technology and environmental acceptance, which all  make them perfect for Asia’s scattered and airport-sparse environment. John  Moore, Head of  Sales for ATR Regional Aircraft asserts that turboprop aircraft are in ...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews April 2, 2012 Press Statement: ATR regrets to confirm that an ATR 72-201 operated by Russia's carrier UTair was involved in an accident today at around 7.50 am (local time) near Korkovka (in Western Siberia). Flight 120 was operating between Tyumen and Surgut with 39 passengers and 4 crewmembers. The aircraft, registered under VP-BYZ, was MSN (Manufacturing Serial Number) 332, initially delivered from the production line in October 1992. UTair had been operating this aircraft since August 2008. The Russian Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) will lead the investigation and will be the official source of information. According to international regulations, ATR will advise the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et Analyses (BEA), safety investigation authority representing the state of the aircraft manufacturer. At this time, the circumstances of the accident are still to be determined. The ATR 72-201 is a 68- to 74-seat twin turboprop engine aircraft. ...

Neelam Mathews Singapore Feb 12, 2012 Even as Bombardier Aerospace has just announced that an airline, which has requested to remain unidentified at this time, has signed a firm order for six CRJ1000 NextGen regional jets and has taken options on another 18, Aerospace Diary learns ATR will receive around 40 orders and Embraer between 5 to 6. They are divided between customers. Looks like the war is now starting on the regional front in Asia.

By:   Neelam Mathews    FlightGlobal 6 hours ago Anyone looking for an example of how hard times can reverse fortunes in the airline business need look no further than Kingfisher Airlines and its flamboyant boss, the high-living Indian booze baron Vijay Mallya. Once a leading light among the new, private ventures poised to profit from India's burgeoning wealth and seemingly insatiable appetite for domestic and international air travel, Kingfisher - named after one of the most popular brands in Mallya's United Breweries, one of the world's biggest drinks companies - has stumbled into 2012 with a crushing debt burden, a crippled fleet and a desperate need for a financial saviour. At its height, Kingfisher ran an extensive domestic network, targeting the business traveller in particular. The airline built a fleet of 60 Airbus and ATR aircraft with nearly 150 on order or option and, between the main operation and low-cost subsidiary Kingfisher ...

Neelam Mathews Dec 21, 2011 Tanzanian carrier Precision Air Services and ATR have signed a contract for the purchase of four ATR 42-600s and one ATR 72-600 aircraft. The deal is valued at $98 million. Delivery of the 50-seat ATR 42-600s will start in late 2012. The ATR 72-600 will be delivered in 2014.  With this acquisition, Precision Air Services will bring its fleet of ATRs up to 14 aircraft, tbecoming the largest operator of ATR aircraft in Africa. The current fleet of ATRs of Precision Air Services includes 5 ATR 72-500s, 2 ATR 42-500s and 2 ATR 42-300s.  With the introduction of these 5 brand new ATR ‘-600 series’ aircraft, the carrier will further develop its regional network, adding new routes and frequencies to its domestic market. This fleet expansion will allow the airline to offer its passengers the advantages and comfort of the new ATR -600 series ‘Armonia’ cabin.   Michael Shirima, the Board of Directors Chairman of Precision Air Services said: “...

Posted by Neelam Mathews Oct 19, 2011 Air New Zealand, the largest ATR operator in the Pacific region, has ordered 7 new generation ATR 72-600s, plus options for 5 additional aircraft. The deal, subject to contract signing, is at list prices valued at more than $270 million, including options. The first of the 68 seat ATR72-600 aircraft will be delivered to Air New Zealand in October 2012. Deliveries will be completed in 2016.   The airline, based in Auckland, New Zealand, currently operates 11 ATR 72-500 aircraft through its subsidiary carrier, Mount Cook Airline.  Rob Fyfe, Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand, said: “The ATR 72-500 has been a core part of our extensive regional operations in New Zealand since 1999. It has proven to be very popular with our customers and very cost-effective to operate. “We now need to expand our fleet, not only to add frequencies on existing routes but to step up from smaller aircraft types. We know the ATR product well, ...

Neelam Mathews Oct 18, 2011 Virgin Australia has inaugurated its ATR 72-500 services starting a new era of air transport in Australia. The inaugural flight of Virgin Australia’s first turboprop - and Australia’s first ATR 72 – was also the airline’s first flight from Brisbane to the regional industrial city of Gladstone. And it was a milestone for ATR Regional Aircraft, the world’s largest manufacturer of 50-74 seat turboprop airliners, adding Australia to an already-extensive list of Asia-Pacific markets where ATR aircraft operate. The airline has orders for four of the series 500 model – three of which have now been delivered - and four of the next-generation series 600 model.   Filippo Bagnato, CEO of ATR, said: “Virgin Australia needed an aircraft type which would provide an economic entry into new regional routes, and cost-effective expansion of a range of existing markets…….”

Neelam Mathews Sept 30, 2011 The Asia Pacific region has become the largest market outside Europe for ATR Regional Aircraft, manufacturer of 50-70 seat turboprop airliners. Almost one third of the ATR aircraft currently operating around the world are now based in the Asia Pacific area. Of the 854 ATR aircraft in service today, 244 –29 percent – are in the Asia Pacific region, stretching in an arc from Pakistan and India, through China, South East and North Asia to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, says ATR. In the first nine months of 2011, ATR has booked some 70 additional orders with Asia-Pacific carriers.   Today, Asia Pacific represents more than 110 aircraft in ATR’s backlog, 40% of the total. “Turboprop aircraft are in strong demand, as airlines around the world seek to increase their short haul services while reducing operating costs,” said John Moore, Head of Sales for ATR Regional Aircraft. Moore claims ATRs burn significantly less fuel “not only tha...