AAD: Lockheed Martin confident of LM 100J in African operations

Lockheed Martin is confident that its relaunched LM100J will see further sales in Africa following a successful relaunch of the civil variant of the popular Super Hercules military transporter.

Dennys Plessas, Lockheed’s vice president business development EMEA said at AAD today that the original L100s had been performing well in Africa for more than 40 years and that operators had been asked about replacement.

“They all said what they want is another L100,” Plessas said.

The LM-100J is the civil-certified version of Lockheed Martin’s proven C-130J Super Hercules and is an updated version of the L-100 (or L-382) cargo aircraft.  The “J” was launched in February 2014.

South Africa’s Safair currently operates one of the world’s largest L-100 fleets. Its parent company ASL Aviation ordered 10 of the type at Farnborough Airshow in July.

“We’ve long relied on our L-100s to deliver results that no other aircraft can produce. From flying humanitarian relief supplies over rugged African terrain to transporting key cargo within Europe and around the world, no other plane can do what a Hercules can do,” said Hugh Flynn, chief executive, ASL Aviation Group. “We take pride in our legacy L-100 fleet and eagerly look forward to our future as LM-100J operators.”

Lockheed Martin is also hoping the military version will enjoy the same success.

Currently Tunisia is the only African country to feature the C130J. It will have its second aircraft delivered before the end of the year.

“We are optimistic,” Plessas said. “A number of air forces in North Africa are recaptialising. We have 120 older C130s operating in Africa and we are seeing interest from all over. There are countries that have never flown C130s and came to us. We gave demonstrated the aircraft in Angola, Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria and Ethiopia. Just look at the map and see who is operating C130s and you can see what is happening, Plessas said.

Plessas said that many countries in Africa are “ operating under austere defence budgets.

“We read the South Africa Defence Review,” he said, “and we believe there is a significant role for the 130J in a military role for South Africa.”

 

- See more at: http://www.africanaerospace.aero/aad-lockheed-martin-confident-of-lm-100j-in-african-operations.html#sthash.G3Dv5swD.dpuf

UK wants African SMEs to bid for UK defence work

South Africans could see a boost to opportunities to sell to the UK defence industry – and UK small and medium size businesses are also being encouraged to look to Africa, according to the regional director of the UK's Trade & Investment department, (UKTI)

Sophie Lane, the regional director covering Africa, Europe and the Middle East for the Defence and Security Organisation (DSO) was at AAD and said the UK was keen to develop two-way partnerships, “The idea is getting a lot of ministerial support,” she said.
“We have opened up the information so that African companies can get accredited to access the bulletins that list the tenders. This is now free of charge to those companies,” she said.
Accreditation can requested online at www.contracts.mod.uk
“Ideally we would hope that we can link South African companies to UK SMEs as well. Industrial cooperation means that lessons can be learned and different competencies can be explored.”
UKTI brought eight firms to AAD, some visiting Africa for the first time.
“There are things that the UK firms are doing that can have direct applications to African operations – and at the same time there are lots of things happening in South Africa that would benefit the knowledge and markets in the UK.”
At a government to government level, greater cooperation is also on the cards.
“We went through a strategic defence review and now South Africa has its review. There are lessons to be learned. I think there are many ways we can build capability and also each grow our businesses,”

Flight calibration support given for DRC

The Democratic Republic of Congo Civil Aviation Authority, Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) and South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) have signed an agreement for flight calibration of air navigation systems of airports in the DRC

This event took place in the DRC capital Kinshasa. ATNS will provide ground navigation services which will include surveying of all air navigation facility sites in the DRC - in WGS 84 standard and ground preparation of navigation aids for flight calibration at five airports.
Three are international airports, namely Lumumbashi international, Kisangani international, Kinshasa international and Kindu and Bunia, which are regional.
SACAA is expected to provide flight navigation services that will encompass flight calibration - at all identified airports.

CANSO chairman on globalisation and aviation infrastructural development

The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Africa Office Chairman and ATNS CEO, Thabani Mthiyane said delegates attending the CANSO Africa Conference - currently underway in Zambia - have realised the importance of increasing collaboration and cooperation among member states, thereby accelerating progress towards a safer, more efficient and cost-effective Air Traffic Management (ATM) system in the Africa Region.

“Obviously no single region of the world has monopoly on development. As a collective, we have taken cognizance of the fact that humanity’s struggle for growth and wellbeing is universal and calls for analogous solutions everywhere, although it is important that they be closely adapted to the countries in which they are applied. A region such as ours cannot have growth as its sole aim. Globalization offers a new spectrum of new essential services: the fight against climate change, aviation safety, security and stability; and of course the fight against poverty - to mention but a few” he said in welcome speech.

He further went on to say that it is no more a question of job creation or social equity but that infrastructure development, regional balance and cooperation were perfect examples of the economic and societal changes that aviators are championing.

Speaking at the same conference, was CANSO director general Jeff Poole, about how Africa now has a unique opportunity to modernise air navigation infrastructure across the continent. Poole said: “The air transport industry is a catalyst for supporting the growth of economies across Africa. Air traffic management (ATM) plays a vital role in this by ensuring the smooth and safe flow of traffic. While many States have invested to upgrade their ATM infrastructure, there is still a widespread need for modernisation to manage the expected growth in air traffic and to enable airlines to make full use of the latest technologies. There is now a unique opportunity to take African aviation to the next level. The combination of technological advances and the upgrade structure developed by ICAO, CANSO and stakeholders, will enable the transformation of ATM performance across Africa.”

Some delegates indicated that Africa is also facing climate change related environmental issues that have a negative impact on development and welfare. Preserving environmental stability is fundamental pillar of the CANSO Africa development agenda. 60% to 70% of carbon emissions come from energy consumption in industry, transport, heating et cetera. They agreed that Africa needed energy revolution.

“The past few years have seen an expansion of the CANSO Africa Office’s tasks and the reorganization of its Work Groups. They’ve given us an opportunity to design strategies, the majority of which are still in place and keep the region on par with its equals elsewhere” concluded Thabani.
 

“Obviously no single region of the world has monopoly on development. As a collective, we have taken cognizance of the fact that humanity’s struggle for growth and wellbeing is universal and calls for analogous solutions everywhere, although it is important that they be closely adapted to the countries in which they are applied. A region such as ours cannot have growth as its sole aim. Globalization offers a new spectrum of new essential services: the fight against climate change, aviation safety, security and stability; and of course the fight against poverty - to mention but a few” he said in welcome speech.

He further went on to say that it is no more a question of job creation or social equity but that infrastructure development, regional balance and cooperation were perfect examples of the economic and societal changes that aviators are championing.

Speaking at the same conference, CANSO Director General Jeff Poole, said, “The air transport industry is a catalyst for supporting the growth of economies across Africa. Air traffic management (ATM) plays a vital role in this by ensuring the smooth and safe flow of traffic. While many States have invested to upgrade their ATM infrastructure, there is still a widespread need for modernisation to manage the expected growth in air traffic and to enable airlines to make full use of the latest technologies. There is now a unique opportunity to take African aviation to the next level. The combination of technological advances and the upgrade structure developed by ICAO, CANSO and stakeholders, will enable the transformation of ATM performance across Africa.”

Some delegates indicated that Africa is also facing climate change related environmental issues that have a negative impact on development and welfare. Preserving environmental stability is fundamental pillar of the CANSO Africa development agenda. 60% to 70% of carbon emissions come from energy consumption in industry, transport, heating et cetera. They agreed that Africa needed energy revolution.

“The past few years have seen an expansion of the CANSO Africa Office’s tasks and the reorganization of its Work Groups. They’ve given us an opportunity to design strategies, the majority of which are still in place and keep the region on par with its equals elsewhere” concluded Thabani.

Future Of ‪‎Dubai‬-- WOW!!!!!

Proflight Zambia begins 50-seater jet flights to mark jubilee

Proflight Zambia has begun flights on its new 50-seater jet aircraft, introduced to mark Zambia's Golden Jubilee.

The Bombardier CRJ-100 plane was delivered to Zambia last week and operate throughout October, giving the airline time to assess market demand with a view to extending the lease on the aircraft going forward.
The new jet will primarily operate on the Lusaka-Ndola morning and evening flights, but where demand is high it will also be used on Solwezi, Mfuwe and Livingstone routes.
The aircraft is already proving popular with passengers, said Proflight Director of Government and Industry Affairs Captain Philip Lemba.

“We have already seen strong take-up of seats on the new plane and the feedback we are getting from passengers is that the larger, more spacious cabin is very much appreciated,” said Lemba.

IATA confirms benefits of liberalising African skies

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has published a report setting out the considerable social and economic benefits of intra-African air service liberalisation.

The report, by the experienced independent economic consultants InterVISTAS, outlines the benefits that would accrue if 12 African nations were to implement the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision. The 12 nations in the report are: Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda. The Yamoussoukro Decision committed 44 signatory countries to deregulating air services and to opening regional air markets to transnational competition. The implementation of this agreement, however, has been slow, and the benefits have not been realised.

Tony Tyler (right), IATA’s Director General and CEO said: “This report demonstrates beyond doubt the tremendous potential for African aviation if the shackles are taken off. The additional services generated by liberalisation between just 12 key markets will provide an extra 155,000 jobs and $1.3 billion in annual GDP. A potential five million passengers a year are being denied the chance to travel between these markets because of unnecessary restrictions on establishing air routes. Furthermore, employment and economic growth are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the benefits of connectivity. Aviation is a force for good, and plays a major role in helping to reach the African Union’s mission of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.”

Aviation already supports 6.9 million jobs and more than $80 billion in GDP across Africa. The InterVISTAS research demonstrates that liberalisation will create opportunities for further significant employment growth and economic development. The jobs and GDP impact for the 12 countries in the study are listed in the table below.

Nation Additional Employment Additional GDP (USD)
Algeria 11,100 123.6 million
Angola 15,300 137.1 million
Egypt 11,300 114.2 million
Ethiopia 14,800 59.8 million
Ghana 9,500 46.8 million
Kenya 15,900 76.9 million
Namibia 10,600 94.2 million
Nigeria 17,400 128.2 million
Senegal 8,000 40.5 milion
South Africa 14,500 283.9 million
Tunisia 8,100 113.7 million
Uganda 18,600 77.6 million

"The study clearly highlights the crucial role air transport plays in driving economic and social development in Africa through enhanced connectivity. Governments should support the growth of the industry by fully liberalising African skies as intended by the Yamoussoukro Decision, while providing other facilitator assistance like implementing global standards in safety, security and regulations, reducing high charges, taxes and fees and removing visa requirements for ease of movement across the continent," said Dr. Elijah Chingosho, Secretary-General of the African Airlines Association.

“Africa represents a huge potential market for aviation. It is therefore unfortunate that African states are opening their aviation markets to third countries but not to each other, which does not promote the spirit of the Yamoussoukro Decision. This isn’t just holding back African aviation, but African economies. This important new report developed in collaboration with IATA, AFRAA and our key regional partners provides compelling facts and figures which should send a powerful message to States and their key decision makers such as Finance, Tourism and Trade ministries across the continent to place aviation at the heart of their economic development and national planning growth strategies,” said Ms. Iyabo Sosina, Secretary-General of the African Civil Aviation Commission.

“It is essential that African governments use aviation as a critical driver of social and economic development. The Yamoussoukro process has been ongoing for decades -- Africa cannot afford to delay its implementation any longer. Greater connectivity leads to greater prosperity. I am an optimist for Africa - but we need governments to act on their commitments, and set aviation free,” Tyler said.