Qatar Airways launches more African destinations to its network

Qatar Airways announced today it is launching services to Rabat, Morocco, Izmir in Turkey; and Mogadishu, Somalia.

Qatar Airways chief executive officer, Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are tremendously excited to be adding these new destinations to our rapidly expanding global route network later this year, and to be able to connect our passengers to anywhere in the world they wish to go.”

African airlines saw January traffic rise 5.1%, up from 3.8% in December.

“2019 has started on a positive note, with healthy passenger demand in line with the 10-year trend line. However, market signals are mixed, with indications of weakening business confidence in developed economies and a more nuanced picture across the developing world,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

International passenger demand rose 6.0% in January compared to the same month last year, which was up from a 5.3% rise in December year-over-year. All regions recorded growth, led by Europe for a fourth consecutive month. Capacity increased 5.8% and load factor climbed 0.2 percentage point to 79.8%.

African airlines saw January traffic rise 5.1%, up from 3.8% in December. Concerns continue about the region’s largest economies, South Africa and Nigeria, however. The region’s capacity rose 2.9%, and load factor jumped 1.5 percentage points to 70.9%.  

17 dead as plane plunges into river in South Sudan

        
        Passengers were travelling from the Juba International Airport to the city of Yirol in Eastern Lakes State on Sunday, September 9 when disaster struck. Local sources in the region confirmed the accident which is believed to only have three survivors 

Several other passengers are still missing from the wreckage which was thoroughly quelled by water after the plane came into contact with the river. An Italian doctor and a bishop were among those who were on board the ill-fated plane. The cause of the crash is yet to be determined. 

Airborne 08.06.18: OSH18 'Near Perfect', Stratos 716, New NASA Crews

“A ‘perfect’ event may be unattainable, but AirVenture 2018 came about as close as one could imagine," said EAA chairman Jack Pelton. The event drew approximately 601,000, nearly two percent above of 2017’s record total. Stratos Aircraft has introduced an update on its VLJ program and introduced the Stratos 716 model. The Stratos 716 is an evolution of the 714 Proof of Concept (PoC) aircraft. "When we introduced the Proof of Concept aircraft last year the marketplace feedback was tremendous," said Stratos CTO, Carsten Sundin. "It was clear that the market is looking for the performance and comfort we were offering, but in a true 6-place aircraft. We have achieved this with the 716." The Stratos 716 has a 31" longer and 3.5" wider cabin than the 714 PoC aircraft introduced at Oshkosh in 2017. The Stratos 716 is a "multi-role" VLJ designed to comfortably seat 6 people to support personal, business and air taxi use. NASA introduced to the world on Friday the first U.S. astronauts who will fly on American-made, commercial spacecraft to and from the International Space Station – an endeavor that will return astronaut launches to U.S. soil for the first time since the space shuttle’s retirement in 2011. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
Airborne 08.06.18 is chock full of info in this Daily News Episode, Monday, August 6th, 2018... Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Hosts Laura Hutson, Brianne Cross, and Christopher Odom, and is supported by ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell, Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, and Aero-Journalist Tom Patton, this episode covers:

Latitude DL150 now certified on Gulfstream G450 & G550

Latitude Technologies has announced that Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, Georgia, has finalised STC certification of the Latitude DL150 Satellite Data Unit (SDU) for Gulfstream G450 and G550 series aircraft.

This will support CPDLC/ADS-C/ACARS satellite data link services, the DL150 is a TSO-C159b approved communications link enabling Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS 1/A+).   

Already required for some air corridors, ATCs will continue to limit the busiest and most favorable routes to FANS 1/A-equipped aircraft up to its full 2020 implementation date. DL150-equipped Gulfstream aircraft operators now have an effective option when addressing their long-range data link communication requirements which also includes pole-to-pole global coverage as an added benefit. 

“Our team of engineers, programmers, and developers create quality products that fill a wide range of needs in the aerospace market,” Founder and President Mark Insley commented. “When an aircraft manufacturer places trust in your organisation and products, it is a tremendous vote of confidence.”

Embraer E190-E2 granted certification by ANAC, FAA and EASA

Embraer has announced some final flight tests results confirming the E2 as the most efficient single-aisle aircraft on the market. In fuel consumption, the E190-E2 proved to be 1.3% better than originally expected, a 17.3% improvement compared to the current- generation E190.

The E190-E2 also becomes the most environmentally friendly aircraft in its class, with the lowest levels of external noise and emissions. Flight test results also confirmed the E190-E2 to be better than its original specification in takeoff performance. The aircraft’s range from airports with hot-and-high conditions, such as Denver and Mexico City, increases by 600 nm compared to current-generation aircraft. Its range from airports with short runways, such as London City, also increases by more than 1,000 nm allowing the aircraft to reach destinations like Moscow and cities in the north of Africa.

The E190-E2 will also have the longest maintenance intervals among single-aisle aircraft with 10,000 flight hours for basic checks and no calendar limit for typical utilisation. This means an additional 15 days of aircraft utilisation over ten years compared to current generation E-Jets. Another key gain is with pilot transition training time. Pilots of current-generation E-Jets will need only 2.5 days of training and no full flight simulator to be qualified to fly an E2.

Bose introduces game changing headsets for commercial pilots

In an announcement simultaneously presented at Sun n Fun show in Florida and the Aircraft Interiors show at Hamburg, the American headquartered technology innovator unveiled the Bose ProFlight aviation headset featuring the active noise cancelling that is enjoyed with the A20 headset used by pilots of light aircraft and helicopters.

With more than 30 U.S. design and utility patents, ProFlight Headset features a lightweight and comfortable in-ear configuration, three user-selectable levels of active noise cancellation and a Tap Control for Talk Through communication function that allows pilots to hear anyone on the flight deck that is not connected to the intercom - without removing the headset or an earpiece. It is FAA TSO-C139a and EASA E/TSO-C139a certified, a requirement that is increasingly important for many airlines and corporate flight departments.
“We’ve spent over thirty years researching and developing active noise cancelling technology,” said Matt Ruwe, senior product manager for Bose Aviation and Military headsets. “The ProFlight Aviation Headset is the culmination of that experience and knowledge, and through the application of proprietary Bose technology, provides a real solution to many of the challenges pilots of crewed and turbine powered aircraft face.” 

Bose says the headsets are designed for the lower noise environments and unique needs of pilots who fly in airline flight decks and corporate jet aircraft.
With an on-head weight of only 139 grams (4.9 ounces), it combines a lightweight headband for stability with an ear bud configuration that rests lightly yet securely in the bowl of the ear, allowing the headset to be worn comfortably for hours at a time. It also has a 48-hour battery life.

“The ProFlight delivers a combination of noise reduction, communications clarity and comfortable fit. But it also addresses some real and long standing problems professional pilots have had to deal with for years” said Ruwe.

The headset will be available worldwide and sold in the U.S. for $995.95, although pricing may change for other regions. Initial customer deliveries will begin the last week of May, 2018. 
ProFlight will be sold through the European Bose eCommerce websites and select authorized Bose Aviation dealers in the EMEA region. The headsets will be demonstrated in Africa for the first time next week at the Aviation Africa exhibition in Cairo.