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Air India and Willis Lease Ink Historic agreement Constant Thrust® Engine Sale & Leaseback

which will provide Air India with significantly greater reliability and cost savings than a conventional MRO shop visit program.

Air India announces special sale fares on Singapore & Bangkok routes

A firm sale and leaseback contract for 34 CFM56-5B engines installed on its Airbus A320 family aircraft has been signed by Air India with Willis Lease Finance Corporation.

The engines will be covered by the ConstantThrust® program from Willis Lease, which will provide significantly greater reliability and cost savings than a conventional MRO shop visit program. This is the first ConstantThrust® sale and leaseback deal by an Indian carrier for aircraft engines.

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Willis Lease will buy 34 engines from Air India as part of the sale portion of the deal, and these engines will power 13 Airbus A321 and 4 Airbus A320 aircraft. Willis Lease will offer replacement and backup spare engines through ConstantThrust®, saving Air India from potentially expensive and unpredicted shop visits on the engines supplying a fleet of transitioning aircraft.

Willis Lease is a top global aviation finance firm with its headquarters in Florida, USA. It specializes in leasing, financing, and managing aircraft, spare commercial aircraft engines, and auxiliary power units. In order to provide programmatic assistance to airlines and lessors globally, ConstantThrust® makes use of these capabilities as well as Willis Lease’s spare parts, engine, and aircraft technical management services as well as its aviation engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.

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Brian R. Hole, President of Willis Lease, stated that “Air India ran a rigorous process to evaluate all options for managing the significant maintenance, operational risk, and logistical burden these engines would have created. We are proud that all the benefits of ConstantThrust® rose to the top in the end.”

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Aerospace

China is secretly testing its next-generation medium combat helicopter Z21

China is secretly testing its next-generation medium combat helicopter Z21

China consistently keeps aviation enthusiasts surprised with its advancements in fighter jets and other aircraft. Leading the pack in Asia, China continuously pushes boundaries in developing domestically-built aircraft.

Recently, images circulating on the internet reveal China’s latest creation, the Z-21 helicopter. Resembling its predecessor, the Z-10, this helicopter boasts enhanced fighter capabilities. The emergence of these images sparks questions regarding the fate of plans to acquire Russian-made Ka-52K attack helicopters, particularly the naval version.

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Observing the helicopter in flight, it shares design elements with the Harbin Z-10, notably in the front fuselage and cockpit canopy. The wing stubs for weapon mounts exhibit similar shapes, though with less pronounced angular features. With a tandem seating arrangement, the Z-21 also draws comparisons to the Mil Mi-28, featuring an elongated body with five rotor blades and weapon bays on its sides.

The unveiling of the Z-21 has triggered speculation about its potential role in future military operations. Analysts suggest that beyond its firepower, its introduction could signal significant technological advancements. There’s particular interest in whether China will incorporate a ‘manned-unmanned teaming’ system akin to later Apache models, enabling the Z-21 to control armed drones for reconnaissance and attacks, reducing risks to the helicopter itself.

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The emergence of the Z-21 underscores China’s increasing military prowess and its commitment to developing cutting-edge weaponry. Its deployment and capabilities will be closely monitored, especially concerning regional security dynamics.

The helicopter presents a significant challenge to American-built Apache and other medium helicopters, boasting superior capacity for flying at higher altitudes and more powerful speed and combat capabilities, thus enhancing its effectiveness on the battlefield. On the other hand, amidst ongoing Indian border tensions, this aircraft is poised to play a crucial role in surveillance along the sensitive China border and beyond.

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Airlines

SpiceJet reaches a settlement for $91 million liabilities with EDC

SpiceJSpiceJet reaches a settlement for $91 million liabilities with EDCet reaches a settlement for $91 million liabilities with EDC

In a significant development, SpiceJet, one of India’s prominent budget carriers, has successfully negotiated a settlement agreement with Export Development Canada (EDC), a government agency, to resolve liabilities amounting to approximately $91 million.

This breakthrough agreement paves the way for SpiceJet to assume ownership of the majority of its bombardier q400 aircraft, marking a crucial step in the airline’s financial restructuring efforts. The comprehensive settlement amount, as per SpiceJet’s financial records, is set to alleviate the burden of outstanding liabilities, amounting to Rs 755 crore.

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This milestone achievement underscores SpiceJet’s commitment to achieving financial stability and prudent management practices. As part of the agreement, SpiceJet will gain full ownership of 13 EDC-financed q400 plane, thereby enhancing its operational capabilities and fleet management. This strategic move not only strengthens SpiceJet’s position in the aviation market but also signifies a significant milestone in its pursuit of long-term prosperity.

Ajay Singh, the Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet, expressed his satisfaction with the settlement, acknowledging the cooperation and progressive approach demonstrated by EDC throughout the negotiation process. He emphasized that this agreement would fortify SpiceJet’s balance sheet, positioning the airline for sustained success in the future.

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Moreover, the settlement agreement heralds substantial long-term savings for SpiceJet, as it relieves the airline from the obligation of regular monthly rentals for the acquired aircraft. This newfound financial flexibility is poised to empower spicejet group booking
to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities in the dynamic aviation landscape.

Following the announcement of the settlement, spicejet b2b shares surged, indicating investor confidence in the airline’s financial restructuring initiatives. With this landmark agreement, SpiceJet is poised to embark on a trajectory of growth and resilience, further solidifying its position as a key player in India’s aviation industry.

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Aerospace

Qantas Airbus A330 Makes Safe Landing After Engine Blowout

Woman spends tortuous three months trying to resolve huge Qantas errors

A Qantas Airbus A330 Aircraft, flight number QF781, has landed safely without incident in
Perth after the passengers on the Perth-bound flight reported hearing a ‘loud bang’ from one
side of the twin-engined plane engine. The Airbus A330 aircraft made a priority landing at
Perth Airport around 9:37pm local time on 25 March, arriving approximately 52 minutes
behind schedule.


Upon landing, emergency services met with the aircraft on the tarmac. However, the aircraft
taxied to the gate without assistance, with the passengers disembarking normally.
The ‘loud bang’ heard by passengers happened due to a mid-air engine blowout, therefore
resulting in the pilots having to manually shut off the affected engine, together with
requesting a priority landing into Perth Airport. Qantas also added in a statement that the
Airbus A330 aircraft was designed to operate with one engine too.

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Qantas QF781 is a daily scheduled flight from Melbourne to Perth, utilising the Airbus A330
on the route. The Aircraft in question is VH-EBA, an approximately 21 years aircraft,
equipped with 2 GE CF6 engines according to airfleets.net. The Airbus A330 have been a
frequent regional workhorse in Qantas’ fleet, connecting major australian cities with major
destinations within Asia. the Airbus A330 is also used on high-density domestic routes,
similar to QF781, from Melbourne to Perth.

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Engine Issues – Should you be concerned?


While engine issues are highly uncommon due to the stringent checks and quality control on
each component within the engine, there might still be exceptional occasions where such
incidents happen. However, while recognising the risks of dual engines, Aircraft
Manufacturers and Organisations have actually came up with standards so as to ensure that
an aircraft can also land on a single engine, similar to what we saw on QF781.


One of the most well known standard is Extended-range Twin-engine Operations
Performance Standards (ETOPS) which is an acronym for twin-engine operation in an
airspace further than one hour from a diversion airport at a designated one engine
inoperable speed. This ensures that twin-engined aircraft could safely operate routes over
water or remote land without an alternative airport near the flight path, which once required
aircraft with 3 or 4 engines to fly on that route.

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In this case, the Airbus A330 has been certified to fly ‘Beyond ETOPS 180’, and have
received ETOPS 240 certification, which is a certification to enable the twin-engined aircraft
to fly for up to a maximum of 240 minutes with 1 engine inoperative in a cruise condition.
Currently, most twin-engined widebody aircraft in operation would generally have an ETOPS
certification of at least ETOPS 180, with the new Airbus A321LR also having ETOPS 180
certification, therefore enabling the narrowbody to fly long haul flights.

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Airlines

End of an Era: Asiana Airlines’ Last Boeing 747 Takes Its Farewell Flight

End of an Era: Asiana Airlines' Last Boeing 747 Takes Its Farewell Flight"

As the sun bathed the tarmac of Taipei Taoyuan International Airport in golden hues, a crowd of aviation enthusiasts and passengers gathered to witness a poignant moment in aviation history. With a majestic sweep of its wings, Asiana Airlines’ Boeing 747-400, fondly dubbed the “Queen of the Skies,” embarked on its farewell journey.

Departing from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) bound for its ultimate destination, Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN), flight OZ712 carried with it a legacy spanning over two decades.

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Social media platforms buzzed with tributes and farewells, a testament to the profound impact of the Boeing 747-400 on the collective consciousness of aviation enthusiasts and travelers alike.

Yet amidst the wistful goodbyes, there existed an air of gratitude, as passengers seized the opportunity to avail themselves of Asiana Airlines’ generous offer: a 30% discount on tickets for flights aboard the boeing 747 400 throughout the month of March 2024. It was a fitting tribute to an aircraft that had become synonymous with reliability, comfort, and boundless adventure.

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As the clock ticked, and the journey drew to a close, Seoul Incheon International Airport stood poised to welcome back its cherished icon. With a gentle descent, HL7428 touched down on familiar ground, completing its final flight with a sense of dignity befitting its illustrious legacy.

At both departure and arrival airports, fire trucks stood ready, their cannons poised to unleash a cascade of water in a symbolic salute to the retiring titan of the skies. oz airline It was a gesture of reverence, a final homage to an aircraft that had transcended its mechanical confines to become a symbol of human ingenuity and exploration.

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Asiana Airlines, with its steadfast commitment to excellence, had played a pivotal role in shaping South Korea’s global connectivity. Through its international hub at Incheon International Airport, the airline had ushered in an era of unprecedented access, bringing the world to the doorstep of a nation brimming with culture, innovation, and warmth.

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