Airlines

Air Tanzania welcomes Africa’s 1st Brand-New Boeing 767 Freighter

The first 767-300 Freighter for Air Tanzania has been delivered, and Boeing and the airline are celebrating. The aircraft has landed at the airline’s hub in Dar es Salaam, giving the operator dedicated air freight capacity to meet the needs of the expanding cargo sector in the nation. Additionally, this is the first direct delivery of a Boeing 767 Freighter to a carrier in Africa.

Air Tanzania will be able to accommodate time-sensitive freight schedules across Africa and beyond as a result of the 767-300 Freighter’s superior fuel efficiency, operating flexibility, and low noise levels. The 767-300 Freighter is the perfect aircraft for the expanding express cargo and e-commerce businesses, with a range of 3,255 nautical miles and a revenue payload of more than 52 tonnes.

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This is Air Tanzania’s first specifically designed freighter as the nation seeks to increase imports and exports of items that must be delivered on time, such as pharmaceuticals, perishable goods, and other goods.

“Air Tanzania will be able to significantly expand its current operations with the 767 Freighter with increased efficiency and network flexibility. “As the airline improves freight connectivity between Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Air Tanzania’s freight customers now have a lot more options.

With a fleet that includes two 787-8 Dreamliners, Air Tanzania currently offers commercial service throughout Africa and to locations in Asia. Additionally, the airline has placed orders for two 737 MAX aircraft and one more 787-8.

Airlines

S7 Group Begins Fan Blade Production for Western Engine Models

The privately-owned Russian aerospace giant S7 Group has reportedly commenced production of blades for Western-built aero engines at its subsidiary, the Berdsk Electromechanical Plant (BEMZ), located in Novosibirsk.

This development, reported by the Russian aviation publication ATO.ru, marks a significant step for the company amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.BEMZ has started manufacturing composite fan blades compatible with jet turbine engines, including the CFM International CFM56, which powers popular aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family.

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The technology for restoring blades of gas turbine engines used in Airbus and Boeing aircraft was previously developed by the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and is now being implemented in the production of new aircraft parts at BEMZ.

Currently, BEMZ focuses on producing parts essential for maintaining the airworthiness of civil aircraft. Over the past year and a half, the plant has manufactured approximately 3,500 structural elements and components for replacement on foreign aircraft, which are utilized by airlines such as S7 Airlines, Pobeda, Aurora, and Aeroflot.

The facility is undergoing expansion, with two stages of an investment program totaling 2 billion roubles already completed. These developments are likely geared toward producing blades for the CFM56 engines, which equip more than half of S7’s operational fleet, including 28 Airbus A320-family aircraft and 19 Boeing 737-800s.

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Vasily Yurchenko, CEO of Berdsk Electromechanical Plant, emphasized the shift in focus towards maintaining the airworthiness of the Western-made fleet. The plant has delivered thousands of components to S7 and other Russian carriers since 2022. Notably, according to Russia’s Air Operators Association, 89% of the country’s passengers in 2023 traveled aboard foreign-made aircraft.

Future plans include serious investments to transform the plant into a modern, high-tech aircraft manufacturing facility. In addition to engine blades, BEMZ is also known for producing various spare parts for aircraft, reinforcing its role in the Russian aviation industry as it adapts to new manufacturing needs.