Aviation

South Africa Shows Interest in Procuring Embraer C-390 Aircraft

South Africa is making significant strides in talks to potentially acquire Embraer’s C-390 Millennium, the Brazilian aerospace company announced on Wednesday. This update follows Embraer’s second showcase of the military cargo aircraft in South Africa, aiming to fulfill the strategic lift capability needs of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

In a statement released on September 25, coinciding with the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition at Waterkloof Air Force Base, Embraer emphasized the progress of South Africa’s “C-390 acquisition process.” The company expressed optimism about securing a deal, highlighting that the C-390 Millennium is “well suited to meet the needs of the SANDF, as well as other government authorities.”

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The South African National Defence Force has expressed notable interest in the C-390, having had the opportunity to evaluate the aircraft’s capabilities. An SANDF spokesperson acknowledged the wide range of features and advanced technology demonstrated by the aircraft, indicating that the country is advancing in the “necessary steps for the selection of the much-needed strategic lift capability.”

Currently, the South African Air Force operates five C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft through the 28 Squadron, based at Waterkloof Air Force Base. However, the C-390 Millennium, with its 26-ton payload capacity, presents a strong candidate to replace the aging C-130 fleet.

If successful, this purchase would mark embraer first C-390 customer in Africa. The aircraft is already in service with the air forces of Brazil, Hungary, and Portugal and is on order for Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and South Korea, indicating growing global confidence in the C-390 Millennium’s capabilities.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.