Aircraft

AVIC BUILDS FIRST S-76++ AIRFRAME

Sikorsky's Coatesville, Pennsylvania facility is set to receive for customisation the first S-76C++ civil airframe produced for it in China under a 2006 agreement between the US helicopter maker and AVIC's Changhe Aircraft unit. Additional airframes are scheduled to be delivered in 2010.

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BOMBARDIER CONFIRMS CRJ PRODUCTION CUT

Bombardier has confirmed that in response to a continuing lack of orders, the CRJ production rate will be reduced. The move will result in around 715 layoffs at its plants in the Montreal area from January. This total includes a small number of workers affected by the reduction in 415 waterbomber output.

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AUSTRALIA'S CARIBOU PUT OUT TO PASTURE

The Royal Australian Air Force has retired its last DHC-4 Caribou light tactical transports. Canberra acquired 29 Caribous between 1964 and 1971, and still had 13 in use before the type's retirement. As an interim replacement capability the air force's 38 Sqn has taken ownership of three Beechcraft King Air 350s previously operated by the Australian Army. Another five leased examples will follow by mid-2010.

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LION AIR EVALUATES A330/777 DEAL

Indonesia's largest privatelyowned carrier, Lion Air, plans to order 10-15 widebodies and wants first deliveries in 2011. Airline president Rusdi Kirana says the Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 777-200ER are being evaluated, and the intention is to make a decision by the first quarter of next year. Lion is largely a Boeing 737-900ER domestic operator, but in November launched services between Jakarta and Jeddah using two 747-400s.

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ISRAEL GROUNDS ROBINSONS AFTER R44 CRASH

The Israeli ministry of transport has grounded all Robinson helicopters operating in the country for an initial 48h, pending clarification of the cause of an R44 crash in the sea near Netanya on 23 November that killed three Israeli pilots and a British businessmen. Witness reports say that the helicopter's aft rotor broke and hit the main rotor seconds before it dived into the sea. There are seven R44s and five R22s operating in Israel.

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WAKE NAMED AFRAA PRESIDENT

Ethiopian Airlines chief Girma Wake has been elected as the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) president, with African journalist and consultant Nick Fadugba confirmed as secretary general. Wake replaces LAM Mozambique Airlines chief Jose Viegas in the one-year role. Inter Air chairman David Tokoph will chair AFRAA for 2010. Fadugba will serve as secretary general for a five-year term, starting from next March. He succeeds Christian Folly-Kossi, who has served for a decade.

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KLM LAUNCHES BIOFUELS JOINT VENTURE

KLM has formed a joint venture to develop sustainable biofuels after completing an alternative fuel-powered flight. Last week one of the Dutch carrier's Boeing 747-400s was flown with one engine powered by a 50:50 mix of a camelina-based biofuel and traditional kerosene. The carrier has joined forces with oil products and services company North Sea Petroleum and business development firm Spring Associates to form SkyEnergy.

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