Indonesia Accepts Superjet's Russian Type Certificate

Indonesian regulators have validated the type certificate of the Sukhoi Superjet, paving the way for Indonesian carrier Sky Aviation to take delivery of its first Superjet in November.

Officials from Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) visited Russia as part of the validation process, DGCA Director General Herry Bakti tells Aviation Week. He notes that the Superjet already has type validation from the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company, however, has still to receive formal notification of the decision, telling Aviation Week that the “Indonesian DGCA is still working with respective documentation.”

Sky Aviation owner and Chairman Yusuf Ardhi tells Aviation Week that some of the airline’s pilots already have been sent to Venice, Italy, for Superjet simulator training. The airline has 12 Superjets on order, and Ardhi says the first is due to arrive in Indonesia next month. The airline also is due to receive a second Superjet in December, although Ardhi adds there are no firm delivery dates.

Sky Aviation currently operates five Fokker 50s, a Boeing 737-300, a Cessna Grand Caravan, a Cirrus SR-22, a Cirrus SR-20 and a Fokker 100. “We plan to have five more Fokker 50s and more narrowbody jets,” Ardhi says.

“We are still seeking other options on the narrowbody jets. The additional number of [these aircraft] will be decided after we fly the Superjet.”

“If the Superjet can perform economically, and [is operationally] as good as the 737 and Airbus A320 in the Indonesian market, we may focus on Sukhoi Superjets,” says Ardhi.

A Sukhoi Superjet operated by the manufacturer crashed while on a demonstration tour in Jakarta in May. All 45 on board died, including 14 employees of Sky Aviation.

[Editor note: This article is an update of the original to reflect comments by Sukhoi]

Indonesia’s Approval Of SuperJet Clears Sky Aviation Deliveries

 

Indonesian regulators have validated the type certificate of the Sukhoi Superjet, paving the way for Indonesian carrier Sky Aviation to take delivery of its first Superjet in November.

Officials from Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) visited Russia as part of the validation process, DGCA Director General Herry Bakti tells Aviation Week. He notes that the Superjet already has type validation from the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company, however, has still to receive formal notification of the decision, telling Aviation Week that the “Indonesian DGCA is still working with respective documentation.”

Sky Aviation owner and Chairman Yusuf Ardhi tells Aviation Week that some of the airline’s pilots already have been sent to Venice, Italy, for Superjet simulator training. The airline has 12 Superjets on order, and Ardhi says the first is due to arrive in Indonesia next month. The airline also is due to receive a second Superjet in December, although Ardhi adds there are no firm delivery dates.

Sky Aviation currently operates five Fokker 50s, a Boeing 737-300, a Cessna Grand Caravan, a Cirrus SR-22, a Cirrus SR-20 and a Fokker 100. “We plan to have five more Fokker 50s and more narrowbody jets,” Ardhi says.

“We are still seeking other options on the narrowbody jets. The additional number of [these aircraft] will be decided after we fly the Superjet.”

“If the Superjet can perform economically, and [is operationally] as good as the 737 and Airbus A320 in the Indonesian market, we may focus on Sukhoi Superjets,” says Ardhi.

A Sukhoi Superjet operated by the manufacturer crashed while on a demonstration tour in Jakarta in May. All 45 on board died, including 14 employees of Sky Aviation.

[Editor note: This article is an update of the original to reflect comments by Sukhoi]

SOURCE: http://www.aviationweek.com

New KAIA Terminal expected to open at end of 2014

The new terminal currently under construction at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah is expected to be operational in the last quarter of 2014, according to the Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA).

Prince Fahd Bin Abdullah, president of GACA, told Saudi Gazette that 31% of the work on the new airport terminal, which will have a capacity of 30 million passengers annually, has been completed.
The airport’s North Terminal, which currently serves foreign airlines, will close following the completion of the project, while the South Terminal, currently used by Saudi Arabian Airlines and Nasair, will be transformed into a cargo hub. GACA also said that the North Terminal would be considered for the extension of the Haj Terminal.

Mohammad Aabed, the KAIA project supervisor, said all foreign flights would be diverted to the airports’ new terminal currently under construction. The new airport is being built on a 105 km² area, and its total capacity will reach 80 million passengers after the completion of the third phase in 2035. The total terminal area will be 670,000m².

The new terminal will serve both Saudia and foreign carriers with the international gates accessible by an automated passengers transport system. The departure lounge will have 200 check-in counters, in addition to 80 self-service counters, 46 departure gates and waiting lounges, a hotel and a modern shopping area.

The project also includes an expressway connecting Al-Haramain Expressway to Madinah Road, and crossing with Prince Majed Road, which will be the main access road to the airport. The Haramain High Speed Railway will have a stop at the airport.

The project will have the world’s tallest control tower, which currently stands at of 46 metres. A 7km service tunnel will link all utility projects, including three power plants and three information centres.
The airport will also include an automated train will transfer passengers across the 700-metre distance between the terminals and boarding gates.

The construction of the new airport will cost a total of $7.2bn (SAR 27bn), with around 20,000 tonnes of steel has been used in the construction of the airport’s roof.

Statistics released by GACA show that 22.9 million passengers used Jeddah airport in 2011, compared with 19.9 million in 2010, which accounts for more than 42% of a total 54 million air passengers in the Kingdom.

PU Targetkan Akses Kualanamu Selesai 2014

MedanBisnis - Medan. Pembangunan jalan nasional akses nontol dari Kota Medan ke Kualanamu ditargetkan selesai 2014 untuk mendukung bandara baru yang akan difungsikan 2014 mendatang.

Pembebasan lahan untuk akses nontol ke Kualanamu sampai saat ini  progresnya telah mencapai 87%, kata Direktur Bina Pelaksanaan Jalan Nasional Wilayah 1 Ditjen Bina Marga Kementerian PU, Subagyo CES di sela-sela kunjungan lapangan di Medan, baru-baru ini.

Diakuinya masih ada sejumlah lahan yang belum bisa dibebaskan dan sifatnya parsial yang akan menyulitkan kemajuan proses pembangunan jalan sepanjang 15 kilometer tersebut.

Pihaknya meminta peranan aktif pemerintah daerah setempat untuk membantu pembebasan tanah agar pembangunan jalan menuju ke arah bandara baru di Sumut tersebut berjalan sesuai target. "Pemerintah daerah harus punya peran di sini dalam pembebasan lahan agar pekerjaan pembangunan jalan tidak terhambat," ujarnya.

Pembangunan jalan nontol tersebut menyerap anggaran sebesar Rp 530 miliar yang bersifat multitahun (multi years). Dia memperkirakan tahun ini akan terserap sekitar Rp247 miliar. "Kami harus mengatur penyelesaian jalan ini dengan penyelesaian pembangunan bandara Kualanamu agar akses jalan yang dibangun bisa langsung terkoneksi dengan bandara baru itu," katanya.

Bandara Kualanamu sendiri ditargetkan selesai pembangunannya tahun 2014. Selain akses nontol, pemerintah juga membangun akses tol dari Medan ke Kualanamu sepanjang 17,8 kilometer, dimana sekitar 90% dibiayai oleh pinjaman dari Bank Ekspor Impor China. "Pembangunan akses tol tersebut juga masih terkendala masalah pembebasan lahan," ujarnya.

Namun dia tetap optimistis pembangunan jalan tol tersebut bisa berjalan lancar sesuai target tahun 2014 dan China tetap mau membiayai proyek yang diperkirakan menyerap dana hingga Rp 1,5 triliun.

FO Jamin Ginting
Dalam kesempatan terpisah Kepala Satuan Kerja (Ka Satker) Pelaksanaan Jalan Nasional Metropolitan Medan, Mula Tua Sinaga menyatakan, pembangunan fly over (FO) Jamin Ginting sepanjang 1.472 m telah dimulai pengerjaannya.

FO tersebut dimaksudkan untuk mengatasi kepadatan lalulintas Jalan A H Nasution, Kota Medan yang setiap hari, terutama jam sibuk pagi hari maupun sore hari, mengalami kemacetan yang luar biasa.

Pembangunan FO itu akan ditangani secara bertahap sampai 2014, yang dialokasikan dananya sebesar Rp 92 miliar. Untuk tahun ini dialokasikan dana sebesar Rp 30 miliar untuk fokus penanganan pelebaran sisi kanan dan kiri jalan untuk mengalihkan arus lalulintas. Sedangkan TA 2013 akan dimulai pembangunan fly over-nya yang dikerjakan oleh PT Pembangunan Perumahan dan Wijaya Karya.

Menjawab pertanyaan kendala tentang pembebasan lahan, Mula Tua Sinaga menyatakan masalah tanah masih ada beberapa bidang namun pihaknya optimis tahun depan dapat diselesaikan.

Tol Medan-Kualanamu Dipercepat

MedanBisnis – Jakarta. Persiapan pembangunan ruas tol Medan-Kualanamu di Sumatera Utara akan dipercepat. Hal ini untuk mendukung pengoperasian Bandara Kualanamu yang diperkirakan beroperasi mulai tahun depan.

Kasubdit Pengadaan Tanah Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum Heri Marzuki mengatakan, proses pembebasan lahan untuk tol ini menjadi prioritas dari 24 ruas tol yang direncanakan pemerintah.
"Kita nggak punya target, tapi prioritas.

Contohnya Medan Kualanamu, karena tinggal sedikit dan sudah kontrak loan dengan China," ungkap Heri saat ditemui wartawan di Kantor Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum, di Jakarta, Selasa (25/9).

Pembangunan proyek ini menjadi prioritas karena menurut Heri, ini akan menjadi akses penunjang dibangunnya Bandara Kualanamu. "Kalau airport-nya selesai nggak ada tolnya ya mau gimana," ungkapnya.

Saat ini, proses pembebasan lahan untuk ruas tol Medan-Kualanamu sudah mencapai 48%. Ditargetkan, konstruksi sudah bisa mulai dilakukan saat proses pembebasan lahannya mencapai 60%. Pasalnya, menurut Heri, investor asing dari China sudah berniat untuk menggarap tol ini.
"Semua lahannya 197 hektare. Presentasenya 48% yang sudah bebas, jadi baru sekitar 95 hektare. Targetnya 60% tahun ini, China masuk untuk konstruksi," pungkasnya.

Pembangunan jalan tol Medan-Kualanamu merupakan proyek tol sepanjang kurang lebih 60 kilometer yang akan melalui rute Medan-Lubuk Pakam-Kualanamu hingga Tebingtinggi. Proyek tersebut, merupakan salah satu proyek prioritas yang diserahkan pelaksanannya pada Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum.

Adapun pembagian pelaksanaan proyek ruas tol itu yakni pemerintah akan melaksanakan bagian ruas tol dari Medan-Lubuk Pakam-Kualanamu sepanjang 24 Km, dengan kebutuhan lahan sebesar 197,94 hektare dan nilai investasi sekitar Rp 1,75 triliun.

Sedangkan dari Kualanamu hingga Tebing Tinggi sepanjang 36 kilometer dengan kebutuhan lahan 243,59 hektare dan nilai investasi sekitar Rp 2,6 triliun akan digarap oleh investor swasta, dengan skema pembiayaan kerjasama pemerintah-swasta.

Staf Ahli Menteri Pekerjaan Umum Bidang Sosial Budaya dan Peran Masyarakat Ir Hediyanto W Husaini MSCE MSi, saat di Medan, Sabtu (22/9), mengatakan pembangunan ruas tol Medan - Tebingtinggi akan direalisasikan satu tahun hingga dua tahun lagi. Pelaksanaannya akan ditentukan apakah ditenderkan ke investor (swasta) atau penunjukan kepada perusahaan BUMN.

Khusus untuk ruas tol Medan - Kualanamu sepanjang 16,91 Km, kata Hediyanto, akan dikerjakan dengan loan China sebesar Rp 1,225 triliun. Bahkan, kontraknya sudah ditandatangani pada 12 Desember 2011 dan rencana selesai tahun 2013. "Kendalanya saat ini terkait pelepasan lahan, khususnya milik BUMN Perkebunan. Untuk proyek ruas tol Medan - Tebingtinggi sepanjang 69,12 km dari kebutuhan lahan 436,12 ha yang telah bebas baru 45%. Kalau Maret 2013 Bandara Kualanamu dioperasikan, kita harapkan akses jalan ke Bandara Kualanamu masih dari jalan non tol," katanya.

Walau pembangunan akses jalan non tol ke Bandara Kualanamu juga masih terkendala soal pelepasan lahan, Hediyanto optimis jalan non tol tersebut bisa diselesaikan sebelum Maret 2013. "Biasanya kalau sudah dikejar deadline, semuanya bisa diselesaikan," katanya.

Para pengusaha dari Himpunan Pengembangan Jalan Indonesia (HPSJI) Sumut mengharapkan pemerintah pusat segera merealisasikan pembangunan ruas tol dan non tol. Ketua HPJI Sumut, Ir Umar Zunaidi Hasibuan MM mengatakan sebagai warga Sumut akan merasa malu kalau Bandara Kualanamu bisa dioperasikan bulan Maret tapi tidak memiliki akses jalan baik tol dan non tol.

Rel KA CAT-Kualanamu 80%

MedanBisnis – Medan. Pembangunan akses jalur kereta api (KA) Medan - Kualanamu dikebut. Demikian juga pembangunan City Airport Terminal (CAT), yang berfungsi sebagai City Check In di Stasiun Besar Kereta Api Medan. Pembangunan jalur rel dan CAT tersebut hingga saat ini sudah rampung 80%.

"Tidak ada masalah yang berarti, semuanya lancar saja. Pembangunannya terus kita kejar agar selesai tepat waktu.

Jika memungkinkan, sebelum waktu yang ditentukan, kita harapkan pengerjaan sudah selesai. Ya, terus kita kejar agar selesai secepatnya," kata Hu=-mas PT KAI Divre I Sumut-Aceh, Hasri kepada MedanBisnis, Minggu kemarin.

"Secara umum, pembangunannya sudah hampir rampung seluruhnya. Ya, sekitar 80% pembangunannya sudah selesai. Bisa dilihat sendiri pembangunanya, mulai dari CAT sampai pengerjaan pemasangan rel baru. CAT pun sudah hampir siap. Sejumlah sarana pendukung pun sudah ditata seperti kursi tunggu untuk penumpang," ujarnya.

Informasi yang dihimpun MedanBisnis, pembangunan CAT dan rel menuju Kualanamu ditargetkan selesai pada November 2012.

Dengan fasilitas tersebut diharapkan calon penumpang yang akan berangka ke bandara internasional baru di Kualanamu tidak akan terjebak macet. Hasri menjelaskan, jarak CAT ke Bandara Kualanamu sekitar 29 km.

Diperkirakan memakan waktu tempuh selama 20 sampai 30 menit. Jalur tersebut melewati dua stasiun kecil yakni di Bandar Kalifah dan Batang Kuis.

Total jalur baru yang saat ini sedang berlangsung, sepanjang 4,8 km. Biayanya Rp 10,7 miliar dan dikerjakan oleh PT Antaraksa asal Medan. Pelaksanaan pekerjaan sudah dimulai sejak 20 Maret 2012 lalu dan akan berlangsung selama 240 hari kerja.

 Untuk pembebasan lahan juga tidak ada masalah lagi, sebab lima rumah warga dengan total luas sekitar satu hektare di sekitar lokasi pembangunan sudah selesai pada tahun 2008 lalu.

Teknis operasional CAT nantinya, dijelaskan Hasri, calon penumpang pesawat dapat melakukan check in keberangkatan secara langsung di CAT. Di sana ada dua pos City Check In.

CAT sendiri dilaksanakan oleh PT Cipta Usaha Nusa Gede asal Bandung, pengerjaan telah dimulai 19 Maret 2012 lalu dengan 240 hari kerja dan selesai pada November 2012. Biayanya Rp 32,4 miliar.

Gerbong yang akan dioperasionalkan nantinya akan disediakan empat rangkaian. "Setiap satu set kereta api ada 240 seat. Setiap hari ada 16 kali perjalanan ke Kualanamu, pergi pulang, jarak keberangkatannya 30 menit," pungkasnya.

Parkir di Kualanamu Minta Diperluas

MedanBisnis – Medan. Dinas Perhubungan (Dishub) Propinsi Sumut meminta lahan parkir atau tempat pengendapan lokasi bus atau moda angkutan dari Kota Medan dan kabupaten lain ke Bandara baru di Kualanamu, Deli Serdang lebih luas.

Lokasi parkir yang sudah dialokasikan dinilai terlalu kecil dan kurang layak sebagai tempat pengendapan atau tempat parkir dan istirahat bus. "Tadi, kami baru meninjau lokasi di Kualanamu bersama dengan PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II. Tempat pengendapan seperti tempat parkir atau tempat istirahat armada bus di Bandara Kualanamu nanti kurang luas," kata Kadis Perhubungan Sumut, Anthony Siahaan melalui Kabid Perhubungan Darat Dishub Sumut, Darwin Purba kepada MedanBisnis, Jumat kemarin.

Dia meminta lokasi lebih luas, agar tidak mengganggu mobilitas kendaraan dan sinkron dengan aktifitas operasional bandara. "Kita mem-pertimbangkan lalu lintas dan mobilitas bus yang akan ber operasi nantinya tidak akan mengganggu operasional lainnya. Nanti tidak hanya satu armada saja datang dan pergi ke dan dari Kualanamu. Kita perkirakan armada yang akan beroperasi cukup banyak," ujarnya.

Dia menjelaskan lokasi parkir yang diminta itu sudah disanggupi pihak PT AP II. Rencananya, dalam waktu dekat akan dilakukan penambahan dan perluasan lokasi parkir lagi untuk moda angkutan dari dan menuju Bandara Kualanamu.

Persiapan tender pengadaan jasa angkutan ke Bandara Kualanamu, Deli Serdang, menurut Darwin, masih tahap persiapan, tinggal menunggu penetapan gubernur sebagai payung hukumnya.

"Pembahasan itu alot, karena tender moda angkutan ke Kualanamu itu bukan pengadaan barang, tapi pengadaan jasa. Standarisasinya kita yang siapkan termasuk seluruh izin yang diperlukan, kita yang sediakan. Tapi armada, pihak ketiga yang ikut tender itu yang mengadakannya sesuai kemampuan perusahaan masing-masing. Bisa jadi, 10 armada atau lebih sesuai kemampuan perusahaan," jelasnya.

Dia juga menegaskan Organisasi Angkutan Darat (Organda) Sumut juga sudah bertanya ke pihaknya soal tender tersebut. Sebab, mereka khawatir sebagai pengusaha angkutan lokal di daerah, nantinya moda angkutan ke Kualanamu itu dikuasai perusahaan atau pengusaha dari luar. "Mereka khawatir pihak luar yang akan menguasai," pungkasnya.

HK-China Harbour Garap Tol Medan-Kualanamu

Jakarta, (Analisa). PT Hutama Karya Persero (HK) bersama China Harbour akan mengerjakan jalan tol Medan-Kualanamu tahun depan, menyusul penunjukan langsung dari pemerintah agar Hutama Karya menggarap jalan tol trans Sumatera.

"Kita konstruktornya bersama dengan China seperti "joint operation" (JO)," kata Sekretaris Perusahaan Hutama Karya Ari Widiantoro di kantor pusat BNI, Jakarta, Senin (8/10).

Menurutnya, pengerjaan proyek jalan Tol Medan-Kualanamu akan segera direalisasikan setelah perizinan, dukungan dana, serta lahan diperoleh perseroan.

"Untuk ruas jalan Tol Kualanamu ada yang dikerjakan oleh kita dan pemerintah, namun Kualanamu-Tebing Tinggi kita yang mengerjakannya," tuturnya.

Ia menjelaskan, jalan tol trans Sumatera ini memiliki lima "section" dengan investasi sebesar Rp28 triliun. Investasi tersebut sudah termasuk pembebasan lahan. Dari investasi tersebut, sekitar 30 persen akan dibiayai dari ekuitas perseroan dan 70 persen eksternal.

"Saat ini, Mandiri Sekuritas dan Danareksa Sekuritas tengah melakukan kajian skema pendanaannya. Ada sukuk, obligasi, serta pinjaman," paparnya.

Selain itu, Hutama Karya juga tengah mengajukan penyertaan modal negara (PMN) senilai Rp5 triliun yang masuk dalam Rencana Kerja dan Anggaran Perusahaan (RKAP) 2013.

"Kita mengajukan PMN Rp5 triliun di RKAP 2013 dari kebutuhan yang kita perlu sampai dengan Rp10 triliun. Namun, bertahap tidak bisa sekaligus," ungkapnya.

Ia optimistis pemerintah dan DPR menyetujui PMN tersebut sebab pembangunan proyek trans Sumatera merupakan penugasan langsung dari pemerintah untuk memajukan perekonomian Indonesia.

"Di negara lain, infrastruktur adalah trigger untuk memajukan perekonomian. Kalau tidak ada dukungan, maka orang akan tunggu-tungguan," tegasnya.

New carrier Pacific Royale halts service

Domestic full service carrier Pacific Royale Airways has announced that it has temporary halted operations, just months after starting service in June.

“We need to halt our operations because we plan to change our business plan,” Pacific Royale sales manager Dede Hartono told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Dede said that the airline grounded its three Fokker 50s at its hubs in Surabaya, East Java, and Batam, Riau Islands, in early October.

“It is not because of a financial crisis in our company. We have to stop operations, because we need a new business plan that will bring more benefits to the company and customers,” he said.

Pacific Royale is 51 percent owned by local businessman Gunarni Gunawan and 49 percent owned by Indian investor Tarun Trika.

The airline offered flights between Surabaya and Bandung, West Java; Pangkalan, North Sumatra; and Semarang, West Java; and Batam and Padang, West Sumatra; and Jambi.

According to its old business plan, Pacific Royale planned to use five F50s for feeder routes and four Airbus A320s single-aisle aircraft and one Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft for domestic and international flights.

source: The Jakarta Post

GMF to construct new hangar in December

PT GMF AeroAsia, a subsidiary of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, is to construct its fourth hangar in December in an investment worth US$50 million to keep up with Garuda’s expanding fleet.

The new hangar will enable the company to repair and overhaul more aircraft, helping it generate more revenue.

“The new hangar will ensure we keep up with growing demand and deliver the best service to enhance [aviation] safety in Indonesia,” GMF’s corporate secretary Dwi Prasmono Adji told The Jakarta Post.

The Garuda Group will operate as many as 294 aircraft, with an average fleet age of five-years-old by the end of 2015. The fleet is part of Garuda’s Quantum Leap program, where Garuda will operate 194 aircraft while another 100 aircraft, including 50 turboprop planes, will be operated by its strategic business unit Citilink Indonesia.

The airlines under Garuda, Lion Air and Sriwijaya Air have also used GMF’s hangars. Lion, for example, needs hangars to maintain its 178 aircraft by the end of 2016.

New Hangar 4 will be constructed on an 18,000 square-meter plot of land and will be equipped with a purpose-built docking platform for C-Check or heavy maintenance of narrow-body aircraft, such as the Boeing B737 family, Dwi said.

The hangar will also be able to house 16 narrow-body aircraft.

The construction will take approximately one year to complete and the company expects it to be operational by the end of 2013.

GMF’s existing three hangars can accommodate up to 29 aircraft.

GMF plans to build a fifth, which will house four wide-body aircraft, including the B747 series and Airbus 330s.

The fifth hangar is projected to commence commercial operations by the end of 2014.

Dwi said the company had recently finished its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for the sub-100 jet Bombardier in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

“The facilities are 99 percent ready because we will see Bombardier’s inaugural flight next week. We now have the ability to repair the [Bombardier] aircraft,” he said.

In the future, GMF plans to set up more Bombardier MRO facilities in Garuda’s regional hubs: Medan, North Sumatra; Balikpapan, East Kalimantan; Denpasar, Bali and Biak, West Papua, where the Canadian aircraft are based.

Garuda signed a contract to purchase 18 Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGen series at the Singapore Airshow in February with an option to buy an additional 18. This year, the airline will operate five jets from its Makassar hub.

GMF AeroAsia has facilities to conduct A-Check (light maintenance) to D-Check (the most comprehensive aircraft checks), in Cengkareng, just west of Jakarta.

source: The Jakarta Post

Garuda dan Lion Prioritas Pindah ke Bandara Kualanamu

MedanBisnis – Deliserdang. PT AP II Pusat bersama Kementerian Perhubungan (Kemenhub) RI akan membentuk Tim Pemindahan Bandara Polonia Medan ke Bandara Internasional Kualanamu. Dua maskapai mendapat prioritas untuk pindah terlebih dulu ke bandara baru itu, yaitu Garuda Indonesia dan Lion Air.

Chief of LA & General Affairs Project Implementation Unit (PIU) PT AP II Pembangunan Bandara Kualanamu Wisnu Budi Setianto SH  mengatakan Tim Pemindahan beranggotakan Direktorat Jendral (Dirjend) Perhubungan Udara, Direktur Keselamatan Terbang dan PT AP II.

"Untuk teknis pemindahannya sendiri tidak tanggungjawab PIU. Karena kita, hanya sebagai Project Implementation Unit (PIU) PT AP II Pembangunan Bandara Baru Kualanamu  Deliserdang atau pelaksana pembangunan proyek fisiknya. Secara teknis, persiapan pemindahannya nanti akan dilakukan melalui sebuah Tim Pemindahan Polonia ke Kualanamu dari pemerintah pusat," katanya kepada MedanBisnis, Senin (15/10), di kantornya kawasan proyek Kualanamu, Deliserdang.

Sebelumnya, PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II Pusat memastikan operasional bandara baru internasional  di Desa Pasar VI Kualanamu Kecamatan Beringin, Lubuk Pakam, Deliserdang akan dimulai pada Maret 2013. Meskipun sejumlah sarana pendukung seperti jalan arteri, jalan non tol, jalan tol belum rampung sepenuhnya, PT AP II memastikan minimum equipment operation untuk operasional bandara sudah selesai.

Wisnu mengatakan, teknis pemindahan sebuah bandara lama ke bandara baru itu sangat rumit dan membutuhkan orang-orang yang benar-benar terlatih dan berpengalaman. Sebab, dalam teknisnya, perpindahan bandara itu tidak sertamerta dilakukan dalam waktu satu hari, namun bertahap dan membutuhkan waktu."Desember tim ini akan dibentuk.  Dalam pengoperasian bandara baru juga perlu sertifikasi meskipun dibangun oleh pemerintah. Ya, sertifikasi kelayakan operasionalnya," ujarnya. Sertifikasi dilakukan oleh Dirjen Perhubungan Udara dan Direktur Keselamatan Terbang Kemenhub RI.

Dia menjelaskan perpindahan Polonia ke Kualanamu nantinya dilakukan secara bertahap. Kemungkinan besar, Bandara Polonia dan Bandara Internasional Kualanamu akan tetap beroperasi bersamaan sembari bertahap dilakukan pemindahan keseluruhan."Mungkin nanti maskapai Garuda Indonesia dan Lion Air dipindah lebih dulu ke Kualanamu, baru menyusul maskapai lain. Jadi, dua bandara ini akan beroperasi bersama-sama sembari pemindahan menyeluruh," jelasnya.

Dalam perpindahan itu, seluruh perangkat di Bandara Polonia akan ditinggalkan. Perangkat baru di Bandara Kualanamu sudah disiapkan, seperti sistem navigasi dan Air Traffic Control (ATC) dengan ACC. Pemindahan tower east dan west, APV dan Brifing juga dilakukan bertahap seperti teknis pindahnya sejumlah maskapai penerbangan dari Polonia ke Kualanamu. "Semua perangkat disini sudah disiapkan, all brand new (semua barang baru-red). Jadi, pegawai pindah kemari tidak perlu bawa apa-apa lagi. Tinggal bawa mobil dan berkas-berkas penting saja," ujarnya.

Untuk kode penerbangan, tegasnya, Bandara Kualanamu masih menggunakan kode Bandara Polonia Medan yakni MES. "Tapi lokasi bandara pakai kode WIMM yang saat ini masih digunakan untuk Bandara Polonia Medan. Jadi nanti  WIMM akan digunakan untuk Bandara Kualanamu, dan Bandara Polonia akan diberikan kode WIMK. Teknisnya nanti akan diatur lagi oleh Tim Pemindahan Bandara," tegasnya.

GM Garuda Indonesia Branch Office (BO) Medan Syamsuddin mengakui proses pemindahan ke Banadara Kualanamu secara teknis tidak mudah. Tapi, katanya, pihaknya sudah memiliki standard operating procedure (SOP) yang sudah disiapkan jauh hari. "Rencananya pada Januari tahun 2013 nanti kita akan memulai soft opening pelayanan di sana. Ya, bisa dibilang sebagai langkah awal melakukan latihan-latihan kecil menggunakan perangkat baru di sana," tuturnya.

Teknis pemindahan, katanya, juga dilakukan bertahap dan mungkin juga akan dibantu Tim Pemindahan dari Garuda Indonesia Pusat. Karena, dari proses pemindahan ini yang paling penting adalah komputer server yang menjadi kendali utama konektivitas layanan Garuda Indonesia secara online. Komputer server ini sama sekali tidak boleh mati, jadi perangkat di Kualanamu harus disiapkan lebih dulu baru bisa dipindahkan server yang di Polonia. "Prosedur ini sama dengan pengalaman perpindahan di Bandara Lombok, Bandara Soekarno-Hatta Jakarta dan Bandara Tabing Padang. Kita siap pindah ke Kualanamu," katanya.

Sales Manager Garuda Indonesia BO Medan Susan juga mengungkapkan hal senada. Ia hanya meminta garansi jaringan komputer aman di Kualanamu dalam proses pemindahan tersebut.
"Kalau masalah teknis pilot kita nanti mendaratkan pesawat, saya rasa juga tidak ada masalah, karena akan dipandu oleh petugas ATC (Air traffic control)," tegasnya.

DPRD Sumut Paripurnakan Nama Bandara Sebulan Lagi

MedanBisnis – Medan. DPRD Sumut memastikan nama bandar udara (bandara) yang ada di Kualanamu, Deliserdang akan mengakomodir masukan dari seluruh kabupaten/kota yang ada di Sumut. Nama bandara pengganti bandara Polonia tersebut pun diklaim akan menggambarkan kekompakan masyarakat Sumut secara keseluruhan.

Ketua Panitia Khusus (Pansus) Nama Bandara di Kualanamu DPRD Sumut Fadly Nurzal mengemukakannya kepada MedanBisnis, Selasa (16/10). "Insya Allah, akhir November sudah diparipurnakan. Saat ini masih ada beberapa tahapan yang akan dilakukan oleh pansus sebelum finalisasi di tingkat internal DPRD Sumut," katanya.

Sebelumnya, Chief of Project Implementation Unit (PIU) PT AP II Pembangunan Bandara Baru Kualanamu Wisnu Setianto meminta Pempropsu dan DPRD Sumut memutuskan nama bandara baru tersebut pada November 2012 ini. Menurutnya, nama bandara tersebut dibutuhkan secepatnya untuk melaporkan ke ICAO (pengawas bandara internasional-red). Selain itu, juga untuk menyosialisasikan nama tersebut secepatnya kepada masyarakat dan pihak terkait penerbangan. 

Fadly mengatakan sejumlah nama sudah diterima oleh pansus dari berbagai sosialisasi dan serapan usulan dari berbagai kabupaten/kota di Sumut. Dari 33 kabupaten/kota di Sumut, katanya, tinggal empat kabupaten dan satu kotamadya di Nias yang belum dikunjungi oleh Pansus.

Nama-nama yang diusulkan, katanya, tidak jauh berbeda dengan yang muncul sejak beberapa terakhir ini, diantaranya nama tokoh Sumut dan nama Kualanamu sendiri.

"Karenanya, kami masih akan menyerap masukan dari lima daerah di Kepulauan Nias, selanjutnya akan membahasnya bersama empat instansi, tepatnya lokasi bandara baru itu berada. Instansi tersebut, Pempropsu, DPRD Sumut, Pemkab Deliserdang dan DPRD Deliserdang. Hal ini mengingat, prioritas nama ditetapkan oleh daerah lokasi bandara berada," terangnya.

Sekdapropsu H Nurdin Lubis SH MM beberapa waktu lalu mengatakan, Pemerintah Propinsi Sumatera Utara (Pempropsu) sudah menginventarisasi lima nama untuk Bandara Kualanamu. Kelima nama itu, yakni Bandara Sultan Serdang, Bandara Kualanamu, Bandara Raja Sisingamangaraja XII, Bandara Haji Adam Malik dan Bandara Tengku Amir Hamzah.

Dia menyebutkan ketentuan yang diatur oleh Menhub bahwa nama bandara diusulkan oleh Pempropsu dengan persetujuan DPRD Sumut untuk diputuskan atau ditetapkan oleh Menhub.
"Enam bulan sebelum operasional nama itu sudah harus ditetapkan.

Bandara ini dijadwalkan operasional bulan Maret 2013 sehingga bulan September ini mesti disosialisasikan ke dunia internasional," jelasnya.

Proyek Tol Medan-Kualanamu Dikebut Agar Bisa Dukung Bandara Baru

MedanBisnis-Jakarta. Persiapan pembangunan ruas tol Medan-Kualanamu di Sumatera Utara akan dipercepat. Hal ini untuk mendukung pengoperasian Bandara Kualanamu selesai akhir tahun ini.

Kasubdit Pengadaan Tanah Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum, Heri Marzuki mengatakan, proses pembebasan lahan untuk tol ini menjadi prioritas dari 24 ruas tol yang direncanakan pemerintah.

"Kita nggak punya target, tapi prioritas. Contohnya Medan Kualanamu, karena tinggal sedikit dan sudah kontrak loan dengan China," ungkap Heri saat ditemui wartawan di Kantor Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum, di Jakarta, Selasa (25/9/12).

Pembangunan proyek ini menjadi prioritas karena menurut Heri, ini akan menjadi akses penunjang dibangunnya Bandara Kualanamu.

"Airportnya tahun ini sudah selesai, kalau airportnya selesai nggak ada tolnya ya mau gimana," ungkapnya.

Saat ini, proses pembebasan lahan untuk ruas tol Medan-Kualanamu sudah mencapai 48%. Ditargetkan, konstruksi sudah bisa mulai dilakukan saat proses pembebasan lahannya mencapai 60%. Pasalnya, menurut Heri, investor asing dari China sudah berniat untuk menggarap tol ini.

"Semua lahannya 197 hektar. Presentasenya 48% yang sudah bebas, jadi baru sekitar 95 hektar. Targetnya 60% tahun ini, China masuk untuk konstruksi," pungkasnya.

Pembangunan jalan tol Medan-Kualanamu merupakan proyek tol sepanjang kurang lebih 60 kilometer yang akan melalui rute Medan-Lubuk Pakam-Kualanamu hingga Tebing Tinggi. Proyek tersebut, merupakan salah satu proyek prioritas yang diserahkan pelaksanannya pada Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum.

Adapun pembagian pelaksanaan proyek ruas tol itu yakni pemerintah akan melaksanakan bagian ruas tol dari Medan-Lubuk Pakam-Kualanamu sepanjang 24 Km, dengan kebutuhan lahan sebesar 197,94 hektar dan nilai investasi sekitar Rp 1,75 triliun.

Sedangkan dari Kualanamu hingga Tebing Tinggi sepanjang 36 kilometer dengan kebutuhan lahan 243,59 hektar dan nilai investasi sekitar Rp 2,6 triliun akan digarap oleh investor swasta, dengan skema pembiayaan kersama pemerintah-swasta.

KA ke Kualanamu Hampir Rampung

MedanBisnis – Medan. PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Divre I Sumut-NAD menyatakan pembangunan rel Kereta Api (KA) Medan-Kualanamu, Deliserdang sudah hampir rampung. Secara teknis pembangunannya tinggal menyelesaikan bangunan stasiun kecil yang akan menjadi tempat naik dan menurunkan penumpang.

Pengamatan MedanBisnis pada Senin lalu, di Kualanamu, jaringan rel yang dibangun PT KAI sebagian besar sudah terpasang dan menyatu dengan yang lainnya. Selain itu, hanya tinggal melengkapi perangkat yang kurang seperti penyatuan pada rel yang terbelah di tikungan letter U persis di depan Terminal Keberangkatan/Kedatangan bandara baru di Kualanamu.

"Pihak PT KAI sudah menyatakan sanggup akan tetap mengoperasionalkan kereta api setiap 30 menit. Pergerakan kereta api akan terus berjalan meski tidak ada penumpang. Itu sudah disanggupi pihak PT KAI. Fisiknya untuk PT KAI saya rasa juga sudah hampir selesai," kata Chief of LA dan General Affairs Project Implementation Unit (PIU) PT AP II, Wisnu Budi Setianto kepada MedanBisnis baru-baru ini di Kualanamu.

Di tempat terpisah, Humas Divre I PT KAI Sumut-NAD Hasri, Rabu kemarin mengakui, pemasangan dan pembangunan jalur rel kereta api dari Medan menuju Kualanamu hanya tersisa 10% saja. "Sudah hampir selesai. Dari laporan yang kita terima, pihak pelaksana proyek sudah hampir menyelesaikan pekerjaannya. Saat ini sudah mencapai 90%," jelas Hasri kepada MedanBisnis.

Hasri juga mengatakan setelah selesai nantinya. Pihaknya akan melakukan uji coba beberapa kali sebelum dipergunakan untuk publik. "Uji cobanya akan dilakukan, tapi nanti setelah pekerjaan seluruhnya selesai dikerjakan," tegasnya.

Perlu diketahui, pembangunan akses jalur kereta api (KA) Medan-Kualanamu dikebut. Demikian juga pembangunan City Airport Terminal (CAT), yang berfungsi sebagai City Check In di Stasiun Besar Kereta Api Medan.

Total jalur baru yang saat ini sedang berlangsung, sepanjang 4,8 km. Biayanya Rp 10,7 miliar dan dikerjakan oleh PT Antaraksa asal Medan. Pelaksanaan pekerjaan sudah dimulai sejak 20 Maret 2012 lalu dan akan berlangsung selama 240 hari kerja.

Bandara Kualanamu Beroperasi Maret 2013

MedanBisnis—Deliserdang. PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II Pusat memastikan operasional bandara baru internasional di Desa Pasar VI Kualanamu Kecamatan Beringin, Lubuk Pakam, Deliserdang akan dimulai pada Maret 2013. Meskipun sejumlah sarana pendukung seperti jalan arteri, jalan non tol, jalan tol belum rampung sepenuhnya, PT AP II memastikan minimum equipment operation untuk operasional bandara sudah selesai.

"Pemerintah pusat dan Kementerian Perhubungan (Kemenhub) RI bersama AP II Pusat tetap berupaya maksimal untuk pelaksanaan pembangunan proyek Bandara Kualanamu ini dapat terlaksana dengan baik. Ya, kita memastikan bandara akan mulai beroperasi pada Maret 2013 secara bertahap," kata Chief of Project Implementation Unit (PIU) PT AP II Pembangunan Bandara Baru Kualanamu Deliserdang, Wisnu Budi Setianto SH, kepada MedanBisnis, Senin (15/10), di ruang kerjanya.

Dia mengatakan minimum equipment operation ini menjadi acuan sebuah bandara meskipun fisik bangunan tidak bisa dipastikan akan selesai pada Maret 2013. "Fisiknya memang secara bertahap akan selesai. Tapi kita bersama-sama berupaya untuk memaksimalkan seluruhnya termasuk sarana pendukung," ujarnya.

Sarana pendukung lain seperti jaringan telepon dari Telkom, jaringan listrik dari PLN dan air juga sedang diselesaikan. Wisnu menuturkan, untuk jaringan telepon sudah terpasang, jaringan listrik akan selesai pada November 2012 dan perangkat air bersih juga sudah selesai dikerjakan.
Pengamatan MedanBisnis, pembangunan sejumlah sarana utama terus dikebut. Data yang dihimpun dari PIU PT AP II menunjukkan proses pembangunan untuk sektor publik sudah mencapai 95,43%, sektor privat mencapai 76,89% dan secara keseluruhan pembangunan sudah mencapai 87,29%.

Tampak gateway, jalan poros depan, terminal kargo, parallel taxiway dan PK-PPK, bangunan security, bangunan pemerintahan, area parkir, menara pengawas, apron, garbarata, main power station, jalan poros belakang, radar dan fuel station sudah selesai 100%. Sedangkan pembangunan DVOR/DME sudah mencapai 95%,  terminal penumpang 85,75% dan runway 65,71%.

Sejumlah pekerja juga terlihat masih mengerjakan lantai dan plafon atap bangunan di terminal penumpang (drop off). Fasilitas lain di dalam terminal tersebut seperti lift, tangga, saluran ventilasi udara, lampu, eskalator hingga pemadam emergency sudah selesai dikerjakan.

Wisnu mengatakan, lahan Bandara Kualanamu dibanding Polonia mencapai 10:1. Untuk itu, pihaknya meminta pembangunannya sebagai rancangan pembuka perekonomian Kabupaten Deliserdang maupun Propinsi Sumut. "Tidak bisa pembangunan ini dilakukan sendiri saja. Harus ada dukungan juga dari pemerintah kabupaten, seperti akses jalan masuk menuju Kualanamu dari Kota Lubukpakam. Pembangunan ini nantinya membawa dampak ekonomi yang besar bagi daerah, " jelasnya.

Dia menegaskan, tidak hanya pemerintah, masyarakat setempat juga diharapkan dukungannya pada pembangunan proyek ini. Sebab, dampak besar dari pembangunan ini adalah peningkatan perekonomian yang besar baik dari sisi pendapatan warga setempat maupun nilai jual tanah di sekitar bandara yang meningkat pesat. “Pertama kali yang menikmati dampak pembangunan ini adalah warga setempat,” tegas pria yang puluhan tahun bertugas di PT AP II Cabang Medan dan menjadi PIU Proyek Bandara Soekarno-Hatta Jakarta ini.

Nama Diputuskan November
Wisnu mengemukakan pula, PT AP II Pusat telah meminta Pemerintah Propinsi (Pemprop) Sumut dan DPRD Sumut untuk secepatnya memutuskan nama Bandara Kualanamu, Deliserdang pada November tahun ini. Penentuan nama bandara ini dibutuhkan secepatnya untuk dilaporkan ke ICAO (Pengawas Bandara Internasional)."Kita juga perlu melakukan perkenalan ke publik nama Bandara Kualanamu ini,” katanya.

Dia menjelaskan,  hal itu perlu dilakukan mengingat ICAO sebagai lembaga pengawas bandara internasional juga membutuhkan waktu memproses nama Bandara Kualanamu yang merupakan bandara baru di Indonesia pengganti Bandara Polonia Medan. "Nama bandara bukan pemerintah pusat atau PT AP II yang menentukan melainkan pemerintah daerah yaitu Pemprop Sumut bersama DPRD Sumut melalui sebuah paripurna. Kita berharap, November ini sudah ada nama baru untuk Kualanamu," ujarnya.

Menurut Wisnu, untuk menentukan nama baru sebuah bandara tidak sulit.  Indikatornya ada dua yakni daerah wilayah bandara dan nama pahlawan atau tokoh daerah yang paling dikenal. Katanya, usulan ada saat ini yakni Bandara Sultan Sulaiman pun layak. “Tapi ya kalau boleh usul, nama bandara itu tidak terlalu panjang supaya pilot  tidak kesulitan menyebutkannya dalam melaporkan keberangkatan pesawat bandara. Apalagi, kalau pilotnya berasal dari luar negeri atau orang bule," tegasnya.

2013, Fasilitas City Check In Bandara Kuala Namu Beroperasi

MEDAN - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) memastikan fasilitas City Check in Bandara Baru di Kuala Namu Sumatera Utara akan segera rampung dan dapat beroperasi pada Januari 2013 mendatang. Meski telah molor dari jadwal semula, namun PT KAI optimistis dengan selesainya 80 persen jalur kereta api dari Medan menuju Kuala Namu, target operasional itu dapat direalisasikan.

Humas PT KAI Divisi Regional Sumut Aceh Hasri di Medan, Selasa (16/10/2012) mengatakan, secara keseluruhan proses pembangunan rel dan terminal city check in di stasiun besar Medan telah rampung sekira 85 persen. Awalnya penyelesaian proyek ditargetkan pada November tahun ini, namun karena beberapa halangan, penyelesaiannya baru dapat dilakukan Januari 2013 mendatang.

"Memang sedikit molor, tapi kan sudah selesai sebelum bandara dioperasikan. Total anggarannya sekira Rp32,4 miliar. Di antaranya pembangunan jalur baru dari Deli Serdang menuju Kuala Namu sepanjang 4,8 kilometer (km) yang memakan anggaran sebesar Rp10,7 miliar, serta peningkatan kualitas rel dari Medan menuju Deli Serdang, serta pengadaan city check in dan armada kereta api. Semuanya kini berjalan lancar, tinggal finishing saja, seperti pemasangan lift dan eskalator, kalau perlengkapan semua sudah siap," jelasnya.

Hasri menyebutkan, dengan beroperasinya City Check ini, nantinya masyarakat hanya membutuhkan waktu paling lama 30 menit untuk sampai ke Bandara Kuala Namu, dengan melewati beberapa stasiun kecil di wilayah Medan dan Deli Serdang.

"Sebagian jalurnya memang jalur eksisting seperti Stasiun Pasar, Bandar Kalifah dan Batang Kuis, tapi kualitasnya sudah kita tingkatkan. Karena berdasarkan perencanaan, jalur tersebut terhitung yang paling singkat dan paling efisien. Diharapkan kehadiran city check ini membuat masyarakat tak lagi merasakan kemacetan di tengah kota jika hendak menuju bandara," tandasnya.

source: okezone.com

Sriwijaya pilots grounded after landing at wrong airport

Indonesian investigators have opened an inquiry after pilots from local carrier Sriwijaya Air landed at the wrong destination.

Both the captain and the first officer of the aircraft have been grounded in the wake of the incident which is being investigated by the country's National Transportation Safety Committee.

There were around 96 passengers on board the aircraft, says the Indonesian transport ministry, and none was injured.

Sriwijaya Air, which has a fleet of Boeing 737s, had been operating the service to Minangkabau airport in western Sumatra.

But the ministry says the aircraft touched down instead at Padang's Tabing airport - long closed to commercial flights and used only by the air force.

While the two airports are located some 14km apart, they share a close resemblance. Both have a single runway located parallel to, and only a few hundred metres from, the coastline and the runways have a similar orientation - Minangkabau's is designated 15/33 and Tabing's 16/34.

The ministry says the cockpit-voice and flight-data recorders have been secured following the 13 October incident, and will be used to understand the "error".

It states that the event occurred at about 17:00, suggesting the approach took place in daylight, while meteorological data points to good visibility and weather conditions at the time.

Sriwijaya Air had been operating the service from Medan, in the north of Sumatra, as flight SJ21.

source: flightglobal.com

Aircraft Specification - Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

photo from: flyteam.jp

The 787-8 is a medium-sized, twin-engine aircraft, twin-aisle aircraft with as much as 50 percent of the primary structure - including the fuselage and wing made of composite materials. The 787-8 It is the base model of a family of airplanes and is scheduled to enter into service in mid-2008. Launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) which took options on 30 7E7-3s and 20 7E7-8s on 26 April 2004. These options were converted into firm orders for 787-3s and 787-8s on 26 July 2007. A six month delay in the 787 programme was announced in October 2007. Originally expected in the first quarter of 2008, with first delivery, to ANA All Nippon in November/December 2008, a series of delays put the first flight back to 15 December 2009. After further delays the first delivery to ANA All Nippon was not expected before the middle of the first quarter of 2011, although this date too was under pressure following the grounding of the entire test fleet in November 2010 following an electrical fire on one aircraft. The first delivery to ANA finally took place on 26 September 2011.

View specification units in: METRIC | IMPERIAL

 

SPECIFICATION

First Flight date:	15 Dec 2009
Certification date:	2011
Launch customer(s):	ANA - All Nippon Airways

 

PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS

Fuselage width:
Fuselage height:	16.92 m
Fuselage length:	55.9 m
Cabin length:
Cabin width:	5.8 m
Cabin height:
Cabin volume:
Hold volume:	125 m3

 

WEIGHTS

Empty operating:	108,499 kg
Max zero fuel:	154,221 kg
MTOW:	219,540 kg
MLW:	165,561 kg
Standard fuel capacity:	126,917 kg
Max fuel capacity:	126,917 kg

 

SPEEDS

Normal cruise:
Max cruise:

 

PERFORMANCE

Long Range Cruise alt:
Max ceiling:
Take off field length:
Landing field length:	1,595 m
Max Payload Range:	8,103 m
Range notes:
Max passengers:	250
Typical passengers:	210

 

POWERPLANT (A)

Category:	Turbofan
Manufacturer:	GE
Model/Submodel:	GEnx
Thrust:	334 kN

 

POWERPLANT (B)

Category:	Turbofan
Manufacturer:	GE
Model/Submodel:	GEnx 1B64
Thrust:	284 kN

 

POWERPLANT (C)

Category:	Turbofan
Manufacturer:	Rolls-Royce
Model/Submodel:	Trent 1000B
Thrust:	311 kN

 

POWERPLANT (D)

Category:	Turbofan
Manufacturer:	Rolls-Royce
Model/Submodel:	Trent 1000A
Thrust:	284 kN

 

POWERPLANT (E)

Category:	Turbofan
Manufacturer:	Rolls-Royce
Model/Submodel:	Trent 1000C
Thrust:	310 kN

 

POWERPLANT (F)

Category:	Turbofan
Manufacturer:	Rolls-Royce
Model/Submodel:	Trent 1000D
Thrust:	310 kN

 

POWERPLANT (G)

Category:	Turbofan
Manufacturer:	Rolls-Royce
Model/Submodel:	Trent 1000H
Thrust:	258 kN

Bombardier starts final assembly of first CSeries flight aircraft

Bombardier has started assembling the fuselage of the first CSeries flight test vehicle (FTV-1) and begun the process of mating the wings to the static test airframe.

The two steps move the programme closer to achieving first flight with less than 12 weeks remaining in 2012.

The start of assembly of FTV-1 comes about four weeks after Bombardier initiated the same process on the complete airframe static test (CAST) article. In the interim, the company's Short Brothers division in Belfast delivered the first set of wings for the CAST article.

Completing assembly of the CAST article will allow FTV-1 to enter the wing-to-body join position. Bombardier also intends to complete assembly of the four remaining flight test vehicles in one-month intervals.

Bombardier also reports that it is continuing to perform tests on what it calls Aircraft 0, a ground-based rig for integrated systems and certification testing. The rig includes the same fly-by-wire controls, hydraulics power, flight deck and landing gear as the flight test aircraft, allowing Bombardier to perform simulated flights for which it hopes to receive certification credit.
Bombardier continues to drive toward a first flight of FTV-1 by the end of the year, but it has acknowledged a minor delay is likely.

BA's first A380s to ply short-haul routes to train crews

British Airways will reinforce its Airbus A380 crew complement by putting the double-deck type on short-haul routes to maximise pilot training and build up a core of instructors.

While the UK flag carrier has yet to disclose its initial long-haul route plans, it will operate the A380 on European services at first to enable its pilots to fly about four sectors daily.

BA will commission a simulator at London Heathrow in January 2013 - the Thales device is undergoing tests near Gatwick - giving the carrier a six-month window to train before its first aircraft arrives in July.

This aircraft, MSN95, has been fitted with its Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines and has been undergoing fuel tests at Toulouse while BA's second example, MSN121, arrived at the final assembly line on 13 October. BA has 12 A380s on order and expects to have a corps of some 20 pilots per aircraft.

"All pilots going on to this aircraft will have had previous Airbus experience," says BA's A380 entry-into-service manager Capt James Basnett.

While the airline will draw crews from its long-haul fleets, it does not operate long-haul Airbus types. It will complement the A380 corps with short-haul Airbus A320 crews, to give the airline "a bit of a balance", says Basnett. He adds that the carrier is following advice from Oneworld partner and fellow A380 operator Qantas, which recommends pilots on the type should have logged time on fly-by-wire aircraft.

Pilots on the Boeing fleet who switch to the A380 will need about six or seven weeks of ground school - other crews will require about a month - combined with simulator training and line flying.
Four initial BA pilots have been trained on the A380 and the carrier will also fly with some crews from Airbus for about three months, to reinforce the instructor ranks. "We'll build up a core group of instructors," says Basnett.

Air France temporarily deployed its A380s on short-haul services between London and Paris during introduction of the type, partly to aid pilot training but also to prevent the aircraft remaining idle for extended periods between scheduled long-haul services.

BA has yet to indicate which routes will be used for crew training but could include Madrid, the base for its International Airlines Group sister company Iberia. BA's position as the largest user of Boeing 747-400s - it has 52 in service - also gives it plenty of scope for potential A380 routes.

Among the 747 routes on which BA deploys the most capacity are New York JFK, Singapore, Johannesburg, Hong Kong and other US gateways, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Boston. London Heathrow already has a dozen A380 services operated daily by Emirates, Qantas, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

Dubai Airports' runways closure affects 50 flights

Further flight delays expected following Dubai Airports' runway closure

Dubai: Dubai Airports said the closure of both runways at Dubai International at 6:45am resulted in the diversion of 50 flights to a number of airports in the region including Dubai World Central, Al Ain, Doha Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Muscat and Bahrain among others.

"The closures were caused by the loss of power to a critical runway backup system required during foggy conditions. Runway operations were restored at 8:30am. Dubai Airports is working with airlines, air traffic and ground services staff to restore operations, clear the backlog and limit customer inconvenience," according to Dubai Airports.

Further flight delays are expected as a result of the disruption.

Dubai Airports advised passengers to check with their airline or airline websites for further information on flight arrival and departure time.

Qantas: No alternatives to Emirates deal

Executive warns a rejection would leave it no alternatives for operating flights to Europe from Australia

Canberra: Qantas Airways Ltd’s chief executive said he was confident Australian regulators would approve a proposed alliance with Dubai’s Emirates and warned that a rejection would leave it no alternatives for operating flights to Europe.

Australia’s biggest airline announced a 10-year alliance with Emirates last month that is currently under evaluation by the competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

“There is no going back, and there is no alternative for us to make Europe work except this arrangement,” Joyce told an audience in Canberra on Tuesday. “And that’s fairly clear in the submission to the ACCC.”

Qantas, which is ending a 17-year partnership deal with British Airways, agreed to the alliance with Emirates to shore up its loss-making international business.

The deal calls for sharing airport lounges and frequent flyer programmes, while Qantas will replace Singapore with Dubai as its hub for European flights.

The Australian government backed Qantas’s move in a submission to the ACCC on Monday, saying the alliance would provide benefits for consumers and deliver competition to the aviation market.

“We believe we do have a solid case,” Joyce said. “And the government agrees we have a solid case and that’s why they put in their submission in the last 24 hours.”

Qantas has been stripping costs out of its business after a year troubled by a record fuel bill, rising competition and a labour union that has opposed its spending cuts.

In August, it cancelled orders for 35 Boeing Co Dreamliner jets to further reduce costs after posting its first net loss in 17 years in the year to June 30.

Qantas shares rose 2 per cent to A$1.28 on Tuesday, down from a 12 month peak of A$1.83 in March.

— Reuters

Airport runway closure disrupts 50 flights

Closures caused by the loss of power to a critical runway backup system used in foggy conditions

Dubai: As many as 50 flights were diverted from Dubai International Airport to other regional airports on Wednesday morning following the closure of the airport’s two runways.

“The closures were caused by the loss of power to a critical runway backup system required during foggy conditions,” Dubai Airports, the airport’s operating body, said in a statement. “The closure of both runways at Dubai International at .645 resulted in the diversion of 50 flights to a number of airports in the region including Dubai World Central, Al Ain, Doha Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Muscat and Bahrain, among others. Runway operations were restored at 8.30.”

Airport’s largest operator, Emirates, said that flights were diverted due to “weather conditions”. “Emirates regrets any inconvenience caused,” the airline’s spokesperson told Gulf News in an emailed statement.

According to Dubai Airports, further flight delays during the day were anticipated as a result of the disruption.

British Airways marks 80th anniversary of Middle East flights

Flying from London to Sharjah would have set you back 84 British pounds 80 years ago — about Dh27,645 today

Sharjah: Imagine if it took you six days and eight stops to fly from London to Sharjah — that was the itinerary 80 years ago when Imperial Airways, the predecessor of British Airways, landed its first flight to the region in Sharjah on October 7, 1932.

It would cost you 84 British pounds for a one-way trip on the Handley Page HP42 aircraft that travelled just 160 kilometres an hour, the airline said on Tuesday at a press conference to mark its 80th anniversary in the Middle East. It was the first airline to fly to the UAE.

Flying from Croydon in South London to Sharjah, the aircraft flew at just 160km at hour.

At each city, passengers would have to disembark to shower or stay overnight, said Jamie Cassidy, area general manager for British Airways. “It was a bit romantic.”

Carrying just 18 passengers, the aircraft weighed 12,700kg and flew a maximum range of 482km — this was when flying was a novelty and an adventure for the rich and royalty.

It mainly transferred cargo of mail as well as pearls from merchants in the UAE to India and the UK, said Paul Jarvis, director of the British Airways Museum.

The flight was advertised as a luxury carrier with wood and leather interiors and two cabins, he added.

The flight departed from London to Paris, then passengers spent two nights on a train to Italy before flying to Athens, Palestine, Baghdad, Basra, Kuwait, Bahrain and finally landing in Sharjah, Jarvis explained.

It had male cabin attendants until the Second World War when female crew was allowed on board as medical assistants, he said, adding that it wasn’t until 1946 when female cabin crew worked on British Airways.

Eighty years later, British Airways now flies from London Heathrow to Dubai on a Boeing 747-400 that takes about six-and-a-half hours, travels at 988 kilometres an hour and can carry 345 passengers.

British Airways was the first airline to ever fly in the UAE back in 1932, making its 80th anniversary celebration in the country a significant one, said Laila Ali Bin Hareb, executive director of strategy and international affairs at the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

The early flights transported government ministers, top civil servants and the rich and famous, including King Edward the eighth to Europe, the millionaire Barbara Hutton and actor Gary Cooper, according to Jarvis.

Emirates increases Asia flights

Emirates ups flights to the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia

Dubai: Emirates is increasing its services to three of its destinations in South East Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.

From December 3, 2012, there will be an increase in the number of flights on the Dubai to Kuala Lumpur route from three daily to 25 a week, increasing to 26 a week from February 6 2013, the company said in a statement on Monday.

Starting January 1, 2013, Emirates will introduce a third daily, non-stop flight to Manila; with a third daily, non-stop service beginning on March 1, 2013 to Jakarta.

“Due to the strong demand we are experiencing, Emirates has added much-needed seat capacity on its flights to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Manila.

The extra daily flights will increase capacity on the Jakarta and Manila routes by 50 per cent and I would like to thank the relevant authorities in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia for their support,” said Salem Obaid Allah, Emirates’ Senior Vice-President, Commercial Operations Far East & Australia.

“The new services offer our passengers with more options of their preferred departure time when travelling to Dubai, or travelling onwards throughout our ever-expanding global network. The extra capacity will also stimulate further tourism and trade between Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, UAE and beyond,” added Obaid Allah.

Emirates began services to the Philippines in 1990, Indonesia in 1992 and Kuala Lumpur in 1996, and since then the airline has continued to focus on these markets.

To Manila, the third daily service will be operated by one of Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, in the same two-class configuration, 42 business class lie-flat seats and 386 economy class seats, as the current double-daily service.

The new service EK336 departs Dubai at 1830hrs (local time) arriving in Manila at 0630 the following day. The return flight, EK337, departs Manila at 0845hrs arriving in Dubai at 1345hrs, in time to connect to the afternoon departures to Europe.

To Jakarta, from March 1, the new service EK368 will depart Dubai at 1905hrs (local time) arriving in Jakarta at 0615hrs the following day. The return flight leaves Jakarta as EK369 at 0745hrs arriving in Dubai at 1310hrs. As with the two current flights, the new service will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, in a two-class configuration.

Emirates will introduce an extra four flights a week to Kuala Lumpur from Dubai from December 3 on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with the flight on a Wednesday beginning on February 6, 2013. The new service EK344, operated by an Airbus A330-200, will depart Dubai at 2145hrs (local time) and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 0850 the following day.

The return flight, EK345 departs Kuala Lumpur at 1100hrs arriving in Dubai at 1430hrs. The new service will add an extra 2,370 seats per week between Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

Cargo will also receive an impetus, with an extra 161 tonnes of capacity introduced per week, per direction on the Jakarta and Manila routes and an extra 85 tonnes per week, per direction on the Kuala Lumpur service.

AirAsia aborts $80m deal to buy Batavia Air

Rare setback to the company’s aggressive expansion

Kuala Lumpur: Southeast Asia’s top budget carrier AirAsia said on Monday it has aborted an $80 million (Dh293 million) deal to buy Indonesia’s Batavia Air, dealing a rare setback to the company’s aggressive expansion.

AirAsia announced its first ever acquisition in July to accelerate expansion in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. But in an about- face, AirAsia Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said a thorough evaluation found the deal would have “induced too many risks” and hurt earnings.

“We always knew it was not going to be an easy transaction. It has been a very good experience and we come out of it feeling more confident of what we need to do to grow the market in Indonesia,” Fernandes said. “Our aggressive focus in Indonesia remains and we will push our Indonesian IPO plans while still maintaining close co-operation with Batavia Air. “

Batavia Air’s commercial director Sukirno Sukarna said in Jakarta that the deal was called off as the two parties failed to reach an agreement.

“This is not the end of the world for Batavia because we will still continue our business without the acquisition,” he said.

AirAsia, which started in 2001, has grown exponentially with a current fleet of more than 115 aircraft. It has ordered a total of 375 Airbus planes in an ambitious regional expansion with affiliates in Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Japan.

AirAsia set up its regional office in Jakarta in June to tap Indonesia’s population of 240 million and a rapidly growing middle class that is hungry for cheap air travel.

Ahmad Maghfur Othman, analyst with OSK Research, said AirAsia was eyeing Batavia for its massive ticketing agent network. However, he said the deal would have weighed on AirAsia as Batavia has $40 million in debt and an aging fleet.

Othman said it will be challenging for AirAsia, which currently commands around three per cent of Indonesia’s lucrative air travel market, to expand unless it establishes a strong physical presence with more ticketing offices to tap Indonesia’s rural population. Batavia has a 12 per cent share while rival Lion Air has 38 per cent of Indonesia’s domestic market.

Overall, he is optimistic about AirAsia’s prospects, citing strong demand and the proposed listings of its Indonesian unit and long-haul arm AirAsia X expected next year.

AirAsia said in a statement that the two airlines will cooperate in areas including ground handling and inventory systems. They will also jointly set up an aviation training centre to address an expected pilot shortage in Indonesia.

AirAsia Deputy CEO Kamarudin Meranun said the Batavia acquisition was one of several options for quick expansion in Indonesia but it wasn’t a good fit.

“We don’t consider this as a setback. Our objective is clear. We are ambitious and we want to grow. We will invest in building up our infrastructure in Indonesia and we remain open to future opportunities” including possible acquisitions, he said.

AirAsia’s Indonesian Chief Executive Dharmadi, who goes by one name, said the airline will accelerate its fleet expansion from 2013 with plans to more than triple the number of planes in the next five years, adding more routes and flights.

Airbus delivers the 100th A320 Family aircraft assembled in China

The 100th A320 Family aircraft assembled at Airbus’ A320 Family Final Assembly Line China (FALC) was handed over today to Air China. This delivery from the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre comes some three years after the first aircraft was delivered on 22nd June, 2009.

The new A320, powered by IAE V2500 engines, is configured in a typical two class layout with eight business class and 150 economy class seats. The aircraft will be deployed on domestic routes linking Shanghai to other cities in China. Air China now operates 93 A320 Family aircraft, one of the biggest A320 Family fleets in China.

“We are delighted to have delivered the 100th A320 assembled in Tianjin to Air China today. The airline already operates a significant Airbus fleet and is a most valued and long-term strategic customer”, said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. 

“We will continue to reward the trust our loyal customers place in our aircraft, by delivering the best quality product and support to enable the highest levels of operational performance.” 

On 31st August, visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao presided over a grand gathering of some 1,000 people in Tianjin to celebrate the completion of the 100th A320 Family aircraft assembled at the Airbus A320 Family Final Assembly Line China (FALC). 

To date, more than 700 Airbus A320 Family aircraft are in service in China. 11 Chinese customers have so far taken deliveries from the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre.

As of today, more than 8,600 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold and more than 5,200 delivered to over 370 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best selling commercial jetliner ever. Airbus is the leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of eco-efficient airliners on the market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. 

Over 11,800 Airbus aircraft have been sold to more than 480 customers and operators worldwide and more than 7,400 of these have been delivered since the company first entered the market in the early seventies. Airbus is an EADS company.

Air India's Dreamliner to operate the Delhi-Frankfurt route

MUMBAI: After about a month of domestic operations, Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft began operating commercial flights on the international long haul sector with a maiden Delhi-Frankfurt flight on Monday.

Air India's first Dreamliner aircraft had arrived at Delhi from Charleston on September 8 and since then two more Dreamliners have joined the airline fleet. Till now these aircraft were being deployed on the domestic sectors - apart from operations between Delhi and Dubai, said a release issued by the airline. The aircraft has a two class configuration with 18 flat bed seats in the Executive Class and 238 seats in the Economy class, a total of 256 seats.

The aircraft is equipped with the state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system, capable of AVOD (Audio Video On Demand) in all classes. A USB port is provided in all classes capable of connecting to Passenger Electronic Devices e.g. Digital Camera, Keyboard, MP3 Player, Mobile phone charging, etc. Also, an overhead video Broadcast is provided on the 15.4 inch LCD monitors throughout the cabin. 

``Passengers aboard the Dreamliners will also experience a smoother ride, as the airplane is equipped with a system that senses turbulence and commands wing control surfaces to counter it, enhancing comforts in the travel,'' said the release. Air India has placed an order of 27 Dreamliner aircraft from Boeing. 

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com 

British Prime Minister opens new Airbus wing factory for A350 XWB

Aircraft programme will support over 6,000 jobs across the UK

The British Prime Minister, the Rt Hon David Cameron, officially opened Airbus’ new £400 million wing factory in Wales this afternoon, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility which will assemble the wings for Airbus’ advanced new A350 XWB long-range aircraft family. 

The Prime Minister joined hundreds of guests and Airbus employees to unveil the giant, environmentally friendly Airbus North Factory at Broughton, Flintshire where 650 people will eventually work. Bigger than Wembley Stadium, it is one of the largest manufacturing facilities to be built in the UK in recent years and will produce high-tech carbon fibre ‘composite’ wings for the A350 XWB. 

The A350 XWB programme will support over 1,200 jobs in the Airbus sites at Filton and Broughton and over 5,000 other high skill/high value jobs across the UK supply chain. Over £3 billion has been invested in the aircraft and its engines by UK aerospace companies in the programme which underpins the key position of the UK as a global centre of aerospace manufacture. 

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The Government is committed to building a more balanced economy with stronger manufacturing, exports and private investment, creating jobs and opportunities across the UK. I welcome the opening of Airbus's new state of the art facility which will contribute to this and support our programme to create sustainable economic growth. 

Airbus's investment here also underlines its confidence in the expertise of its British workforce and in the UK's manufacturing base.” 

Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan said:" This magnificent facility is a key part of the A350 XWB programme which will help sustain and support thousands of jobs across the UK. I have been a frequent visitor to Airbus and am confident this will further cement Wales' growing reputation as a first class innovator and leader in the Aerospace and supply chain sector. 

The new A350 XWB facility is great news for the North Wales economy and a tangible example of the kind of private sector growth the Government is working to create." 

First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones added: “The opening of this world class facility is a major achievement and excellent news for Wales.

The Welsh Government and Airbus are delighted to be able to celebrate such a significant event which underlines a major investment in Broughton and reinforces our reputation as a country with high end manufacturing skills and high value products”.  

“The Airbus North Factory, a truly world-leading aircraft wing assembly plant, is a major pillar in the Airbus global setup. The opening today marks an important milestone for our A350 programme as we move towards the start of the aircraft final assembly”, said Airbus Chief Executive, Tom Enders. “This new facility and all the teams working on building our A350’s carbon-fibre wings will play a vital role in delivering this new generation aircraft.” 

The North Factory assembly line is dedicated to assembling the 31 metre long wings for all members of the A350 XWB Family which is scheduled to enter service by the end of 2013.  

Currently employing 6,000 people, the 700 acre Airbus site at Broughton specialises in wing production and has a proud tradition of aerospace manufacture going back over 70 years. Over £1.8 billion has been invested into the site in the past decade ensuring it is one of the most modern manufacturing facilities of its type anywhere in the world. 

· The pioneering Airbus North Factory covers a total area of over 46,000 square metres. 

· 58,000 metres of cable have been installed, this would reach from Broughton to Manchester 

· 8,000 tonnes of steelwork were used to build the factory 

· 250,000 bolts hold the building together 

· Optimised for energy savings, the factory’s power comes in part from three large solar tracking arrays and a wood pellet biomass power plant boiler. 

Airbus in the UK and its supply chain provide supplies and services worth nearly £1.5 billion annually to the UK economy. 10,000 people work for Airbus in the UK with 100,000 UK jobs supported through its wider supply chain. 

Airbus is the leading aircraft manufacturer offering the most modern, comprehensive and efficient passenger aircraft family on the more than 100-seat market, while its military division is the global leader for transport, tanker and surveillance airlifters ranging from three to 45 tonnes of payload. Airbus in the UK is world-renowned for its centres of excellence for both wing design and manufacture.

source: airbus.com

LAN Airlines becomes new customer for A320 Space-Flex cabin option

“Space-Flex” lavatory frees-up space for more comfort in A320 Family cabin

LAN Airlines has placed an order for Airbus’ Space-Flex PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) lavatory option to equip new Airbus A320 aircraft. LAN joins TAM Airlines in selecting Space-Flex which creates more passenger comfort. This brings total orders for Space-Flex to equip 101 A320 Family aircraft.

LAN and TAM, which recently merged to form LATAM Airlines Group, is among the biggest Airbus customers in the world with nearly 400 orders aircraft combined, more than 200 aircraft in operation and an outstanding backlog that exceeds 180 Airbus aircraft.

“We are pleased to offer our passengers an innovative lavatory on the LAN new A320 Family aircraft,” said Fernanda Toro, LAN Travel Experience Director. “Space-Flex allows us to maximise the cabin, using space in the aircraft that was previously unused, while providing more flexibility.”

By making more efficient use of the volume at the rear of the cabin, two lavatories plus a galley can now be efficiently accommodated in this space, generating the following advantages:

• Freeing-up space for more passenger comfort, as with this new arrangement the revenue space of the cabin is maximized;

• Offering two lavatories each of comparable size to existing A320s i.e. larger than competitor lavatories;

• Providing a full PRM lavatory for the first time in a single-aisle aircraft. The ‘PRM-friendly’ lavatory is facilitated via a simple conversion process: two single Space-Flex lavatories are convertible into one PRM enclosure in a similar manner to those delivered on Airbus wide-body aircraft.

With around 8,600 A320 Family aircraft ordered, and over 5,200 aircraft delivered to over 370 customers and operators worldwide, the A318, A319, A320 and A321 make up the world's best-selling single-aisle aircraft family and are the preferred choice with traditional airlines and passengers, as well as with the fast-growing low-cost carrier market for which it is now the reference.

Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS company.

 source: airbus.com

From the A300 to A380: THAI’s successful 35-year relationship with Airbus

Today’s delivery of the first A380 for Thai Airways International (THAI) continues a long relationship that began with its acquisition of Airbus’ cornerstone A300, and has since encompassed aircraft from across the jetliner family. 

“This relationship dates all the way back to 1977 when THAI became one of our earliest customers, placing its first order for the original A300 series,” explained Kiran Rao, the Airbus Executive Vice President for Sales & Marketing.  

Since then, THAI has operated a full range of aircraft from Airbus’ product line: the A300, A310, A330 and A340, followed recently by the A320.  In addition to now expanding its operational lineup with the first of six A380s on order, THAI also is a customer for future deliveries of Airbus’ A350 XWB, which is entering production. 

“The airline has not only proven to be one of our most loyal customers, but also is one of the most successful operators of our aircraft – achieving consistently high levels of technical reliability,” Rao said during a speech at today’s A380 handover ceremony. 

With its current inventory, THAI’s operational reliability remains above the other worldwide fleets of A300-600s, A340-500/A340-600s, and A330s.

source: airbus.com

THAI joins the “elite club” of A380 airlines

The sights and sound of Thailand came to Airbus’ Toulouse, France delivery centre today as Thai Airways International (THAI) received the first of six A380s on order, which will bring a new dimension to the airline’s in-flight experience when it enters service next month. 

Introduced by a troupe of dancers representing the four regions of Thailand, THAI’s no. 1 A380 was revealed to a capacity crowd of invited guests during the mid-day delivery ceremony, followed by photo sessions and visits to the aircraft. 

“We chose the Airbus A380 aircraft because it is preferred by passengers for its spacious cabin – offering extra flying comfort,” explained Capt. Montree Jumrieng, THAI’s Executive Vice President, Technical Dept. “Throughout our 50-year history, THAI has built a very strong reputation for the quality of its Royal Orchid Service as one of Asia’s most admired airlines. The six A380s joining our fleet will continue this tradition, and add new dimensions in customer appeal.” 

Capt. Montree noted that THAI’s decision to configure the A380 fleet with only 507 seats – 12 in Royal First Class, 60 for its Royal Silk executive class, and 435 in economy – is aligned with THAI’s strategy to offer more modern and enhanced state-of-the-art products and services “at every customer touch point.”  The airline’s A380s are outfitted with personal entertainment screens, individual power supplies, internet connectivity, Wi-Fi and access for in-flight mobile telephones, along with SMS and MMS messaging. 

Kiran Rao, the Airbus Executive Vice President for Sales & Marketing, said THAI becomes the ninth airline to receive A380s, joining what he described as the elite club of world-class carriers that define the air transport industry’s leaders. 

“Since the A380 first entered service almost five years ago, it has exceeded all expectations, proving to be a game-changer in every way,” he told the invitees at the delivery ceremony.  “In terms of performance, operators are reporting reductions in fuel consumption of up to 20 percent per seat compared to the 747-400.  The A380 also is delivering on its environmental promises, with significant reductions in carbon emissions and a much lower noise footprint than even some aircraft half its size.”

Source: airbus.com

Ethiopian Airlines orders 12 Airbus A350 XWBs

Becoming a new Airbus customer with the newest Airbus aircraft

Ethiopian Airlines, one of the largest and fastest growing airlines in Africa, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 12 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, becoming a new Airbus customer. The airline has selected the A350-900, and will operate the aircraft from their hub in Addis Ababa, linking Africa with Europe, the US and Asia.   

"The A350-900, with its high levels of passenger comfort combined with unbeatable economics perfectly fits our future fleet requirements," said Mr Girma Wake, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines. "The A350-900 will bring increased capacity and range to our rapidly expanding network." 

"We are delighted to welcome Ethiopian Airlines as a new Airbus customer," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.  "The A350 XWB will shape new levels of efficiency for medium and long haul operations, allowing Ethiopian Airlines to continue its impressive growth."

The A350 XWB Family is Airbus' response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. With a range of up to 8,300 nm / 15,400 km, it is available in three basic passenger versions.

The A350 XWB has the widest fuselage in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort, the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile cost of any aircraft in this market segment. Powered by two new generation Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines, the A350 XWB Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental constraints. 

Firm orders for the A350 XWB now stand at 493 from 31 customers worldwide.

Hong Kong Airlines confirms orders for A330 and A350 XWB

Fast-growing airline building Airbus widebody fleet

Hong Kong Airlines has finalised a contract with Airbus covering the firm order of 10 more A330-200 long range aircraft and converted an existing order for 15 A330s to the A350 XWB. Both agreements were previously announced upon signature of an initial MOU during the Farnborough Air Show in July this year. 

Deliveries of the newly ordered A330-200s will begin in 2012, while the carrier's first A350 XWB will arrive in 2018. The aircraft will be operated across a long haul network currently being developed by the airline to link Hong Kong with a wide range of destinations in Europe and North America. 

"Today's announcement underscores our plan to operate an extensive long haul network," said Yang Jian Hong, President, Hong Kong Airlines. "The A330-200 is the perfect platform for us to develop these services, while the all-new A350 XWB will become our new flagship towards the end of this decade." 

"We are extremely pleased that Hong Kong Airlines has placed its confidence in our products to build its long range fleet," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. "With the A330 and the A350 XWB, the carrier will be operating the cleanest, most efficient aircraft available in the mid-size widebody market, both now and in the future." 

Hong Kong Airlines has now ordered a total 33 widebody aircraft from Airbus, comprising 18 A330s and 15 A350 XWBs. The carrier also has 30 single aisle A320 aircraft on firm order for future delivery.

The A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,100 orders for the various versions of the aircraft and over 700 A330s are currently flying with more than 80 airlines worldwide. 

The A350 XWB Family is an all-new product line seating between 270 and 350 passengers in typical three-class layouts. Scheduled for first entry-into-service in 2013, the family has now won 573 firm orders from 35 customers worldwide.