GE joins Northrop's KC-30 team
Tankers Northrop Grumman has named its team for the US Air Force's KC-X tanker contest, confirming the exclusive agreement with General Electric to power its proposed KC-30 with the CF6-80E1 (Flight International, 20-26 March). In addition to EADS supplying the Airbus A330-200 platform and refuelling boom, the team includes Sargent Fletcher (refuelling systems), Honeywell (mission avionics), Smiths Aerospace (flight management system), Parker Aerospace (refuelling receptacle), AAR (cargo loading system) and Telephonics (intercom).
Air Vanuatu Y-12s
Orders China's push into the aircraft export market has received a further boost with Vanuatu's state-owned carrier Air Vanuatu ordering three Harbin Y-12s. "In the middle of the second quarter of next year we will start replacing the de Havilland Twin Otters with [three] Harbin Y-12s," says Air Vanuatu's general manager sales and marketing, Joseph Laloyer, who confirms the Chinese are providing the financing. Laloyer says the decision to acquire Y-12s is "part of modernising the fleet and down the road we will need to look at upgrading the ATR 42-300 to a newer model, either an ATR 42-500 or an ATR 72-500".
Il-76 downed
Attack An Ilyushin Il-76 operated by Belarussian company Transaviaexport is believed to have been shot down on departure from the Somali capital Mogadishu on 23 March. The aircraft was carrying a crew of 11, none of whom survived. It is said to have been attacked by missiles after taking off from Mogadishu, suffering damage to its wing and crashing outside the city. Transaviaexport operates a large fleet of Il-76TDs and its work includes specialised United Nations relief operations to African states. The aircraft had been carrying equipment to repair another Transaviaexport Il-76 that was damaged by anti-aircraft fire in Mogadishu earlier in March.
Flyjet is still flying
Correction The list of airlines that ceased operations during 2006 published with last week's World Airline Directory incorrectly included UK charter airline Flyjet. Although the airline was acquired by Silverjet last year, it continues to operate as a division with a fleet of two Boeing 757s. We are happy to set the record straight.
Source: Flight International
