BOTSWANA ORDERS MORE PILATUS TRAINERS
ORDER Pilatus will supply the Botswana Defence Force with five PC-7 Mk II turboprop trainers by early 2013 under a roughly SFr40 million ($44.8 million) deal. To be delivered with a new ground-based training system and spare parts, the aircraft will replace the African nation's current six PC-7s, the last of which entered use in 1990.
BRIMSTONE USE FIRES EXPORT INTEREST
WEAPONS Two allied nations are interested in acquiring MBDA's dual-mode Brimstone following Royal Air Force use of the air-to-surface missile in Libya, a military source has revealed. MBDA declines to comment about assistant chief of the air staff Air Vice Marshal Baz North's claim that the lightweight weapon "is now being sought by both the USA and the French."
ETHIOPIA PICKS BLUEBIRD UAVS
UNMANNED SYSTEMS Ethiopia's army has contracted BlueBird of Israel to supply unmanned air vehicles and to establish local maintenance facilities for the equipment. Sources say the deal includes a version of the fuel cell-powered Boomerang and the mini SpyLite.
THAI REVEALS A380 SEATING LAYOUT
CONFIGURATION Thai Airways International is to configure its Airbus A380s with 507 seats in three classes. The airline says it will fit 12 first-class, 60 business-class and 435 economy-class seats to the double-deck aircraft. Thai has ordered six A380s and has said it expects to take delivery of them by 2014.
QANTAS CHIEF WARNS ON FUEL PRICE THREAT
ECONOMICS Spiralling fuel costs are the biggest threat to Qantas since the global financial crisis, says chief Alan Joyce. Speaking to the Australian Institute of Company Directors, he said surcharges were "unfortunate, but essential" as fuel prices had risen 40% since November. Trade union leaders have accused the airline of "crying wolf" over the cost of fuel, says Joyce: "The truth is the wolf is not just inside the door, it's gnawing at our leg."
RYANAIR TO OFFER RESERVABLE SEATING
LOW-COST Budget carrier Ryanair is to test limited reserved seating on board following passenger feedback, particularly from the business community. From 16 May the airline says it will offer the front two rows, plus two overwing exit rows, to book on its Dublin-Malaga and Dublin-London Gatwick routes. This will provide 24 reservable seats on each Boeing 737-800 at a fee of €10 ($14) per sector.
EUROPE BLACKLISTS ALL MOZAMBICAN AIRLINES
SAFETY All airlines from Mozambique, including flag carrier LAM, have been blacklisted by the European Commission. The African state brings to 21 the number of countries subject to a blanket ban from the European Union over safety concerns. Two Boeing 767s operating for Air Madagascar are also banned. But the Commission has reprieved Ukraine's UM Air and four Indonesian cargo carriers.
ANZ SETS UP INSTITUTE FOR INDUSTRY RECRUITS
TRAINING Air New Zealand has established a specialist Aviation Institute to provide a range of training covering most airline industry roles, under a single organisation. Designed as a "one-stop shop" It will handle the majority of ANZ's needs as well as outsourced airline pilot, cabin crew, engineering and maintenance training.
Source: Flight International
