NIGERIAN AIR FORCE GETS SECOND ATR 42
The Nigerian air force has accepted its second of two ATR 42 maritime patrol aircraft from Alenia Aeronautica, with the aircraft to soon be flown to its Benin City air base. With a maximum endurance of 9h, the aircraft will be used for tasks including exclusive economic zone monitoring and search and rescue.
ICAO, AIRLINES, REGULATORS MAKE DATA PLEDGE
The International Civil Aviation Organisation, the European Commission, the US Federal Aviation Administration and the International Air Transport Association are to work out a plan to improve exchange of safety information. The groups, meeting last week in Montreal, also agreed to discuss a new annex to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, dedicated to safety processes.
BOMBARDIER FORGES TIES WITH CHINA LESSOR
Bombardier has forged a relationship with Chinese lessor CDB Leasing to clear the way for CDB to offer pre-delivery payment financing, delivery financing and leasing solutions to customers of Bombardier CSeries, Q400 and CRJ aircraft.
IATA PREDICTS TRAFFIC REBOUND
The International Air Transport Association predicts an industry rebound to pre-recession levels within three months, but warns that such improvement does not constitute a full recovery. In February, international scheduled traffic grew 9.5% year-over-year and cargo demand increased 26.5%.
GE AVIATION BEGINS H80 ENGINE TESTING
The first H80 turboprop engine began its certification testing on 8 March in a test cell at GE Aviation's facility in the Czech Republic. European approval of the 800hp (600kW) business and general aviation engine is set for the third quarter.
EMIRATES TO OPEN A380 MANCHESTER SERVICE
Emirates is to deploy Airbus A380s on services to Manchester in the UK. The super-jumbo will replace Boeing 777s operating between Manchester and Dubai. Daily operations using the 517-seat aircraft are to begin on 1 September.
PHILIPPINES CALLS FOR EU RE-INSPECTION
The Philippines' civil aviation authority has invited the European Aviation Safety Agency to visit in May for a re-inspection. Philippine carriers are currently banned from operating in the European Union following an International Civil Aviation Organisation audit that classified the country as a "significant safety concern".
ARINC BECOMES INMARSAT DISTRIBUTION PARTNER
Communication services provider Arinc is now a distribution partner for Inmarsat's high-speed SwiftBroadband satellite communications service. The tie-up allows Arinc to by-pass intermediate providers and purchase airtime directly from Inmarsat.
FULL-BODY SCANNERS TO GO ON TRIAL AT NARITA
Japan plans to test full-body scanners at Tokyo Narita airport from July, following consideration of their use and related issues such as privacy. Several airports in Europe have introduced scanners following the 25 December attempted bombing of a Delta Air Lines flight from Amsterdam Schiphol to Detroit.
Source: Flight International