Midweek Update 20 January 2016 THIS WEEK IN MIDWEEK UPDATE Notice Board........ Aviation News........Worldwide Incidents and Accidents This Week in Aviation History........Advertising Rate Card   JANUARY 30: SAPFA Rand Airport Challenge fun rally. Contact Frank Eckard Cell: 083 269 1516 e-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za 3: EAA Chapter 322 monthly meeting, Dickie Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact editor@afskies.co.za 6: SAAF Museum flying training and open days. Contact Capt. Kobus Kapp 012 351 2342 or E-mail: webmaster@saafmuseum.org 6: MISASA Best of the Best Wings Wheels Water showcase. Postponed new date to be advised. 6-7: SAC NW regionals Klerksdorp. Contact Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za 13: Pilot's Post RV breakfast fly in Krugersdorp.  27: SAPFA Stellenbosch fun rally. Contact Alewyn Burger Cell: 082 416 1951 e-mail: alewyn@burger.org.za 2: EAA Chapter 322 monthly meeting, Dickie Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact editor@afskies.co.za 5: SAAF Museum flying training and open days. Contact Capt. Kobus Kapp 012 351 2342 or E-mail: webmaster@saafmuseum.org 4 - 5: Swellengrebel Fly In - Swellendam. Contact Pieter Venter e-mail: pventer@vgv.co.za Cell: 082 250 9504 5: SAPFA Durban Wings Club fun rally. Contact Mary de Klerk e-mail: mary@expandingbranding.co.za 5: Wings and Wheels festival Uitenhage. Contact Lourens Kruger e-mail: lmk@telkomsa.net 3: SAAF Museum flying training and open days. Contact Capt. Kobus Kapp 012 351 2342 or E-mail: webmaster@saafmuseum.org 2-3: SAC Western Cape regionals Saldanha. Contact Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za 6: EAA Chapter 322 monthly meeting, Dickie Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact editor@afskies.co.za 9-11: Airport show in Dubai United Arab Emirates. Contact Reed Exhibitions Middle East e-mail: ria.andaya@reedexpo.ae 12: Coves Breakfast Fly-in Country Estate Hartbeespoort. 13: Rosslyn Aero Modellers Fly-Inn. Landing fee of a R100.00 will be payable on arrival by the pilots. Hot-dogs and cool drinks will be available. No flying without a valid SAMAA card. Contact Ina Van Der Merwe at fullstop@mweb.co.za for any inquiries. 15: SAPFA National Rally Flying Championships at Brits airfield. Contact e-mail: chairmanatsapfa@gmail.com 20 -23: AERO Friedrichshafen - Germany. Contact website: www.aero-expo.com 29-30: Lowveld airshow - Nelspruit. Contact Willemien Hodgkinson e-mail: willemien.hodgkinson@ffa.co.za 29: EAA National Convention, Mossel Bay.     VACANCY Pilot's Post has a vacancy for a commission based advertising Sales Consultant. The position is ideal for a self-motivated person with a marketing and preferably aviation background. The successful candidate's main responsibilities will be the marketing of advertising space on www.pilotspost.com Suitable CV's to be send to willieb@pilotspost.com Closing date for applications is 29 January 2016 Should you not receive feedback within 14 days of your application please consider your application unsuccessful.  BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW 2016 International Participation Grows  Photos © Bahrain Airshow Taking place from 21st - 23rd January 2016 at Sakhir Airbase, the show will see representation from the US, UK, France, India, Russia and Turkey. Furthermore, the high level aviation event will also see more participation from MENA states, with the largest participation yet from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from which numerous companies including Saudi Arabian Airlines will be joining for the first time, alongside Kuwait Airways, Emirates and previous attendees Qatar Airways. Multi-national organisations to date include Airbus, BAE Systems, Boeing, Chevron, CFM, Finmeccanica, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce, Turkish Aerospace Industries, TAG Aeronautics and Thales Group.   The exhibition feature hall at the show has also allowed a growing number of international SME businesses to attend the show with national pavilions from the India, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and the UK. The popularity of the feature hall, which was introduced at the last edition of the show in 2014, has resulted in a size increase of almost 50% for 2016. Speaking about the growing international participation, His Excellency Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications for the Kingdom of Bahrain and Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee for BIAS said, "The Bahrain International Airshow is a real platform for trade and business. With so many countries represented, it allows businesses to bolster and build new partnerships. With the value we bring through our extensive delegations programme we offer all our participants the opportunity for extensive networking and discussion."  Amanda Stainer, Commercial Director for Farnborough International Ltd, added, "With the show just a few weeks away, we are delighted at the positive response to the event. All our Chalets are now sold and just one space remaining in the exhibition hall. The Delegations programme is also very strong with 34 countries represented from 75 delegations. Aircraft participation now stands at over 100 aircraft including the Russian Knights, two Eurofighter typhoons, a T129 ATAK helicopter for Turkish Aircraft Industries, and an F-22 from the USAF to name just a few".  Photos © Pipistrel Pipistrel announced that it signed the World's largest single contract about the delivery of light aircraft with the Indian Armed Forces. Pipistrel emerged as the winner to supply 194 aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Navy (IN) and National Cadet Corps (NCC). Globally renowned light aircraft manufacturer with 26 years of aircraft design and production experience will equip Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Navy (IN) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) with its modern, carbon-fibre Microlight aircraft Virus SW 80 "GARUD", as a result of "Request for Technical and Commercial Proposal (RFP) for Microlight Aircraft. Pipistrel was selected as the winning bidder in the tendering competition among eleven international Original Equipment Manufacturers / Authorized Vendors.  The design chosen by the respective Indian parties is a two-seat trainer, capable of take-off and landing on prepared as well as semi-prepared surfaces. Made from advanced carbon-fibre composite materials it is capable of carrying 2 crew members and their equipment. The aircraft is powered by an 80 HP aviation certified engine and can reach a maximum speed of more than 220 km/h, fly for more than 3 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 6000 meters. As a testament to safety, Pipistrel equipped the aircraft designed to be used for training of Flight Safety and Air Wing Cadets with a special a Ballistic Parachute Rescue System and several other safety enhancing features, such as Energy Attenuation Seats and a KevlarTM reinforced cockpit cell.   Pipistrel's Virus SW 80 "GARUD", named after a bird that appears in Hindu mythology and is the mount of the god Vishnu, was thoroughly tested. All the aircraft participating in the tender were tested in the extreme Indian conditions such as high temperature and humidity, extreme altitudes and similar. "Garud" had successfully cleared all the evaluations at the Field and Maintainability Evaluation Trial.  This is without a doubt the largest contract in the entire 26-year history of Pipistrel. We will produce either 6 or 7 aircraft each month for the Indian Army. This means that for the next two and a half years, half of Pipistrel's production capacity is sold out, said Boscarol after signing the contract. After the Garud had been chosen for technically the best and most suitable among all the applicants and after the final price had been determined, it took over two years of negotiating all the details of the contract. Pipistrel will begin with the deliveries to more than 100 locations all over India in 8 months' time. All 194 aircraft must be delivered within a period of thirty months after the first delivery. The contract also binds Pipistrel to deliver a further 100 aircraft after the third year, should the buyer want so. All together this means that Pipistrel will produce almost 300 aircraft. To ensure smooth and uninterrupted operation of the "GARUDs", Pipistrel will equip IAF, IN and NCC with spare engines, ground support equipment and tools, special multi-year spare parts packs, extended 10-year product support, as well as train a large number of aircrew, instructors and technical staff. The Indian personnel will be trained by a Pipistrel's partner company from Slovenia, the »Pipistrel Academy« which trains pilots and new instructors. They will teach pilots how to fly the new aircraft and prepare the Indian instructors to perform further education themselves. Pipistrel will also train the mechanics, which will then provide continuous technical support and regular maintenance of the aircraft. Pipistrel will not need to need to compensate sales with any offsets nor will they have to produce or assemble the aircraft in India.  Photo © Quest Aircraft Quest Aircraft Company has named Aeroservicio as its authorized KODIAK sales representative for Chile, effective January 1, 2016. Based in Santiago, Chile, Aeroservicio has over 50 years of experience in the aviation industry. "We are very pleased to partner with a company with such solid experience in aircraft sales as well as strong relationships with customers in the region," said John Hunt, Vice President of Sales for North, Central and South America. "The KODIAK is well-suited for a wide variety of operators in Chile and the surrounding countries, and the addition of Aeroservicio will enhance our marketing efforts in this market." Over the last few years, Quest has built a network of seasoned, well-respected organizations strategically placed around the globe to take full advantage of evolving market opportunities for the KODIAK. The company also continues to certify the KODIAK in key countries worldwide, and will begin working toward Chilean certification. The KODIAK currently has received 21 certifications covering 31countries. "With its outstanding versatility and performance, the rugged KODIAK will be of great interest to many of our customers," said Willem-Jan Derks, CEO of Aeroservicio. "We look forward to working with Quest and representing the KODIAK." Aeroservicio's services include aircraft sales, part and equipment sales, aeronautical accessories sales and aircraft maintenance. For more information, please visit www. www.aeroservicio.com The KODIAK's rugged aluminium construction combines superior STOL performance and high useful load. With powerful turbine performance, the aircraft has the ability to land and take off from unimproved surfaces and is capable of working off floats without structural upgrades. The KODIAK can take off in under 1,000 feet at full gross take-off weight of 7,255 lbs. and climb at over 1,300 feet per minute. KODIAKs are in operation around the world in over 20 countries in key market segments including personal use, Part 135 operations, government and humanitarian organizations. The KODIAK has received 21 certifications covering 31 countries, with several additional certifications imminent.  Photos © MVP Aero MVP has also set up a new show room at the Spruce Creek Fly-in community that will be the home of our full size mock-up and engineering briefing display for the months to come. Currently by invitation only.  The MVP Team Welcomes Jeff Rochelle Jeff "Roach" Rochelle is a fighter pilot turned businessman with over 4500 hours in the F-16 Fighting Falcon. "Roach" is an Aeronautical Engineering graduate of the US Air Force Academy, a graduate of the Air Force "Top Gun" Fighter Weapons School and has a Master's Degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. His pedigree includes a tour with the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team. Jeff joins MVP after over 11 years with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics fielding the latest technology in the F-16. Now the founder of an Aviation company flying the Eclipse jet, and Extra aerobatic aircraft, Jeff brings MVP Aero over 40 years of aviation experience as a pilot, engineer and businessman.  Jeff's unique abilities will be put to work on both the MVP Technical Team and the MVP Business Development Team. Jeff said," The MVP uses brilliant engineering to make the world's safest and most useful seaplane! The discerning pilot will appreciate this aircraft."  Photo © Airbus "The French armed forces have deployed the NH90 operationally in Mali where its outstanding endurance, versatility and manoeuvrability have been greatly appreciated", said Guillaume Faury, President and CEO of Airbus Helicopters. "This additional order for six NH90s, to be delivered in 2017 - 2019, confirms the essential role that new-generation multirole helicopters play in modern operations" he added. Combat-proven since 2010, the NH90 TTH has been successfully deployed by several countries in different theatres of operation. With a wide modular cabin, large sliding doors on each side and a rear ramp, the NH90 can be rapidly configured for such missions as troop transport with a 20-seat configuration, light vehicle transport, casualty evacuation with 12 stretchers and cargo airlift with standard NATO pallets, armed tactical transport, as well as combat search and rescue. An extensive list of role-tailored equipment allows the NH90 to fit operators' mission needs. The NH90's 4-axis autopilot and fly-by-wire controls contribute to safety and maximum flight performance in severe operating conditions. The NH90 is the first serial helicopter in the world to be equipped with fly-by-wire technologies, significantly reducing pilot workload and allowing for this state-of-the-art helicopter to be piloted with ease. To date, around 270 NH90 have been delivered to 13 countries and have logged nearly 100,000 flight hours, confirming the success of this helicopter on the export market. Upgraded launchers increase bomber's weapons capacity and flexibility  Photo © Boeing Six of the U.S. Air Force's B-52 bombers can now take flight with a greater variety of weapons, thanks to enhanced internal weapons bay launchers delivered by Boeing [NYSE: BA]. The upgraded launchers allow the B-52 to carry GPS-guided or "smart" weapons in the weapons bay for the first time and are ready for use. "The upgrades to the B-52 bomber's internal weapons bay have made it possible to have zero gap on the bomber's long-range bombing capabilities as we transfer from Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missiles to Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile - Extended Range," said Col. Tim Dickinson, B-52 Program Director with the U.S. Air Force. The enhancement modifies an existing common strategic rotary launcher in the internal weapons bay into a conventional rotary launcher and increases the total number of smart weapons the B-52 can carry and deliver, giving crew members greater flexibility to adapt to changing conditions on the battlefield. The launchers, which can be moved from one bomber to another, can carry, target and launch eight Joint Direct Attack Munitions. Future increments of the weapons bay launcher upgrade program will add the capability to carry Joint Air-to-Surface Stand Off Missiles and Miniature Air Launched Decoys. "With this added capability, the B-52 bomber will remain relevant for decades to come," said Jeff Lupton, Boeing's B-52 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade program manager. "Our commitment to providing our USAF customer with uncompromising service enabled us to successfully deliver these launchers on an accelerated schedule." These deliveries follow several months of successful ground and flight testing of the launchers and support the U.S. Air Force's accelerated schedule to complete the first stage of the upgrade program - low rate initial production.  Photo © Airbus Prior to this on-time and on-quality delivery of four new H135s, an intensive technical acceptance process took place in December 2015 at Airbus Helicopters' Donauwörth site in Germany. All helicopters were subsequently transferred to the main LPR base in Warsaw. The total fleet of 27 H135 helicopters is now fully operational with LPR, representing a major step in the modernization of the country's helicopter-based medical evacuation services and making Poland one of the world's largest users of this helicopter in its new-generation EMS configuration. "Airbus Helicopters is committed to providing Poland with state-of-the-art and reliable helicopters to carry out emergency service duties" said Mickael Peru, Managing Director at Airbus Helicopters Polska. "We also ensure that these aircraft can be autonomously maintained in-country and in full accordance with the operator's requirements. This latest delivery is yet another example of the excellent cooperation with our Polish customer and demonstrates once again our ability to fulfil all our contractual obligations", he added. The agreement for the delivery of four new H135 helicopters to LPR was signed on 4 August 2015, following a competitive public tender procedure won by Airbus Helicopters. The LPR fleet has an average availability rate of over 95 percent. All helicopters have been equipped according to the required specification including in between the sophisticated avionics, full NVG certification, and a fully equipped state of the art EMS cabin  Sweden, Stockholm: Swedish airports were on high alert last week after security staff at Sweden's Stockholm-Skavsta airport detected traces of an explosive powder on a suitcase belonging to elderly Swedish lady. The baggage and departure halls of the airport were cordoned off and a bomb squad from Stockholm combed the scene. Flights were allowed to arrive but departing flights were halted until the bomb squad removed the suspicious bag. USA, Hawaii: There was a scare in the air for 128 passengers aboard a Hawaiian Airlines flight when a light indicated there was smoke in the cargo area. The plane was on the way to Maui from Honolulu. When firefighters checked the cargo area, two bags appeared to be damaged by an e-cigarette in a passenger's checked luggage. Smoking of e-cigarettes is forbidden and so is the check in of e-cigarettes in hand luggage. On August 9, 2014, at Boston's Logan Airport, an e-cigarette in a passenger's checked bag caused a fire on a plane that forced an evacuation of the plane. Also, on January 4, 2015, at LAX, a checked bag was found to be on fire in a baggage area. The cause was an overheated e-cigarette. USA, Miami: A flight attendant has been hospitalized and five passengers suffered apparently minor injuries after an American Airlines Boeing 737 ran into turbulence over Florida less than an hour from Miami. Seatbelt lights were on at the time. The flight was carrying 159 passengers and six crew members. Five passengers were checked by paramedics and released whilst a flight attendant was taken to a hospital to have an injury to her nose checked out.  January 20 1974 - First 'accidental' flight of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, US multirole jet fighter aircraft, during a high-speed taxi test. While gathering speed, a roll-control oscillation caused a fin of the port-side wingtip-mounted missile and then the starboard stabilator to scrape the ground, and the aircraft then began to veer off the runway. The GD test pilot, Phil Oestricher, decided to lift off to avoid crashing the machine, and safely landed it six minutes later. January 20 1916 - The first airship raid on Britain. Zeppelins of the Imperial German Navy Airship Division dropped bombs on Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn, Norfolk, killing 5 people. The RFC flew its first ever night sorties against the raiders, but two aircraft failed to intercept. January 21 1976 - Introduction of the Concorde. January 21 1970 - The Boeing 747 makes its first commercial flight from New York to London for Pan American. January 21 1951 - The U. S. Air Force F-84 Thunderjet makes its first kill, when F-84 pilot Lieutenant Colonel William E. Bertram shoots down a MiG-15 during the Korean War. January 21 1951 - First non-stop unrefuelled transatlantic crossing by a jet is made by an English Electric Canberra. January 21 1930 - First complete airport lighting system online at Calgary airport. January 21 1921 - The first triple-triplane aircraft, and the first passenger-carrying aircraft designed to carry more than 100 people that actually got off the ground, is launched at Lake Maggiore, Italy. The flight attempt ends in failure when the 55,000 lb. flying boat nosedives into the lake. January 22 1987 - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Michelob Light Eagle, piloted by Glenn Tremml, sets a world closed circuit distance record for human-powered aircraft of 58 km (36 miles). January 22 1952 - The de Havilland Comet 1 became the first turbojet-powered civil airliner to be awarded a certificate of airworthiness. Entered Service with BOAC. January 24 1986 - The American spacecraft Voyager 2 makes its closest approach to Uranus, passing within 50,600 miles. January 24 1978 - Soviet satellite Kosmos 954, with a nuclear reactor on board, burns up in Earth's atmosphere, scattering radioactive debris over Canada's Northwest Territories. Only 1% is recovered. January 24 1932 - French pilots Paul Codos and Henri Robida land in Paris after flying from Hanoi in French Indochina in a record time of 3 days 4 hours. January 24 1920 - First aircraft flight across the Sahara Desert is flown by French Joseph Vuillemin of the Aéronautique Militaire. January 24 1913 - Death of Charles de Nié Port (Nieuport), French aircraft designer and pilot, co-founder with his brother Edouard of the eponymous Nieuport aircraft manufacturing company, Société Anonyme Des Établissements Nieuport in a flying accident at Étampes in France, when their wing-warping device failed. January 25 1912 - Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold sets an altitude record of 4,764 feet (1,452 m). January 26 1953 - The first meeting of the Experimental Aircraft Association takes place at Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Curtis-Wright Field.   |
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