Deutsche Aircraft revises entry into service timeline for the D328eco™ regional turboprop.
Swedish Region Gotland partners with Heart Aerospace for sustainable aviation.
IATA statement on Dutch Supreme court decision concerning Schiphol Airport.
ICAO strengthening aviation partnerships and charting the future of the NACC Region.
Emirates SkyCargo orders five more Boeing 777 freighters to modernize fleet.
Aviation Capital Group grows Boeing 737 MAX portfolio with order for 35 jets.
Airbus, Aena, Air Nostrum, Iberia, Exolum and Repsol join forces to study the creation of the first aviation hydrogen hub in Spain.
Accidents and Incidents
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DEUTSCHE AIRCRAFT REVISES ENTRY INTO SERVICE TIMELINE FOR THE D328ECO™ REGIONAL TURBOPROP
Deutsche Aircraft, the pioneering German Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), announces a revised entry into service (EIS) timeline for its 40-seater regional turboprop, the D328eco. The aircraft is now set for EIS in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2027. The adjustments to the timeline align with regulatory changes that entail the detailed and comprehensive certification process, and the associated compliance requirements.
This update comes after detailed internal review and intensive discussions with customers and potential operators, the aviation value chain, and key stakeholders. While the reasons behind this decision are multifaceted, the revised EIS timeline will also enable Deutsche Aircraft to implement additional capabilities and improvements to the brand-new regional turboprop.
Deutsche Aircraft continues to collaborate closely with current and potential operators, as well as suppliers, on the latest developments in the D328eco programme. Several new features and capabilities are being evaluated, including a further improvement of STOL (Short Take-off and Landing) performance, specifically in non-benign operational environments, combined with advanced avionics capabilities. These changes will be made in the context of the current certification and programme envelope and will advance the D328eco to even higher standards of market requirement alignment for both commercial and multi-role operators.
While the pressure on the global aviation manufacturing supply chain remains very high, Deutsche Aircraft can be proud of an excellent support from the business partners and stakeholders across the industry. Overall, these partnerships remain incredibly strong and positive in the aviation value chain, which enables the programme to progress.
Dave Jackson, CEO of Deutsche Aircraft, remarks: “While we have had to realign the EIS for our D328eco, we are taking this opportunity to investigate further product enhancements and satisfied by the tremendous progress of the programme to date: our certification panels with EASA are advancing successfully, start of construction for our Final Assembly Line in Leipzig has begun and we have secured over 95% of our suppliers, including those providing access to strategic growth markets. We will be announcing further milestones during the upcoming Farnborough International Airshow.
Building on the renowned in-service D328-100, the new D328eco leads the market with innovative elements including a state-of-the-art Garmin avionics suite and PW127XT-S engines which will be fully compatible with SAF-PtL at EIS. These advancements make the D328eco an advanced and unique 21st century turboprop, ready for the future of aviation. Most importantly, we are pleased to receive continued interest and demand for the D328eco from different segments across the market.
Our success would not be possible without the dedication of our team, support from our industry partners and the substantial involvement of regional and multi-role operators during product development.”
Deutsche Aircraft is poised to revolutionise regional air travel with the D328eco through its advanced features and capabilities, including a spacious and comfortable cabin, cutting-edge avionics, superior fuel efficiency and unbeatable operational capabilities.
SWEDISH REGION GOTLAND PARTNERS WITH HEART AEROSPACE FOR SUSTAINABLE AVIATION
Region Gotland, the largest island in the Baltic Sea, has signed a collaboration agreement with hybrid-electric airplane maker Heart Aerospace to speed up the introduction of sustainable air travel.
Located off the south-east coast of mainland Sweden, Gotland is home to approximately 61,000 permanent residents, with its population growing dramatically during the summer months as it is one of Sweden's most popular vacation destinations. Reliable and sustainable transportation is vital for Gotland's accessibility and development, making this initiative crucial for the region.
Region Gotland has committed to the goal of having at least one operator flying commercially with electric aircraft to and from the island. This initiative aligns with broader objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the region's attractiveness. A roadmap for the introduction of electric aviation on Gotland has been developed by Science Park Gotland in the spring of 2024, on the initiative of Region Gotland, Gotland's business community, and the electric aviation industry. The plan, which will be launched tomorrow, Friday, outlines the steps needed to achieve this goal.
“On Gotland, we are entirely dependent on air and ferry traffic to and from the island, and we must be able to travel sustainably. This decision to deepen the collaboration with Heart Aerospace is an important milestone in our journey towards sustainable communications,” said Meit Fohlin, Social Democrats, Chair of the Regional Executive Board.
Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, a regional hybrid-electric airplane with a standard seating capacity of 30 passengers, which promises to deliver unparalleled sustainability and efficiency on short-haul routes. With a fully electric zero-emission range of 200 kilometres and an extended hybrid range of 400 kilometres, the ES-30 offers lower emissions and operating costs.
“Heart Aerospace has just entered an exciting new phase of hardware testing, and our aim is to have a hybrid-electric passenger plane on the market before the end of this decade;” said Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. “As we get closer to this goal, collaborations with airports, operators and regional authorities are crucial to ensure the eco-system needed to support electric aviation. We look forward to working together with Region Gotland to make this a reality.”
The collaboration between Region Gotland and Heart Aerospace will explore operational needs, technical requirements, ground infrastructure and maintenance, and business models. Last year, Heart Aerospace announced a similar collaboration with the Government of Åland, an autonomous region in Finland.
Heart Aerospace has already secured 250 orders for the ES-30, with options and purchase rights for another 120 airplanes. The company also has letters of intent for a further 191 airplanes.
STATEMENT ON DUTCH SUPREME COURT DECISION CONCERNING SCHIPHOL AIRPORT
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) responded to a judgement from the Supreme Court in the Netherlands, which has upheld the original decision from the Amsterdam District Court that the 'experimental regulation' to reduce Schiphol's capacity was not in compliance with the Balanced Approach to noise management.
“We welcome this decision from the Supreme Court, affirming the original decision of the Amsterdam District Court that the unilateral cuts to flight numbers at Schiphol were unlawful, and overturning the Court of Appeal. There is an internationally-agreed means of managing airport noise - the Balanced Approach - which protects the national and regional benefits of air connectivity while helping to mitigate noise impacts for local residents. We expect the new Dutch Government will respect today's decision and proceed to apply the Balanced Approach, which is also enshrined in EU law and international treaties, with the utmost care with regards to Schiphol. Furthermore, we hope any other government thinking of disregarding the Balanced Approach will take note of this decision. It is a proven and successful process and should not be ignored,” said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.
STRENGTHENING AVIATION PARTNERSHIPS AND CHARTING THE FUTURE OF THE NACC REGION
The 12th annual Meeting of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACC) Directors General of Civil Aviation (NACC/DCA/12) has concluded in Placencia, Belize, today marking a significant step towards enhancing regional cooperation and advancing strategic priorities for aviation in the NACC region.
Attended by the Prime Minister of Belize, the Honorable John Briceño, the three-day meeting brought together over a hundred representatives from NACC States, Territories, and industry partners, focusing on strengthening liaisons and improving implementation support activities.
A central focus of the meeting was the presentation and discussion of ICAO's proposed long-term strategic plan for 2026-2050. The plan, which aims to position ICAO effectively in the rapidly evolving aerospace landscape, received strong support from the Directors General of Civil Aviation.
ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar emphasized the transformative potential of this plan: "I am confident that this plan will bring the transformation that ICAO needs to meet the challenges and opportunities - foreseen and unforeseen - in the aerospace system over the next quarter century. The overwhelmingly positive feedback and support we've received from the Directors General during this meeting are invaluable as we shape ICAO's future to better serve the global aviation community."
The plan aims to position ICAO effectively in the rapidly evolving aerospace landscape, ensuring the organization remains fit for purpose in supporting safe, secure, and sustainable air transport growth globally.
Key Priorities and Outcomes
The meeting covered a wide range of critical topics, including:
1. Aviation Security and Facilitation: Discussions centered on improving the implementation of standards and enhancing passenger flow through greater digitalization of travel documents.
2. Gender Equality: A gender panel highlighted key issues, prompting the development of concrete actions for all States and organizations to promote women's participation in aviation.
3. Implementation Challenges: States shared their experiences in implementing ICAO standards and recommended practices, with common themes emerging such as the need for greater political and financial autonomy for aviation regulators.
4. Regional Cooperation: Strong support was expressed for Regional Safety Oversight Organizations, the ACSA and CASSOS, and for enhanced regional cooperation in accident investigation.
5. Connectivity: A panel discussion highlighted the unique challenges faced by small island developing States in the NACC Region, such as limited space for the expansion of infrastructure and the need for national policies that reflect a greater awareness of the indirect socioeconomic benefits of aviation, leading to agreed actions to address these issues.
6. Environmental Sustainability: The region's progress toward the Long-Term Global Aspirational Goal for CO2 emissions reductions was commended, with particular recognition of the region's interest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel production and high levels of participation in ACT-SAF and CORSIA initiatives.
ICAO Capacity Building and Implementation Director Jorge Vargas underscored the importance of partnerships in achieving the region's goals: "We heard a consistent message from States, industry, and the Secretariat about the need for greater partnership to improve implementation of ICAO standards. By working together, we can achieve more than we could individually."
Building on these remarks, ICAO NACC Regional Director Christopher Barks also welcomed the meeting's recognition of the crucial role of the ICAO NACC Strategic Systemic Assistance Programme. He highlighted the programme's importance in delivering support to States and coordinating regional initiatives. Barks also noted the widespread backing of the programme, saying, “We received common expressions of support from partner States, other organizations, and industry.”
The Secretary General also explored avenues for ramping up progress in these areas at a series of bilateral meetings and multilateral meetings. These included discussions with Prime Minister Briceno, who is also the Minister of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, along with Mrs. Narda Garcia, CEO of the Office of the Prime Minister, Investment and Civil Aviation; and Mr. Nigel Carter, Director of Civil Aviation of Belize.
In addition to those high-level discussions with the host State, talks also took place with Representatives from Aruba, Barbados, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States.
Discussions with multilateral organizations encompassed talks with representatives from the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS); the Central American Corporation for Air Navigation Services (COCESNA); the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); and the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA).
The NACC/DCA/12 meeting concluded with a shared commitment among all participants to work together towards ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for aviation in the NACC region and around the world. Mr. Salazar expressed his gratitude to the participants, sponsors, and the host country, Belize, for their contributions to the success of the event. He emphasized that the discussions and commitments made during the meeting have positioned the region well to address future challenges and opportunities in global aviation.
EMIRATES SKYCARGO ORDERS FIVE MORE BOEING 777 FREIGHTERS TO MODERNIZE FLEET
Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Emirates SkyCargo today announced an order for five additional 777 Freighters as the operator again picks the world's most capable twin-engine freighter to meet growing cargo demand. The new purchase takes Emirates' order book to 245 Boeing widebody airplanes, including 10 777 Freighters.
Emirates SkyCargo is the cargo division of Emirates, the world's largest international airline. Its investment in the 777 Freighter will boost main deck cargo capacity 30 percent by 2026. In all, Emirates' freighter fleet will grow to 17 airplanes - including 777 Freighters, 777 converted freighters and 747 Freighters.
"Demand for our world-class product and services is growing exponentially, further amplified by Dubai's Economic Agenda which aims to double foreign trade and reinforce the city's position as a global trading hub. This investment in additional Boeing 777 capacity enables us to cater to customer demand and marks a step forward on our long-term strategic growth plan," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group.
"The next phase of our strategy will include a full assessment for our future freighter fleet reviewing all aircraft options to ensure we are best equipped to respond to the evolving demands of the market and reaffirming our confidence in the role of airfreight and, more specifically, Emirates SkyCargo, in global trade."
The 777 Freighter can fly further (9,200 kilometers / 4,970 nautical miles) and carry more freight (102 metric tons / 112 tons) than any other twin-engine cargo jet. This range and payload capability allows operators to offer more long-range, nonstop flights to connect markets such as the Middle East with the U.S. and Europe - linking critical high-value cargo markets without refueling.
"We are honored that Emirates SkyCargo, renowned for operational excellence and innovation, has once again selected the Boeing 777 Freighter to extend the reach of its global network," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We deeply value Emirates' trust in the Boeing widebody family and are committed to supporting their long-term strategic growth plan."
As the market leader in cargo airplanes, Boeing provides more than 90% of the worldwide dedicated freighter capacity, including new production and converted airplanes. The 777 Freighter is the company's best-selling freighter airplane of all time with more than 265 deliveries to date.
AVIATION CAPITAL GROUP GROWS BOEING 737 MAX PORTFOLIO WITH ORDER FOR 35 JETS
Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Aviation Capital Group LLC (ACG) announced today the airplane lessor has finalized an order for 35 737 MAX jets, including 16 737-8 and 19 of the larger 737-10 variant. Following an incremental 737 MAX order last year, this new purchase increases ACG's 737 MAX commitment to 82 orders as ACG grows its portfolio to meet customer demand for fuel-efficient airplanes.
"This firm order for additional 737 MAX aircraft enhances the strategic value of ACG's order book, supports a key pillar of our growth strategy and reinforces our commitment to invest in modern and fuel-efficient aircraft technology," said Thomas Baker, Chief Executive Officer and President at ACG. "We look forward to supporting our airline customers throughout the world with these highly versatile and fuel-efficient aircraft."
The 737-8 can carry up to 210 passengers based on configuration with a range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km), while the 737-10, the largest 737 MAX model with the best per-seat economics of any single-aisle airplane, seats up to 230 passengers with a range of 3,100 nautical miles (5,740 km). Both variants reduce fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes they replace.
"Today's repeat order demonstrates market demand for the 737 MAX family of airplanes as ACG's customers seek to operate flexible, fuel-efficient fleets," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "ACG has been a longstanding, valued partner on the 737 MAX program, and we look forward to working together to deliver the latest airplane technology to its airline customers."
On average, each 737 MAX saves up to eight million pounds of CO2 emissions annually and is a quieter airplane, with a 50% smaller noise footprint than the airplanes it replaces.
Aviation Capital Group is one of the world's premier full-service aircraft asset managers with over 480 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of March 31, 2024, leased to roughly 90 airlines in approximately 45 countries. It specializes in commercial aircraft leasing and provides certain aircraft asset management services and aircraft financing solutions for third parties. It was founded in 1989 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation.
AIRBUS, AENA, AIR NOSTRUM, IBERIA, EXOLUM AND REPSOL JOIN FORCES TO STUDY THE CREATION OF THE FIRST AVIATION HYDROGEN HUB IN SPAIN
Airbus, Aena, Air Nostrum, Iberia, Exolum and Repsol are partnering to study the creation of the first hydrogen airport hub located in Spain. The six companies have joined forces to address the main challenges to deploy hydrogen-powered aviation in the country. This is the first time that a collaboration brings together the entire value chain from primary energy production, hydrogen ground operations, with two airlines on board and across a complete network of airports at the same time.
This collaboration will provide the partners with a holistic view of the hydrogen-powered aircraft and how it can be integrated into the airport ecosystem. It will not only focus on hydrogen supply and infrastructure, but also on the specific requirements for ground operations at airports. The ultimate goal is to foster and support the growth of the hydrogen aviation ecosystem in Spain.
“At Airbus, the decarbonisation of aviation is one of our most important goals and the deployment of hydrogen powered commercial aircraft with its ecosystem is one of those key levers. Given Spain's great potential in renewables and low carbon hydrogen production, it is essential that the aviation industry as a whole collaborates to secure a future end-to-end hydrogen supply chain up to the airports,” said Karine Guenan, Airbus' Vice President ZEROe Ecosystem.
"The decarbonisation of the air transport sector is a priority for Aena. This collaboration will allow us to gain a broader understanding of how the process of supplying hydrogen to Spanish airports could materialise in the future, in order to establish a roadmap to address the main challenges presented by the introduction of this new energy vector in an airport environment," added Ana Salazar, director of sustainability at Aena.
María José Sanz, Director of Quality and Environment at Air Nostrum, explained: "Our commitment is to be at the side of the developers of new technologies aimed at decarbonising air transport. As a regional airline, we can be relevant in the project because we have the necessary conditions to become the first implementers of hydrogen technology, thanks to the size of our aircraft and the average distance we fly".
Teresa Parejo, Iberia's Director of Sustainability, added: "collaboration between the different actors is necessary to advance in the decarbonisation of the sector. Hydrogen will foreseeably be part of the future of aviation, which will come later and will complement the development of sustainable fuels; to reach that future we must start taking the first steps now".
Andrés Suárez Global Strategy & Innovation Lead of Exolum stated: "At Exolum we are committed to the development and operation of infrastructures that contribute to boosting the energy transition and the decarbonisation of air mobility in all its areas and especially with the deployment of hydrogen as a future energy solution for the sector".
Luis de Oyarzabal, Repsol´s senior manager of New Business said: “Renewable hydrogen is key in our decarbonization strategy. Not only will we use it in our industrial applications, but we also envision its potential in the field of mobility. To promote this market, we consider it is essential to collaborate with the best partners, joined together in this hub, to get the most potential out of the opportunity we have”.
Airbus launched the “Hydrogen Hub at Airports'' programme to promote the further expansion of hydrogen infrastructure in aviation. To date, agreements have been signed with partners and airports in 13 countries including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Russia, Ozyorsky District, Moskow Region: A Sukhoi Superjet of Gazpromavia crashed in a wooded area, broke up and burst into flames about seven minutes after take-off from Lukhovitsy-Tretyakovo Airport. All three crew members have died. The aircraft had been at Lukhovitsy-Tretyakovo Airport from May 6 to July 12 undergoing maintenance and was to be ferried to Moscow's Vnukovo Airport (VKO). The flight departed Lukhovitsy at 14:52, with an expected time of arrival at Vnukovo Airport of 15:40 hours. Last radio contact with the flight was at 14:58. Preliminary information suggests that the aircraft was was flying at an altitude of 1500 meters, and then sharply began to descend. At 14:58 the altitude was 1300 meters, and at 14:59 the plane lost more than 600 meters in seven seconds. At 14:59:28 it had disappeared from the radar.
USA, NW of St. Louis, MO: A Delta Air Lines flight DL927, a Boeing 757-251, initiated an emergency descent after experiencing a pressurization issue. The flight diverted to St. Louis Airport, MO (STL) for a safe landing at 16:36 UTC.
USA, San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO): On 12 July 2024, American Airlines Flight AA2045, an Airbus A321-231 scheduled to operate a flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO/KSFO) to Miami International Airport (MIA/KMIA) had to be evacuated while still standing at Gate B27 as the crew reported smoke coming from a passenger's bag. American Airlines released the following statement: "During boarding of American Airlines flight 2045 with service from San Fransisco (SFO) to Miami (MIA), smoke was reported from inside a customer's bag. The bag was quickly removed by our crew members and all customers exited the aircraft. We thank our crew members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience. “An evacuation of the aircraft was initiated after the lithium-ion battery of a laptop in a carry-on bag suffered a thermal runaway and began emitting smoke. However, the evacuation of the aircraft was significantly hampered as many passengers attempted to leave the aircraft with their cabin baggage, with some passengers arguing with the cabin crew. Three individuals were injured in the evacuation process, which took place using both the jetway as well as deployed emergency exit slides.
