AASA'S renewed concerns with South Africa's aviation infrastructure.
TAAG Angola Airlines takes delivery of Its First Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Ethiopian Airlines received IATA CEIV Pharma Recertification.
FAA statements on midair collision at Reagan Washington National Airport.
Global air passenger demand reaches record high in 2024.
Boom achieves supersonic flight.
IATA releases SAF accounting and reporting methodology.
Qatar Executive adds two additional Gulfstream G700 to its fleet.
Worldwide incidents and accidents.
Bonus video - Baken Deuce A2A Shoot
AIRLINES, AIRPORTS & AIRLINERS NEWS
AASA'S RENEWED CONCERNS WITH SOUTH AFRICA'S AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE
The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) notes with renewed concern and frustration the recent rash of incidents that disrupted airline operations over the summer peak travel season and throughout this month.
The incidents are primarily related to the reliability of refuelling infrastructure, electrical power supply and redundancy systems at O.R. Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. There remains ongoing uncertainty regarding the management of fuel reserves as well as the security of the Jet fuel supply. Either way, uncertainty directly impacts the ability of airlines to fulfil their schedule integrity. Airlines are still feeling the adverse impact of the very slow pace of restoring the 326 instrument flight procedures countrywide that ATNS withdrew in July 2024. Add to these concerns last weekend's cyberbreach at the SA Weather Service that has disrupted the provision of aviation weather observations and forecasts which are mission critical for flights.
“Airlines and passengers pay statutory user charges to the various State aviation agencies for the provision of reliable, safe and efficient and affordable services. However, AASA is concerned that ACSA, ATNS and SAWS applied to their respective economic regulators for new tariff increases when they have been unable to provide the full range of the services that they have been paid for. At the same time the airlines are bearing the brunt in terms of ensuring that they meet their commitments to their customers by having to provide alternatives for disrupted operations,” said Aaron Munetsi, CEO of AASA.
Fuel
Fuel availability has been a critical item since 2021 when the Durban refinery was damaged in the unrest, followed by floods that wreaked havoc and rendered the railway line between Durban and the Reef unserviceable. The closure of the Astron refinery in Cape Town (it re-opened last July and is still ramping up production) added to the woes.
“These left the industry heavily reliant on imported jet fuel, for which airlines operating within and from South Africa are forced to pay an exorbitant premium reflecting the additional logistics, duties and other costs applied to the fuel before it gets anywhere near an aircraft fuel tank,” he added.
The recent fire at Natref near Johannesburg, which is the central collection point for jet-fuel before it is pumped via a dedicated pipeline to ACSA's storage facility at OR Tambo, caused further disruption and heightened concern.
“Earlier this month Natref assured us the repairs will be completed by 21 February, but it has not provided any progress reports so we have no idea if it will meet that self-imposed deadline. In the meantime, AASA is cautiously comforted by ACSA's assurance that sufficient fuel stock has been secured to 02 Feb, but we are also painfully aware that while ACSA owns the storage and refuelling infrastructure and equipment, it does not procure or own fuel,” explained Mr Munetsi.
Fuel procurement is the responsibility of the fuel companies which have commercial supply agreements with the airlines.
However, since the local aviation industry shocks triggered in March 2020 by the COVID-19 lockdown, the fuel suppliers have taken a very conservative approach in their Jet fuel inventory management, resulting in a more than halving of the average reserves at OR Tambo from 11 days to around four days, which has been sufficient to sustain airline operations.
“AASA is not privy to those individual supply contracts and they are not made public. However, we note that the NOTAM imposing fuel uplift restrictions, including a ban on flights tankering fuel, from OR Tambo (ref. A0237/25 NOTAMN), remains valid until 1pm on 25 February, unless it is withdrawn before then. This suggests neither the fuel suppliers nor ACSA are able to guarantee the necessary volumes and that, until the shipments arrive at the O.R. Tambo International Airport fuel storage depot, we should remain concerned about potential disruptions to operations.”
Unserviceable and obsolete equipment
In addition, there are still too many instances of unserviceable runway and taxiway lights at major airports. There is equipment such as travellator passenger walkways in terminal buildings which remain unavailable after they were switched off during the COVID restrictions. Similarly, we note the ongoing delays and disruptions to passenger processing for both departures and arrivals due to the limited if not completely unavailable e-gates at our airports. These facilities are required for speedy, seamless and digital processing of passenger identify verification as is being done in most countries and is recommended by the Airports Council International and the UN International Civil Aviation Organisation (among other things, ICAO sets worldwide passport and verification standards). The modernisation of the airport management IT system is very slow and was stalled early last year in light of concerns with the tender award.
“While we commend ACSA for its efforts to comply with the Public Finance Management Act, AASA pleads with ACSA, National Treasury and other players in the procurement chain to expedite the processes so that the necessary work is attended to with the urgency it deserves,” said Mr Munetsi.
Suspended Instrument flight procedures, shortage of ATCs
Similarly, in its regular meetings with the Minister of Transport on various aviation related matters, AASA continues to express its members' frustrations with the delays in processing the approvals to the 326 instrument flight procedures that were withdrawn last July.
“ATNS failed to deliver on its assurances that procedures would be reinstated by the summer peak travel season for priority key airports such as George. As we have seen this week at George, the unavailability of the relevant instrument flight procedure disqualified the use of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) for Runway 11 - the runway in use when the winds are from the East. This resulted in numerous delayed and cancelled flights to and from George, aggravation for travellers and additional operating costs for airlines,” he explained.
In addition to the withdrawn instrument flight procedures many Areas Navigation (RNAV) routes and approaches, numerous standard departure routings for flights taking off from the major airports and for several upper and lower airways and routes between South Africa's major air traffic control zones remain suspended.
Exacerbating this is the shortage of qualified and experienced air traffic controllers and airspace designers worldwide, which has seen aggressive poaching of South African talent away from ATNS. Operationally this has seen ATNS impose “flow control” in the Johannesburg control area, i.e. limiting the number of aircraft it lets into the airspace at any given time by increasing the gaps between departing and arriving flights, so that the controllers are not overwhelmed.
“Instead of improving safety, the situation poses an increased safety risk. However, travellers should take comfort in the fact that their safety and wellbeing is our member airlines' operational priority and they take every possible measure to eliminate any risk, including diverting, delaying or cancelling flights, as inconvenient as those might be,” added Mr Munetsi.
SA Weather Services, cybersecurity
This past weekend's double breach of the SA Weather Services IT system, which meant they were unable to provide any aviation weather observations or forecasts on Monday (it is still offline but now posting limited forecasts on its X/Twitter feed) is a further aggravation the industry could do without as it is illegal to dispatch a flight without a weather forecast.
“In this day and age, it is imperative that our essential service providers have robust cybersecurity barriers in place, which are tested frequently for gaps, which are then plugged. Fortunately our member airlines have found alternative workarounds so that operations are not disrupted,” explained Mr Munetsi.
User-charges increases
All three of these State aviation service providers are applying to their respective economic regulators for tariff increases.
“AASA's position is that its members and travellers have been paying top dollar for services that have not been fully reliable and in some cases such as ATNS's failure to maintain the approval of instrument flight procedures, it collected our money but did not do the work. The regulators should insist on full audits of how those user charges were spent before entertaining any applications for increases,” he stated.
About AASA
The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), represents most of the airlines in the SA Development Community bloc on matters of common interest relating to government policies, legislation, regulations, planning, operational efficiency, safety, security, taxes, charges and other matters affecting its members' sustainability and the provision of affordable and accessible air transport throughout the region.
TAAG ANGOLA AIRLINES TAKES DELIVERY OF ITS FIRST BOEING 787 DREAMLINER
Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered the first of four 787 Dreamliner airplanes to TAAG Angola Airlines, debuting the airline's new livery. The 787-9 and subsequent deliveries of the fuel-efficient widebody jet will advance the airline's fleet modernization plans and long-haul capabilities, bringing more travellers and trade to Angola with the industry's most advanced commercial airplane.
The airline's first 787 Dreamliner, which is on lease from AerCap, arrived in Luanda just ahead of Angola's Liberation Day on February 4, marking nearly 50 years since the delivery of TAAG Angola's first airplane, a Boeing 737-200.
“The delivery of the 787-9 is a pivotal step in our strategy to modernize TAAG Angola Airlines' fleet,” said Nelson Pedro Rodrigues de Oliveira, CEO of TAAG Angola Airlines. “This airplane brings the efficiency and versatility we need to meet growing market demands, replace our aging widebody fleet, and deliver a world-class experience to our passengers.”
TAAG Angola Airlines currently operates five 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes, three 777-200ERs, and seven Next-Generation 737s, connecting Angola to 12 destinations across Africa, Europe, South America and China. The introduction of the 787 Dreamliner will enable the carrier to expand its long-haul network, with plans to launch new routes to Europe and explore opportunities in Asia and North America.
“The 787 Dreamliner will complement TAAG Angola Airlines' fleet of Boeing 737 and 777 jets, as we continue to support the airline in its mission to connect people and places across the globe,” said Anbessie Yitbarek, vice president of Boeing Commercial Sales for Africa. “Our 50-year relationship with TAAG Angola Airlines has been built on trust and shared goals, and we look forward to many more years of successful collaboration and innovation together.”
The 787 Dreamliner, which TAAG Angola Airlines ordered in 2023, is a core part of the operator's modernization efforts. Recognized for its advanced technologies, fuel efficiency, and exceptional passenger experience, the 787 Dreamliner reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 25% compared to the airplanes it will replace.
Coinciding with the delivery of TAAG Angola Airlines' first 787 Dreamliner, the airline is working with Boeing to purchase CO2 emissions reduction associated with blended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through an accounting process called book-and-claim. Distributors will deliver the blended SAF made available through these purchased certificates to nearby airports for use by airlines and other carriers.
Boeing's Commercial Market Outlook projects Africa will need 1,170 airplanes over the next two decades. Boeing airplanes have formed the backbone of Africa's commercial fleet for over 75 years. More than 60 airlines operate around 500 Boeing airplanes throughout Africa, which represents nearly 70% of the airplane market across the continent.
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES RECEIVED IATA CEIV PHARMA RECERTIFICATION
Ethiopian Airlines is proud to announce the successful recertification of its IATA CEIV Pharma (Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics) accreditation as an Airline and ground handling agent. This milestone underscores the airline's unwavering commitment in providing world-class air cargo services tailored to meet the stringent requirements of the healthcare and pharmaceutical manufacturers & shippers.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew commented on the recertification, stating, “This achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to excellence in healthcare logistics. With a global network spanning key healthcare logistics hubs, Ethiopian Airlines positions itself as a trusted partner in Pharma and life science logistics. We are dedicated to supporting the healthcare industry by providing reliable and efficient air cargo services that meet the highest international standards. Our goal is to make Addis Ababa the premier Pharma corridor in the global south, leveraging its strategic geographical location to address the logistical challenges of healthcare air transportation.”
The IATA CEIV Pharma certification is a globally recognized standard ensuring the safe and efficient handling of pharmaceutical products. Ethiopian Airlines, the first in Africa to achieve this accreditation in 2022, continues to uphold high standards of operational excellence. With this recertification, the airline reaffirms its commitment to modernizing cold chain infrastructure, specialized training, and innovative technologies to meet pharmaceutical logistics needs. This certification provides a globally acknowledged stamp of quality, reassuring customers, partners, and regulators of consistent and reliable operations, aligning with international standards and simplifying compliance.
Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics services is the largest cargo network operator in Africa. With 10 - Boeing 777-200F, 3 - Boeing 767-300F and 4 - Boeing 737-800F dedicated freighters and 150+ passenger aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines serves 70 dedicated cargo and 140+ passenger destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas with an average daily uplift of over 2000 tons. Ethiopian Cargo offers a dedicated service for general and special cargo including horticulture, pharmaceuticals, valuables, live animals, e-commerce, mail, and couriers through its cutting-edge, fully automated with state-of-the-art technologies cargo facility which has a capacity of 1 million tons per annum.
FAA STATEMENTS ON MIDAIR COLLISION AT REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT
With the support of President Trump and in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, effective today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will restrict helicopter traffic in the area over the Potomac River around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and stretching to Wilson Bridge.
These restrictions will remain in place until the NTSB completes its preliminary investigation of the air carrier incident at which point it will be reviewed based on NTSB's report. Review the full announcement.
FAA investigators are supporting the NTSB-led investigation of Wednesday night's midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport. The NTSB is leading the investigation and will provide all updates. We cannot comment on any aspect of open investigations. The FAA will quickly take any actions necessary based on evidence from the investigation.
A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time. PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and will provide all updates.
GLOBAL AIR PASSENGER DEMAND REACHES RECORD HIGH IN 2024
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released 2024 full-year and December 2024 passenger market performance showing record high demand.
Total full-year traffic in 2024 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 10.4% compared to 2023. This was 3.8% above pre-pandemic (2019) levels. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 8.7% in 2024. The overall load factor reached 83.5%, a record for full-year traffic.
International full-year traffic in 2024 increased 13.6% compared to 2023, and capacity rose 12.8%.
Domestic full-year traffic for 2024 rose 5.7% compared to the prior year, while capacity expanded by 2.5%.
December 2024 was a strong finish to the year with overall demand rising 8.6% year-on-year, and capacity grew by 5.6%. International demand rose by 10.6% and domestic demand by 5.5%. The December load factor reached 84%, a record for the month.
PAX “2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel. With 10.4% demand growth, travel reached record numbers domestically and internationally. Airlines met that strong demand with record efficiency. On average, 83.5% of all seats on offer were filled-a new record high, partially attributable to the supply chain constraints that limited capacity growth. Aviation growth reverberates across societies and economies at all levels through jobs, market development, trade, innovation, exploration, and much more,” said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.
“Looking to 2025, there is every indication that demand for travel will continue to grow, albeit at a moderated pace of 8.0% that is more aligned with historical averages. The desire to partake in the freedom that flying makes possible brings some challenges into sharp focus. First, the tragic accident in Washington last night reminds us that safety needs our continuous efforts. Our thoughts are with all those affected. We will never cease our work to make aviation ever safer.
Second is the airlines' firm commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. While airlines invested record amounts in purchases of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in 2024, less than 0.5% of fuel needs were meet with SAF. SAF is in short supply and costs must come down. Governments could fortify their national energy security and unblock this problem by prioritizing renewable fuel production from which SAF is derived. In addition to securing energy supplies and increasing the SAF supply, diverting a fraction of the subsidies given for fossil fuel extraction to support renewable energy capacity would also boost prosperity through economic expansion and job creation,” said Walsh.
Full-year international traffic surpassed the previous 2019 high by 0.5% in 2024, with growth in all regions. Capacity was 0.9% lower than 2019. The load factor improved by 0.5 percentage points, finishing on 83.2%, a record high.
For the month of December, international demand grew by 10.6%, capacity increased 7.7% and the load factor improved by 2.2 percentage points (compared to December 2023) to 83.9%.
Asia-Pacific airlines posted a 26.0% rise in full year international 2024 traffic compared to 2023, maintaining the strongest year-over-year rate among the regions. Capacity rose 24.7% and the load factor climbed 0.8 percentage points to 83.8%. Despite this strong growth, opportunities for further growth remain high, as international RPKs remain 8.7% below 2019 levels. December 2024 traffic rose 17.1% compared to December 2023.
European carriers' full year traffic climbed 9.7% versus 2023. Capacity increased 9.2%, and load factor rose 0.4 percentage points to 84.1%. For December, demand climbed 8.6% compared to the same month in 2023.
Middle Eastern airlines saw a 9.4% traffic rise in 2024 compared to 2023. Capacity increased 8.4% and load factor climbed 0.7 percentage points to 80.8%. December demand climbed 7.7% compared to the same month in 2023.
North American carriers reported a 6.8% annual traffic rise in 2024 compared to 2023. Capacity increased 7.4%, and load factor fell -0.5 percentage points to 84.2%. December 2024 traffic rose 5.1% compared to the year-ago period.
Latin American airlines posted a 14.4% traffic rise in 2024 over full year 2023. Annual capacity climbed 14.3% and load factor increased 0.1 percentage points to 84.8%, the highest among the regions. December demand climbed 11.3% compared to December 2023.
African airlines' annual traffic rose 13.2% in 2024 versus the prior year. Full year 2024 capacity was up 9.5% and load factor climbed 2.5 percentage points to 74.5%, the lowest among regions but a record high for Africa. December 2024 traffic for African airlines rose 12.4% over December 2023.
Domestic Passenger Markets
Domestic full-year demand reached record highs for passenger numbers and load factors. The standout performer for 2024 Domestic RPK was once again China, which increased 12.3% over 2023. There was stable growth across other major domestic markets. To note, Japan achieved 3.2% growth while capacity contracted by 0.3%. Only India had a fall in load factor (-0.6 %-pt), but still achieved a load factor of 86.4%-the highest among all domestic markets.
IATA RELEASES SAF ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING METHODOLOGY
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its methodology for accounting and reporting the emissions reduction associated with the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by airlines.
SAF is an essential component of airline plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The IATA methodology fulfils the critical need to ensure that SAF's contribution to aviation's decarbonization is accurately, consistently, and transparently accounted.
The publication of the IATA SAF accounting and reporting methodology is a critical step in the preparation of the IATA SAF Registry which is scheduled to launch in April 2025. The IATA SAF Registry is expected to play a key role in creating a functioning global SAF market.
“The IATA methodology will provide a consistent approach to accounting for the environmental benefits of SAF purchases, regardless of location. This is an essential component of the soon-to-be launched IATA SAF Registry which will enable airlines to claim SAF benefits against their regulatory and voluntary obligations, irrespective of where SAF was uplifted. The transparency of a published global standard methodology will give confidence that the Registry is robust and fair, with no double-counting. This is essential in creating a functioning global SAF market,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's SVP Sustainability and Chief Economist.
Key Features:
• Purchase-based emissions calculations, irrespective of chain-of-custody used and SAF uplift locations, aligning with ICAO's CORSIA approach.
• Optional tank-to-wake (TTW) or well-to-wake (WTW) emissions factors to meet varying regulatory and voluntary requirements.
• A consistent accounting approach to address regulatory and voluntary compliance needs.
• No pre-judgement of additionality[1] decisions by the claiming party, as long as no double counting occurs in the accounting of SAF emissions reduction.
• Guidance for SAF emissions reduction in per-passenger and per-shipment calculations.
• Core principles:
o A level playing field.
o Prevention of double-counting.
o Integrity in environmental and reporting claims.
o Transparent, verifiable data.
The IATA SAF accounting and reporting methodology was developed in collaboration with more than 40 airline experts worldwide. It is feedstock-agnostic and technology-neutral. Moreover, the methodology complements existing international frameworks and reinforces consistency without duplicating efforts.
QATAR EXECUTIVE ADDS TWO ADDITIONAL GULFSTREAM G700 TO ITS FLEET
Qatar Executive (QE), the luxury private jet charter division of Qatar Airways Group, is proud to announce that it has taken delivery of two additional Gulfstream G700 aircraft, taking its total fleet size to 24.
The two additional aircraft will increase the total number of Gulfstream G700 in QE's fleet to six, with an additional four G700s scheduled for delivery throughout 2025 and early 2026. QE's fleet also includes 15 Gulfstream G650ER aircraft.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “We are incredibly proud to continue growing our fleet with the groundbreaking G700, which delivers an innovative and exceptional experience for our customers. These aircraft represent our passion for redefining private aviation and offering the best possible luxury experience in the skies, exceeding the expectations of our esteemed passengers and clients.”
These state-of-the-art aircraft further solidify QE's position as a leader in luxury long-range travel and private aviation. They provide customers with the ultimate comfort and performance when combined with QE's unparalleled service and hospitality.
With its luxurious and spacious cabin, innovative technology, increased fuel efficiency, and long-range capabilities, the QE Gulfstream G700 is a stand out choice in private business aviation charter and has become yet another reason why so many choose to fly with QE.
Combining the G700 with its existing fleet of Gulfstream G650ER's, QE remains the go-to charter operator for ultra-long-range travel around the world.
South Sudan, GPOC Unity Airstrip: A Beech 1900D carrying oil workers crashed under unknown circumstances while on a flight from the Unity oilfield to Juba in South Sudan. There are said to be twenty fatalities. One occupant survived the crash. The airplane was destroyed. Apparently the airplane crashed upon take-off at Unity oilfield airport.
France, Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG/LFPG): An Air France Airbus A321-111, suffered an engine failure following a bird strike after take-off from Paris-CDG Airport. The flight crew declared an emergency and made an immediate return to CDG. The aircraft landed back at CDG, 15 minutes after take-off.
South Korea, Busan-Gimhae (Pusan) International Airport (PUS/RKPK): An Air Busan Airbus A321, was preparing for departure from Busan-Gimhae International Airport (PUS) when a fire broke out on board. The aircraft was parked on stand 55L and there were 176 individuals on board the aircraft (169 passengers, 6 crew members, 1 maintenance technician) when a fire broke out in one of the overhead bins in the rear of the aircraft. An evacuation was carried out using the emergency slides. In the process, three passengers sustained minor injuries. The aircraft has been gutted by flames.
USA, near Washington-Ronald Reagan National Airport, DC DCA/KDCA): American Eagle flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ-701ER operated by PSA Airlines and a US Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, callsign PAT25, collided in midair and crashed into the Potomac River near Washington-Ronald Reagan National Airport, DC (DCA).
All 64 occupants of the CRJ-701 and the three soldiers in the Army helicopter died in the accident.
The Black Hawk helicopter was from the Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. It was flying at low altitude over the Potomac River from north to south while on a required annual night evaluation. They crew had night vision goggles.
Flight 5342 took off from Wichita Airport, Kansas (ICT) at 17:38 local time (23:38 UTC). Prior to descent, the flight crew briefed the expected arrival procedure (TRUPS FIVE) for an ILS approach to runway 01 at DCA. Descent began at 20:15 ET.
At 20:39:10 local time (01:39:10 UTC), the Potomac Approach controller cleared the flight for the Mount Vernon visual approach to runway 01. Four minutes later the crew contacted DCA Tower. The controller asked if the crew could switch to an approach to runway 33.
After a brief discussion between the crew they agreed to runway 33.
At 20:46:01 the Tower controller called the Black Hawk helicopter, PAT25, advising them that a CRJ was at 1200 feet just south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge circling to runway 33.
At 20:46:29 the crew of the CRJ700 received a 1,000 ft automated call out.
At 20:47:29 the crew of the CRJ700 received a 500 ft automated call out.
At 20:47:39 DCA tower called PAT25 asking them if they had the CRJ in sight
At 20:47:40 the crew of the CRJ700 received an automated Traffic Advisory call out ('Traffic, Traffic').
At 20:47:42 the tower directed PAT 25 to pass behind the CRJ
At 20:47:58 the CRJ700 started increasing its pitch after a verbal reaction from the crew, and a second later a collision occurred.
While the Tower communicated simultaneously in both VHF and UHF, PAT25 could only communicate in UHF, and the CRJ700 could only communicate in VHF.
At the time of the collision, the altitude of the CRJ700 was 325 ft (plus or minus 25 ft).
