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Dubai Airshow 2023: AAL Group showcased its capabilities

cbrown — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 08:02:09 +0000

Through collaborations with their key partners, the AAL team remains unwavering in its commitment to advancing helicopter performance, unlocking new possibilities, and exploring sustainable solutions through its effective partnership and collaborations.

Among AAL's long-term alliances AAL is proud to have had the following strategic partners present joint solutions at DAS 2023:

•   Thales, introducing state-of-the-art FlytX avionics suite paired with gimbal from Inpixal, a video processing solutions company
•   PBS Aerospace, a manufacturer of Auxiliary Power Units
•   PALL Corporation, featuring dust-protective device units
•   Paramount Group, a partner in joint development and production of the of composite blades in the UAE,
•   Airborne Technologies, showcasing the plug & fly SCAR-pod,
•   Safran, bringing forward innovative gimbal solutions represented globally across multiple platforms including Mi-type helicopters.
•   W.R. Davis Engineering, highlighting an advanced infra-red suppression system

AAL not just showcased this new technology; the company efficiently installs and integrates all this high-tech equipment onto Mi-type helicopters. The range of services offered extends beyond the bounds of the exhibition stand, always tailored to meet the unique requirements of their customers.

What sets AAL apart is its deep understanding of the operators, derived not only from building unique expertise based on over 23-years of successful performance but also from the company’s role as a helicopter operator itself, largely involved in diverse missions worldwide. The wealth of experience gained from serving both commercial and government clients in challenging environments has enriched the company with valuable insights into sustainability and enhancement of the helicopter platform. This hands-on experience allows the company to continuously improve and adapt its services, tailoring them to the specific needs of different operators and the countries they represent.

Thus, AAL’s commitment to supporting the Mi-type helicopter is largely recognized and endorsed by their customers around the world. Among the strategic customers, AAL offers its services in support of UN WFP operators and has presented its capabilities at the 15th Global Humanitarian Aviation Conference & Exhibition (GHAC) held this year.

Looking ahead, the company is already laying the groundwork for further expanding its service offerings, placing a strong emphasis on understanding and addressing customer needs. The culmination of these ongoing efforts underscore AAL's steadfast commitment to excellence in the helicopter industry.

For more information, visit: AAL Group Video - YouTube

Posted date

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00

Short summary

Reaffirming its dedication to sustaining Mi-type helicopters, supported by its outstanding performance as a self-standing internationally recognized MRO and manufacturing organization.

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AAL Group reaffirmed its dedication to sustaining Mi-type helicopters, fully independently and supported by its outstanding performance as a self-standing internationally recognized MRO and manufacturing organization.

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Dubai Airshow 2023: Blade testing for MI-type helicopter successful

eNethersole — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 04:34:44 +0000

The composite blades, with technical characteristics surpassing those of legacy metal blades, offer new benefits for operators. They allow for the replacement of individual damaged blades, rather than the entire set, ensuring cost-efficiency and minimal downtime. In case of any damage, a damaged blade or set can be swiftly repaired on-site, ensuring a shorter turnaround time.

“The integration of our advanced composite blades on AAL’s Mi helicopter is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to providing innovative solutions in the aerospace industry,” said Steve Griessel, Paramount Global CEO. “These blades represent a significant leap forward in terms of performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness.”

Posted date

Wed, 15/11/2023 - 12:00

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Paramount and its strategic partner AAL Group have completed the initial testing stage of the composite helicopter blades for Mi-type helicopters.

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Dubai Airshow 2023: Gulf Air extends partnership with Joramco

eNethersole — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:56:55 +0000

The agreement which was signed by Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed Abdul Hameed Alalawi and Joramco’s Chief Executive Officer, Fraser Currie at the Dubai Airshow 2023, will facilitate the maintenance of Gulf Air aircraft at Joramco’s MRO facility located at Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan.

"We are thrilled to announce the extension of our decade-long strategic partnership with Joramco, a milestone that holds immense significance for us," said Captain Waleed Abdul Hameed Alalawi, Gulf Air CEO. This collaboration is a pivotal move in enhancing Gulf Air’s maintenance needs to meet the demands of our expanding fleet and the longevity of our fleet at the highest standards. Joramco’s expertise, top-notch service, and regional proximity perfectly align with our dedication to ensuring timely inspections, high-quality maintenance, and passenger safety. This partnership not only signifies an exciting chapter for both companies but also signifies our joint efforts to shape the future of aircraft maintenance and raise the bar for the aviation industry.”

“Moreover, our collaboration with Joramco is set to transform our passengers' experience by enhancing reliability, punctuality, and operational excellence. One of the significant advantages of our partnership lies in Joramco’s extensive experience and its close proximity to Bahrain. Joramco’s proximity enables swift aircraft transfers, minimising downtime and ensuring the seamless and efficient operations of Gulf Air. Together, we are poised to elevate the standards of aircraft maintenance and enhance the overall travel experience for our valued passengers," he added.

Joramco’s chief executive officer, Fraser Currie said: “We are delighted to see the development of our long-lasting partnership with Gulf Air. As part of this new agreement, Joramco will be providing heavy checks for different aircraft types from Gulf Air’s fleet for the upcoming four years. The signing of this long-term agreement reaffirms our position as a leading global MRO provider, renowned for delivering exceptional services.”

Posted date

Tue, 14/11/2023 - 12:00

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Gulf Air has entered a strategic partnership with MRO company Joramco to optimise aircraft maintenance services.

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SHOW BUSINESS: Dubai Airshow 2023 Day 2

cbrown — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 12:04:07 +0000

An interesting highlight was the first widebody order from the former LCC, Flydubai.

Although dwarfed by sister airline Emirates’ orders, it signals an interesting strategic development for the Emirates Group.

Today’s Show Business covers latest updates from the defence and the advance mobility sectors too.

Pick up a copy of SHOW BUSINESS, being distributed at the show with the support of Collins Aerospace, an RTX Business.

Read the digital edition of the publication here.

Posted date

Tue, 14/11/2023 - 12:00

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The opening day of the Dubai Air Show proved to be a bonanza for manufacturer Boeing as major order flooded in from across the region. Read more ...

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The opening day of the Dubai Air Show proved to be a bonanza for manufacturer Boeing as major order flooded in from across the region totalling close to $100 billion.

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Emirates launches luggage and accessories made from upcycled aircraft interiors

eNethersole — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 22:09:51 +0000

The limited-edition range features a selection of suitcases, backpacks, handbags, cardholders, toiletry bags, belts and even shoes – all designed and handmade by Emirates tailors in a dedicated cabin workshop, at Emirates Engineering facility in Dubai. Scheduled for sale in 2024 in Emirates Official Stores, all proceeds will be donated to children in need, via the Emirates Airline Foundation. A selection of bags and accessories will also be on display at the Dubai Airshow in DWC, from 13-17 November, on the Emirates stand.

The collection have been gathered from the Emirates A380, as well as from 777 aircraft. All kinds of materials have been repurposed for the luggage and bags, from aluminium headrests, to leather from couches in the A380 onboard lounge, to seatbelts and even fur from the Captains seat. From 16 retrofitted aircraft, more than 14,000kg of materials have already been recovered. As the project continues, there is scope to recover up to 270kg of leather and 627kg of seat fabric, per retrofitted aircraft.

As each piece is handmade to order, customers may be able to request personalised laser engraving on some exclusive, one-of-a-kind bags, suitcases or document holders. Aviation fans will be able to register their interest soon, but these special pieces are in limited quantity.

The materials used are ‘high quality’ pure leather from the First Class Seats, seat fabrics of 95% wool and pure leather from the Captain’s seats. All fabrics are freshly laundered in a facility, then further deep cleaned by hand, leather-conditioned if required, and thoroughly disinfected before being sewn into unique pieces. Brand new lining is added to the bags, along with functional zippers.

Emirates has a team of 14 ‘tailors’, officially titled as Engineering Maintenance Assistants, whose role involves fixing and stitching any tears in the interiors of Emirates vast aircraft fleet. Four of these tailors are currently dedicated full-time to the upcycling initiative, crafting upcycled products and collaborating with suppliers for ideas on how to repurpose various materials.

Ahmed Safa, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president for engineering, said: “At Emirates, we are committed to constantly evolving our sustainability efforts, and looking at every aspect of our products and supply chain. We knew these materials could be given a second life, because they are originally of very high quality. We challenged our team to be as creative and innovative as possible, and here we are, with our own accessories workshop in Emirates Engineering Centre! This initiative is a passion project for our team, and we are immensely proud of how it aligns with both our innovation and sustainability aims, and even better - that all proceeds will benefit worthy causes via the Emirates Airline Foundation.’

Posted date

Fri, 10/11/2023 - 12:00

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Emirates is launching a collection of luggage, bags and accessories – all produced from upcycled materials from retrofitted aircraft.

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Dubai Airshow prepares for biggest event on record

eNethersole — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 11:06:28 +0000

The 18th edition of the Airshow presents an opportunity to welcome many new and returning industry stakeholders to the Emirate, and reflect on the recovery and growth of the aviation and wider aerospace sectors in recent years, particularly in the Middle East where passenger numbers continue to rise.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Middle Eastern airlines posted a 27.3 per cent increase in August traffic compared to the previous year, meanwhile globally, traffic now stands at almost 96 per cent of pre-COVID levels.

Dubai Airports also announced that it served 41.6 million guests in the first half of 2023, a 49 per cent increase against the same period in 2022, fuelled by a 43 per cent surge in second-quarter passenger traffic.

As the aerospace, space and defence industries continue to play a critical role for local, regional and international economies, more than 1,400 exhibitors – including 400 first-time exhibitors and 80+ startups across sectors including commercial aviation, advanced aerial mobility, space, defence and military, business aviation, air traffic management, emerging technology and more will unveil innovations and trailblasing solutions at the industry mega event.

An expanded space pavilion, in partnership with the UAE Space Agency, will also be a key feature at this year’s edition. It will see first-time and prominent players including the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) and several others demonstrate how the collaboration of the space and aviation industries are shaping the future of travel.

Dubai Airshow 2023 will also host a comprehensive conference agenda that will welcome more than 300 international speakers and feature more than 80 hours of insightful content to drive conversations on the most important industry topics such as sustainability, space, advanced aerial mobility, air traffic management, passenger experience, diversity, and much more. Countless networking opportunities will also support the Airshow’s position as a leading international platform for valuable business opportunities that will play a significant role in the future of the industry.

As one of the most anticipated aspects of the Dubai Airshow, the famous static and flying displays will return, with an impressive line-up of the world’s most advanced aircraft. The flying display will maintain its status as one of the most impressive ways for manufacturers to demonstrate their aircraft abilities to the global aerospace industry, while providing a breath-taking spectacle for visitors each day, and this year’s static display will set a new benchmark, showcasing more than 180 commercial and military aircraft.

Attendance from regional and international airlines will also reflect the strong growth and transformation being witnessed across the industry. Earlier this year, Emirates released its 2022-23 Annual Report, announcing its most profitable year ever with a profit of AED 10.6 billion (US$ 2.9 billion) compared with AED 3.9 billion (US$ 1.1 billion) loss in the previous year. Meanwhile, Etihad Airways announced a record-breaking core operating profit of US$ 296 million in the first half of 2022, compared to a US$ 392 million loss during the same period the previous year, and the world’s first premium leisure airline, Beond, announced its launch this year, further reflecting the return of the luxury leisure market.

Tero Taskila, CEO & Chairman of Beond, said: “Beond is thrilled to have this opportunity to showcase our beautiful, specially-fitted aircraft at the upcoming Dubai Airshow. Embodied in this aircraft is our vision for a ground-breaking approach to premium leisure travel, and promise of a pioneering flight experience for our guests. This marks the beginning of our journey as the world’s first premium leisure airline, and we could not be more pleased to be able to celebrate with industry partners at the Airshow.”

The same growth is being seen across the region. Qatar Airways Group published its annual report for 2022/23 highlighting an extraordinary year with profits reaching US$ 21.0 billion, up 45 per cent compared to the previous year, and Saudia Group just recently unveiled its new brand identity, part of its comprehensive strategy to support the advancement of the aviation sector, not only in the Kingdom but in the MENA region as well, to accommodate the growing demand.

His Excellency Ibrahim Al Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said: “This is an exciting time in the Group’s history. The new brand offers much more than an evolution of our visual identity, but rather a celebration of all that we have achieved. We are implementing a fully integrated program that will enable us to play a driving role in advancing Vision 2030, in line with the targets of the Saudi Aviation Strategy. We are committed to expanding the fleet of the group to 318 aircraft and serve 175 destinations. We are entering a new era, and we believe that we now have everything in place to deliver on our promise to bring the world to Saudi Arabia and demonstrate what the Kingdom has to offer from a tourism and business perspective.”

Posted date

Thu, 02/11/2023 - 12:00

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This year’s Dubai Airshow is set to be the biggest on record, with 1,400+ exhibitors from 95 countries and visitor numbers expected to grow from last year’s edition.

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Rolls-Royce completes 100% SAF tests on Pearl engines

eNethersole — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 08:44:52 +0000

In addition to testing SAF compatibility, the test campaign sought to run a back-to-back engine test with both Jet A-1 and SAF on the same Pearl 10X engine to confirm further improvements in the environmental footprint when switching to SAF.

The back-to-back tests conducted with conventional fossil-based fuel and subsequently SAF also confirmed a cleaner combustion of the sustainable fuel, with significantly lower levels of non-volatile particulate matter (nvPM). In combination with the low NOx combustor technology of the Pearl 10X and its additive manufactured combustor tiles, a reduction of all emissions was achieved.

Dr Dirk Geisinger, director business aviation, Rolls-Royce, commented, “Sustainable aviation fuels are a key element of our sustainability strategy, as they will play an important role in decarbonising long-haul flight. With its outstanding environmental performance, the Pearl family is already setting new standards in the ultra-long-range corporate jet market.”

The tests took place at Rolls-Royce’s business aviation headquarters in Dahlewitz, Germany, and are part of the company’s ongoing ambition to play a leading role in the journey to achieve net zero flight by 2050.

At present, SAF is only certified for blends of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel. By the end of 2023 Rolls-Royce will have proven that all its in-production Trent and business aviation engines are compatible with 100% SAF.

Posted date

Thu, 19/10/2023 - 12:00

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Rolls-Royce has completed a series of tests using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on its Pearl 15 and Pearl 10X business aviation engines.

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New Rolls-Royce engine for hybrid-electric flight completes successful first fuel burn

eNethersole — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 08:36:54 +0000

The engine has been designed using novel combustion technology to produce ultra-low emissions and this significant achievement confirms the effectiveness of the compact, power-dense turbine that will be integrated into a light-weight turbogenerator system.

The complete turbogenerator system is being developed for the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market. This includes electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) or electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) aircraft for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and commuter aircraft applications up to 19 seats. The gas turbine under test also has potential applications within helicopter, auxiliary power unit (APU) and defence markets.

Matheu Parr, customer director, electrical, said: “Rolls-Royce is developing all-electric and hybrid-electric power and propulsion systems for the Advanced Air Mobility market. The first fuel burn of our brand-new small gas turbine is a significant leap forward with successful stages throughout the test from light-up to the pull-away of the system.

“This significant achievement follows the fast-paced development time of the new gas turbine from concept freeze to ‘pass to test’ in under two years. The turbogenerator system will enable our customers to extend the routes that electric flight can support and means more passengers will be able to travel further on low and potentially net zero emissions aircraft.”

The turbogenerator system will complement Rolls-Royce’s electrical propulsion portfolio by delivering an on-board power source with scalable power offerings between 500 kW and 1,200 kW enabling extended range on sustainable aviation fuels and later, as it becomes available, through hydrogen combustion. This will open up new, longer routes than electric battery powered aircraft can support today.

The development of the turbogenerator solution brings together Rolls-Royce’s capabilities in designing compact and lightweight high-speed rotating electric machines, and highly efficient gas turbines combined with the expertise to integrate them on a system and platform level.

Test facilities and equipment, comprising 14 subsystems in total, were designed, procured and built – or adapted – by a global team in a record time of just under a year. The test set-up comprises commodity components such as valves and hoses, and bespoke subsystems such as the fuel injection systems, oil and ventilation systems, engine mount and water brake that were tailored to the specific test requirements for this new technology.

The first tests helped the team to develop highly relevant knowledge and generate real data to verify key technical attributes of the design. This will allow for design adaptations for the next set of testing, ultimately pushing towards the maturity of a certified engine with world-class performance for this new market segment.

Matheu added: “With this achievement we have proven we can apply our expertise to novel designs and are able to test them on a very quick timescale. This capability will help Rolls-Royce to deliver the products that will help us on our path to net zero within the ambitious industry timelines of the Advanced Air Mobility market.”

The turbogenerator can be used in serial or parallel hybrid applications. It is well suited to recharge batteries as well as provide energy to electrical propulsion units directly and therefore enables aircraft to switch between power sources in flight. The research and development of this technology is being partially funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

Posted date

Wed, 27/09/2023 - 12:00

First paragraph

New Rolls-Royce small gas turbine that has been specifically developed to power hybrid-electric flight has successfully completed its first fuel burn.

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Military Committee organising Dubai Airshow 2023 continue preparations

eNethersole — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 09:26:47 +0000

Major General Staff Dr. Mubarak bin Ghafan Al Jabri, Executive Director of the Committee, led a meeting at Dubai World Central (DWC), the site of Dubai Airshow, to discuss continued progress.

The meeting focused on reviewing the preparatory work for Dubai Airshow in line with the approved timeline and plan. The Committee also discussed coordination efforts with all relevant parties and key stakeholders to ensure that the event will be a global success.

The 18th edition of Dubai Airshow will offer new features, including an updated conference agenda covering several key topics, including the future of air travel and passenger experience, as well as the exclusive opening ceremony of the UAE’s Ministry of Defence’s UAE Safety and Effectiveness Conference.

This year’s edition will also host the largest space pavilion in its history, showcasing the latest technologies and solutions in the sector to drive innovation and sustainability in the aerospace industry.

Held at DWC from 13-17 November, the Dubai Airshow will welcome the participation of global leaders and innovators to discuss and identify future trends and explore opportunities. It will shed light on important topics such as space technologies, localisation efforts in the sector through the “Make it in the UAE” campaign, and the pivotal role of start-ups in accelerating sustainable development across the industry.

Posted date

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 12:00

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The Military Committee Organising Dubai Airshow 2023 said it continues its preparations for what it expects to be the ‘biggest’ Airshow to date.

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