subject: Air News On Aerospace & Defense Air Show Held in Cape Town ,Displaying Of Business Jets & Boeing Aircraft [print this page] Air News On Aerospace & Defense Air Show Held in Cape Town ,Displaying Of Business Jets & Boeing Aircraft
This Air Show was one of the biggest and successfully held in Cape Town, South Africa for aerospace and defense showcasing of different types of helicopters and fixed wing aircrafts. Below find the stories of companies that participated,
Ansat Promoted For African Market
The helicopter manufacturers from the Russian Federation have traditionally found many clients in Africa and demand remains strong for these rugged machines. To capitalize on this strong market demand, Russian Helicopters, through its subsidiary Kazan Helicopters JSC (Joint Stock Company), is promoting its latest product, the Kazan Ansat light utility helicopters, for the African market.
The Ansat is a new generation of Russian designed and manufactured civil helicopter with a maximum take-off weight of 3.3 tons and is designed for the transportation of one pilot and up to nine passengers. It can carry up to 1,073kg of cargo internally or 1,250kg eternally and is ideally suited, Russian Helicopters says. For the VIP/Corporate, EMS, SAR and training markets.
It adds, ease of piloting ,flight safety,eco-friendliness,and high fuel efficiency are the main competitive point of the Ansat,"and according to industry experts they make it stand out in the Russian helicopters line-up as one of the most suitable helicopters for the African Aviation Market."
It is equipped with a cutting edge fly-by-wire system and powered by two Pratt& Whitney Canada PW-207K engines.
Russian Helicopters is also paying a lot of attention to global after-sale service of Russian-made rotorcrafts. In various regions of the world the holding and helicopters Service Company, which is apart of it, are creating and certifying service centres and repair plants. As planned this work will finish with the creation of a global service network.
Also on offer by Russian helicopters is the light Mi-34C1, Ka226T11bc, the new Mi38, and the heavy transport Mi-26T.
Gulfstream
Gulfstream had a low key participation at AAD with its flagship Ultra-long range GG550 model on display. Gulfstream was also promoting its new G650 ultra long range jet which it says will redefine ultra-long range corporate jet travel. In addition to its flagship models it also promoted the rest of its family of aircraft including the G150, new G250, G350 AND g450.
Embraer
Embraer continues it high profile marketing efforts in the region and showed off the Legacy 600 as well as the first African client phenom 100 that has been in service with a South African customer for a number of Months.The Company was unfortunately unable to debut their first customer phenom 300 due to an unforeseen delay.
A supplier of military training aircraft and jet and turboprop regional aircraft has identified the corporate jet market as a lucrative market to exploit and is systematically building up a comprehensive product portfolio based on clean sheet and existing regional aircraft designs. A number of the Legacy 600 jets are already in service with North and West African based clients and the manufacturer is confident that its new, improved Legacy 650 will be just as successful.
Alenia Punts the Spartan
Italian aircraft manufacturer Alenia Aeronautical is another hopeful candidate for the SAAFs airlift renewal programs me. It brought along its C-27J Spartan which it feels is ideally suited to the SAAFs as-yet-to-be-determined airlift requirement.The type has already been ordered by Morocco, with the first of a four aircraft order aircraft having been delivered just before the show. Alenia is confident of securing more orders from Africa which it sees an important market going forward.
The Spartan flew a daily display that belied the aircrafts size, the pilots even rolling the aircraft while a knife-edge pass is hardly the domain of a cargo hauler! The aircraft also spent a week on demonstration to the SAAF and SA Army following AAD before returning to Italy.
Embraer Delivers First Phenom 300 to South Africa.
Embraer has delivered its first Phenom 300 light executive jet on the African Continent to a South African Customer, John McCormick, CEO of McCormick property Developments. This is the second of the family of Embrear bizjets to reach South Africa in the past few months with the first phenom 100 having been in operation for the past few months. Unfortunately .a last minute delay precluded the aircraft from making its debut at the recent Africa Aerospace & Defense show in Cape Town where the Phenom 100 and Legacy 600 were both on display.
"We are especially honored to see our entry level and light jets enter service in South Africa," said Colin Steven, Embraer Vice President Marketing and Sales Europe, Africa and Middle East, Executive Jets. "With state-of-the-art technologies, spacious and luxurious cabin interiors, and a comprehensive support structure, the phenom 100 and phenom 300 are best in-class business jets. We anticipate that they will be an outstanding fit for the South African executive aviation market."
The Phenom 300 was launched in 2005 and can seat up to 11 occupants in a cabin designed in partnership with BMW Group DesignworksUSA.The type is certified by both the FAA and EASA and, in July, it was approved by the South Africa Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
The Phenom 300 is fitted with winglet-equipped swept wings and modern onboard systems while a single refueling port, an externally services lavatory, short runway capability, and excellent cabin pressurization are some of the jets distinctive features.
This is one of the fastest aircraft in the light jet category, reaching 453 knots KTAS (839 km/h), and can fly at an altitude of up to 45,000 feet. Its range of 1,971 nautical miles(3,650km) , including NBAA IFR fuel reserves, means the aircraft is capable of flying nonstop from Cape Town to Luanda.
Boeing Aims At Airlifter Requirement
Boeing is hoping to capitalize on the cancellation by South African Air Force of its Airbus A400M airlifter order by offering its proven C-17 which it describes as the worlds most versatile and capable airlifter. A C-17 of the NATO Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) fleet based at Papa Airbase in Hungary was flown to the show to demonstrate its capabilities to the South African Air Force. It is also the biggest and most expensive aircraft to ever land at AFB Ysterplaat, the short runway at the base usually precluding operations by large aircraft.
Boeing argues that the C-17 offers the most capable and affordable option for the SAAFs airlift requirement using a combat proven design. It is especially in relief operations that the C-17s capability was highlighted, given the country's involvement in peace keeping and humanitarian relief operations on the continent.
Boeing is also able to offer a number of finance options to the cash stapped air arm or even a lease option as used in the past by operators such the RAF. Production slots could also be available from 2011 to fulfil urgent operational requirements.
In addition Boeing sees a number of other military requirements for its products including the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft based on its popular B737-800 airframe, the Scan Eagle UAV and AH6i low cost armed combat helicopter based on the Boeing MD530 airframe.
Dassault
Dassault has been a long time participant at AAD and this year again showed off its flagship Falcon 7X large cabin business jet in addition to promoting its full range of corporate jets. The company already has two of these jets in operations with clients in the region with reports stating several more expected in the near future. A Falcon 2000EX EASy was also displayed alongside the 7X by corporate jet charter specialists Elite Jet who are managing this client aircraft on the charter market. Dassault, just six weeks before, delivered the first Falcon 2000LX to a South African based multi-national company-the first of its type on the Continent.
Thales
Thales announced as 26% Black Economic Empowerment transaction in relation to Thales South Africa (Pty) Ltd.Which is the holding company of its three South African operating subsidiaries. Thales Defense Systems, Thales ATM transaction has been entered into with a consortium led by Batsomi Investment Holdings. The consortium is 85% owned by Batsomi .A broad-based BEE trust having a 15% stake in the consortium will be formed, the beneficiaries of which will be South African military veterans.
Thales has awarded a contract by the Democratic Republic of Congos Ministry of Transport for the commissioning of an Air Traffic Management / Air Traffic Control Surveillance system. This will be the first such system to control one of Africa's largest country's airspace. The Thales turn-key solution will include the latest EUROCAT control centre, Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast(ADS-B) stations in Kinshasa ,Lumbumbashi,Buta,Mbandaka and Ilebo, and a digital-Automatic terminal Information Station (D-ATIS) system.
Thales has also been awarded a contract by the ASECNA (Agency for the Security of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar) for the supply of navigation aid systems to 16 countries in Africa. The systems to be provided includes 27 VHF VOR, 13 DME and 1 Doppler VOR.
Thales has been contracted by South African Airways to supply its Top Series IFE seatback entertainment system for its fleet of six new Airbus A330-200S.The system provides a range or audio and video-on-demand entertainment using a 10.6" (In Economy) and 12.1" (in Business Class) touch screen displays.
