AVIATION MEGAFORCE

      Over 40 bodies found in AirAsia search     A body recovered on Wednesday from the crashed AirAsia plane was wearing a life jacket, an official with Indonesia's search and rescue agency said, raising questions about how the disaster unfolded. Seven bodies have been recovered from the sea, some fully clothed, which could indicate the Airbus A320-200 was intact when it hit the water. That would support a theory that it suffered an aerodynamic stall. The fact that one person put on a life jacket would appear to indicate those on board had at least some time before the aircraft hit the water, or after it hit the water and before it sank.​ AirAsia crash — 40 bodies found in sea AirAsia jet with 159 aboard overshoots runway My heart is filled with sadness: Air Asia boss "The fact that the debris appears fairly contained suggests the aircraft broke up when it hit the water, rather than i...

Allen appointed president of Boeing International CFO Smith to oversee Business Development and Strategy Myers to lead Boeing Capital Corporation CHICAGO ,  Dec. 19, 2014  /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing International President Shephard W. Hill has announced his plans to retire from the company effective  April 1, 2015 . Hill, who also led the company's Business Development & Strategy organization, served in a variety of key positions throughout his 28-year Boeing career. Marc Allen  has been appointed to succeed Hill, 62, as president, Boeing International, overseeing the company's international business initiatives with leadership responsibilities for 18 Boeing in-country operations around the world. Allen, 41, will move from Boeing Capital Corp., the company's financing subsidiary, where he served as president. Boeing Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer  Greg Smith will take on Hill's responsibilities in business developmen...

Colombian flag carrier to use airplane on routes to Europe, North America, across South America Boeing and Avianca  celebrated the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner for the Latin American carrier, helping the airline stay at the forefront of technology in the region. "The addition of the first Boeing 787-8 to Avianca's fleet is a milestone for commercial aviation and for our airline, which strives to bring the most advanced aviation technology to our passengers," said Avianca President and CEO  Fabio Villegas Ramirez . "With this aircraft, we continue to fulfill the dream this company has had from the beginning: To make better and better connections between  Latin America  and the world, while giving our customers more enjoyable flights aboard airplanes designed to provide the greatest comfort along with maximum operational performance." The 787 is a family of technologically advanced, super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. In...

News Release Issued: Dec 18, 2014 (8:03am EST) To view this release online and get more information about Boeing, visit: http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=20295&item=129292 Boeing, Avianca Celebrate Delivery of Airline's First 787 Dreamliner Colombian flag carrier to use airplane on routes to Europe, North America, across South America EVERETT, Wash., Dec. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Avianca celebrated the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner for the Latin American carrier, helping the airline stay at the forefront of technology in the region. "The addition of the first Boeing 787-8 to Avianca's fleet is a milestone for commercial aviation and for our airline, which strives to bring the most advanced aviation technology to our passengers," said Avianca President and CEO Fabio Villegas Ramirez. "With this aircraft, we continue to fulfill the dream this company has had from the beginning: To make better and better connections b...

The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL has relocated its Head Office to a new Corporate Headquarters located at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Cargo Complex. This is a remarkable development in the life of the growing fortune of SAHCOL, as it is the first time the Management of the company is being housed in one edifice, after the fire incident that gutted the warehouse/Offices of the Company, on November 21, 2002. This is a further confirmation that Privatization is paying off for SAHCOL, as less than five Years of handling over SAHCOL to SIFAX Group, the Company started and completed the construction of a befitting Corporate Headquarters. In the five Years of SIFAX GROUP involvement in SAHCOL, through the Board Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi the Ground Handling Company has experienced massive purchase/deployment of Modern State-of-the-art equipment, constant training for all staff, international Certification/Recertification, Construction of a world ...

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has advised operators of all cargo flights to find alternative entry points for their cargo operations rather than the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. Already, FAAN has advised the Nigerian Airspace Manager Agency (NAMA) to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to this effect. According to the General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, Yakubu Dati explained that this has become imperative due to the congestion created by the backlog of cargo following the two-week closure of the terminal by the Nigerian Customs Service. The Authority, he pointed out has initiated measures to accelerate the clearance of these goods and return the situation to normalcy. Airlines and importers were therefore advised to make use of alternative airports. Dati said :"The Authority is constrained to take this measure for the time being for the safety and security of all concerned. The inconvenience this might cause is highly ...

 28 VIEWS NAHCO SACKS 20 WORKERS Two weeks after the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) sacked over 187 workers, the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) has also sacked no fewer than 20 of its top management staff under on-going ‘restructuring’ exercise. There are indications that more workers would be axed before the end of the year. Some of the affected persons included Assistant General Managers, General Managers and others while the affected departments included Human Resources, Corporate Communications, Risks Management departments and the office of the Managing Director. The gale of retrenchment it would be recalled started in October with the removal of the Managing Director, Mr. Kayode Oluwasegun-Ojo by the Board of Directors and the immediate announcement of a replacement for him. NAHCO had claimed then that the removal of Oluwasegun-Ojo was in line with the company’s succession plan and good corporate principles. The board then anno...

Boeing adds 7,000 square feet of lab space to research center; construction will be complete in mid-2015 Boeing  announced today that  it has begun construction on a 7,000-square-foot addition to its research and technology center in Alabama. Known as the Center for Applied Simulation and Analytics (CASA), the new lab space will serve as a hub for Boeing, its research partners and academic collaborators to create and develop simulation and analytics technologies, providing advanced simulation of Boeing products from concepts through operations. "This lab will help us create flexible and affordable environments for modeling, simulation and analytics research," said Steve Swaine, leader of the Boeing Research &Technology–Alabama research center and director of Support and Analytics Technology. "Our goal is to bring the best and brightest in the support and analytics industry together in one location and give them all the tools they need to create the most ...

EMBERS of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) have stressed the need for the engagement of more hands by the Federal Government to replace retiring engineers in the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), in order to ensure continuity and safety of air travel.   Speaking to journalists in Lagos after arriving from NAAE’s AGM /Election in Enugu, the National President, Makanjuola Ebenezer said the call became necessary as a result of the number of engineers that will be disengaging from the system next year.   According to Ebenezer, the association was trying to avoid the negative safety implications of not replacing retired engineers in NAMA as soon as they were out of the system.   The NAAE president explained that with a reliable and safe airspace in the country there was need to fill the vaccum as soon as possible to ensue that there was no gap in the system.   While stressing the need for training and retaining of his members Eng...

- Strong air transport industry fundamentals underpinning finance market health - New participants attracted by decades of predictable, attractive returns - Export credit usage to continue at historically low levels Boeing says decades of predictable, attractive returns have led to unprecedented diversity, efficiency and volume of financing for commercial airplanes, with airlines and lessors set to benefit from increased competition among lenders and historically low interest rates in 2015. The seventh annual Boeing Current Aircraft Finance Market Outlook, released today, forecasts the sources of financing for new commercial airplane deliveries in the coming year and the industry's overall delivery financing requirements for the next five years. "The strength we're seeing in aircraft finance is largely the result of a healthy and balanced global demand for new aircraft, which is being driven by anticipated growth in passenger traffic, record airline profitabil...

Efficiency of 737 supports the new start-up carrier's growth Boeing  and Ruili Airlines today celebrated the arrival of the airline's first direct purchase Next-Generation 737-700. Ruili is a newly established private airline based at Changshui International Airport in Kunming, the capital city of China's Yunnan province. "This is a momentous step forward for Ruili Airlines as we continue to enhance our fleet," said Ma Zhanwei, president, Ruili Airlines. "We hope that the competitive advantages offered by the 737 will enable us to grow from a start-up airline to a driving force in China's aviation industry."   The new airplane is the first of 14 737 orders and commitments from Ruili Airlines, including eight 737-700s and six 737 MAXs. The carrier currently operates two 737-700s and one 737-800 serving seven domestic routes in China. "We are honored to celebrate this milestone delivery with Ruili Airlines," said Ihssane Mounir, vi...

On-schedule arrival in India reinforces in-country partnership Photos (1)  Boeing has delivered the sixth P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to India, on schedule, on Nov. 24, arriving at Naval Air Station Rajali to join five others being used by the Indian Navy.   The P-8I is part of a contract of eight awarded in 2009. The final two deliveries are scheduled for 2015.   “The P-8I’s arrival in India is another key milestone for the program and marks our final delivery of the year,” said Dennis Swanson, vice president, Boeing Defense, Space & Security in India. “The Indian Navy is currently conducting missions with the first five aircraft, and this newest P-8I will begin flight trials in the coming months.” Based on the company’s Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, the P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing builds for the U.S. Navy.    The P-8I incorporates not only India-unique design features, but also Indian-bu...

MD/CE PERFORMANCE RATED HIGH IN 300 DAYS IN OFFICE The administration of the current Managing Director/CE of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam has been rated high for the giant strides and achievements recorded just 300 days in office. This was made known at an enlarged management meeting of the agency held last Monday in Lagos. Most speakers at the meeting lauded the managing Director for his silent revolution describing him as an agent of great change and a blessing to the agency. During this period, Engr. Abdulsalam, has purchased two shuttle buses to take workers particularly the Air Traffic Controllers to and from TRACON site, improved industrial relations, positive reports in the media, cordial relations with professional bodies and NCAT; allocation of 50 units of 2 bedroom flats in Abuja, reviving em-block payment, on-time payment of BTA and resolving diesel challenges, retreat for operational staff and JCC amongst other. Earlier on, Engr. Abdu...