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DRC Airline Launches A320 Services

Kinshasha-based Compagne Africaine d’ Aviation (CAA) has become the first airline in Central Africa to introduce the Airbus A320 to its fleet and is determined to improve the image of air travel in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) and other Central Africa states.

In an interview with one of the owners of the airline. Blattner, World Air news’ correspondent, Serge Nzikoue, was told that the decision to buy Airbus was taken because of the manufacturer’s renowned after-sales service and for the proven low operating costs of the aircraft type.

The airline is currently operating two of the A320s it has ordered with others due for delivery later this year and during the course of 2012.

CAA is a family-owned airline that was launched in December 1992 with is first service from Kinshasha to Lodja city.Today,the airline operates from its Kinshasha base to Lisala,Bumba,Basankusu,Mbandaka,Kisangani,Lodja,Kikwit, Kananga,Kalemie,Mbuji-Mayi,Lubumbashi and Goma.

The airline has contracts with Airbus and Fokker for maintenance and crew training, including simulator training.

Congo Airport Development Surges Ahead

In a determined effort to improve the aviation infrastructure in his country, Denis Sassou N’guesso, president of the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), has authorized the modernization of many of the country’s airports in a multi-million project in keeping with a motto of “The Congo in a country of transit.”

With the uplifting of the whole transport infrastructure, including the general and airline aviation sectors being a priority of the state, work on the modernization programmes of the airports of Pointe-Noire,Dolisie,Ollombo,Owando,Quesso and Brazzavile,are already just starting, advanced or completed.

The new Brazzaville International Airport is in an advanced stage of construction, the main terminal building already having been finished, although not yet open to the public.

The completion date of the whole project is slated for June this year. The main runway is being completely rebuilt and will be able to accommodate the world’s largest passenger jet, the Airbus A380.

The actual cost of the airport modernization project has not yet been made known.

Discussing the overall transport infrastructure project, Michel Ambende, director general of the National Agency of Civil Aviation, said:”This will, revolutionize the country’s life. Rail and road networks, sea, river and air transport will all interconnect in an incredible transport infrastructure.

“Under the leadership of the Minister of state responsible for civil aviation, we support the president’s efforts in serving our aviation and respecting international standards,” he said.

Boeing-Built C-17 Fleet Surpasses Two Million Flight Hours

The worldwide fleet of C-17 Globe master 111 airlifters built by Boeing surpassed two-million flying hours during an airdrop mission over Afghanistan recently.

Reaching two-million flight hours equates to 1, 13-billion nautical miles-the equivalent of a C-17 flying to the moon and back 2360 times.

The representative mission, flown by a US Air Force C-17, airdropped 33566 kilograms of jet fuel in support of US and coalition troops just south of Kabul.

The C-17 has a mission readiness rate of more than 85% .It is claimed to be the worlds only strategic airlifter with tactical capabilities that allow it to fly between continents ,land on short, austere runways, and airdrop supplies precisely where they are needed.

“There’s tremendous satisfaction in knowing that in those two million hours, the C-17 fleet has saved countless lives around the world, “said Bob Ciesla, Boeing C-17 programme manager.

The C-17 fleet, now in its 17th year of service, has supported humanitarian and disaster-relief missions worldwide. With 226 airlifters in service around the world, the C-17 fleet continues to operate at an accelerated rate due to the recent troop surge in Afghanistan, reaching the two-million flight-hours milestone less than five years after reaching one-million flight hours in March 2006,when 152 C-17s were in service.

Last year, lifesaving aero-medical evacuations of wounded troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, along with relief missions for natural disasters such as earthquakes in Pakistan, Chile and Haiti, have intensified the C-17s normal workload.

Boeing helps keep the C-17 flying through a worldwide support and sustainment programme.”Boeing has had the honour of supporting the entire C-17 fleet since the delivery of the first aircraft to Charleston Air Force Base IN 1993,” said Gus Urzua, programme manager for the Boeing C-17 Globe master 111 Sustainment Partnership.

While providing relief following the earthquake disaster in Haiti,C-17s delivered nearly 14000 short tons of cargo; transported some 25000 passengers and 280 patients.

C-17s also played a key role in a record year for airdrops in support of operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. At the last count, C-17s and other airlifters had air-dropped more than 2, 4-million kilograms (45-million pounds) of cargo to troops in remote locations.

The US Air Force, National Guard, and Air Force Reserve units-have taken delivery of 206.Other customers include the air forces of Britain, Canadian, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, the Qatar Emiri and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for peace. India is expected to be the next C-17 customer.

NAC Takes Over Piper Authorized Distributorship For SA

National  Airways Corporation (NAC) ,with its headquarters at Lanseria International Airport,Johannesburg,became an authorized distributor for Piper Aircraft last month thus further increasing its position as arguably the largest general aviation company in Southern Africa, if not the continent.

NAC, through its wholly-owned subsidiary 43 Air School, is also the largest Piper fleet operator in Africa. Among the companies NAC has acquired in recent years are 43 Air School, headquartered in Port Alfred, and more recently Nature link Aviation, which had its headquarters at Wonder boom Airport,Pretoria,both of which will feature in the operation of the Piper distributorship in Southern Africa.

The Piper brand will return to its “natural ” home at Wonderboom,Pretoria,at the NAC facility (formerly  Naturelinks base) where Chris Briers and his team are at the helm of the marketing and sales effort. In addition, Attie Niemann and his team at 43 Air School will sell Piper products through their growing sales division in Port Alfred.

As part of the new commitment, the 43 Air School fleet will soon be supplemented with four brand new Piper Warrior aircraft, equipped with the latest state-of-the-art Garmin glass cockpits.

“This is in response to a demand from our growing international customer base to provide glass cockpit training and we are delighted with this solution,” said Attie Niemann, CEO of 43 Air School.

NAC will also work alongside the well-established Placo Company, which will continue to market these aircraft through NAC as an appointed representative.

Placo first became involved with Piper shortly after World War 11 when the late Piet Van der Woude established the Pretoria Light Aircraft Company, at Wonder boom Airport, the company name later being shortened to PLACO and then Placo.

A statement issued by NAC announcing the company’s appointment as an authorized Piper distributor, said:”Both Placo and NAC wish to foster, nurture and develop relationships with current and future customers, and in so doing, understand the need to assist each other in the marketing and sales efforts of Piper Aircraft.”

Piper Aircraft Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida, is the only general aviation manufacturer to build and offer aircraft for every general aviation mission, from ag-aircraft, trainer and high-performance aircraft to turbine-powered business aircraft and the Altaire personal jet. The manufacturer’s rich legacy is born of 71 years of unparalleled history, with hundreds of thousands of aircraft brought to market and more than 160 models certified.

Approximately 90000 of these aircraft are still flying and are being serviced and supported on every continent by Pipers 65 service centres, 40 dealers and 2500 field personnel.

JP Fourie,NACs executive director: Aircraft sales, and Jeff Earle, managing director of Placo said in a joint statement after the announcement:”This will usher in a new era for Piper owners and enthusiasts of unparalled product support, enhanced by NAC and 43 Air Schools broad footprint and supported by Placos knowledge of the Piper market.”

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