Aircraft News - Asia / Pacific

AirGuide Business, March 17, 2008

Mar 17, 2008

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is analysing data provided by potential suppliers of a new advanced jet trainer (AJT) with a view to issuing a formal request for proposals (RfP) soon reported Janes. Singapore issued a request for information (RfI) to a number of manufacturers in 2007, with the deadline for submissions by the end of that year. The RfP is expected shortly and a final selection and contract signature is anticipated in 2009 or 2010. Singapore is thought to require between eight and 12 aircraft for the AJT task. It is not clear which manufacturers received the RfI but it is likely that a post-RfP downselect will shortlist two or three of the current leading AJT contenders: the BAE Systems Hawk AJT; the Alenia Aermacchi M-346; and the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)/Lockheed Martin T-50. Mar 11, 2008

Adam Air, Boeing

Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation, in March 2007, found that none of the country's 20 major airlines met all safety standards (Category 1). Adam was placed in Category 3 owing to the January 2007 Boeing 737-400 crash that killed 102 and a hard landing the following month that broke the back of a 737-300 at Surabaya. The carrier later was lifted to Category 2. An Adam spokesperson told Antara that the airline was doing its best to improve its safety standards. "We are completing all manuals and revamping the standard operating procedure," he said. Mar 12, 2008

Adam Air, Boeing

Indonesia's dismal safety record is in the headlines again, and Adam Air faces a potential grounding after one of its 737-400s skidded off the runway at Batam Island's Hang Nadim Airport Monday, injuring five of the 176 passengers and crew onboard. The right wing, hydraulic system and main landing gear were damaged. The incident, Adam's third in 18 months, prompted Indonesian Transport Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal to warn that he may ground the airline. It currently is Category 2, meaning it meets minimum requirements but has deficiencies. A downgrade would mean it has three months to rectify problems or be grounded. Mar 12, 2008

Adam Air, Boeing

In March 2007 the Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation found that none of the country's 20 major airlines met all safety standards (Category 1). Adam Air was placed in Category 3 owing to the January 2007 Boeing 737-400 crash that killed 102 and a hard landing the following month that broke the back of a 737-300 at Surabaya. The carrier later was lifted to Category 2. An Adam spokesperson told Antara that the airline was doing its best to improve its safety standards. "We are completing all manuals and revamping the standard operating procedure," he said. Mar 11, 2008

Adam Air, Boeing

Indonesia's dismal safety record is in the headlines again, and Adam Air faces a potential grounding after one of its 737-400s skidded off the runway at Batam Island's Hang Nadim Airport Monday, injuring five of the 176 passengers and crew onboard. The right wing, hydraulic system and main landing gear were damaged. The incident, Adam's third in 18 months, prompted Indonesian Transport Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal to warn that he may ground the airline. "We are giving them a chance to improve. If there's no change, we will place them in the third category," he told the state Antara news agency. It currently is Category 2, meaning it meets minimum requirements but has deficiencies. A downgrade would mean it has three months to rectify problems or be grounded. Mar 11, 2008

All Nippon Airways, Boeing

All Nippon Airways, the first customer for Boeing's 787 jet, has demanded that the plane maker provide a delivery schedule for the twice-delayed aircraft by the end of this month, on which it will base compensation claims. All Nippon, with 50 of Boeing's 787 planes on order, is expanding its fleet by 15% and needs the aircraft to fly new international routes in 2010, Osamu Shinobe, the head of the airline's 787 program, said. ANA is expanding flights to India and China as it loses domestic passengers to a discount rival. The Tokyo-based airline will be forced to use older, less fuel-efficient aircraft that it had planned to retire because Boeing has fallen about eight months behind schedule. Mar 13, 2008

Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Airbus

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is also reviewing a separate offer for planes from Europe's Airbus. "Airbus will make a presentation within the next 10 days," Jamil said. Biman became a public limited company in July, still 100 percent state-owned, as part of a rescue plan by the country's army-backed interim government. It flies 19 international routes with a fleet of 12 aircraft, but faces competition from four smaller, local private airlines, one of which has extended its operations to include regional routes connecting Bangladesh capital Dhaka to Kuala Lampur, Singapore, Delhi and Dubai. Bangladesh and India have recently agreed to increase flight frequencies between the two countries. Mar 10, 2008

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines took delivery of the third production A380 (MSN006) Saturday. The Trent 900-powered, 471-seat aircraft will be placed into Singapore-London Heathrow service on March 18. Mar 12, 2008