Page 8 - AAA JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2013 Online Magazine

NEWS

SilkAir finalises order
for 54 737s
Boeing and SilkAir have finalised an
order for 23 737-800s and 31 737 MAX
8s, a deal worth US$4.9 billion at list
prices, the largest order in the airline’s
history. The deal also marks the start
Boeing helps send relief to Bangladesh of SilkAir’s fleet transition to Boeing
Boeing, Emirates and a non-profit kilograms of gently used winter clothing airplanes. “The capability of the 737s
organisation called SpaandanB have and books. “The Boeing Bangladeshi will enable us to spread our wings to
cooperated to transport relief supplies employees are grateful to Boeing and even more destinations and increase
to people in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi Emirates for transporting the relief goods capacity on existing routes,” said SilkAir
employees at Boeing, working on behalf to help people in Bangladesh,” said Syed CEO Leslie Thng.
of SpaandanB, volunteered and collected Hussain, a Boeing employee who is part
901 boxes of supplies comprising 10,455 of the 787 programme.

AirAsia first to operate
Sharklet-equipped A320

Airbus has delivered the first A320 outfitted with
Sharklets to AirAsia, making the airline the first
operator of the new fuel-saving wing-tip devices.
Made of lightweight composites, Sharklets are an
option on new-build A320 Family aircraft, and are ATR launches Singapore
standard on all members of the A320neo Family.
“We are extremely proud to be the first airline in the Training Centre
world to take delivery of an A320 fitted with Airbus’ ATR has inaugurated its new Training
new, fuel-saving Sharklets,” said Tony Fernandes, Centre in Singapore, housed in
Group CEO of AirAsia. Seletar Aerospace Park. Meant for
both commercial aircraft pilots and
Embraer Legacy 500 ARINC to maintain maintenance crew, the centre has the
capacity to train over 600 people a year,
takes to the air Centrair systems and has been certified by the European
Embraer’s Legacy 500 has made is Central Japan International Airport Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The
successful first flight, marking the start (Centrair) has awarded a contract to facility includes a new Full Flight
of its flight testing. A crew of two test ARINC for maintenance of the airport’s Simulator that allows training for both
pilots and two flight test engineers flew passenger and check-in systems. These ATR 42-600s and ATR-72-600s, and an
the aircraft for an hour and 45 minutes, include ARINC’s vMUSE system for integrated suite of flight training devices.
evaluating handling and performance check-in and departure, and BagLink “We are pleased to expand our presence
characteristics. One of the pilots said baggage messaging technology. Jim L. with this new training facility focused
afterwards, “The flight was a success, Martin, MD of ARINC Asia Pacific said, on the rapidly growing regional carrier
precisely according to plan. In fact, it “It is an honour to be given the vote of market in Southeast Asia,” said Filippo
was flawless.” Deliveries of the Legacy confidence by Centrair to help maintain Bagnato, ATR’s CEO, adding, “The aim is
500 are expected to begin in 2014. the airport’s technologies.” to be always closer to our customers.”

8 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM