Connecting Skies • Bridging Continents
Safety concerns loom large in offshore helicopter operations as a critical shortage of spare parts, notably main gearboxes (MGBs) for the Sikorsky S-92, puts the industry at risk. The aviation sub-committee of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) has issued a stark warning about the impending crisis. Currently, 31 S-92 helicopters are grounded, awaiting essential gearbox replacements, a number expected to double by the end of 2024.
SOUTH African Airways (SAA) will be relaunching direct flights to Brazil, nearly four years after it discontinued air services on some of its routes, including to São Paulo, as part of the restructuring programme during the business rescue process.
The X-59 experimental supersonic aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® (NYSE: LMT) and NASA Aeronautics, was selected as one of TIME’s “Top Inventions of 2023” in the Transportation category.
After some promising initial results in the use of drones for leak detection efforts across the upstream and midstream sectors of the natural gas industry, some natural gas utilities are piloting the use of drones as part of their leak detection and repair (LDAR) efforts. While the full benefit of drones to leak detection projects is difficult to quantify at this early stage, it is evident that they have the potential to revolutionize the way the industry addresses leaks, increase the scale and reliability of LDAR efforts, and improve safety.
Airbus Helicopters has inaugurated a new 3D printing center at its Donauwörth facility, expanding its capabilities in additive manufacturing. The center includes machines for producing components made of titanium, plastic, and, notably, aluminum. This additive manufacturing process offers various advantages, including reduced component weight, leading to fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions. Additionally, 3D printing enhances resource efficiency, allows for flexible production of components, and is suitable for prototypes. The technology employs laser beams to create shapes layer by layer, simplifying the production of complex structures and minimizing raw material waste. Airbus Helicopters has previously utilised this process to produce locking shafts for the Airbus A350 doors, demonstrating its potential for industrial-scale applications.
Airbus has announced plans to renew its fleet of chartered vessels used to transport aircraft subassemblies between production facilities in Europe and the United States. The company has commissioned shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs to build and operate three modern, low-emission roll-on/roll-off vessels, which will be supported by wind-assisted propulsion. These vessels are expected to enter service in 2026 and will significantly reduce CO2 emissions, aligning with Airbus’ commitment to reduce its industrial emissions and support the goals of the Paris Agreement. The vessels will be powered by a combination of wind-assisted propulsion, dual-fuel engines, and optimised routing software, making them more environmentally friendly and efficient.
Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today the Army has officially delivered GE Aerospace’s T901 Improved Turbine Engine to Bell for its submission for the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program. With the engine’s arrival, Bell is prepared to complete the build for the Bell 360 Invictus competitive prototype and
BELL RECEIVES T901 IMPROVED TURBINE ENGINE FOR BELL 360 INVICTUSRead More »
Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services, the leading air cargo network operator in Africa, was awarded the “Best Cargo Airline-Africa” accolade at the inaugural Arabian Cargo Awards held in Dubai, UAE, on October 24, 2023. The Arabian Cargo Awards is a platform in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region designed to acknowledge achievements in the Cargo & Logistics Industry.
– Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT) is beginning the installation process of the U.S. Army’s new Improved Turbine Engine (ITEP) on its RAIDER X® aircraft designed for the Future Attack Reconnaissance (FARA) program. The U.S. Army and Sikorsky engineers reviewed the engine after its arrival at the company’s West Palm Beach facility and then transferred it to the engine integration test lab next to the RAIDER X assembly area on Oct 20.
Breakthrough RAMFIRE project introduces lightweight, heat-resistant nozzle for next-gen rocket engines
