QUICKROUNDUP
AIRBUS
On March 25, 2022, Airbus announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airlift Global, a company backed by UK-based AUM Capital, to develop helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) and associated air medical service in India. The MoU was signed at the Wings India 2022 by Sunny Guglani, head of Airbus Helicopters (India and South Asia).
On March 25, 2022, Airbus performed a first A380 flight powered by 100 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The flight lasted for about three hours, operating one RollsRoyce Trent 900 engine on 100 per cent SAF. 27 tonnes of unblended SAF were provided by Total Energies for this flight. The SAF was made from Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA), was free of aromatics and sulphur and primarily consisted of used cooking oil as well as other waste fats.
On March 25, 2022, following a competitive tender process as well as an extensive technical analysis phase, Airbus announced that it has selected Avio Aero from Italy to power the Eurodrone unmanned aerial system with its engine and propeller solution, dubbed Catalyst. The Catalyst is an engine proven in flight, entirely developed and manufactured in Europe.
Airbus engineers tackled huge challenges and extreme temperatures to send an unprecedented scientific mission into space with their Solar Orbiter for a 21-month journey, passing Venus and the orbit of Mercury before entering an orbit that is very close to the Sun. It will then stay there for the next eight years, braving immense heat and blinding light every hour of every day to study the Sun.
On April 12, 2022, Air France-KLM finalised its order with Airbus for four new generation A350F freighters, following the earlier commitment announced in December 2021. The A350F is based on the world’s most modern long range leader, the A350.
On April 12, 2022, Airbus announced that it had completed wind-tunnel testing of its eXtra Performance Wing demonstrator in its quest to quickly test and accelerate new technologies that will decarbonise the aviation industry.
BEL
Anandi Ramalingam, Chairman & Managing Director,
BEL, presented the second Interim Dividend cheque of
` 1,86,89,60,967/- (Rupees One Hundred Eighty-six crore Eighty-Nine Lakh Sixty Thousand Nine Hundred Sixty-seven only), payable on the shares held by the President of India, to the Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, at New Delhi on March 31, 2022. BEL has declared 150 per cent as Second Interim Dividend (`1.50/- per share) to its shareholders for the financial year 2021-22.
BOEING AND AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
On March 25, 2022, Boeing and Airbus Helicopters signed an MoU to partner on the H-47 Chinook in support of Germany’s Schwerer Transport Hubschrauber (STH) heavy-lift helicopter requirements. The partnership agreement builds on the
India’s largest independent MRO and aviation major, Air Works was adjudged the winner of two prestigious awards - Best MRO Service Provider Award and COVID 19 Business Continuity Award at ‘ Wings India 2022’. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation, presented the twin awards to D Anand Bhaskar, Managing Director & CEO, Air Works Group at a glittering ceremony.
Commenting on the twin wins, an excited D Anand Bhaskar, Managing Director & CEO of the Air Works Group said, “We are on top of the world after winning not one but two awards at this highly prestigious event. Being awarded by the Govt. of India,
On March 30, 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Limited Series Production (LSP) at the cost of ` 3,887 crore along with Infrastructure sanctions worth ` 377 crore from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The LCH is an indigenously designed, developed and is a tribute to our commitment and zeal for aviation, our customer focus, and our industry renowned quality workmanship, that clearly differentiates Air Works from other service providers. Receiving the COVID-19 Business Continuity Award is a matter of pride for every individual at Air Works as it salutes our quintessential value of Never Saying No, and recognises the effort of each and every colleague who stepped forward to deliver on our promise to our customers at the height of the pandemic, came up with innovative measures and at times sacrificing a lot, while bringing honor to the Group’s ethos and reinforcing our value and relevance to our customers.”