airBaltic focus on its pilot training academy for growing A220 fleet
airBaltic will use its Riga training academy to train pilots for its growing A220 fleet. The Latvian flag carrier says it will train its own pilots after announcing new orders for 30 A220-300 aircraft plus options for 20 more at this year’s Dubai Airshow. The new aircraft order will bump airBaltic A220 fleet capacity beyond 100 aircraft, making it the largest European A220 operator. The carrier currently operates 44 A220 aircraft and...
Equal Skies Charter
A consortium of aviation organisations, currently comprising Aerobility, CAA, NATS, Biggin Hill Airport, Bristow, 2Excel, Saxon Air and the University of West London, have launched a research project into disability employment within the aviation and aerospace industries. Operating under the label, Equal Skies Charter, the consortium is inviting aviation and aerospace organisations to complete a questionnaire to help better understand...
Environmental Protection Agency’s ongoing pathway to axe Avgas
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its final determination on high octane low lead aviation gasoline (Avgas 100LL). The finding confirms plans to define a pathway that will ultimately enable a safe transition to a lead-free replacement. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) executive director for aircraft certification service, Lirio Liu, testing on lead-free replacements is still ongoing, plus...
Norwich Aviation Centre gets airborne
FTN met up with Rob Clarke, owner and CEO of the recently formed Norwich Aviation Centre (NAC), at the academy’s new premises at Norwich Airport. Housed in the airport’s former Park & Ride building, one could be forgiven for thinking that it’s not the most prestigious location for a new flight academy to set-up shop, but it’s proved to be a wise decision. Clarke explains: “First, it’s a great building with sufficient space for us...
UK airfield round-up
In a general round up of airport news from around the UK, FTN takes a look at some of those airfields currently under threat and some which are living the high life. With apologies to those airfields that have been inadvertently left out from this report, here’s the current UK airfield scene as FTN perceives it. First on the threat list is Old Sarum airfield in Wiltshire, which has been very quiet for the last few years after the...
VoltAero performs world first electric-hybrid aircraft flight using 100% SAF
French startup VoltAero has confirmed the successful first flight of its Casso S test aircraft, powered by a hybrid electric/fuel powerplant. Conducted from the company’s devopment facility at Royan, France, the Cassio S combustion engine used a 100% sustainable fuel provided by TotalEnergies, named Excellium Racing 100, which is made from bioethanol produced from waste that originates in French vineyards. “Based on initial...
