Last KLM Boeing 747 roars over sunbathers on Maho Beach, St Maarten

Maho Beach might not be the Caribbean's most idyllic beach but it's not the white sand tourists turn up for.  Located on St Maarten, the small beach is popular among plane spotters and self-confessed aviation geeks for its extremely close proximity to one of the world's most scary runways.
Runway 10 at Princess Juliana International Airport is so short, that pilots must make their final approach just 100 feet over the heads of sunbathers.

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Commercial Aviation, Airport Management

Aviation Capital Group Announces Delivery of One A320neo to SAS

Business Wire | January 25, 2024

Aviation Capital Group LLC (ACG), a premier global full-service aircraft asset manager, announced the delivery of one new Airbus A320neo aircraft on long-term lease to Scandinavian Airlines (“SAS”). Featuring CFM International LEAP-1A engines, this is the ninth of ten aircraft scheduled to deliver to the airline as part of a multiple-aircraft sale-leaseback transaction between ACG and SAS. ACG specializes in commercial aircraft leasing and aviation finance. In addition to aircraft leasing services, we provide aircraft asset management solutions tailored to meet our customers’ fleet management needs. To learn more about the aircraft leasing and aircraft management services offered by ACG, visit www.aviationcapitalgroup.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws. Any such statements, other than statements of historical fact, are based upon our current expectations and assumptions concerning future events, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Accordingly, such statements are not guarantees or assurances of any aspect of future performance. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Aerospace, Defense and Space, Aviation Technology

Liberty Defense Announces First Sale of HEXWAVE to an International Airport in Asia Pacific

Newswire | January 22, 2024

Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. a leading technology provider of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based next generation detection solutions for protecting secure locations against prohibited weapons and other threats, is pleased to announce that the HEXWAVE™ system will be deployed at an international airport in the Philippines. The sale was made by the Company's international distributor and deployment is scheduled for summer of 2024. The screening will be at the forecourt of the airport to screen people entering the terminal. Liberty's HEXWAVE product, a next generation, walkthrough, contactless threat detection system for concealed metallic and non-metallic objects, uses AI to provide automated decisions to security operators to process people at speed. The company started shipping HEXWAVE to customers in September 2023 and the backlog of systems has grown to over 30 systems. "We continue to see an increase in demand from airports on a global basis for enhanced screening at various checkpoints and entrances," said Bill Frain, CEO of Liberty Defense. "In addition to screening for aviation workers, airports are taking advantage of HEXWAVE's mobility and scanning individuals as they enter the terminal as part of an added and layered security approach." For updates and news, please visit the Company website to subscribe to email alerts or follow Liberty Defense on social channels.

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Aerospace, MRO, Cargo Management

TAT Technologies signs another 5-year contract with an international air carrier for APU MRO services with estimated total revenues of $10 million

PR Newswire | January 16, 2024

TAT Technologies Ltd. a leading supplier of products and services for the commercial and military aviation industries and the ground defense industries, announces a new contract with an international air carrier. This contract is a result of a very successful partnership between the companies over the last several years which led the parties to sign a global fleet contract. As part of this contract, TAT will provide MRO services to the airline's GTCP331 model APUs. TAT estimates total revenues from this contract to be $10 million ($2 million per year). By signing this contract, we further advanced our dominating position as the leading APU 331-200 MRO in the market serving the widely utilized B757/767 fleet by providing APU 331-200 repairs with a reputation for quality and on time delivery to this important market. In 2020 and 2021, TAT (through its fully owned subsidiary, Piedmont Aviation Components based in Greensboro North Carolina) signed multiple strategic contracts with the Fortune 100 multi-national aerospace company Honeywell. Under these contracts, TAT was awarded a 10-year license for repair and overhaul of APUs for Boeing and Airbus's key platforms, including B737, B777, B767/757 and A320 aircraft as well as the C17 which is used for military purposes. The Company is also a global provider for APUs leases to airlines across multiple commercial platforms with an additional exclusive 10 yr. agreement for the B777 aircraft, with Honeywell. Piedmont has completed its facility upgrades required to commence MRO operations for the GTCP331-500 (B777) and GTCP131-9 (A320/B737). Igal Zamir, CEO of TAT stated: "We are very pleased with this contract, which comes after several years of very fruitful relationship. By signing this contract, we established our domination in the commercial segment of MRO for the APU331-200.

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Business Aviation, Commercial Aviation, Aviation Technology

CDPQ and SMBC Aviation Capital partner to create USD 1.5 B aircraft financing platform

PR Newswire | January 30, 2024

CDPQ, a global investment group, and SMBC Aviation Capital, the world's second largest aircraft leasing company, announced today that they have finalized an agreement to create a USD 1.5-billion global aircraft financing and leasing platform dedicated to modern, fuel-efficient NextGen aircraft. This new platform will focus on worldwide opportunities in new technology aircraft and target an initial deployment of USD 500 million per year, over three years. SMBC Aviation Capital will source transactions and, under a sistership condition, invest in opportunities alongside the platform. SMBC Aviation Capital will also act as servicer of the platform, which will operate under the banner Maple Aircraft Company Holdings Limited. "Building on CDPQ's experience in the aircraft financing industry, through this new platform, we will continue to provide flexible financing solutions for airlines to meet their future fleet requirements," said Marc Cormier, Executive Vice-President and Head of Fixed Income at CDPQ. "We're delighted to partner with SMBC Aviation Capital, an industry leader with a successful track record, who has demonstrated their commitment to sustainable aviation, to find the best opportunities in the commercial aircraft industry and to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns over the long term." "We are pleased to partner with CDPQ on this new platform to benefit our airline customers worldwide," said Peter Barrett, Chief Executive Officer at SMBC Aviation Capital. "CDPQ is an experienced, well respected, global investment group, which is aligned with our own views on capital allocation and a sustainable aviation industry. We look forward to working with our new partners over the coming years on this collaboration."

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