DESIGN AND ENGINEERING
Electra.aero | December 30, 2021
A new generation of cost-efficient hybrid-electric aircraft is making on-demand regional air travel commercially feasible. Electra.aero, a US-based clean aviation technology company and flyv, a German company creating On Demand Air Mobility solutions, have partnered to develop a revolutionary customer-centric air mobility solution that leverages the economic advantages of Electra's sustainable flight technology to offer travelers the quickest, most cost-effective route between locations in underserved regional travel markets in Europe.
Passengers will fly on Electra's hybrid-electric, ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL)aircraft, a fixed-wing plane that uses a unique combination of proven blown lift technology, hybrid-electric power, and distributed propulsion to operate on runways as small as 100x300 feet. The quiet, piloted plane delivers substantially lower emissions and operating costs than conventional aircraft. Batteries are recharged mid-flight, eliminating the need for ground charging infrastructure and enabling quick flight turnaround in diverse environments. The flyv service will initially operate between airports and eventually provide point-to-point intercity travel, taking full advantage of the Electra eSTOL's ability to take off and land in places previously inaccessible by flight.
flyv is a novel airline focused on regional air mobility. In lieu of a traditional hub and spoke network, the flyv scheduling platform uses a proprietary algorithm to optimize the daily flight schedule based on paid bookings and operational constraints. flyv will provide customers a guaranteed fixed travel timeframe to their destination at the point of booking, and exact itinerary details prior to departure.
"There is a gap in transportation services today between where ground transport is effective and where large transport aircraft are providing efficient service. We designed Electra's eSTOL aircraft to fill that gap, providing a more sustainable transport option than cars or traditional aircraft for short and medium distance routes up to about 500 miles, We are delighted to be partnering with flyv to pair our aircraft technology with flyv's innovative business model and flight scheduling technology to bring this transportation solution to customers."
-John S. Langford, Founder and Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of Electra.aero.
"Traditional airlines are focused on capacity, not on demand. We're building a new means of transport that is demand-driven and customer centric. We aim to connect unserved communities to as many other decentralized locations as possible by delivering the fastest means of transport from one point to another at market value-based prices, The economics were a challenge with conventional aircraft. The cost-effectiveness of Electra's high-performance eSTOL aircraft is the puzzle piece that makes the flyv model work. Our partnership with Electra enables a micro-mobility solution that connects the unconnected into the global aviation network in a sustainable way, creating economic opportunities for both communities and customers,"
-flyv Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anton Lutz.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), flyv will be Electra's air mobility services partner in Europe, and Electra will be flyv's OEM partner for regional air mobility services in Europe and elsewhere, with a commitment by flyv to purchase of up to 100 Electra eSTOL aircraft. The agreement raises Electra's total purchase commitments to 280 aircraft. The two companies will jointly explore urban and regional networks to be served by flyv, and will collaborate on elements of eSTOL performance, economics, and passenger experience as well as joint marketing initiatives. The global urban and regional advanced air mobility market is forecast by Morgan Stanley at $1 trillion.
About flyv
flyv is a start-up On-Demand Air Mobility airline connecting people in a demand-driven network, with a mission to connect every possible landing field in a single customer-induced web created anew every day. The company's core asset is its two algorithms: the fulfillment algorithm and the product algorithm. Together they enable optimized product offering and operationalization leading to a new approach in airline distribution and management. flyv's highly skilled team draws from various disciplines with executive experience from Amazon, GE Aviation, Vodafone, easyJet, and Lufthansa Group, as well as renowned scientific institutions and European airports.
About Electra.aero
Electra.aero, Inc. is a next-gen aerospace company leading the way in sustainable urban and regional mobility. The company is building clean, hybrid-electric, ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) airplanes that fly people and cargo quieter, further, and more affordably. Electra is collaborating with air transport and ground infrastructure operators to achieve a turnkey solution for diverse markets. Electra's team includes some of the most respected and successful entrepreneurs and engineers in novel aircraft design, and its technology development is supported by NASA and the US Air Force Agility Prime program.
Read More
AVIATION TECHNOLOGY
Boeing | January 27, 2022
Boeing [NYSE: BA] and China Airlines today announced the Taiwan flag carrier has ordered four 777 Freighters, adding to its extensive fleet of Boeing airplanes. Valued at $1.4 billion at list prices, the order will enable the airline to capture new market opportunities as global air cargo demand continues to grow.
"The 777 Freighter has played a critical role in our efforts to maintain profitability during the pandemic, and these additional airplanes will be an integral part of our long-term growth strategy, We are excited to add more 777 Freighters due to their operational efficiency and reliability. Our fleet modernization program will enable us to deliver added value to our customers, especially as the global supply chain continues to evolve."
-China Airlines Chairman Hsieh Su-Chien
The 777 Freighter is the world's largest, most capable twin-engine Freighter. It has a range of 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 km) with a maximum revenue payload of 102 tonnes (224,900 lbs), while contributing to a 17% reduction in fuel use and CO2 emissions per tonne compared to prior generation airplanes. In addition, the 777F will allow China Airlines to make fewer stops on long-haul routes, further reducing associated landing fees and resulting in the lowest trip cost of any large freighter.
"We are thrilled that China Airlines has again selected the 777 Freighter to serve as the backbone of its world-class air cargo fleet, The market-leading capabilities of the 777 Freighter provide added capacity, improved efficiency and greater value to China Airlines' customers, enabling the carrier to meet air cargo demand and position itself for long-term growth."
-Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing.
In 2021, China Airlines' air cargo revenue was up 186% above the pre-pandemic year of 2019, which nearly balanced out a 96% drop in passenger revenue. Last year China Airlines Cargo recorded the best year in its history – over TWD 100 billion (USD $3.6 billion) in revenue – by leveraging its existing all-Boeing fleet of (18) 747-400 Freighters and (3) 777 Freighters. With (3) 777 Freighters already on order, China Airlines' 777 Freighter is the perfect complement to the airline's existing 747-400 Freighter fleet, seamlessly accommodating the 3-meter (10-foot) tall pallets and maximizing flexibility for its air cargo operations.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact.
Read More
BUSINESS AVIATION
CAE | March 02, 2022
CAE (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) announced that it has concluded the previously announced acquisition of Sabre's Airline Operations portfolio (formerly known as AirCentre solutions), a highly valuable suite of flight and crew management and optimization solutions, for an enterprise value of US$ 392.5 million. The acquisition includes the Sabre Airline Operations product portfolio, related technology and intellectual property as well as the transfer of highly talented workforce.
"We are very pleased to welcome Sabre's Airline Operations customers and employees to CAE, This acquisition, in addition to our ongoing technological transformation and our previous acquisitions of Merlot and RB Group, allows us to expand our reach into digitally-enabled flight and crew management and optimization services and create additional value for our customers".
-Marc Parent, CAE's President and CEO.
CAE has been carrying out a growth strategy with the intent to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic a larger, more resilient, and more profitable company than ever before. The acquisition, the ninth accretive acquisition for CAE since the COVID-19 pandemic began, will further expand CAE's reach across its broad customer base beyond simulators and pilot training and establish the company as a technology leader in the growing marketplace for industry-leading, digitally enabled flight and crew operations solutions. CAE expects that the transaction will be mid-single-digit percentage EPS1 accretive, and even higher free cash flow2 accretive, for CAE within the first year post-closing.
Over the past two years, CAE has been unifying its digital flight operations business with the goal of delivering a holistic suite of solutions designed to improve operations and unite airline, business jet operators and crew in a single, interconnected and growing digital ecosystem. With the addition of this suite of digital capabilities to the existing business, CAE will now engage with pilots at every point of their career life cycles, from training and flight preparation, planning and scheduling right through to in-flight route optimization, performance and analytics.
The acquisitions of Merlot and RB Group in December 2020 and April 2021 marked milestones in CAE's journey to pioneer the development of a digital flight operations ecosystem. And in July 2021, CAE announced Project Resilience, a multi-year innovation program to develop the technologies of tomorrow, including digitally immersive solutions leveraging data and artificial intelligence in civil aviation. For more information about CAE's portfolio of flight operations solutions visit these pages.
About Sabre Airline Operations
The Airline Operations business includes almost 500 employees located in 12 countries, including 6 hubs (Dallas, Bangalore, Vienna, Krakow, Montevideo, and Shanghai). It delivers software solutions to more than 150 airline customers, with a portfolio that includes:
Crew Management: Enables enhanced long-term planning, innovative tracking and management, and disruption management decision support to help carriers manage crew schedules and keep crew members informed with real-time data
Flight Management: Allows airlines to manage the core functions of flight operations to deliver efficient flight plans and support increased productivity
Movement Manager: Helps airlines to gain a competitive advantage by optimizing the use of aircraft and operational plans to help meet commercial objectives such as protecting schedules, reducing disruptions and minimizing passenger impact
Airport Management: Manages airport operations such as planning, gate assignments and staffing to support increased operational efficiency, help optimize costs and improve the customer experience
In-flight: Spans all aspects of service planning, meal ordering, forecasting, operations, materials management, financial controls and reporting
About CAE
CAE is a high technology company, at the leading edge of digital immersion, providing solutions to make the world a safer place. Backed by a record of more than 70 years of industry firsts, we continue to reimagine the customer experience and revolutionize training and operational support solutions in civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare. We are the partner of choice to customers worldwide who operate in complex, high-stakes and largely regulated environments, where successful outcomes are critical. As testament to our customers' ongoing needs for our solutions, over 60 percent of CAE's revenue is recurring in nature. We have the broadest global presence in our industry, with more than 11,000 employees, 180 sites, and training locations in over 35 countries.
Read More
AEROSPACE
L2 Aviation | April 29, 2022
L2 Aviation, a leading supplier of global avionics services including engineering, parts, certification, installation, maintenance, AOG support and manufacturing announced today the signing of a strategic alliance with FEAM AERO, a leading supplier of aircraft line maintenance services with 42 line service stations world-wide and two independent heavy maintenance hangars in Cincinnati and Miami.
"Partnering with L2 Aviation provides both our domestic and international customers access to an even broader array of highly technical, avionics services. We look forward to working with L2 and leveraging our complimentary capabilities to the benefit of our respective customers."
Dan Allawat, Chief Strategy Officer at FEAM
"The ability to blend our global avionics modification and AOG services with FEAM's exceptional aircraft maintenance network provides our customers with unparalleled support," said Tony Bailey, Chief Operating Officer at L2 Aviation." Additionally, our companies are aligned in our belief that we have to continuously innovate solutions that matter to our employees and customers to make a positive difference in their lives. It is truly an honor to partner with the incredible FEAM team!"
About FEAM AERO
FEAM AERO is the largest leading provider of aircraft line maintenance services in the United States. FEAM has maintenance bases at 42 locations globally, including two hangar facilities, and employs a growing workforce of over 1,300 Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and Engineers. Over the years, FEAM has diversified its MRO portfolio to include Line Maintenance, Technical Training, Global AOG Support, Technical Support Services, and Base Maintenance. Our full line of services ensures our customers meet their mission goals and mitigate AOG ground time. FEAM holds EASA/FAA Maintenance Organization Approvals and approvals from several other domestic and international aviation regulatory authorities.
About L2 Aviation
L2 Consulting Services, Inc., doing business as L2 Aviation (www.l2aviation.com), with locations in Austin, Texas and Cincinnati, Ohio, provides global aircraft modification support services including avionics engineering, system design, repair, certification, kitting and installation for airline, government, military and business aviation customers. L2 Aviation specializes in complex avionics solutions and remote installations focused on reducing down-time and mitigating crew workload.
Read More