Page 55 - World Airnews News July 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

LEONARDO GAINS EASA

APPROVAL

the new Phase 5 avionics release can
also operate to the higher altitude.
Leonardo Helicopters has secured Maximum take-off and landing
European certification for the Safran altitude also grows to 14,000ft, up
Helicopter Engines Aneto-1K-powered from 8,000ft previously. Maximum
variant of its AW189 super-medium twin. take-off weight for the AW189K is
8.6t, in line with the higher limit
Issued on 8 June by the European available on CT7-powered versions.
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the However, the EASA document notes
approval added the higher-power Aneto to that “operations in limited icing condi-
the existing GE Aviation CT7-2E1 engine on tions and operations in known icing
the type. conditions are not allowed on AW189
EASA type certification documentation with Safran Aneto-1K engines.” Gulf Helicopters of Qatar is the launch
shows the Aneto-1K-equipped variant - the Leonardo Helicopters launched the customer for the variant, with deliveries
AW189K - can operate up to 15,000ft, some AW189K in 2017, with the 2,500shp of an undisclosed quantity due to start in
5,000ft more than the baseline GE-engined (1,860kW) Aneto-1K achieving certification mid-2021. Q
model. in December 2019. It provides 25% more Article courtesy: https://www.flightglob-
However, GE-powered helicopters with power than the CT7, the airframer said. al.com/.

AFRICAN

NIGERIA AIRPORT

RE-OPENING

HINDERED BY

MULTIPLE ISSUES

systems in view
of the COVID-19
Indications are that Nigeria's planned pandemic before
re-opening of local airports have been re-opening the
slowed down by multiple hurdles in the airports for
aviation sector. operations.
As the most populous African country In addition to definitely on June 21. This is not a feasible
strives to navigate the challenges posed by this, most aviation workers in the country date to resume operations," Musa Nuhu,
the COVID-19 pandemic, the government had not been paid their wages since the director-general of the NCAA, told the
shut down airports and are now consider- country was locked down by the authorities media in Abuja.
ing the re-opening. since March, the aviation union said. According to Nuhu, the NCAA would not
Current indications are the re-opening is Noting that the aviation sector is key approve the resumption of flight opera-
‘unrealistic’ for now, the Nigerian Senate to the socio-economic development of tions until it is satisfied that the operations
said after a meeting between lawmakers Nigeria, Adeyemi said the legislature was can be carried out "in a safe and organized
and local aviation workers recently. in talks with the executive to address the manner."
"Though you emphasized the need to general issues. "We (the NCAA) will not be pressured to
unlock the airport, the fact remains that "The aviation sector cannot be compro- approve resumption because doing that
there are quite a number of issues that mised for any reason, given its importance without the appropriate checks would be
are begging for answers," Smart Adeyemi, to economic development. There must disastrous," he said.
chairman of the Nigerian Senate committee be mechanisms put in place to ensure As a precondition for re-opening the
on aviation, told the Air Transport Services safety and confront the challenges facing airports, aviation expert Llitrus Ahmadu
Senior Staff Association who raised some the sector before unlocking the airports," said there is a need for the government to
concerns experienced by local aviation Adeyemi said. ensure the proper provision of protective
workers due to the pandemic. In a similar development, the Nigerian equipment and other protocols, including
The representatives of aviation workers Civil Aviation Authority said the date earlier the re-certification of pilots, airworthiness
said at the meeting that there was a need set for the resumption of flights is no of the aircraft, and payment of the workers'
for special financial intervention and pro- longer feasible. salary, among other multiple issues that are
vision of necessary protocols, protective "We never said aviation is going to start currently being raised. Q

World Airnews | July Extra 2020
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