Page 27 - World Airnews Magazine December 2019 Edition

AIRCRAFT CONFERENCES

INDIGO SIGNS FOR 300 AFRICAN COUNTRIES SEEK

A320NEO FAMILY AIRCRAFT ADDITIONAL ‘HINDS’

By Vladimir Karnozov

ndia’s IndiGo has placed a firm order for 300 A320neo Family

Iaircraft – making this one of Airbus’ largest aircraft orders ever
with a single airline operator.

Comprising a mix of A320neo, A321neo and A321XLR aircraft, wo neighbouring African countries,

this will take IndiGo’s total number of A320neo Family aircraft TNiger and Nigeria, are looking to ac-

orders to 730. quire additional Mil Mi-35 helicopters (NATO

“This is an important milestone, as it re-iterates our mission to reporting name “Hind”),

strengthen air connectivity in India, which will in turn boost economic according to officials from

growth and mobility. India is expected to continue with its strong those countries who spoke

aviation growth and we are well on our way to build the world’s best at the “Russia-Africa”

air transportation system, to serve more customers and deliver on our heads-of-state summit and econom-
promise of providing low fares and a courteous, hassle free experi- ic forum held recently in the Russian

ence to them," said Ronojoy Dutta, chief executive officer of IndiGo. city of Sochi.
“We are delighted that IndiGo, one of our early launch custom- On the sidelines of this assem-

ers for the A320neo, continues to build its future with Airbus, mak- bly, Russian president Vladimir Putin held

ing Indigo the world’s biggest customer for the A320neo Family,” personal meetings with Mahamadou Issoufou,

said Guillaume Faury Airbus chief executive officer. efficiency with high standards of reliability. The choice of engine manu- president of Niger and Muhammadu Buhari

"We were believers in IndiGo from day one and are thrilled to be facturer for this order will be made at a later date,” said Riyaz Peermo- from Nigeria.

able to perpetuate this most fruitful partnership,” said Christian hamed chief aircraft acquisition and financing officer of IndiGo. Addressing the “Russia-Africa” forum, Putin said that the

Scherer Airbus chief commercial officer. IndiGo is among the fastest growing carriers in the world. Since its backlog of African orders for Russian weapons had risen to (US)

“IndiGo has brilliantly demonstrated the relevance of the first A320neo aircraft was delivered in March 2016, its fleet of A320neo $15 billion, making the arms trade second in volume after food

A320neo for leading low cost operators, and the A321neo - and Family aircraft has grown to 97 – making it the world’s largest. export to the continent. According to other officials, this year
now the A321XLR - provide our operators with the logical next step The A321XLR is the next evolutionary step from the A321LR. The will see shipments of weapons into Africa worth (US) $4 billion,

in cost efficiency, passenger comfort and market coverage.” aircraft will deliver an unprecedented Xtra Long Range of up to compared to an average of some (US) $2 billion observed earlier

“The fuel-efficient A320neo family aircraft will allow IndiGo to 4,700nm - with 30 percent lower fuel burn per seat compared with this decade. Although all of them should have arrived by 2018, Nigeria’s

maintain its strong focus on lowering operating costs and delivering fuel previous generation competitor jets. Q The “Russia-Africa” forum attracted 6,000 envoys from 100 ambassador in Moscow, Steve Davis Ugba, told local journalists on

nations, including more than 40 heads of state. Among oth- October 11 that only six Mi-35Ms had been delivered so far. Even

er things, they were shown a defence exposition focusing on though he did not give an explanation for the delays, they are likely

aviation and army equipment at the Sirius Science and Art to have been caused by US sanctions on the Russian military-in-
dustrial complex, making it difficult for foreign customers to make

NEWS Park. Among other exhibits on display at Sochi, there was an payments when shopping in Moscow.
improved Mi-35P in a completely localised version with Klimov

VK2500P engines, modern sighting and navigation systems and While acknowledging issues with contract materialisation, the
an extended arsenal of air-launched munitions. Noting that ambassador, nonetheless, stated that the remaining six helicopters
VIPAERO ANGOLA OPENS African countries operate over 250 Mi-24/35 series rotorcraft, will arrive “soon.”
He added that Abuja remains interested in co-operation with
Russian Helicopters CEO Andrei Boginsky said, “This is a rela-
tively large fleet, whose presence creates a substantial market Moscow. “Let me stress that, without Russian assistance, the war
VIPAero has announced the opening for repair, maintenance, and upgrade and provides a base for on terror in my country would have faced big challenges. There-
international co-operation.”
fore, we are interested in the procurement of weapons and their
of its executive handling station

in Luanda after the company Armed with a 23-mm twin-barrel fast-firing cannon, 80-and 122- timely shipment,” said Ugba.

was granted a handling license mm unguided rockets and Ataka ATGMs, the Mi-24/35 series is the Among other points of particular interests, he mentioned the

by the Angolan CAA - INAVIC on only attack type in the inventories of both the Nigerian Air Force equipment combat-tested in Syria, such as the Sukhoi Su-30 multi-

September 26.VIPAero Angola and Niger Air Force. They have both used the type against separat- role fighter.
has solid experience in aircraft ist and terrorist movements, most notably Boko Haram, an African Meanwhile, in January the Nigerian air force lost a Mi-35M,

management, operations, charter affiliate of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Apart from close air which crashed near Damasak in the north-eastern state of

and maintenance and has played a support missions, the Mi-35M can transport up to eight armed Borno when on a strike mission to render close air support for

leading role in the executive aviation soldiers in the rear fuselage section, or two wounded on stretch- the troops combating insurgents. Shortly after the defence

industry in Angola since 2011. “It ers accompanied by a medical assistant, making it instrumental in ministry released a video depicting another Mi-35M undertak-

was only natural for VIPAero to support of the army fighting terrorist groups. ing accurate missile strikes at night on a Boko Haram convoy in
open a FBO in Luanda. We believe The Federal Republic of Nigeria has Africa’s largest economy but the same area. Attrition has reduced the nation’s “Hind” fleet to

this will be the perfect platform to has long been suffering from religious divides and terrorist move- fewer than a dozen serviceable examples, urging Abuja to seek
continue delivering services to its ments, the latter targeting non-Muslim communities and oilfields. ways to replenish it.

trusted customers at the highest In countering this threat, the Nigerian armed forces-ranked among The smaller Niger Air Force operates a handful of Russian-made

standard of the industry,” said the top five on the continent-have been increasingly reliant on Rus- helicopters. In 2016, it ordered two Mi-35Ms, with delivery ex-

Fernanda Lobo, marketing manager. sian expertise and equipment. The 10,000-strong Nigerian air force pected soon. According to Russian media, during “Russia-Africa”

VIPAero also delivers certified operates a mix of Western, Chinese, and Russian aircraft, including forum, talks were held concerning 12 additional rotorcraft. Kalla

EASA Part 145 line maintenance about 20 Mil Mi-8/17/24/34/35 helicopters. Ankourao, Niger’s minister for foreign affairs, co-operation and

in Luanda. “We look forward to A longstanding operator of the Soviet-era Mi-24, Nigeria placed regional integration, commented that his country will employ Rus-

welcoming you on your next stop to an initial order for the vastly improved Mi-35M back in 2014 (along sian attack helicopters on anti-terrorist operations. Q

Luanda, Vipaero style,” she said. with six Mi-17s). Having received six such rotorcraft, the customer

firmed up the option for six more in October 2015. Article courtesy: https://www.ainonline.com/

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