ATR Begins Ground -600 Ground Tests
ATR launched the ground tests of the ‘-600 series’ pre-series aircraft, testing the functioning of the electrical systems and the equipment of the New Generation Avionics Suite, while integrating the first software package provided by Thales. The achievement is in line with the original development plan scheduled for the ‘-600 series’ ATRs.
“We are proud to have delivered the systems required to ATR and to have contributed to the success of the power-on of the ATR ‘-600 series’,” said Alain Boursier, Thales vice president, in charge of Regional and Business Aircraft. “The development of this new generation avionics suite will provide clear benefits to the airlines, by substantially improving the navigation capabilities and the performance of the aircraft, while reducing its operating and maintenance costs.”
The ATR ‘600 series’ pre-series aircraft, configured as an ATR 72, will take its maiden flight in summer 2009. The entry into service of this very last member of the ATR aircraft family is scheduled for the beginning of 2011.
The new ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 aircraft will feature the latest technological enhancements, including a totally renewed avionics suite, new PW 127M engines and additional 300 Kg on MTOW (Maximum Take-off weight Maximum Zero Fuel Weight), while building upon the current “-500 series” aircraft. This newest member of the ATR family of aircraft will feature the lowest fuel consumption per passenger and CO2 emissions.

Mozambique Airline Takes Q400 Airliner Family
LAM-Mozambique (Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique) will take delivery of a previously owned Q400 this week, and will acquire another in the near future. The aircraft are being acquired from a third party and the airline will use them for its domestic and regional services on the African continent. The airline brings to 30, the number of Q400 operators worldwide. The national carrier of Mozambique and based at Maputo, the nation’s capital, LAM-Mozambique currently operates jet and turboprop equipment on 10 domestic routes and regional routes linking Maputo with Johannesburg, Dar-Es-Salaam, Nairobi and Durban.
“The Q400 airliner has been making steady progress in the African market, and LAM-Mozambique is joining four other airlines on the continent that have selected the aircraft,” said Gary R. Scott, president, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to trend upward over time, driven by positive commodity prices and a growing tourism trade which will create a demand for additional aircraft in the Q400 category.”

Delta Uses ERJ 175 for Shuttle
In response to flying too many empty seats in its LaGuardia-Washington National shuttle market, Delta wasted no time in reorganizing its fleet doing just as Embraer suggested earlier this year when it pegged its E-Jets as the perfect solution for right-sizing fleets. Related Story
While maintaining the MD-88s on its Boston-New York runs, the airline is downsizing its shuttle fleet flying between LaGuardia and Washington National from MD-88s to Shuttle America’s Embraer ERJ 175 as part of its fleet re-alignment now that Delta and Northwest have formally merged. The effort is aimed at fleet simplification. The MD-88 and ERJ 175 will share the duty between January and March, when the ERJ 175 takes over permanently. It currently uses the ERJ 175 on two of its shuttle flights.
For now, most of the focus seems to center on mainline aircraft, according to a memo from Delta Senior Vice President Network Planning Bob Cortelyou who wrote the changes allow the airline to "deploy our largest aircraft to match customer demand between our hubs and highest density routes, while smaller aircraft will right-size markets where we currently have more lift than required."

ATR Delivers to Golden Air
Golden Air took delivery of its first new ATR 72-500 adding it to its fleet of five Saab 340B, five Saab 2000 and a second-hand ATR 72-500 recently acquired. Sweden-based Golden Air becomes the first Swedish carrier to introduce the ‘-500 series’ ATRs in its fleet. Since the beginning of the program, ATR has sold 974 aircraft (419 ATR 42s and 555 ATR 72s) and has delivered 806 (401 ATR 42s and 405 ATR 72s), thus posting a current backlog of 168 aircraft.
Commenting on this delivery, Anders Kallsson, managing director of Golden Air, stated: “We are delighted of being the introducers of the ATR ‘-500 series’ in Sweden, and to propose to our passengers the aircraft which features the lowest CO2 emissions and the highest standards of comfort of the regional aviation. We are also very proud of introducing an aircraft well proved and reputed by its reliability and lowest operating costs. We are very confident with ATR and we will glad to link the expansion and the upgrading of our airline with these ‘greenliner’ aircraft.”
Golden Air is a regional company based at the Trollhättan - Vänersborg’s Airport. The airline is part of the AB Thun, which is active in the field of shipping, real estate management and the aviation industry (where is active as lessor of both Saab and ATR). Golden Air offers low-price flights between Stockholm/Bromma and Visby, and focuses in the on-line bookings services.

Azul Takes First ERJ 195
Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras became the first Brazilian airline to take delivery of home-grown Embraer 195 last week as part of an order calling for 36 E-Jets, including 31 ERJ 195s and 31 ERJ 190s. The deal was announced in March, and also includes options for another 20 aircraft and purchase rights for another 20, and was the opening move in Azul’s launch of the new low-cost airline in Brazil.
Azul, led by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, hopes to capture some of the 150 million interstate bus riders. It launched its fledgling airline a month early than planned with twice daily Capinas-Salvador and Campinas-Port Alegre using Embraer ERJ 195s and ERJ 190s. It has a total of five aircraft and expects to take delivery of one aircraft per month with the final aircraft of the firm order arriving in 2011. Its expansion plans call for serving 25 Brazilian cities with 16 aircraft next year.
Azul's ERJ 195 is configured in a single class and will comfortably accommodate 118 passengers. A state-of-the-art entertainment system, with Live TV and individual screens, will be available and each passenger may select the programming of their choice. With a range of 2,200 nautical miles (4,077 km), the jet will be able to fly nonstop between any two Brazilian capital cities.
"Azul is very proud to offer Brazilian passengers the best airplane in the world in its category,” said Chair David Neeleman, whose previous airline, JetBlue, also operates the aircraft. “And best of all: this exceptional aircraft was designed and built in Brazil and, now, it will be operated by a Brazilian company. I know this is the best jet for the domestic market. Our E-Jets will be the 'greenest' jets in operation in Brazil, with very low noise and emissions rates. With jets like this one, we will write a new page in the history of Brazilian commercial aviation."
"It is with great pleasure that we make our first delivery to Azul Linhas Aereas," said Embraer President and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado. "I am certain that seeing our ERJ 195 in the colors of Azul is a source of special pride for all of Embraer's employees, as we add our first Brazilian E-Jet operator to the 51 customers we have in 35 countries, on five continents."