ATR

Thailand-based Bangkok Airways has taken delivery of its eighth ATR 72-500. Irish-based Aircraft International Renting purchased the aircraft and has leased it to Bangkok Airways. TAT Leasing negotiated the transaction. Aircraft International now has 20 ATRs in its fleet.

Embraer

Hong Kong Express Airways [HKE] ordered four Embraer [ERJ] 170s configured for 76 passengers. The carrier will be the first in Asia operating the Embraer 170. The startup airline will receive three of the new airplanes in the second half of 2005 and the fourth plane in the first half of 2006. Hong Kong Express will lease the planes from General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). While the carrier plans to add two planes per year over the next five years, it did not take out options on additional aircraft.

AeroCentury

In a purchase-lease back deal, UNI Airways, the parent of Taiwan-based Eva Air, sold two Bombardier [BBD] Dash 8 311s to AeroCentury for an undisclosed sum. UNI then turned around and leased the 36-seat aircraft back from AeroCentury.

Saab

Loganair, a regional airline in Scotland, has extended its leases on five Saab 340Bs which are owned by the Bank of America. Saab Aircraft Leasing handled the five-year extensions of the existing leases. The demand for the 340B has been so strong in 2004, that Saab, which delivered 12 planes this year, was not been able to meet the demand. Other carriers sold or leased the other 27 Saab 340Bs that changes hands in 2004. Saab also leased seven Saab 2000s.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand has increased its ownership stake the V2500 maintenance shop in Christchurch Engine Centre from 10 percent to 49 percent. The carrier already owns 49 percent of the JT8D and RR Dart shops at the same facility. Pratt & Whitney is the other owner at the center.

ExelTech

Montreal-based ExelTech has purchased Quebec-based NordTech Aerospace to form a major supplier of regional and narrow-body aircraft maintenance. Operating as ExcelTech Aerospace, the merged firm received a $5 million equity investment from the National Bank Financial Inc. The transaction is expected to close on Jan. 31.

Global ePoint

Global ePoint will install 60 video-based cockpit door surveillance systems for Air Berlin. The system will be installed on 42 planes in the current fleet next year and on each of the 60 new Airbus 320s as they are delivered.

AD Aerospace

Germania, the Berlin-based airline, purchased seven Flight Vu cockpit door monitoring systems from AD Aerospace. Florida-based Aircraft Engineering & Installation Service installed the systems in Germania's MD-80s.

CAE

CAE's SimuFlite technical training program has gained the approval of the European Aviation Safety Agency. The Part 147 approval initially applies to the training programs for the Gulfstream V, IV and Falcon 2000. SimuFlite provides maintenance training for more than 25 different aircraft types. CAE expect to have Part 147 approvals on other aircraft shortly.

Independence Air

Independence Air [FLYI] is now listing all its routes and fares on Worldspan and Sabre Travel Network, the two global distribution system available to travel agents. Independence recently signed contracts with Galileo and Apollo, other global distribution system operators.

Sarnoff Corp.

Sarnoff Corp. has introduced four different types of wireless, networked security devices to control access at airports, regardless of the size. One of the products, Portable Sentry, provides instant security protection around an aircraft in a temporary location.

Research Frontiers

Research Frontiers, with a 39-year track record in the glass and plastics industry, is now marketing SPD-Smart technology for aircraft windows, sun visors and cabin partitions. Using suspended particles, the technology gives aircraft passengers greater light and glare control. The windows are lighter and easier to clean.