New South Korean Airline Hi Air Takes Delivery of Two ATR 72-500s
Air Transport World
A proposed South Korean regional airline called Hi Air has taken delivery of two ATR 72-500 turboprops. It will be based in the southeastern city of Ulsan, and says it expects to begin services later this year after receiving an air operator’s certificate (AOC).
Hi Air and ATR are projecting significant potential for the aircraft, which will be able connect second- and third-tier cities directly. ATR says the turboprop’s low fuel burn and short take-off and landing abilities can also help Korea to serve small islands and thin short-haul international routes.
South Indian Regional Airports’ Push to Go Solar in Full Swing
The Hindu
The Airports Authority of India has inaugurated another solar plant at Tirupati Airport, in the southern state of Andra Pradesh. The 1MW solar plant will generate 75 percent of the regional airport’s daytime energy usage, and is part of the airport authority’s push to get more airports to take advantage of the state’s plentiful sunshine, the authority says.
Australia, New Zealand and EASA Lift GippsAero GA8 Airvan Grounding
Australian Aviation
The Australian, New Zealand and EU civil aviation authorities have lifted a temporary grounding of the seven-seat GippsAero GA8 Airvan. Regulators say the decision was made after they found no evidence indicating that there are any safety issues associated with the aircraft type, despite the deadly crash of one of the aircraft in Sweden. The aircraft in Sweden had been suspected to have suffered structural failure at an altitude of 4,000m.
Indonesia Orders Six CL-515 Water Bombers From Viking Air
Aviation Week
Indonesia’s defence ministry has ordered six Viking Air CL-515 water bombers from the Canadian company, which is owned by Longview Aviation Capital. Viking Air says the CL-515 is still under development, and is a modern derivative of Canadair’s CL-215 and CL-415 amphibians with newer avionics, sensors and added search and rescue (SAR) abilities. The CL415 was produced by Bombardier, which then sold the design and intellectual property rights to Viking Air.
