Bombardier delivers first CS300 jet to airBaltic

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft delivered the first CS300 plane to launch operator Air Baltic (airBaltic).

Designed to accommodate 130 to 150 passengers, CS300 is the larger model of Bombardier’s new C Series aircraft.

airBaltic is planning to deploy the CS300 in its maiden flight on 14 December, on the route between Riga, Latvia, to Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Plane crash in Colombia kills 75 passengers

A charter aircraft crashed in Cerro Gordo, Colombia, killing 75 of the 81 people on-board, including 22 players from Brazilian football club Chapecoense.

According to police, survivors included 31-year-old Chapecoense goalkeeper Marcos Danilo, and teammates Alan Ruschel and Jakson Follmann.

The British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane was flying from Bolivia to Medellín Airport in Colombia, where the team was scheduled to play the final of the Copa Sudamericana, reported BBC.

Yahsat to launch new communication satellite by next year

The UAE's Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) announced plans to launch a new communication satellite by early next year, with an aim to expand broadband coverage in Africa and Brazil.

To be launched with a $350m investment, the proposed satellite will further enable Yahsat to provide broadband operations to an additional 19 markets worldwide.

“We have strong solid backlog on the government business that is helping us and solid double digit growth in commercial business.”

ULA launches new GOES-R weather satellite for Nasa and NOAA

A new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-series (GOES-R) satellite successfully launched into space from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, US.

The satellite was launched by a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket on behalf of Nasa and the US National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Following the lift-off, the satellite was placed in its geosynchronous transfer orbit and would reach its designated orbit in a period of the next two weeks.

SpaceX to launch Nasa’s new SWOT satellite

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) secured a deal to launch Nasa’s new surface water and ocean topography (SWOT) mission.

Planned to take place in April 2021, the mission will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, US.

An estimated $112m investment is to be made by Nasa to conduct the entire mission, including the launch service, spacecraft processing, payload integration, and tracking, data and telemetry support.

Antonov and Volga-Dnepr to shut down Ruslan International freighter joint venture

Antonov Company is set to close down its Antonov An-124-100 joint venture company Ruslan International by 31 December.

Established in 2006 along with Russia’s Volga-Dnepr Airlines, Ruslan International is involved in the extra-large and heavyweight cargo market.

Antonov Company president Oleksandr Kotsiuba said: "Antonov Airlines’ activities are supported by Antonov Company’s in-house design and development capabilities, providing unrivalled expertise for the most challenging logistic projects.

Peach Aviation orders 13 Airbus aircraft

Japanese low-cost carrier Peach Aviation (Peach) placed an order to purchase 13 aircraft from Airbus.

Worth $1.3bn at list prices, the ten A320neo and three A320ceo aircraft will be used to expand Peach’s business.

Delivery of the first A320neo is scheduled by 2019, with plans to receive the remaining aircraft over a period of around two years.

Synergy Aerospace finalises order for 12 ATR 72-600 aircraft

South-America’s Synergy Aerospace finalised a deal to purchase 12 ATR 72-600 aircraft, which will be used by the company’s new Argentinan subsidiary Avian Líneas Aéreas (Avianca Argentina) under a license agreement.

The deal includes an option for six additional ATR 72-600s and will introduce the ATR-600 series of aircraft in the Argentinian market.  Financial details have not been disclosed.

Equipped with 72 seats and Pratt & Whitney engines, the ATR 72-600 aircraft provide better fuel and eco-efficiency than their counterparts.

European transport MEPs support amendments to EU rules on drones

The European Transport and Tourism Committee approved the updates and amendments made to EU civil aviation safety rules, in order to address emerging risks, safety and privacy concerns.

Also introducing the EU-level requirements for drones, the new updated rules would bring all unmanned aircraft, or drones, within the EU civil aviation framework for the first time.

“Unmanned aircraft have great potential for the future. Many applications are already providing various services, with better quality and results."

ESA to provide €1.7bn to Airbus Safran Launchers for Ariane 6 programme

The European Space Agency (ESA) signed a new deal to contribute €1.7bn to the launcher programmes’ industrial prime contractor Airbus Safran Launchers (ASL) to continue development, production and operation of Ariane 6 launcher.

As part of the deal, which is an amendment to the agreement signed last August, ESA will release the money between now and 2023.

As an addition to the initial commitment of approximately €680m, the funding will allow ASL to complete development of the two new versions of Ariane 6 launcher, Ariane 62 and 64.