The Royal Army Museum and in particular its Aeronautical Department has presented five new acquisitions it will be displaying in 2008. The aircraft involved are a Bristol Sycamore helicopter (for more info see Baha News of 30/11/07), a rare Avro Anson Mk. XIX (for more info see Baha News item of 22/02/08), an Armée de l'Air Dassault Mirage F.1C, a Voisin-Farman replica representing the machine of Baron de Caters who made the first heavier than air flight in Belgium and finally another rarity a Westland Lysander communications aircraft of the second World War. The Mirage F.1C has a very interesting "pedigree" in that it was operationally used in Djibouti and participated from this location at the fist Gulf War. On top of that the machine was used as a demonstration aircraft and as such participated at many airshows including in Belgium. The Voisin-Farman is being restored from the remains of a replica used in the famous 70's French TV show "Les Faucheurs de marguerites". In November 2008 it will form the pole of attraction of a special exhibition at the museum around the 100th anniversary of flight in Belgium. The Westland Lysander, which is best known for its nightly secretive missions in occupied Europe is being prepared by the Sabena Old Timers at Zaventem and is nearing completion for exhibition in Brussels. It replaces the famous Lysander OO-SOT once acquired by the museum but now to be return once more to flying status by the Sabena Old Timers. The rumours of closure of the Aeronautical Department for renovating work are indeed very premature...  Pictures: Mirage F.1C, Voisin-Farman and Westland Lysander.

The city council of Sint-Truiden and NV Bip (Naamloze Venootschap Brustem Industriepark) have signed an agreement concerning aerospace related activities on the former military base of Brustem. Aircraft operating at Brustem will have a weight restriction of 30 ton and maximum 19 passengers. The operational runway length will be limited to 1.199 meters and flight are restricted between 6 am and 10 pm. ULM aircraft are banned and all flights will need to have a direct connection with the companies situated in the Brustem Industriepark. Source: Het Belang van Limburg.

On March 12th this year the rigorous static test programme began on “Aircraft 5000”, the A400M static test specimen installed at the test facility in Getafe, near Madrid. Data is now being processed after a period of intensive work installing the hydraulic actuators and the sophisticated control and measuring systems. Loads will be applied to the airframe by means of 125 hydraulic jacks, which will severely test the structural resistance and fatigue characteristics of the new airlifter. The stresses applied to the structure under load will be measured by 6000 strain gauges and the data fed for analysis by purpose-built computer programmes via 21 kilometres of cable. Around 30% of the A400M airframe consists of carbon fibre, including the wing main spar. This is a “first” for a large transport aircraft and particular attention will be paid to the performance of the materials used. The tests are designed to demonstrate the limit loads, the maximum anticipated loads that the aircraft is expected to experience in service, and then to explore the ultimate loads, which represent one-and-half times the limit loads. Finally, the tests will continue to the point of rupture of certain structural elements thus providing data on the design margins. Source Airbus Military

The new timetable at Brussels Airport, valid as from 30 March till 25 October, provides more direct flights to holiday destinations than ever before, both for low cost, European city trips and long haul. From now on easyJet operates a daily service to Milan Malpensa, Flybe includes Exeter in its offer and Air One flies to Rome and Milan. As of 22 June Jetairfly flies once a week to Orlando while Thomas Cook Airlines and Brussels Airlines also have extended their summer offer. The offer of low-fare flights to destinations in Europe was never larger and includes non-stop passenger flights to 196 destinations in Europe and the rest of the world. These flights are operated by 80 different airlines. You can download the new timetable at  http://www.brusselsairport.be/en/contact/brochures/ .

The number of airlines at Brussels Airport that make use of fast lane, the fast security screening for business passengers, has significantly increased since it was first introduced in March 2007. The tour operators too are hopping on board including now Pegase (Thomas Cook's luxury segment) and Jetair's VIP service. Austrian Airlines will offer the fast lane service as of 1 April. Fast lane users must undergo the same security screening as all other passengers, but they will loose much less time queuing. On presentation of the special barcode on their boarding pass, fast lane users can pass more quickly through security via a separate screening point. Fast-lane users never have to queue for more than five minutes, which is less than half the average waiting time in other security queues. Last year, Brussels Airlines, TAP and SAS were the first airlines at Brussels Airport to offer this service followed late by VLM Airlines, US Airways, Adria Airways, American Airlines and Jet Airways. With Thomas Cook, Jetair and Austrian Airlines the number of carriers offering the fast screening concept has increased to 11. Together these airlines account for 65% of all passengers travelling through Brussels Airport.  Source: Brussels Airport

Between March 31st and April 11th the Royal Netherlands Air Force is organising at Leeuwarden airbase an international exercise called "Frisian Flag". Main aim of this exercise is to train pilots and ground-crews in preparing and executing complex missions in international context.  During "Frisian Flag" scenarios such as a possible future NATO-Response Force (NRF) and the actual deployed forces in Afghanistan will be trained in the same way as Red Flag in the United States and Maple Flag in Canada. The Belgian Air Component will dispatch some 8 Lockheed F-16AM/BM's of N°s 1 and 350 Squadrons of Florennes which will operate alongside some 12 Dutch F-16's, 6 Luftwaffe F--4F Phantoms, 5 Armée de l'Air Rafales and a Norwegian Falcon DA.20 radar and communications jammer.  Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

The largest turboprop powered aircraft in the world the Antonov AN-22 Antei arrived at Melsbroek airbase late Friday evening 28 March to bring a replacement engine for the equally giant Antonov AN-124 UR-82029 of the Antonov Design Bureau which was blocked at the base with a defective engine. The huge machine (UR-09307of the Antonov Design Bureau) which has "very" loud turboprop engines driving eight contra-rotating propellers left in a roar on Sunday 30 March at 11h40. Pictures of this aircraft taken at Melsbroek by "Boomer"  01  -  02.

Friday is the last working day for around 1,000 staff with the international courier company DHL. The company is transferring its European hub from Zaventem to Leipzig in Germany. DHL first announced plans to move the company's European hub to Leipzig in October 2004. The company wanted to expand its activities at Zaventem but this proved difficult due to limits on the number of night flights from the airport. Despite the company's European hub moving to Germany, it will retain a sub-hub at Zaventem that will employ around 1,500 people. Most of the 1,000 people being made redundant have already found alternative employment at the airport. Source: Flandersnews.be

The Belgian Air Component has received from Lockheed Martin the first Sniper advanced targeting pods which are to equip the Belgian F-16AM/BM fighters. Last week two of these pods were delivered to Florennes airbase were training with the Sniper will start immediately as this base will be the first to deploy F-16AM fighters to the Afghan airbase of Kandahar from September onwards. Five other pods out of 8 ordered in March 2006 are to be delivered in the coming weeks while the eight remains in the United States for supplementary test work. Incorporating a high-resolution, advanced mid-wave FLIR; a dual-mode laser; and a CCD-TV, along with a laser spot tracker and a laser marker, the Sniper ATP (Advanced Targeting Pod) vastly improves ranges for target detection/identification. The advanced image processing algorithms, combined with rock-steady stabilization techniques, outperform the best systems in service today. Up to now the Air Component used some 10 AN-AAQ-14 LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infra-Red at Night) pods which were already used with successfully in Afghanistan during the first Belgian F-16 deployment in 2005-2006. Source: Belga and more information on the Sniper on a Lockheed Martin product card (PDF, 294.1 KB)

Starting from 30 March 2008 Air France proposes direct flights between Brussels Airport and New York (JFK) and Atlanta in the United States. The planned flight are flown in cooperation with code-share partner airline Delta Air Lines. Source and more information: De Standaard

Irish low-cost airline Ryanair's chief executive Michael O’Leary  said he is very satisfied with the results the company can generate flying from Brussels-South Charleroi airport. O'Leary was present at Charleroi to celebrate Ryanair's twelve millionth passenger at the Walloon airport. At the same time O'Leary underlined the fact that his company is still being discriminated. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

The two Airbus A310transport aircraft which had been plagued with continues engine problems returned to operational status since last week. One of the aircraft was used on March 23 to start the exchange of Belgian personnel for the NATO peace keeping force at newly independent Kosovo. Both Airbuses have now accumulated more than 35.000 flying hours and in an ideal world should be able to hold their own until the Airbus Military KC-45/A330MRTT (selected as the next USAF tanker aircraft, which could bring down considerably the purchasing price) is available for an eventual replacement. Source: De Morgen

The Sabca aerospace group can show excellent results for the year 2007 with a net-profit of 9.92 million Euros compared to 6.57 million Euros one year earlier. Turnover was slightly down from 128 million Euros in 2006 to 126 million last year. This is also the result of a more positive climate on the aerospace market although the weak Dollar remains a major problem for the European aeronautical business. Source: Het Laatste Nieuws. 

The monthly statistics on air traffic and airport movements in Belgium over February 2008 published by Belgocontrol indicate a 19.47% overall increase (+14.916 movements up to 91.527) compared to the same period one year earlier (However bare in mind that 2008 is a leap year providing on extra day of traffic in February). Airport statistics give the following figures: Brussels Airport: 21.094 movements (+11.91%), Charleroi-Brussels South: 8.386 (+51,95%), Oostende-Brugge: 6.116 (+55.39%), Antwerpen-Deurne: 5.733 (+24.55%) and Liège-Bierset: 4210 (+41.89%). Canac controlled air traffic between flight levels 135 and 245: 45.988 (+12.89%). Source: Belgocontrol

Turkish registered Corendon Airlines which operates flights between the Dutch Maastricht-Aachen Airport and Antalya in Turkey has decided that as of July 1st this link will be flown from Liège-Bierset Airport. This is the result of the decision by the Dutch government to impose an additional tax on all passengers departing or arriving in the Netherlands. Source: De Standaard

The Council of Ministers meeting of March 20th has approved the acquisition jet-fuel for the benefit of the Belgian Defence and third parties. The estimated quantities are 63.000 m3 for 2008 and 57.000 m3 for 2009. Source: Presscenter NL & FR.

Over 2007 VLM Airlines booked a 3.6 million Euros profit and as such marked the 10th consecutive year of profitability for the company. In 2008 VLM Airlines is celebrating its 15th anniversary and continues growing with a turnover of some 112 million €. In 2007 the number of passengers transported increased with 9% up to 745.781.  In 2008 the take over by Air France - KLM will also be finalised. Sources and more information: VLM Airlines and Luchtvaartnieuws.

After some bad years in the wake of the Sabena bankruptcy, Brussels Airport is definitely back and can show a 19.8% growth in passenger traffic over 2007. Indian airline Jet Airways which made Brussels its prime European hub is responsible for a major growth in International traffic while intra-European connections grew with some 12.9%. For the first two months of 2008 the airport at Zaventem handled 2.4 million passengers or a growth of 17.7 percent over the same period last year. A more then encouraging sign... Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

The Sint-Truiden city-council has approved the debated acquisition of a hot-air balloon which will be decorated with the logo of the city. In the month of August the new acquisition will be presented to the public during the thirteenth annual Balloon Happening at the Sint-Truiden market square. The balloon can take ten to twelve passengers and will cost 87.070 Euros. Source: Het Nieuwsblad. 

VLM Airlines has won the prestigious ‘Passenger Airline Award 2007’ from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in recognition of the developments and initiatives it has taken with its Amsterdam – London City service. Source and more information: VLM Airlines

The Belgian pilot training school Freeflight will be the first in Europe to give flying lessons with the new diesel engine powered Cessna 172 Skyhawk 2.0 TDI. The TDI has a Thielert Aero Engines developed 135hp diesel engine (allowing 8 hours of uninterrupted flight) and is equipped with a full digital Garmin G1000 cockpit. The Freeflight TDI, registered OO-FRF, is the first Cessna Skyhawk 2.0 TDI approved by the EASA rules. Source and more info: Luchtvaartnieuws.

The static tests of a dedicated A400M military transport complete structure has begun at the Military Transport Aircraft Division (MTAD) facilities in Getafe, Madrid. The aim of this testing process is to demonstrate the reliability and integrity of the aircraft structure and its major systems in extreme load conditions. Source and more informaton at: EADS

A Bombardier CRJ200 of Lufthansa Regional had to make an emergency landing at Charleroi -Brussels South airport after the crew got an engine fire warning light in the cockpit. The crew had decided to shut down the engine concerned and to make an emergency landing. The aircraft with 35 passengers on board was on its way from Köln to Paris and decided to make the precautionary landing at Charleroi. Three passengers suffered light injuries during the evacuation of the airliner.  After a first inspection of the aircraft no fire could be detected. Source: CNBC

Having already escaped miraculously from a fire in the abandoned SITO 4 school complex at Antwerpen-Linkeroever on 10th November 2007 former Belgian Air Force Republic F-84F FU-36 again escaped unscratched from a very fierce fire at the same location last night. Unfortunately one person was killed in the fire.  FU-36, which for several years was used by the school as an instructional airframe on loan from the Royal Army Museum  is due to be transported to the Museum's depot at Vissenaken pending availability of the specialised Defence team. Picture taken this morning by Leo Spiessens. Source: VRT Nieuws and Video on ATV

A Grob G 103 Twin Astir II glider with construction number 3575 (manufactured in 1980) has been acquired by the Belgian Air Cadets on 16 October 2007. The second hand machine (formerly D-6436, OY-XKZ (1981-2007) received the registration PL-95 and was delivered from Denmark at Goetsenhoven on 17 October 2007.

While Federal Police McDonnell Douglas MD900 Explorer G-12 was pursuing a car with two gangsters which had robbed the Record Bank at Ronse one of them opened the sun-roof and fired several shots at the helicopter with an AK-47 Kalashnikov gun and a 9mm pistol. Fortunately no-one was hurt in the attack and already sometime later one of the gangsters was apprehended in the Brussels borough of Sint-Joost-ten-Node. Source: VRT Flandersnews.be

To solve the lack of transport capacity as the consequence of persisting problems with the two Air Component Airbus A310 aircraft, minister of Defence Pieter De Crem proposes as a "stop gap" measure to lease two "as good as" new aircraft. (See also BAHA News of 13/02) Both Airbuses were acquired second hand from Singapore Airlines in 1997/1998. Both aircraft have continuous problems with the engines. Source: Het Belang van Limburg

 Europrop International (EPI) has achieved a double success, delivering the last of the four TP400-D6 flight test engines which will power the first Airbus A400M and reaching the milestone of 1,000 hours of engine ground testing. The final engine for the first aircraft was dispatched last week and has now arrived at the final assembly line of the A400M military transport aircraft in Seville. The installation of the engines onto the first flight test aircraft is now underway and this will involve integration with the propeller and nacelle. The first flight of the A400M is scheduled to take place during summer time. The seven A400M ordered by Belgium are intended to replace from 2018 onwards the C-130H Hercules of Air Component's N°15 Transport Wing/Tactical Transport Flight (TTF or ex-20 Squadron). Source: Europrop.aero

Low-cost carrier Ryanair has based a second airliner at Brussels South Charleroi Airport in order to expand its business with 5 new European destinations: Porto, Saragossa, Nimes, Bergerac and Perpignan. All new destinations will be available as from April 1st, 2008.  Source: De Standaard.

Spanish low-budget airline Clickair has started a new Brussels-Barcelona link flying an Airbus A320 (picture). Joining the growing number of low-cost airlines operating from Zaventem Clickair offers a day-return service on the new connection. Source: Het Laatste Nieuws.

On Monday 25 February 2008 Alouette II A-57 has been withdrawn from use at the Wing Heli at Bierset which now only has 5 Alouette II helicopters in service (A-53, A-64, A-66, A68 and A-79). From 2009 until 2011 it is planned to maintain only three Alouette II helicopters operational '(selected airframes are A-61, A64 and A-69). Concerning the Agusta A109BA Hirundo's delivered to Benin, H-04 and H-32 are now flying in Benin AF colours while H-17 is used as spare parts source. Agusta’s H-30 and H-43 will also be delivered to Benin at the end of 2008.

03/03 - USAF Airbus KC-45A contract earns Sabca a 35 million € parts contract.

The selection of the (EADS) Airbus A330 as future USAF tanker (to be designated KC-45) will earn the Belgian Airbus sub-contractors (grouped in Belairbus) some 130 to 150 million €, while Sabca benefits for some 35 million € with this mega-contract. On Friday it was announced that EADS and its US partner Northrop Grumman had been selected by the United States Air Force (USAF) to deliver up to 179 of its tanker aircraft which is based on the popular Airbus A330 airliner.  This is a major victory for the European aerospace industry against fierce competition of the Boeing Company which already in the wake of 9/11 was lobbying to obtain this important contract. More info: Het Belang van Limburg.

Oostende based company Noordzee HeliKopters Vlaanderen (NHV) has ordered two Eurocopter EC-175 helicopters in "off-shore" configuration which allows them to execute "Search and Rescue" missions over water. NHV is expecting that in the future this type of missions will also be fulfilled by civilian contractors as is the case in many other European countries. According to NHV's Eric Van Hal the EC-175's (delivery of which is expected by mid 2012) is more adapted for rescue missions then the "multi purpose" and heavier NH90 helicopters order by the Belgian Government to replace the Koksijde based Westland Seakings of the Air Component.  Source: Het Nieuwsblad

Between 18 and 29 February 2008 several countries participated in an electronic warfare exercise called EW Block Training 08-01 in the region of Bertrix and Marche-en-Famenne. Besides the already mentioned French participation (see BAHA News of  22/02) other countries involved were Belgium with the Mistral missile, the Netherlands with Stinger Platoons assisted by their new TRML 3D radar (Picture), Germany with the Jamcar "Chipmunck" while a US electronic warfare unit provided "smoking Sam's" (Picture) (small smoke trail making projectiles simulating surface to air missile launches).  Air assets consisted of Belgian F-16's, C-130H and Agusta helicopters while the Norwegian AF provided a Dassault 20 "Raven", the Luftwaffe some Tornado's, while NATO and Armée de l'Air E.-3 AWACS aircraft covered the operations from the air.  More in a BAHA Special Feature soon.

Walloon minister responsible for the airports, André Antoine (CdH), has obtained the green light of the Regional Government to sell a share (27.65%) of the capital of SA Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) the company that runs the airport. The part put up for sale consists of the Walloon Region owned Sogepra.  Source: 7sur7.

Budget airline Wizz Air has started a new regular link between Charleroi and the Romanian capital Bucharest which will be flown three times a week with an Airbus A320. Over 2007 Wizz Air transported some 200.000 passengers from Brussels-South Charleroi airport being the second most important airline at Charleroi. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

The Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) has deployed 4 F-16BM and 3 F-16AM fighters to the Portuguese airbase at Beja between 25 February and 7 March for a ground firing course in the framework of the Conventional Weapons Training syllabus. Blessed with "ideal" weather conditions and situated near the "Coca range" Beja is a first choice base for the trainee pilots to obtain their "range qualifications".  Possibly the OCU Sqn will also fly Low Level Tactical or Air Combat Training Missions, always in consultation with the Portuguese authorities. Source: Mil.be

Lt Gen Victor Wils former Commander of the Tactical Air Force between 1977 and 1983 passed away aged 82. Having gained many years of experience as a fighter pilot in the fifties, Wils continued in the pilot instruction community and finally became Commander of the Instruction and Training Group a position he continues to hold after 20 September 1973 when he is promoted to the rank of Major General Aviator. On 26 July 1977, he is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General Aviator and succeeds Lieutenant General Aviator DE SMET on 1 July 1977 as commander of the Tactical Air Force until 1983. Source: Mil.be

Some fifty operational crews of the "escadrons de défense sol-air” (ESDA) based at St-Dizier and Cambrai will participate in an electronic warfare exercise called "Electronic Warfare Block Training" organised at the Belgian airbase of Bertrix between February 18th and 29th.  The French units equipped with three Crotale NG, two tripod Mistrals and three Aspic systems will face some twenty Belgian Air Force F-16 fighters which are tasked to "blind" the ground-air assets with their electronic countermeasures equipment. Source: Sirpa-Air  

Bristol Sycamore Mk.14 XG547, one of the first such helicopters built at Weston-super-Mare when production was transferred from the Filton factory in 1956 will arrive at the Aeronautical dept of the Royal Army Museum in Brussels. The Sycamore which was on loan for 20 years at The Helicopter Museum (THM) at Weston-super-Mare will fill a gap in the Museum's collection of Belgian Air Force aircraft. The Sycamore was the first helicopter used by the Belgian Air Force and served mainly at the former Belgian Congo base of Kamina. As all BAF aircraft were destroyed by 1960 the Sycamore was on the museum's whish list for many years. The Sycamore was exchanged against Aerospatiale Alouette II A-41.   More on the Sycamore in Belgian Air Force service here. Picture of Sycamore XG547 being prepared for transport and  Alouette II A-41 at The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare. UPDATE: Pictures of Sycamore XG547 arriving at the Royal Army Museum  01   -   02       Source: Rotorhub.com

The Cocotte was first used in Belgium by W.W.I ace Willy Coppens who in July 1917 decorated his Nieuport with a white cocotte. It was however the French escadrille C.11 of Capt. Vuillemin who was the first to use this emblem on its aircraft from the summer of 1916 onwards. 

The modern - post W.W.II - Belgian Silver Cocotte on a red background (commonly known as the "Red Cocotte") was once upon a time the emblem of 7 Sqn/ N°7 Wing at Chièvres (01/1951-11/1963) with Gloster Meteor and Hawker Hunter and later of 7 Sqn of Sint-Truiden (11/1971-11/1996) and Beauvechain (11/96-08/2001) training Wings equipped with Fouga Magister and Alpha Jet. In the framework of the most recent pilots training major reorganisation, the 7 Sqn disbanded as an Alpha Jet advanced flying training unit on August 30th, 2001, its "Red Cocotte" and number plate being at the time transferred as "shadow Squadron" designation to the Flight Training & Evaluation Center (CFE-VEC/7 Sqn).

The modern Silver Cocotte on a green background (or "Green Cocotte") was the emblem of 9 Sqn/ N°7 Wing at Chièvres (03/1952-03/1957) with Gloster Meteor and Hawker Hunter and later of 9 Sqn of Perfection Center - VervC/CPerf (11/71-06/84) and Wing Instruction & Training - OTW/WIE (07/84-06/85) at Sint-Truiden. The 9 Sqn disbanded on June 28th, 1985, its missions (monitors' training, pilots' control & rating, evaluation and conception of the air training courses) and Green Cocotte emblem being immediately taken over by the newly established Flight Training & Evaluation Center (CFE-VEC). In early 2001 and at the request of its C.O., Major Gilbert Conte, the CFE-VEC obtained the 9 Sqn number plate as "shadow Squadron" designation. Nonetheless the new CFE-VEC/9 Sqn was transformed few months later into CFE-VEC/7 Sqn on August 30th, 2001 when the 7 Sqn ("Red Cocotte") was disbanded as an Alpha Jet flying training unit.

Like what's happened on May 2006 with the Bat (11 Sqn) emblem transferred to the Belgian element of the Advanced Jet Training School (AJeTS) at Cazaux (see BAHA News of 16/05/2006), on February 21st, 2007 the "Red Cocotte" (7 Sqn) tradition was transferred to the Belgian element of the AJeTS at the Ecole de Chasse of Tours (EAC or French Armée de l'Air Fighter School) while the "Green Cocotte" (9 Sqn) tradition was - rather logically - given back to the still Beauvechain based CFE-VEC. Both unit flags were officially handed over by Belgian Air Component Commander Lt.-Gen. Van Caelenberge to Cdt. Vaes for the Ecole de Chasse and Maj. Désiron for the CFE-VEC in presence of the last 7 and 9 Sqn C.O.s respectively Lt.-Col. Rorive and Maj. Conte.   Pics: 01  -  02 

Eight new pilots have received their wings from Lieutenant-General Gerard Van Caelenberge, Commander of the Belgian Air Component at Beauvechain airbase. Four of these pilots were channelled through the advanced pilot school at Tours (F.) on Alpha Jet and will continue their training to become fighter pilot at Cazaux (F.), three students were trained to become transport pilot at Avord (F.) while on new trainee is to become a helicopter pilot and followed his courses at Dax (F.). Since 2004  all Air Component student-pilots having terminated successfully their initial training on Marchetti at Beauvechain continue their advanced courses at French pilot training centres. The name adopted by the new promotion is "Lt. Vl. Marcel Sans". Pictures of the newly pormoted pilots:   01 (fighter pilots at Tours) and 02 (complete group after having received their "Wings").

According to figures published by the Association of European Airlines (AEA) Brussels is for the second year in first position in the European punctuality league. Fewer than 17% of flights departing Brussels Airport do so with more than a quarter of an hour's delay while the European average is 22.7%. As far as arriving flights are concerned, Brussels is very punctual as well as just over 18% of flights have more than a quarter of an hour's delay. This puts Brussels Airport in third place in the international league. Source: VRT/Flandersnews.

A number of low flying exercises with fighter aircraft and helicopters will be organised by the Belgian defence in the following regions and periods:

 * ELSENBORN from Monday 18 till Friday 22 February 2008.

 * BERTRIX / MARCHE-EN-FAMENNE from Monday 18 till Friday 29 February 2008.

 * REMAGNE on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 March 2008.

 * TENNEVILLE on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March 2008.

These low flying exercises are organised to train the "Forward Air Controllers" (FAC's) and pilots in coordinated ground attacks in which the aircraft are guided to their assigned targets by the FAC on the ground. In an area of 25 km around the mentioned locations the aircraft will progressively fly lower up to a minimum height of 100m. No munitions are involved in the exercise.  More info at Mil.be  NL and FR.

The monthly statistics on air traffic and airport movements in Belgium over January 2008 published by Belgocontrol indicate a 9.09% overall increase (+7.150 movements up to 85.756) compared to the same period one year earlier. Airport statistics give the following figures: Brussels Airport: 21.252 movements (+9.39%), Charleroi-Brussels South: 6.328 (+20.65%), Antwerpen-Deurne: 4.470 (+9.53%), Oostende-Brugge: 4.408 (+4.31%) and Liège-Bierset: 3.286 (+2.94%). Canac controlled air traffic between flight levels 135 and 245: 46.012 (+8.40%). Source: Belgocontrol

Minister of Defence Pieter De Crem has said that it is his intention to rapidly replace the ageing Airbus A310-222 transports by other aircraft.   Both 15th Wing A310s, which have a very low availability (52%) due to frequent engine problems, are non operational for the moment the minister has declared. Minister De Crem has also asked his services to look for two similar aircraft which could be acquired in short notice while agreements with foreign air forces and Airline companies to lease some aircraft are being examined to bridge the gap until arrival of "new" machines for the Air Component. Source: Belga

After the certification and the Civil Aviation Authorities’ approval to operate its second B747-200 freighter, OO-CBB, Cargo B Airlines took off for a charter flight to Curacao on January 25th, 2008. It was the companies’ first transatlantic flight. The first scheduled flight to Sao Paulo via Dakar left Brussels on January 29th and back to Brussels via Latacunga (Ecuador) and Barbados for a technical stop. Now, Cargo B operates this route twice a week. A third frequency to South America with stops in Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires will be launched on February 26th. Meanwhile, the African routes to Johannesburg have been increased to 3 per week. Cargo B transported the first horses on their flight to Sao Paulo on February 12th. Cargo B Airlines is expecting its third freighter shortly while the feasibility of routes to other continents is being studied. Source: Cargo B

Due to persistent and thick mist Brussels South - Charleroi airport was closed for all traffic this morning. Most flights were rerouted via Lille in France. For the same reason many aircraft inbound from the United States were expected with considerable delays at Brussels Airport. Sources: De Morgen and RTL

The fourth Boeing 747-400 of TNT has been delivered at Liège - Bierset Airport. In the same way as OO-THC this aircraft will be leased to Emirates. Source and pictures of arrival at Airshows.be

With the Columbus mission well under way, the space station programme has assigned crews for the next flight opportunities. Belgian ESA astronaut Frank De Winne joins Expedition 19 and will spend six months on the ISS in 2009. In May 2009, he will fly together with Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS.  The arrival of Frank De Winne and his two crewmates will for the first time expand the station’s crew size to six. They will join Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, the Expedition 19 commander, and NASA astronauts Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott. By then, the Japanese Kibo laboratory will also be attached to the ISS.  Frank De Winne has been back-up for French ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts for the ongoing Columbus mission. Like Eyharts, De Winne trained on the Shuttle, the ISS and on Columbus and the ATV. He is therefore already very familiar with those spacecraft. Moreover, he spent 12 days in space and onboard the ISS in 2002 for ESA’s Odissea mission. On 30 October 2002, he launched with the new Russian Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan; during that mission, Frank De Winne carried out a complete package of scientific experiments, technology demonstrations and education activities. Source: ESA

Only a few weeks after Jetairfly announced that it is setting up its own maintenance service, Brussels Airlines has revealed that it had plans to maintain its own fleet of aircraft by a new own division. Due to this aircraft maintenance capacity expansion, the airport is in urgent need of skilled aircraft technicians. It is remarkable that two major actors at Brussels Airport prefer setting up their own maintenance divisions although they were both client with the airports major overhaul company Sabena Technics (part of TAT Industry). Source: Het Laatste Nieuws.

Belgian Air Component Lockheed F-16AM fighters were scrambled for real (Alpha Scrambles) at eleven occasions over the year 2007. In two occasions the alarm was triggered due to false bomb-alerts while in the nine other occurrences all radio-communication with civilian airliners was lost. Source: Het Laatste Nieuws.

The Brussels Airport board of directors has approved the construction of a dedicated low-cost terminal at Zaventem to face competition of Charleroi. In a first face of the project costing some 20 million Euros 6 gates will be available for low cost airline companies. Equipment will be rather basic with no boarding bridges available.  "Regular" airlines fear some discrimination due to the fact that low-cost companies will pay lower airport utilisation fees. Source: VRTNieuws 

A Belgian A.F. team collected the Siai Marchetti SF.260 ST29 at Antwerp Airport. The aircraft was stored for several years at the workshop of SITO 4 on the northern side of the airport. The aircraft was transported together with some jet-engines to the storage facility of the Royal Army Museum at Vissenaken. (pictures by Willem Rongé  01  +  02). Source:  ASA.

Two special information days labelled "Fly to your Dream" organised by the Belgian Air Component have attracted some 420 youngsters between 17 and 20 years old at Kleine Brogel and Florennes Airbases. The Air component has vacancies for 40 jobs ranging from air-traffic controllers over technicians to fighter pilots. The February 6th event at Kleine-Brogel was dedicated to the Dutch speaking potential candidates while the February 7th one was for the French speaking younsters. Many interesting aspects of the two airbases such as the F-16 flight simulators, the control towers or aircraft maintenance as well as survival, meteorological and fire-fighting sections work were shown and explained to the interested people. In the afternoon all participants were offered a flight in Airbus A310 CA-01 which was intercepted by several F-16 fighters, a more than exiting demonstrations. Pictures: 01  -  02  -  03 . More pictures taken at Florennes at SBAP

Former Air France Airbus A319 F-GPMG destined to become the fourth airliner of this type to be operated by Brussels Airlines has been noted at Toulouse wearing its new livery except for the tail surfaces. Images at planepictures.net: In Air France livery and almost in Brussels Airlines colours. Source: Airshows.be

Following the recent attributed contract for the upgrade of Armée de l'Air Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Sabena Technics now won a 12 year/820 M€ French Ministry of Defence contract for the maintenance of the Boeing KC-135/C-135 fleet as well as the flight simulator. Within the scope of this contract, attributed by the Structure Intégrée de Maintien en condition opérationnelle des Matériels Aéronautiques de la Défense (Simmad), the group will provide full support services to a fleet comprising 11 Boeing C135 aircraft and 3 Boeing KC135 stationed and having their operational base in Istres, in the south of France. Source: Sabena Technics

Belgium has agreed on a reinforcement of its presence in Afghanistan during the current year 2008. One of the most visible commitments will be the deployment of 4 Lockheed F-16 AM fighters from September onward. The location of their base has not been revealed but as the Belgian detachment is to operate along their Dutch colleagues this more than likely will be Kandahar (KAF) in the South of Afghanistan. The Netherlands has been present in Afghanistan with 8 F-16's since the end of 2006 in the framework of the European Participating Forces’ Expeditionary Air Wing (EEAW) for the benefit of ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and already some moths ago requested a Belgian reinforcement. More information and source: Presscenter.org  NL & FR

Famous wartime pilot Colonel Raymond "Cheval" Lallemant, DFC has passed away aged 88. Being ill for some time Cheval lost his final battle today. Having scored 5 confirmed victories, and also one probable and one shared, Cheval was considered as one of the best Belgian pilots of the Second World War. His victories included 4 Focke Wulf FW190A-4 fighters which was by no means an easy pray considering that he flew the heavy Hawker Typhoon IB (R7855/PR-D). Cheval and his flamboyant pilot stories will be missed by the new generation of pilots and historians alike.  More info on Raymond Lallemant: http://www.cieldegloire.com/006_lallemant.php and http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/1996/lallemant_1996.html  -   picture  -  In Memoriam.   The funeral sevrice of "Cheval" is foreseen at the Florennes church at 11h00 on Tuesday Ferbruary 5th. -  Official announcement.

Part of the personnel of the former Light Aviation of the Belgian Army, principally pilots, has been officially integrated into the air force. According to a Royal decree dating from 12 September 2007 all helicopter pilots (some 135 persons) of the Light Aviation, officers and non-commissioned officers officially belong to the Air Force. This change of "arm" does not affect the statute of the persons concerned. Already since January 2004 all flying equipment of the Belgian Defence had been regrouped into the Comopsair. This included the former Navy Alouette III helicopters, Light Aviation’s Alouette II and Agusta helicopters and the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) of the 80° Squadron UAV. Training of new crew members is the responsibility of Comopsair and since 2004 all newly promoted pilots wear the blue Air Force uniform.

The move from the old building to the new terminal has been a smooth operation with the first flights leaving the airport without any delay at 06h00 in the morning. The new terminal of Charleroi Brussels-South airport has a surface of 30.000 square meters and can accommodate annually up to 5 million passengers. Charleroi airport has seen an enormous growth in the last years mainly because of it being a major hub of low cost airline Ryanair. Source VRT Nieuws 

Sabena Technics (SN Tech) will reconstruct a new "Hangar 40" at Zaventem to replace the one destroyed in the fire of May 2006. This new building will regroup the maintenance facilities of the company which are now dispersed a different buildings near the runways and are eventually to disappear because of the expansion of Brussels Airport. Source: La Libre

By the change of command on Monday 28 January 2008, Lieutenant General J.H. de Jong from the Royal Netherlands Air Force took over from Lieutenant General Gerard Van Caelenberge, commander of the Belgian Aircomponent. Lieutenant General Gerard Van Caelenberge was the president of EAG from 10 January 2006 till 28 January 2008. The European Air Group is an organisation with Headquarters in High Wycombe (UK). Established in 1995 to build on close collaboration between the British and French air forces in the first Gulf War and the subsequent Balkans operations, the European Air Group consists today of 7 member nations (Belgium, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain) working together to stimulate change and to collectively enhance the tactical capabilities of the Group’s air forces through better cooperation. Since the inauguration in June 1995, Lieutenant General Gerard Van Caelenberge was the first Belgian president of EAG. Belgium is a member since November 1997.  Picture.

Well known to visitors of the main departure hall at Brussels airport, the Royal Army Museum's Stampe Vertongen SV.4B V-33 will soon be removed from its location to be transported to the Stampe & Vertongen Museum at Antwerpen-Deurne.

Glider tower Theux due to engine problems. Piper Super Cub OO-AEW of Royal Verviers Aviation has crashed near Theux. The pilot had just towed a glider and was preparing for a landing when the engine stopped.  Very experienced pilot Paul Vaudeville managed to jump the A27 Verviers-Prum motorway but crashed in a field nearby. Fortunately the pilot only suffered minor injuries. Source: La Meuse (pdf)

The French Ministry of Defence has granted an upgrade contract worth 43 million Euros to Sabena Technics and Thales Avionics for the 14 C-130 Hercules transport aircraft of the Armée de l'Air. The upgrade will include improvements in the field of communications, navigation and IFF. Together with the Franco-German C.160 Transall the Hercules is of strategic importance to France until the delivery of the Airbus Military Company A400M. Source:  VRT Nieuws

Lockheed F-104G Starfighter FX-52, the original and most beautiful "Tiger" ever, is progressing well towards complete restoration at Weeze (D.). Dirk Bellens and Henk de Jong have already been working some three years to bring this unique fighter back to its former glory although not to flying standards. If all proceeds according to plan the machine should be (in its original "Tiger" guise) the highlight of the Open Door at Weeze airfield next 30th April and 1st May 2008. In the mean time have a look at these progress pictures of FX-52. Pics:  1   -   2  .

The US branch of Sabena Flight Academy (SFA), Arizona-based Sabena Airline Training Centre (SATC) has received US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to offer Eclipse 500 type rating pilot training at the company’s Falcon Field facility in Mesa, USA.  SATC is the first training provider outside of Eclipse Aviation cleared by the FAA to offer the type rating course. Training will begin in March with two to four pilot candidates completing the course every three weeks. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws and info on the Eclipse 500.

Belgian Airline Jetairfly announced that it is to open a link between Brussels and Sanford Airport at Orlando (Florida/USA). With the introduction of this weekly link Jetairfly becomes the only Belgian Airline to fly directly to the United States. The addition of this new destination is possible thanks to the introduction of a second Boeing 767-300 which is to be wet-leased from Italian company Neos. Source and more info at: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Belgian airline Jetairfly is preparing to set up its own dedicated maintenance centre which is to be operational from April 2008. This maintenance department will responsible for al line maintenance of the Jetairfly fleet of 10 aircraft. Up to now this was executed by Sabena Technics. In order to overcome the frequent problems with the Jetairfly sole Boeing 767 (OO-TUC); (See also Baha news of 14/01) the company is to wet lease another 767 which will act as backup for the troubled aircraft. Source: .Luchtvaartnieuws

Arabian airline Etihad Airways is to promote its link between Brussels and Sydney via its home base at Abu Dhabi. For the moment most passengers using Etihad Airways from Brussels Airport are travelling to Bangkok via Abu Dhabi. Etihads promotion campaign is aimed at business travellers as well as tourists. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Showing the same trend as with Brussels Airport (see BAHA News 18/01), the four Belgian regional airports registered a growth of 3.40% or 9.475 more movements over 2007 compared to 2006. Charleroi-Brussels South noted 91.718 movements (+ 4.602 or +5.28%), Oostende Airport had 75.433 movements (+ 6.685 or +9.73%), Antwerpen-Deurne had 70.015 movements (- 5.326 or - 7.07%) and Liège-Bierset had 50.521 movements (+3.510 or +7.47%). According to Belgocontrol the autonomous public company in charge of the safety of air navigation in the Belgian civil airspace and at the Belgian public airports, the strong growth of VFR-flights on the regional airports is the result of an increased activity of the flying schools following the sharp growth of vacancies for airline pilots. Source: Belgocontrol

During a visit at Kleine Brogel airbase Minister of Defence Pieter De Crem (CD&V) has referred to the presence of a nuclear capability at the base. However he did not confirm the presence of nuclear warheads at the location. More information on the alleged deployment of nuclear weapons at Kleine Brogel and Europe can be found in a highly detailed downloadable report called "U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Europe" published by the National Resources Defence Council (NRDC)  in February 2005. Source: Het Nieuwsblad

Former Light Aviation Britten Norman BN-2A-21 Islander B-12 (c/n 553) up to now owned by Fly BN Ltd. as G-BEFI has been acquired by Cowi Aerial Surveys while the Danish registration OY-CKS has been reserved for it. The aircraft was noted at Nottingham - East Midlands (EMA/EGNX) after having been resprayed for its new owner. Picture 1 and 2 and Danish Civil registration entry.

Over 2007 more then 17.8 million passengers have used Brussels Airport a rise with 7% compared to the previous year. Of this total, 11.5 million passengers (+3%) made a short distance flight within Europe. Holiday charters increased with 6% to 4.2 million passengers while long range flights rose with a staggering 23% to 1.5 million travellers. Freight traffic at Brussels Airport grew with 8.9% to 783.727 ton over 2007. Source: De Standaard

Because of the missed landing of a British Airways Boeing 777 at London-Heathrow inbound and outgoing flights at Belgian and Dutch airports were delayed or even cancelled. Some flights towards London were diverted to Gatwick and Stansted. The British Airways aircraft which blocked the Southern runway at Heathrow was a Boeing 777-200ER coming from the Chinese capital Beijing. Fortunately only 3 persons suffered minor injuries. Unconfirmed reports talk about a total electric failure immediately before the landing. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

France’s procurement agency, Délégation Générale pour l’Armement (DGA) has signed a contract worth 22.6 million euros with French systems company Thales and Belgian aerospace company Sabca for a partial modernization of cockpit avionics of Alphajet training aircraft. Under the deal, the companies will design, develop and supply kits to upgrade 20 Alphajet trainers for lead-in training for fighter pilots and navigators moving on to the Rafale combat planes. On the same lines as the already modified Belgian Air Component's Alpha Jets B+,  the modernization includes fitting head-up displays, an air-to-air/air-to-ground fire control and combined inertial and GPS navigation system. The program also includes simulation of system failure in flight. The first upgraded plane is due in mid-2009. Source: Defensenews.

14/01 - Sabena Flight Academy and IndiGo sign a Ab-Initio Pilot Training Services agreement

Sabena Flight Academy and IndiGo, India’s fastest growing Low Fare Airline, are accepting applications under their Ab-Initio Pilot Training Services agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Sabena Flight Academy provides IndiGo with “ab-initio” flight training for young Indian pilots in its subsidiary Sabena Airline Training Center (SATC) located in Falcon Field, Arizona, USA as well as the option of using Sabena Flight Academy’s simulator facility in Brussels, for integrated multi crew coordination and type rating courses. Source: justforairlines.com

The Flemish Tourist Office board has asked to examine the operational state of Jetair's Boeing 767 OO-TUC which in the last 2 months was responsible for 4 delays lasting from 5 to 15 hours due to "technical problems". At each occasion hundreds of tourists were blocked at their holiday resorts or couldn’t start their vacations. Jetair says that the old machine is to be replaced by the yet to be flown 787 "Dreamliner" and that a solution will be found in the mean time. Source: Het Laatste Nieuws and 7sur7

The largest balloon in the world shaped as Star War's Darth Vader will be on show at Tour & taxis at Brussels on 18 January 2008 for the press-opening of a new exhibition called: "Star Wars, The Exhibition Brussels". The balloon has a height of 26 meters and is 21 meters wide. The exhibition has 280 original costumes, decors and space ships on show coming from 6 different Star Wars movies. Source: 7sur7  Unfortunately, due to heavy winds and pouring rain it was not possible to inflate the large balloon. On Sunday ferbuary 16th a second attempt will take place at the same spot. Source: Brusselnieuws.

Former Belgian Air Force Douglas C-47B K-1 and the cockpit-section of Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar CP-9 have been saved in extremis by  Kevin and Daniel Hunt of the Wings Museum based at Redhill Aerodrome Surrey England. The rescue operation carried out by the Wings Museum to save the cockpit section of CP-9 and also the K-1 fuselage became urgent as  the Council at North Weald Airfield insisted that the areas around the hangers were to be cleared up which resulted in the C-119 and C-47 having to be cleared by a certain date. The Wings Museum stepped in at the last minute and rescued the airframes just in the nick of time. More information and source: Wings Museum.

Two people were killed when a Ultra Light Motorised (ULM) aircraft crashed at Moorsele airfield on Sunday afternoon. The accident happened at around 2:45pm after the delta plane had been in the air for just quarter of an hour. The delta plan was seen diving to the ground from a hight of 300 meter apparently having suffered a problem with its wings. The judicial authorities from Kortrijk have sent an accident investigation expert to the scene of the crash. Source: VRT FlandersNews and Het laatste Nieuws

Belgium's second busiest airport Brussels South Charleroi Airport at Gosselies has officially opened a new 30.000 square meters flight terminal providing no less than twenty five check-in desks. The airport has now a capacity of five million passengers with the present set-up but as the building is modular there is eventually room for an additional two extra section bringing the capacity up to 7.5 million passengers.  The only weak point in this success story is that the airport's traffic is generated almost exclusively by one airline, Ryanair.  Source: VRT Flandersnews

As from March 28th Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines is to increase the frequency on its Brussels - Beijing link from two to three flights a week with a fourth flight planned from June 1st 2008. Mid-2006 Hainan Airlines started the Brussels Beijing link with four flights a week reducing it soon afterwards to two, the present decision thus restores the original frequency. Source: Het Laatste Nieuws.

From next June British Airways is to launch a new airline called "OpenSkies" which will begin operations using a single Boeing 757 connecting either Brussels or Paris with New York. A second aircraft will start flying from the other European city later this year.  Additional destinations on both sides of the Atlantic could be added once four more planes join the fleet as expected by the end of 2009. The airline is aimed largely at business and affluent leisure travellers. Only 30 of each plane's expected 82 seats — five rows in the back of the plane — will be economy class. The rest will be almost evenly split between business class and a new mid-priced level known as "premium economy." Source: http://flyopenskies.com/

airDC, the new Congolese airline created by Hewa Bora Airways and Brussels Airlines, announces its company logo. By choosing a logo whose warm colours in a zebra pattern recall the unique African atmosphere, the Congolese airline airDC stresses its African identity. From a visual viewpoint, the dynamic lines of the logo suggest movement and travel, as well as the graceful form of a wing. Both the reassuring oval form and the simple and modern typography remind the customers that airDC will operate in line with international security rules, offering its passengers a unique travel solution within, from and to the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Click here for a pdf file showing the new logo and the colour scheme which will be used on both types of aircraft the company will operate with: BAe 146-200 and the Boeing 737-300. Source: Brussels Airlines First pics of BAe 146-200 at AirTeamimages.com and Airliners.net

Air and Land Components will conduct low level flying exercise over the Province of Luxembourg under code name Poppy 01 /2008 between January 14th and 18th.  The purpose of Poppys type exercise is to train Air Component's F-16 pilots and Land Component's Forward Air Controllers (FAC) in working together.  All the Poppy 01/2008 targets and Low Level Flying Areas (LLFA) will be situated near the localities of Lavacherie - Flamierge - Blanchipont and Bras. In an airspace of 15Nm (+ 30km) around the determined zone aircraft will decent as low as 250 ft (80m.) on their way to their assigned targets between 09h00 and 17h00. Sources: Mil.be  NL, & FR and the BAHA Special Feature by Jos Schoofs.

Caught by sudden mist a helicopter with two Belgian occupants had to make an emergency landing near the prison of Bois d'Arcy (Yvelines) triggering a general police alert. Fearing a well organised prison break by some inmates the French Police de l'Air et de Frontières (PAF) didn't want to take any risks. In the previous years several jail-brakes were organised by helicopter in France and in Belgium. Fortunately the Belgians were not at all related to this kind of crimes and can leave as soon as they pay a 38 Euro fine for over flying the city without permission. Source: Le Monde

Two British Aerospace 146 formerly operated by Brussels Airlines will go to the paintshop at Norwich (UK) to get a new "Air DC" livery, the HewaBora/Bussels Airlines joint venture airline created lat last year. (See BAHA News of 11 September 2007). Aircraft involved are OO-MJE and OO-DJJ and are most probapbly be registered in Mauritius as 3B-xxx. Source: Luchtzak.

Over 2007, the year that SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express merged into one company - Brussels Airlines, it has transported an overall total of some 5.85m passengers. On its own flights this means an increase of some 108,000 passengers compared to the 2006 figures, with the bulk of the increase coming from higher passenger numbers on the African network while within Europe, a marginal increase was also recorded. For 2008, Brussels Airlines is aiming at a further 4% increase of its passenger. The extended African network – both in terms of frequency and capacity, the attractively-priced European offer and the new collaboration with quality partners such as Jet Airways, are expected to contribute greatly to growth in 2008. The airline will also be taking a further 2 new aircraft into its fleet – an Airbus A319 and a Boeing 737-400 (see BAHA news of  04 January 2008) both of which will enter into service on the European network in spring.  Source: Brussels Airlines

The total number of passengers transported on scheduled flights saw an increase of 6% to 697.781 while the "wet lease" flight were good for a 62% rise or 48.000 passengers. The largest increase was found on the Dutch market on flights from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Groningen to London City and from Rotterdam to Hamburg and Manchester. The Antwerp - London service also increased with some 6% to 88.000 passengers while the new Antwerp - Manchester line was good for 26.000 passengers. VLM Airlines was taken over by the Air France-KLM group in December 2007 (see BAHA news on 24 December 2007. Source: VRT Nieuws

Jan Devos, Province Commandant of West-Vlaanderen, declared in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad that the first of the new NH90 helicopters ordered for the Belgian Defence could be delivered before the end of this year (2008) in order to replace the 32 year old Seaking helicopters of the Air Component. The 300 million € contract for the acquisition of 4 TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) and 4 NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) plus two optional TTH versions was signed on 19 June 2007 during the Paris Air Show. (See BAHA news of 20 June 2007). Source and more information: Het Nieuwsblad

05/01 - New business jets for Abelag at Kortrijk Wevelgem airport

Abelag, a company specialised in business and customised air travel has acquired four new private jets three of which are to be based at Kortrijk Wevelgem Airport and the fourth at Brussels Airport. The aircraft involved are Cessna Citation CJ2 and CJ3 types which can accommodate 6 or 7 passengers over a range of 3.000 to 3.400 km. Abelag which has seen an annual growth of 15 to 20% over the last years could show a 60 million € turnover for 2007. Source: Het Nieuwsblad

As the first A400M (MSN 001) military transport was removed from the assembly jigs at the Airbus Seville (Spain) plant on January 2nd (Picture Airbus Military) information leaked trough that European aerospace giant EADS is again facing new problems with the aircraft which could delay the maiden flight expected in July. The problems do not only concern the plane's engines but also the fuselage and the wings, a senior EADS executive said. The A400M, the most important military industrial programme ever carried out between European partners, was launched by seven countries in May 2003, but it is already six months to one year behind schedule due to technical problems. Belgium and Luxemburg are to operate 7 A400m's. Source: Reuters

Brussels Airlines is to lease one CFM56-3C-1 powered Boeing 737-400 (MSN 28202) from the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. starting from February 2008. Click here for a picture of this particular aircraft at Airliners.net. Source: ILFC

Over 2007 the Belgian Air Component's Seaking Search and rescue helicopters were scrambled at 60 occasions in which 27 people were winched aboard. In 2006 still saw some 75 emergencies but according to the authorities of Koksijde, the helicopters home base this is due to the decrease of activities in the fishery business. The helicopters also made 4 emergency medical evacuations and two organ transport flights. Source: Het Nieuwsblad. Overview of 2007 Seaking scrambles at Mil.be NL and FR

Oostende-Brugge airport has handled some 108.953 tonnes of freight over 2007, a 10.6% increase compared with 2006 (98.525 Tonnes). The number of passengers went up with no less than 23% to 180.063 compared to 146.355 over 2006, while movements increased with some 2.9% from 26.850 in 2006 to 27.632 in 2007. More information and source: Ostend-Bruges International Airport.

Over 2007 the number of passengers handled by Antwerp airport increased with 18% to 174.858 compared to 147.849 passengers over 2006. Some 114.000 travellers used the links to London City airport and Manchester offered by VLM. Total number of movements at Antwerp decreased with 6% to 51.589. Source: Gazet van Antwerpen.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport welcomed a record number of passengers over 2007. Some 2.4 million travellers used the airport at Gosselies which can almost entirely be credited to budget airline Ryanair which uses the airfield as one of its most important hubs. In 2008 the airport authorities expect a similar growth thanks to the new terminal which is to open later this month. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.