Two men were saved from the sea in a rescue by a Belgian Air Component Sea King helicopter after their 40ft yacht capsized off the Kent coast. Coastguards responded to a mayday call from the yacht, named Justice, at 5am after the boat began taking on water in rough seas and ran aground on Hook Sands between Herne Bay and Margate. The Belgian helicopter was nearest at the time and rescued the owner of the boat and a crew member. The boat had capsized after a failed attempt to drag it to deeper water. The men were taken to hospital in Margate and discharged with no injuries. Source: Het Laatste Nieuws

The new Airbus A330-300 leased by the Belgian Air Component has ended up in the muddy grass next to the taxi-track at Melsbroek airbase while being pushed-back from its parking place before take-off. All passengers had to disembark and the freight and fuel unloaded before the machine could be brought back on the concrete. The machine suffered some damage to the undercarriage which is being repaired. This incident could delay the change of guard for the Belgian contingent in Afghanistan. Source: De Standaard

A teenage girl suffering from a severe heart condition has been saved during Christmas night by the intervention of a Belgian Air Component Sea King rescue helicopter transporting a replacement heart. The heart, which became available in a neighbouring country, was flown to Wevelgem airport by private jet but due to the bad weather conditions the civil helicopter firm usually called upon for these types of transportations refused to fly the last leg to the AZ Hospital at Gent. After the MoD approval a Belgian Air Component Sea King helicopter was scrambled from Koksijde airbase to fly the very precious cargo to Gent thus saving the life of the patient. A real Christmas story. Source: De Morgen

The Airbus A330 which was leased by the Belgian Defence to replace the two Airbus A310 transport aircraft which suffered from multiple breakdowns has been plagued on its turn by technical problems. Prime Minister Yves Leterme (CD&V), Minister of Defence Pieter De Crem (CD&V), and several Generals were forced to take one of the older aircraft for a planned trip to the Belgian troops in Afghanistan. Source: Het Laatste Nieuws

The monthly statistics on air traffic and airport movements in Belgium over November 2009 published by Belgocontrol show a decrease of 2.473 movements or -3.09%. (77.441 movements down from 79.914 compared to the same month one year earlier). The decrease occurs mainly at Brussels Airport (-6.26%) but is also reflected in the movements managed by CANAC (overflights and approaches) (-2.75%) and to a lesser degree in the  regional airports wich show a decrease of -0.68%.  Airport statistics give the following figures: Brussels Airport: 17.772  movements (-6.26%), Charleroi-Brussels South: 6.223 movements (-4.51%), Oostende: 5.000 movements (+16.63%), Antwerpen-Deurne: 3.921 movements (-16.18%) and Liège-Bierset: 3.557 movements (+6.24%). Canac controlled air traffic between flight levels 135 and 245: 40.968 movements (-2.75%). Source: Belgocontrol

Travel organisations Jetair and Thomas Cook have each flown an aircraft to London Gatwick to pick up passengers which are not able to return due to the fact that the Eurostar trains between Brussels and London have been cancelled because of technical problems. Passengers having booked a Eurostar City Trip with one of the two companies are transported from and to London for free on these extra flights. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

As is the case with many other European airports, Brussels Airport has to close down on Sunday morning due to extreme heavy snowfall. The authorities are working hard to reopen the runway to restore normal traffic but travellers have to take into account that there will be some delays.  Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

CitiJet, the airline formerly known as VLM has presented a turnover of €125 million over 2009. This is a drop of €3 million or 22% caused mainly by the cut back in business travel in the wake of the international crisis. CityJet was taken over by Air France-KLM. Source: Express 

Over the month of November 2009 Brussels Airport has handled 1.24 million passengers. This is a drop of 1.5% compared with one year earlier but according to the airports owner Macquarie Airports (MAp) these are the best figures since the crisis started in September 2008. Traffic outside the European Union increased with 4.2% but within the EU passenger traffic decreased with 4.6% .Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Next spring, Brussels Airlines will start a new airline project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The company will operate from Lubumbashi, the second largest city in Congo and capital of the Southern province of Katanga. Provisionally called Korongo, the new airline will serve several Central African cities, with connection to Kinshasa and Brussels. The aim of Brussels Airlines' project is to offer an alternative for the often very unreliable local airline companies. Source: Express.

13/12 - Wing Heli 16 Sqn MRH disbanded at Bierset in the framework of the A109BA Hirundo fleet reduction 

N° 16 Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH) Squadron, one of three such units forming the Bierset based Wing Heli has quietly been disbanded on December 11th 2009. Established as 16 Squadron Air OP at Butzweilerhof near Köln (D) on September 1st, 1953, the unit was last equipped with the A109BA Hirundo helicopter and was based Bierset (near Liège) since it return from Germany in September 1995. The disbandment is the result of the reduced number of Agusta attributed to the Wing Heli. Personnel of the Squadron will be transferred to the 17th and 18th MRH Squadrons remaining operational. During its 56 years of existence, N° 16 Squadron was equipped with Auster AOP.6's, Piper L-18C, Alouette II, Dornier Do27, Britten Norman Islander and finally the Agusta A109BA.

The BAHA-meet (and the association's general assembly) organised at the new "For Freedom" museum at Ramskapelle was great success. Accommodation was filled up to maximum capacity for lectures given by BAHA members Jacques Schelfaut and Cynrik De Decker completed by a tasteful presentation of pictures by Jules Thielemans. In the morning one of the museum founders, Freddy Jones guided the BAHA members through the newest army museum in Belgium with its splendid sight and sound life size diorama's. Jacques Schelfaut entertained the audience with his experience as a "Photo Interpreter" at N° 42 Squadron in the sixties while Cynrik De Decker explained in detail how the German intelligence services managed to obtain a maximum of information from downed pilots during WWII. BAHA's sister association BAHAAT, the collection of which is now also housed at the For Freedom Museum has unveiled their latest masterpiece, a Hawker Typhoon Napier engine (picture) restored to the highest standards. Picture: Jacques Schelfaut explaining the lesser known adventures at n° 42 Squadron. Link to the "For Freedom" Museum site.

Three Belgian journalists, Herman Henderickx (VRT Radio), Tijs Mauroo (VRT TV) and Boudewijn Van Spilbeeck (VTM) have closely followed Frank De Winne from the start of his eighteen-moth training and his 6 moths stay in the International Space Station (ISS) until the successful landing in Kazakhstan and have published their findings in a new book titled "Het Ruimtedagboek van Frank De Winne -Dagelijks leven in het ISS" (The Space diary of Frank De Winne - day to day life at the ISS).  The authors describe the life of the Belgian astronaut during his extended journey in space, including the daily work, food, condition training, living in confined surroundings with 5 other astronauts and Frank's experience as an ISS commander. They also present a look into the future of manned space travel. More information here.

This morning Airbus Military’s all-new A400M took off for its maiden flight from Seville Airport in Spain. The first entirely new airlifter of the 21st Century took to the air from runway 09 at 10:15 local. At the controls was Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, 60, with Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo, 43, in the right-hand seat. Four engineers are also on the aircraft: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet, 43, who has responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce, 52, with responsibility for systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray, 54, with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit, 50. Between them the multi-national crew has logged more than 31,000 total flight hours. The aircraft, with a take-off weight of 127 tonnes, is equipped with 15 tonnes of flight-test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast and its performance is being monitored in real-time by teams of engineers in Seville and Toulouse using state-of-the-art air-ground telemetry. The crew will explore the aircraft’s handling characteristics in the various flap configurations, check the powerplant operation and make initial evaluations of the aircraft’s systems. Its four all-new Europrop International (EPI) TP400D turboprop powerplants producing 11,000shp (8,200kW) each are the most powerful propeller engines ever fitted to a Western aircraft. Today’s first flight marks the beginning of a test campaign that will see some 3,700 hours of flying by an eventual five aircraft conducted between now and entry-into-service at the end of 2012. The A400M will receive both civil certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and military certification and qualification. A total of 184 aircraft have so far been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Source: Airbus Military  -  Picture at Airliners.net  -  Video link at YouTube

At an official ceremony held in Brussels’ historic “Grand-Place” the CEOs of the Star Alliance member airlines welcomed Brussels Airlines to the family. Brussels Airlines is the Belgian airline offering the widest choice of flights to and from the “capital” of Europe. With a fleet of 51 aircraft the airline operates some 200 daily flights to 55 European airports and 14 African destinations. With the addition of Brussels Airlines, customers on the Star Alliance network can now choose from more than 19,700 daily flights to reach 1,077 destinations in 175 countries. New to the network are more connections from Brussels Airport, which has now become a Star Alliance hub. These include four destinations in Africa which are presently not being served by other Star Alliance member carrier: Bujumbura, Burundi; Conakry, Guinea; Kigali, Ruanda and Monrovia, Liberia. Eleven Star Alliance member carriers serve 81 destinations in 40 countries across Africa. Belgium has now become a home market for the Star Alliance network, thereby improving the customer proposition for both business and leisure customers. Hence, Star Alliance can now offer an enhanced portfolio of flight connections from Brussels, including a large increase in nonstop flights, to the advantage of many multinational companies as well as the various political institutions residing in Belgium. Source: BMI

On December 8th, 2009 an N° 40 Squadron Sea King helicopter based at Koksijde has rescued the 1500th person. An injured fisherman of the fishing boat "ARMEMUIDE 4" at work in the North Sea was flown to VEURNE hospital. The Sea King’s crew for this occasion was composed of Major H. HEYVAERT, Cdt SAMAN, AJM DEBERG, Adjt BLANCKAERT, ADC BUYS, and Adjt MESTDAGH. Major-General Claude VAN DE VOORDE the Air Component Commander, handed over a certificate to the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 40th Squadron, Major H. HEYVAERT and the Base Commander Colonel B. HAVERMANS to commemorate this memorable event. Earlier this year, on June 28th 2009, a Sea King passed the 2500 mark of scrambles performed to intervene in rescue actions. Source: Mil.be

The French Ministry of Defence has renewed its Maintenance in Operational Condition (MOC) contract, for its Airbus A319 CJ governmental aircraft operated by the ETEC (Escadron de Transport, d’Entraînement et de Calibration), with Sabena technics. Within the scope of this contract, notified by the Simmad ‘Structure Intégrée de Maintien en condition opérationnelle des Matériels Aéronautiques de la Défense’, Sabena technics will provide full support solutions, from Villacoublay and Bordeaux-Mérignac, to the ETEC’s two Airbus A319 CJ aircraft for a period of four years. The services provided include: line, light and heavy maintenance, engineering support, technical and logistical assistance, in France and overseas as well as engine and component overhaul. Source: Sabena technics.

Irish budget airline Ryanair is to base another three extra aircraft at Brussels South-Charleroi airport as of next summer. For the moment Ryanair has 8 Boeing 737 aircraft permanently based at Charleroi and is said to add some ten new destinations from the Walloon airport. The new routes could increase considerably the number of Charleroi passengers justifying the supplementary aircraft. Source: Express.

Thanks to a new partnership with Star Alliance member Blue1, Brussels Airlines will be able to offer its passengers excellent connections to Finland starting next spring.  Blue 1 will operate two daily flights between the Brussels and Helsinki in code share with Brussels Airlines, as well as smooth onward connections to several domestic Finish destinations. Blue1, member of Star Alliance, will start its operations between Brussels and Helsinki on 29 March 2010. Thanks to a partnership agreement, Blue1 and Brussels Airlines will jointly sell seats on two daily flights on weekdays, morning and evening, and one flight on Sundays. Flights will be operated with Avro RJ aircraft. Source: Brussels Airlines

Retired Colonel (Hon.) Aviator Robert "Bob" Corbeel has passed away. Corbeel was born on August 5th 1925 at Molenbeek-Saint-Jean and joined the Belgian Air Force in 1948. The major part of his career he spend at the 7th Wing based at Chièvres airbase were he flew Gloster Meteor and Hawker Hunter fighter aircraft. At Chièvres he became 7th Squadron CO and OSN of the 7th Wing. Bob was one of the most flamboyant figures of the Belgian Air Force pilot community.  Ailes Militaires Belges link on Bob Corbeel.

Belgian cosmonaut Frank De Winne and his fellow space travellers, Roman Romanenko (Russian) and Robert Thirsk (Canadian) have safely landed with their Sojoez TMA-15 capsule at 08h15 local time in the Kazakhstan plains after a six month stay in the International Space Station (ISS). The three cosmonauts are expected at Tsjkalovski military airbase later today.  Source: De Standaard

As of April 27 2010 Hainan Airlines is to increase the frequency on its connection between Brussels Airport and China's capital Beijing to on flight daily. For the moment flies this route three times a week in winter and four times in summer. Hainan Airlines is the largest private airline of China and uses Airbus A330-200's with a capacity of 177 seats in economy and 36 seats in business on the Brussels route. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

DHL Express said it plans to shift its European headquarters from Belgium to Germany and the Czech Republic with the loss of up to 788 jobs in Brussels. The company said in a statement that those jobs would be "potentially affected" as the shipper, owned by German mail and logistics company Deutsche Post AG, moves head office functions to Bonn or Leipzig airport and its IT data centre to Prague. It is now negotiating the total amount of job losses with local unions and said the cuts would take place step by step over two years and workers would be offered positions at the new locations. DHL's Belgian spokesman Tim Claessens refused to confirm a report in newspaper De Standaard that quoted workers' representatives as saying some 883 jobs would be shed in the country: 524 at DHL Express, 325 at the DHL Aviation sorting centre and 34 at the company's airline European Air Transport. DHL employs around 5,478 people in Belgium and about 300,000 worldwide. Source: CNBC

Thousands of the photographs aircrew risked their lives to bring back are now being made publicly available for the first time. The first batch of  4,000 pictures that have remained in storage since the war go online today in a project to make up to 10 million air reconnaissance pictures available. Images that can be seen include photographs showing the progress of the Allied invasion forces on D-Day, 6 June 1944. The photographs are part of the Aerial Reconnaissance Archives which contains more than 10 million images now being researched, catalogued and digitised; they were sent to Edinburgh last year from Keele University where they had been stored. The archives can be consulted at: http://aerial.rcahms.gov.uk/

The monthly statistics on air traffic and airport movements in Belgium over October 2009 published by Belgocontrol show a decrease of 4.111 movements or -4.09%. (96.412 movements down from 100.523 compared to the same month one year earlier). The decrease occurs mainly at Brussels Airport (-10.29%), but is also reflected in the movements managed by CANAC (overflights and approaches) (-7.20%). Conversely the regional airports show an increase of 7.19%.  Airport statistics give the following figures: Brussels Airport: 20.105  movements (-6.12%), Charleroi-Brussels South: 9.294 movements (+2.00%), Oostende: 8.066 movements (+13.38%), Antwerpen-Deurne: 6.808 movements (+6.47%) and Liège-Bierset: 4.304 movements (+9.16%). Canac controlled air traffic between flight levels 135 and 245: 47.835 movements (-7.20%). Source: Belgocontrol

22/11 - Danny Cooremans announces release of his latest publication "Uncovering the US Navy F-4 B/J/N/S Phantom".

Uncovering the US Navy F-4 B/J/N/S Phantom" contains 176 pages in full colour and with two 1 meter long fold-out pages with accurate 1/48 and 1/72 scale drawings and cockpit diagrams, this book uncovers really everything of the US Navy Phantoms. The first 80 pages uncover the outside fuselage, including the different wings and corresponding wheel wells and speed brakes, the different radars, the various ECM/RHAW antenna, engines, stabilisers... The following 44 pages cover the different cockpits: F-4B/N, F-4J/S and the updated QF-4s. A complete section shows the Phantom in maintenance, with a lot of open panels and engines in full detail. The different Sparrows, Sidewinders, Mk81-82-83 bombs, rocket pods, napalm bombs are shown on 19 pages of armament, with many of them taken during the Vietnam War. Before the book concludes with the fold-out pages, several pictures showing the end for some QF-4s are given too. If you enjoyed the Danny’s Tomcat book, you'll enjoy this latest Phantom book even more! More infomation at DACO Products

19/11 - Airbus A330-300 CS-TMT, the largest ever aircraft used by the Belgian Air Force,officially presented.

On Thursday November 19th 2009 the newest (and definitely largest) aircraft used by the Belgian Air Force has been officially presented to the authorities and assembled press by Minister of Defence Pieter De Crem (CD&V). Airbus A330-300 CS-TMT (c/n 096) has been leased by the Belgian Ministry of Defence from French airline broker AVICO on basis of a 2.000 flying hours annually use at an annual fixed price of 12 million Euros in order to satisfy the Defence's need for a long range transport capacity. The 278 seat airliner is to replace the two obsolete Airbus A310 transporters which were plagued by numerous engine- and component failures. The new aircraft will allow a full contingent of troops to be transported in one flight to for example Afghanistan, while up to now several flights were needed. Pictures: the new aircraft in flight   1   -   2   -   3  , Minister De Crem and the crew of the new aircraft after the presentation flight. 

18/11- Famous T33A FT-25 landmark along the E40 motorway at Affligem has moved to Wetteren

The famous Lockheed T-33A T-Bird FT-25 landmark along the E40 motorway at Affligem had moved to Wetteren. Walter Govaerts of the Econ Company at Wetteren, who already possesses the former République du Bénin Boeing 707, hopes to restore the aircraft to its former glory and put it on display on his estate. FT-25 had suffered a Cat.5 accident at Brustem on March 26th 1976 when a fuselage fire started during oxygen refuelling. The fuselage along with the wings of FT-33 was sold to scrap dealer Van Nieuwenhuyse at Kalken in 1981. Later, having been sold to Mr. Van Langenhove of Zele, the aircraft was modified incorporating folding wings and stabilizer tips to be used for publicity purposes at different locations. After the owner passed away, the aircraft was sold to Autohandel Fouquart of Affligem who had put the trainer as a public attraction along the E5 motorway Brussels - Oostende. Source: Het Nieuwblad.  -  Picture of FT-25 at Affligem

 The Airbus A330 leased by the Belgian Defence ministry to replace the two ageing A310's which is be presented to the press next week in its new livery, has been photographed at Amsterdam-Schiphol (where additional painting was executed by the company AMS) by some Dutch spotters at dusk. Photographs are available at the Sramble website. Additionally to the blue tail and large "Belgian Air Force" markings already observed earlier, the aircraft now sports a large logo of the Belgian Defence somewhat off center on its tail. The aircraft has been leased from the Portuguese company Hi Fly for some 2.000 hours annually on behalf of the Belgian Defence.

The first Airbus Military A400M has been handed over to the Airbus "Flight Test" organisation on 12 November, paving the way to the beginning of the various ground tests which are to be performed before the aircraft takes to the air before year end. The purpose of these ground tests is to verify that all aircraft systems, powerplant and flight test instrumentation work properly, in order to ensure a safe First Flight, and subsequently an efficient flight test campaign. The ground tests include static tests and engine run-ups during which the interaction between all systems, the powerplant and the aircraft is controlled and validated. The correct operation of the telemetry system which will be subsequently used to follow the flights during the development campaign will also be checked during these ground test campaign. Following satisfactory completion of the static tests, the first taxi runs can start. These begin with low speed taxis (up to 60 kts) and brakings, and are to be followed by high speed trials with a rejected take-off at about 120 kts. During these trials, the behaviour of all systems, and the turboprop engines, as well as the reaction of the aircraft to braking and lateral control, is thoroughly checked. After each trial a thorough analysis of the findings as well as the status of the aircraft will determine when the next trial will take place, leading to a first Take-Off before year end. Source: OCCAR

Jet Airways is again to fly the Mumbai-Brussels-Newark route with a Boeing 777-300ER. Between November 21st and January 16th 21010 the Boeing aircraft will replace the smaller Airbus A330-200 used for the moment. All other connection flown by Jet Airways via Brussels will continue to be flown by the Airbus A330-200. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

02/10/2009: Person in trouble on the "ALYONA"
03/10/2009: Kite Surfer with problems in "OOSTERSCHELDE"
05/10/2009: Search and rescue of a drowning person at "RAVERSIJDE"
06/10/2009: 2 injured picked up from "Land van SAEFTINGHE"
09/10/2009: Cargo with problems in LUIK - cancelled
17/10/2009: Schip capsized before "DE PANNE" - man overboard
18/10/2009: Injured picked up from "ZEEBRUGGE 47" and flown to VEURNE Hospital
25/10/2009: Man overboard from a yacht at BLANKENBERGE, picked up and flown to AZ BRUGGE
29/10/2009: Emergency signals received near the pier of BLANKENBERGE
30/10/2009: Injured person picked up from "STEFANIE" and flown to AZ BRUGGE
31/10/2009: Diving accident in the North Sea. 1 diver picked up and flown to AZ BRUGGE. Search for the second diver with another Sea King

Defence Minister, Pieter De Crem (CD&V) has announced a drastic restructuring operation for the armed forces. Under the plan 23 military bases are being closed, among them for the Air Component are Bierset airbase as previously reported, but also Goestenhoven airbase (Militair Centrum Voor Zweefvliegen / Centre Militaire de Vol à Voile (MCVZ/CMVV)), the Control and Reporting Centre at Glons and the reserve bases of Oostmalle Zoersel and Weelde. At the same time it was decided that 6 out of the 60 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters are to be mothballed as well as 8 Agusta A109BA helicopters. Source: De Redactie.

Between October 18th and November 24th 2009, the International Falcon Air Meet will be held by the Jordanian Air Force in Azraq. Several nations, users of the F-16, are invited to this event. The Jordanian Falcons (the Jordanian Air Force display team) take regularly part in the Belgian airshows and the sale of Belgian MLU F-16s to Jordan in 2007 has made the relationship between the Belgian and the Jordanian air force even more intense (See BAHA Special features: When Belgian Falcons become (Royal) Jordanian Falcons  and Jordan takes delivery of eight more former Air Component F-16s). A detachment of N°349 Squadron based at Kleine Brogel Air Base, led by Captain Kris Van De Putte, will be consisting of 3 F-16's and 42 men of various specializations. The aircraft will participate in various joint exercises during this meeting including simulated air combat and precision ground attacks. This exercise gives offers the Belgians an extra opportunity to gain experience in a region less known but with a landscape and weather conditions similar to the operation areas in Afghanistan. Source: Mil.be

Airbus Military has given an important briefing at its Getafe plant near Madrid detailing the current status of its A400M strategic/tactical transport programme. On the political and financial side, negotiations with the customer countries on a revised contract are proceeding well, and the new agreement is expected to be finalised this month. On the technical side, the first aircraft, MSN1 has received its engines and Ratier-Figeac FH386 8-bladed propellers. A number of development improvements have also been embodied; outdoor tests for cabin pressurisation and fuel test system tests have been completed; all aircraft systems have been tested and are ready for first flight, expect flight software that is still being loaded. MSN1 will start static engine ground run, low-speed and then high-speed taxi tests in November with the flyable FADEC software, and will make its maiden flight late this year or early in 2010.ircraft MSN2 will complete all structural upgrade and system installation as well as system testing by the end of 2009, and will fly in the first quarter of 2010. Complete aircraft assembly of MSN3 started in mid-September, and it is scheduled to fly before summer 2010. The subsequent aircraft will be completed in a configuration progressively closer to the final military standard. MS7 will be the first aircraft to be delivered to the customer, while MS5 and MS6 will be brought to the standard operational configuration and delivered at a later date. The eventual fate of aircraft MS1 to MS4 is not completely clear at this stage, and they might or then might not became operational platforms. Source: Defence professionals

John Pacco has announced the release on October 25th, 2009, of the third volume of his series on the Belgian Air Force aircraft called: "De Vliegtuigen van de Belgische Luchtmacht - Les Avions de la Force Aérienne Belge 1946 - 1962". As usual the author describes in detail all aircraft used in the period covered and all gives a wealth of details on the use of these aircraft from the Spitfire MK.XIV to the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak. Click here (winword doc) for more information and here for the cover of the book.

A Ryanair jet was forced to make an emergency landing when a dual-engine bird strike shortly after  take-off forced its crew to abandon the flight. The Italian aviation authority has launched an investigation into the "serious incident", which occurred on Thursday; when Ryanair flight FR8631 was taking off from Trapani Airport on the Italian island of Sicily. The twin-engine Boeing 737-800 was en route to Brussels Charleroi Airport in Belgium when it struck a flock of birds shortly after departure. Source: Independent.ie

The first operational heli-pad on top of a building in Belgium has been inaugurated at the "Onze-Lieve-Vrouw" hospital at Aalst. The new landing area is situated at 45m above the ground and has been used for the first time by Air Component Agusta A109BA H-02 in Medevac configuration, quickly followed by Ecureuil OO-HSK of the Heli Service Belgium.  Source and picture: Gaston De Mol.  

The Airbus A330-322 which is to be leased by the Belgian Defence will be available to the 15th Transport Wing at Melsbroek airbase as of October 29th, 2009. The aircraft which is registered CS-TMT will replace the two troublesome Airbus A310 aircraft of the Air Component. Some issues on the fact that the aircraft is too large to fit in the existing maintenance hangars at Melsbroek and that at full load the aircraft is too heavy for the Melsbroek apron are discussed for the moment.  Source:  Gazet van Antwerpen - BAHA News on 21/08

04/09/09: Search for man overboard TERNEUZEN
06/09/09: Kite surfers in difficulties at OOSTDUINKERKE & DE HAAN
12/09/09: Surfer in difficulty at OOSTDUINKERKE
13/09/09: Broken ship
16/09/09: 2 people picked up from sinking yacht for ZEEBRUGGE and transported to AZ BRUGGE
17/09/09: Evacuation of injured person from the GOEREE 48 and transferred to GOES hospital
20/09/09: Diving Accident. Diver picked up and flown to AZ BRUGGE    Source: Mil.be