June 2007

For yet unknown reasons an Ultra Light Motorised aircraft crashed in a garden at Hasselt killing one of the occupants and injuring the other. According to witnesses the aircraft behaved very strangely and appeared to be making a looping after which it stalled and crashed. Source: De Standaard.

In order to test all military and civil services involved in the unlikely case of an accident occurring during the Spotters' Day, a full size Post Crash Management exercise was organised at Kleine Brogel Airbase. A very realistic scenario involving some aircraft lined up (as would be the case during the Spotters' Day) and crowds of enthusiasts were witness of a refuelling incident turned into a major fire. The simulated disaster took the life of two ground crew members and injured (essentially burn wounds) some 15 people standing nearby. Within minutes the base fire brigade was on the spot followed later on by civilian rescuers, ambulances and fire brigades from the nearby civil corpses. The most severely burned victims were evacuated by Seaking and Agusta helicopters (part of the static show of the Spotters' day and always on stand-by) to the nearby Maria Hospital at Lommel.

Rest assured all systems worked out very satisfactory and eventual small problems noticed by the large number of civil and military observers will give way to adjustments in the "Rampenplan" (disaster plan) of the base.  Pictures of the exercise: 1  -  2  -  3  -  4

As from the second half of this week Brussels Airport will receive a record-breaking number of passengers. On Friday the airport expects over 36,000 departing passengers and on Saturday, Sunday and Monday about 25,000. On an ordinary day the airport registers an average of 15,000 departing passengers. Source and more information: Brussels Airport

The monthly statistics on air traffic and airport movements in Belgium published by Belgocontrol show a 3.01% overall increase (+2.937 movements up to 100.326) compared to the same period one year earlier. Airport statistics give the following figures: Brussels Airport: 23.544 movements (+1.57%), Charleroi-Brussels South: 7521 (+3.67%),  Oostende-Brugge: 7.454 (+14.55%), Antwerpen-Deurne: 6.592 (-12.42%),  and Liège-Bierset: 4.226 (+7.37%). Canac controlled air traffic between flight levels 135 and 245: 50.989 (+4.10%). Source: Belgocontrol

Former Belgian Air Force C-47B K-11/OT-CWF (14424/25869 43-48608) arrived at Paso Robles Airport in California (USA) after a ferry flight from Villeneuve, St Albert, Canada on 25  June at 11h48L. The aircraft last saw active service with the Israeli Air Force as 016/4X-FNN and was withdrawn from use in 1997. A group of aviation enthusiast including well known Belgian illustrator Jean-Luc Beghin has acquired the Skytrain from the last owners Global Aircraft Industries Ltd with the intention to keep the aircraft airworthy and present it at airshows in yet to be decided military livery. Click here to see an .avi movie of the arrival of K-11 at its new hometown.

European Maintenance Solutions (EMS), a joint venture between the French company Europe Aviation, Portugal's Louro Aircraft Services and the Dutch enterprise Stella Aviation Technics is to start a maintenance business at Liège Bierset airport. The alliance has businesses in France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Brazil and Egypt. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

On 27 June 2007 Col Bernard Flamang will take over command of the 15th Transport Wing based at Melsbroek airbase from Col Jackie Lippens thus becoming the 24 CO of this base. Source: Mil.be FR and NL

Spanish low budget airline Vueling will open a new link between Brussels Airport and Sevilla (Spain) starting from December 2nd 2007 onwards. Flights are planned on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and are in direct competition with flights organised by Brussels Airlines. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

EasyJet which opens a service between Brussels and Geneva on June 29th next has announced that the company will also start a daily connection between Brussels Airport and Berlin Schoenefeld (SXF) from 29 October 2007 onwards. Flying time between both capitols will be 1 hour 25 minutes. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Following the April 2007 approval by the Belgian Government's confirmation, the NAHEMO (NATO Helicopter Management Organisation), has signed on behalf of Belgium, a contract with NHI to supply Belgium with a total of ten NH90. These ten NH90 include four aircraft in the TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) version, four in the NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) version - and two options. The ceremony took place on June 18 at the Cercle Militaire Saint- Augustin in Paris in the margin of the Le Bourget trade Show. Belgium is the 14th country ordering the NH90 and the sixth to join NAHEMO, the international program organisation representing France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal and now also Belgium. Source: EADS.

On June 26th the world's largest airliner the Airbus A-380 will be visiting Brussels Airport. According to www.luchtzak.be the huge machine will land on runway 25L and depart immediately on runway 25R. Exact hours of arrival and departure will be announced later. UPDATE: Event postponed until July 2007 !!!

Ten Belgian Air Component F-16AM/BM fighters have successfully made the very long range deployment to Naval Air Facility El Centro in California, USA from the Canadian base of Cold Lake where the detachment participated at the international exercise "Maple Flag". Up to mid July several pilots will be able to sharpen their skills in the inhabited region near El Centro which allows the use of life arms during day and night. Source: Mil.be NL & FR.

Northwest Airlines opened a new daily nonstop service between Northwest's WorldGateway at Detroit (U.S.A.) hub and Brussels Airport.  Northwest's nonstop service will enable travellers to easily make connections to more than 146 cities in North America, served by Northwest and Northwest Airlink. Northwest's Detroit-Brussels route is flown with modified Boeing 757-200 aircraft that have been fitted with "winglets," or extensions of the aircraft wing to maximize fuel efficiency and increase range. Source: Brussels Airport.

Three F-16AM and three F-16BM fighters are to deploy to the Czech Republic military base of Caslav between 18 and 29 June 2007. The OCU pilots are to train dissimilar combat techniques against locally based Saab Gripens of n° 211 Squadron and L-159 ALCA's of n° 212 squadron. The detachment is composed of 60 persons including pilots, technical personnel, medical support and air traffic controllers. Source: Mil.be NL & FR

The European Commission has authorised a Belgian government subsidy for development of the airport of Antwerpen. To increase the number of passengers travelling via Antwerpen the aid can be granted to carriers who start new services or increase their frequency from and to the airport. For the moment VLM Airlines is the only company serving Antwerpen on regular basis. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Belgocontrol, who is responsible for air safety in Belgian airspace, has been awarded the European certification in the framework of the project of a Single European Sky launched by the European Commission in 1999.  This initiative intends to change the future structure of air traffic control across Europe with the aim to use more efficient air traffic management that is more closely based on actual flight patterns, rather than using the present arrangements, which are largely based on national boundaries. This certification proves that Belgocontrol is fulfilling the common (European) needs in air traffic management. Source: Belgocontrol

Four more stored Lockheed F-16AM's left the Weelde storage facility to be prepared for delivery to the Jordanian Air Force. FA-61 and FA-78 departed for Kleine Brogel airbase at 11h40L while FA-75 and FA-88 left at 13h15L most probably for Florennes airbase. Click here for picture by Dirk Jansens.

The history of the Koksijde based Fighter School and the F-16 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) has been assembled in a superb pictorial book called " Tango Basic  Cleared for take-off " which is to be released on 16 July 2007. The entire proceeds of this publication filled with anecdotes, prints and (colour) pictures go to the Children Cancer Benevolent fund.  Ordering information.

To commemorate the fact that it is precisely 90 years ago that N° 1 Squadron of the famous De Moeren based "Groupe de chasse" started using the "Chardon d'Ecosse" as their ensign the Squadron decorated one of its F-16AM's (FA-101) with a "historical" tail retracing some of the most important mounts of this unit. The right-hand side presents a magnificent Hanriot Dupont HD1 of World War 1 ancestry while the left hand side shows post World War II aircraft used by the "Stingers"; the Supermarine Spitfire F.14, Republic F-84F and  Mirage 5BA.  Follow this link for some pictures.

Cdt Vl Jan "Jakke" Hanssens today made the first flight of the specially decorated 20th Anniversary OCU flagship F-16BM FB-18. Specially commissioned by OCU CO Maj Vl Peter "Patja” Stams to celebrate the 20 years of the Operation Conversion Unit the innovative design created by Johan Wolfs was applied as a composition of huge stickers. Today's flight was an engine performance check flight and included some supersonic flying thus proving the efficiency of the stickers in extreme circumstances. Click here for some pictures of the beautiful OCU bird.  

Magister MT48 made it's last flight today. Lt Col Rorive flew MT48 the past years at airshows all over Europe. Sad to see it go. Now MT35 is the last remaining airworthy operational Fouga Magister in the world and has received markings to commemorate this. Click here for some pics by Tim Soetaert on BAHA’s Forum and on the S.B.A.P site here and here.

Lockheed C-130H Hercules CH-04 recently returned from Portugal after an upgrade to its defence system against air-to air and ground-air missiles. Besides a better integrates radar warning system for incoming missiles the aircraft is also equipped with a new flares system. At the same time the cockpit has been optimised for use with night vision goggles. By 2009 all Belgian Air Component Hercules transports will be equipped these improved systems. Source: Mil.be FR and NL

Koksijde based Belgian Defence Seaking RS-04 had to make a precautionary landing in a field at Steenkerke at about 18h00L on Sunday evening. Due to unknown reason the helicopter developed an oil leak in the gearbox. Not wanting to take any risks the pilot decided to make a safe precautionary landing in a field without further damage.  After repears the achine could return to it's nearby base at 22h00L Source: Belga and SGKoksijde forum. Picture of RS-04 in the field by Tom Houquet here

As from October 29, Sterling will offer 6 weekly flights to Copenhagen, 4 to Oslo and 4 to Stockholm. Flights are operated with a Boeing 737-500 and 737-700 aircraft. Source: Luchtzak and Sterling

The Vlaams Luchtvaartopleidingscentrum Oostende-Brugge (VLOC) or Flemish Aerospace Training/education Centre created by the Katholieke Hogeschool Brugge-Oostende with European and Flemish Government aid has been opened at Oostende-Brugge Airport. The Centre will train commercial airline pilots, aeronautical engineers and aircraft technicians. For this purpose the centre own a Boeing 727, helicopters and training aircraft besides engines, cockpit simulators and system trainers. Picture of the VLOC campus.

From 2nd of June 2007, US Airways starts a daily connection between Brussels Airport and the Eastern US city of Philadelphia flown with a Boeing 757-200. Flight details for the service are as follows: 
 Philadelphia (8:35 p.m).to Brussels  (10:25 a.m. next day)   -  Brussels (12:40 p.m) to Philadelphia (3:25 p.m).
With this new link, the number of daily transatlantic flights out of Brussels Airport numbers five next to connections by American, United, Delta and Continental. Later this month, Northwest Airlines is to add yet another link with a daily connection form Brussels to Detroit. Source: US Airways and Luchtvaartnieuws.

May 2007

Belgian Air Component's 31 "Tiger" Squadron dispatched two Lockheed F-16AM fighters to RAF Aldergrove (Northern Ireland) to participate in a "Mini Tiger Meet". The event coincided with Families’ Day at the Ulster base, which was hosted by RAF Aldergrove’s 230 Squadron, renowned for their domination of the skies in their distinctive Puma Helicopters. The mini event at RAF Aldergrove involved two F16s from 31 Squadron Belgian Air Force, three Tornados from 321 Sqn German Air Force, and a Tornado from 51 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing German Air Force. Another mini Tiger Meet is scheduled to take place in Belgium later this year. RAF's 230 Squadron is also participating in the Operational Integration Exercise 07 organised at Kleine Brogel on 17 July 2007 with two of its Puma helicopters. Source: Belfast Today

Brussels Airlines is considering opening a local branch of its business at Mauritius island to the East of the African continent if talks on cooperation with Rwandan and Burundi's airlines are successful. Mauritius, situated in the Indian Ocean, Eats of Africa is the preferred location of the Belgian airline as it has similar air safety regulations to those applied in Belgium. Source: VRT Nieuws.

Dassault Mirage 5M Elkan 701, which once flew in the Belgian Air Force as BA-01 has been transported by road to the Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio at Los Cerrillos,  Santiago de Chile. This Elkan which was operational until 27 December 2006 at Antofagasta based Grupe de Aviacion N° 8 of the V Brigada Aérea, is to be displayed next to the non-modified Mirage V BR 722, which is the former Belgian Air Force's BR-25. In the Chilean Air Force the Mirage/Elkan was replaced by the F-16AM and BM. Source: Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (including pictures)

A new Commanding officer has been appointed for the Belgian Defence’s main flying instruction airbase, Beauvechain. Colonel Patrice Laurent will succeed to Col Thierry de Schrevel as 31st commander of Beauvechain which is situated to the South-East of Brussels.   Source: Mil.be NL & FR.

A recently acquired Airbus 330-300 was registered OO-SFW (‘Sierra Fox Whisky’) with the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority, thereby officially joining the Brussels Airlines fleet as 49th aircraft. This fleet expansion enables employment for 70 additional people and allows Brussels Airlines to reinforce its long haul offer as from autumn 2007. The aircraft will be used throughout the summer on an ad-hoc basis on the European network, flying Brussels Airlines passengers to Athens, Malaga and Faro on busy days. Current Brussels Airlines fleet consists of 4 Airbus 330-300 aircraft, 3 Airbus A 319, 10 Boeing 737 and 32 AVRO RJ/BAe aircraft. Souce: Brussels Airlines.

The national carrier of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran Air, will launch a direct flight from Tehran to Brussels from 9 July, the Islamic Republic News Agency IRNA reported. Initially there will be two flights a month. One flight will be direct Tehran-Brussels and the other will be Tehran to Brussels via the German city of Cologne. Iran Air will deploy an Airbus 300 on the route to Brussels, an Iran Air official said. Source: IRNA

Boeing Co. has unveiled a major order placed by the TUI Group for eleven 787 Dreamliners and fifty 737’s. The aircraft are to be used by Jetairfly and ArkeFly, the TUI airlines operating from respectively Belgium and The Netherlands. The deal is worth some 4.7 billion dollars at catalogue value but as is the custom with large orders these prices are certainly subject of major reductions. The first 7637’s have already been delivered while the brand new 787 will make its maiden flight in August 2007. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

SkyEurope Airlines is upgrading its current routes out of BRU. By the end of October, or at the latest early November, Brussels-Vienna will get a second daily flight (one in the morning and one in the evening).  Brussels-Prague and Brussels-Budapest are becoming daily instead of being operated 3-4 times per week.  In the future, SkyEurope also wants to open a base in Brussels with two Boeing 737s.

The wreck of Light Aviation BN-2 Islander B-05/OT-ALE (up to now stored at Bierset airbase) has been put up for auction by the Belgian Defence Sales Service and was acquired by the Dutch company PS Aero. This particular aircraft was withdraw from use - with her sister ship B-06/OT-ALF currently on display at the Brussels Army Museum Aeronautical Department - after having suffered structural damages due to corrosive smokes in a hangar fire at Butzweilerhof air base (D) on November 23rd, 1988. See also the BAHA Special Feature "Islanders for sale".

Leisure aviation or air sports portal FlyForFun.be is organising its first photo contest this summer. Prizes can be won in two ways: firstly by participating with pictures that capture the "fun" of flying or secondly, for the more advanced photographers, with the picture that is rated as "best" in a 'technical' way by the jury. More information on how to participate on the FlyForFun website: http://www.flyforfun.be/?q=node/117

From a contact with the two top rank Benin military pilots present this week-end at Bierset for the Belgian Helidays, it appear that their country is to receive five A109BA Hirundo helicopters from Belgium. At the four A109BA purchased by Benin (see BAHA News of April 23rd, 2007), the Belgian Defence has also added (as a gift?) a fifth aircraft as spare parts resource and technical training airframe. This bring in fact a logical answer to the presence of the cocooned H-17 on the list of the A109BA Hirundo intended to Benin after the announcement that the four helicopters are to be withdrawn from use from the Wing Heli operational aircraft. So far identified Hirundo intended for Benin are: H-04, H-17 & H-32. See also BAHA Special Feature: Benin Bound Belgians.

As already announced three months ago (see BAHA News of February 1st, 2007) a helicopter equipped with a spray system was used against processionary caterpillar invasions in the area of Bocholt (Province of Limburg). The processionary caterpillar is a unique little furry insect moving over the ground in long head-to-tail processions and to sting with urticating hairs anyone who attempts to molest them that has brought the caterpillars to the attention of the public. It is also one of the most destructive of forest insects, capable of defoliating vast tracts of trees during its episodic population surges. Sources: Het Belang van Limburg

Danish budget airline Sterling has announced it will be servicing Brussels Airport starting October 28th this year. Sterling will fly to the Scandinavian capitals Copenhagen (6 times per week), Stockholm (4 times per week) and Oslo (4 times per week) with Boeing 737. Over the past few months Brussels Airport has been trying to attract not only more long-haul flights but also budget airlines. The airport¹s strategy seems to be working. Both EasyJet and SkyEurope recently announced their arrival at Zaventem, and Air Berlin is also interested in servicing Brussels, according to reports in the media. These developments are making Brussels Airport more of a competitor for Charleroi, which is serviced by Ryanair.  Sources: De Standaard, La Libre, Expatica and Luchtzak.

BAHA member Eric Mombeek and BAHA president Jean-Louis Roba have announced the release on May 16th 2007 of two new books they wrote:  "*Dans le Ciel de France, histoire de la JG 2 "Richthofen*" - volume 1  1934-1940  and "*Chasseurs d'assaut, histoire de la JG 4*" -  volume 1  1942-1944.  More details and ordering information can be found on the annexed flyer in pdf format.

The Wing Heli SA.318C Alouette II helicopters and their pilots participated in forest fire aerial surveillance operations all over the week end of May 5th & 6th. At the request of the Walloon authorities on forest fire alert after last month long hot and dry period, the Belgian Defence provided Alouette II for the aerial surveillance and detection of forest fires in the Meuse area. For this specific task the Meuse area was split in two zones (east and west) where the helicopters embarked observers from the Division de la Nature et des Forêts (link: http://mrw.wallonie.be/dgrne/dnf/). In two days a total of no less than 21 hours of flight were performed by the four pilots of the Wing Heli. Were observed operating from Thuin, Baronville, Spa and Bastogne the Alouette II: A-49, A-55, A-57 & A-78. Sources: Mil.be NL & FR.

On May 4th the fourth Brussels Airlines' Airbus A330-300 arrived at Brussels airport painted in its new livery (picture: http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5970268&nseq=965). This aircraft arrived for the first time at Brussels airport on February last (see also BAHA News of February 1st, 2007) and is still sporting the Irish registration EI-DVB (Model A330-322 /MSN 082 ex-EC-JBT, EI-DVB and future OO-SFW?) of its owner Bella Aircraft Leasing.

On May 4th, the eight N°2 Wing F-16s Fighting Falcon fighter deployed to Cambrai since April 18th came back home (see also BAHA News of April 18th, 2007). During the Florennes air base main runway renewal works - so until October 2007 - the N°2 Wing F-16s will operate from their homebase parallel and smaller runway but also from Kleine Brogel AB. In the next weeks the Air Component is to deploy 10 F-16 fighters to the United States (El Centro) and Canada (Cold Lake) for the annual Cross Continental Deployment between May 21st and July 22nd but also five ships to Jordan where the Belgian fighters and their pilots will participate exercise "Falcon Air Meet 2007" between May 14th and June 1st from Azraq air base. The concept of this exercise is a friendly competition centred on the world's multi-role fighter jet F-16 Fighting Falcon. Inspired by Prince Feisal Bin Al Hussein, special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, and first organised in 2006, the goal of this F-16 competition is the improvement of the relationship of Jordan with its partners and the promotion of the stability in the region. Along with the 2006 competitors were several observing countries - including Bahrain, Italy, Oman, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia – that are planning to participate at the Falcon Air Meet 2007. Source: Armée de l'Air and Belga.

Flemish actor Tom Waes was slightly injured in the crash of a homebuild aircraft at Kiewit. The crash was recorded by a VRT team as it occurred during the filming of the aeroplane first test flight - towed by a car! - in the framework of a future TV programme "How to" (fly an aeroplane?). Source: . Het Belang van Limburg

Remnants of 313 (Czech) Squadron RAF Spitfire LF Mk.IXe MJ558 were recovered by M. Benny Cuelaers in the Industrial zone Wolfstee at Herentals. This fighter and its Czech pilot,  P/O Amost Mrtvy, were shot down on April 19th, 1944 while coming back from a B-26 Marauder escort mission by  Hauptmann Wolfgang Neu (link: http://www.luftwaffe.cz/neu.html), Staffelkapitän from 4/JG26 flying a Focke Wulf Fw190A-6. P/O Mrtvy died due to the failure of its parachute and is buried in an Antwerpen area cemetery. Sources: Gazet Van Antwerpen and Avianet.

At a function held in Brussels Airport on May 2nd, India's largest private airline company Jet Airways announced the creation of its European hub in Brussels (see also BAHA News of April 14th, 2007), which will provide enhanced connectivity between India and Europe, Africa and North America. Jet Airways will work closely with Brussels Airlines and will launch daily non stop services from Brussels to Mumbai, New York (Newark), from August 5th, 2007 and later this year will also offer daily non stop services from Brussels to Delhi and Toronto. In the future, Jet Airways plans to operate a total of ten daily flights via Brussels connecting cities in India and cities in USA and Canada. All in all, this should mean around 3,200 extra passengers passing through Brussels airport. Jet Airways and Brussels Airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding implementing codeshare, frequent flyer partnership, and through check facilities. As part of its expansion plans Jet Airways, is to operate 20 new wide body aircraft, the first Boeing B777-35RER (picture of VT-JEA)  and Airbus A330-202  (picture of F- WWKE being officially received in Brussels on May 2nd): Source: VRT Flandersnews and La Libre.

For the occasion of the 8th edition of the "Belgian Helidays" (link) organised by the Air Component's Wing Heli at Bierset on 12 and 13th May 2007, static display Agusta A.109BA H-16 has received a very special decoration which was unveiled in a short ceremony on May 2nd. Click here for a picture of this special helicopter which of course will be present at the largest helicopter airshow in the world on 12 & 13 May.

On April 2nd Albanian Airlines launches a three times weekly service Tirana-Brussels with "Jumbolino" BAe 146 while KD Avia (formerly know as Kaliningradavia) is to start a new route between Brussels and its Kaliningrad home base from June 16th with Boeing 737-300. Sources: Luchtzak and ASA.

On May 1st, 1997 the Irish budget airline Ryanair officially started to operate from what once upon a time was its first continental base at Brussels-South Charleroi Airport (BSCA). The first flight took off on May 23rd to Dublin. Thanks to its deal with Ryanair BSCA recorded an incredible expansion with 2 million passengers in 2006 (compared to 200,000 in 1998). The airline is to add more airliners to the four currently based at Charleroi Airport but will nonetheless stop its daily service Charleroi-Stockholm on May 22nd. Source: Luchtzak

April 2007

On April 27th, the Belgian government has at last decided to procure 10 NH90 helicopters, consisting of 8 firm orders (4 TTH and 4 NFH) plus 2 optional aircraft. Belgium is now the 14th country ordering the NH90 and the 2nd country, after Portugal in 2001, to join the international programme organisation, NAHEMO, which was initially formed in order to gather the National Armament Directors of the 4 countries which have instigated the NH90 Programme (France, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands), joined by Portugal in 2001. The Belgian industry will benefit from to the procurement of NH90 helicopters through an extensive industrial cooperation programme. With 4 NFH and 4 TTH - for total reported price of 292,5 million EUR -, the NH90 helicopters will provide the Belgian Defence with new Search and Rescue, Naval and Tactical Transport capabilities. The future Belgian NFH have to replace as soon as possible the ageing 40 Squadron Seaking and the Alouette III in the SAR and maritime support roles but due to some development delays the NFH version won't be available for their first customers before 2009. Delivery of first Belgian NH90 NFH is now expected in 2011. NHIndustries has also announced that the NH90 will be presented to the Belgian public (Static Display only ­ Live instrument panel) on the occasion of the next Belgian Helidays in Bierset from 12th to 13th May 2007. Source: VRTNieuws & Defence-Aeroscpace.com

Brussels Airlines has launched an extra flight to Nairobi, bringing its current service to six flights a week. The extra sixth-weekly flight operates on Sunday and is expected to link Kenyan businesses with Europe through Brussels. This extra flight reflected the increasing demand for travel to Kenya from Benelux countries- Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg and would increase the number of tourists into the country, through the airline to 80,000 annually. Source: allAfrica

On April 25th 2007, TNT Airways at Liège-Bierset (link: www.tnt-airways.be) has added another ex-America West Airlines (HP/Phoenix) B737-301F freighter: 00-TNK (ex-N326AW picture) to its fleet. Sources: CH-Aviation & Planespotters.

On April 25th various media reported that the new Belgian freight carrier Cargo B Airlines (see also BAHA News of February 8^th and link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_B_Airlines) is to lease two Boeing B-747-200F from a subsidiary of Russian Volga Dnepr, AirBridge, via 3P Air Freighters. We can therefore assume that the involved freighters will be Boeing B-747-243 with registration VP-BIA and VP-BIB (link: Planespotters and Pictures 1 and 2). The launch of Cargo B operation is scheduled for October 2007. A B-747 should join the fleet in April 2008. Destinations are announced to be in the Middle- and Far East, Africa and South America. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

On April 25th Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) has inaugurated its new Oostende home base (see also BAHA News of February 9th, 2007). The new NHV heliport is located at the Kalkaertweg just over the Oostende Airport south boundary fence. The company is specialised in all kinds of helicopter transport and helicopter work in Belgium and surrounding countries. NHV operates two AS365N3 Dauphins, two AS365N2 Dauphins, two MD Explorers, one EC120B Colibri and one EC145. The MD Explorers are medevac helicopters only, one based at Arras, France and the other based in Antwerp, Belgium, while the EC145 also carries out an EMS role from its base at Bra-Sur-Lienne. On December 2006, the Flemish Government has allocated NHV 1.099.612 EUR of aid for its expansion (see also BAHA News of December 1st, 2006). The company has also recently expressed its interest in taking over a part of the Air Component's 40 Squadron SAR role (see also BAHA News of March 15th, 2007). Sources: Het Nieuwsblad and Westwings

Robinson R-22 helicopter with registration OO-RJA (c/n 1838), operating from the Crown Knokke Heliport, crashed on April 24th at the Bastenaken quay in the Zeebrugge's inner port. The company had the permission from the harbour authorities to hold a lift off-training. After what sound to be a steering error by the student pilots, the helicopter crashed without casualties. Sources: De Gentenaar & Stadsomroep  

Visiting the BENHELI-detachment in Cotonou (H-05, H-20 & H-45) in the framework of exercise Alibori (see also BAHA News of April 7th, 2007), the General O. Pochet revealed that the awaited sale agreement of four Belgian Defence Agusta A109BA Hirundo was recently signed for the "political" price of 2.5 million EUR (see also BAHA News of February 28th, 2007). This sale is a good piece of news for Defence Minister M. Andre Flahaut who has had to face a flood of parliamentary questions ever since the news became known that two Belgian Agusta helicopters (H-20 and H-45) and their 17-member crew were stationed since November 17th (see also BAHA News of November 17th, 2006) in Benin's capital of Cotonou and that the helicopters were used to fly President Thomas Yayi Boni and his entourage to remote areas of the country. Lawmakers were upset by the fact that these flights were taking place in the run-up to the presidential election. They feared this might give the impression of a Belgian bias in favour of President Yayi Boni (see also BAHA News of March 26th). M. Flahaut has consistently said that the presence of the Agustas and their crews fitted in the plan to sell four machines to Benin. Bad aspect of this sale the strength of the Air Component Wing Heli might be reduced from 32 to 28 A109BA Hirundo. None of the Hirundo currently deployed to Benin might be part of the deal. The first three selected A.109BA for Benin are H-04, H-17 and H-32. The H-32 is currently prepared by the 255 Maintenance Group. The first Benin pilots will arrive for conversion at Bierset in June. Agustas H-17 - which is still cocooned - (picture) and H-32 (picture) will be ferried by C-130 to Benin early July where Belgian pilots will support the end of the conversion of their local colleagues. In the meantime H-20 and H-45 will be brought back home for overhaul and replaced for the BENHELI mission by the H-05 (already at Cotonou) and H-31. Het Volk

On April 22nd, Brussels Airlines has flown a maiden direct flight Brussels-Bujumbura (see also BAHA News of March 9th, 2007). The Airbus with 250 passengers on board (incl. the of SN Airholding Board Chairman M. Etienne Davignon and the First Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi Dr. Martin Nduwimana) landed at the international airport of Bujumbura at 19:30 resuming Western European airlines flights to the capital of Burundi . Flights were stopped in 1999 after rebels shot at a Sabena airliner - with no casualties - landing at Bujumbura and since then no Western airline served Burundi owing to the insecurity in the country. For the last three years, Burundi has been linked to the outside world mainly by African airlines - Kenyan Airways and Ethiopian Airways. Sources: Panapress and Luchtzak.

Following an oil leak a Thomas Cook airliner was blocked on April 22nd at Lanzarote, its 176 passengers reported being stranded in local best hotels with the full support of the travel company. A spare part was sent to the Canary Islands, but this did not solve the problem. Sunday April 23rd in the evening another spare part was sent from Rome via Brussels. It was installed and successfully tested in about thirty minutes. The aircraft at its passengers came back at Brussels on April 24th so with no less than 36 hours delay. Sources: Het Belang van Limburg, De Gentenaar and Luchtzak.

As commercial gesture following wildcat strike of April 13th, Brussels Airport offers airlines free landing and take-off in May. The Airport operator has expressed its appreciation for the efforts made by the airlines during the unannounced industrial action of the airport fire service on April 13th. Likewise, passengers who were affected by the strike will also receive a small present. Every Friday of May the airlines will be allowed to use the airport for free. On May 4, 11, 18 and 25th, Brussels Airport will not charge them to land or take off from its runways. The image of the airport was seriously damaged by this strike by the strike. Source: Brussels Airport

On April 20th the Stampe Museum at Deurne has announced that its Fokker D.VII got one step nearer to completion having its wings fitted and Gipsy Queen engine test-runned. The vintage bird should be for the first time publicly presented during the Stampe fly-in on May 19-20th, 2007. Furthermore thanks to photographic evidences recently provided by BAHA Webmaster M. Daniel Brackx, the staff has painted Belgian military roundels on the top wing of the Museum Fokker D.VIII flying replica (see also BAHA News of September 9th, 2005). The fighter is in the colours of Lt. Albert Van Cothem's Fokker n°17 military racer as it appeared at Wilrijk in 1920. Source: Stampe Museum.

On April 20th the government has authorised the use of the Air Component aircraft for the transport of detained suspects summoned to appear before the International Criminal Court in the framework of an outline agreement (International Criminal Court link) Sources: Het Laatste Nieuws and Press Center FR & NL.

On March 22nd, the Walloon Government has chosen as new operator for the Cerfontaine airfield (EBCN) the project "Village aéronautique des Lacs" proposed by a group of investors: M. Tilmant, Ronveaux, Lallemand, Mulders and Scherman. This brand new airfield was for sale since the bankruptcy of its operator the "Société de Gestion de l'Aérodrome de Cerfontaine" (Sogelac) on July 2005 (see BAHA News July 6th 2005 and February 2nd, 2006 - and BAHA Special feature: Winter pictures of Cerfontaine airfield). The "Village aéronautique des Lacs" represents an investment of about 10 millions € and targets four different types of activities: the flying one using the current airfield facilities with the building of a new hard runway; the organisation of events; the establishment of an aero park by the building on the site of private houses with an individual access to the runway via taxiways; the establishment of a defensive driving education centre. Source: Website of  Min. Antoine

Sonaca NMF Canada, a subsidiary of aerospace company Sonaca S.A of Belgium, net earnings amounted to $1,9 million in 2006 compared to a loss of $2,3 million in the previous year. Total revenue reached $35 million, representing an increase of 7% over 2005. These results primarily reflect the growth of orders for the manufacturing of wing panels from the company's major customers: Bombardier, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Embraer and Israel Aircraft Industries. Sonaca NMF Canada manufactures wing panels for the regional and business jet markets as well as structural parts for the civil aviation industry and intends to continue investing to enhance its production capacity at its Mirabel, Quebec, plant where it employs 250 people. Source: Newswire.

On April 18th, VLM Airlines reported a full-year profit of €3.2 million, a 143% increase over its 2005 earnings and its ninth consecutive year in the black. Revenue rose 12.5% to €99.6 million and operating costs climbed 10.9% to €95.3 million. VLM said it was able to offset rising fuel expenses with "a number of initiatives" including foreign currency hedging. Passenger numbers were up 9% to 681,751 and are forecast to grow to 900,000 this year. It is adding BAe 146-300 G-BNPT to its London City-Rotterdam service to handle the growth (see also BAHA News of April 18th), and plans to add its 20th and 21st Fokker 50s this year. It also cited a cabin revamp featuring new seats and its new loyalty program, launched last year, for its success. Source: VLM, De Standaard and ATWonline

On April 17th, VLM Airlines has officially introduced the first jet aircraft to its fleet. This BAe 146-300 with UK registration G-BNPT (Serial No.: E3126) was officially named "Spirit of Rotterdam". The aircraft, seating up to 92 passengers, will be stationed in Rotterdam as from April 18th, where it will operate on one of the airline’s busiest routes between London City and Rotterdam (See also BAHA News of March 5th). Built in 1989, this liner was registered G-BNPT on April 13th, 1993 and has already suffered two minor accidents in 1996 and 1997 (accident reports: 19/10/1996 and 17/02/1997 and a more serious one on February 8th, 2007. That day its lower fuselage was severely damaged while making a hard ground contact during a missed approach at Florence Airport. Sources:  Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo, VLM.  Pictures: ASA  

Answering an MP question, the Minister of Defence, M. André Flahaut, has given some details about the sale of a large part of the Koksijde air base. 173 hectares out of a total of 323 would be proposed for sale before the end of 2007. This proposal has still to be confirmed by a governmental decision. Anyway and despite some difficulties the Minister also confirmed his willing to see the regional as the local authorities involved in the sale project. Source: http://www.lachambre.be/doc/CCRI/html/51/ic1279x.html

Eight N°2 Wing F-16 fighters deploy for three weeks (between April 18th and May 4th) to the Base aérienne 103 René Mouchotte of Cambrai-Epinoy in France to perform night training flights. During the Florennes air base main runway renewal works - so until October 2007 - the N°2 Wing F-16s will operate from the base parallel and smaller runway, that will be, for safety reasons ,only open to day hours time operations, though the deployment to Cambrai. Despite previous expectations the N°2 Wing fighters won't be relocated at Beauvechain during the work at Florennes in order avoid noise nuisance in this populated area of Brabant.

The final assembly of the first Airbus A400M new military transport aircraft is due to start very shortly. First A-400M vertical tail plane arrives from Stade, Germany, to Getafe, Spain, where the static test aircraft final assembly is taking place on April 17^th. The A400M vertical tail plane is like several all other Airbus elements a full composite (carbon fibre reinforced plastic, CFRP) structure. The seven A400M’s ordered by Belgium are intended to replace the C-130H Hercules of Air Component's N°15 Transport Wing/Tactical Transport Flight (TTF or ex-20 Squadron) from 2018 onwards. Source: EADS.

A large Coordinated Extended Pollution Control Operations (Super CEPCO) exercise was held from Koksijde military air base between April 16th & 26th under the control of the Belgian Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM) specialists (link: http://www.mumm.ac.be/EN/Monitoring/Aircraft/index.php). A CEPCO operation can be defined as a continuous sequence of aerial surveillance flights supported by sea-borne assistance and by data from satellite observations, to ensure a permanent presence in a sea area with high shipping intensity. The aim of such a control operation are, among others, to enhance the enforcement of discharge provisions at sea, to increase the deterrent effect of aerial surveillance efforts and to improve cooperation between participating authorities. Seven pollution control dedicated aircraft from six countries (originated from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands and the United Kingdom - see participants at the BAHA Forum), crossed the southern part of the North Sea and the Channel 24 hours day-in, day-out during the exercise ten days, setting up the biggest check on sea pollution ever. The controllers looked for ships discharging oil into the sea off the French, British, Dutch and Belgian coast. A total of 45 oil traces was discovered. Five ships were caught red-handed when illegally discharging oil in the sea. They risk fines of up to several hundred thousands of euros. Sources: MUMM NL & FR and VRT/Flandersnews

Brussels Airlines is looking into obtaining compensation from the Brussels Airport Company (BAC) for the losses it suffered as a result of the recent airport Firefighters's wildcat strike (see also BAHA News of April 13th) and subsequent chaos. The airline was forced to cancel eighty outbound flights and divert dozens of incoming flights to other airports after forty airport security staff and fire-fighters downed tools on April 13th in a dispute over working practices. The airline's was forced to shell out a fortune on extra fuel, staff overtime and passengers demanding their money back. The total amount lost still needs to be calculated. However, it is expected to run into hundreds of thousands if not millions of euros. Source: VRT/Flandersnews.

On April 16th, the Belgian Monitor (http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_bul/bul.pl) has announced the public sale of nine A.109BA Hirundo engines of type 250C20R1 as well as some nine Hirundo engine sub-elements including 2 compressors and 6 turbines. This Defence sale is the first one observed of items of the still operational A.109 helicopter fleet. A total of nine complete A.109BA airframes are confirmed as offered for sale by the MoD. These might include the Hirundo helicopters withdrawn from use in 2004 and put on long term storage at Bierset and Zutendaal (H-09, H-10, H-11, H-12, H-13, H-15, H-17, H-18 & H-34). The Republic of Benin has already shown interest in acquiring four A.109BA’s from Belgium, but despite MoD active sales actions (see also BAHA News of February 28th, 2007) no firm deal seems to be concluded yet.

On April 16th, the State Council has reaffirmed the MoD can't refuse the resignation of a pilot just because the Air Component is currently experiencing a shortage of operational pilots. Commandant Ronny Weltens an N°15 Transport Wing pilot has lodged a complaint with the Council of State after his resignation was refused by his employers despite the terms of his work contract. The State Council has considered the Air Component pilot shortage illustrates the total failure of the MoD human resource policy and that there is therefore no reason to refuse M. Weltens resignation. The press has recently reported that the Air Component lack of C-130 Hercules pilots could hamper any eventual Belgian Defence large scale emergency transport or evacuation operation. Sources: 7sur7, Het Laatste Nieuws 1 & 2 and VRTNieuws.

Air and Land Components will conduct low level flying exercise over the Province of Luxembourg under code name Poppy 04 /2007 between April 16th and 20th.  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 04/2007 targets and Low Level Flying Areas (LLFA) will be located in area of Hampteau, Oppagne, Givry and Lavacherie. Air operations will be lead during day-hours and depending weather conditions. Poppy 04/2007 will also see the active participation of some Armée de l'Air flying units like the Mirages and crews of the 1/33 "Belfort", 2/3 "Champagne", 3/3 "Ardennes" as well as 1/30 "Alsace" in the evaluation of the ground based Belgian TACP (Tactical Air Controler Party) teams. Sources:Mil.be FR & NL, the BAHA Special Feature by Jos Schoofs and Armée de l'Air site.

Three Armée de l'Air Alpha Jet E (E-49/314-LB, E148/314LU, E-166/314-LT picture links:  1 and 2 on www.sgkoksijde.be) of the l'École de l'aviation de chasse ((EAC 00.314) of Tours are to deploy to Beauvechain air base. The purpose of this deployment is the familiarisation of three Belgian student pilots of the French-Belgian Advanced Jet Training School (AJeTs) with the Belgian and surrounding airspace after having had their initial jet training in France. This means they will also fly missions out of Beauvechain to airfields abroad like in the Netherlands, Germany and United Kingdom. Source: Airshows.be

Two armed men hijacked helicopter PH-CHC of type Robinson R44 Raven II operated on behalf of Sint-Truiden based company Crown Helicopters on April 15th and forced its pilot and instructor to land in the nearby Lantin prison courtyard, where they picked up a French prisoner - serving time for robbery and rape - in a dramatic jailbreak. The helicopter took off once again and the pilot was forced to land at Juprelle, where the three men got off the aircraft. The escaped prisoner and his accomplices fled the scene in a car parked. The authorities say all police forces in the region were deployed in search of the three fugitives. Sources: Expatica, Le Vif, Het Belang van Limburg.

A code share agreement has been set up between India's largest private airline company Jet Airways and Brussels Airlines on April 14th. Jet Airways is expected to begin its daily flight to Newark, US, with a stopover in Brussels on August 5th. It is also expected to launch a daily flight to Toronto, Canada, with a stopover in Brussels at the end of the year. Furthermore Jet Airways is to inaugurate its European hub at Brussels' airport on May 2nd. M. Naresh Goyal, chairman of Jet Airways, will be present at the contract signing ceremony with Brussels Airlines and Brussels Airport, while Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt will be the chief guest. New additions to the Jet Airways fleet - a Boeing 777 straight from the factory in Seattle and a brand new Airbus 330 - will make a stop at Brussels Airport for the event. Source: Mangalorean and Hindu.com

Fire-fighters and security personnel staged a 10 1/2-hour wildcat strike on April 13th, forcing the temporary shutdown of Brussels International Airport and causing chaos for holiday travellers. Over 25,000 passengers were expected travelling through the airport due to the return of Easter vacationers. Airlines were forced to cancel or delay all flights out of the airport for most of the day. Flights from within Europe were diverted to other Belgian airports such as Antwerp, Charleroi, Liège or Oostende. Long-haul flights were diverted to Amsterdam or Paris. Passengers arriving there were brought to Brussels by coach. Unions reached an agreement with management late in the afternoon.  The end of the strike was announced at around 4:30pm. Source: VRT/Flandersnews

An era of nearly 46 years comes to an end on Friday 13th April 2007 with the last flying day of the Belgian Air Cadets Zoersel-Oostmalle Squadron (EBZR Squadron) (See also BAHA News of December 12th, 2006 & March 28th, 2007). A sad day for its last C.O., Cdt. Patrick Broos, and several of its veteran instructor-pilots but also a honour of being on the job right up until the end doing a very useful task in learning thousands of young Belgian people to fly a glider. Thanks to the incredibly beautiful weather of these last 15 days, several of the Air Cadets participating at the Easter camps were able to perform interesting flights. And as usual with the Air Cadets, everything finished with an unforgettable dinner. Most of EBZR Squadron staff members will now move with the gliders to the other Royal Belgian Air Cadets operational bases including the new one that is to open very soon at the military reserve airfield of Bertrix in the Ardennes. Zoersel-Oostmalle will be definitely evacuated and given back to the Antwerp Provincial Military Authorities. Also worth to be noted the Air Cadets Florennes Squadron (EBFS Squadron) won't be activated for the gliding season 2007, a "collateral damage" of this air base main runway long programmed renewal works. More info: BAHA Forum.

On April 12th Aviapartner and VCK Holding has announced that they have finalised Aviapartner’s acquisition of VCK Holding’s shares in its cargo-handling subsidiary Aero Groundservices BV. Both companies had announced this acquisition, on March 7th (see also BAHA News of March 7th), which integrates Aero Groundservices’ one-station activity into Aviapartner’s 38-station European network. The transaction was then still subject to the approval by the Dutch authorities, which has now officially been granted. This important acquisition provides Aviapartner with a strong foothold for its cargo handling operations in Amsterdam-Schiphol, the third largest cargo hub in Europe. The station of Amsterdam-Schiphol becomes the largest cargo station in Aviapartner’s network. Source: Aviapartner   

The Leuven (Flemish Brabant) company Septentio has been awarded a big contract by the European Space Agency. Septentrio is to make receiving equipment to pick up signals from the European satellite navigation system Galileo. Galileo will be a global network of 30 satellites providing precise timing and location information to users on the ground and in the air.  It is costing some 3.4 billion euros of public and private investment and represents the biggest space project yet undertaken in Europe. Galileo's first demonstrator spacecraft was launched on December 28th, 2005. It will trial the in-orbit technologies needed to run the system. If all goes according to plan, a full constellation of Galileo satellites will be in operation by the end of 2010. Once completed, the Galileo system will be made up of a network of thirty satellites. Source: VRT/Flandersnews

Boeing E-3A Sentry LX-N90443 has received special marks for the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force (NAEWF) Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) component 25th anniversary. The first NAEWF Sentry aircraft arrived at Geilenkirchen air base on February 24th, 1982. The NAEWF was established following a NATO Defence Planning Committee decision in December 1978 to acquire a NATO-owned Airborne Early Warning air defence capability to provide air surveillance and command and control for all NATO commands. The NAEWF to date is the largest commonly funded acquisition programme ever undertaken by the Alliance. The NAEWF is a fully operational, multinational force consisting of two components: the E-3A component, which comprises 18 NATO E-3A aircraft and operates from a Main Operating Base (MOB) at Geilenkirchen in Germany, and the E-3D component which consists of seven UK-owned and operated E-3D aircraft based at RAF Waddington in the United Kingdom. The NAEWF provides an air surveillance and early warning capability which enhances effective command and control of NATO forces by enabling data to be transmitted directly from AWACS aircraft to command and control centres on land, sea or in the air. Fourteen of NATO's nations including Belgium contribute to the E-3A programme and more than 3,000 military and civilian personnel call the Geilenkirchen area home. A celebration marking the 25th Anniversary of the NATO E-3A Component Main Operating Base Geilenkirchen will take place 16 - 17 June 2007, with aircraft displays and exhibits from participating NATO nations. Sources: Nato International and E3A NATO.

Sabena Airline Training Center (SATC), a fully owned daughter company of the Belgian Sabena Flight Academy (SFA) has moved in February 2007 its operations in Arizona, USA from Scottsdale to Mesa. The new base, Falcon Field airport, with 2 runways, allows increasing the number of flights per day from 100 to 170 per day, 360 days a year. This year SATC is planning to graduate 350 pilots, up from 220 last year. Also, the center is buying 13 new state-of-the-art, fuel-efficient training aircraft (Diamond DA-20, -40 & -42 - See also BAHA News of November 14th, 2006) to supplement its 25 mostly-Piper fleet. And the center is growing its staff from about 50 employees to 90 by June. The growth is the result of contracts Sabena has signed to train pilots for Kingfisher Airlines and SpiceJet, both start-up domestic airlines in India (See also BAHA News of November 8th, 2006). A batch of 26 Indian students, including three women are already training at the new SATC facility. In addition to its fleet SATC has two simulators in Mesa and six at Brussels Airport that mimic Boeing 737 and Airbus A320/330/340 aircraft. Those simulators continue to be used by numerous European airlines to train their pilots.  In Arizona, apart from the Indians, SATC's prime customer is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, for which it trains at least 150 pilots a year. Pilots are also trained for Air Malta and SN Brussels Airlines, the Belgian successor to Sabena Airlines. Sources: Travel Daily News, Het Laatste Nieuws, Easy Valley Tribune

April 11th marks another key milestone in the A400M European military transport aircraft programme, with Airbus delivering the first pair of A400M wings - believed to be the largest composite wing ever made - from the UK to Seville, Spain, where aircraft final assembly is taking place. This first set of wings is destined for the A400M static test aircraft. On arrival in Seville, the wings will be joined to the "centre wingbox" which arrived from Airbus in France on March 28th (See also BAHA News of March 28th). When joined, as a single complete structure with a total span of 42,4 metres, the wing will be transported by road to Getafe in Madrid, where it will be fitted to the A400M static test fuselage in preparation for testing. 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: EADS

Belgian Defence Air Component F-16 Solo Display Team pilot Commandant Michaël "Mickey" Artiges (http://www.f16demoteam.be/team/index.php) has received a properly dedicated as decorated aircraft: the F-16AM with serial FA-131. The 2007 Mickey's demo bird wears a low viz scheme, with grey cheat lines along the fuselage that wouldn't hamper operational commitments. First picture.

The Belgian Navy Mobile Training Team (MTT) provided assistance in training elements of the Maltese Maritime Squadron and Air Wing for helicopter operations from patrol vessel flight deck. Two Belgian Navy officers, Lieutenant Commander Walter Van Gool and Lieutenant Stefan Coens formed the training team. The training provided included practical flight training for two Maltese helicopter instructor pilots as well as detailed assistance in the most appropriate manner in which to organise the crew of the receiving vessel. The training culminated in a practical session which saw an Air Wing Alouette III conducting numerous training approaches and landing aboard patrol vessel P61. The value of such training is based upon the fact that not only does the Belgian Navy Flight operates Alouette III helicopters similar to those in Maltese Air Wing service, but does so from the flight deck aboard the Belgian Navy auxiliary vessel which has a deck very similar in dimensions to that of P61. Sources: Times of Malta, Maltamedia.

Since March 29th, the main Congolese private airline Hewa Bora (links: 1 and 2) is back at Brussels Airport. The carrier offers a Kinshasa-Brussels route with its new Boeing B.767-200R (9Q-CJD picture). This last aircraft having replaced at Brussels apron the company vintage Lockheed Tristar L-1011-385-3 TriStar 500 (9Q-CHC picture).The entire Hewa Bora Airways fleet, with the exception of its Lockheed L-1011 is on the List of air carriers banned in the EU (as of July 2006).  Sources: De Standaard, La Libre and 7sur7

On April 8th, a Brussels Airlines aircraft with around 250 passengers flying from Krakow (Poland) to Brussels performed a safe emergency landing at Franfurt-am-Main airport in Germany after its pilots experienced some trouble with the liner fuel system. Source: Het Laatste Nieuws

After what can be described as an "eventful" flight (see Baha News 0204), Evergreen International C-130E N130EV (former USAF 64-0552) (to be registered CH-14 in the Belgian Air Component) arrived at Brussels airport on Easter day (08/04/07) at 19h05. The cargo plane was positioned at the tarmac near Hangar 8 (picture) and now awaits a long and deep refurbishment to bring it up to the standards of the other Air Component's Hercules’s. More pictures of the landing at Zaventem by Laurent Heylighen.

Despite a first agreement with a Brussels Airlines-led consortium called First Delta Air Services (See also BAHA News of June 29th, September 12th, 2006), the Cameroon Government has disclosed that appropriate measures were being taken towards the effective re-launching of a new international call for bidders in order to select a partner (51 percent majority shareholder), for the newly created Cameroon Airlines Corporation, CAMAIR Co. With an unconfirmed offer of 75 million $ credit for the acquisition of 8 aircraft, an still undisclosed American company is reported in pole position to take over CAMAIR. Sources: De Standaard and AllAfrica

About 170 members of the Belgian army have travelled to Benin (West-Africa) to hold exercises and to train 400 Beninese soldiers. The mission is called "Alibori 2007". They are preparing two Beninese regiments (200 soldiers) to take part in peace-keeping missions. In Kana, in the central part of the country, 25 soldiers are training Beninese parachutists. Another 25 Belgian soldiers are located in Cotonou, along the coast in the south of the country.  In October 1999, the West African country and Belgium started an intense military cooperation. Among the equipments deployed to support Alibori 2007 are three Wing Heli A.109BA Hirundo (H-05, H-20 & H-45) helicopters and their support personnel. Two of these helicopters (H-20 & H-45) are those deployed in Benin since November last (See also BAHA News of November 17th, 2006) as demo ships for an eventual sale to the local government (See also BAHA News of January 10th, February 28th & March 26th, 2007) while the third one (H-05) was shipped by boat to Benin as supplementary aircraft for the period of the exercise. Sources: VRT/Flandersnews   and Het Belang van Limburg

Murphy Renegade OO-E19 was damaged in a forced landing near Zwartberg airport on April 6th, 2007. Due to a rough running engine the owner and pilot Toon Jacobs had to make this unexpected landing. He suffers minor injuries. Source: http://www.asa-be.com/ Picture of OO-E19 at Jetphotos.net

Aeroflot North a subsidiary enterprise of Aeroflot Russian Airlines fell into agreement with Snecma Services Brussels on engines repair of the Russian carrier Boeing B-737-500. Source: AKM

Brussels Airlines left around 200 passengers to fend for themselves on April 5th at Dakar after their flight between Banjul (Gambia), Dakar (Senegal) and Zaventem was cancelled due to technical problem. Flight SN 236 was due to take off at 10.50 pm but at 9.00 pm. The passengers were informed that the flight was delayed by 90 minutes. Shortly after midnight (local time) the passengers were told that the aircraft was faulty and that it would take at least a day to repair. The 200 economy-class passengers were ordered to wait until further notice. This triggered a heated discussion and employees told the passengers to find themselves a hotel in Dakar. Brussels Airlines would pay back the hotel expenses. Among those left stranded in Senegal was the Flemish Euro MP Johan Van Hecke, who had attended a conference of the future of Africa. Source: Expatica

On April 5th, management and the trade unions at Brussels Airlines have reached an agreement on pay and conditions for the company's cabin crews. The management's plan to cut turn-around times from forty to just thirty minutes had formed a major stumbling block in the negotiations. Cabin crews continued to wear their old SN Brussels or Virgin uniforms in protest at the cut in turn-around times, when the new merged airline was launched two weeks ago (See also BAHA News of March 25th, 2005). However, a compromise has now been reached and turn-around times will only be cut back to thirty minutes when Brussels Airlines' planes are on the tarmac at foreign airports. Meanwhile, cabin crews will still have forty-minute turn-around times when they land at Zaventem Airport, near Brussels. The cabin crews have also received reassurances about pay and a new evaluation system is also to be introduced. There is still no deal between the company and its pilots. Source: VRT/Flandersnews

Between 9 and 23 April 2007 two Alouette II (A-49 & A-55) and 4 Agusta A109BA (H-01, H-23, H-24 & H-27) helicopters of the Wing Heli will participate at a fourteen day lasting training course at Saillagouse in Southern France. Seventeen pilots will participate at this demanding training period to accomplish their technical proficiency on the Agusta and (re)qualify for helicopter flights in mountainous regions at the same time they receive training in survival techniques. Source: Mil. be FR & NL

The full opening of the new Charleroi Brussels South Airport is expected to take place between 16 November 2007 and 15 January 2008. In terms of job creation, this event will have a very significant impact. Within BSCA three waves of hiring are scheduled. The first is under way and will represent 31 jobs. The second is scheduled on 1 October and will represent 45 jobs. The third and last will start in early 2008 and bring 23 jobs. A total of a hundred jobs will be created by the opening of the new terminal, mainly in operations. On 31 December 2006, total employment at BSCA was 255 (231,5 equivalent full time). Source: Charleroi Airport

Charleroi Brussels South airport established a new first quarter record in 2007 with a 33% growth in passengers (539.672) against the same period in 2006 (405.800). This increase in passenger traffic is the direct result of the launch of 5 new destinations (Valencia, Malaga, Faro, Salzburg and Nimes) in April 2006 and 7 others during the year (Ljubljana, Turin, Grenoble, Bucharest, Casablanca, Marseilles and Madrid). Source: Charleroi Airport

On April 2nd European Air Transport (EAT) has added a leased Airbus A.300B4-203 freighter OO-DID (ex-N307FV) to its fleet. European Air Transport is a cargo airline based in Brussels. It operates express parcel services in Europe, Middle East and Africa on behalf of DHL. It also offers ad hoc charter services including livestock (link: Wikipedia) Sources: Luchtzak en Planspotter.net

The Nationaal Luchtvaart-Themapark Aviodrome offers as of April 7th 2007 flights as co-pilot in a Fouga Magister once the most important jet trainer in Belgium, France and Germany. There is however still a little problem to be resolved, hopefully very soon. According to the Dutch aeronautical authorities passengers should be/were holder of a pilot's license. To fly in the Dutch Historical Jet Association owned Fouga you will have to pay 1.995 Euro per person.  Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

The monthly on line buyers’ guide for aviation products and services, Aircraft Owner has advertised the sale of former Belgian Air Force Fouga Magister MT-5 for the price of $70.000. The aircraft now located Middlebury, Vermont, USA is owned by Jim Goodwin and wears a very convincing and historically correct Red Devils aerobatic team colour scheme. Source: Aircraft Owner  & picture

The transatlantic ferry flight of Lockheed Hercules N130EV to the Brussels Airport based company Sabena Technics has been delayed by technical problems (a damaged propeller due to a loose engine cowling) and the extreme bad weather at Gander. The Air Component is to replace Hercules CH-02 destroyed in the Sabena Technics Hangar 40 fire on May, 5th, 2006 with this second hand former Evergreen Aviation WC-130E N130EV to be registered CH-14 after complete refurbishment to bring the aircraft up to BAF Hercules standards. See also BAHA News item of 26/01/2007. Click here for a picture taken at Gander during the first transatlantic ferry attempt, courtesy Laurent Heylighen.

During a recent visit at the Heli Wing base of Bierset near Liège, the following Agusta A109BA Hirundo helicopters were observed in a protective cocoon state. The helicopters involved were H-17 (ex-Zutendaal storage), H-21, H-39 and H-44. It is not known whether these aircraft are to be transported to the nearby Zutendaal storage facility or if they are prepared for another purpose.

Every day of the year two Westland Seaking Mk.48 helicopters of 40 Squadron are on stand-by to take-off within 15 minutes at their home base of Koksijde. During night time this is only slightly reduced to one helicopter and the possibility to have a second one in the air within an hour. This service towards the population is very expensive to maintain but incredible efficient and continuingly proves to be more than necessary. The Air Component website provides following details over the 40 Squadron SAR Seaking helicopters scrambles of March 2007.

- Search of an in distress people at Middelkerke - alert interrupted;
- Search of an in distress people at De Panne - alert interrupted;
- Winching and transport to Brugge university hospital of a people suffering severe cardiac troubles on the ship "Mount Hope";
Sources: Mil.be FR & NL