14 Sep 2021

China Aviation Industry Newsletter 14 September

Ameron MRO Expands Offerings in China Ameron was recently approved to sell 29 types of aircraft PMA pyrotechnic parts in China by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) through a Validation of Supplemental Type Certificate (VSTC). The approval is in addition to the 53 PMA parts that were previously approved by the CAAC in 2020 on a separate VSTC. Ameron now offers a total of 82 PMA parts to the Chinese market that support the vast majority of aircraft flying today in China. The list is inclusive of all Airbus and Boeing aircraft. BOC Aviation Signs US$935 Million In Unsecured Syndicated Credit Facilities BOC Aviation announced that it has signed unsecured syndicated $935 million credit facilities comprised of a $500 million revolving credit facility and a $435 million term loan facility , both with a tenor of five years. Following a strong response from lenders after the launch into general syndication, the Facilities were increased to a combined final size of $935 million from an initial launch amount of $750 million. “We are very pleased to have completed this flexible financing package with some of our leading banking partners,” said Steven Townend, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of BOC Aviation. “The interest in this Facility has confirmed for us the continuing support of the loan markets for BOC Aviation and complements the liquidity that is available to us in the debt capital markets.” EHang Demonstrates Passenger eVTOL and Drone Logistics Capabilities at GOF 2.0 The China-based autonomous vehicle maker EHang completed test flights of its passenger grade autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) and drone logistics program during the European Union’s Gulf of Finland (GOF) 2.0 in Estonia. The GOF 2.0 is focused on integrated urban air mobility (UAM) and the trials in Tartu, Estonia is specifically testing entry to and exit from defined airspaces. Hong Kong GFS H175 fleet reaches 10,000 flight hours Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service (GFS) has recently reached its new milestone with 10,000 flight hours of its H175 fleet. Based on the first 5,000 flight hours reached last September, GFS has performed another 5,000 flight hours in just one year. The GFS even achieved its highest monthly flight hour record with 406 hours. Besides, as of August this year, more than 2,600 lifesaving missions have already been performed by GFS H175 fleet in 2021, out of which a total of over 6,900 since entry of service of this new type. Qingdao Jiaodong airport set to be new gateway to China Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, starting operation on Aug 12, is expected to become a new gateway to China and break new ground in the city for the civil aviation industry. The 4F-level international airport, the highest class of airport capable of handling a variety of large aircraft, is the first of its kind in Shandong province, replacing Qingdao Liuting Airport. To establish the airport as an international transfer hub, it has planned five transfer routes: from Southeast Asia to Japan and South Korea; from Southeast Asia to Europe and the United States; from central and western China to Japan and South Korea; from central and western China to Europe, the US and Australia; from Northeast China to East and South China and Japan and South Korea. Acumen Aviation © 14 September 2021 All Rights Reserved.