20 Jun 2022

North American Aviation Newsletter 13 June

AEI To Provide Merx Aviation With Its First B737-800SF Freighter Conversion Aeronautical Engineers, Inc announced that Merx Aviation has signed a contract for an AEI B737-800SF freighter conversion. The aircraft bearing manufacturer’s serial number 35131, owned by a fund managed by affiliates of Apollo and serviced by Merx, has just commenced modification, and is scheduled to redeliver in August. An end customer has not yet been announced. All touch labor for the conversion and maintenance requirements will be accomplished by the authorized AEI Conversion Center, KF Aero in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Azorra Acquires 37 Aircraft Portfolio Formerly Owned By NAC Azorra recently completed the acquisition of a 37 aircraft portfolio formerly owned by Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC). The portfolio is comprised of 29 Embraer E-Jets and seven ATR and Q400 turboprops leased to 13 different airlines worldwide. The aircraft are financed by a lender group led by BNP Paribas. Griffin Global Asset Management Announces the Mandate for Purchase and Leaseback of Five Boeing 737-8 MAX Aircraft with Akasa Air Griffin Global Asset Management announced the mandate for purchase and leaseback of five Boeing 737-8 aircraft with Akasa Air, a new airline based in India. The aircraft deliveries are scheduled to begin in June 2022 and will include Akasa Air’s first several aircraft. Universal Hydrogen and Connect Airlines Announce Firm Order for Conversion of 75 ATR 72-600 Regional Aircraft to Be Powered by Green Hydrogen Universal Hydrogen Co. and Connect Airlines, a division of Waltzing Matilda Aviation, announced that the airline has placed a firm order to convert 75 ATR 72-600 regional airplanes to hydrogen powertrains, with purchase rights for an additional 25 conversions. Deliveries will start in 2025. The agreement follows an initial letter of intent (LOI) between the companies announced in 2021. Universal Hydrogen will provide fuel services to the Connect fleet enabling operating unit economics that are equivalent or better than those of hydrocarbon-powered ATR 72s from the very first delivery in 2025. United Expands World’s Largest Flight Training Center to Prepare for Pilot Hiring Surge United Airlines announced it is expanding its Denver Flight Training Center, already the largest facility of its kind in the world, as the airline seeks to hire an additional 10,000 pilots by 2030. The airline will add a new four-story building on the 23-acre campus in Denver’s Central Park neighborhood that will house 12 additional advanced flight simulators, training classrooms, conference rooms and office, which is expected to be completed before the end of 2023. ZeroAvia and MONTE Strike Deal for 100 Hydrogen-Electric Powertrains to Enable Zero-Emission Aircraft Leasing ZeroAvia announced that it has signed an agreement with MONTE Aircraft Leasing the pioneering zero-emissions regional turboprop aircraft lessor. As part of the agreement the partners will offer aircraft leasing and financing solutions that enable operators to run zero-emission flights. Under the deal, MONTE will purchase up to 100 ZA600 powertrains to be installed on existing and new Cessna Caravan, DHC-6 Twin Otter, Dornier 228 and HAL-228 aircraft. Acumen Aviation © 13 June 2022  All Rights Reserved.