African Pilot Magazine:
Pilot
EGYPTAIR Discloses Order for an Additional Six Airbus A350 Aircraft
EGYPTAIR has placed a firm order for six additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft, expanding its total order to 16 as part of its long-haul network and fleet modernisation strategy. The move supports sustainability goals and reinforces the airline’s partnership with Airbus.

Ethiopian Airlines Secures Top Honours at SKYTRAX 2025
Ethiopian Airlines was crowned Best Airline in Africa for the eighth consecutive year at the 2025 SKYTRAX World Airline Awards, also winning in three additional categories including Best Business Class and Best Onboard Catering in Africa.
Focus on Africa Symposium Opened Professional and Government Affairs Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya
The IFALPA Professional and Government Affairs Meeting opened with the Focus on Africa Symposium in Nairobi, highlighting pilot advocacy, safety, and regulatory engagement across Africa’s aviation sector.

Mozambique Tops List Of Countries Blocking Airlines’ Funds
IATA reports $1.3 billion in airline funds blocked from repatriation as of April 2025, a 25% improvement from October 2024. Ten countries are responsible for 80% of the total.

Ethiopian Airlines Launches New Passenger Route to Sharjah, UAE
Ethiopian Airlines has launched a new four-times-weekly passenger service to Sharjah, UAE, expanding its Middle East network and reinforcing trade and tourism links between Africa and the Gulf region.

Mozambique Tops List Of Countries Blocking Airlines’ Funds
IATA reports $1.3 billion in airline funds blocked from repatriation as of April 2025, a 25% improvement from October 2024. Ten countries are responsible for 80% of the total.

Ethiopian Airlines Launches New Passenger Route to Sharjah, UAE
Ethiopian Airlines has launched a new four-times-weekly passenger service to Sharjah, UAE, expanding its Middle East network and reinforcing trade and tourism links between Africa and the Gulf region.

Vrgineers Strengthens Business Relationship with Lockheed Martin
Vrgineers joins Lockheed Martin in a Czech industrial cooperation project supporting F-35 fighter integration with cutting-edge VR pilot training tech.

Ethiopian Airlines Selects Panasonic Avionics Astrova for 777X Fleet
Ethiopian Airlines has selected Panasonic Avionics’ Astrova in-flight entertainment system for its upcoming Boeing 777X fleet, aiming to transform the passenger experience with 4K OLED displays, Bluetooth audio, and USB-C fast charging.

United Airlines Launches New Nonstop Year-Round Service Between Dakar and Washington D.C.
United Airlines launches its first-ever nonstop service between Dakar and Washington, D.C., operating three times weekly. This new route expands United's presence in Africa and offers travellers enhanced connectivity to the U.S. capital.

Bell Celebrates its 6,000th Commercial Aircraft Built at Bell Textron Canada Centre
Bell Textron Canada marks a major milestone with the delivery of its 6,000th commercial aircraft, including two SUBARU Bell 412EPX helicopters for critical missions by the Sûreté du Québec, supporting public safety across the province.

United Airlines Launches New Nonstop Year-Round Service Between Dakar and Washington D.C.
United Airlines launches its first-ever nonstop service between Dakar and Washington, D.C., operating three times weekly. This new route expands United's presence in Africa and offers travellers enhanced connectivity to the U.S. capital.

Bell Celebrates its 6,000th Commercial Aircraft Built at Bell Textron Canada Centre
Bell Textron Canada marks a major milestone with the delivery of its 6,000th commercial aircraft, including two SUBARU Bell 412EPX helicopters for critical missions by the Sûreté du Québec, supporting public safety across the province.

INTEGRAL E Continues Its Test Campaign and Performs Its First Inverted Flight, a Major Step in the Certification Process of the First All-Electric Aerobatic Aircraft
AURA AERO’s INTEGRAL E, the world’s first all-electric aerobatic aircraft, has completed its first inverted flight. This major certification milestone confirms its reliability and advances the decarbonisation of light aviation with an expected service entry in 2026.

Helihacking: A New Approach to Ecosystem Restoration
Helihacking combines helicopter aviation and mountaineering to combat invasive species in South Africa's Western Cape. Using HEC Bell 407 helicopters, MCC Aviation supports high-risk operations to remove alien vegetation and restore biodiversity in hard-to-reach mountain areas.

Air Methods Expands Its Fleet with Airbus, Including H140 Helicopters
Air Methods expands its fleet with new Airbus helicopters, including the H140, H125, and H135, enhancing air medical transport capabilities. Learn more about the latest innovations in emergency medical aviation.

FlySafair Sees an Exodus of South African Pilots to Greener, More Well-Paying Pastures
FlySafair pilots, South African aviation, pilot exodus, airline pilot salaries, Solidarity trade union, aviation workforce crisis, FlySafair rostering system, pilot shortages 2024, pilot pay comparison, aviation careers South Africa, pilot migration trends
Embraer and Denel sign MoU to cooperate on the KC- 390 Millennium
Embraer and Denel have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaboration on the KC-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, focusing on manufacturing and MRO activities to enhance strategic airlift capabilities in Africa.

African Development Bank and Mozambique Launch Drone-Based Initiative to Boost Disaster Preparedness
The African Development Bank, Mozambique, and Korea’s Busan Technopark have launched a drone-based disaster management initiative to improve early warning systems and real-time flood response in high-risk zones.

Restoration of Sabre 361: Honouring Heritage Through Dedication and Craftsmanship
The restoration of Sabre 361 by Montagu Thorne and Matthew Olivier celebrates aviation heritage through meticulous craftsmanship. The project, conducted at the South African Air Force Museum, involved polishing, panel beating, and replacing corroded fasteners to restore this historic aircraft for public display.

Henley Group Holdings Announces Trevor Carver as Manager of Henley Component Repair & Overhaul
Henley Group Holdings appoints Trevor Carver as Manager of Henley Component Repair & Overhaul, enhancing its Approved Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) with specialised helicopter component repair and overhaul services.
Safran Arriel Engine Selected to Power New Robinson R88 Helicopter
Safran Helicopter Engines partners with Robinson Helicopter Company to power the new R88 with the Arriel 2W engine. This collaboration enhances performance, reliability, and maintenance support for light helicopters worldwide.

Robinson Helicopters has Launched its First Design in 15 Years and It’s the Biggest Ever
Robinson Helicopters unveils the R88, its first new design in 15 years and its largest helicopter ever. Designed for executive transport, firefighting, and utility operations, the R88 challenges industry norms with a powerful Safran Arriel 2W engine, advanced avionics, and an adaptable 10-seat configuration.

JCAB Issues G-1 Certification Basis for SkyDrive eVTOL Aircraft
SkyDrive has received G-1 certification basis approval from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) for its three-seater eVTOL aircraft. The company is progressing towards aircraft certification and commercial operations, with flight tests underway ahead of the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.

Jet Systems and Volocopter to Partner in eVTOL Operations in France
Volocopter and Jet Systems Hélicoptères Services have partnered to introduce eVTOL air taxi services in France, starting in Paris. With certified VoloCity aircraft and established flight routes, this partnership aims to revolutionise urban air mobility and expand across the country.

Eve Air Mobility and JetSetGo to Explore Urban ATM Implementation in India
Eve Air Mobility and JetSetGo partner to explore the implementation of Eve’s Vector Urban ATM software in India, enhancing air traffic management and paving the way for efficient and sustainable Urban Air Mobility (UAM).

Rotortrade Achieves Record Growth in 2024 with Surge in Offshore and APAC Markets
Rotortrade achieved record growth in 2024, with a 20% increase in transactions and a surge in offshore helicopter sales. Discover how demand for medium and light twin-engine helicopters, including the AW139, AW109, H145, and Bell 429, drove market expansion, particularly in Asia-Pacific.

Simuflight’s PC-12 Simulator: A New Era in Advanced Flight Training
Simuflight is revolutionising aviation training with its new PC-12 flight simulator, designed and built in South Africa. The state-of-the-art simulator will provide pilots with realistic, high-quality training, with full system integration and Civil Aviation Authority certification expected by Q3 2025.
