Aviation 12

Pallas Aviation is LM-100J Launch Operator

Lockheed Martin has announced that Pallas Aviation is the launch

operator for the LM-100J, a commercial derivative of the C-130J-

Super Hercules. Emory Ellis, president of Texas-based Pallas, said:

“In choosing the LM-100J we have access to one of the newest

cargo freighters that happens to have one of the most proven

pedigrees in aviation: the C-130J Super Hercules.

“The LM-100J offers an outstanding performance record,

reliability, experience and unmatched capabilities. There are other

cargo aircraft in the market, but there’s one LM-100J, and that’s the

airplane we need to do our job.”

The company will provide heavy-lift and oversized cargo capability

into and out of unconventional airports and remote locations,

operating its two LM-100Js from Fort Worth Alliance Airport.

Marietta, Georgia-based Lockheed Martin said the LM-100J

“offers a civil-certiied option for operators that builds on the

proven performance of the military C-130J variants, which have

lown almost two million hours in support of a multitude of mission

requirements”. Two LM-100Js are currently lying in support of

FAA type certiicate update testing, expanding on the existing

C-130J approval.

S7 Airlines has taken delivery of a Boeing
737 MAX, the irst of the type in Russia. The
jet, VQ-BGW (c/n 43302), was supplied by
Air Lease Corporation (ALC) on October 15,
is being operated under the S7 banner by
Globus Airlines.
Globus’ general director Vadim Khlebanov
said: “We always keep up with the latest
developments in manufacturing technology
and continually make use of them to further
improve our service.
“The new 737 MAX is even more
comfortable, quieter and environmentally
friendly than its predecessor [the 737 Next

Generation, of which the airline has 21].

We’re proud that our passengers will be the

irst in Russia to experience the comfort

and convenience of lying on these new-

generation airliners.”

The 176-seat jet entered service with the

oneworld member in late October, initially

on services from its Novosibirsk base to

Moscow and Chita. It’s the irst of 11 on

order, deliveries of which are expected to be

completed by 2020.

Bombardier Business Aircraft has gained type
certiicate approval for the new Global 7500
business jet from Transport Canada – with
FAA and EASA certiication expected by the
year’s end. Deliveries of the new aircraft, are
expected imminently.
Type approval – awarded on September
28 – came after completion of a ive-aircraft,

2,700-hour light test programme. This was

followed by the type’s official debut at the

NBAA-BACE exhibition in Orlando, Florida

from 16 to 18 October, where Bombardier

showcased the fully painted 7500 prototype

C-GLBO (c/n 70001).

The 19-seat Global 7500 (formerly known

as the Global 7000), which irst lew on

November 4, 2016, has a range of 7,700nm

(14,270km). It’s powered by two GE Passport

turbofans, delivering a maximum cruising

speed of Mach 0.925, and features ly-by-wire

controls, side sticks and Bombardier’s Vision

light deck – complete with enhanced and

synthetic vision (EVS/SVS), which is shown

via a head-up display (HUD).

S7 Airlines’ 737 MAX VQ-BGW – the irst of 11

for the Russian carrier. Joe G Walker

Global 7000, C-GLBO, touches down in Florida ahead of the type’s debut at NBAA-BACE. Rod Simpson

Global 7500 Certified

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 7

First Russian 737 MAX Delivered Cobalt Air

Collapses

Cypriot carrier Cobalt Air announced the

indeinite suspension of its operations

on October 17, becoming the latest

European airline to cease trading.

The Larnaca-based operator, which

ran a leet of six Airbus A320s and

employed around 200 staff, said it called

in administrators after failing to secure

long-term funding.

The collapse left thousands of

customers either stranded abroad or

facing severe disruption, prompting the

Cypriot transport ministry to launch a

short-term reimbursement programme for

those who had self-funded repatriation

lights with alternative carriers.

A Cobalt Air statement said it had

been working relentlessly during the past

months to secure the long-term inancing,

but media reports in Cyprus suggest the

airline had been unable to ind additional

inance beyond majority backer Aviation

Industry Corporation of China (AVIC),

which held a 49% stake.