The Grob G 120TP Prefect elementary trainer
received military release to service approval
on July 11. Affinity Flying Training Services has
ordered 23 aircraft and the approval “marks the
start of the service provision by Affinity to the
UK Military Flying Training System [UKMFTS],”
said Iain Chalmers, Managing Director of
Affinity Flying Training Services – a joint
venture involving Elbit Systems and KBR. The
Prefect is replacing the G115E Tutor T1 under
the UKMFTS programme.The Prefect will be operated from RAF
Barkston Heath and RAF Cranwell in
Lincolnshire. Around half of the 23 aircraftbeing acquired are currently in the UK. The
first ab initio students will begin training on
the type in January.747-8 Negotiations for ‘Air Force One’
The USAF’s Presidential Airlift Group is
preparing to buy two 747-8s to replace the
VC-25As (747-200Bs) currently assigned
to Air Mobility Command’s 89th Airlift Wing
at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Either
of these two aircraft will be referred to as
‘Air Force One’ whenever the president is
onboard.
The two 747-8s, N894BA and N895BA,
were part of four originally ordered in 2013
by Transaero, Russia’s second-largestairline until it went bankrupt two years
later. Only two aircraft were completed for
the Transaero contract, and USAF officials
have begun negotiations with Boeing to
acquire them. Before taking office, Donald
Trump criticised the projected cost of
the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization
programme.
“We’re still working toward a deal to
provide two 747-8s to the air force – this
deal is focused on providing a great valuefor the air force and the best price for the
taxpayer,” said Boeing spokeswoman
Caroline Hutcheson.
The 747-8s were flown to the Southern
California Logistics Airport in Victorville in
the Mojave Desert for storage in February.
The Pentagon’s 2018 budget request,
submitted to Congress in February,
includes a total of $3.2bn to be spent on
two new Air Force One aircraft between
2018 and 2022.Air Transat to Operate A321LRs
Air Transat has agreed to lease ten Airbus
A321LRs from AerCap. They are being
acquired on 12-year leases and will replace
the Canadian leisure carrier’s A310s, which
will gradually be retired.
“The A321LRs will perfectly complete
our fleet of A330s and 737s,” said Jean-
Marc Eustache, President and CEO of
Transat, the parent company of Air Transat.
“These aircraft are also an ideal solution for
replacing our A310s. This agreement with
AerCap will allow us to continue offering our
customers the service and comfort they are
used to, at the best possible price. We arevery pleased to strengthen our partnership
with the world’s leading aircraft lessor, with
which we have enjoyed a fruitful and long-
standing association.”
Air Transat says the 4,000nm (7,408km)
range of the A321LR is ideally suited to its
network. The jetliners will be configured in
a two-class layout with 200 seats, with each
seat equipped with a touchscreen offering
a wide choice of in-flight entertainment
options.
Aengus Kelly, CEO of AerCap, said:“We are very proud of our long-standing
partnership with Air Transat and are thrilled
to play a significant role in the future growth
of the airline. The A321LR will significantly
improve Air Transat’s fleet with the most
efficient, longest-range single-aisle aircraft
that offers an exceptional level of passenger
comfort.”
Air Transat currently operates 31
permanent aircraft, consisting of nine A310-
300s, 11 A330-200s, four A330-300s and
seven Boeing 737-800s. All ten A321LRs
will be delivered between spring 2019 and
autumn 2020.http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 5Prefect
Released to
Service
The Grob Prefect has now entered UK military service, these examples are shown at RAF
Barkston Heath. Peter R FosterA computer-generated image of an Air
Transat Airbus A321LR. Airbus04-05_headline_newsDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 5 04/08/2017 16: