AUSTRALIAN FLAG carrier Qantas
has unveiled a special scheme hon-
ouring the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people of Australia on
its fourth Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner,
VH-ZND (c/n 63390).
The stunning design is based on the
1991 painting ‘Yam Dreaming’, cre-
ated by late Northern Territory artistand senior Anmatyerre woman, Emily
Kame Kngwarreye. It has been adapt-
ed for use on the aircraft by indigenous
design studio Balarinji
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said:
“As the national carrier we’re thrilled
to showcase another piece of indig-
enous culture on one of our aircraft,
and to reiterate our ongoing commit-ment to reconciliation with Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people. It’s a
beautiful, bold artwork and so we hope
it catches people’s eye and sparks
a conversation about our country’s
dynamic indigenous culture.”
The Dreamliner will be named Emily
Kame Kngwarreye in tribute to the
artist. It was due to be deliveredfrom Seattle to Alice Springs on
March 2, where it will be welcomed
by Emily’s family before flying to
Sydney and Melbourne for crew
familiarisation flights on the airline’s
domestic network. It will enter ser-
vice on international routes, includ-
ing the Perth-London route, from
late March. (Photo Qantas)Qantas Unveils Dream Livery
More ATRs
for Bangkok
Airways
THAI REGIONAL airline Bangkok
Airways has signed a contract with
ATR to buy four additional ATR
72-600s. The deal, which is valued at
more than US$100m, was signed at
the Singapore Airshow on February 7.
The airline said it “will enable it to
continue the modernisation and
harmonisation of its regional fleet
around the ATR 72-600”. The four
new aircraft will be delivered between
October 2018 and March 2019.
An ATR operator for more than two
decades, Bangkok Airways currently
flies a fleet of 15 ATRs, consisting of
nine ATR 72-600s and six ATR 72-500s,
the latter variant is being progressively
replaced by newer -600s. Over the last
four years the carrier has expanded its
fleet from eight aircraft in early 2014 to
the current 15, matching the launch of
new routes and increasing frequencies
of its services across its domestic and
regional network.
Christophe Clarenc, Senior Vice
President – Technical, commented:
“Since the introduction of our very first
ATR back in 1994, we have built up a
solid partnership that has substan-
tially contributed to providing air ser-
vices all over the country, thus helping
to develop business and tourism. The
ATRs have proven, for years, to be the
right aircraft to create new routes and
efficiently expand regional networks.”14 AIRLINER WORLD APRIL 2018News Review • A s i a / P a c i fi c
One of two new Airbus A350-900s for Thai Airways International sits at the manufacturer’s flight test facility in Toulouse undergoing final
checks before handover. Both aircraft will be operated under lease agreements from SBAC Aviation Capital, which has itself acquired the
two A350s from Kuwait-based lessor ALAFCO. This example, HS-THL (c/n 185) was handed over on February 22, while the second was due in
March. ASHLEY FRENCHPT DIRGANTARA Indonesia (PTDI),
Indonesian aircraft industries
announced the launch orders for its
new 19-seater N219 twin-turboprop
at the recent Singapore Airshow
(February 6-11). The first production
aircraft will be delivered to Indonesian
carriers Pelita Air Service, which
has signed a deal for 20 firm plus
80 options, and Trigana Air Service
which will acquire five aircraft plus five
options. Pelita said it will also operate
and maintain two N219s for the region-
al government of Kalimantan, as well
as a single example for Puncak Jaya
(Indonesian Papua).
The prototype N219, PK-XQT made its
maiden flight on August 16, 2017 and asecond example is due to join the flight
test programme in March or April.
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-
42s, the N219 has been designed to
operate flights up to 480nm (889km)
with 19 passengers on board. At its
maximum take-off weight, the air-
craft uses as little as 1,289ft (393m)
of runway, making it ideal for many of
Indonesia’s small airstrips. First cus-
tomer aircraft deliveries are expected
in early July 2019 and PTDI is planning
to build up to 36 N219s per year.
Looking ahead PTDI has also signed
a framework agreement with Avitra
Aerospace Technologies of Singapore
regarding the potential future
production of the N219 in China. Both
Indonesia and China have require-
ments for rugged low-cost aircraft
that can be used to help develop-
ment in rural areas. (Photo PTDI)Success for PTDI
Colourful XWB