Aircell Appoints Abu Dhabi Sales Rep
Airborne communications specialist Aircell has announced the appointment of Shoukry Shokralla as its sales and service representative in Abu Dhabi. Shokralla’s responsibilities include supporting existing customers and seeking new ones, as well as providing Tier 1 support services such as assisting in system installation. A multi-engine and instrument-rated pilot, Shokralla has 28 years’ experience in avionics and communications.

Comlux Buys Challenger for Kazakhstan Base
Comlux Management has bolstered its executive charter fleet by ordering a third Bombardier Challenger 605. The new aircraft will be operated by the Swiss-based company’s FlyComlux division in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and will be available for flights both within Asia and into Europe. The Comlux fleet includes three Challenger 605s, two Challenger 850s, two Global 5000s, two Global Expresses and two Global Express XRSs. In addition to its location in Almaty, FlyComlux has operating bases in Zurich and Moscow. The Challenger 605 is equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics and can be fitted with the optional Bombardier enhanced vision system, which is ideal for low-visibility conditions.

RR Trent XWB Engine Sales Top 1,000 Mark
Rolls-Royce has received a $480 million order from Ethiopian Airlines for more than 1,000 Trent XWB engines to power 12 widebody Airbus A350 XWBs the African carrier agreed to buy in July. The aircraft are due to enter service in 2017. Separately, the engine maker has won an order from Air China to power 20 Airbus A330s with Trent 700 turbofans. That contract, worth $1.5 billion at list prices, includes Rolls-Royce’s long-term TotalCare support. As the powerplants to be delivered are an enhanced-performance version with reduced fuel burn, the deal also includes the retrofit of Air China’s existing A330s. Deliveries are of the newly ordered aircraft are to begin in 2011 and will bring the total of Air China’s Trent-powered A330s fleet to 43.

ExecuJet Pushes for Charter Boost
Dubai-based ExecuJet Middle East (Stand E370) plans to add aircraft over the next few months to boost its charter operation as it celebrates 10 years in the region by offering a 10-percent discount on all scheduled maintenance labor booked or carried out between November 1 and February 1 next year. The company manages a fleet of more than 20 aircraft out of a total ExecuJet worldwide fleet of roughly 120. This year it added a Bombardier Global XRS and a Bombardier Challenger 605.
ExecuJet’s Middle East Maintenance division recently received Artex Level 1 Service Centre Approval, which allows it to carry out emergency locator transmitter reprogramming for aircraft registration changes.

Honeywell To Power the M-346 Master Trainer
Honeywell’s International Turbine Engine Co. (ITEC) is to supply the power for the new Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master advanced trainers chosen by the air force of the United Arab Emirates. More than 100 F124-GA-200 engines are being acquired for the 48-aircraft fleet. The F124 offers exceptional performance: 6,280 pounds thrust for a weight of just 1,150 pounds. It has an integrated engine-monitoring system and numerous systems that operate automatically, including automatic relight after flameout, continuous temperature and speed limiting, automatic start and ignition sequence, and transient fuel scheduling to avoid surging.

EASA Grants Airbus A330 240-Minute ETOPS
The Airbus A330 twinjet has received approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for 240-minute ETOPS (extended-range, twin-engine operations) flights, thus becoming the first aircraft ever to be granted such approval by regulators. It means that A330s flying transoceanic will be able to fly routes planned with a maximum diversion time of 240 minutes. Previously, the maximum had been 180 minutes.