In the framework of operation 'Cross Continental Deployment 2008’ (CCD 08) eight Belgian Air Component Lockheed F-16 fighters are participating between October 10th and 24th in the Green Flag West exercise from Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. During the Nellis Airshow on November 8th and 9th Belgian F-16 Demo Pilot "Mickey" Artiges will present his last official show ever.  From October 24th until November 22nd 2008 the same aircraft are to deploy to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson, Arizona. At Davis-Monthan the Belgians will be part of Operation Snowbird, which provides support for visiting flying units from around the USA and from allies overseas. They will fly the so called "blocktraining" over a period of four weeks.  Source: COA IPR and Kold News

A new book available in Dutch, French and English, is available on the history Haren-Evere airfield entitled: "Haren-Evere airfield - Metamorphoses of a Landmark in Belgian Aviation History". The author, Sven Soupart, shows with the support of many photographs the first developments of the civil and military aviation in Belgium from the installation of the air infrastructures by the occupant in 1914 on the plain of Haren-Evere, in the North-West of Brussels, to the moment when Sabena leaves it the shortly after the Second world war. This book will accompany two exhibitions which are organised at the Brussels' Royal Museum of Army and military History within the framework of the centenary of aviation in Belgium.

25/09 - SN Airholding approves a strategic investment of the Lufthansa Group in its business

The Board of SN Airholding has unanimously approved an agreement on a strategic investment of the Lufthansa Group in SN Airholding. With this agreement Lufthansa will acquire a 45 % stake in SN Airholding, the parent of Brussels Airlines, via a capital increase of 65 million euro. Lufthansa also has option to buy the remaining 55 % from 2011. The agreement, which was already signed last week by SN Airholding Chairman Viscount Etienne Davignon and Lufthansa CEO and Chairman Wolfgang Mayrhuber, has yet to be approved by the shareholders of SN Airholding and by the regulatory authorities.  Source: Brussels Airlines

24/09 - Sabena technics signs with Swiftair a 3 year Boeing 737 support contract.

According to the French language daily ,La Dernière Heure, one or several Belgian F-16AM's which deployed earlier this month to  Kandahar in Afghanistan had to make use of their internal Vulcan 20mm canon. No further details of the engagement are known for the moment. On September 2nd four Belgian Air Component F-16AM fighters deployed to the Southern Afghan base of Kandahar ("Operation Guardian Falcon") where they joined detachments of the Dutch and French air forces to provide assistance to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Source: La Dernière Heure

23/09 - Request towards former TLP personnel having worked at Florennes airbase.

TLP Florennes has been, and still is, a great success. This is all because of the effort and enthusiasm you have put into TLP. It is because of the success and comradery for which TLP is famous, that the TLP Commander would like to organize a reunion of current and “old” TLP personnel. This reunion will be scheduled for June 2009 and will be combined with the official closing ceremony at Florennes. In order to contact and invite as many colleagues as possible it is requested that you let us know your current address and email. If you know the whereabouts of other colleagues please do not hesitate to send their details to us as well.  More information and contact details can be found here.

The first deliveries of Airbus A400M military transport plane are expected to start at least one year later than initially planned. As the first engine test had been postponed until October, the maiden test flight of the military transport aircraft, previously scheduled for July 2008, was expected to conduct by the end of this year. The first deliveries of A400M have to be delayed to the end of 2010. According to the contract, the first A400M was scheduled to deliver to the French air force in October 2009.   Patrick Bellouard, EA Director of the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) which is charged with the management of the acquisition of the A400M, said that the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), the parent company of Airbus, was destined to be fined for the delay. However, he denied the reports from German media that EADS has threaten to abandon A400M program if got penalty. Source: China View.

Former Belgian Air Force Hawker Hunter F.6 IF-65/OV-P has been erected on a support on the Rond Point de la Chasse Royal at Chièvres. The official inauguration of this graceful aircraft will take place on Saturday September 27th 2008 at 11h00. The aircraft has been painted to resemble the aircraft flown by Colonel Bob Corbeel who flew Hunters from Chièvres airbase. It is rather sad to see that no attempt was made to apply the correct camouflage colours and markings. This machine is the only surviving Mark F.6 Hunter in Belgium and served for a long time as a gate guardian at the military barracks at Bevingen near Sint Truiden. Information: Daniel Lelue.  Picture 01: Erecting IF-65  -  Picture 2: IF-65 how it looked when operational. 

The new F-16 solo display pilot for the 2009-2011 seasons is Michel "Mitch" Beulen of N° 349 (F) Squadron based at Kleine Brogel. Mitch was born in (the great city) Oostende on June 16th 1975 and has acquired his first flying experience with the Belgian Air Cadets (BAC) in 1992. In October 1996 he joined pilot promotion 96B. From January 1997, Mitch received basic flight training in the 5th Squadron at Beauvechain airbase on SF260 Marchetti, the advanced flight training on Alpha-Jet in the 7th Squadron and the initial operational training in the 11th Squadron. On 16 December 1998 he received his pilot wings. In September 1999, Mitch moved to Kleine Brogel for his operational conversion on the F-16 in the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) initially on F-16 OCU (block 15) and later on the F-16 MLU (Middle Life Update). In September 2000, he joined 349 Squadron. Mitch traversed the entire training cycle from Combat Ready to Force Leader in his Squadron. He took part in various specialised courses such as the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) in Florennes and the Operational Test & Evaluation Course (OT&E) in the National Test Pilot School (NTPS) in California (USA), and exercises such as: ACMI - NOMAD - Maple Flag - Red Flag - Green Flag - NATO Air Meet (NAM) in Konya (Turkey) - Bold Avenger as Director of Operations (DOO) in Örland (Norway) and Air Defence Meet in Landivisiau (France). He participated in the F-16 M4 test program (Early Operational Assessment and Operational Test & Evaluation). Mitch took part in Operation Joint Falcon in Amendola (Italy). Mitch totalises more than 2000 flight hours of which 1700 on F-16. Source: Mil.be    -  Picture of "Mitch"

The French Ministry of Defence has secretly obtained an Airbus A330-223 for the long range travels of the French president Nicolas Sarkozy. The new Airbus will have the call sign "Cotam 01" in analogy with the US presidential aircraft with the call sign "Air Force One". Delivery of the A330 (construction number 223) is expected in 2010 after which the Belgian company Sabena Technics will modify the aircraft to VIP standards at Merignac near Bordeaux. Recently the French Armée de l'Air also acquired two second hand Airbus A340 for strategic transport tasks and hopes to replace its fleet of fifteen obsolete Boeing C-135FR tankers by 14 Airbus A330-MRTT's (Multirole Transport/Tanker).

Today Kleine Brogel received the visit of a very special Jordanian Air Force C-130H Hercules. The tail of the King Abdullah AB / Amman-Marka based aircraft of N° 3 Squadron sporting serial "346" is decorated with a huge image of one of the countries best known tourist attractions; the archaeology site of Petra. Source: Luc Vanderfeesten-COA -Pictures:  01  -   02

Germany's Lufthansa AG has moved to take over Brussels Airlines, purchasing a 45 percent stake in the holding company that owns the Belgian carrier for €65 million (US$91.4 million).. The deal gives Lufthansa the option to take over all of Brussels Airlines in 2011 for a price not exceeding €250 million (US$351.6 million). The merger is the latest move in the consolidation of the European airline industry. Other carriers such as SAS or Austrian Airlines are also believe to be the subject of interest by groups like Lufthansa or Air France-KLM. In the first phase, Lufthansa will take a 45 percent stake in SN Airholding though a capital increase. The price for taking the remaining 55 percent in 2011 will depend on Brussels Airlines' performance within the ceiling set by Monday's deal. The deal is dependent on regulator approval and support from Lufthansa's supervisory board and the shareholders and board of Brussels Airlines. Source: International Herald Tribune

As of September 1st 2008 the pilot training units of the French Armée de l'Air (including the Belgian detachment responsible for the instruction of new pilots of the Belgian Air Component) are attached to the Commandement des Forces Aériennes (CFA) based at Metz (F.). This includes the Ecole de l'Aviation de Chasse (EAC) at Tours, Ecole de l'Aviation de Transport (EAT) at Avord and the Ecole de Transition Opérationelle (ETO) based at Cazaux. The famed demonstration team la "Patrouille de France" has also been integrated in the CFA.  This reorganisation will ease the creation of one unique Flight Training Organisation within the Armée de l'Air.  Source:  Armée de l'Air.

Melsbroek based 15th Transport Wing of the Belgian Air Component have reached the incredible number of 200.000 flying hours with the famous Lockheed C-130H Hercules transport aircraft. This happened during a training flight from Melsbroek airbase flown by base Commander Colonel Aviator SBH Bernard "Barney" Flamang in specially decorated "60 Years 15th Wing" Hercules CH-07.  For this special occasion, Lockheed Martin Aero, European regional director, Michael Ogg presented the crew with a remembrance plaque. Belgian Defence operates 10 C-130H Hercules aircraft of the 12 originally delivered while a replacement aircraft acquired in the US  last year is close to operational status after having completely overhauled by Sabena Technics. De C-130H's are to remain operational at least until 2018 when the newly ordered Airbus A400M's are expected.  Pictures: Spirited low pass at the conclusion of the flight reaching 200.000 hours  - Lockheed’s Michael Ogg presents the remembrance plaque to the crew of CH-07.

Starting at the end of October Belgian airline Jetairfly is to link Brussels twice a week with the Capeverdian Islands of Boa Vista and Sal. The direct flights to the very popular holiday resorts will take place on Sundays and Wednesdays (the Wednesday flight only start from December 24th). The Capeverdian Islands are situated in the Atlantic Ocean some 600 km from Senegal's capital Dakar. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Spanish low-cost airline Veuling is to cancel all flights between Brussels and Seville and Amsterdam and Valencia, Seville and Malaga for the winter season. This decision is the result of a reduction of the Veuling fleet of Airbuses (16 against 24 one year ago) as a cost saving measure. Veuling clearly stated that all flights will resume early in 2009. The links between Barcelona and Brussels and Barcelona and Amsterdam are not affected. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

The four Belgian Air Component Lockheed F-16's which deployed last week to the Southern Afghan airbase at Kandahar in the framework of operation "Guardian Falcon" have been declared operational. Some 100 military personnel including 8 pilots are integrated in the Belgian-Dutch detachment in Afghanistan. The F-16AM's are to be used to control the communication lines and act dissuasively. They also can be used to bomb enemy positions to assist ISAF-ground troops in the region. Source: Het laatste Nieuws

Spanish-owned independent charter airline Futura International Airways has suspended all flights for 24 hours to seek bankruptcy protection. A court in Palma de Majorca, where one of Europe's biggest independent charter airlines is based, was handling the bankruptcy petition. Futura Airlines is one of the largest charter companies in Europe flying some 38 Boeing airliners. In Belgium Futura handles flights for Thomas Cook and Jetair. Part of the 40 weekly Futura flights for Jetair will be taken over by Jetairfly while for the remaining flight other companies will be contacted. Jetair hopes that none of its normal flights will be affected by these problems. As Thomas Cook only charters two flights a week with Futura operations are not disturbed.  

British Airways is in takeover talks with Brussels Airlines in a move that could lead to Sir Richard Branson, who owns 30 per cent of the Belgian national carrier, selling out to his fiercest rival.  Lufthansa, the German flag carrier, has made an offer for Brussels, and BA is considering whether to table its own formal bid. The airline is likely to be valued at about €150 million (£121 million). A source said: “BA have approached the board of Brussels and we are waiting to see if they make a serious offer.”  Source and more information: TimesOnLine

After the suspension of night flights during the months June, July and August, the airbases of Kleine Brogel and Florennes have resumed their night training flights on Monday, September 1st. Until the end of October these flight will be flown until 24:00 hrs on Mondays and Tuesdays. As of November, the last landing will be at 21:30 hrs. These night training flights are very important in today's air operations. Both airbases will make every effort to keep the impact to the environment as low as possible. A major portion of the night training flights will take place during the months of October and November above sparsely populated areas in the United States. Source: Mil.be

The first four Jordanian F-16's will leave Kleine Brogel Airbase on 10 September 2008. The MLU-conversion for the 10 Jordanian Pilots is completed. The sale, concerning 16 MLU aircraft, which will all be delivered this year, consists in an agreement that our country made with Jordan.
Kleine Brogel airbase organizes a limited photo session for a select number of people, with the possibility to take pictures at close range of the aircraft with Jordanian markings. 
Timing: Wednesday, 10 September  Gates open for aviation enthusiasts at 07h00L  -  Power-on F-16s RJAF at 08h00L  -  Take-off at 08h30L  -  End of activities at 09h00L UPDATED
Entrance: 10,00 euro
Location:  Kleine Brogel airbase - 3990 Peer  -  Info + 32 11 51 22 09

Please note that no prior inscription is needed.
Remark: the program and the timing are subject to change. Check this website for latest updates / changes.

Today starts "Operation Guardian Falcon", the deployment of four Belgian Air Component Lockheed F-16AM fighters to the Afghan airbase of Kandahar were it will strengthen the Dutch F-16 contingent. The main aim of the deployment which will initially be for a duration of 6 months, is to provide assistance to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The Belgian F-16's will use their new Sniper advanced targetting pod for the first time in a combat environment. Pilots will rotate on a 6 weekly basis and will be drawn from all operational F-16 squadrons from Florennes and Kleine Brogel airbases. Pictures of Sniper pod:  01  -  02

For the first time since 1938 a Zeppelin or rigid airship graced the Belgian skies to land at Grimbergen airfield near Brussels at 15h00 local time on 28 August 2008. The arrival of the enormous machine was delayed by one day due to strong winds over the United Kingdom. The machine left Cardington near London for a 4 day tour over Belgium and Holland. To promote the use of rigid airships non other than Graf Wolfgang von Zeppelin a direct descendant of the original designer was on board. Some six flights were made with enthusiast passengers before Zeppelin NT4 D-LZNT continued its trip over Europe to Valkenburg in the Netherlands. The flight over Belgium was organised by the “Nationaal Comité voor het Eeuwfeest van de Luchtvaart in Vlaanderen” in which our association BAHA is represented.  Pictures:  1  D-LZNT at Grimbergen  -  2  Graf Wolfgang von Zeppelin

Deutsche Lufthansa AG, parent of Germany's biggest airline, said that it is in talks with the owner of Belgium's Brussels Airlines on a deal that would see it take 45 percent of the company, with an option to buy the rest later. Lufthansa said that it is in "constructive negotiations" with SN Airholding SA/NV, the owner of Brussels Airlines -- which operates flights to Europe and Africa from the Belgium capital and has yet to enter one of the major aviation alliances. Lufthansa said it plans initially to take 45 percent of SN Airholding via a capital increase, at a proposed price of 65 million euros ($95.6 million). "After two years and beyond, Lufthansa would be authorized to exercise an acquisition option for the remaining 55 percent," a Lufthansa statement said. "The price of this option is linked to the prospective performance of Brussels Airlines."  Source: BusinessWeek

BSCA the company running Brussels-South Charleroi airport at Gosselies is expecting more passengers than ever during the coming winter season. For the period involved Charleroi can now count on customers of six airlines, the latest of which being Jetairfly.  According to BSCA 12 new destination will be added. Ryanair is to add 8 new links from Charleroi: Manchester, Riga, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Montpellier, Marrakech, Tangier and Fez, while the arrival of Jetairfly brings connections with Tenerife, Gran Canary, Oujda and Nador. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

Zaventem's Brussels Airport has handled 1.95 million passengers over the month of July 2008, and increase of 2.9% compared to the same month last year. The growth is the result of the new intercontinental links from and to the Belgian airport including the activities of Indian carrier Jet Airways and increased traffic to North America. The number of passengers carried within the European Union fell to 1.2 million, a drop of 2.3%.  Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

14/08 - Belgian Federal Police air assets can be used by police of Dutch Zuid-Limburg province.

The Dutch police of the province of Zuid-Limburg can now call upon the helicopters and aircraft of the Belgian Federal Police based at Melsbroek airbase. The local police can now use the Belgian air assets in cases of hostage taking, robberies, and acts of violence, fires, traffic accidents, pursuits, searches and accidents with dangerous substances. Belgian aircraft can directly talks to the central reporting office at Maastricht (Nl.). The Belgian will be called upon when they can reach the area faster or when Dutch police helicopters are unavailable. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

The monthly statistics on air traffic and airport movements in Belgium over July 2008 published by Belgocontrol show a 2.78% overall increase (+2.838 movements up to 102.265) compared to the same period one year earlier. Airport statistics give the following figures: Brussels Airport: 23.171 movements (- 2.02%), Oostende-Brugge: 8.598 (+7.77%), Charleroi-Brussels South: 8.105 (+2.56%), Antwerpen-Deurne: 6.622 (+10.18%) and Liège-Bierset: 4.630 (+2.75%). Canac controlled air traffic between flight levels 135 and 245: 53.977 (+3.37%). Source: Belgocontrol

11/08 - Strike of baggage carriers paralyses Brussels Airport

Flights to and from Brussels International Airport in Zaventem have been disrupted all day due to strike action by the baggage carriers. Hardly any airplanes are able to take off or land. The employees of baggage carrier Aviapartner and part of the personnel at Flightcare started strike action to protest against heightened work pressure. Source: Flandersnews.be

VLM Airlines’ success as a leading business airline was once again demonstrated recently when it was named ‘Best Business Airline- Western Europe’ by Business Destinations Magazine in their first Annual Travel Awards. Johan Vanneste, Managing Director of VLM Airlines, said: “VLM Airlines’ is honoured to receive this recognition. The awards are a powerful acknowledgement of our ongoing growth in the business travel sector and the premium services we provide our customers. VLM Airlines is dedicated to providing the highest levels of service and is continually striving to set new standards in the airline industry”. The Business Destinations Annual Travel Awards are given to the very best service providers in the travel industry. The experienced panel combined their extensive knowledge of the market and awarded companies that have dominated the business travel market thus far in 2008. With over 70% of its passengers travelling for business purposes, VLM Airlines understands the demands of travelling professionals. The airline’s priority is to offer fast and frequent services. VLM Airlines’ is a full service regional airline offering a wide range of flights throughout the UK and Benelux. It flies from London City to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, Hamburg, Antwerp, Luxembourg, Manchester, Jersey and the Isle of Man. Passengers carrying hand luggage only can check in just 15 minutes before departure at its London City hub. Passengers can also save time by using VLM Airlines’ online check-in service which allows the airlines’ customers to check-in from the comfort of their own home or office between 2 and 30 hours prior to departure. Once on board, passengers can enjoy a full in-flight service with complimentary sandwiches and beverages. VLM Airlines’ fleet of environmentally-friendly turboprop aircraft are being fitted with new ergonomic kevlar seats, with a unique reclining function enabling the entire seat to tilt back, offering a more comfortable position that is proven to be ergonomically better. Source: VLM Airlines

 On August 28, 2008, a new book will appear, written by Cdt-Vl Peter “Celle” Celis and published by the well-known publisher Grub Street in London. Peter, an active member of the Belgian Air Component, serving at Kleine-Brogel Airbase, and member of the Belgian Aviation Historical Association, has put 23 years of research and writing into this book, titled “One Who Almost Made It Back”. The book tells the story of a Canadian elite pilot in a Pathfinder Squadron, Sqn Ldr Teddy Blenkinsop DFC, whose Lancaster was shot down over Diest, Belgium. On the night of 27/28 April 1944, Teddy Blenkinsop and his crew were acting as deputy master bombers during a Pathfinder raid on Montzen in Belgium. After a successful attack, their Lancaster was shot down. Miraculously Teddy survived to be protected by Belgian citizens before ending his days in Bergen Belsen concentration camp. Little was known of his exploits in between until Peter Celis began to research the story. What he uncovered is far more amazing than any fictional film could be. He found that Blenkinsop was not only an exceptional and gallant operational pilot, but that his loyalty, dedication and devotion were second to none and that his bravery and fearlessness led him to make the supreme sacrifice in the face of Nazi Germany. Written with pace and insight, this is an uplifting account of an outstanding young man who very nearly made it back home. The book has 224 pages and 80 photographs, and will cost £20 plus postage. It can be ordered from www.aviation-bookshop.com

Starting from October 27th Ryanair is to fly three times a week between Charleroi Brussels-South and Bologna Marconi airport with a Boeing 737-800 to replace the existing link with nearby Forli.  From 2009 Ryanair is to use Forli as a new base from were one locally based aircraft will serve new connections which still have to be identified. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

The "Comité voor het Eeuwfeest van de Luchtvaart in Vlaanderen" brings Zeppelin NT-04 from Cardington in a flight over London, Calais, Dunkerque, De Panne, Oostende, Brugge and Gent to Brussels. Landing is programmed at Grimbergen on 27/08 at 18h30. The Comité has booked 24 flying hours which will allow them to offer flights to persons or groups interested at 269€ p/p for a flight of 1/2 hour or 459€ p/p for a flight of an hour.  All of these flights will take place between 09h00 and 18h00 on Thursday 28/08 from Grimbergen. Click here for the reservation form (pdf.) and here for supplementary information.

Yesterday-evening fir broke out after lightning hit a stockpile of metal parts at the car recycling plant Comet Sambre at Châtelet near Charleroi. Flames as high as 30 meter together with toxic fumes triggered the disaster plan Phase one and fire-fighters from Charleroi, Bergen, La Louvière, Gembloux en Crisnée are still fighting the enormous inferno. Federal Police MD900 helicopter G-11 was called upon to help putting out the fire with its specially designed fire fighting basket. Source: De Redactie/VRTNieuws