NEWS 2005/2

Due to renovation works runway 02/20 at Brussels Airport will be out of service for nearly the whole month of August 2005. As was the case for runway 25R last summer, Belgocontrol will modernize the ILS landing system, whilst BIAC will renovate the runway lighting and cabling.  Due to the closure of runway 02/20 the departure and arrival routes used by aircraft may deviate from the usual procedure. Source: http://www.biac.be/news/

On June 28th, the Koksijde air base has organised a Post Crash Management exercise. The exercise involved not only the military personnel but also the local civil emergency services (fire brigades, MUG ambulances, etc.). At the heart of the scenario was the airframe of the former 40 Squadron Sikorsky HSS-1 B4/OTZKD representing a crashed helicopter. This resident aircraft was withdrawn from use on December 5th, 1984 after 4560 flying hours and is familiar to the Koksijde Air Show visitors. A photo reportage about this exercise can be found in the Air Component homepage

The Air Component F-16s and C-130H Hercules (3 a/c reported deployed to Skydstrup AB - DK) participate Clean Hunter 2005, the annual live-flying NATO exercise, taking place in over the Alliance's Northern Region to include Northern France during the timeframe June 27th to July 8th. The exercise areas extend from Southern Germany to Denmark and from the United Kingdom to mid-Poland. Participating nations will mainly fly to and from their home bases except for those nations deploying aircraft into Northern Europe like the four Greek Air Force F-16 Block 52+ (F-16C: 533, 534, 536 & F-16D: 610) deployed to Florennes air base. Link to photo report by Jacques Vincent of the Florennes Aviation Society. The exercise will be conducted by Headquarters Allied Air Forces North (HQ AIRNORTH), Ramstein/GE, through its Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOCs). Clean Hunter 05 will involve air forces from 14 countries: Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States of America plus France and Turkey. Clean Hunter 2005 is designed to promote training opportunities for all participating units, to maximize interaction between opposing forces and to exercise Headquarters Allied Air Forces North and its subordinate Combined Air Operations Centres in the planning and conduct of major co-ordinated live air operations.

TNT Belgium, the worlds leading provider of express delivery services and logistics supply chain solutions, SAB s.a. Liège Airport operator and the Walloon authorities, have signed an agreement extending until 2036 - instead of 2016 - the 20 years convention they signed in 1996 for the use by TNT of buildings and land located at Liège Bierset airport. TNT will expand its activities and invest € 96 million in brand new infrastructures. A total of 400 jobs should be created in the next three years

As the Spring season gives way to Summer burning and dry conditions the Province of Limburg has requested the stand by of a civil helicopter as observation platform in case of forest or moor fire. For their part, the Federal Police helicopters were observed picking up and dropping water at the Weerde lake (Flemish Brabant) with a Bamby-Bucket water discharging device. This fire fighting equipment was once upon a time on use with the Gendarmerie/Rijkswacht SA.330 Puma helicopters.

As result of the recent hot weather conditions, the Florennes air base main runway was partly closed to flying operations for some days after the landing Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) 2005-4 participants aircraft damaged the overheated runway concrete plates joints.

Located in the Province of Namur, between the villages of Froidchapelle and Cerfontaine and near the dam lake of l'Eau d'Heure, the brand new build Cerfontaine airfield (EBCN) has at last received from the Belgian Federal Aviation Administration its much needed licence. The site operator, the Société de Gestion de l'Aérodrome de Cerfontaine (Sogelac), hope to make this airfield the region top light and general aviation platform despite its close proximity to the Florennes military airbase

On June 23rd, Koksijde air base host several of the participants to the rehearsal of July 8th fly-pass over the naval parade opening the Defence Days 2005. The following aircraft and helicopters were observed from the Oostende sea front : SA.316 Alouette III M1/OT-ZPA, SA.318C Alouette II A-59, A109BA Hirundo H-42, Seaking RS-01, Alpha Jet AT-?? and F-16AM FA-56. Similar rehearsals will be organised on June 30th and July 7th, 2005. More on this international naval parade organised in the framework of the 175th anniversary of the independence of Belgium and the Belgian Defence Days at Zeebrugge on July 9-10th: More information on the Belgian defence website:   http://www.mil.be/def/index.asp  

On June 22nd, the first elements of the 80 Squadron UAV left Elsenborn by road and train for a four months deployment to Tuzla Eagle base in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in the framework of the EU-led operation Althea (see also news of May 27th, March 14th). Five days later, on June 28th, a USAF C-17 Globemaster III (s/n 01-0188 of 437th AW) transported, from Melsbroek and in one rotation, six B-Hunters and three Ground Control Stations. Composed of about 50 military personnel this detachment will be put under the control of the EUFOR HQ (COMEUFOR, based at Camp Butmir, near Sarajevo International airport) and would perform its first flights over BiH on July 4th. The Belgian UAVs will be mainly engaged in operation aimed to detect and disrupt organized crime and activities like illegal logging and fuel traffic. A Belgian Helicopter detachment (BE Helo Det) with four A109BA Hirundos and 46 people is deployed in Tuzla since early January 2005 where they are the key element of the Aviation Company of the Multinational Task Force North (MNTF-N) of the EUFOR.

Since November 2004, the Centre de Compétence du Matériel Roulant et Armement (CCR&A) / Competentiecentrum van het Rijdend Materiaal en de Bewapening (CCR&B) better known as the Arsenal of Rocourt (near Liège) has become the place where most of the non-MLU upgraded F-16s of the Belgian Air Component are being dismantled. A total of 31 aircraft (30 F-16A and 1 F-16B) are currently under processing. At the initiative of the responsible of this programme, the Arsenal of Rocourt has organized a spotter’s day on June 21st. A last - and sad - call for all the Belgian F-16A/B freaks.
The following airframes were observed:

Outside: FA- 21, FA-28, FA-40, FA-43 (already completely dismantled and ready for sale as scrap)
Inside hangar 49: 1st row: FA- 16, FA-17, FA-27, FA-36, FA-48, FA-50   
2nd row: FA- 02, FA-09, FA-18, FA-19, FA-37, FA-46, FA-47, FA-49, FA-55 and FB-07
3rd row: FA- 10, FA-20, FA-23, FA-26, FA-30, FA-31, FA-32, FA-34, FA-45, FA-51, FA-53
Photo link here on the Military Aircraft Collection site and our special feature link here.

The Irish budget airline Ryanair will not return to Oostende-Brugge regional airport and has a debt of € 250,000 for unpaid landing rights and breach of agreement. Ryanair operated a service Oostende-London between May 2003 and early 2004. The Flemish regional authorities have therefore initiated a court action against Ryanair to get that money back.

Pegasus announce the signing of the contract for its High Altitude / Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle HALE UAV, by Mrs. Fientje Moerman, Vice-Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Economy, Enterprise, Science, Innovation and Foreign Trade, at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget. Under this contract, the Belgian company Verhaert will build the solar HALE UAV and the ground reception station. The first flights will be conducted in the spring and summer of 2006. Born from a partnership between the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) and Alcatel, and with input from several other Belgian, Dutch, German, French and Italian partners, Pegasus aims at the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) and INfrastructure for SPatial InfoRmation in Europe (INSPIRE) projects of the European Commission.   More on Pegasus project: http://www.pegasus4europe.com/

After the surprising statement of the Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, at the le Bourget Paris Air Salon (see news of June 15th, 2005), Minister of Defence, André Flahaut, has confirmed that he is willing to obtain the replacement of the vintage Westland Sea King and SA.316C Alouette III helicopters of the Air Component before the theoretical end of the current term, so before June 2007. Despite all the representatives denials the main contender for this re-equipment programme is the new ten tons class NH-Industries NH-90 able to fulfil the SAR needs as well as the fleet support from the deck of the two second hand, but still to be purchased (from British or Netherlands) Navy frigates. This helicopter replacement programme would include three helicopters for the replacement of the current Sea King fleet (see news of January 18th, 2005), two helicopters for the replacement of the Alouette III and a batch of three to five helicopters to provide the Land Component a better aeromobility capability. The contract value of this programme (aircraft, support and training) is estimated at € 320 million.

Further to a first agreement signed last December for the General Electric next generation engine or GEnx booster stators (see news of December 15th, 2004), Techspace Aero has extended its partnership with General Electric on this programme. Part of the SAFRAN Group (issued from the Sagem & Snecma merge), the Herstal (Liège) based company was already responsible for the design, the development and the production of the GEnx low pressure compressor stators. With the new agreement signed at Paris Air Show, Techspace Aero is in charge of the whole stators technologies and will assemble the low pressure compressors. The company is also in final discussions with General Electric to take the fan disk in its part share. This would make its participation as a risk and revenue sharing partner up near 5% of the whole engine. The GEnx was selected by Boeing to power the 787 twin-engine range with entry into service in 2008 as well as the probable 747 Advanced. It will also equip the Airbus A350, which is due to enter service in 2010. The first Techspace Aero’s deliveries are due to January 2006 to allow the first test engine to run on March 2006. Engine certification is planned by mid-2007. Source   

French aircraft maintenance and repair group TAT Industries has announced at Le Bourget Paris Air Show 2005 that it has acquired Sabena Technics, the service unit of the defunct Belgian airline Sabena. A spokesman for Sabena Technics confirmed the two groups signed an agreement in principle on Thursday June 16th 2005. The merger creates the second biggest independent aircraft maintenance company in Europe - not linked to a national airline - behind Switzerland's SR Technics (former maintenance daughter of Swissair). The buying agreement was approved by 72% of the 1,200 staff members of the Belgian company. Sabena Technics has a wide knowledge on medium- and long-haul aircraft of the Boeing and Airbus families, and TAT Industries is specialised in regional aircraft of the Fokker, Embraer or Bombardier types. Sabena Technics posted full-year sales of € 184 million in 2004.

During a short visit to the Aeronautical Salon of Le Bourget, Belgian’s Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt mentioned the possibility of acquiring between 10 and 15 new transport helicopters to replace the ageing Seakings and to provide the Land Component a much needed Wing Heli operated aeromobility capability. Two European designs, the NH Industries NH-90 and the AgustaWestland EH-101, although both in a different size-class are said to be favoured. Besides the Air-Sea Rescue Seakings, three Marine Alouette III helicopters (now Air Component)  are in urgent need of replacement (having served over thirty years) now that the Government is seriously considering acquiring of two second hand British frigates

Sabena Technics has announced the signature of a contract for the cabin modification and reconfiguration of the two former Sabena Airbus A321 - OO-SUA c/n 970 & OO-SUB c/n 995 - recently delivered to the Tunisian airline Nouvelair (see news of March 17th, 2005). The work will be performed in Brussels the last two weeks of June. Nouvelair Tunisie is based in Monastir and operates charter flights from different European countries to Tunisia. The company has a fleet of ten A320 and two A321 (reg. TS-IQA and TS-IQB).  Source 

To further improve its service offering to the Russian aviation industry (see news of May 26th and February 23rd, 2005), Barco’s Avionics division, the Kortrijk based world leader in professional display and visualization solution, has established a regional service center in Zhukovsky, Russia. The new center, housed in the headquarters of the Scientific Research Institute of Aircraft Equipment (NIIAO), will allow Barco to significantly reduce turnaround times of its avionics units used aboard Russian aircraft. “Barco’s Avionics division has been providing the Russian aviation industry with high-grade avionics display units for many years. Source: Barco Website

On Monday evening BAHA’s sister association BAHAAT (Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeology Team) officially opened its new Museum at Erembodegem/Aalst in the presence of numerous friends and guests. As BAHAAT President Cynrik De Decker pointed out in his speech, “this museum is not a collection of shine aircraft in a huge hangar, but a unique collection of the remains of extinct World War II aircraft”.  Amongst the exhibits the visitor can discover such rare aircraft as Thunderbolts, Messerschmitts, Spitfire, the unique Focke Wulf FW190D “Dora” , The skeleton of a WACO glider used during operation Market garden (remember “A bridge too far”, and the impressive tail structure including the rear gunners’ position of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Broken Wings is open to the public every Sunday afternoon between 14h00 and 18h00 or on appointment.  Entrance is €2.5 and the museum can be found at the Leuvestraat, 4B near the Dender Bridge at Erembodegem/Aalst. More info at www.bahaat.be,  pictures of the opening ceremony here

On Sunday evening ten F-16AM’s normally based at Florennes airbase (but crewed by 10th Wing pilots) were flown back from CFB Cold Lake (Alberta-Canada) via Bangor to Kleine Brogel. The ten F-16AM fighters involved in this Cross Continental Deployment were FA-67, FA-72, FA-106, FA-107, FA-110, FA-118, FA-120, FA-124, FA-131, and FA-135. Welcome back guys. (See also news topic of 16/05 below).

Former Belgian Air Force Merlin CF-04 who was sold a few years ago and since then had the civilian registration LX-LAP and N422AG now has been registered F-GZJM. It was noted as such at Rhein-Main (Germany) airport on March 17th, 2005

As a result of an agreement between federal Minister Verwilghen (Scientific Policy) and Flahaut (Defence) the “Beheerseenheid van het Mathematisch Model van de Noordzee (BMM)”, (or Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM))   will be able to organise a continuous surveillance of the North Sea.  With these inspection flights, the BMM (which is a division of the Belgian Institute for Natural Science) will be able to trace illegal fuel dumping or fuel tank cleaning near the Belgian coast. Up to now the BMM used one Britten-Norman Islander (B-02) to execute these control flights, but the service will take over two of these ex-defence machines according to the Verwilghen cabinet. (See also News topic of 01/04 below).

On June 9th (RWY07) and 10th (RWY25), 2005, the Charleroi airport landing arrester cables were checked with the help of a USAFE's F-16CG Fighting Falcon (serial 87-0350). Present at Charleroi for maintenance works at the SABCA plants, this particular aircraft is the first one of the Block 40 type and is usually operated by the 555th FS "Triple Nickel" of 31st FW based at Aviano in Italy. The US fighter caught the cables at about 120 knots. Both trials were successful. Click here or here for pictures of this particular aircraft

From next summer 2005, the Indian carrier Jet Airways will start scheduled flight operations from Mumbai, India to Newark (New York), via Brussels. The new service will be operated six times a week, Monday to Saturday, using Airbus 340-300E aircraft configured with 38 business class seats and 231 economy seats. Jet Airways hopes to increase this frequency to a daily flight later this year. Jet Airways’ new scheduled services to/from Mumbai confirm the renewed need for direct flights to Asia from Brussels’ Zaventem airport. The new service marks the first long haul success following the introduction of a comprehensive airline marketing programme developed jointly by Macquarie Airports and BIAC.(Source Luchtzak/BIAC)

In a ceremony at Semmerzake Air Traffic Control Centre (ATCC), Colonel Karel Moorkens has passed command to Colonel Patrick Firlefyn on June 9th. The Semmerzake ATCC provides air traffic control of military air traffic and co-ordination between civilian and military aviation. Besides this co-ordination task, the Semmerzake ATCC also assists aircraft in distress and provides help during searches. Furthermore, it also observes bird migrations. See also news of May 20th and the Jos Schoofs report about this year ATCC open day here.

The Air and Land Components conducted low level flying exercise over the province of Luxemburg code named Green Hill 2005/2 between 07th and 10th June. The Green Hill 05/2 targets and Low Level Flying Areas (LLFA) were located at Remagne and Tenneville near Bastogne. The purpose of such type of exercise is to train Air Component's F-16 pilots and Forward Air Controllers (FAC) in working together. Green Hill 05/2 was also a bilateral Belgian-Dutch exercise which ended a six weeks FAC training course. The training of the Belgian Land Component and Dutch army FACs is carried out at the School Grond-Lucht Samenwerking (SGLS) of Schaarsbergen near Arnhem in the Netherlands. More on FAC exercices here. More on Green Hill 2005/2 FR:  /  NL: .

From June 03rd until 09th, Junkers Ju52-3M 'D-AQUI" (D-CDLH c/n 5489 + parts of 130714) came on visit to Oostende-Brugge regional airport. Operated by Deutsche Lufthansa AG Historic Flight this vintage tri-engined airliner was used for sightseeing flights above the seaside, the polders and the city of Brugge. More about this aircraft: here and picture here.

On June 4^th & 5th, the Helicopter Wing (Wing Heli) of Liège-Bierset military airfield and the SAB s.a. Liège Airport have open their doors to the public for the seventh International Helicopter Airshow better known as the "Belgian Helidays". Despite a rather unstable and cold weather (for the season) no less than 30.000 people attended this unique continental helicopter focused event. An impressive flightline presented over 100 helicopters and aircraft coming from eleven countries Log link here. A trumpeted come back after the sad cancellation of the 2004 edition due to the organizing unit transformation from Group Light Aviation of COMOPSLAND into Wing Heli of COMOPSAIR. A special report is to follow soon on this site.

Appointed Director of External Relations by the European Space Agency (ESA) Council in December 2004, René Oosterlinck has taken up duty on June 1st. Of Belgian nationality, René Oosterlinck, 61, was awarded an engineering degree from the Higher State Technical Institute for Nuclear Industries of Brussels, Belgium in 1966. In 1969 he obtained a degree in civil engineering from the University of Leuven, Belgium and in 1977 he obtained a degree in law from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. Besides Dutch, his mother tongue, he speaks French, English and German fluently and has good knowledge of Spanish and Italian. Chinese and Japanese complete the picture of his interest in foreign languages. He joined ESA in 1979 where he held several top posting. Mr. Oosterlinck will now be in charge of a Directorate that comprises three Departments: International Relations, Corporate Communication and Education. More info here.

The Irish budget airline Ryanair recently has signed a new five years contract with Sabena Technics in Charleroi Airport for the daily maintenance of its three locally based aircraft. The first contract was signed three years ago.

Twenty-six neighbours have asked Brussels-South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) to stop all activities arguing a lack of valid airport operator licence. They have requested Minister of Transport, M. Renaat Landuyt, to recognize this fact and to take the appropriate closure decision. The licence was not needed when the airport started activities before WWII, and when it was introduced (1954), the airport management sound to have forgotten to request it.

Purchased on January 2003 by the Luxemburg based company CAE Aviation the former Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie Britten BN-2T Turbo-Islander OT-GLA/G-05 (c/n R2146) has been restored to flying status as LX-REM and sold to Senegal Republic. This aircraft was ferry-flown to Dakar where it was delivered on June 29th. It should receive very soon a local registration (6V-???) and would be operated by the Senegal authorities for the control of the country's exclusive fishing grounds. This aircraft was damaged at Beauvechain airbase on October 10th, 2000. That day a not properly chocked Marchetti SF.260 training aircraft (ST-21) on engine test, ran into the parked Turbo Islander with a subsequent start of fire. The damaged aircraft remained in storage for years at Beauvechain airbase until it was purchased by CAE Aviation and ferry-flown to Luxemburg for a complete inspection. (Picture)

• The Majors A. Roose,  P. Letten, P. van Den Broeck, J. Coopmans, F. Van Wilder & D. Genin to be promoted Lieutenant-Colonels.
• The Capt-Commandant D. Saelens to be promoted Major.

Left the Air Component for the Reserve:

• The Capt-Commandants (Pilot Officers): E. Maes, K. Vermeulen & W. Dams

On Monday 30th May six Aero L-159A of the Czech Air Force 212.tl (n° 6049, 6052, 6063, 6067, 6068, 6069) based at Caslav arrived at Kleine Brogel for a ten days squadron exchange with N°10 Wing F-16 OCU. This Czech deployment to Limburg was supported by an Antonov An-26B (n°2409) of 241.dlt.

On May, 30th, proceeding Robin DR.300/125 Petit Prince OO-DOC (c/n 623) test flight after overhaul ex-Sabena Captain Jean-Luc Moyaux crashed at Kiewit (Limburg). An engine failure after take off is supposed to be the primary cause of the fatal crash. Capt Moyaux was deathly wounded and passed away in the hospital during the evening. Jean-Luc Moyaux has dedicated to BeCA (Belgian Cockpit Association former ABPNL or Association Belge des Pilotes et Navigants de Ligne) lots of his efforts, tempo, ideas and understanding. As captain, as Committee Member, as aerobatics pilot and as human being, he gained the esteem of everyone and reached undoubtedly countless achievements for the benefit of the airline pilot profession.

The Belgian newspaper La Libre Belgique has reported that the Gosselies based aeronautical company Sonaca had requested a recapitalization plan of about € 50 million to the Walloon Region, its virtually sole shareholder (via Wespavia). Closely tied into the Airbus programme, Falcon 7X and Embraer Regional Jet programmes, Sonaca is in desperate need of cash to enlarge its plants and improved its production process with up to date automation systems.

In the framework of the Veteran's Day ceremonies, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of  WWII, four F-16s of USAFE 23rd FS, based at Spangdahlem (Germany), performed a fly- pass over Neuville-en-Condroz Ardennes American Cemetery.

On May 28th, at about 04h00 and after no less than two hours of search in the dark of the night, a Koksijde based 40 Squadron SAR Seaking helicopter rescued a disappeared swimmer off Zeeuws Vlaanderen’s Westkapelle (Nl.). Brought back to the beach, the reported drunk but still alive - and very lucky - swimmer was taken on charge by the Dutch emergency medical service and evacuated to a hospital.

The Council of Ministers approved on May 27th, a four month deployment of the 80 Squadron B-Hunter UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the framework of the EUFOR operation Althea. One of the three 80 Squadron B-Hunter System (including a total of six aircraft) and 52 people will deploy from late June until the end of October 2005 to Tuzla Eagle base in northern Bosnia, where four A109BA of Wing Heli and their support personnel are deployed since last January (see news January 9th). This will be the first operational deployment of the new Belgian UAV’s. They will be campaigned in the observation and intelligence role as well as for the control of organised criminal activities.

On 27 May the Council of Ministers approved the second phase of the Air Component F-16 deployment to Afghanistan (see news of March 25th and February 9th). It has been decided to send a total of four F-16AMs with 65 people of both N°2 Wing of Florennes and N°10 Wing of Kleine Brogel to Kabul International Airport for an initial period of six months as from 1st July 2005. These fighters should attempt their operational status from mid-July and integrate into a Dutch-Belgian detachment, put under control of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) through the European Participating Air Force (EPAF) Expeditionary Air Wing. Their presence over Afghanistan is mainly required as a deterrence asset and should permit a more effective deployment of ISAF land forces to the northern and western provinces of the country.

Barco’s cockpit display solutions was successful flight tested on the newly upgraded AN-124-100M-150, the world’s largest civil freighter. Barco's displays were built into the aircraft’s cockpit by the Russian system integrator Kotlin-Novator (St. Petersburg, Russia). The flight test campaign follows an intensive modernization program, initiated among others by Volga-Dnepr Group, Moscow, Russia, the main provider of AN-124-100 aircraft services. Today, the results of this program have allowed the aircraft to make flights all over the world without any limitations.

A flight of N°2 Wing F-16AMs (a/c: FA-108, FA-126, FA-130) of Florennes and two A109BAs (H-33 and H-40) of the Bierset based Heli Wing are participating at the multinational exercise Elite 2005 (Electronic Warfare Live Training Exercise) respectively from Neuburg and Laupheim airbases in Bavaria, Germany. Elite 2005 is the largest exercise in its class in Europe, involving around one hundred aircraft, sixty of which are jets. The exercise schedule calls for 150 daily sorties from several air forces. The objective of the exercise is to train experienced aircrew and ground personnel to operate under, or supported by, electronic warfare, for which purpose a highly complicated and realistic scenario consisting of electronic threat conditions and an appropriate operating environment has been created.

On the 23rd May 2005, the Belgian Monitor has published a list with all facts & incidents that have to be reported to the Belgian aviation administration. Follow this link to the Monitor: http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi/welcome.pl then search the 2005-05-23 edition.

Despite that it is not yet officially announced, the Bierset airport operator (SAB) would loose another customer (after Polar Air Cargo in October 2004), China Southern Airlines (CSA), at the end of May. This demise is reported to be the consequence of the agreement failure between CSA and TNT Express. This last company is the worlds leading provider of express delivery services and logistics supply chain solutions and has established its European hub at Bierset airport in de mid nineties.

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has signed contracts with SN Brussels Airlines (SNBA) for the sale and leaseback of 23 of the airline's fleet of 26 Avro RJ85/100 jetliners (Three aircraft are leased from FLIT: OO-DWJ, OO-DWK and OO-DWL). The deal will see BAE Systems Regional Aircraft acquire the aircraft in stages over the next five years with long-term leases back to SN Brussels Airlines. The Avro RJ (and six similar BAe 146 aircraft) should remain the backbone of the SN Brussels Airlines regional fleet into the next decade that services an extensive European network linking the Brussels hub with some 46 destinations in 19 countries

On May 20th, the Council of Ministers approved a contract with Airbus for the support of the two Air Component Airbus A-310 transport aircraft covering several years.

Vertigolux, the company in charge of the stabilisation and strengthening works of the - ever crumbling - Rock Bayard at Dinant (link), leased an helicopter for the transport of six tons of anti-rock avalanche fence elements. Such exeptional use of a helicopter in the country was considered as the most effective and cheapest way for transporting these elements on site.

On 18th May, Lockheed Martin has contracted RADA Electronic Industries Ltd. to develop, test and deliver the next version of the F-16 Structural Fatigue Tracking System "PERFORMS". PERFORMS is an engineering analysis tool that provides for monitoring structural integrity and allowing for the optimizing of maintenance schedules of the air forces around the world operating the F-16. PERFORMS works together with Flight Data Recorders installed on the aircraft and is capable of receiving data from a variety of recorders made by RADA and Smiths Aerospace. This will be the fourth version of the product. The PERFORMS program began 4 years ago, with 3 versions successfully delivered. The current version is planned to be delivered to the US Navy, Portuguese Air Force, Belgian Air Component, Israeli Air Force, Greek Air Force, Jordanian Air Force and The Netherlands Air Force.

On May 17th, The twin-engine Piper PA-34-220T Seneca V N4162K (s/n 3449097), owned by the Sabena Airline Training Center (SATC), made a belly landing at its home base, Scottsdale Airport (Arizona- USA) shortly after 2 p.m. local, prompting a two-hour closure. The aircraft skidded off into a dirt area between the runway and east taxiway after making the gear-up landing. Three people aboard were not injured, but fire crews had to foam the aircraft due to a fuel leak. Blustery winds were gusting at about 14 miles per hour at the time of the accident. It's unclear how the mishap happened, but in windy conditions it's not uncommon for student pilots to focus heavily on crosswind landings. Sabena Airline Training Center has been located at Scottsdale Airport since 1989 and specializes in training first officers for major European airlines. Source AZCentral.com.
 Pictures: Here  and  here

Belgium's Transport Minister, M. Renaat Landuyt, said authorities planned to step up inspections of planes belonging to a Turkish airline recently banned from flying in several European countries for safety reasons. The Netherlands suspended Onur Air flights on Thursday 12th May for a month owing to "serious safety deficiencies observed with respect to aircraft, operational procedures and aircraft handling" and France, Germany, and Switzerland followed suit. As a consequence of this ban decision the Turkish airline redirected several of its flights to Belgian airports such as Zaventem and Charleroi. The ban hit the company just at the beginning of the summer season in Turkey, a favourite holiday destinations for millions of tourists from European countries. The Netherlands, Germany and France are also home to sizeable communities of Turkish immigrant workers.

From May 15th until June 10th, Air Component F-16 combat pilots are participating at Maple Flag, a six-week international air combat exercise held annually at 4 Wing CFB Cold Lake (Alberta-Canada). The exercise provides allied aircrew with realistic training in a modern simulated air combat environment, and emphasizes air operations involving large package coalition forces. More than 5,000 military personnel from 11 nations and a NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) contingent participate in Exercise Maple Flag XXXVIII. The Belgian pilots are integrated in the so called "Blue Air" (friendly) Forces. They fight against "Red Air" (opposing, not enemy...) Forces. The pilots from N°2 Wing of Florennes have taken part in the first two weeks of the exercise with their colleagues from N°10 Wing of Kleine Brogel taking over for the second period. The ten F-16AMs fighter involved in this Cross Continental Deployment (FA-67, FA-72, FA-106, FA-107, FA-110, FA-118, FA-120, FA-124, FA-131, FA-135) are due back in Belgium on June 12th after a stop at Bangor and piloted by N°10 Wing crews and with the support of a French C-135FR Stratotanker and Portuguese P-3Cs in SAR stand-by (see news of April 14th).

Withdrawn from use in October 2004 at the end of the gliding season the six remaining Schleicher K8B of the Belgian Air Cadets were put up for sale with an obvious success and have gained new civil IDs. Here below a recap of all the K8B gliders operated by the Air Cadets between 1964 and 2004 (40 years!) and of their current civil registrations. All these vintage aircraft are currently dismantled and stored at Goetsenhoven airbase (HQ and home base of the Belgian Air Cadets) prior delivery to their new owners.

PL-52      Schleicher K 8B  c/n 8345 dd 03/06/64  w/o 04/05/00 Weelde (B) (also crashed on 08/86 at Oostmalle and rebuild with fuselage of D-6273)
PL-53      Schleicher K 8B  c/n 8346  dd 04/06/64  wfu 10/10/04  sold 03-2005 OO-YDP /CofReg n° 5459 issued on 21/03/05
PL-54      Schleicher K 8B  c/n 8366  dd 24/08/64  wfu 10/10/04  sold 03-2005 OO-YTD /CofReg n° 5460 issued on 22/03/05
PL-55      Schleicher K 8B  c/n 8367  dd 27/08/64  wfu 10/10/04  sold 12-2004 OO-YDT /CofReg n° 5449 issued on 19/01/05
PL-56      Schleicher K 8B  c/n 8652  dd 28/10/66  wfu 10/10/04  sold 12-2004 OO-YKV /CofReg n° 5450 issued on 20/01/05
PL-57      Schleicher K 8B  c/n 8653  dd 08/11/66  wfu 10/10/04  sold 22/11/04 OO-YFJ /CofReg n° 5436 issued on 30/11/04
PL-58 (1) Schleicher K 8B  c/n 8654  dd 11/11/66  w/o 13/07/69 Oostmalle (B) wreck sold & repaired OO-ZOM / CofReg n°2444 issued on 02/07/74
PL-58 (2) Schleicher K 8B  c/n 203/61 16/04/86  wfu 10/10/04  sold 22/11/04 OO-YOD /CofReg  n°5437 issued on 26/11/2004 ex: D-5035
Picture link

On 14 May Olympic Airways B737-400 SX-BKC (c/n 25361 picture link on http://www.plane-pics.de operating Flight OAL270 from Athens to London made an emergency landing at Zaventem airport at about 19H00 local after a bomb on board warning. After the landing the plane was followed by fire trucks, police cars and security from BIAC. The plane was taxied away from the airport building to a remote area and its 134 passengers immediately evacuated. The aircraft was then investigated by the dogs of the Federal Police. No bomb was found. Nevertheless most of the Belgian security and defence system were obviously alerted. The Kleine-Brogel QRA F-16AMs were observed taking off at 19h00 and landing at 19h20 as well as the around the clock SAR Sea King of Koksijde airbase.

Robinson R22 OO-RWB (c/n 1868) made a fatal crash at Landen in Flemish Brabant on Friday 13 May at 13h30 local. The helicopter of Rotor & Wing Business nv and its crew of two people (Win Daniëls and Stefan Leemans) had taken off from Hoevenen (Stabroek) heliport for a photo flight. First reports mentioned a probable technical failure at low level over the city of Landen that forced the pilot to make an emergency landing. Unfortunately the helicopter hit a street light and crashed in fire killing its two occupants.

On 13 May the Council of Ministers approved a several years running contract for the furniture of spare parts and associated services for the intermediate maintenance level of the eleven C-130H Hercules of the 15 Wing Tactical Transport Flight. These transport aircraft should remain in service until 2017-2020 when they will be replaced by a batch of seven Airbus A400M’s.

On 13 May the Council of Ministers approved a several years running contract for the support, the maintenance as the furniture of spare parts and tools for the 80 Squadron B-Hunter UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). Victim of Defence cuts the 80 Squadron UAV is reported operating the B-Hunters since about three years now with its initial spare parts stock. The 80 Squadron B-Hunter UAV’s should deploy very soon to Tuzla air base in the framework of Operation Althea under control of the European peace force (Eufor) in Bosnia Herzegovina (see news of 14 March).

On 12th May, the Walloon government has started suing Ryanair in the Irish courts for the return of € 2.3 million – a part of the € 15 million which it gave to the Irish budget airline to woo it to Charleroi Airport. A subsidy judged "illegal" by the European Commission in February 2004 as giving Ryanair an unfair advantage over other airlines. The Walloons authorities were therefore ordered by the Commission to take steps to seek the return of the money. But so far the Irish airline has refused to pay a cent of the millions back and threat stopping all its air operations from the Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA).

On 8 April 2005 the Belgian Air Cadets have accepted yet another second hand glider; Grob G.102 Astir CS Jeans PL-76 (c/n 2051). The aircraft was bought at Venlo in Holland and was previously registered PH-592. At the same time we were informed that Grob G 102 Standard Astir III PL-72 and Centrair C 101A Pégase PL-73 were sold on 8 May 2005.

On May 10th, 2005, VLM Airlines said goodbye to a legend of the Belgian aviation world. Yvonne Cunha was welcomed in Deurne-Antwerp by friends and colleagues upon landing of her last flight from London City Airport. In a ground breaking career, Yvonne Cunha has enjoyed many firsts. Before receiving her training license from the Aviation Authorities 40 years ago, Yvonne - born in Antwerp in March 1945 - was already a flying fanatic: she started gliding at the age of 16. In 1974 she became First Officer at Trans European Airways (TEA) before becoming the first female pilot to fly a Boeing 707 full of tourists to Rimini, Italy. Three years later Yvonne was promoted to captain on a Boeing 737. In 1985 she became one of the first female captains on an Airbus 300 after which she took on various high level roles at different airlines. In 2001 she joined VLM Airlines as captain, instructor, examiner and training manager.

On 10 May in the afternoon, a Koksijde based 40 Squadron SAR Sea Kings helicopter made two off shore medical evacuations. The first one concerned an injured sailor of the ship Triton. As soon as back to its home base the SAR Sea King scrambled again, this time to evacuate a sailor of the fishing ship Z 582 suffering a heart stroke.

Friday night chaplain Herman Boon died of a cardiac arrest in the chapel at the airport. In a few days he would have celebrated his 75th birthday. Herman Boon was the youngest son of the late Jan Boon, the former administrator-general of the Flemish television company VRT. Herman was ordained a priest in 1957 and devoted the past 17 years of his life to his work as airport chaplain for the airport staff, the passengers and the many other visitors of the airport. (source BIAC)

The 31 Squadron delegation to the Tiger Meet 2005 at Balikesir airbase (Turkey) came back home with the Best Flying Trophy. This award is the second most important one of the NATO Tiger Association after the famous Silver Tiger Trophy. This year the Silver Tiger Trophy went to 230 Sqn that came all the way from Aldergrove (North-Ireland) with their Puma Helicopters. Last year the 31 Sqn won the Silver Tiger Trophy (for the seventh time!) as well as the Best Flying Trophy (see news of 19th April 2005 and 8th September 2004).

The Belgian Airline BelgiumExel has been declared bankrupt after accumulating debts in the wake of the financial problems of its Dutch mother company Exel Aviation Group. Forty-eight people employed by BelgiumExel loose their jobs, some of them having to experience already a fourth bankruptcy after that of Sabena, VG Airlines and Sobelair.    

The 15th Antwerp Stampe Fly In was hampered by a rather cloudy and windy weather. Furthermore the amount of participants wasn't that large as previous edition but Duxford based Spitfire F.14.e RN201 (G-BSKP ex SG-31 of Belgian Air Force - see news of 7th February) as well as Spitfire Tr.9 PV202 (G-CCCA) made the visit to Deurne airport worthwhile. This latter newly restored rare two seat Spitfire is painted in distinctive green Irish Air Corps markings (161) and has a its original blister rear cockpit canopy. For a complete photographic and serial report on this refreshing Belgian air event, let's have a look at the Aviation Society of Antwerp dedicated webpage.

According to one of the co-owners of ex-Belgian Air Force Lockheed F-104G Starfighter FX-52, this historical aircraft will be restored in its original 1978 Tiger Meet colours before the end of August 2005. The restoration in progress can be seen during the Open Day at Niederrhein (Weeze) Airport (20-21-22/05/05).  One restoration completed, the most beautiful Tiger aircraft ever will be rolled out in style. See also our “News” item of 04/03/2005 and the Niederheinn Aviation Society special FX-52 page.

As a first result of the Franco-German Defence and Security Council declaration of 26 April 2005 two German student pilots have officially joined the mutual Franco-Belgian fighter pilot training course. These new arrivals fit in the French programme to train European fighter pilots for which the Belgian were to first to join. Since their arrival at “Base Aérienne 120  Commandant Marzac” at Cazaux, already three Belgian fighter pilots have graduated and are now following an F-16 conversion course at Kleine Brogel airbase in Belgium. These Belgian and German pilots are only the first of a new breed of European trained fighter jockeys as Spain and Greece are awaiting their turn to join this European training programme.  Link to more on this subject on the Armée de l’Air site.

Following the announcement that one of its competitors will quit flying between Brussels and Athens, Virgin Express announces that the Belgian low cost carrier will operate extra flights on Mondays and Saturdays during the Summer of 2005. Paul Sies, Commercial Director of Virgin Express, said: “At present we are flying to the Greek capital once a day and twice daily on Fridays and Sundays. Given the fact that HellasJet will cease its activities and that a new balance between offer and demand must be found, Virgin Express will increase the number of flight rotations from mid-June until mid- September 2005 and will put 11.000 extra seats in the market.“

The pilot of a Delta-plane glider was killed instantly when for an unknown reason he crashed into some trees between Rochehaut and Frahan in the Belgian Ardennes. An ambulance from nearby Bouillon rushed to the scene of the accident but could not reanimate the unfortunate pilot.

Virgin Express Boeing 737 OO-VEN (c/n 28586/3090) (click here for picture) hit a Ground Power Unit (GPU) at Valencia Airport. Damage to the nose prevented the plane to return the same day and the 80 passengers received a free evening lunch and free hotel accomodation in the Ibis-hotel. Virgin’s sistership OO-VES returned the passengers to Belgium the next morning.

The Airbus A380 is on of the most important programmes ever for the Belgian aerospace industry. It is generally estimated that up to 4% of the aircraft’s structure consists of elements made and/or assembled in Belgium.
Sonaca has designed and is producing the slats and the upper part of the nose of the aircraft, Sabca makes the «Centre Rear Lower Shell» of the floor, Hexcel Composites manufactures honeycomb sandwich panels for the doors of the landing gears which are delivered to Socata (a subcontractor for Airbus), Dumoulin Herstal makes titanium and aluminium linking elements for the wings, Asco parts of the landing gear. With regard to engines, Belgium is also heavily involved with Techspace Aero making the entry fans and the low pressure compressor of the GP 7200, one of the two possible engines (from General Electric/Pratt & Whitney, the other being the Rolls-Royce Trent 900). Barco has a 30 million € contract together with Sagem of France for some major elements of the cockpit (monitors and software to control and manage the aircraft). Altogether, over a period of 20 years, the A380 create jobs for some 500 technicians in the Belairbus consortium which regroups Sonaca, Asco and Eurair.  (Source www.luchtzak.be)

The Belgian Ministry of Defence has started a tender procedure to acquire a Helium balloon to serve as platform for parachute training to replace the actual system used at Schaffen-Diest airfield by the TrgC Para of the Land Component.

Lockheed Martin started delivery of the newest software standard  M3+ upgrade for the Modular Mission Computer (MMC) of the 350 F-16AM/BM (MLU) fighters of Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Portugal as well as a number of U.S. Air Force Fighting Falcons. The software provides common capability with the following new systems: Link 16 data link, Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System and AIM-9X. Additional capabilities unique to the four European Participating Air Forces (EPAF) will include a reconnaissance pod system, a missile approach warning system, electronic warfare management system updates, the IRIS-T and the family of smart weapons (Joint Direct Attack Munition, Joint Stand-Off Weapon, Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser).

The Wing Heli A109BA Hirundo detachment at Tuzla Eagle base in Bosnia (see news 9th January 2005) participate Spring Clean mission or the air control of the Bosnian-Serbian border. Main target: (wartime) smuggling, illegal logging and wood traffic.

On visit in Afghanistan the German Minister of Defence, M. Peter Struck, was transported by an Air Component C-130H Hercules to Termez in Uzbekistan. The Belgian Hercules was requested after Mister Struck own plane - a German Luftwaffe twin-engined C-160D Transall - had to be grounded for safety reasons because of bad weather conditions. An Air Component Hercules is permanently deployed at Kabul since 15th August 2004 in the framework of a Belgian-Portuguese transport detachment allocated to the International Security Assistance Force (see news of 9th February 2005).

The Oostende-Brugge airport has received a new environmental licence - valid until 2025 - from the Flemish regional minister Kris Peeters responsible for environment, public works and regional airports. Despite some noise limitations, imposed in accordance with the EU rules, this new licence allows new airport traffic and economical development.

On Saturday 25th April the operator of Liège Airport, SAB, has inaugurated a new passenger terminal. This state of the art 15.500 square meters translucent quadrilateral building has cost € 26 millions. The terminal has a capacity of one million passengers and hosts many services. Four boarding areas will enable four planes to be handled simultaneously. Other planned investments consist in a longer runway and additional aircraft parking - able to welcome the new giant Airbus A380 -, but also a connection to the High Speed Train network.

A total of four Air Component C-130H Hercules and some F-16s supported an important Land Component Immediate Reaction Cell (IRC) exercise between 25th and 29th April. This exercise included the dropping of paratroopers over Hubermont in the Ardennes with alternative dropping zones at Saint Hubert reserve airfield and Schaffen, near Diest in Limburg. For their part the Air Component F-16s were involved in a paratroops air support scenario.

The last opus of the Belgian Civil Aviation Research Group (BCARG) - a sub division of the famous Aviation Society of Antwerp (link http://www.a-s-a.be/) - is available. After a (too) brief introduction to the operational story of the Sabena helicopters, this very interesting monography presents a complete record of the various helicopter types that saw service with the bankrupted national airline.  To order this monography, take a look at the "ASA Publications" page.

Aviation author, John Pacco has announced his newest title "De Vliegtuigen van Sabena/Les Avions de la Sabena", which makes an in depth study of all aircraft having served between 1923 and 2001 with the Belgian national airline. The book contains unique photographic material and detailed information on airliners from the Handley Pages and Fokker F.VII/3m's up to 747's and Airbuses without forgetting the smaller types of aircraft in service with Sabena.

What once upon a time was known as the “Sabena House” at Zaventem has been taken over by the fast growing charter company TUI Airlines Belgium. One of the last visible Sabena trademarks will soon change name as TUI Airlines Belgium prepares to move its flight operations to the properly renamed “TUI House” on 20th May 2005. The renovated building will offer facilities and comfort for TUI employees and serve as a symbol for most passengers accessing the airport by motorway. TUI Airlines Belgium will operate a fleet of ten aircraft for the summer season: one Boeing 767 (OO-TUC), five Boeing 737 (OO-TUA, OO-TUB, OO-TUI, OO-VAC, OO-VAS), one Fokker 100 (OO-TUF) and is waiting the arrival of three more Boeing 737.

Barco has won a follow-on contract from Sagem, for the delivery of an advanced Onboard Maintenance Terminals (OMT) and Terminal Processing Units (TPU) to be used on board the future Airbus A380 airliner. With this contract, Barco and Sagem reinforce their cooperation in the Airbus market. The deal holds a potential business volume of 30 million Euros over the lifetime of the A380 program. Last year, Barco also won the contract for the development of the aircraft¹s Onboard Information Terminals (OIT). Each A380 will contain two TPUs, two OITs and one OMT. These will be an important part of the aircraft¹s larger Network Server System (NSS), which is being developed by Sagem.

Kleine Brogel based 31 Squadron, current (co-)holder of the famous "Silver tiger Award" (see news of 8th September 2004), is actively preparing its participation to NATO Tiger Meet 2005 (NTM 2005) to be hosted by 192 Filo at Balikesir airbase in Turkey between 29 April and the 9th of May. In accordance with the NATO Tiger association strong traditions, the 31 Sqn has selected and decorated a new flagship. This year’s Belgian Fighting Falcon Tiger - the tenth one! (BAHA link) - is Lockheed F-16AM FA-94. This could be considered as a come-back of an old Tiger as this aircraft has already been properly “tigered” in 1991 for the Squadron’s 40th birthday (Picture Link). The newly "tigered" FA-94 made its maiden flight in 27 April at 15h30 local together with its predecessor of 2004 FA-87. A true "Tiger Patrol". Click here for pictures.

Eight members of the USAFE 701st Munitions Support Squadron (MUNSS) based at Kleine Brogel were put at honour by their controlling unit, the 52nd Fighter Wing of Spangdahlem airbase in Germany. These soldiers maintain, control and guard the US war reserve munitions - in fact the never officially mentioned nuclear free fall B-61 bombs - storage of Kleine Brogel, the 31 "Tiger" Squadron being the single Air Component unit specially dedicated to the nuclear strike role. More details on these Saber Awards can be found in the 8th April issue of the 52nd FW newspaper, the Eifel Times Link: http://www.spangdahlem.af.mil/Times/default.asp. See also news of 12th January and 9th February 2005.

The 80 Squadron UAV Open door at Elsenborn (Belgium) on 30 April 2005 has been cancelled due to eminent operational deployment of this unit to Tuzla Eagle base in the framework of the European peace force (Eufor) in Bosnia Herzegovina (see news of 14 March).

The Brussels Air Museum Magazine (BAMM) has a brand new photo website. The aim of this site is to publish on the Net the pictures published in the Brussels Air Museum Magazine completed with those for which there was no  space available in the paper print magazine. Link: http://bamm.fotopic.net/

The Air and Land Components will conduct low level flying exercices over the Provinces of Luxembourg and Namur code named Poppy Red 03 between 18th and 22nd April. The purpose of Poppys' type of exercises is to train Air Component's F-16 pilots and Land Component's Forward Air Controllers (FAC) in working together (BAHA Link). All the Poppy Red 03 targets are located in two dedicated Low Level Flying Areas (LLFA) near Rochefort and Beauraing. A total of twelve such exercises are programmed in 2005. More details in NL and in FR.

On 16 and 17 April, Heli promotions (link: http://www.helipromotions.be/home.html), has organized an open door at its heliport at Diksmuide with maiden flights and helicopter introduction flying courses. The following hardware was on show, Robinson R-22: OO-OEL & OO-STL; Robinson R-44: OO-HNE & N72SL; Bell 206B JetRanger III: OO-DDF. Click here for pictures on Tom Houquet's airliners.be photo album.

Oostende-Brugge regional airport and the Irish budget-airline Ryanair have concluded a preliminary agreement about a daily flight between Oostende and Barcelona-Girona in Spain. The deal will very soon be submitted to the boards of both companies. Ryanair will make a decision in mid-May. In case of a go-ahead flights could start in October at the earliest. Ryanair operated briefly Oostende-Stansted flights (between May 2003 and January 2004) before concentrating its efforts at Charleroi - Brussels South airport.

On April 15th, the Council of Ministers authorized the Ministry of Defence to purchase at total of 75.000 cubic meters of F35 jet engine fuel. This order should cover the Air Component 2005 flying programme as well as the refuelling of third party visiting aircraft, like those of the NATO partners.

On April 15th, N°2 Wing of Florennes has organized a post-crash management exercise. The scenario was a C-130 Hercules crash with 30 passengers on board. The exercise involved several local emergency services (fire brigades, police etc) and authorities as well as the Emergency Department of the nearby Mont-Godinne University Hospital (Namur).

Ten F-16s of N°2 Wing left Florennes airbase on 14 April bound for North America supported by USAF tankers for their yearly Cross Continental Deployment (CCD) exercise. First destination - after a night stop at Bangor Airport (Maine/USA) - is NAS El Centro in Southern California where pilots will practice live ammunition drops - over the huge Yuma (Arizona/USA) firing range - using targeting pods and night flying with Night Vision Goggles (NVG). The allocated training period will be split between N°2 Wing (16 > 29/04) and N°10 Wing (2 > 12/05) pilots. The second part of this transatlantic deployment will see the redeployment of the Belgian F-16s to CFB Cold Lake in Alberta/Canada (16/05 > ­10/06) for exercise Maple Flag 2005. Once again the pilots from N°2 Wing will take part in the first two weeks of the exercise with their colleagues from N°10 Wing taking over for the second period. The aircraft are due back in Belgium on 12 June once again after a stop at Bangor but piloted by N°10 Wing crews and with the support of a French C-135FR Stratotanker and Portuguese P-3Cs in SAR stand-by.

On April 14th, tour operator company Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium (TCAB) has transferred its Airbus A320-214 registered OO-TCH "Experience" (c/n 1929) (Pic Link) to Condor Gmbh as D-AICM. This aircraft has been replaced last March by the older but most probably less expensive to lease Airbus A320-212 OO-TCL "Discover" c/n 436 (see news of 11th March 2005) (Pic Link). For its part budget airline Virgin Express has decided to part with one of its 11 airliners, Boeing 737-300 OO-LTU (c/n27455) (Pic Link) as a direct consequence of its recent teaming up with SN Brussels Airlines, This aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to BMI British Midland - BMI Baby later this month. Its new registration will be G-TOYE.

On 12th April 2005 the awaited tie up between Belgium's SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express has finally entered into force. Full-service carrier SN Brussels Airlines - born out of the 2001 collapse of Sabena - agreed last year with Virgin Express - Richard Branson's budget Belgian airline - to combine their operations in a joint holding company, SN Airholding. There will be no change of brand names or business strategies, both airlines will continue to operate separately but the closer ties between the companies will lead to a rationalisation of flight routes. It aims to be a flexible "full service" operation linking Brussels to Europe, Africa and America (sharing business with American Airlines). The combined fleet, will consist of 48 aircraft: (SNBA: 3 Airbus 330-300, 3 Airbus 319, 32 Avro RJ – Virgin Express: 10 Boeing 737-300/ -400) carrying more than 5 million passengers from its home base; Brussels’ Zaventem airport., Challenges ahead will include taking on low-cost rival Ryanair (which flies out of Charleroi airport) and developing a management regime to implement the new structure and keeping "social harmony" between staff at the two airlines that will have different pay and conditions.

On  12th April, Air Division General Pierre Niclot, Commander of the French Armée de l'Air Training Command, welcomed at BA702 of Avord the first six Belgian military pilots to join the École d'Aviation de Transport 319 (EAT 319) (More here.) In accordance to the French-Belgian pilot training agreement of April 2004, the future Air Component's transport pilots will be trained in France (See also news of 7 March 2005).

Thales was awarded the overall contract by the Belgian Defence to equip its fleet of eleven C-130H Hercules transport aircraft with a self-protection suite against air-to-air as ground-to-air missiles. The contract was signed on 11th April 2005 at Paris. Thales acts as prime contractor and leads a European team made up of the Danish company Terma, the Portuguese aircraft integrator OGMA, and the Belgian display specialist Barco. The future Belgian Hercules fully integrated self-protection system includes: the RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) CATS-100 (Compact Airborne Threat Surveyor) by Thales, the ACMDS (Advanced Counter-Measures Dispensing System) and the EWMS (Electronic Warfare Management System) by TERMA. It also integrates the IR-MWS (Infra-Red Missile Warning System) already fitted on-board. BARCO provides the Situational Awareness display. The aircraft modifications will be performed by OGMA. The system is fully user-programmable through a Mission Support Station (MSS) that also provides the capability for mission “replay”. The self-protection system developed by Thales includes a new function dedicated to embed training of the crew for electronic warfare (EW) missions. The Belgian Defence is already equipped with Terma AN/ALQ-213 and ACMDS dispenser system resulting in a maintenance and logistic advantage. This programme, due to last four years, has a reported price of € 22,434 millions.

Macquarie Airport (MAp), the new Australian owner of BIAC, the Zaventem airport operator, has announced yearly maintenance, infrastructure and business investments up to € 50 millions in the purpose to attract new airlines like China airlines. The first axis of this strategy will be the development of a more attractive duty free area.

The Volcanex series of interoperability trials and training events are key European Air Group (EAG) activities (EAG Link). VOLCANEX 2005 will be a series of events to prepare for the VOLCANEX 2006. VOLCANEX 2005/CSAR exercise, scheduled at Florennes airbase between 08 and 15 September, will be Force Integration Training of the core elements of a Multinational CSAR Task Force in a low-to-medium threat environment. These core elements consist of Rescue Vehicles (helicopters!), Extraction Forces, Attached RESCORT, Detached RESCORT and pilots in the role of Survivor. National Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) instructors will support the event through all phases. Link to BAHA special report on Volcanex 2003.

No less than six RAF BAe Hawk T.1 training aircraft and twelve pilots arrived on 8 April at Beauvechain air base for a week-end stop. Local spotters identified the aircraft as being XX174, XX181, XX245, XX261 & XX310 of 208 (R) Squadron from RAF Valley as well as, XX299/CH of 100 Sqn coming from RAF Leeming (picture link).

A Flight Precision Ltd. (FPL) team and its specially equipped Beech Super King Air 200 G-FPLA (c/n BB-0944) (picture link) deployed to Belgium between April 4^th and 8th in the framework of a Air Traffic Control (ATC) surveillance radars performance calibration programme for the Belgian Defence. Flight Precision Limited is a joint venture company formed in 1993. It is owned by FR Aviation Group Ltd, owning 51% of the shares, and Aerodata AG. Its purpose is to carryout the calibration of airfield and en-route navigation aids. FPL provides a comprehensive range of flight checking and calibration of radio and radar navigation aid services and run, from Teesside airport (UK), three Beech King Air 200 aircraft (G-FPLA, G-FPLB, G-FPLD) and a Cessna 441 Conquest 2 (G-FPLC). These aircraft are equipped with a highly integrated and fully digital flight inspection system which derives its technical efficiency from advanced methods in real-time data processing and precision satellite navigation (link: http://www.flightprecision.co.uk/).

The start of the traditional Easter gliding camps offered the opportunity to discover the latest addition to the Belgian Air Cadets fleet: the Grob G 103A Twin Astir II serial: PL-93 "Schoolmester" (c/n 3636-K-17). Build in 1981 this second hand training glider was purchased at Cobourg in Germany on 7 March 2005. (Picture) The Belgian Air Cadets currently operates a fleet of ten Grob Twin Astirs of subtypes I, II and II Acro (See the Air Cadets Fleet).  Furthermore the former Belgian Air Cadets Schleicher ASK21, PL-40 (Picture), sold to the Gilze Rijen Illustrious gliding club on last February has received the Dutch civil registration: PH-1337 (see news of 11th February 2005).

In the framework of the Flanders and Brussels' “Erfgoeddag” (Heritage Day), the BAHA Archaeology Team (BAHAAT) will participate on Sunday, 17 April at an exposition in the Aalst communal museum "Oud Hospitaal". Some artefacts, related to the air war and air raids over our regions will be moved from the BAHA Collection to this event (for more info here and  here. However, the BAHA Collection Erembodegem will be open for the public as well (Erembodegem-Dorp 80, behind the shop "De Maalsteen", see also here. Also worth of note is that the BAHAAT's ever growing collection will soon move to the Leuvestraat 4B (nearby the river Dender as well) at Erembodegem, were BAHAAT has started the project "Broken Wings – Museum for aviation history". The new museum location should open on 19th June.  On Sunday, April 24th, a memorial plaque will be unveiled at Haasdonk (community of Beveren, Oude Heirbaan) in memory of the crew of the Halifax LW622, lost exactly 61 years ago on that date. For more info contact : ludovanhout@tiscali.be

We are happy to announce the birth of the Belgian Aviation Heritage Library (BAHL) website. Established by a group of friends active in many aviation groups (BAHA, BAMF, BAMRS, Fonds National Alfred Renard) the purpose of the BAHL is collecting describing, preserving - by digitalization - and presenting to historians as well as individuals, original pictures and documents dealing with aviation history in Belgium. Library Link.

The well known Brussels captive balloon at the North station is a private venture. Two friends, Eric Derwael and François-Xavier Remion, had the idea to bring a specimen of world's biggest balloon, the "Aerophile", to Brussels. Together they founded Aerobrussels, the firm that started up the project, and that manages this Brussels' attraction since 2003. Aerobrussels has found in Belgacom Group (the leading telecommunications company in Belgium) a sponsor for this project. The Balloon is operated over the commune of Schaarbeek/Schaerbeek, from the "Espace Gaucheret Ruimte", at the end of the Bvd Roi/Koning Albert II Laan, and will stay there at least until December 2006. Depending on the weather, Brussels' residents and tourists can admire Europe’s capital from the sky. More information via this link.

To secure the Belgian coastal waters aerial monitoring programme of the Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM), the Minister in charge of the Science Policy, M. Mark Verwilghen, has decided a one month test leasing of two civil aircraft while awaiting a final agreement between the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) and the MoD about the take-over of the former Air Component's Fairey Britten-Norman BN.2A-21 Islanders (see news of 20th February 2005). The last operational and specially equipped Islander (B-02/OT-ALB c/n G468) was withdrawn from use last 31st March 2005. The first leasing agreement was concluded with Eureka Aviation at Zaventem, operating the Short SC.7 Skyvan 3-100 registered G-BEOL (c/n SH.1954). Some MUMM surveillance equipments will very soon equip this aircraft. Photo link. The second company involved is Atlantic Reconnaissance Ltd. of Coventry (UK). Atlantic Reconnaissance (AR) is the company within the famous Atlantic group that operates the aerial work aircraft. The company flies such diverse roles as, remote sensing, geophysics, pollution monitoring, aerial photography and oil spill response including dispersant spraying, offshore surveillance for EEZ protection of fisheries and customs. One of its Cessna 402 will be committed for the Belgian needs. Together these two aircraft will insure a presence of 20 hours on sea during the month of April. In the course of April a final decisions should be taken for the continuation of the programme.  One of its Cessna 404 Titan II registered G-TASK (c/n 404-0829) - photo link - will be committed for the Belgian needs. Together these two aircraft will insure a presence of 20 hours on sea during the month of April. In the course of April a final decisions should be taken for the continuation of the programme.

The MoD has announced it will sign a contract with the British balloons and blimps manufacturer Advanced Inflatable Products Ltd. (link: http://www.advanced-inflatables.com/) for the supply of a captive helium balloon for parachutist training. Such balloons are used by the Belgian military Parachuting School of Schaffen.  The balloon system provides a more reliable, much safer and cheaper method of preliminary parachute training compared to using large transport aircraft.