AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*FEDEX and Boeing are currently looking at the possibility of developing a new freighter based on the 767-400ER. The all cargo carrier is in the midst of plans to replace its ageing DC10 airliners. No timetable for a decision has been announced.

*The planned Fujairah-based carrier AL HAJJAR AIR is close to finalizing investment of about $3.5m in a bid to launch operations in the 1st quarter of 2012. Al Hajjar Aviation, the company behind the Airline, is in talks for financing options to raise $3.5m to fund the leasing of its 1st aircraft. The carrier plans to offer low-cost tickets but with full flight services onboard and will transport passengers between emirates in the UAE. Al Hajjar will initially lease a Jetstream 41 aircraft from BAE Systems, which can carry up to 29 passengers. “We are going to launch the first domestic service within the UAE that is not targeted at the tourist market like the seaplane operation,” the head of the carrier said, adding that Al Hajjar Air would effectively seek to “feed off one of the main carriers serving the capital". The Airline plans to launch 2 routes in 2012, a 2x daily service to Abu Dhabi and a daily service to Bahrain, before expanding to Doha, Muscat, Kuwait and the Indian subcontinent.

*ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES will receive its 1st Boeing 777 in January 2012. After short training flights are completed within the country, the 777 will be deployed on the Addis Ababa to Guangzhou, China.

*MALEV Flight 400, a Boeing 737, had to make an emergency return to Budapest, Hungary, due to unspecified problems with its instruments, most notably the altimeter, yesterday, June 11. The 737 landed safely back in Budapest, about 45 minutes after its initial departure. It was then removed from service for inspection and repairs and a replacement aircraft was dispatched to continue the flight to Rome, Italy.

*An ASTRAEUS Boeing 757, on Charter Service from RAF Brize Norton, England, to Akrotiri, Cyprus, had to make an emergency diversion to Athens, Greece, yesterday, June 11. According to initial reports, the 757 diverted due to a possible fuel leak. Once on the ground, an inspection on the taxiway found the No.1 engine leaking fuel. Passengers were then evacuated from the airliner, which was then towed to a nearby hanger for a full inspection and repairs.

*PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES Flight 795, a Boeing 777, had to make an emergency medical diversion to Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday, June 11, after a male passenger suffered what is believed to be a heart attack. After 2 hours on the ground, the 777 departed on its route from Karachi, Pakistan, to Barcelona, Spain.

*TULPAR AIR Flight 430, a Yak 42 on service for SKY EXPRESS, burst all 4 main gear tires upon landing at Moscow Vnukovo Airport, yesterday, June 11. According to reports, the tires burst as the gears locked up during the roll out. The crew was able to control the Yak and keep it on the runway. The runway was closed for about 90 minutes so the tires could be replaced and the aircraft towed off the runway. The Yak is currently undergoing inspection.

*ROSSIYA Flight 721, an A319, overran the runway upon landing in Rostov, Russia, yesterday, June 11. The Airbus, which had arrived from Saint Petersburg, came to a stop on soft ground. The passengers and crew members were then evacuted from the aircraft, with the assist of responding Emergency Services. The Airbus had to be towed out of the ground and to a nearby hanger, where it is undergoing a damage assessment. Russian aviation officials have opened an investigation.