SHARM EL-SHEIKH - The international airshow AVEX 2010, held in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh on November 7-10, proved to be a milestone in the history of the Egyptian civil aviation industry. Over its four days, the airshow saw sealing a set of landmark transactions as part of a comprehensive development strategy adopted by Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation. During the airshow, a 350 million dollar deal was cut between EgyptAir Company for Maintenance and Technical Works and Rolls- Royce. According to Abdel Aziz Fadel, the Chairman of EgyptAir Company for Maintenance and Technical works, this important deal will allow long-term total care services for the twelve A330 Airbuses owned by the national carrier EgyptAir, which presently operates eight such aircraft while the four others are due to be delivered this year and in 2011. He said that Trint 700 Engines had proved to be effective in operating A330 planes in terms of economy and environmental preservation, as they are marked by adaptability when they are operated in hot weather. Eng. Fadel described this type of engines as the only one designed for A330 Airbuses, and has been selected by eight other airlines in the Middle East, thus accounting for 75 per cent of orders around the world over the past three years. Meanwhile, Smart, an affiliate of the Egyptian Ministry of Aviation, was the focus of several activities during AVEX 2010. Eng. Wael el-Madawi, the Board Chairman and Managing Director of the company, signed a 44 million dollar deal with Bombardier Aerospace Bombardier Aerospace to purchase two Q400 Next Gen planes, in addition to an order of three extra aircraft of the same type. Eng. El-Madawi explained that the contracted planes are ideal aircraft for short-distance flights, in addition to being flexible and environmentfriendly with accommodation of 70 to 80 seats. Moreover, they are economical in terms of fuel use and will be used for regular services. Eng. El-Madawi added that a partnership contract had been initiated with the Egyptian Company for Electricity Transfer and a Portguese company in co-operation with the Holding Electricity Company in Egypt to purchase three helicopters to be used in cleaning up and maintaining high-voltage pylons. A signing ceremony for the final agreement will be attended by Minister of Civil Aviation Ahmed Shafiq and Minister of Electricity Hassan Younes. To boost the flexible operation of express transport planes, Smart Company has leased two Cessna Citation Mustangs, each carries four passengers from the Egyptian Academy for Aviation Sciences to be used in domestic flights. In addition, an agreement was signed with Cessna Company to set up an authorised maintenance centre for the maintenance of Cessna aircraft operating in Egypt, the Middle East and North Africa. During AVEX 2010, the Board Chairman of EgyptAir Company for Ground Services Abdel Hamid Eid highlighted the comprehensive company being experienced by the company, which is endeavouring to apply the resources management system in co-operation with the German Corporation Inform by the automation of the resources and machinery department of the company and re-organising it in line with the needs of actual operation for optimal utilisation of manpower and machinery. He said that the company achieved during the fiscal year 2009/2010 an increase in services offered to foreign clients and EgyptAir. Explaining, Eid added that the company has provided ground services to over 133,900 flights and has been contracted to provide such services to 18 new airlines during this year, thereby increasing the total number of carriers to which it offers ground services to more than 220 companies.
