► LIBYA: Air Libya, Chapman Freeborn sign deal for placement, operation of an An-26F in Libya.

Chapman Freeborn Airchartering has announced the formation of an exclusive partnership with Air Libya (7Q) to place and operationally manage an Antonov An-26 transport in Libya. The freighter will be based out of Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport (MJI) on a long-term lease agreement with immediate effect.

► SOMALIA: Jubba Airways begins wetlease of an An30F from Congo's Aéro-Frêt Business.

Somalia's Jubba Airways (6J) has reportedly wet-leased an Antonov An-30 freighter, TN-AHP, from Congolese cargo specialists, Aéro-Frêt Business, based out of Pointe Noire, for use on its domestic Somali passenger flights. 

► SOMALIA: An26 overruns runway on landing at Guri'el airstrip, impacts rock; one injured.

A Ukrainian Antonov An-26 (MCN 57314101 | EK-26818) operated by South Airlines overran the runway on touchdown at Guri'el airstrip in Somalia's central Galgadud region on Sunday, August 25, injuring one crew member. The flight, inbound from Mogadishu Aden Adde International Airport, was reportedly carrying the region's newly appointed governor, Husein Ali Wahliye, on a trip to visit Dhusamareb, Guri'el and Abudwaq.

►► SOMALIA: Ethiopian Air Force Antonov AN12 crashes on landing in Mogadishu; 4 dead.

[UPDATE AUGUST 15] On Friday, August 9, an Ethiopian Air Force Antonov AN-12 military transport (MCN ? | 1513) crashed on landing at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport killing four of the six persons aboard. The other two are said to have sustained serious injuries and are recovering at a Mogadishu hospital run by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), a regional peacekeeping force.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): Air Kasaï due to take delivery of first ATR 72.

Kinshasa-based Air Kasaï is planning to take delivery of its first, and the Democratic Republic of Congo's first, ATR72 (MSN 408 | 9Q-?) according to Skyliner.de. The delivery will mark the relaunch of the airline into the local and regional market.

► SOUTH AFRICA: (Pics) Antonov An-2 biplane completes epic 20'000km journey from Russia to South Africa.

An Antonov An-2 christened Anushka (Little Annie in Russian) (MCN 1G226-49 | RA-33390) has completed its 20'000km journey from northern Russia to South Africa, where it is to be used to carry out charitable work supporting humanitarian causes in southern Africa. Donated by Russian airline UTair (UT) with South Africa's ExecuJet set to provide the necessary support and maintenance, Anushka, a former cargo hauler, will now operate out of Lanseria Airport, Johannesburg under the "Just Love" banner.

► SUDAN: Sudanese Government in talks with Antonov over purchase of An148s/158s for Sudan Airways.

Sudan’s Transport Minister, Ahmed Babiker Nahar has signed a preliminary deal with Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer, Antonov, for the purchase of  five Antonov aircraft for onward placement in Sudan Airways (SD). The move was precipitated by Sudan Airways' inability to access Western aircraft owing to US trade sanctions against Khartoum.

► CHAD: Congolese government provides Chad with Il76 to aide with deployment of 2'000 troops to Mali.

The Congolese government has made ​​available its Ilyushin Il76 (MSN 1033415504 | TN-AFS) transport to the Chadian government following the latter's decision to deploy 2000 troops to join the growing international operation (Mission Internationale de soutien au Mali - MISMA) against Islamist insurgents in northern Mali.

► SUDAN: Azza Air Transport AN-12 crashes near Khartoum, 15 dead.

An Azza Air Transport (AZZ) Antonov AN-12BP (*confirmed MSN 402010 | ST-ASA) operating a flight for the Sudanese military, has crashed 40 kilometers west of Omdurman, as it was climbing out of Khartoum International Airport en-route to El Fasher, capital of North Darfur.

►► SUDAN: Numerous Sudanese government officials killed as Alfa Air Antonov 26 crash claims 32 lives.

What should have been a day of celebration to mark the end of Ramadan instead turned into a day of national mourning as an Alfa Air Sudan Antonov 26 (MSN: 47302606 | ST-ARL) crashed into a slope in the Nuba mountains south of Talodi, at about 08h00 local time, en route from Khartoum to Talodi, South Kordofan State, killing all 32 (26 passengers and 6 crew) passengers on board.

Alfa Air Sudan An26 (ST-ARL) (UR-SDV)

The Aviation Herald reports that: 

"Local Television reported the aircraft went around on its first attempt to land in Talodi due to weather but did not manage to climb above the terrain during the go-around. Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority reported at the time of the crash, visibility was substantially reduced due to a dust and dirt storm in the area. "

Source [The Aviation Herald]

The Antonov was chartered to take the various officials to Talodi to "congratulate the town's citizens on Eid Al-Fitr."

Wreckage from the An26 "ST-ARL" (Al Shorouk)

Amongst the dead are:

1. Engineer Ghazi Al-Saddiq - the federal Minister of Guidance and Endowments.
2. Mahjoub Abdul-Rahim Tutu - the State Minister at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. 
3. Eissa Daifalla - the State Minister at the Ministry of Tourism, Antiquities and Wildlife. 
4. Ali Al-Jailani - the Minister of Education of Khartoum State. 
5. Mekki Ali Balayel - Leader of the Justice Party. 
6. Mohamed Hassan Al-Jaafari - Commissioner at Headquarters of Khartoum State. 
7. Tariq Mubarak - Commissioner of Khartoum North. 
8. Maj. Gen. Salah Ismail - the Air Forces. 
9. Maj. Gen. Ahmed Musa Ahmed - the Police Forces. 
10. Maj. Gen. Ahmed Al-Tayeb Abu-Guroon, the Security and Intelligence Organ. 
11. Brigadier Lugman Omer - Second Commander of the People's Defence Forces. 
12. Hamid Al-Aghbash - the National Assembly. 
13. Dr. Mohamed Al-Bakhit Al-Bashir - the Islamic Figih Council. 
14. Al-Saddiq Abdul-Majid Al-Makkawi - the People's Defence Forces. 
15. Awadal-Karim Siral-Khatim - Deputy Coordinator of the People's Defence Forces. 
16. Waeez Salaha Omer - Headquarters of the People's Defence Forces. 
17. Omer Mahjoub Ahmed - Deputy Coordinator of the People's Defence Forces. 
18. Salah-Eddin Mustafa - the People's Defence Forces - Jabal Aulia Locality. 
19. Abdul-Azim Hamza - the National Congress - Khartoum State. 
20. Abdul-Atti Ahmed - Correspondent of the National Television. 
21. Al-Sheikh Abdul-Rahim - the media mission. 
22. Bashir Fadl Al-Sid - Khartoum State Media. 
23. Abdul-Hai Al-Rabie - the media mission. 
24. Ismail Abdul-Karim - the media mission. 
25. Captain Saif-Eddin - Director of Office of Maj. Gen. Abu-Guroon. 
26. Al-Sayer Mohamed Al-Sayer - the Ministry of Guidance and Endowments. 

27 /28/ 29/ 30/ 31/ 32 - the crew of the plane.

Source [SUNA Sudan] 

►UPDATE: The authorities revealed that the crew of the ill-fated plane was comprised of four Russian pilots, a Sudanese pilot called Abdel Moniem and two female Sudanese stewards. The head of the Sudanese Civil Aviation Corporation (SCAC), Mohammed Abdel Aziz, has resigned as a result of the crash.

In recent years, Sudan has had numerous aviation accidents and incidents that have severely damaged the country's aviation image. Khartoum has frequently complained that its poor record in air safety is largely due to lack of spare parts for its aircraft caused by US Sanctions.

► SOUTH SUDAN: Kush Air to take delivery of an Antonov AN-12.

South Sudanese carrier and charter company Kush Air is set to receive an Antonov An-12 (MSN# 347007 | ST-KNR) joining its Let 410 and Fokker 50 (MSN# 20204 | 5Y-BYE) turboprop leased from Kenya’s Skyward Aviation International.

Kush Air's Fokker 50 (Andreas Fotopoulos)

The airline currently serves Wau, Bentiu, Aweil and Malakal from its base in Juba, with plans to offer flights to Rumbek, Yambio and Renk.

► SOMALIA: Jubba Airways Antonov AN-24 crashlands at Galkayo; No Casualties.

A Jubba Airways (6J) Antonov AN-24 landing at Abdullahi Yusuf International Airport, Galkayo, Somalia en route from Hargeisa, Somalia with 32 passengers and 4 crew aboard, blew both landing gear boogies on touchdown, thereby tearing off the entire wing assembly, before veering off the runway. 

Puntlandi.com, a local Somali news site, reports that all passengers were safely evacuated by the airport rescue team. Though the accident occurred during the rainy season, no direct correlation between weather and the cause has yet been established.

Jubba Airways is a Mogadishu based Somali airline that operates a fleet of Boeing 737s throughout Somalia and the Middle East/Arabian Peninsula.

Read More Here [Aviation Herald]