► ANGOLA: SonAir becomes first operator to resume Super Puma EC225 flights following grounding.

Angolan carrier, SonAir (SOR), Africa’s largest oil and gas helicopter operator, has become the first operator to resume passenger transportation flights with the suspended Eurocopter Super Puma EC225 fleet. Three flights were performed successfully with two EC225s from Luanda to two offshore platforms.

► UNITED KINGDOM: AAIB releases special bulletin on Ethiopian 787 fire as FAA moves to issue Airworthiness Directive for 787 ELTs.

The United Kingdom's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB)has issued a special bulletin pertaining to a fire onboard a parked Ethiopian Airlines (ET) Boeing 787-8 (MSN 34744 | ET-AOP) at London Heathrow Airport last week has been released. According to the report, suspicions thus far point to the aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) and its associated system wiring. On the basis of these initial findings and a recommendation from the AAIB, the US Federal Aviation Administration has said it is preparing to issue an Airworthiness Directive in the coming days that would make inspections of all ELTs aboard Boeing 787 aircraft, mandatory.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Fire aboard Ethiopian 787 parked at London Heathrow; carrier to continue 787 ops despite incident.

An Ethiopian Airlines (ET) Boeing 787-8 (MSN 34744 | ET-AOP) has been grounded at London Heathrow airport following an on-board fire which broke out while the aircraft was parked at a remote stand on Friday, July 12, 2013. The aircraft was empty when the incident was observed.

■ ALGERIA: Air Algérie renews IOSA certificate; successfully concludes SAFA inspections with EU.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has renewed Algerian national airline Air Algérie's (AH) IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certificate for a further two years, the carrier said in a statement.

■ MADAGASCAR: Air Madagascar passes IOSA, EASA audits; wants to be struck off the EU No-Fly Ban List.

After a cabinet meeting which judged troubled national carrier, Air Madagascar (MD), to be on the path to recovery,  the Madagascar government will, before the end of October, send an inter-ministerial delegation to Brussels to lobby for the removal of national carrier, Air Madagascar (MD), from the EU's No Fly Ban List.