► TANZANIA: Air Tanzania to tentatively operate MA60s, Y12s as part of deal with China's JoyAir.

Air Tanzania (TC) is reportedly to acquire five Xian MA60s and three Harbin Y-12  turboprops (whether they are on lease or outright purchase is unclear) from JoyAir (JR), a Chinese carrier that is 95% owned by China's state-backed aircraft manufacturer and Xian's parent, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), with the remaining 5% held by China Eastern Airlines (MU).

► MAURITANIA: Harbin Y12 crashes on take off; 7 dead.

A Chinese built Harbin Y12 turboprop aircraft chartered by Canadian Mining firm Kinross Gold Corporation yesterday crashed shortly after take off from Nouakchott's International Airport yesterday enroute to Tasiast, 300 kilometres north of the capital of Nouakchott.

Tasiast is the location of one of Kinross' open pit gold mines.

Tasiast, Mauritania

""The plane crashed inside the Nouakchott airport perimeter just after taking off," said Colonel Teyib ould Brahim, a spokesman for Mauritania's armed forces. Witnesses said the plane caught fire before crashing but the cause was not clear."

Read More Here [Reuters]

In a statement on its website, Kinross Gold confirmed that "seven people were killed in the crash, including two pilots, two Mauritanian customs officials, and three contract security personnel though no Kinross personnel were on board." The seven were to go to Tasiast to collect refined gold.

The Mauritanian Air Force is reported to have operated two of the type, another of which crashed in 1996.