► CAMEROON: Russia, Cameroon sign deal for undisclosed number of Mil Mi-17 choppers.

During the recently ended MAKS 2013 International Aviation & Space Salon held at Moscow's Ramenskoye Airport, Russia and Cameroon signed a deal for the delivery of an unspecified number of Mil Mi-17 helicopters for onward placement with the Cameroonian Air Force.

► MAURITIUS: Transaero to operate Moscow - Mauritius from late December; eyes additional frequencies.

Russian carrier, Transaero (UN), will operate a limited Moscow (Domodedovo) to Mauritius service with effect from December 25 until January 16 (January 17 inbound). The twice weekly flights are set to use a mix of the B767-300ER and the B747-400 depending on demand.

■ EGYPT: Various airlines issue travel advisories, suspend services to Egypt in the wake of ongoing unrest.

Owing to the precarious political and social situation in Egypt, the following countries and airlines have issued advisories regarding their current and future operations into the North African country: Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovenia, the UAE, the United Kingdom, the US.

■ EGYPT: National airports still operating despite ongoing chaos: Fadel

The Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Abdel Aziz Fadel, has confirmed that all airports in the country are operating normally though the imposition of a curfew in Cairo has resulted in national carrier Egyptair (MS) asking passengers to be at Cairo International Airport at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure time of any international flights and 90 minutes before departure for domestic flights. He added the main road to Cairo airport was open and is closely monitored by police checkpoints and armed patrols.

► ETHIOPIA: Russian Mil-8 chopper on WFP ferry flight to Juba crashes near Debre Zeyit; no casualties.

A Russian Mil Mi-8MTV (MSN 95642 | RA-25497) helicopter leased from Krasnodar-based firm, PANH Helicopters, by the United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP) enroute to South Sudan, on the morning of Wednesday 31 July, crashed in a locality called Chefe Donsa, near the town of Debre Zeyit, about 50 km outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. All four occupants onboard survived though three sustained serious injuries.

► RUSSIA: Rosaviatsia reminds local carriers about unused South African traffic rights.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, has issued a reminder to local Russian airlines that there are still unused rights available for both passenger and cargo flights between Russia and South Africa.

► ETHIOPIA: Russia in talks to sell Ethiopia 18 Sukhoi Su-30K multirole fighters.

Russian state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, is reportedly in talks with Ethiopia over the sale of eighteen Sukhoi Su-30K Multirole fighter aircraft. The jets, originally sold to India, were intended to go to Vietnam.

► RUSSIA: Tunisair starts Monastir - St Petersburg from late April.

Tunisian national carrier, Tunisair (TU), is to launch direct 2x weekly seasonal flights between the Mediterranean coastal city of Monastir and St Petersburg, Russia from 26 April onwards. Flights will operate with an Airbus A320.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Russia looking to sell SSJ100s, MS21s passenger jets to South African buyers.

Russia's Interfax news agency reports that undisclosed South African buyers are in talks with aircraft manufacturer, Sukhoi, over a possible deal for the purchase of Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) passenger jets as well as Irkut MS-21s.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Denel Aviation to open sub-Saharan Africa's first Russian Helicopters MRO facility in due course.

Denel Aviation, a division of South Africa's government-backed Denel Corporation, is to unveil the first MRO facility in sub-Saharan Africa catering for Mil and Kamov military and utility helicopters, both of which are manufactured by Moscow-based Russian Helicopters.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): UTair Mi-8 chopper crashes near Bukavu; 4 dead.

A Russian UTAir (UT) Mil Mi-8AMT (MSN 39-10 | RA-22472) helicopter has crashed near the town of Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. All 4 occupants (4 crew) have died as the chopper came down in torrential rain.

► 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.

► CHINA: Air Mauritius to possibly start Beijing direct from May; wants Russia flights as well.

After the successful launch of its new twice weekly direct Mauritius - Shanghai, China flights on 24 January 201, Air Mauritius (MK) has allured to the possible launch of flights to the Chinese capital, Beijing in May with flights to Russia also on the Mauritian national carrier's "To Do" list.

► RUSSIA: Tunisair launches Monastir - Moscow, Tozeur - Paris CDG.

Tunisian carrier Tunisair (TU) will, in Winter 2012, launch 2 new European services: Monastir, Tunisia - Moscow, Domodedovo and Tozeur, Tunisia - Paris CDG using a combination of Airbus A319s and Boeing 737-600s.

► ANGOLA: Aeroflot pulls out of Luanda from mid October.

Russia's Aeroflot (SU) is to pull out of the Angolan capital, Luanda effective 16 October 2012. The route - Moscow Sheremetyevo – Hurghada, Egypt – Luanda, Angola - is presently served twice weekly by an Airbus A320.

► EGYPT: Aeroflot to start Moscow - Hurghada from late October.

Effective Winter (28 October 2012), Russian carrier Aeroflot (SU) is planning to introduce a 3x weekly Ilyushin 96-300 operated flight between Moscow Sheremetyevo and Hurghada, Egypt. 

The Russian national carrier currently operates to Cairo and a seasonal Winter service to Sharm el Sheikh on Egypt's Red Sea coast.

► RUSSIA: Ethiopian Airlines Cargo resumes services to Moscow after 22 year hiatus.

After a 22 year hiatus, brought about by the collapse of the Soviet Union and along with it, the Derg Regime of Ethiopian strongman Mengistu Haile Mariam, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, on 15 August, reintroduced a twice weekly direct Addis Ababa - Moscow, Domodedovo flight using a Boeing 757-200PCF.

Ethiopian Airlines Cargo Boeing 757-200PCF in Moscow (Alexey Viper)

"For the first time in 22 years a direct flight will be performed from Ethiopia to Moscow. Ethiopian Airlines will operate its first cargo flight from Addis Abeba to the capital of Russia. It will be loaded with the beautiful and fragrant cargo – flowers, that are intended to be demonstrated during the “Week of Ethiopian Flowers” exhibition which will be held from 17th to 19th of August at All-Russia Exhibition Center. Starting from August 2012 Ethiopian Airlines will operate regular cargo flights to Domodedovo twice a week. The main cargo goods transported from Ethiopia to Russia include flowers, coffee, olives and beans, gold, leather and spices."

Source [Domodedovo Airport]

In addition to the utilization of the belly space inside Ethiopian Airlines' passenger fleet - B787, B767-300, B757-200, B777-200 LR, B737-700 and B737-800 aircraft - Ethiopian cargo services operates dedicated freighter aircraft namely two Boeing 747-200F, two Boeing 757-200PCF, two McDonnell Douglas MD-11Fs with six Boeing 777F on order - on a charter and scheduled basis. Currently Ethiopian operates over 40 cargo destinations spread across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East via its hub – Addis Ababa, and another cargo hub at Liege in Belgium.