■ ANGOLA: Government takes first legal steps in bringing its aviation bodies up to ICAO standards.

Angola's parliament has introduced the first legislation aimed at bringing its Aviation Law up to international and ICAO standard with the separation of the yet-to-be-named Accident's investigations bureau from the country's civil aviation authority (Instituto Nacional da Aviação Civil - INAVIC) which currently falls under the Angolan Ministry of Transport. 

► GHANA: (Pics) Eagle Atlantic Airlines' first MD82 arrives in Accra.

Ghana's latest start up, Eagle Atlantic Airlines (EAB), has taken delivery of its first McDonnell Douglas MD82 (MSN 49119 | YR-OTN) which is on lease from Romanian leasers, Ten Airways (OTJ). As previously reported, following the reception of its AOC from the Ghanaian Civil Aviation Authority last week, Eagle Atlantic intends to serve Abidjan, Monrovia and Freetown before expanded further into the region.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Gigaba seeks greater cooperation between Denel Aviation, SAA Technical & SAExpress Technical.

South African Minister of Public Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba, says he has directed the board of state-owned aerospace and defence technology conglomerate, Denel, to develop a long term Africa-centric growth strategy which will involve Denel Aviation collaborating with fellow parastatals, SAA Technical and SA Express Technical. The move falls in line with the Ministry's goal of developing Denel into a global player in the defence industry and to become a preferred supplier and prime contractor for the Department of Defence’s large programmes as well as for the African Continent.

► TANZANIA: fastjet A319 grounded following birdstrike.

fastjet (FN) says one of its three Airbus A319s was temporarily grounded in Tanzania following a birdstrike on August 8. The incident resulted in some flights between Dar es Salaam and Mwanza being cancelled.

► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia ERJ135s to undergo maintenance in August; adjusts timetable accordingly.

Air Namibia has announced that owing to mandatory maintenance checks on its fleet of four Embraer ERJ135s, effective August 12-31 the following schedule changes have been made:

■ MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius selects DW International's GRPS Web UI for RAIM Predictions.

Air Mauritius (MK) has selected DW International's GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) RAIM/RNP Prediction Service Web-based User Interface (GRPS Web User Interface). Air Mauritius will be using the GRPS Web User Interface to support its Performance-based Navigation (PBN) operations, including Basic-RNP 1 as now required for Hong Kong International Airport.

■ KENYA: Kenya Airways takes $4million knock from Nairobi fire as Kenyatta speeds up Terminal 4's opening.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has suffered USD4million in losses owing to the recent outbreak of fire at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, CEO Dr Titus Naikuni has said. Despite the erection of tents to process international flights five days after the fire, passengers are still facing long delays and cancellations.

► UNITED STATES: South Africa's Global Airways to resume Johannesburg - Miami via Cape Town; appoints Fuelstream its US rep.

With the impending relaunch of its Johannesburg - Miami via Cape Town flights, South Africa's Global Airways (QG) has appointed Fuelstream Inc. as their US Representative. Fuelstream will evaluate and recommend ground handling companies, caterers, crew transportation and services, coordinate with cargo handlers, and serve as Global's GSA for cargo in Miami. It will also work with the Aviation Department on gate assignments and ticket counters, and with all government authorities (TSA, Customs & Immigration and the local police) to ensure compliance. 

► TOGO: Ethiopian Airlines to launch its Lomé cargo hub this week as more planned pax routes to Asia unveiled.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) are set to launch Lomé, Togo as their second cargo hub outside Addis Ababa with effect from August 15. In addition to a connection to the carrier's Ethiopian primary hub, Lomé will also serve Europe via Liege, Belgium with a twice weekly MD-11F Freighter. Lomé is already the hub or its West African passenger subsidiary, ASKY Airlines (KP).

► SEYCHELLES: SriLankan Airlines eyeing a 3x weekly Colombo - Seychelles and on to Nairobi service.

After the recent signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries, the Seychellois Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport has announced tentative plans by Sri Lanka's national carrier, SriLankan Airlines (UL) to commence services between Colombo, Mahé and possibly Nairobi in October 2013.

► GHANA: Eagle Atlantic Airlines granted its AOC; eyes regional ops from mid August.

Following on from our previous post, Ghana's Eagle Atlantic Airlines (EAB) has now received its Air Operator's Certificate from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), with plans now afoot to commence regional services, Dr Emmanuel Osei-Acheampong, Eagle Atlantic's Chief Executive Officer, has announced. 

■ UNITED STATES: Jetcraft Corporation acquires ExecuJet Aircraft Trading.

Jetcraft Corporation, a new and pre-owned business aircraft sales, acquisitions and trades company, has announced the acquisition of the aircraft brokerage activities of ExecuJet Aircraft Trading (EAT), the business aircraft sales division of ExecuJet Aviation Group, of Zurich, Switzerland.

■ MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius sees further losses during Q1 of its 2013/14 Financial Year.

Air Mauritius Group and Company have posted their results for Q1 of their 2013/2014 Financial Year which ended 30 June 2013 with losses of EUR8.1million (USD10.83million) and EUR8.3million (USD11.1million) respectively. Despite the red, the figures are an improvement on the same period for its previous financial year in which it posted losses of EUR10.2 million and EUR10.4 million respectively.

► TUNISIA: Syphax Airlines given greenlight to deploy its A330; long haul ops possibly due in autumn.

Tunisian private operator, Syphax Airlines (FS), has at long last been granted authorisation to use its A330-200 (MCN 345 | TS-IRA) by the Tunisian authorities (Office de l'Aviation Civile et des aéroports de Tunisie - OACA) following weeks of costly inactivity in Tunis where it has been undergoing scrutinization and checks.

► ZAMBIA: Proflight mulls expansion into Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, the DRC and Zimbabwe.

With the recent launch of its first regional flights to Lilongwe, Malawi, Proflight Zambia (P0) is mulling adding three further international destinations to its growing network by mid-2014, effectively making Lusaka a regional hub for air travel.

► NIGERIA: Jimoh Ibrahim says Air Nigeria will resume ops but only under new ownership.

Air Nigeria (VK) could make a return to the skies, albeit under new ownership and management, the current CEO of the airline, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, has stated. Speaking on the tenth anniversary of the founding of his group of companies, Global Fleet, Mr Ibrahim said his board of directors would meet over the coming week to discuss the future of the airline, which ceased operations in September 2012.

► UGANDA: Government outlines its initial fleet requirements for Uganda Airlines 2.0.

Kampala is moving ahead with plans to resurrect defunct national carrier, Uganda Airlines (QU), following reports that government has already outlined its intended fleet requirements for twelve aircraft needed to service regional and international routes.

► GHANA: ASKY Airlines eyeing a secondary hub out of Kumasi as everyone complains about Nigeria.

Ethiopian Airlines' West African subsidiary, ASKY Airlines (KP), is reportedly considering turning Kumasi, Ghana into a secondary hub through the launch of direct flights to various West African capital cities and commercial centres. The move comes as domestic Ghanaian carrier Starbow Airlines (S9) is also planning a resumption and expansion of its regional services.

► 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.

■■ KENYA: Huge blaze rips through Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

A devastating fire tore through the International Arrivals building and Unit 1 departures at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday, August 7, forcing the local authorities to temporarily close the airfield until further notice. The fire was under control after three hours with no injuries, fatalities or damage to any aircraft thus far having been recorded. Kenya Airways did report that one member of its staff and a passenger had slight smoke inhalation and were safe in hospital for further investigation. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has granted clearance to the Kenya Airports Authority to use Unit 3 for international departures and arrivals.