Airbus A320 family

The Airbus A320 family consists of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger twin-engine jet airliners manufactured by Airbus. The family includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, as well as the ACJ business jet. The A320s are also named A320ceo (current engine option) after the introduction of the A320neo. Final assembly of the family takes place in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg, Germany; a plant in Tianjin, China, has also been producing aircraft for Chinese airlines since 2009. Construction of a new production facility in Mobile, Alabama began in 2013. The aircraft family can accommodate up to 220 passengers and has a range of 3,100 to 12,000 km (1,700 to 6,500 nmi), depending on model.

The first member of the A320 family—the A320—was launched in March 1984, first flew on 22 February 1987, and was first delivered in March 1988. The family was soon extended to include the A321 (first delivered 1994), the A319 (1996), and the A318 (2003). The A320 family pioneered the use of digital fly-by-wire flight control systems, as well as side-stick controls, in commercial aircraft. There has been a continuous improvement process since introduction.

Baltic Aviation Academy

Baltic Aviation Academy is one of the leading aviation training organizations in Eastern Europe. Approved as CAA/JAA Flight Training Organization (FTO) and Type Rating Training Organization (TRTO), Baltic Aviation Academy offers courses for pilots and cabin crew at every stage of their careers, as well as Instructor courses and Crew Resource Management (CRM) training. The course completion certificates issued by the Baltic Aviation Academy are valid in EASA/JAA area as well as approved by CAA of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Israel and Ukraine. Baltic Aviation Academy is a part of group of aviation-related companies Avia Solutions Group.

History

Lithuania was always famous for its aviation-related training activities. Rapid growth of the number of Boeing and Airbus aircraft in CIS region and demand for crews for these aircraft pushed investors in 2006 to establish Baltic Aviation Academy. Total investment approximated to $17M into its headquarters in Vilnius with places for 4 FFS. The academy has grown into an FTO and TRTO training organization providing type rating for 18aircraft types and operating full flight simulators all over the world.

Cyprus Airways

Cyprus Airways (Greek: Κυπριακές Αερογραμμές Kypriakes Aerogrammes) was the flag carrier airline of Cyprus. It was established in September 1947 and ceased operations on 9 January 2015. Cyprus Airways had its operating base at Larnaca International Airport. Immediately prior to its closure, the airline regularly flew from Larnaca to 14 destinations in Europe and the Middle East. Cyprus Airways traded as Cyprus Airways (Public) Ltd and had its head offices in Nicosia.

Cyprus Airways was 93% state-owned. On 9 January 2015, the European Commission ruled that a 2012–13 €65m state aid package had been in breach of EU rules and the airline was ordered to pay back the full amount. The Cypriot government revoked its operating license later on the same day. Cyprus Airways had been in financial trouble since 2009.

History

Early years

The airline was established on 24 September 1947 as a joint venture between the Colonial Government of Cyprus, BEA (British European Airways), and private interests. Operations commenced on 18 April 1948 with three Douglas DC-3 aircraft. The planes, which carried 21 passengers each, flew on a route network centered on Nicosia that included Rome, London (via Athens), Beirut, Athens, Cairo, Istanbul, and Haifa. During the next three years the airline purchased an additional three DC-3 aircraft and introduced services to Alexandria, Amman, Bahrain, Khartoum (via Haifa) and Lod.