US's Berry Aviation adds first Saab 340 freighter

UK’s Loganair plans fleet overhaul by late 1Q24, freighters

US's Berry Aviation adds first DHC-8-Q200(MPA)

US’s Berry Aviation to take delivery of first Saab 2000F

Berry Aviation (BYA, San Marcos) will take delivery of its first Saab 2000(F), ES-NSJ (msn 2000-037), a converted freighter that took to the skies in its new guise for the first time this week in a flight facilitated by NyxAir (OJ, Tallinn Lennart Meri).

The prototype Saab 2000 freighter performed a 59-minute post-maintenance test flight at Örebro on the morning of March 6, ch-aviation analysis of Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows, a flight that was operated under NyxAir’s AOC authority.

The Saab (Sweden) turboprop had been in the workshops since last autumn for the extensive rebuild and will undergo further flight testing in the coming weeks, Örebro-based MRO provider Täby Aviation Maintenance said. It, along with at least one additional Saab 2000 freighter, is committed under a long-term lease with Berry Aviation and will be delivered following completion of EASA and FAA certification, currently anticipated by mid-2023.

Berry Aviation took delivery of its first Saab aircraft, a Saab 340B(F), in January. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced...

Editorial Comment: Clarified that Berry Aviation, not NyxAir, will lease the aircraft - 14.03.2023 - 14:31 UTC

FAA issues guidance notice to Blackbird Air platform

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has sent a letter to Blackbird Air, an online marketplace, aircraft agent and charter broker, which created a web-based application (app) that connects passengers with pilots. The idea behind the app is for passengers to give up their cars and replace those more time-consuming journeys with flights operated by hand-picked pilots and aircraft using more convenient airports. At the time of writing, the app was still available for download on Blackbird Air's website.

In its communication with Blackbird Air, the FAA outlined its policy on the requirements for pilots who are paid to fly passengers. The policy states that pilots who are paid to fly passengers generally cannot just hold the required Commercial or Airline Transport pilot licence – they also must be employed by the company operating the flight, which must hold a certificate issued under Part 119 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Failing that, the pilots must hold a Part 119 certificate themselves.

In an update published on the FAA's website, the administrator urged caution from the travelling public when...