DAC Aviation International receives second C295 aircraft to support humanitarian effort

Stellwagen Group announced Monday the delivery of a second Airbus C295 aircraft to DAC Aviation International, a premier humanitarian operator. DAC will add this additional C295 aircraft to its humanitarian operations in Africa.

The Airbus C295 is the aircraft of choice for humanitarian assistance organizations with its ability to take off and land over short distances and from unimproved surfaces. The Airbus C295 is a twin turboprop multi-role transport aircraft manufactured in Spain.

Strong future for satellite services in Sub-Saharan Africa

According to Euroconsult's newly released report, Prospects for Satellite Communications & Broadcasting in Africa, overall usage for satellite capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa increased 11 percent over 2009-2014 despite the spread of terrestrial fiber networks and the decrease of international trunking. Euroconsult further anticipates an 11 percent growth for capacity leased over the next decade, for a total of close to 200 gigabits per second of traffic flowing over satellite.
 
"The tripling of TV signals in the last five years, growth in cellular backhaul requirements and the addition of more than 15,000 VSATs for various vertical segments have all contributed to the emergence of new requirements," said Pacome Revillon, CEO of Euroconsult and editor of the report. "The significant addition of satellite capacity supply has resulted in a fill rate decrease and in greater competition and pricing pressure."
Multiple drivers support a strong future increase in the use of satellite communication services, including:

• Digital TV growth is still only in its early phase; the transition process to digital terrestrial television has just begun. In parallel, satellite pay-TV, despite the signing of close to 10 million subscribers in the last ten years, is only beginning to penetrate the market.
• Mobile penetration keeps increasing along with universal access requirements, while 3G and potentially 4G expansion will create new new connectivity requirements.
• A variety of segments, such as oil & gas, banking, mining, and government networks will require more connectivity as operations either diversify or expand geographically.
• A number of new enterprise hot spot markets are evolving particularly in East and West Africa in addition to the historically strong VSAT markets like South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Kenya and Tanzania. This should contribute to overall market growth across Sub-Saharan Africa
• Broadband access for consumers and enterprises offers new opportunities on the back of new HTS capacities and services. Also, the usage of HTS capacity for trunking should increase for landlocked countries like DR Congo and South Sudan at least in the short to medium term as fiber availability remains limited and unreliable
  

For operators, the ability to create new differentiators will be key in a context of large capacity supply, which includes the development of video neighborhoods, of selected service platforms and the co-development of projects with local service providers and end-users. For service and equipment providers, the rollout of more sophisticated and hybrid solutions offered through domestic hubs and a potential consolidation of service providers should contribute to market growth. The emergence of new free-to-air and pay-TV platforms should also shape the future African TV market.

Special Operations Command airlift services in Africa

The Special Operations Command Africa is conducting market research to identify companies having an interest in, and the resources to support, an emerging requirement for mobile fixed wing air transport services to move personnel and cargo within the northern regions of Africa and surrounding countries.

The specific requirement for this effort is found below.

1. Fixed-wing aircraft capable of: 

• Transporting a minimum of 1,000 pounds and maximum of 4,500 lbs to include a mix of a maximum of 12 passengers and/or cargo.
• Taking off/land on improved and unimproved dirt airfields of a minimum of 1,800 feet in length to support supply and personnel transportation requirements.

2. Contractor to provide mobile airlift services to the locations provided from the Primary Operation Area (POA). Countries within the POA where the air transportation support could be provided include , but are not be limited to, Libya, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal, and Morocco. Other locations within northern Africa may be dictated by operational requirements and timely coordination will ensure contractor support.

3. The contractor will perform routine flights. Services include aircraft, flight planning, aircraft maintenance, and transporting hazardous cargo as required.

4. The contractor shall have an alternate, fully capable aircraft available in the event scheduled or unscheduled maintenance and/or repairs are required when one aircraft is not capable of flying.

5. Contractor to furnish all personnel, equipment, supplies, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, insurance, security, life support (e.g., housing, meals etc., for contractor personnel) and other items and services necessary to operate fixed-wing aircraft within the POA.

Interested companies who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to the Special Operations Command Africa by Feb. 23.

US paid estimated $8.2 million to transport VIPs for Mandela funeral

The U.S. Embassy in South Africa paid an estimated $8.2 million for vehicle transportation services so VIPs could visit Pretoria and Johannesburg to attend the funeral for Nelson Mandela, according to contract documents released Dec. 17 through the Federal Business Opportunities website.

“Vehicle types included passenger vehicles, SUVs, vans, and buses, as well as supplies and good vehicles such as pickup trucks, box trucks, and larger capacity vehicles,” the Department of State said in a "Justification and Approval" contract document. “The maximum estimated cost is $8,286,194.74.”

“Two vendors have been identified as being most suitable to meet U.S. government needs: Europcar and Kwathlano,” the State Department said. “The U.S. Embassy will contract with both vendors.”

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