Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines signed an order on Wednesday at the Singapore Airshow covering three A330neo airliners and five A350F freighters, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 and XWB97 engines, respectively. The A330 order builds on the four aircraft already in service, one of which is on show in the static display. Airbus will deliver the new aircraft in 2025/26. The machines will come configured with 28 business class sets and 269 in the economy cabins.

Starlux operates an all-Airbus fleet and sees the A330neo as ideal for its intra-Asia services and to feed passengers into its growing North American passenger services, which started from Taipei to Los Angeles last year and later San Francisco. Chairman Chang Kuo-Wei said that the airline would add Seattle as a destination this year. A330s operate on the transpacific routes. Chang added that the airline planned to bolster its narrowbody fleet in the near future with further A321neos.

Israel’s Elbit Systems has unveiled the latest member of its Hermes uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) family. The Hermes 650 Spark is a multirole UAV designed with tactical versatility in mind—as well as low operating costs. The company says it already has secured one customer on contract, and flight trials commenced in the first quarter of 2023. Full-scale production is about one year away.

Unlike previous Hermes UAVs, the 650 has a front-mounted tractor powerplant. The manufacturer hasn't disclosed the engine model, but it is rated at 120 hp. Elbit describes the Hermes 650 as deliberately “over-powered” to give it greater tactical flexibility, such as an ability to dash to the operational area at relatively high speed—up to 120 knots—before slowing to a loiter speed of 55 knots. The extra power confers good short-field performance on the type, and the aircraft can take off with as little as 200 meters of runway. Its landing run measures about 800 meters.

The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation (CAA) signed a memoranda of understanding with the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) on Wednesday to provide the first specialized mediation framework for the aviation industry in Asia.

The agreement paves the way for an aviation-specific mediation option in Asia and beyond. Currently, aviation businesses in the region seeking such an option must turn to Europe for mediation.

Supernal, the advanced air mobility division of Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, is partnering with Singapore officials to lay the groundwork for new eVTOL air services. On Tuesday at the Singapore Airshow, the company signed a pair of memorandums of understanding with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

The partners have committed to working jointly on new research and development initiatives, identifying potential use cases for eVTOL aircraft, exchanging information to develop a regulatory framework, and expanding public awareness. Supernal, which is based in the U.S., is developing a vehicle called the S-A2 that will carry a pilot and four passengers on flights of up to around 60 miles on a single electric charge.

Multiple agencies in the Philippines are joining forces to attract aerospace companies to get established at Clark International Airport (CRK). The focus of the campaign to make more use of the extensive space at the former U.S. military base lies mainly with attracting maintenance, repair, and overhaul companies, manufacturers, business aviation services providers (including FBOs), airlines, logistics firms, and training organizations.

The campaign leaders can be found at the Singapore Airshow’s new Philippine Aviation Pavilion. They include the Philippine Department of Transportation, the country’s Civil Aviation Authority, and Clark International Airport Corporation.

The digital flip-through issues of AIN’s award-winning Singapore Airshow News are now available online. It’s a great way to quickly scan the news from Singapore Airshow 2024, whether you’re in Singapore attending the show or watching from afar.