■ SOUTH AFRICA: Denel Aviation to open sub-Saharan Africa's first Russian Helicopters MRO facility in due course.

Denel Aviation, a division of South Africa's government-backed Denel Corporation, is to unveil the first MRO facility in sub-Saharan Africa catering for Mil and Kamov military and utility helicopters, both of which are manufactured by Moscow-based Russian Helicopters.

■ NIGERIA: Arik Air to partner Lufthansa Technik, Boeing, Bombardier in rebuilding its MRO Hangar in Lagos.

Nigerian private carrier, Arik Air (W3), will partner Lufthansa Technik, Bombardier and Boeing in rebuilding its aircraft maintenance hangar at Lagos Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

■ ETHIOPIA: Works start on new $100mln Ethiopian Airlines MRO Hangar; new Cold Storage Cargo facility to come online shortly.

Ethiopian Airlines' (ET) Cargo and Maintenance divisions are to take a step closer to realizing their Vision 2025 objectives in the coming weeks following the launch of construction works for a new MRO hangar facility at Bole International Airport capable of housing Boeing 777s, 787s and 747s. Also on the cards is the upcoming inauguration of a USD3.4million (ETB63million) cold storage warehouse, due for completion shortly.

■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines MRO certified for both Bombardier Q-Series airframe maintenance and CFM56-3/7 engine overhauls.

Ethiopian Airlines MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) division has upgraded its product and has now been granted approval by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide full airframe maintenance services for Bombardier’s Q100, Q200 and Q300 turboprop aircraft. Additionally, it has also been certified to provide overhauls for the CFM International CFM56-3 and CFM56-7 engine respectively.

► NIGERIA: Azman Airlines, JedAir looking to start domestic, regional ops in H1.

Two carriers are looking to start domestic operations in Nigeria shortly: Azman Airlines and Jedair, a former charter airline that has reportedly entered into an ACMI deal with a Canadian firm.

■ NIGERIA: Kabo Air, Hak Air, Max Air, Service Air sign MRO deal with Indonesia's GMF AeroAsia.

Nigerian aviation blog Aviation in Nigeria reports that four Nigerian carriers Kabo Air (N9), MaxAir (NR), Hak Air and an unknown carrier Service Air have signed a USD60million maintenance contract with Indonesian MRO outfit GMF AeroAsia, a subsidiary of Indonesian carrier Garuda (GA).

■ SOUTH AFRICA: 1Time's Jetworx MRO to be taken over by the American Industrial Acquisition Corporation.

In another promising development following the proposed acquisition of bankrupt South African LCC 1Time (T6) by LCC fastjet (FN), its sister MRO company, Jetworx, has been acquired by the American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC), thereby giving hope to its remaining 200 employees. The deal however, is still subject to approval by Jetworx creditors.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Denel Aviation to retrench 523 as SAAF confirms contract will not be renewed.

523 aircraft maintenance specialists at Denel Aviation’s Aero Manpower Group, the MRO division of the South Africa's government-backed Denel Corporation, are to be retrenched as a result of the South African Air Force (SAAF) deciding against renewing its contract with the firm, set to lapse next year.

■ SPAIN: Rwandair awards Iberia contract for CRJ900 maintenance.

The maintenance division of Spanish carrier Iberia (IB), Iberia Maintenance, and Rwandan carrier Rwandair (WB) have signed a comprehensive contract which will see the Spanish firm being responsible for the up keep and maintenance of the components of Rwandair's two brand new Bombardier CRJ900s.

■ NIGERIA: Embraer provisionally agrees to partner Government in Nigerian airline refleeting initiative.

Fresh from the announcement of its intention to open its first African Authorized Aircraft Service Facility (AASF) in Kenya next year, Embraer, the Brazilian regional aircraft manufacturer, has provisionally agreed to collaborate with the Nigerian Government's efforts to assist domestic Nigerian airlines in acquiring new aircraft "at concessionary rates."

■ KENYA: Embraer to open an Authorized Service Facility in Nairobi with Kenya Airways in 2013.

Embraer, the Brazilian regional aircraft manufacturer, has set its sights on Nairobi, Kenya and partner Kenya Airways (KQ) as a potential base for its first Authorized Aircraft Service Facility (AASF) in Africa to be opened in early 2013.

■ GABON: Ethiopian Airlines gives Gabon Airlines 30 days to pay up or risk losing its 767.

Ethiopian Airlines' MRO has given Gabon's now defunct Gabon Airlines (GY) thirty days as of 24 October 2012, to pay up over €750'000 it owes the facility for repairs and maintenance done to its Boeing 767-200 (MSN 21877 | TR-LHP), now stored in Addis Ababa since 2010.

■ ETHIOPIA: Lufthansa Technik lands MRO deal for Ethiopian's 787s.

Germany's Lufthansa Technik have signed a 10 year deal with Ethiopian Airlines (ET) that will see the Hamburg-based MRO specialists providing component support for Ethiopian's growing fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.

■ TANZANIA: Precision Air extends Sabena Technics contract; readies itself for arrival of four additional ATR42s.

Just a week after sealing a 5 year deal with FastJet to provide general service and maintenance to its Airbus A319 fleet set to be based out of Dar es Salaam, Belgium's Sabena Technics, today, extended an existing contract with yet another Tanzanian carrier, Precision Air (PW), to now provide component support for its new fleet of ATR 42-600s and ATR72-600s.

■ FRANCE: Egyptair selects Messier-Bugatti-Dowty to overhaul Airbus A320/A340 landing gears.

Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering,  a subsidiary of Egypt's national carrier Egyptair (MS), has selected Messier-Bugatti-Dowty for the exchange and overhaul of landing gear on ten of Egyptair's Airbus A320s, and for the centre landing gears on three of Egyptair's remaining Airbus A340s, prior to their phasing out.

■ NIGERIA: Arik renews its Lufthansa Technik deal as Stella tries to lure Boeing and Bombardier into MRO sector.

Nigerian carrier, Arik Air (W3) and German maintenance service provider, Lufthansa Technik last week renewed a contract signed in 2006, that will see the German outfit along with Lufthansa Cityline - a sister company providing regional European flights under the Lufthansa brand -  providing technical support to Arik Air in the areas of line maintenance, base maintenance, materials and pool parts among others for the next five years.