Chris Infotainment

China's Push to Expand Civil Aviation Presence in Southeast Asia China is actively training representatives from several Southeast Asian countries this month as part of a broader initiative to promote its domestically developed civilian aircraft. Despite the dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the global aviation market, Southeast Asia has emerged as a key region for accepting Chinese aircraft deliveries. The 2025 China-Asean Civil Aviation Management Capacity Enhancement Workshop, held in Beijing, brought together 20 participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The event, organized by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, runs for 14 days and focuses on various aspects of civil aviation, including safety management, airworthiness certification, green development, new technologies, and the use of domestically produced large aircraft. This training initiative coincides with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Coma...

A New Era in African Aviation Begins in Kigali On Thursday, September 4, the world witnessed a historic moment as President Paul Kagame officially launched Africa’s first public flight of a self-flying electric air taxi. This groundbreaking event took place during the ongoing Aviation Africa Summit 2025 in Kigali, marking a significant step forward in the continent's aviation sector. The innovative air taxi is the result of a strategic partnership between the Government of Rwanda and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). This collaboration highlights the growing influence of international partnerships in driving technological advancements in Africa. The project represents not only a leap in transportation technology but also a bold vision for sustainable and efficient mobility solutions across the region. The Aviation Africa Summit 2025, which ran from September 4 to 5, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including aviation industry leaders, policymakers, r...

Introduction to a New Era in Aviation Thailand has recently made history by welcoming the first commercial flight of a Chinese-made small-body airplane. The aircraft, known as the C909, was operated by Lao Airlines and successfully landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan province. This event marks a significant milestone in the aviation industry, highlighting the growing influence of China's aerospace sector on the global stage. The C909 made its debut in Thailand on Tuesday with flight QV441, which originated from Vientiane. The airline took to social media to celebrate this historic moment, sharing a post on Facebook that read, "Historic Moment! C909 Aircraft Makes First Flight to Thailand." This announcement generated excitement among aviation enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. Breaking the Duopoly in the Aviation Market The arrival of the C909 is part of a broader strategy by China's state-owned aerospace company, the Commercial Aircraft Corp...

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Suspends Licensing Operations for 30 Days The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has decided to temporarily suspend operations at its Personnel Licensing (PEL) Department for a period of 30 days. This decision is part of a broader initiative to implement a fully automated licensing system, aimed at modernizing the process and enhancing efficiency. In a statement released on August 22, 2025, Director General Emile N. Arao emphasized that the suspension would take immediate effect. He highlighted that this move is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate redundancies, improve operational efficiency, and provide applicants with a faster and more seamless service experience. “The modernization of our processes is essential to ensure that we deliver services that meet the evolving needs of the aviation sector,” said Arao. “This includes reducing delays and ensuring that all stakeholders benefit from a more streamlined and effective system.” As part of the t...

AOT and BAFS Donate Relief Kits to Communities Affected by Border Unrest Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) has joined forces with Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services Public Company Limited (BAFS) to provide essential relief kits to Thai citizens impacted by recent unrest along the Thai-Cambodian border. The initiative, driven by a collective effort from AOT employees and stakeholders, highlights the companies’ commitment to social responsibility and community support. The relief kits were officially handed over on 15 August 2025 at the Royal Thai Army Headquarters. The event was attended by Lieutenant General Jintamai Cheekwang, Director-General of the Army Civil Affairs Department, who received the supplies on behalf of the affected communities. This gesture aimed to offer both material assistance and emotional encouragement to those facing challenges due to the ongoing situation. The donation was spearheaded by several key figures within the organizations. Waewruthai Su...

Bridging the Gap: A New Era for Aviation Research in Africa In an effort to address the critical manpower shortages within the aviation sector in Nigeria, the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria have joined forces. Their collaboration aims to enhance research and capacity-building initiatives within the aviation industry, marking a significant step towards academic and industrial synergy. During the 1st International Research Conference hosted by AAAU in partnership with NCAT in Abuja, Dr. Mustapha Sheikh Abdullahi, the Registrar of the university, emphasized that the event is more than just an academic gathering. He described it as a realization of the vision of the institution’s founding fathers, who aimed to establish AAAU as a center of academic excellence and a hub for research and development in aviation and aerospace. From its inception, the mission of AAAU has been clear: to tackle challenges in man...