AVIATION

CAA to construct a sub-office at MRIA

M. Irfan Zakariya, Hambantota Thinakaran special corr

Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka has decided to initiate the construction of a building to house a sub-office within the premises of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) in order to carry out its services more efficiently in connection with the MRIA declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa under the Mahinda Chinthanaya.

The foundation store for the above building was laid by Chamal Rajapaksa, Speaker of Parliament of Sri Lanka, at the initiative of Minister of Aviation, Priyankara Jayarathna on the auspicious date of June 11, 2013. Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation - Geethanjana Gunawardana, Hambantota district Development Committee Chairman Attorney at Law - Namal Rajapaksa, Secretary to the Ministry of Aviation - Dr. Ravindra Rubero, Civil Aviation Authority Chairman General Rohan Daluwatha and other officials were present.

Under taking all activities related to the airport and the function of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, in keeping with the international standards set by the international civil aviation authority is a duty cast and all states. Hence, implementing all tasks related to the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport on a part with International standards is an expectation of the Civil Aviation Authority which is the proper organization.

Subjecting airport services to direct supervision provides a unique opportunity to the civil aviation authority to ensure the maximum safety and security of the airport services.

So, the Civil Aviation Authority will have an opportunity to carry out its services in connection with the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport with the international standard by ensuring the maximum safety and security of the aviation services.

Airbus A350 next-gen plane takes to the skies

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane took off on its first test flight, a milestone for the firm after years of work on an airliner it hopes will take on Boeing in the lucrative long-haul market.

With hundreds of cheering supporters looking on, some of whom arrived hours earlier to get a prime spot under a patchy sky, the plane took off at 0800 GMT from an airport near the French city of Toulouse for a flight due to last four hours.

Much like its competitor -- Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner that has been in service since September 2011 -- the A350 makes extensive use of light composite materials that significantly reduce fuel consumption and costs.

Helicopters hovered in the sky and a jet accompanied the plane as it took off three days before the start of the high-profile Paris Air Show, where Airbus is predicting hundreds of orders as it ups its fight against rival Boeing. “The aircraft is performing extremely well,” said Peter Chandler, one of the test pilots, two hours into the flight as he flew over the nearby Pyrenees mountains, staying close to home in the region of Toulouse.

“We hope to reach 25,000 feet (7,500 metres) very quickly,” he said via video link.

AFP