Lufthansa, Austrian to Add Flights to Tehran

Germany’s Lufthansa and its subsidiary Austrian Airlines will add new flights to Iran. Lufthansa will launch flight from Munich to Tehran and switch to larger planes for its flights from Frankfurt to Tehran beginning next summer. Austrian will add an extra daily flight from Vienna to Tehran starting 11 March 2016. (Press TV, 25 October)

Image: Press TV

Iran Close to Deal with Airbus

A Transportation Ministry official in Iran said the Iranians were close to securing a deal with France’s Airbus to purchase 10 to 12 airplanes. The official tells IranWire that the deal will be signed in Paris during the upcoming visit of President Rouhani in November.

The negotiations were conducted in the summer at the Paris Air Show. The head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization has said at the time that Iran would purchase 40 Airbus planes, but IranWire reports, “the declining oil revenues and a deepening economic recession subsequently limited the order.” (IranWire, 24 October)

File photo: Airbus A380 (Wikipedia)

Boeing reps to visit Iran: Minister Akhondi

Pair of Mahan Air Boeing 747s parked at Fars Co. MRO facility on 03JUL15 at Mehrabad International Airport

[Photo: M. Khodaei]

According to Tasnim News Agency:

Iran's Minister of Road and Urban Development Abbas Akhondi announced that representatives of Boeing aircraft manufacturing company will come to Iran in the near future.

"We are in contact with Boeing and their representatives will soon arrive in Iran," Akhondi said in his talks with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius last Wednesday, the content of which was disclosed on Monday.

He also said that during his recent trip to France, he has negotiated with Airbus, whose airplanes currently account for 50 percent of Iran's air fleet, and demanded its executive manager to provide a plan for the renovation of the country's commercial air fleet.

[…]

Earlier on Saturday, Mohammad Khodakarami, deputy head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) told the Tasnim News Agency that the country plans to purchase 80 to 90 Boeing and Airbus airplanes every year to renovate its commercial air fleet.

He added that the text of the final nuclear deal recently reached between Iran and six world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), explicitly states that bans on Iran over the purchase of airplanes have been lifted.

"We need to add 80 to 90 airplanes (to the fleet) each year in order to have 300 young and active airliners by the next five years," Khodakarami noted.

COMMENTARY: The Iranians appear already to be leveraging Airbus and Boeing against one another for the better deal in obtaining new civilian jetliner aircraft.

Similarly, Minister Akhondi commented on projected purchases for its railroad infrastructure, claiming "100 locomotives have been purchased from France’s Alstom" and "at the same time the ministry has started its negotiations with Germany’s Siemens Company for the renovation of the country’s railroad system".

Boeing 737 type additions to two Iranian airlines

First identified addition is Sepehran Airlines Boeing 737-529, reg. PK-TXH (cn 25218/2111).

Aircraft photographed 20JUL15 by Mohammadreza Farhadi Aref at Shiraz - Shahid Dastghaib International (SYZ / OISS).

Aircraft is 23.9 years old, obtained by Shiraz-based Sepehran Airline from Indonesia's Expressair. (Second B737 obtained through such arrangements, the first being PK-TXG.)

Second identified addition is Taban Airlines Boeing 737-4Q8, reg. EY-754 (cn 28202/3009).

Aircraft photographed 26JUL15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi at Tabriz - Shahid Madani International (Shaheed Fakouri) (TBZ / OITT).

Aircraft is 17.4 years old, obtained by Mashhad-centered Taban Airlines through wet lease arrangement with Tajikistan's Tajik Air.

Potential U.S. showdown with recently acquired Mahan Air aircraft

Above: freshly painted in Mahan Air livery, A340-642 reg. EP-MMR (cn 416)

A potential U.S. showdown with Mahan Air over its recent Iraqi-provided Airbus aircraft may be taking shape. According to a Reuters newswire dated 01JUN15:

An Iranian airline that acquired nine passenger jets in defiance of U.S. sanctions will begin using them on international routes this week, the Fars news agency reported on Monday.

Mahan Air, which is blacklisted by Washington, acquired eight second-hand Airbus A340s and one Airbus A321 in early May. The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on two firms based in Iraq and the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of helping the purchase.

The A340s will start flying from Tehran to Dubai and Istanbul within two days, and will later be used for long-haul journeys, Fars reported.

[…]

The U.S. Treasury department last month said Mahan Air had a "blockable interest" in the planes, meaning they could be subject to an asset freeze, raising the possibility that U.S. officials may attempt to have them seized at airports outside Iran.

The United States, which has imposed the most stringent sanctions on Iran, a country that is also under European and some U.N. measures over its nuclear activities, bans the sale of aircraft and parts to the Islamic Republic.

COMMENTARY: U.S.-directed sanctioning efforts against Mahan Air are a result of the airline's logistical activities connected to IRGC-QF support of Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanese Hezbollah, as well as MODAFL and IAIO.

Potential Airbus aircraft ferried to Iran on 08MAY15 and observed  freshly painted in Mahan Air livery through open-source amateur photography include the following known new registrations and corresponding construction numbers of A346 aircraft:

391 EP-MMH

416 EP-MMR

449 EP-MMI

---   EP-MMQ

Known additional construction numbers and corresponding new registrations of A346 and A343 aircraft include:

371 -------

376 -------

383 EP-MMG

615 -------

164 EP-MMD

Were Mahan Air to undertake international flights with these newly acquired Iraqi-provided Airbus aircraft and were the United States to seize the aircraft, ramifications would likely impact current negotiations over the Iranian nuclear power program. The Iranian side frames any new sanctioning efforts by the United States as "contrary to the spirit" of the nuclear negotiation process. That the Iranian negotiators would be undermined by an aircraft impoundment may also come into play, were the IRGC to be calculating to such an end, for it's understood IRGC views potential disclosures over its ballistic missile program and military industrial complex as detrimental to Iranian national defense. Additionally, a seizure might provide this political interest in Iran with the added boost of popular opinion, in depicting the Iranian people deprived of safer air travel by a hostile power.

Newly acquired A346 aircraft in Mahan Air livery

Airbus A340-642 aircraft acquired by Mahan Air on 08MAY15 now seen painted with Mahan Air livery:

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 391 now registered EP-MMH. Aircraft photographed in front of Fars Co. MRO facility at THR on 22MAY15 by Majid Khodaei.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 416 now registered EP-MMR. Aircraft photographed at IKA on or about 17MAY15.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 449 now registered EP-MMI. Aircraft photographed by Majid Tavakoli on or about 19MAY15.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft now registered EP-MMQ. Aircraft photographed by Majid B. Bajelan on or about 19MAY15.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 391 now registered EP-MMH. Interior photograph by Nariman Minusepehr on or about 19MAY15.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 383 now registered EP-MMG. Interior photograph taken on or about 23MAY15.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 383 now registered EP-MMG. Interior photograph taken on or about 23MAY15.

Sepehran Airways' recently acquired Boeing 737

New Iranian startup Sepehran Airways Boeing 737-5L9 as photographed by MohammadReza Izadi  on 15MAY15, at the airline's base of operations Shiraz -Shahid Dastghaib International (SYZ / OISS).

Aircraft registration PK-TXG (cn 25066/2038) delivered to Sepehran Airways on 18APR15. Previous operator: Indonesia's Xpressair.

First flight was on 25APR91, making this aircraft 24 years old.

New livery for Iran Government Boeing 737 VIP aircraft

Thirty-eight years of EP-AGA service with Iran government 

Islamic Republic of Iran Boeing 737-286/Adv VIP aircraft, reg. EP-AGA (cn 21317/483) appearing  as it does now in new, updated livery with D check nearly complete. [click HERE]

Aircraft photographed by Shahram Sharifi in March 2015 at Tehran - Mehrabad International (THR / OIII).

EP-AGA first flight on 25FEB77, being delivered to Imperial State of Iran on 10MAR77.

EP-AGA as it appeared prepared for paintwork on 03SEP14.

[photo: Mehrad Watson]

EP-AGA as it appeared with painwork removed during D check in June 2014

[photo: Shahram Sharifi]

EP-AGA as it appeared in previous livery, at official visit to Moscow, Russian Federation on 02JUL13

[photo: Oleg Revin]

EP-AGA front cabin, aft-facing interior as it appeared on 13FEB12

[photo: A. Mahgoli]

EP-AGA front cabin, forward-facing interior as it appeared on 23AUG10

[photo: A. Mahgoli] 

EP-AGA with initial livery and Islamic Republic markings, on official visit to Czech Republic in 1993

[photo: Petr Popelář]

EP-AGA as it originally appeared on a 1978 postcard, in Persepolis markings with Imperial flag on vertical stabilizer.

Iran Helicopter Pilot Training Center

Iranian media publicized 31DEC14 opening ceremony of Iran’s first civilian helicopter pilot training center at the Kurdan branch of Iran’s Helicopter Aviation Company.

Following are photo IDs for helicopter types in attendance:

Iran Helicopter Co. Robinson R44 Raven II light utility and trainer helicopter, reg. EP-HRL (cn 13171)

Note: These Iranian operated Robinson R44 helicopters received quite a bit of attention at the recent Kish International Air Show, where mainstream media sources touted Iran's flouting of economic sanctions in acquiring these helicopters of American origin.

Iran Helicopter Co. Robinson R44 Raven II light utility and trainer helicopter, reg. EP-HRM

Iran Helicopter Co. Robinson R44 Raven II light utility and trainer helicopter, reg. EP-HRK

Iran Helicopter Co. Bell 205A-1 multipurpose utility helicopter, reg. EP-HTQ (cn 30189)

Iran Helicopter Co. Eurocopter AS-350B-3 Ecureuil, reg. EP-HEF (cn 3655)

Iran Helicopter Co. Bell 205A-1 multipurpose utility helicopter, reg. EP-HTQ (cn 30189)

Iran Helicopter Co. Sud SA-316B Alouette III light utility helicopter

Iran Helicopter Company hangar facility, Kurdan branch

Left: Iranian woman helicopter pilot wearing shoulder boards typically denoting status of first officer

Photos: Mehdi Bolourian at Fars News Agency and Younes Khani at Mehr News Agency

Taftan Air resumes operations with leased aircraft

Above: Taftan Air Fokker 50, reg. EP-FQB (cn 20263) on 14NOV14 at Shiraz/Shahid Dastghaib Intl (SYZ / OISS) 

(Photo: Reza Hajari) 

Taftan Air (SBT, Tehran Mehrabad) has resumed operations using four Fokker 50 aircraft leased from fellow Iranian operator, Qeshm Airlines (QB, Tehran Mehrabad). Livery on leased aircraft only slightly modified from existing Qeshm markings.

Prior to bankruptcy in December 2006, Taftan Air had operated its own fleet of Fokker 50 aircraft on flights throughout Iran.

Current operational aircraft now include EP-FQA (cn 20274), EP-FQB (cn 20263)..EP-FQC (cn 20275) and EP-FQD (cn 20265).

Aircraft remaining in storage presumed to include EP-TFN (cn 20302) and EP-TFT (cn 20298).

Kish International Air Show 2014

Photos of interest from the 7th Kish International Air Show, dated 18NOV14

Sorena 4-seat helicopter in IHSRC markings (Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company); claimed capable of "patrolling and training missions."

What appears to be civilian variant of HESA Bavar 2 ground effect vehicle "Persian Gulf"

Faired powerplant detail of HESA ground effect vehicle "Persian Gulf"

Ghods Ababil 3 reconnaissance UAV, with claimed flight duration of eight hours, operational radius of 250 kilometers, service ceiling of 15,000 feet and capable of relaying imagery to control platforms in real time.

Powerplant detail of Ghods Ababil 3 reconnaissance UAV

IRGC-N Aviation HESA Shahed 278 light utility helicopter

Pair of IRGC-ASF Embraer T-27 Tucano (EMB-312) light attack aircraft

IRGC-ASF aviator seated aboard Embraer T-27 Tucano

IRGC-ASF Mil Mi-17-1, serial 15-1237

IRGC-ASF Harbin Y12-II utility aircraft

IRGC-ASF Antonov An-74T-200 transport aircraft

Persian Gulf Aviation Service (PAS Co.) Bell 212 Twin Two-Twelve, reg EP-HTN (cn 30885)

Persian Gulf Aviation Service (PAS Co.) Bell 412 utility helicopter, reg. EP-PGD

Iranian remanufactured Robinson R44 Raven II, reg. EP-HRL

Alpi Pioneer 300 light-sport aircraft, reg. EP-1278

Unidentified Airbus A320-200 series in Iranian civil passenger service

Kish Air McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83), reg. EP-LCN (cn 49569/1405)

Foreground: Kish Air Fokker 100 (F-28-0100), reg. EP-LCP (cn 11495)

Kish Air Tupolev Tu-154M, reg. EP-LBS (cn 91A901) 

VIDEOS:

Photos: 
Mohsen Kermit at Mashregh News
Hossein Tahavori at Tasnim News Agency
Zohra Saberi at Mehr News Agency
uploader at military.ir