Safair (FA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) parent firm, the ASL Aviation Group, signed a Letter of Intent with Lockheed Martin (LHM, Palmdale Regional) for an order of up to ten LM-100Js at the ongoing Farnborough International Airshow 2014.

The LM-100J is the civil-certified version of the Lockheed Hercules C-130J and is an updated version of the L-100 (or L-382) cargo aircraft. Safair currently operates one of the world’s largest L-100 fleets and will use the incoming order to replace its existing airframes.

“Being based on the world’s most proven airlifter, the LM-100J enables us to continue to support our global customers, and position our company for the future with increased capabilities that only the LM-100J can deliver. We take pride in our legacy L-100 fleet and eagerly look forward to our future as LM-100J operators,” said Hugh Flynn, chief executive, ASL Aviation Group.

Lockheed Martin officials submitted a Program Notification Letter to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on January 21, 2014, for a type design update for its Model L-382J aircraft; a civil-certified variant of the C-130J Super Hercules to be marketed as the LM-100J.