Boeing adds two more 787s to test fleet
Boeing has announced that it will add a further two 787s to its flight test program for the type after announcing recently that delivery of the first aircraft will be delayed until the middle for the first quarter of 2011. Unlike the six aircraft originally identified as being involved in the flight test program, the [...]
All-electric aircraft flies
The world’s first all-electrically powered aircraft made its first flight from Le Bourget airport near Paris on September 2. The four engine, all-eletric Cri-Cri aerobatic aircraft was jointly developed by EADS Innovation Works, Aero Composites Saintonge and the Green Cri-Cri Association, and its maiden flight lasted for seven minutes before the aircraft returned to Le [...]
Lessor signs MoU for SSJ100s
US lessor Willis Lease Finance Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase four Sukhoi SuperJet 100s and four options. The agreement is valued at US$300m (A$330m), with the first aircraft expected to be delivered in 2012.
Virgin, Etihad sever competing links
Virgin Blue and Etihad Airways have begun winding back their relationships with Emirates and Qantas respectively after the announcement of a wide ranging codeshare alliance between the two airlines. Virgin Blue has announced that it will end its codeshare arrangement with Emirates on trans-Tasman services while it will also sever its loyalty program relationship. The [...]
RR denies engine failure link to 787 delay
Rolls-Royce says that there is no link between the uncontained failure of a Trent 1000 during ground testing and the delay in delivering the first 787. The engine manufacturer said in a statement to Australian Aviation that the failure of the engine during a test run in early August “caused no disruption to the Boeing [...]
Qantas 747 engine failure linked to AD?
An uncontained engine failure on board Qantas Boeing 747-400 VH-OGP earlier this week could be linked to a recently issued FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) which was issued following the discovery of cracks in the low pressure turbine of a number of Rolls-Royce RB211 engines. The AD, which takes effect from September 27, calls for the [...]
A350 production commences in Germany
Airbus Germany started work on a major wing component for the A350 XWB at its production facility in Stade on August 31 in a ceremony attended by Airbus CEO Tom Enders, as well as senior German government officials. The first component being manufactured for the A350 in Germany is an upper wing shell for the [...]
New airpark for Bundaberg
A Queensland property developer has launched plans for a 12 hectare airpark development adjacent to Bundaberg Airport with the support of the Bundaberg Regional Council. The Kensington Parkside project is being managed by John Pressler, and will see the development of up to 600 residential detached dwellings, townhouses and duplexes, including 100 homes with direct [...]
Citation crash in PNG kills four
Trans Air PNG Cessna Citation II P2-TAA crashed after overshooting the runway while landing at Misima Island in PNG on August 31, killing four, including Australian regional aviation identity Les Wright, and leaving one in hospital. The crash killed Trans Air PNG co-owner and former Transair chief pilot Les Wright, two other Australians and a [...]
Airports want A380 services – Emirates
Emirates says that it has fielded enquiries from a number of airports around the world after it recently ordered 32 additional A380s at the Berlin Airshow, while it has now launched A380 services to Manchester. “As a result of our announcement in Berlin, we have had enquiries from more than 20 airports across the world, [...]
International traffic surged during June
There were over two million international passengers during June according to a new report from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE), continuing a recent growing trend in international travel. Compared to June 2009, the number of international passengers passing through Australian airports increased by 14.3 per cent, as available seats increased by [...]
