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BA & Canadian Airlines Team

Canadian Airlines and British Airways have announced a new partnership agreement encompassing code sharing on selected routes and reciprocal frequent flyer programs. From June 15 members of each airline’s frequent flyer programs will be able to accrue points on the other airline’s route network. Also from June 15 British Airways will begin selling seats under its own code on Canadian Airlines’ daily non-stop service between Calgary and London for passengers making through trips to points beyond the UK. This will be the first time British Airways has code shared on the transatlantic and marks BA’s return to Calgary after a 14-year absence. The two carriers will investigate further code sharing opportunities on each other’s networks.

Component Contract For ASTA

Rockwell has awarded its Australian subsidiary ASTA a multi-million dollar contract to manufacture precision stretch-formed aircraft skin panels. The contract calls for the long term production of precision stretch-formed aluminium skin panels in support of Rockwell’s North American Aircraft Division’s commercial aircraft programs. As part of the contract Rockwell will install new state-of-the-art stretch-forming and precision trimming technology equipment at ASTA’s Fishermens Bend plant. Announcing the contract, Rockwell’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Aerospace and Defense, John McLuckey noted that “Rockwell is committed to utilising ASTA’s capabilities in the global commercial and defence aerospace markets.”

We Have Moved

Australian Aviation has moved to new, larger offices. This will allow us to provide you with better service whilst enhancing our efficiency in the process. Effective from May 20 our new details were as follows: PO Box 1777, Fyshwick, ACT 2609. Phone (06) 280 0111, fax (06) 280 0007. For couriers and visitors our street address is 11 Molonglo Mall, Fyshwick, though please send all mail to the post office box.

Flight Training Returns To Point Cook

The ‘cradle’ of the RAAF, Point Cook, will once again be a centre for flight training following the decision to locate the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology’s Flight Training Centre at the historic airfield. The move is a result of close co-operation between the RMIT and the National Air and Space Museum which will also be located at Point Cook. RMIT has developed a range of aviation courses with an integrated flying training element. The new courses complement existing RMIT diploma and degree programs which include the Diploma of Applied Science (Aviation), Bachelor of Applied Science (Aviation), Bachelor of Applied Science (Aviation Engineering and Aerospace Engineering), and Bachelor of Transport and Logistics Management. For those wanting to fly, RMIT offers integrated training to CPL standards, Air Transport Licence theory, instrument ratings, instructor ratings, night VFR, twin-engined and aerobatic endorsements. RMIT also recently received senior management personnel from Aviation Industries of China to take part in a management training course.

Cheap Tassie Fares

Qantas has announced a range of ‘Go Tas’ discounted airfares to and from Tasmania for travel through to November 15. The ‘Go Tas’ fares provide discounts of up to 63% on some full fare prices. Examples of the fares include Sydney/Hobart and Sydney/Launceston return for $239 when purchased three weeks in advance and Brisbane/Hobart and Brisbane/Launceston return $359 (again when purchased three weeks in advance). Qantas says it deferred planned price increases on fares to and from Tasmania planned for May 15 following representations from the Tasmanian tourism minister Ray Groom to stimulate tourism traffic to and from Tasmania.

AEW & More Flankers For China?

China is believed to be negotiating with Ilyushin and GEC Marconi for a new AEW development of the Il-76 freighter. The negotiations are believed to be centred around fitting GEC Marconi’s Argus AEW system (based on technology it developed for the cancelled AEW Nimrod). A European Community embargo prohibits the export of European weaponry to China, but the ban does not expand to sensors including radars. An AEW platform would allow China to better exploit the capabilities of its Sukhoi Su-27 fighters. China has so far bought a total of 50 Su-27s from Russia in two batches and is believed to be negotiating for a third batch, pending the start of licence Su-27 production in China. China and Russia officially signed an Su-27 licence production deal in February this year. Decisions on extra Flankers and the AEW Il-76 are expected soon.

Airbus Studies Light A310

Airbus is closely looking at improving the A310’s operating costs to better compete with proposed variants of Boeing’s 757 (refer p38 May 96 AA) by reducing weight. One means of reducing the A310’s weight would be through cutting its fuel load and hence its max takeoff weight. The reduced fuel load would cut range from the A310-300’s 5,150 nm (9,540 km) to about 4,300 nm (7,960 km). General Electric is also looking at the lightened A310 as a possible platform for the new 51,000 lb (226 kN) class turbofan it is studying for the proposed A340 stretch, the A340-600.