News Desk

Deliveries Are Scheduled to Begin in the Second Half of 2010.

Eads Managers May Be Cited for Insider Trading – Report a Report Prepared by Paris Prosecutors Reportedly Recommends Citing Current and Former Senior Managers of Eads and Its Major Shareholders After It Found They Had Sold Down Their Stock in the Company in the Lead Up to the June 2006 Announcement of Major Delays to the Airbus A380 Program.

Allegations of “massive Insider Trading” Have Been Leaked to French Media Following the Recommendation That Prosecutions Be Pursued Against Those Involved. The Allegations Focus on the Selling Down of Shares by 21 Senior Managers of Eads, Daimlerchrysler and Lagadere Between July 2005 and June 2006, Before the Announcement by Then Airbus Ceo Gustav Humbert That the A380 Program Was Suffering Major Delays Due to Manufacturing Errors With That Aircraft’s Electrical Wiring System, and Whether the Managers Knew of the Impending Delays to the Program Before They Sold Shares.

Current Airbus Ceo Tom Enders, Former Airbus Ceo Noël Forgeard, as Well as Eads Co-chairmen Arnaud Lagardère and Manfred Bischoff Have Been Named by French Media as Some of Those Under Investigation. The A380 is Running Up to Two Years Behind Schedule.

Forgeard Told France’s Le Figaro Newspaper in Late October That He Had No Prior Knowledge of the A380’s Delays When He Sold Down His Stake in Eads in 2006, and Claims Airbus Plant Managers in Hamburg Kept the Production Problems to Themselves as They Tried to Solve the Problems With the Aircraft’s Wiring System.

“eads is Most Surprised by the Publication of Information in Today’s Press Concerning the Investigation Currently Conducted by the French Stock Market Authority on Alleged Insider Trading on Eads Shares,” the Company Said in a Brief Statement. “eads Considers That Such Leaks Constitute an Unlawful Violation of the Confidentiality of the Current Investigations and of the Principle of the Presumption of Innocence. Eads Will Not Comment Further on the Matter and Reserves All Its Rights in the Circumstances. ” the Company Added That It Would Not Comment Further on the Allegations.

Wto Case Gets Muddier as Canada Enters Fray the Drawn Out World Trade Organisation (Wto) Case Between the Us and Europe Over Subsidies Received by Aerospace Giants Airbus and Boeing Has Been Complicated Further With the Entry of Canada Into the Equation.

Reportedly Concerned About Its Support of Regional Jet Manufacturer Bombardier Getting Caught Up in the Battle, the Canadian Government Has Now Launched Its Own Case in the Wto as It Attempts to Ward Off Any Attempts by the Eu to Expand the Definition of What Constitutes a ‘subsidy’. “at the End of the Day, as in All These Cases, It’s All About Safeguarding Marketshare,” a Toronto Based Trade Lawyer Told Canada’s ‘globe and Mail’ Newspaper. “in Canada’s Case, Bombardier’s. ” Boeing and Airbus and, by Default, Their Respective Governments, Have Been at Loggerheads Over the Amount of Subsidies Each Manufacturer Receives From Various States and Countries. In Airbus’s Case, Boeing Contends That It Receives Low Interest Launch Aid From Eu Governments That is Only Repayable if an Aircraft Breaks Even, While Airbus Claims Boeing Has Been Subsidised by the Us Government in the Form of Military Contracts, Has Been Given Access to R&d From Nasa for Decades, and That It Receives Huge Tax Incentives From Washington and Kansas to Retain Its Production Facilities in Those States.

Canada Was Previously Involved in a Subsidy Battle When Bombardier and Brazilian Rival Embraer Fought a Wto Case in 2002 Over Government Subsidies Which Ended in a Stalemate. “if the Eu Were to Succeed, It Could Open the Door to Renewed Challenges by Brazil Seeking to Protect Embraer’s Foreign Markets Against Bombardier,” the Trade Lawyer Added.

Airbus’s Us Division Head Has Appealed to Both His Parent Company and to Boeing to Abandon the Case and Try to Negotiate a New Trade Agreement. “Let’s Face It: if the Wto Process Plays Out, We’re Going to End Up Negotiating Something Anyway,” Airbus North America Chairman Allan Mcartor Said in an Interview With ‘thompson Financial’. “Why Not Skip the National Histrionics and the Lawyer-enriching Trials and Hearings and Go Right to the Negotiating. ”

Emirates Leans Towards A350 as 787-10 Comes Up Short Emirates is Reportedly Leaning Towards Airbus’s A350-1000 Over the Yet-to-be-launched 787-10 Because the Boeing Jet Looks Like It Will Be Underpowered.

Speaking to ‘bloomberg’ on October 18, Emirates President Tim Clark Says the 310+ Seat 787-10 Will Be Too Heavy for Its Ge Genx Engines. “It Needs More Thrust,” He Said. “It’s Not a View Shared by Boeing, but My Instinct Tells Me It Needs More. ” “the A350 is Now an Airplane We’re Prepared to Study Seriously,” He Added. “They Listened, and From What We See of the A350 Now It’s an Essentially Good Airplane and It Matches the 787 Offering From Boeing. ” Boeing and Ge Are Both in a Difficult Situation Over the A350. Despite Keen Interest From Blue-chip Airlines Such as Emirates and Qantas, Boeing is Reluctant to Build the Stretched 787 for Fear It May Undermine the Market for Its Popular 777, While Ge Doesn’t Want to Build a Larger Engine for the A350 Because the 777-300er (and -200lr) is Powered Exclusively by Its Ge90 Engine. Emirates is Looking to Order Up to 100 Large Twin Jets.

Currently, Only Rolls-royce Has Undertaken to Build an Engine for the A350.

No Metro Replacement in Foreseeable Future Representatives of Major Regional Airliner Manufacturers Have Told the Annual Regional Aviation Association of Australia Convention at Coolum That There Are Few Prospects for a Successor to Aircraft in the 19 to 26 Seat Market in the Foreseeable Future.

With the Fairchild Metro, Embraer Brasilia and Saab 340 All Strongly Represented in the Australian Market but All Now Well Out of Production, Second Hand Examples Are Currently the Only Option for Airlines Looking to Upgrade Their Equipment.

Local Atr Sales Head Laurent Negre Told the Convention That the Global Metro Fleet in Particular Was So Widely Dispersed That There Was Little Prospect of Securing a Launch Customer Large Enough to Underwrite Such an Aircraft’s Development. He Said the Average Airline Fleet of Metros Was Only About 2. 7 Aircraft.

Atr, Embraer and Raytheon Representatives All Agreed That in Order to Make Sufficient Gains in Efficiency and Reduced Operating Costs Over the Large Fleet of Metros, Brasilias, B1900c/ds and Other Types in This Category, a Big Advance in Engine Technology Would Be Required. Until Then, Operators Would Have to Continue to Rely on Used Examples, or Upgrade to Larger 36-seat Dash 8-200s or 42-seat Atr 42-500s.

Negre Added That Without New Engine Technology, Any New Aircraft Offerings in These Categories Would Only Offer Marginal Gains Over the Incumbents, and That Their Cost Would Need to Be Kept to Between Us$8m and Us$10m (a$8. 8m-a$11m) in Order for Even the Larger Operators to Be Able to Afford Them. He Said This Was Not Currently Possible in Developed Countries.

300 E-jets for Embraer Embraer Has Delivered Its 300th E-jet, an E-175 to Northwest, Just 43 Months After the First E-170 Was Delivered to Lot Polish Airlines in March 2004.

The Aircraft Was the Fifth 175 Out of an Order for 36 Aircraft to Be Delivered to Northwest’s Regional Subsidiary, Compass Airlines. E-jets Are Now Flying With More Than 40 Airlines Around the World on Every Continent, Including Virgin Blue, Airnorth and Skyairworld in Australia.

“the Delivery of the 300th E-jet is a Great Achievement for Embraer and We Are Honoured That Northwest Airlines is Receiving This Airplane,” Embraer’s Executive Vice President, Airline Market, Mauro Kern Said in a Statement. “the Four Pillars That Supported the Launch of the E-jets Program Back in 1999 – Natural Growth of the 50-seat Regional Jet Markets, Replacement of Old and Inefficient Jets, Development of New Markets at Low Cost, and Right-sizing Low Load Factor Narrow Body Flights, Are Still in Place and Will Be the Drivers of Future Fleet Decisions of Many Airlines. ” Embraer Has Struggled to Meet Demand for the E—jets, and Reports It Was Holding Firm Orders for 712 E-jets and 756 Options as of September 30. It Said It Delivered 38 Airliners in the Third Quarter to September 30, Comprising Two Erj-145s, Four E-170s, Nine E-175s, 20 E-190s and Three E-195s. But Despite Having Delivered Only 85 Aircraft Year to September 30, the Company Remains Confident It Can Overcome Its Production Ramp Up Delays to Meet Its Delivery Target of 165 Airliners and Business Jets in 2007.

Commercial Briefs

Qatar Airways Has Pushed Back Its Order for Five A380s for Delivery in 2012, the Third Time the Airline Has Delayed Its A380 Delivery. Qatar Ordered Two A380s in 2001 and Added Three More at July’s Paris Airshow. The Latest Delay is So Qatar Can Induct the Aircraft After Construction of the Delayed Doha International Airport is Completed.

Ge Aviation Has Been Selected to Provide Upgraded Flight Management Systems (Fms) for 200 737-300s Operated by Southwest Airlines.

The General Electric Cf34-10a Turbofan Destined for China’s Avic1 Arj21-700 Regional Airliner Had Its Maiden Test Run at Ge’s Peebles, Ohio, Facility on October 8. The Cf34-10 is a Derivative of the Cf34-10e as Used on Embraer’s E-190/195.

A Newspaper Report in France Has Suggested That A380 Deliveries to Emirates May Commence in April Next Year Rather Than August as is Currently Scheduled. The Report in La Tribune Quoting an Airbus Source Claims Emirates is Pressuring Airbus to Deliver the First Aircraft in Time for the Opening of the New Terminals at Dubai Airport in May. Emirates Has 55 Engine Alliance Powered A380s on Order.

Boeing Has Announced Its Third Quarter Deliveries Which Show the Company Delivered 109 Aircraft Between July 1 and September 30, Comprising 81 737s, Five 747s, Three 767s and 20 777s. To September 30, the Company Had Delivered 329 Airliners and Remains on Track to Deliver Its Forecast 440 Aircraft for 2007.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Has Reportedly Chosen Pratt & Whitney to Supply the Engines for Its Yet-to-be-launched Regional Jet Airliner. Reports Indicate Mitsubishi Hoped to Begin Offering the Aircraft to Prospective Customers in November and Will Not Launch the Project With Fewer Than 100 Orders.

Workers at Four Airbus Plants Around Europe Have Threatened to Strike if Parent Company Eads Fails to Listen to Their Opposition to the Planned Sale of the Facilities. As Many as 10,000 Jobs Are Threatened by the Sale of the Plants, Which Would Continue to Supply Components for Airbus Programs Under the Power8 Restructuring Program.

Pratt & Whitney Has Reportedly Completed the Assembly of a Full-scale Geared Turbofan Engine and Has Shipped It to the Company’s Advanced Test Facility in Florida for Ground Testing in Early December. The Geared Turbofan Promises Fuel Burn Reductions of More Than 10 Per Cent, Noise and Emission Improvements of Up to 50 Per Cent, and a Reduction in Maintenance Costs of Up to 40 Per Cent. The Engine is Expected to Fly on P&w’s 747 Testbed Late Next Year.

Military

Raaf Team Recognised for Rapid C-17 Introduction the Raaf’s C-17 Transition Team and 36sqn Has Been Recognised by the Australian Regional Division of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (Gapan) for Its Efforts in Introducing the C-17 Globemaster Iii Into Raaf Service.

The Team, Led by Former 37sqn Commanding Officer Gpcapt Gary Martin, and 36sqn, Commanded by Wgcdr Linda Corbould, Was Presented With the Gapan Grand Master’s Australian Medal at a Ceremony on October 25, an Award Which Was Approved by Hrh Prince Andrew, Duke of York, the Grand Master of Gapan.

“the Raaf C-17 Globemaster Iii Transition Team Achieved What Many Considered Impossible – the Successful Research, Compilation, and Presentation in Less Than Two Months of Documentation and Data to Support What Was, at the Time, the Largest Financial Acquisition in Raaf History,” the Master of Gapan, Group Captain Roger Gault (Retired) Said in a Statement.

“it is an Honour to Collect the Grand Master Medal on Behalf of 36 Squadron and the Transition Team,” Gpcapt Martin Said. “the C-17 is Fulfilling Its Duties as a Global Airlifter in Raaf Service. It Has Already Supported a Number of Short-notice, High-priority Tasks for the Australian Defence Force. ” After Being Ordered in February 2006, the Raaf’s First C-17 Entered Service With the Raaf in December, and the Unit Declared Initial Operational Capability (Ioc) Just Nine Months Later in August.

Raaf Hawks Grounded

the Raaf’s Fleet of Hawk 127 Lead in Fighter (Lif) Trainers Returned to the Air on November 7 After Being Temporarily Grounded Following the Discovery of Cracking in Non Load-bearing Areas of the Wing/fuselage Join of at Least One Raaf Jet.

“on Tuesday 23 October While Undergoing a Deeper Maintenance Servicing, a Crack Was Found in a Part of the Wing Structure of One of the Raaf’s Hawk Aircraft,” an Adf Spokesman Told ‘australian Aviation’. “local Commanders Temporarily Suspended Flying Operations While the Issue Was Investigated Further. The Crack Was Found in a Part of the Wing Structure That is Not Load Bearing (the Secondary Structure). The Cause of the Crack is Unknown at This Time and is Being Investigated Further. ” “a Special Technical Instruction Was Prepared That Stipulated What Inspections and, Where Appropriate, Rectifications Needed to Be Carried Out Prior to a Resumption in Flying. ” All 33 Hawk Aircraft From Williamtown Based 76sqn and Pearce’s 79sqn Were Subsequently Inspected for Cracking to Determine Whether This is a One-off Occurrence or is a Fleet-wide Issue.

Surveillance Australia Takes Final Dash 8 Mpa

Canada’s Field Aviation Has Delivered the 10th and Final Bombardier Dash 8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (Mpa) to Adelaide’s Surveillance Australia for Its Fulfilment of Australian Customs’ Sentinel Contract.

Surveillance Australia Took Delivery of Its First Three Dash 8s in 1996, All Q200 Models, With Two More Following in 2000, to Fulfil Its Original Coastwatch Contract. Five Additional Aircraft, One Q200 and Four Longer Ranging Q300s, Were Ordered in 2005 Following the Awarding of Customs’ Follow on 12 Year Cms04 (Later Renamed Sentinel) Tender to Surveillance Australia, Which Commences on January 1 2008.

“the Successful Operation of the Dash 8 Mpas in Australia Has Not Gone Unnoticed,” Field Aviation’s Joar Gronlund Said in a Statement. “our International Customer List for Dash 8 Mpas Has Now Grown, With the Addition of Us Customs and Border Protection, the Swedish Coast Guard, Japanese Coast Guard and the Icelandic Coast Guard. The Number of Dash 8 Mpas Deliveries Will Reach 23 Within the Next Two Years Based on Current Orders, and We Are Still Counting. ” the Aircraft Were Delivered Straight From Bombardier to Field Aviation for Structural and Systems Modification Work, Before the Final Fitout of Its Sensors, Operator Stations and Systems Racks Was Completed by Surveillance Australia at the Adelaide Base It Shares With Parent Company, National Jet Systems.

Super Hornet Weapons Deal Signed

the Adf Has Signed for a Comprehensive Weapons Package for Its 24 F/a-18f Super Hornets Under a Us$617m (a$687m) Deal With the Us.

Under the Deal, the Raaf Will Receive 43 Aim-9x Sidewinder Air-to-air Missiles and 50 Agm-154c Jsow Precision Bombs, as Well as 90 Jhmcs Helmets, 18 Atflir Targeting Pods, 32 an/pvs-9 Night Vision Goggle Sets, 16 Mids-lvt Terminals, and 24 an/alq-214 Idecm Countermeasures Systems. The Us Defense Security Cooperation Agency Says “system Integration and Testing, Software Development/integration, Test Sets and Support Equipment, Spare and Repair Parts, Publications and Technical Documents, Us Government and Contractor Technical Assistance, and Other Related Elements of Logistics and Program Support” is Also Included in the Package.

Curiously, the Amount Stated for the Package Appears to Be Excessive for the Relatively Small Number of Weapons and Systems Listed, Indicating Additional Undisclosed Weapons and Systems May Have Also Been Ordered.

Funding for the Weapons Package Will Come From the Supplemental $6. 6 Billion Air 5349 Bridging Air Combat Capability (Bacc) Program Announced in March This Year.

Raaf Sends Students to Canada

the Raaf Has Sent 12 Students to the Bombardier-operated Nato Flying Training in Canada (Nftc) School at Cold Lake Afb.

The Nftc Said Recently That Australia Recently Signed an Mou to Send the Trainees and Instructors to Canada for 12 Months Where They Will Be Trained on Raytheon T-6b Harvard Ii Advanced Trainers.

“air Force Will Train 12 Students at the Nftc Pilot Training System Over the Period September 2007 to December 2008,” a Defence Spokesman Said in a Response to Questions From Australian Aviation. “offshore Training is One Initiative in a Pilot Training Strategy to Increase the Number of Pilots That Defence Will Require for the New Aircraft Being Introduced Into Each of the Services Over the Next Ten Years. The Nftc Advanced Pilot Training System Has Been Selected Because It More Closely Aligns With Our Current Advanced Pilot Training at Raaf Base Pearce. ” the Raaf’s Fleet of Pc-9/a Advanced Trainers Were Scheduled to Undergo a Cockpit Systems Upgrade, and Are Due to Be Replaced Under Project Air 5428 Early Next Decade, but This Upgrade Looks to Have Been Delayed or Abandoned.

“the Proposed Upgrade of the Electronic Flight Information System (Efis) Was Developed to Meet the Risk of the Existing Equipment Not Being Supported by Industry Through to the Planned Withdrawal Date for the Pc9/a,” the Spokesman Added. “based on Current Assessments, It is Unlikely That the Proposed Modifications Will Be Required for the Pc-9/a. Initially, Only the Adelaide-based (Ardu) Three Aircraft Pc9/a Sub-fleet Will Be Modified. ”

First Dual Jhmcs Cockpit F/a-18f Delivered Boeing Has Delivered the First Factory Installed Dual Cockpit Joint Helmet-mounted Cueing System (Jhmcs) Configured F/a-18f Super Hornet to the Us Navy.

The Aircraft is the First of 101 New Build Aircraft to Be Configured as Such, Including the 24 Jets on Order for the Raaf for Delivery in 2010 and 2011.

The Dual Helmet Aircraft Will Allow Both Crew Members to More Rapidly Acquire and Designate Targets, as Well as Cue Weapons and Sensors. Aircraft Performance and Other Tactical Information is Also Projected Onto the Visor of the Helmet, Giving Both Crew Members Greater Situational Awareness During Periods of High Workload.

The System is Being Trialled by the Us Navy’s Vx-9 at China Lake in California.

Us Gao Report Backs C-27j Jca Decision the Us Government Accountability Office’s Report Into the L-3/alenia/boeing C-27j’s Win in the Us’s Joint Cargo Aircraft (Jca) Competition Has Revealed the Competing Raytheon/eads C-295m Was Unable to Meet Certain Performance Requirements of the Competition.

The Report Claims That, Despite the C-27j Being About 15 Per Cent More Expensive Than the C-295m, “based on the High Performance Risk of the C-295’s Air Vehicle, the Cost Trade-off is Justified. ” Raytheon Had Appealed the C-27j’s Selection Based on Its Us$2. 04bn (a$2. 26bn) Acquisition Cost Against Us$1. 77bn (a$1. 96bn) for the C-295, Prompting the Gao Investigation.

The Report Said the Us Army, Which Has Teamed With the Usaf on the Aircraft Acquisition Program, Had Concerns Over the C-295’s Ability to Meet the “Threshold” Minimum Service Ceiling Requirement, Specifically Being Able to Fly at 25,000ft While Carrying a Crew of Four, a 5450kg Payload and Enough Fuel for a 2220km Mission With a 45 Minute Reserve. The Gao Upheld the Project Office’s Ratings That Found Raytheon’s Approach to the Mission Requirements Were “marginal” in Some Areas and “high Risk” in Others.

The C-27j and C-295m Are Contenders for the Raaf’s Project Air 8000 Phase 2 to Replace the Caribou.

Singapore Orders More F-15s the Singapore Ministry of Defence Has Converted Options It Was Holding for Eight F-15sgs Into Firm Orders and Has Ordered an Additional Four Aircraft, Taking the Total Number of F-15s on Order to 24.

Singapore Ordered an Initial 12 F-15sgs in Late 2005 to Replace a-4su Skyhawks in the Strike and Maritime Attack Roles From 2009. The F-15sg is an Advanced Derivative of the Usaf’s F-15e Featuring More Powerful Ge F110 Engines, Apg-63(V)3 Aesa Radar, and Other Advanced Sensors and Weapons.

The First F-15sg is Due to Fly Late Next Year and Will Be Delivered to the Rsaf in 2009. It is Likely the First Batch of Aircraft Will Remain in the Us for Some Time, Reportedly at Mountain Home Afb in Idaho, While They Are Worked Up Towards Ioc.

A400m Slips Six Months

Airbus Military Has Confirmed That Deliveries of Its A400m Airlifter Will Be Delayed by at Least Six Months Following Delays in the Development of Its Engines.

The Tpm400 Engines Are Being Developed by the Europrop Consortium Comprising Rolls-royce, Spain’s Itp, Mtu of Germany, and Snecma.

“A400m Deliveries Are Now Expected to Start Six Months Later Than Initially Planned With a Risk of a Further Slippage of Up to a Half Year,” Eads Representatives Told ‘reuters’ on October 16. “the Rescheduling of the Program is Driven by the Slow Progress in Engine Development. . . , Schedule Overruns in the Systems Development and a Flight Test Program That Differs Significantly From That of Commercial Airbus Aircraft. ” the Delays Have Reportedly Prompted a Management Re-shuffle at Europrop. Managing Director José Massol Left the Company on October 1 and Was Replaced by Nick Durham, While Snecma’s Chief Executive Phillippe Petitcolin Has Been Appointed as a Non-executive Chairman of the Group.

The First Test Flight of the A400m is Now Not Scheduled to Occur Until July Next Year at the Earliest, With First Deliveries of the 192 Aircraft Currently on Order by France, Germany, Spain, Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Turkey, South Africa and Malaysia Now Not Expected Until Mid 2010.

Usaf Punishes 70 Following Nuke ‘bent Spear’ Incident the Usaf Has Relieved Three Officers of Their Command and Has Punished Up to 67 Airmen Following an Incident Where a B-52h Crew Unknowingly Flew From North Dakota to Louisiana Carrying Nuclear Armed Cruise Missiles.

The August Incident Saw the B-52 Mistakenly Loaded With Six Live Agm-129 Advanced Cruise Missile (Acm) Rounds Instead of Disarmed Weapons on the Afternoon of August 28. The Loaded Aircraft Subsequently Sat Unguarded on the Ground Overnight at Minot Afb Before Departing the Next Day for Barksdale Afb, and It Wasn’t Until After the Aircraft Had Landed at Barksdale That It Was Discovered the Weapons Were Fitted With Live Warheads. As the Weapons Were Effectively Missing and Unguarded for 24 Hours, the Pentagon Reported the Incident as a “bent Spear”, a Term That Denotes Nuclear Weapons Being Misplaced but Without Threat of Detonation.

Acms Are Stored in Loads of Six on Their Pylons in a Secure Bunker Area at Minot. The Incident Resulted After a Series of Procedural Errors Were Made, Including the Crew Not Inspecting All of the Pylons in the Weapons Storage Area, the Crew Hauling the Pylon by Trailer to the Aircraft Failing to Inspect the Missiles, the Minot Mission Control Centre Failing to Verify the Status of the Pylons in Their Database, and the B-52 Crew’s Navigator Only Checking the Six Missiles on the Right Wing Which Had Been Correctly Disarmed, but Not the Six Weapons on the Left.

Relived of Command Were the Commander and Maintenance Group Commander of Minot’s 5th Bomb Wing, and Barksdale’s 2nd Operations Group Commander.

Skunk Works to Develop Composite Airlifter Lockheed Martin’s Famed Skunk Works Research Division Has Been Given the Go-ahead to Develop a Composite Airframe Tactical Airlifter by the Us Air Force Research Laboratory (Afrl).

The Prototype Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft (Acca) Will Be Developed From a Dornier 328 Under an X-plane Program to Explore Innovative Structural Configurations and Concepts Including Advanced Prototyping and Composite Technologies.

“With Acca We Are Attempting to Reinvent the Manufacturing Paradigm Through the Strategic Use of Composite Manufacturing Technologies,” the Skunk Works’ Vice President, Advanced Systems Development, Frank Mauro Told Us Media. “This is an Important Opportunity to Forever Change the Way Composites Are Used in Aircraft Manufacturing, Leading to Lighter, Less Expensive, More Durable Aircraft That Are Easier to Maintain. ”

Power on for First F-35b the First Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (Stovl) F-35b Development Aircraft Had Electrical Power Applied to It for the First Time on October 25.

Power to Aircraft Bf-1, the First ‘weight Optimised’ F-35, Was Applied as a Key Milestone Towards the Aircraft’s Planned First Flight Early Next Year. “This Event is One of the Major Milestones in the Life of the Stovl Aircraft and We Have Eagerly Anticipated It for Some Time,” Major General Davis, the F-35 Program Executive Officer, Said in a Statement. “the F-35 Has the Most Complex Electrical System of Any Fighter to Date. We Had Great Success With the First Jet We Flew, but That Jet Taught Us Some Very Important Lessons About Its Electrical System and Those Lessons Have Been Incorporated Into the Jet We Powered Up Today. ” the First F-35, Aa-1, Has Been Grounded for Five Months After an Electrical Anomaly Momentarily Cut Power to the Aircraft’s Control Systems During Its 19th Test Flight. Although Backup Systems Quickly Cut in and the Aircraft Landed Safely, the Compressed Nature of the Aircraft’s Development Timetable Means the Program Can Ill Afford to Lose an Aircraft in a Crash, So Bf-1’s Electrical and Other Systems Will Likely Be Even More Rigorously Analysed That Normal Before Its First Flight.

The Us Marine Corps and the Uk’s Raf and Royal Navy Have Requirements for About 400 F-35bs to Replace Av-8b and Harrier Gr. 7/9s From 2012, While Prospective Sales to Italy, Spain, and Possibly Thailand and India Will Boost That Number.

Meanwhile, Israel Has Reportedly Cut a Deal With the Pentagon to Begin Taking F-35as From as Early as 2012.

The ‘jerusalem Post’ Reported on October 26 That Meetings Between Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Us Defense Secretary Robert Gates Resulted in Israel Securing Deliveries of the F-35a From 2012 With Provision for Israeli Ew Components and Weapons to Be Added. “We Asked That for Every Two Jets Manufactured for the Us, One Be Manufactured for Israel,” a Senior Israeli Defence Official Was Quoted as Saying, Adding That Acquisition of the Aircraft Would Greatly Increase Israel’s Deterrence Against Iran and Syria. It is Unclear Whether Early Deliveries of F-35as to Israel Will Affect the Delivery Schedule of Aircraft to the Us and to Partner Nations Such as Australia and the Netherlands.

While Not a Full Industrial Partner in the Jsf Program, Israel is a Security Cooperation Participant Alongside Singapore, a Status Which Gives It Observer Rights on the Program.

Usaf Wants More C-17s and F-22s the Usaf Has Been Lobbying Hard on Capitol Hill for Funding to Keep the C-17 Transport and F-22 Fighter Production Lines Open.

Speaking Before the Us House Armed Services Committee (Hasc), Usaf Secretary Michael Wynne and Chief of Staff Gen Michael Moseley Indicated They Would Like More C-17s to Replace Ageing and Increasingly Unreliable C-5a Galaxy Transports, an Additional 20 F-22s, as Well as to Take Over Control of the Joint Cargo Aircraft (Jca) Program From the Army.

The C-5m Upgrade Program Has Suffered Cost Blowouts in Recent Months, to the Point Where the Program is Now Under a Legally Mandated Review. In the Meantime, C-17s Have Been Increasingly Tasked for Strategic Heavy Lift Missions in Place of the C-5s, Meaning There Are Fewer Aircraft Available for Tactical and Theatre Heavylift Missions.

The Usaf Also Wants to Keep the F-22 Line Open Until the F-35 Jsf is Well Into Full Rate Production. The F-22 Final Assembly Line in Georgia is Currently Scheduled to Wind Down in 2011 After the 183rd and Final Aircraft is Delivered, and New Orders Will Need to Be Placed by the End of 2008 in Order to Keep Long-lead Item Production Going. F-35 Low Rate Production Will Start in 2009 but is Not Scheduled to Reach Full Rate Levels Until 2014.

Similarly, the Usaf Has Taken Delivery of 170 of the 180 C-17s It Currently Has on Order, and Manufacturer Boeing Has Reportedly Been Using Its Own Funds in Order to Keep Long-lead Item Production Going in the Hope of Further Orders. The Senate Has Allocated Us$500m (a$541m) for Fy08 to Mothball the C-17 Line Once Production Ends, an Amount Which is Yet to Be Supported by the House Side, However It Would Still Cost Billions to Re-start Production if Additional Aircraft Were Required.

The Two Usaf Leaders Were Reprimanded by Democratic Committee Members for Focussing on Budget Issues Rather Than Providing a Strategic View of Where the Usaf Was Heading.

Military Briefs

Iran Has Reportedly Ordered Two Squadrons of 24 Chengdu J-10 Fighters From China, According to Russia’s Kommersant Newspaper. The J-10, Considered Roughly Comparable to the Block 40/42 F-16c/d or Jas-39a/b Gripen in Capability, Was Developed With the Assistance of Israel in the 1990s From That Country’s Cancelled Lavi Program, and Entered Service With China Last Year.

Sweden’s Defence Material Administration, Fmv, Has Contracted Saab to Upgrade Sweden’s 31 Jas-39a/b Gripens to C/d Standard in a Deal Valued at Us$709m (a$767m).

Canada Will Reportedly Offer to Buy Brazil’s Soon-to-be Retired Fleet of Buffalo Transports So They May Be Cannibalised for Spares to Keep Canada’s Fleet of Six Buffalos Operational Until at Least 2015.

Boeing and Northrop Grumman Have Teamed Up to Develop a New Airborne Electronic Attack Capability for the Venerable B-52h. The Proposed B-52h Core Component Jammer (Ccj) Program, as Yet Unfunded by the Usaf, Will Provide Long Range Radar Jamming Capabilities for the B-52.

Thailand Has Selected the Saab Jas-39 Gripen to Replace Its Fleet of Northrop F-5a/b Fighters. Up to 12 Gripens, Possibly Remanufactured Ex-swedish Air Force Jas-39a/bs Upgraded to Jas-39c/d Standard, Will Be Acquired by 2017 in Two Batches of Six, Along With Two Saab 340 Erieye Aew&c Aircraft. Ironically, Thailand’s Military Government May Never Be Able to Take Delivery of the Aircraft as Sweden’s Constitution Prevents It From Selling Weapons to Non-democratic States.

The South Korean Government Has Given the Go-ahead to Allocate Funding for the Acquisition of Up to Four Global Hawk Uavs by 2011.

Work Has Commenced on the Manufacturing of Components for the First F-35c Carrier Version of the Jsf. The First Aft-fuselage Titanium and Aluminium Frames Are Being Manufactured by Bae Systems in the Uk. The Aircraft is Due to Join the F-35 Test Fleet in Late 2009.

Boeing is Seeking Support From the Us Army for Its C-17b Proposal. The C-17b Would Feature Shorter Field Performance Thanks to More Powerful Engines, a Centreline Main Landing Gear, and Redesigned Trailing Edge Flaps. Boeing Claims the Aircraft Would Be Cheaper Than the Planned Advanced Battlefield Airlifter Currently Under Study.

The Chilean Navy Has Ordered Three and Taken Options on an Additional Five Eads Casa C-295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

Germany’s Luftwaffe Has Ordered Two Airbus Acj Corporate Airliners for Vip Transport Duties.

The Usaf Has Deployed the Mq-9 Reaper (Predator B) Operationally for the First Time Following the Commencement of Operational in Afghanistan on September 25.

The Contract for the Building of the Ran’s Two Canberra/juan Carlo I Class Amphibious Ships Was Signed by Representatives of the Commonwealth, Tenix Defence and Spanish Shipbuilder Navantia on October 9. The Hulls of the Ships Will Be Built in Spain, While Construction of the Superstructure, the Fitout and the Ships’ Systems Integration Will Be Done by Tenix at Williamstown in Melbourne.

The Specially-developed F-35 Helmet Mounted Display (Hmd) Has Been Flight Tested for the First Time by Pilots From the Royal Air Force Centre for Aviation Medicine. The Helmet Was Tested From Minus 2 to Plus 9 Gs in Flights Designed to Simulate Air Combat to Verify Comfort, Fit and Stability Under High G Conditions.

Raytheon Has Commenced Production of the Apg-63(V)3 Aesa Radar for the Usaf’s Air National Guard F-15c Upgrade Program.

Raaf Base Darwin is to Receive a $49. 8m Upgrade Including Improvements to Its Cargo and Passenger Handling Facilities to Improve the Base’s Ability to Be Used as a Staging Point for Operations Overseas. Work is Expected to Be Completed by 2011.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force Has Bought an Nz$8m (a$6. 78m) P-3 Orion Cabin Systems Simulator From Fidelity Flight Simulation Which Will Accurately Replicate the Upgraded Cabin Mission Consoles in the Rnzaf’s P-3k Fleet. The Simulator Will Be Installed at Whenuapai Air Base Near Auckland Next Year.

The Raaf’s Second Last Boeing 707 Tanker Transport Was Retired on October 30 at a Small Ceremony at Raaf Richmond. A20-629, the ‘city of Sydney’ Was Retired After Flying a Training Mission for 33sqn Crews to Raaf Sale and Hobart. The Aircraft Entered Service With the Raaf in 1983 After Serving With Qantas Since 1968, and Will Be Stored at Richmond to Support the Last 707 in Service Which is Due to Be Retired Next June. The Raaf’s First Two Airbus A330-based Kc-30b Tankers Are Due to Enter Service in 2009.

The Pentagon Has Delayed an Announcement of the Winner of a 179-aircraft Competition Between the Northrop Grumman/eads Kc-30a and Boeing’s Kc-767 to Replace Its Aged Kc-135e Tankers Until Next January in Order to Resolve Some Outstanding “proposal Issues. ” the Deal Has Become a Political Hot Potato in the Us, With Representatives From States Where Work on Each Aircraft Will Be Performed Queuing Up to Support Their Respective Favourites.

Canada’s Federal Court of Appeals Has Upheld an Appeal That a Contract Awarded to Lockheed Martin to Provide Sniper Targeting Pods for the Canadian Forces’ Cf-18 Fighters Was “improperly Awarded”, and That the Competition Should Be Re-opened. Northrop Grumman Had Bid Its Litening at Pod as Has Been Ordered by the Raaf for Its F/a-18s, While Raytheon Was Offering Its Atflir as Used on Us Navy Super Hornets.

The Usaf Has Suspended All Non-critical F-15 Flight Operations as “a Precautionary Measure” Following the Crash of a Missouri Ang F-15c Which Was Caused by a Suspected Structural Failure. The Usaf Has More Than 700 F-15s in Its Inventory Including 210 F-15e Strike Eagles. Fellow F-15 Operators, Japan and Israel Have Reportedly Followed Suit With Their Early Build Aircraft.

Bae Systems Has Completed Delivery of All Tranche 1 Eurofighter Typhoons to the Raf. The 53rd Aircraft, a Single-seat F. 2, Was Completed at Bae’s Warton Facility in Early October and is Due to Be Flight Tested and Handed Over to the Raf in the Coming Days. The Raf Has Ordered 89 Tranche 2 Typhoons, Production of Which is Already Underway.

South Korea Has Announced Plans to Send Six of Its New F-15k Fighters to Red Flag 08-4 at Nellis Afb Near Las Vegas in August Next Year. Also Expected at That Exercise Are Six Indian Su-30mkis, and Possibly a Similar Number of Raaf F/a-18s.

Poland Has Announced It Will Acquire Two More Eads Casa C-295 Tactical Transports to Add to the 10 It Already Has in Service or on Order.

Airlines

Virgin Goes Regional

Virgin Blue Has Announced That the Nsw Centres of Port Macquarie and Albury Will Be Its First Ports of Call for Its Emerging Regional Network From Early Next Year.

The Announcements on November 1 and 2 Respectively of the Services Between the Regional Centres and Sydney Came After Extensive Evaluation of Existing and Currently Underserviced Centres, Whether These Would Suit Virgin Blue’s New 78-seat Embraer E-170 Regional Jets, and Only After the Councils Responsible for Both Airports Announced Upgrades to Their Terminal Facilities and Runway/taxiway Infrastructure.

“we Are Excited to Announce Port Macquarie as Our First New Destination to Benefit From the Introduction of the E-jet to Our Fleet Family,” Airline Ceo Brett Godfrey Said. “our Team Has Conducted Extensive Research and Site Visits to Determine the Most Appropriate New Destinations for Our Network and Those Ideally Suited to These Aircraft. Port Macquarie is a Fantastic Choice Due to Its Airport Terminal Facilities, the Need for Competition, Tourism Growth Opportunities and Its Supportive and Enthusiastic Council. ” on Albury, Godfrey Added That, “our Research Has Indicated That a Jet Aircraft Service is Highly Desirable and Top of the ‘wish List’ for Travellers, So We Have Listened to These Needs and Will Launch With Not Just One Flight but Two Flights a Day and We Are Hopeful of Getting Our Fair Share of Support in Return. ” Albury-wodonga in Particular is Already Well Serviced, With Qantaslink Offering Four Daily Return Services to Sydney, and Regional Express Operating Four Daily Return Services to Both Sydney and Melbourne From the Murray River Twin Cities. However, It Seems Unlikely the Sydney Route Will Support All Three Airlines.

Virgin Blue is Offering a Launch Fare From Albury to Sydney of $69, Well Under Rex’s Price Leader of $98, and Qantaslink’s Best Red E-deal Price of $88.

Good and Bad Times for Award Winning Rex Regional Express Chairman Lim Kim Hai Has Said That, Despite Virgin Blue’s Entry Into the Regional Sector This Week, the Fact That It is Not a “sexy” Sector of the Market Should Keep New Entrants Away.

Speaking to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) Following Rex Being Announced as Capa’s Regional Airline of the Year, Lim Explained That Rex is “in a Sector That’s Not Sexy, Not Glamorous, a Fact That Helps Keep the Threat of New Entrants Low. ” He Added That Rex Was “run Like a Business, Not Like an Airline”, and That Despite No Longer Being in Production, He Would Keep the Airline’s Fleet of Saab 340s for Another Decade and Resist the Temptation to Move Up to Larger Capacity Airliners Such as the Dash 8 or Atr 42.

“the Key to Our Success is Our Frequency, Which Allows Us to Attract Business People and Keep Yields High,” He Said. “We’re in a Sweet Spot Right Where We Are. To Get Bigger Would Be a Mistake. ” “regional Express Has Displayed a Superb Commitment to Regional Areas in Australia, Helping Breathe Life Into Cities That Have Struggled With Air Service Cuts and the Effects of the Ongoing Drought,” Capa Executive Chairman Peter Harbison Said. “it Took a Focused, Efficient Operator to Make These Services a Success and Regional Express, Under the Leadership of Lim Kim Hai, Continues to Deliver These Qualities. ” However, Rex May Find It Difficult to Even Remain the Size It Currently is, Let Alone Grow, With the Airline Announcing the Suspension of Services to Cooma and to the Recently Introduced Maryborough in the Wake of Increasing Pilot Shortages.

The Six Times a Week Cooma Service Will Cease From November 19 to May 18 as Pilots Are Redeployed to Higher Demand Services Within the Network. “to Ease the Pressure on Flightcrew Availability We Have Undertaken a Review to Lessen the Potential for Unplanned Flight Cancellations by Temporarily Scaling Back Some Services,” Rex General Manager Network Strategy and Sales, Warrick Lodge, Said in a Statement. “this Has Resulted in Our Sydney to Snowy Mountains Services Being Suspended Over the Summer Off-season Period. ” Similarly, Maryborough Which Only Started Receiving Services in July, Will Be Suspended Effective Immediately Until at Least March Next Year. “we Are Extremely Disappointed That We Have Had to Take This Drastic Action Given Our Major Commitment to the New Maryborough Service and the Great Support Received From the Maryborough City Council, Brisbane Airport, the Queensland Government and of Course Our Customers,” Airline Managing Director and Ceo, Geoff Breust Said. “however, Given the Pilot Shortage, We Are Faced With the Choice of Suspending Some of Our Regular Services to Build Up a Reserve Buffer or Cancelling Ad Hoc Flights Each Time a Pilot Calls in Sick. We Believe That the Former is the More Responsible Course of Action and Provides Greater Certainty to Our Customers. Rex Has Traditionally Been the Airline With the Lowest Cancellation Rates in Australia and We Intend for It to Remain That Way Even in These Very Trying Circumstances. ” to Help Ease the Pilot Drain, Rex Has Announced It Will Establish the Joint Venture Civil Aviation Training Academy (Cata) With Victoria’s Mangalore Airport, With the First Batch of 20 Students Expected to Commence Training as Soon as December 10. “under Our Intensive Live-in Training Program, We Expect the Students to Graduate With a Commercial Pilot Licence, a Multi Engine Rating and a Command Instrument Rating Within 32 Weeks,” Rex’s Chief of Staff Jim Davis Said. “cata Has Purchased an Initial Batch of Five New Piper Warrior Iii Aircraft With State of the Art ‘glass’ Cockpits for the First Training Course, as Well as a New Twin-engine Piper Seminole for Multi-engine and Instrument Training. The Academy Intends to Accept Up to 80 Pilots in the First Year but Has Plans to Grow the Intake to 350 a Year by the Third or Fourth Year of Operations. We Intend to Be the Premier Institute for Training Professional Pilots in Australia. ” “the Shortage of Pilots Has Even Been Described by the Chief Pilot of Qantas as Being Even More Catastrophic Than the Collapse of Ansett and Obviously We and All Other Airlines Are Badly Hit,” Geoff Breust Said. “however, at Rex We Are Confident That the Problem Will Be Only a Temporary Setback. We Call on the Other Major Airlines in Australia to Train Their Own Pilots Instead of Simply Poaching Massively From the Regional Airlines and the Pilot Training Schools. ” Breust Added That He Doesn’t Expect to Have to Suspend Any Further Services for the Time Being.

Tiger Expands to Hobart, Newcastle & Canberra

Tiger Airways Has Announced That, From Early Next Year, It Will Operate Services From Its Home Port of Melbourne to Hobart, Newcastle and Canberra.

Tiger Say Hobart Was Added With Services Commencing on January 15 After What It Says Was an Impressive Response to Its Services to Launceston. Services to Newcastle Are Due to Commence From January 8, While Canberra Will See Its First Tigers From February 14.

The Airline Claims That Canberra, for the First Time, Will Experience “the Benefits of a True Low Cost Airline and Real Competition. ” “this New Service by Tiger Airways Will Provide the People of the Act and Surrounding Region With Consistently Low Cost Airfares. Not Everyone Who Flies to Canberra Has an Expense Account” Tiger Airways Ceo Tony Davis Said in a Statement.

Tiger Will Also Be Pushing Newcastle’s Tourism Potential, as Well as Being an Alternative Port for Northern Sydney Residents. “newcastle is an Attractive Alternative for Tourists With Its Wine and Food Experiences and Also Gives Travellers Who Live in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney a Real Low Fare Alternative to Trudging Through the Traffic to Mascot. ” Davis Also Took a Veiled Swipe at Airport Operators, Particularly Sydney, Saying Tiger Will Bypass Any Airport That Does Not Fit in With the Airline’s Low Cost Model. “what We’re Not Prepared to Do is Go Into Airports Where We Don’t Believe the Model Will Work in Its Current Form and Try and Compromise by Charging People Higher Fares to Offset Either the Costs of the Lack of Efficiencies That We Might Encounter,” Davis Told ‘the Australian’. “We’re Absolute Purists When It Comes to the Low-cost Model, and That Means That if There Are Airports That We Can’t Make Work Then We Won’t Serve Them. ” Davis Announced Last Week That Tiger Will Not Operate to Sydney in the Immediate Future, as That Airport Did Not Have a Dedicated Low Cost Carrier Terminal Like Those at Melbourne and Singapore’s Changi. “i Think What You’re Seeing in Nsw is That an Airport Like Newcastle, That Historically Was Served by Turboprops and Was Really Considered a Regional Airport, is Now Firmly Establishing Itself as an Airport for Low Cost Carriers Like Tiger,” He Said.

Macair Pitches for Queensland Routes Townsville Based Regional Carrier Macair Airlines Says It Intends to Tender for a 10 Year Queensland State Government Contract for Services to 19 Regional Centres in That State.

“a Reliable, Stable and Affordable Air Transport Service is Crucial for Regional Communities in Queensland, and We Have Provided This for Five Years,” Macair’s Managing Director, Randal Mcfarlane Said in a Statement. “when the Previous Carrier Serving These Communities Collapsed, It Was Macair Which Restored and Maintained Flights, Invested in Additional Aircraft and Provided Direct Employment for More Than 200 Queenslanders. ” “we Now Want to Build Upon What We Have Achieved to Provide Both Continuity and Certainty to These Communities, and We Will Mount a Vigorous Campaign Highlighting Not Just What We Have Delivered So Far, but What We Will Continue to Deliver,” He Added.

Macair Operates a Fleet of Saab 340bs and Metros, and a New Atr 42-500.

Singapore Half Yearly Profit Results Up the Singapore Airlines Group Has Announced an Operating Profit of S$982m (a$734. 5m) for the Six Months to September 30, an Increase of a Whopping 84. 1 Per Cent Over the Same Period Last Year.

The Result Was Achieved on Revenue of S$7. 59bn (a$5. 68bn), Eight Per Cent More Than Last Year, and Has Been Attributed to Stronger Passenger Demand. The Group’s Results Saw the Airline Contribute S$781m (a$584m) to the Result, While Singapore Airport Terminal Services (Sats) Added S$94m (a$70m), Sia Engineering Company S$63m (a$47m), and Singapore Airlines Cargo S$19m (a$14m).

The Airline Says Fuel Accounted for 36. 5 Per Cent of the Airline’s Expenditure.

Rex Launches Pilot Cadet Scheme Rex Has Launched a Pilot Cadet Scheme, Announcing It Will Provide Low-interest Loans for at Least Half the Cost of Gaining a Commercial Pilot’s Licence and Scholarships.

Rex Hopes the Scheme Will Provide It With Sufficient Crew Capacity in the Longer Term in an Increasingly Competitive Market as Domestic and International Airlines Grow at Near Double-digit Rates Over the Next Decade.

“rex Recognises That the High Cost of Flying Training is a Major Obstacle to Many Young People Who Desire to Make a Career in the Sky and is Prepared to Assist With the Cost of Training So That a Commercial Pilot’s Licence is Within the Reach of Many Who Would Otherwise Be Unable to Afford It,” Rex Chief of Staff, Jim Davis, Said in a Statement. “all Selected Cadets Would Be Given a Loan of 50 Per Cent of the Cost of Training, Estimated to Be $80,000. This is Repayable for Up to Seven Years in a Repayment Schedule Linked to the Prevailing Salary So That the Burden is Reduced in the Initial Years. ” “in Addition, Some of the Higher Achievers Will Be Given Scholarships That Could Cover Up to the Remaining 50 Per Cent of the Training Costs,” He Added. “these Scholarship Cadets Will Have to Commit to Staying With Rex for Six Years. ” Rex Currently Has 325 Pilots for Its Fleet of About 34 Saab 340s, While It Has Another 30 340b+s on Order From the Us and Also Owns Pel-air and Airlink.

Interested Cadetship Applicants Can Apply at Www. Rex. Com. Au/cadetpilot

Air Nz’s No to Vb Air New Zealand Has Denied Rumours It is Considering Acquiring a Stake in Virgin Blue.

“Air New Zealand Advises That There is No Substance to These Rumours,” the Airline Said in a Statement.

Majority Virgin Blue Shareholder Toll Holdings Has Said It Will Decide What to Do With Its 62. 3 Per Cent Stake in the Airline by the End of the Year. The Virgin Group, Which Holds Another 26. 5 Per Cent, Has Expressed an Interest in Increasing Its Stake, According to Chairman and Founder Sir Richard Branson.

Interestingly, the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) Postulates That Virgin Blue Could Be of Interest to Private Equity Investors.

“in the Private Equity View of the World, Where the Parts Are Worth More Than the Sum of the Whole, Virgin Blue is an Interesting Proposition That Carries Much Less Political Baggage Than, Say, Qantas,” Capa Notes in Its October 15 Daily Bulletin. “it is Already Four Airlines in One (the Australian Domestic Carrier, New Zealand Based Lcc Pacific Blue, Samoan Jv Polynesian Blue, Planned Long Haul Unit V Australia) Not to Mention a Possible Ultra Lcc Startup, as Well as the Velocity Frequent Flyer Program and Blue Holidays Arms.

“as Toll Nears a Decision on Which Way to Jump, the Private Equity Calculators Are No Doubt Working Overtime. ”

Qantas Ramps Up in Nz

Qantas Has Shown It Will Meet Head-on Plans by Air New Zealand to Upgrade Its Domestic Services and the Entry of Pacific Blue to the Market by Announcing an Upgrade of Its Own Nz Domestic Product.

To Be Rolled Out From November, Qantas Says It Will Target the Business Traveller by Introducing Its Cityflyer Brand to the Major Routes of Auckland-wellington, Auckland-christchurch and Wellington-christchurch. “cityflyer is Being Tailored for the Specific Needs of Our New Zealand Business Travellers,” Qantas Regional General Manager New Zealand Grant Lilly Said in a Statement. “with These Changes, Which Will Be Implemented Progressively From Next Month, Qantas Will Bring Its Brand to the New Zealand Market. ” Also to Be Added Will Be Online Check-in and Quickcheck Kiosks, Free Morning Newspapers, Improved Catering, Upgrades to the Qantas Club Lounges in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Updated Interiors on Its Fleet of 737-400s Including New Fabrics, Curtains and Carpets (as Being Introduced to the Australian Domestic Fleet), and the Addition of a Fifth Aircraft to the Fleet in 2008.

Skyairworld Adds More Embraers

Brisbane Charter Newcomer Skyairworld Has Announced It Has Leased Two Embraer Erj-145s From Gecas for Introduction to Its Growing Charter Business From Next Year, as Well as a Second New Build E-190.

The Erj-145s, Ex-lot Polish Airlines Machines, Are Due to Arrive in June 2008 Along With a Previously Ordered 190. The Second 190 Should Arrive by the End of 2008.

As the 145 is a New Type to the Australian Register, a Formal Casa Certification Process Will Need to Be Undertaken; However Charlton Doesn’t Expect Any Difficulties. “the 145 is Just Another Aircraft and We’ll Approach Its Certification in the Same Way as We Did With the 170,” Charlton Told Australian Aviation on October 15. “we See It as Being a 90-day Process to Get the Type on the Register. We’ve Already Inspected the Aircraft and Our Engineering Staff Will Be Participating on the C-check of the Aircraft Prior to Delivery, So We’ll Get to Know Them Before They Arrive. ” Charlton Says He Already Has Customers Lined Up for the 145s, and With His First 190 Due to Be Delivered in January, is Steadily Building Some Capacity Into His Fleet. “we’ve Already Got Letters of Intent (Loi) for Placement of the 145s, and We’ll Be Announcing the Details of These in January,” Charlton Added. “so Our Stated Aim is to Be Operating Six Embraer E-jets (170/190) and Four Embraer Erj-145s Within Four Years. ” Skyairworld Has Been Operating Ad Hoc Charters With Its E-170 Since It Withdrew the Aircraft From Service With Solomon Airlines in July.

Meanwhile, Skyairworld Has Formally Applied to Be Granted Capacity of 658 Seats Per Week on the Honiara-brisbane Route for a Period of Five Years.

The Charter Airline Says It Will Initially Operate Its E-170 Aircraft on the Route From January 2008, as It Did With Solomon Airlines Until August This Year, Before Upgrading to Its New E-190 From March. The Airline Says It is Also Looking to Lease in Another Aircraft From November if It Were Required to Start Earlier, as the 170 is Tied Up With Charter Work Until January.

Pacific Blue Has Also Applied for Access to the Route.

Trans-atlantic Mega-carriers Loom Skyteam Airline Alliance Partners Delta and Air France-klm Are in Preliminary Talks About Partnering More Closely on Jointly Operated Trans-atlantic Flights.

The Move Comes as Speculation About a Similar Tie-up Between Oneworld Partners British Airways and American Airlines Gains Momentum.

Delta Ceo Richard Anderson Told Us Media on October 15 That There is an “Enormous Amount of Value (in) the Opportunity We Have With Air France Across the Trans-atlantic. ” Delta, Which Does Not Currently Have Access to London Heathrow, Would Reportedly Look at Offering Af Coded Seats on Its Services From Atlanta Into Europe, While Air France Could Offer Dl Seats on Its Services From Lhr to Jfk and Lax.

British Airways Meanwhile is Looking at Consolidation Opportunities, Not Only With American, but Also With Bmi Which Could Result in a Buy Out of the Smaller Uk Carrier.

Whilst a Trans-atlantic Revenue-sharing Proposal With Aa Has Previously Been Shot Down by Authorities on Both Sides of the Atlantic, Ba is Believed to Be Looking at a New Alliance Once the Open Skies Agreement Comes Into Force Next March.

Virgin Blue Announces Premium Economy

Virgin Blue Has Completed Its Transformation From a Low Cost Airline Into a “new World Carrier” With the Announcement of a New Premium Economy Class on All Its Services.

Virgin Ceo Brett Godfrey Unveiled the New Product at the Airline’s Annual General Meeting in Brisbane. He Said the First Three Rows of All the Airline’s 737s Will Be Fitted With Four Abreast Red Leather Recaro Seating With a Generous 34in (86cm) Pitch, but Which Can Be Easily Converted to the Normal Six Abreast Layout if Required.

“over the Past Two Years, the Airline Has Evolved Into a Highly Desirable Business Travel Option With the Introduction of Our Loyalty Program ‘velocity’, the Lounge at Major Airports, Flexible Fares and Other Business Friendly Initiatives,” Godfrey Said. “we Expect Our Latest Product Enhancement to Appeal to Amongst Others, the Corporate and Government Sectors as It Will Offer Superior Value for Money and Additional Benefits for Those Who Choose to Book Economy and Prefer a Premium Product. ” in a Configuration Similar to That of Qantas’s 737-400s, for a Four Abreast Layout the Centre Seat Becomes a Tray Table and the Centre-seat Armrests Move Inwards to Give More Hip Room to the Two Outside Passengers. For Six Abreast Seating, the Tray Table is Folded Into the Vertical Cushion and the Armrests Adjusted Outwards Accordingly. Seating on the New Embraer 170s and Forthcoming 190s Will Remain Two Abreast.

Passengers Who Book Premium Economy Seats Will Also Get Complimentary Access to the Live2air Entertainment System, Priority Check-in, an Increase in Baggage Allowance From 20kg to 32kg, and Complimentary Access to Virgin Blue’s Lounges at Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide.

The Premium Economy Seats Will Be Installed Over the Next Few Months and the Entire Fleet Will Be Fitted by Mid 2008. The Current Blue Zone Seating Product Will Remain but at the Over-wing Exit Rows Only, With Six Blue Zone Seats on the 737-700s and 12 on 737-800s.

Jetstar Has Secured Agreement With the Australian Services Union on the Terms of a New Three Year Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (Eba) for the Majority of Its Employees.

The Agreement Has Reportedly Been Accepted by 94 Per Cent of Jetstar’s Eligible Employees Who Work at Airports, in Operations Centres, Technical & Operations Publications, Human Resources, Finance and Administration and Commercial Groups, and Became Effective From October 1. It Replaces an Existing Agreement and Provides Three Per Cent Annual Wage Increases and Sign-on Bonuses for Key Staff, as Well as Improved Benefits in Exchange for Higher Productivity.

“operating Within a Dynamic and Competitive Industry Sector, This Very Positive Result Reinforces the Reality That Jetstar Has Highly Engaged People That Are Focused on Working Towards Supporting the Airline’s Future Growth Plans,” Airline Ceo Alan Joyce Said. “the Airline Continues to Prosper Through Offering a Range of Workplace Agreements That Are Most Applicable to the Respective Work Group. This Includes Common Collective Unionised and Collective Non-unionised Agreements, Common Law Contracts and Australian Workplace Agreements. ” Other Elements of the Agreement Include a 100 Per Cent Increase in Parental Leave Entitlements, More Flexible Rostering Practices, and Greater Flexibility for Superannuation Payments.

Airline Briefs

As Crude Oil Breached the Us$90 (a$97) a Barrel Mark for the First Time in Late October, Regional Express Has Raised Its Fuel Surcharge by $3. 00 Per Sector to $27. 00 Which Took Effect on November 1.

Qantas Has Requested an Expansion of Its Codeshare Agreement With India’s Jet Airways to Cover Flights on the Three-times-a-week Sydney to Mumbai Service.

Qantas Says It is Looking at Restructuring Opportunities for Its Wholesale Holidays Business, Qantas Holidays, Including the Possibility of Merging the Business With That of Travelworld or Jetset. Qantas Cfo Peter Gregg Says Talks Are in Their Early Stages and “…are Not at a Stage Where Any Deal Could Be Concluded. ”

Tiger Airways Has Released Slots It Was Holding at Sydney Airport From the End of October to Early March, Indicating the Low Cost Startup Will Initially Bypass Sydney as It Establishes Itself at Melbourne. “We Will Go to Nsw at Some Point but at the Moment We’ve Got to Get Our Airline Up and Running,” Tiger Australia Corporate Affairs Head Matthew Hobbs Said in a Statement. “That’s Not One of the First Sets of Routes. ”

Singapore Airlines Increased Its Fuel Surcharge From October 24 in the Face of Increasing Crude Oil Prices. Regional Routes Incurred a Us$2 (a$2. 25) Increase Per Flight to Us$24 (a$27); Flights to the Us and Canada Went Up Us$6 (a$6. 80) to Us$104 (a$117); and From Us$63 (a$71) to Us$67 (a$75. 50) for All Other Services Including Those to Australia.

Pacific Blue Says It Will Increase Its Services Across Its Network During the Busy Christmas and New Year Period in Response to Increasing Demand. The Airline Will Offer 124 Additional Services Over the December 21 – January 20 Period.

Virgin Blue’s Website Has Received a Makeover and Freshen Up. The Airline Says the Changes Make It Easier to Navigate Through the Website, Which Currently Receives About 130,000 Hits Per Day.

Perth Based Skywest Has Updated Its Website to Give Internet Users a More User-friendly Product, and to Provide Direct Access to Hotel Accommodation Through Wotif. Com, as Well as Car Hire and Travel Insurance.

Egyptair Has Formally Been Accepted to Become a Future Member of the Star Alliance Group of Airlines.

Spain’s Grupo Marsans Which Encompasses Aerolineas Argentinas and Air Comet Has Signed an Mou With Airbus for the Purchase of 61 Aircraft Including 10 A350-900s, Four A380s, Five A330-200s, 12 A319s, 25 A320s and Five A321s. The Placement of the Aircraft Amongst the Group’s Airlines Has Not Been Announced.

Japan Airlines Will Introduce a Premium Economy Class Product on Its 777-300er and -200er Services to Europe From December 1. The Cabin Will Be Configured With a 2+4+2 97cm Pitch Layout, and Passengers Will Have Dedicated Check in and Lunge Facilities.

Qantas Has Sought an Extension to Its Codeshare Agreement With South African Airways on the Australia to South Africa Route.

Toll Holdings Has Appointed Goldman Sachs Jb Were to Advise It on Whether to Hold on to or Sell Its Stake in Virgin Blue. International Reward Scheme Partner Emirates is Reportedly Hovering at the Periphery.

Queensland Regional Macair Has Upgraded Its Services to the Gulf Country Following the Introduction of Its Atr 42-500. The Introduction of the Atr Onto Its Mount Isa and Townsville Services Has Freed Up 34-seat Saab 340bs to Replace the 19-seat Metros Currently Serving Sectors Between Cairns, Normanton, Mornington Island, Doomadgee and Mount Isa.

Qantas Has Launched a Weekly Brisbane to Karratha Service to Service the Mining Boom in the Pilbara Region. The Non-stop Services Will Be Operated by 737-800s and Will Connect With Services to Perth.

Vietnam Airlines Has Signed an Mou With Airbus for 10 A350-900s and 20 A321s, and With Boeing to Convert Options for Three 787s to Firm Orders.

China Southern Airlines Has Introduced Its First Nonstop Flights From Melbourne to Guangzhou, and Added Daily Nonstop Flights From Sydney to Guangzhou From October 28 to March 1. Additionally, All the Airline’s Existing Services to Australia Have Been Upgraded From Airbus A330s to Larger Two or Three-class Boeing 777-200ers During This Period.

Jetstar Has Gone Live With Self Check-in Kiosks at Melbourne Airport and Web Check-in. Melbourne Airport Has the First 10 Self Service Check-in Units, but Further Kiosks Will Be Rolled Out to Melbourne Avalon, Sydney, Brisbane and Other Major Ports by the End of the Year.

Skywest Has Joined Virgin Blue’s Velocity Loyalty Program, a Move Which Allow Its Passengers to Earn and Redeem Velocity Points on Its Services.

Ozjet Has Flagged the Possibility of Commencing Services Between Palmerston North in New Zealand and Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne Following the Imminent Withdrawal of Freedom Air From the Routes. The Airline Says It Would Bring in a Boeing 737-300 to Operate the Services, and That It Had Received Support From Local Manawatu Business Leaders in the Palmerston North Area.

The Ceo of Solomon Airlines, Ron Sumsum, Has Had His Contract Terminated Following a Falling Out With the Airline’s Board and With Government Officials. Airline Chairman Rick Hou Also Revealed That the Board Has Returned Its Aoc to Casa.

Hong Kong’s Dragonair Has Officially Joined the Oneworld Airline Alliance, Becoming the Alliance’s 11th Member Carrier. Its Affiliation Will Add 15 New Destinations to the Oneworld Network, Including 12 in Mainland China. Meanwhile, Oneworld Members Qantas, Cathay Pacific and British Airways Have Opened the First Airport Lounge Developed as an ‘alliance Project’ at Lax. The 1360sq M Lunge Will Be Separate to the Currently Used American Airlines Admirals Lounge in Terminal 4.

Environment

Carbon Offset Uptake Promising – Jetstar Jetstar Says Almost 10 Per Cent of Its Passengers Chose to Tick the Carbon Emissions Offset Box in the First Week of Its New Program.

The Airline Says It Showed Passengers Had Embraced the Concept. “we’re Thrilled That So Many of Our Passengers Have Supported Sustainable Air Travel, and the Initial Uptake is Impressive,” Airline Ceo Alan Joyce Said. “by Offering Passengers Choice and Simplicity, Jetstar and the Qantas Group Are Striving to Have the Most Successful Carbon Offset Program Within Australia and New Zealand. No Doubt the Simple and Easy Way Our Passengers Can Select to Offset Their Emissions at the Time of Booking Has Helped Achieve This Result in Just One Week Since Launch. ” Passengers Wishing to Offset Their Carbon Emissions When Booking With Parent Qantas, or Using Rival Virgin Blue’s Scheme, Have to Make a Separate Transaction to the Ticket Booking Process.

Environment Briefs

Embraer Has Established an Environmental Strategies and Technologies Office “for the Purpose of Integrating and Expanding the Company’s Environmental Policies and Achieving New Levels of Sustainable Development. ” Embraer Already Builds the Ethanol Powered Ipanema Agricultural Aircraft and is Looking at Conducting Bio-fuel Trials on a Business Jet or E-jet in Late 2008.

Perth Based Skywest Has Launched a Carbon Offset Program Where Passengers May Purchase an Offset That Overs Their Own Carbon Footprint for Flights They Take. Dubbed Skygreen, the Voluntary Program Will Provide for Tree Planting in Salinity Affected and Degraded Land Areas.

A Usaf C-17 Transport Flew for the First Time With a Blend of Synthetic Fischer-tropsch and Jp-8 Fuel on October 22. The C-17 is the Second Usaf Aircraft Type to Successfully Demonstrate Its Compatibility With the Blend After the B-52h.

Airports

Record Pax Numbers for Adelaide Adelaide Airport Says a Record Number of Passengers Passed Through the Airport in 2006/07, Passing the Six Million Mark for the First Time.

The Airport’s Annual Report Shows That 6. 3 Million Passengers Used the Airport’s Terminal Facilities in 2006/07, an Increase of 470,000 Passengers or 8. 1 Per Cent on the 2005/06 Period. The Airport Announced a Net Profit Before Tax of $4. 8 Million From Revenues of $126. 3 Million.

“our International Services Have Led the Way With a 26. 5 Per Cent Increase to 453,000 Passengers, Domestic Services Increased 6. 3 Per Cent to 5. 3 Million, and Regional Services Increased 14. 7 Per Cent to 473,000,” Airport Ceo Phil Baker Said in a Statement.

Adelaide Was Named the World’s Second Best Airport in the 5-15 Million Passengers Category at the Airports Council International (Aci) Awards for Service Quality in 2007, and Was Also Voted Australia’s Best Capital City Airport by the Australian Airports Association (Aaa).

Work Commences

on New Auckland Runway Work Has Commenced at Auckland Airport on a New Runway North and Parallel to the Existing Runway.

The Commencement of the Work Was Preceded by a Traditional Maori Blessing Ceremony Which Was Attended by Invited Guests Including the Nz Minister of Transport, Annette King, the Manukau City Mayor, Sir Barry Curtis, Airport Management and Staff, and Members of the Local Tangatawhenua Tribe.

“the New Runway Will Create a Vibrant Hub for Domestic Airlines and Make a Significant Contribution to Tourism and Freight Growth. ” Auckland Airport Chairman John Maasland Said. “the New Northern Runway Will Provide Much Needed Infrastructure to Help Sustain Projected Passenger and Freight Growth. ” the New 2150m Runway Will Be Built in Stages, With the First 1200m Scheduled to Be Open for Regional Operations in Time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Tiger Opens Melbourne Terminal

Tiger Airways, Gearing Up for a November Start to Operations in Australia, Opened Its Home Port Melbourne Airport Terminal on October 8 After a $5 Million Refurbishment.

The 900sq M Terminal 4, Which Was Originally Used by Virgin Blue and Impulse Airlines in 2000/01 Before Being Converted to Airport Administration Office Space, Features Three Gates and Five Aircraft Parking Positions, and Will Be Capable of Handling About Two Million Passengers Per Year.

“the Fact That It is Only Six Months Since Melbourne Airport First Pitched to Tiger – and Now We Are in the Final Stages of Their Set Up – is a Fantastic Reflection on How the Whole Airport Team Has Responded to This Opportunity,” Melbourne Airport Ceo Chris Woodruff Said. “tiger is Now Ready to Move in to Its New Home – One That Has Been Tailored Specifically to Meet Their Long Term Business Goals. ” the Terminal is Adjacent to the Short Term Carpark and Hire Car Offices, and Has a Dedicated Skybus Stop and Taxi Rank.

Sydney Int’l Terminal Expansion

Sydney Airport Has Announced a $500 Million Expansion of Its International Terminal to Provide Additional Baggage Handling, Retail and Border Control Facilities.

The Expansion Will Cover a Triangular Shaped Area Across Tarmac Between Gates 35 and 51. While Two Smaller 737/a320 Sized Gates Will Be Lost (20 & 22), the Airport Will Replace These With Additional Remote Gates on the Southern Side of the Western End of Runway 25/09.

An Additional 7300sq M Will Be Added to the Departures Level in the Form of a New Centralised Border Control Processing Area, and New Retail and Food and Beverage Areas, While 30,000sq M of the Departures Level Will Be Redeveloped. Beneath This Will Be a New Outbound and Early Baggage Handling System, and Three Additional Baggage Claim Carousels.

“This is an Important Project for Us – but It is Also a Strategically Important Project for Sydney and the Australian Tourism Industry,” Sydney Ceo Russell Balding Told Media. “sydney Airport is Australia’s National Gateway and Handles Nearly Half of the Nation’s International Passengers. ” However, Whilst the Expansion Addresses the Current Dual Outbound Border Control Arrangements by Centralising Them for All Departure Gates, the Frustrations of Incoming Passengers Who Are Forced to Queue Twice at Immigration and Customs/quarantine Border Control Points Appear to Have Been Left Unaddressed. “we Have Outlined Our Plans to Government Authorities and Are in Discussion With Them About Providing More Resources to These Areas,” Balding Said in a Response to a Question From ‘australian Aviation’ Indicating That Perhaps He is Frustrated That Sufficient Resources Have Not Been Allocated. “discussions About Providing the Necessary (Human) Resources Will Be Ongoing Up Until the Expected Opening in 2009. ” as for Future Expansions of the Airport, Balding Revealed to Australian Aviation That He Foresees the International Terminal Expanding Into the Area Currently Occupied by the Freight Terminal at the Northwest Corner of the Airport, With Freight Handling Facilities Moving “across Qantas Drive” to the Area Currently Occupied by Wasteland and Carparks and Older Buildings Just East of the 16r Approach Path.

New Qantas Chair Slams Heathrow Qantas’s Incoming Chairman, Leigh Clifford, Has Slammed London’s Heathrow Airport, Labelling It as “appalling” in an Interview With the ‘sydney Morning Herald’.

Clifford, Who Has Lived in London for the Past Decade, Said the Management of the Airport Was the Main Factor. “I Have to Say, I Think Heathrow is Appalling,” Clifford Said. “I Hope Terminal 5 Will Make a Difference, but It’s Not About the Physical Infrastructure, It’s About How You Manage It. ” Travellers Have Long Complained About Ageing Infrastructure and Increasing Passenger Numbers Using the Airport Leading to Long Delays. The New Terminal 5 Will Be Home to British Airways and is Scheduled to Open Next March. Qantas Service Will Be Transferred to an Upgraded Terminal 3 From Terminal 4 During 2008.

Airport Briefs

Sydney Airport Reported a 9. 4 Per Cent Increase in Earnings for the First Nine Months of the 2007 Calendar Year on the Back of a 10. 3 Per Cent Increase in Revenue. The Airport Recorded Earnings of $438. 6 Million to September 30, Up From $399. 8 Million for the Same Time Last Year.

Auckland Airport Has Announced the Next Stage of Its International Terminal Upgrade With the Expansion of Arrivals Processing Facilities and the Centralisation of the Baggage Hall, Customs/quarantine/security Screening Area, and the Landside Arrivals Concourse.

Gold Coast Airport Has Appointed Adco Constructions to Be the Principal Contractor for Its $100 Million Terminal Redevelopment Project.

The Us Government is Pressuring Airlines to Cut Their Schedules to New York’s Congested John F Kennedy Airport. The Faa Says if Airlines Don’t Voluntarily Reduce Their Reliance on the Airport, It Will Impose Restrictions During the Peak Spring and Summer Seasons Next Year.

Tenants and Operators at Tyabb Airport on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula Have Had a Win Against Local Residents Who Had Complained About the Construction of New Hangars at the Popular Airport. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Has Granted Permission to Build 13 New Hangars at the Airport.

The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) Reports That Beijing Will Begin Commence Construction of a Second Airport for the City in 2010 for Domestic Services Only.

Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (Sacl) Says It Has Reached a Commercial Agreement With Qantas on the Terms and Conditions for the Airline’s Services at Sydney Airport. Although the Terms of the Agreement Have Been Kept Commercial in Confidence, It Sets Out the Commercial Terms on Which Qantas and Qantaslink Will Use Sydney’s Terminals, Runways and Taxiways for Both Domestic and International Flights.

Brisbane Airport Has Commenced Work on Its Northern Access Road Project (Narp) Which Will Provide an Alternate Airport Access From the Gateway Freeway to the Northwest of the Airport.

Gold Coast Airport Was Named Low Cost Airport of the Year 2007 at the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) Aviation Awards for Excellence on October 31.

Melbourne Airport Has Announced Plans for a Major New Office Complex to Be Located on 11 Hectares Off Melrose Drive. If Approved by the Department of Transport & Regional Services, the Development Will Be Laid Out Campus Style and Comprise Two and Three Story Office Buildings.

Auckland Airport Has Announced That Discussions With Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (Cppib) Over a Proposal for Cppib to Acquire an Interest in the Airport Have Ceased. A Release From the Airport’s Board Claims That Pursuing the Proposal Would Not Be in the Best Interests of Shareholders or the Company and Therefore Will Not Be Recommending the Proposed Transaction.

General Aviation

Piper Enters the Matrix an Unpressurised Airframe and New Avionics Distinguish Piper Aircraft’s Newest Single From Its Predecessor.

“the Piper Matrix Does Everything the Malibu Mirage Does, but With the Economy of an Unpressurised Aircraft,” Announced President and Ceo James Bass at the Aopa Expo in Connecticut in Early October, Reports Jeffrey Decker.

More Than 100 Orders of the Matrix Are Already Held and the First Will Be Delivered in November. The Matrix Will Be Fitted With the Avidyne Entegra Integrated Flightdeck. It’s the First Aircraft to Offer Avidyne’s New Mlb700 Datalink Receiver for Inflight Weather Updates and Satellite Radio as Standard Equipment. Air Conditioning and Oxygen Are Standard in the Us$757,000 (a$844,000) Airframe.

Maximum Cruise Speed is 215kt and Full Fuel Range is More Than 1345nm (2490km).

Diesel Cessna Cessna Vp of Sales and Marketing Roger Whyte Revealed the Thielert Centurion Powered Skyhawk Turbo Diesel at the Aopa Expo in Connecticut on October 4.

“we Have Had Other Testbeds Flying With the Diesel for Some Time,” Said Whyte. The Skyhawk Td Costs Us$15,000 (a$16,820) More Than the Standard Lycoming Io-360 Aircraft. The Double Overhead Camshaft Two Litre Diesel Engine Burns Jet Fuel to Produce 155hp (116kw) With Fadec Control.

“fuel Consumption is About 30 Per Cent Less Than the Normal Gasoline Engine, and the Aircraft Has Improved Performance at Higher Altitudes,” Whyte Said.

Range and Endurance Are Also Increased in the New Model. Thielert Holds the New Supplemental Type Certificate to Install the Engines.

Cessna Also Announced at the Aopa Expo That All 2008 Skyhawks Will Include Garmin Gfc700 Avionics.

“we Now Offer the Same Fully Integrated, All-garmin System From the Skyhawk Through the Citation Mustang,” Stated John Doman, Vp of Worldwide Aircraft Sales.

General Aviation Briefs

Lancair International Has Announced the Completion of Structural Testing on the Fuselage and Empennage for Its New Evolution Kit Aircraft. With the Previous Successful Testing of the Wing, Construction of the First Prototype Fuselage is Now Underway.

According to a Report Cirrus Design and Three Other “parties” Have Lodged Legal Documents Claiming the Deal That Cessna Signed With Columbia to Purchase the Troubled Manufacturer Was “overly Favourable” to Cessna.

Cessna Has Announced It Will Offer the Ballistic Recovery Systems Aircraft Parachute System as an Option on Its New 162 Skycatcher Light Sport Aircraft. Cessna Has Taken Orders for More Than 850 162s Since It Was Launched at the Airventure Show in Oshkosh in July.

Liberty Aerospace Has Announced It Will Ramp Up Production to Meet Demand for Its Popular Liberty Xl-2 Aircraft After Closing a Major Debt Financing Deal With Kuwait Finance House.

New Zealand’s Falconcomposite Has Successfully Completed the Static Test Program on the Airframe Structure of Its Futuristic Looking Furio Aircraft. The Airframe Was Tested to Maximum Load in the Utility and Aerobatic Categories, While the Maximum Load on the Wing Under Torsion With Full Deflection of the Aileron Was Also Tested. First Flight of the Furio is Scheduled for Late This Year or Early 2008. Visit Www. Falcomposite. Com for More Information.

The Local Distributor of Canada’s Found Aircraft is Reporting Good Interest From Local Prospects for Its Recently Launched Expedition Series. The Expedition E350 Tail Dragger and E350xc Tricycle Are Development of the Popular Bush Hawk.

Business Aviation

Bombardier Launches Learjet Nxt Bombardier Aerospace Has Launched the First All-new Learjet Model in Over a Decade, Provisionally Named the Learjet Nxt.

Bombardier Says the Nxt Will Fit in Between Existing Midsize and Super Midsize Aircraft. “i Am Extremely Pleased to Announce the Launch of the Learjet Nxt – an Aircraft That is Set to Redefine the Midsize Jet Category and Set the Standard Against Which All Competitive Aircraft Will Be Measured,” President and Ceo of Bombardier Aerospace, Pierre Beaudoin, Said in a Statement. “development of This All-new Jet With a Group of International Collaborators Continues to Progress Well, and We Are on Target for a Public Unveiling of the Next Learjet Business Jet in October 2008, in Time to Commemorate the 45th Anniversary of the First Flight of a Learjet Aircraft. ” Bombardier is Claiming Performance Figures of a High Speed Cruise of Mach 0. 82, Transcontinental Range of Up to 3300nm, and Says the Nxt Will Offer an Eight Passenger, Stand-up Cabin.

Business Aviation Briefs

Grob Successfully Flew a Third Prototype of Its Spn Light Jet on October 29. The Aircraft Will Carry Most of the Systems That Will Be Installed in Production Aircraft, and Will Soon Be Joined by a Fourth Prototype as Flight Testing Accelerates Towards Certification Next Year.

Swiss Based Vistajet Has Ordered Three Airbus Acjs for Its Expanding Vvip Operations.

Gulfstream’s Global Fleet of 535 Giv and Giv-sp Business Jets Recently Surpassed Three Million Flight Hours.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Has Sold Its Charter and Management Businesses to Sentient Flight Group. Sentient Has Aviation Services Facilities in Several Cities in the Us.

Air Safety

Bae 146 Air Contamination Hushed Up? Accusations Have Been Made in the British Parliament That Bae Paid Ansett and East West Airlines Hush Money in 1993 to Keep Quiet About Cabin Air Contamination in Their 146 Airliners.

Documents Were Tendered Which Allegedly Prove an Agreement Between British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Limited and the Two Airlines to Keep Secret Evidence of the Cabin Air Problem, and That $750,000 Was Paid to the Airlines.

The 146 Has Long Been Linked With Allegations That Toxic Fumes Can Enter the Cabin Through the Aircraft’s Bleed Air System.

Lord Bassam for the Government Responded by Stating That the Documents Were Already a Matter of Public Record in the Australian Senate. “i See No Evidence to Suggest That This is a Major Problem,” He Said, “but We Are Taking the Issue Very Seriously, Which is Why We Have Commissioned Further Research. ”

Air Safety Briefs

The Atsb Has Reportedly Recommended That Australian Sports Parachuting Organisations Inspect All Aircraft Used in Parachuting Operations in an Effort to Identify Potential Aircraft Equipment-related Crash Survivability Issues. The Recommendation Follows the January 2006 Crash of a Cessna 206 Which Crashed Into a Tree and Landed in a Dam Shortly After Takeoff From the Parachuting Centre at Willowbank Near Brisbane, Killing Five.

Jetstar Has Admitted That Communications Between the Airline and the Atsb Over a Missed Approach by an A320 at Melbourne in July Were Inadequate, and That It Should Have Referred the Incident to the Investigators Earlier. The Aircraft Was on Finals to Melbourne From Christchurch in Heavy Fog and Came Within 43 Feet of Melbourne’s Runway as the Pilots Failed to Engage the Correct Throttle Settings for the Go-around. The Airline Initially Chose to Handle the Incident in-house, but the Atsb Intervened Following Adverse Media Reports.

Members of the Asia Pacific Cabin Safety Working Group (Apcswg), Which Represents Most Australian Airlines, Have Unanimously Applauded the Progression by Casa to Notice of Proposed Rule Making (Nprm) Stage of Casa Part 121 Regulations for the Provision of for Aviation Medical Training and Inflight First Aid and Medical Equipment on All Airliners.

Casa’s Steve Swift Has Been Presented With the Whittle Safety Award by the International Federation of Airworthiness (Ifa) for the Method He Developed for His ‘diamond’, a Matrix He Developed to Help Assess How a Structure Will Tolerate Different Levels of Damage and Fatigue.

Maintenance, Support & Training

Aviation Australia to Train Etihad Engineers

Etihad Airways Has Selected Brisbane Based Aviation Australia to Conduct Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Training for 16 Trainees.

The Airline Confirmed Its Commitment for the Newly Employed Candidates to Undertake an Australian Diploma of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering With Aviation Australia Beginning in Late November.

Aviation Australia Has Already Provided Assistance With the Recruitment of Cabin Crew for Australian and New Zealand Based Etihad Crews.

Meanwhile, Aviation Australia Has Also Announced That Qantas Will Take Up to 30 of Its Engineering Course Graduates for Apprenticeships at the Airline’s Brisbane 767 Heavy Maintenance Facility.

The Announcement Coincided With Qantas Stating That It Would Reimburse the Course Fees Incurred by Aviation Australia Graduates in Three Stages Over Two Years After a Three Month Probation.

“qantas Was a Strong Supporter of the Queensland Government’s Initiative to Establish Aviation Australia in 2001 for the Purpose of Providing the Aviation and Aerospace Industries With Bright, Ambitious and Highly Skilled Graduates and This Confidence is Really Paying Dividends for Us Now,” Qantas’s Senior Instructor of Apprentice Training, Russell Burgess, Said. “aviation Australia’s Training Program and Facilities Are World Class and Qantas Has Found That Graduates From the Intensive 12 Month Institutional Program Are of a Very High Standard. ” “the Potential for Employment With Qantas is Every Graduate’s Long Held Dream and the Reimbursement of Incurred Study Costs Make This Job the Opportunity of a Lifetime,” Added Aviation Australia’s Ceo, Paul Bredereck. “our Recognition as World Leader in Aviation Training is Testament to the Queensland Government’s Investment and Confidence in Aviation Australia and Has Helped to Cement Our Partnership With Qantas. ”

Maintenance, Training & Support Briefs

An Airworthiness Directive for A330/a340 Airliners Has Been Extended Indefinitely After Airbus Engineers Were Unable to Explain the Source of Cracking in an Undercarriage Support Beam of an A330 That Could Potentially Lead to a Main Gear Collapse. The Ad Requires All A330/a340 Operators to Conduct Repetitive Inspections on All Their Aircraft Indefinitely.

Canadian Simulator and Training Supplier Cae Has Signed a Five Year Agreement With Hawker Pacific to Provide Maintenance Training for the Company and Its Clients Within the Southeast Asia Region. Under the Agreement, Cae Will Reportedly Provide Technical Training Primarily to Hawker Pacific Maintenance Technicians. Training Has Already Commenced at Hawker Pacific’s Singapore Facility, and is Expected to Be Offered at Other Cae Locations in Asia by the End of the Year.

Macquarie Bank Has Acquired Mro Goodrich Aviation Technical Services in Everett, Washington. The Sale Includes an 88,300sq M Heavy Airframe Check, Component Repair and Overhaul, and Conversion Facility, and a Workforce of 1200.

Surveillance Australia’s Fleet of Six Dash 8-200s and Four –q300s Will Be Treated With Permagard Aviation’s Advanced Reactive Polymer (Arp) Rp5000 Coating to Protect Them From the Elements in the Maritime and Tropical Climates in Which They Operate.

Australian Maritime Systems (Ams) Officially Opened a New Facility at Pinkenba in Brisbane on November 1, Incorporating a Specifically Designed Room for Servicing Aircraft Evacuation Slides, Life Rafts and Life Jackets. Ams Says It Has Service Agreements in Place With Virgin Blue, Alliance Airlines and Other Aviation Groups.

Leading Australian Composite Component Manufacturer Quickstep Technologies Has Established a New Testing and Manufacturing Centre in Germany. The New Centre Will Be Used to Conduct Manufacturing Trials and Development Work for European Aerospace Groups Including Eurocopter and Airbus.

People

Founder of the Temora Air Museum, David Lowy, Has Been Awarded the Prestigious Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators (Gapan) Australian Bicentennial Award for His Outstanding Contribution to Australian Aviation Through His Founding and Support of the Museum.

Boeing F/a-18 Test Pilot Ricardo Traven Has Been Elected as President of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (Setp). Traven Will Be Familiar to Attendees of the 2003 and 2007 Avalon Airshows Where He Demonstrated the F/a-18f Super Hornet.

Sydney Airport Has Appointed Derek Larsen as Its New General Manager, Retail. Larsen Will Be Responsible for Overseeing the Retail Precincts of the T1 International and T2 Domestic Terminals, as Well as the Delivery of the Retail Component for the New T1 Upgrade.

Bae Systems Has Announced That Ceo Mike Turner Will Be Stepping Down and Leaving the Company at the End of August 2008. A Successor Has Not Yet Been Named.

Boeing Has Named Shephard Hill as President, Boeing International, Replacing Laurette Koellner, Who is Retiring, Effective November 1. Michael Cave Will Replace Hill as Senior Vice President, Business Development and Strategy at Boeing’s Corporate Offices.

Hawaiian Airlines Has Appointed Gary Mckoy to the Newly Created Position of Senior Manager – Pacific Region. Mckoy Will Have Direct Oversight Responsibility for Hawaiian’s Entire Flight Operations Serving Sydney, Australia, Pago Pago, American Samoa, and Papeete, Tahiti.

Events

A New Award Has Been Created to Honour Australian Aviation Pioneer, Harold Gatty. Gatty Flew With American Wiley Post and is Widely Regarded as Being a Leader in the Establishment of Many of Today’s Navigation Principles. The Award, to Be Known as the Harold Gatty World Medal, Will Be Presented in Conjunction With the Annual Wiley Post Spirit Award.