News Desk

The 58 Day Strike Shut Down Much of the Work on the 787, and Boeing Says That This Will Now Push the First Flight of the Aircraft Until the First Quarter of Next Year, Instead of the Late October/early November Date Previously Published by the Airframer.

And, According to a Report by ‘associated Press’, Boeing Has Found That a Number of Fasteners on the Six Dreamliners Currently in Assembly Were “Incorrectly Installed and Do Not Conform to Specifications. ” It is Understood That Only Three Per Cent of the Fasteners on the Aircraft Were Incorrectly Installed, and Those Which Are Fault Should Be Able to Be Replaced Relatively Quickly.

Boeing Has Not Yet Issued a New Timetable on the 787’s Development Program, but It Appears Likely That the Delay Will Push Delivery of the First Aircraft to Ana Until 2010, Compared With the Latest Delivery Date of August 2009. This Would Be Likely to Push Back the First 787-8 for Jetstar Until Mid 2010, Effectively Slowing the Growth of Jetsar’s Widebody International Operations for Some Time.

Embraer Not Looking to Develop Bigger Jet-yet

Embraer Has Backed Away From Comments Made by Its Chief Financial Officer That the Brazilian Manufacturer Was Preparing to Develop an Aircraft Larger Than Its Current E-jet Range, but Says It Could Still Do in the Future.

Rumours That Embraer Would Look to Develop an Aircraft to Rival the Bombardier Cseries and the Smaller Versions of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 Came After the Company’s Cfo Antonio Luiz Pizzaro Manso Said, “Whether We Should Develop a Larger Plane, Alone or With Partners, is Something That We Will Have to Decide. ” Speculation Grew Further After Airbus Chief Thomas Enders Said on November 3 That the European Manufacturer Was Open to Working With Embraer on the Next Generation of Narrowbody Aircraft.

But the Brazilian Manufacturer Has Backed Away From the Statements, and Issued a Press Release on November 5, Saying, “embraer Publicly Clarifies That, at the Present Time, It is Not Seeking to Associate With Any Other Aircraft Manufacturer in the World, Neither Does It Have a Project for Developing Large Airplanes. ” However, the Manufacturer Also Left the Door Open for Some Possible Collaboration on a New Project, Although It Did Not Specifically Identify Any Projects Which Would Be a Priority. “according to the Company’s Strategic Vision, as Established and Approved by the Board of Administration, Initiatives for Associating With Other Companies or for Launching Products Could Be Considered, Based on a Thorough Study of Possible Scenarios, and They Would Be Promptly Announced to the Market,” the Company Said.

Back to Work as Boeing Machinists Accept New Deal

Members of the International Association of Machinists Voted on November 1 in Favour of a New Four Year Labour Agreement Which Has Brought to an End Their 54 Day Strike Which Has Held Up Production at Boeing’s Seattle Factories.

“This is an Outstanding Offer That Rewards Employees for Their Contributions to Our Success While Preserving Our Ability to Compete,” Said Scott Carson, President and Ceo of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, After the Two Parties Reached Agreement on a New Contract on October 27. “I Thank Both Negotiating Teams and the Federal Mediator for Their Hard Work and Commitment in Reaching This Agreement. We Recognise the Hardship a Strike Creates for Everyone – Our Customers, Suppliers, Employees, Community and Our Company – and We Look Forward to Having Our Entire Team Back. ” the New Contract Will See Boeing Deliver Wage Increases of 15 Per Cent Over the Four Year Term, as Well as an Immediate 16 Per Cent Increase in Pension Contributions, as Well as Lump Sum Payments of Up to Us$8000 (a$11,851) Over the Life of the Contract.

“This Contract Gives the Workers at Boeing an Opportunity to Share in the Extraordinary Success This Company Has Achieved Over the Past Several Years,” Said Iam’s Aerospace Coordinator Mark Blondin. “It Also Recognises the Need to Act With Foresight to Protect the Next Generation of Aerospace Jobs. These Members Helped Make Boeing the Company It is Today, and They Have Every Right to Be a Part of Its Future. ” but That Certainty May Only Be for the Next Four Years, With Many Analysts Tipping That Boeing Will Open Assembly Lines in Other States Where It Does Not Have to Negotiate With the Unions for Its Future Aircraft. As a Result of the Strike, Which Virtually Shut Down All of Boeing’s Commercial Aircraft Production, It is Estimated That the Strike May Have Cost the Company More Than Us$5bn (a$7. 4bn) in Lost Revenues, and the Company is Estimated to Have Lost 200 Days of Production From Strikes at Its Seattle Factories Over the Last 20 Years.

China to Be Fastest Growing Aviation Market – Boeing

Despite Recent Falls in Economic Growth and Poor Financial Performance From Some of Its Biggest Airlines, Boeing is Holding to Its Prediction That China Will Be the Biggest Market for New Aircraft Over the Next 20 Years.

“China Will Continue to Be the Fastest Growing Aviation Centre in the World, Requiring 41 Per Cent of the Entire Asia Pacific Region Airplane Demand. This Makes China the Largest Market Outside of the Us for New Commercial Airplanes,” Said Randy Tinseth, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President Marketing.

According to Its Most Recent Current Market Outlook, Boeing Expects to See Demand for 3710 New Commercial Aircraft Worth Us$390bn (a$576bn) From China, Which Will See It Triple Its Current Fleet to 4560 Aircraft. Of New Aircraft Purchases, Narrowbodies Will Account for 70 Per Cent or 2600 Deliveries, While Intermediate Widebodies Such as the Boeing 787 and 777 Will Account for 780 Deliveries. Boeing Also Predicts a Market of 100 Aircraft of 747 Size and Above, and 370 Freighters.

Airbus to Cut Production Plans, Boeing May Follow

Airbus Has Cut Back Its Plans to Increase Production for the Next Year Due to Uncertainty Over the Impact on Its Order Backlog of the Current Volatile Economic Situation. The Airframer Will Reach a Production Rate of 36 A320 Family Aircraft Per Month by the End of 2008, but Has Cut Plans to Raise This to 40 by 2010. Similarly, Plans to Raise the Production Rate of the A330/a340 to 11 Per Month by 2010 Will Be Pulled Back to 10 Per Month by the Same Time. “this is a Prudent Decision Following Our Current Market View, but We’ll Continue to Monitor the Markets and Are Preserving Our Ability to Act at the Same Time,” Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders Said in a Statement to Bloomberg. Similarly, Boeing Has Indicated That It May Slow Its Plans to Push Annual Production Up to 505 Airliners During 2009, but Has Yet to Make Any Firm Decisions. Boeing Recently Announced That It Would Offer Financing to Some of Its Customers Who May Not Be Able to Complete Aircraft Purchases Due to the Tightening of Credit Markets.

Commercial Briefs

* Perth Based Structural Monitoring Systems and Bombardier Aerospace Have Entered a Program to Certify Its Comparative Vacuum Monitoring Sensors for Use on the Crj100/200.

* Boeing’s Vice President of Engineering Mike Denton Said in an Audio Posting on the Company’s Website That the Company Will Keep More of the Design Work on the 787-9 in-house Compared to the Amount Outsourced on the 787-8.

* the Sukhoi Superjet 100 Has Surpassed Over 100 Hours of Test Flying and is Moving Into Certification Testing. The Aircraft is Expected to Be Certified in the Second Half of 2009 With Deliveries to Launch Customer Aeroflot Set to Start in Late 2009.

Sales

* Lessor Bank of China Aviation Has Ordered 20 Airbus A320 Family Aircraft.

* Gecas Has Ordered Five Arj-21-700s and Taken Options on Another 20 Arjs.

* Croatia Airlines Has Ordered Four Airbus A319s.

* American Airlines Announced on October 15 That It Intends to Order 48 Boeing 787-9s and Take Options on a Further 52. The Airline Has Not Yet Placed a Firm Order for the Aircraft, but Says It Expects to Take Firm Delivery of the First 787 in Late 2012.

Military

Jsf Completes Testing at Edwards

the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Has Finished Its Trials From Edwards Air Force Base in California.

During the Three Week Deployment at Edwards, Most of the F-35’s Activity Centred on a Set of Crucial Tests That Validated the Aircraft’s Ability to Shut Down and Restart Its Engine in Flight. During the Tests – Conducted to Ensure That the Aircraft Can Regain Power and Be Flown Safely in the Event of an Unanticipated Engine Flameout – the Pratt & Whitney F135 Turbofan Repeatedly Restarted on Command.

“Our Goal Was to Collect Inflight Data During 12 Specific Test Cases Over Edwards, and We Did Exactly That,” Said Doug Pearson, Lockheed Martin Vice President of the F-35 Integrated Test Force. “the Initial Data Review and Pilot Reported Results Are Very Favourable and Meet or Exceed Our Expectations. ” With All Edwards Testing Successfully Completed, F-35 Test Pilot Jeff Knowles Flew the Aircraft Back to Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth Plant Last Week.

“in Addition to Confirming That the Engine Spools Up and Restarts Very Quickly After Being Shut Off in Flight, We Found That the Airplane Itself Showed High Reliability and Was Always Ready for Its Next Mission. That Kind of Performance in an Early Development Plane Bodes Well for the Aircraft We Deliver to the Fleet,” Knowles Said.

Pearce Gets Upgraded

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon Broke Ground on Works at Raaf Pearce in Western Australia on October 28, Launching a Major Facilities Upgrade Which Will, Among Other Things, Allow the Base to Accommodate the C-17 Airlifter.

Under Stage 1 of the $142. 2 Million Base Redevelopment Program, a New Fuel Farm, a New Fuel Quality Control Centre, Upgrade of an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar, a New Engine Run-up Facility, a New Combined Mess and New Living-in Accommodation Facilities Will Be Built. Added to This, Another $12. 6 Million Will Be Spent on Air Movements Facilities and Pavement Works Which Will Allow the Base to Accommodate the C-17 on a Regular Basis.

Works for Super Hornet Approved

Spending of $117. 1 Million for Upgrades of Raaf Amberley to Accommodate the F/a-18f Super Hornets Which Will Be Based There From 2010 Has Received Parliamentary Approval.

The Capital Works Planned Include New Accommodation for 1 Squadron, Modifications to Accommodation for 6 Squadron and Expansion of the Existing Common Use Operational Level Maintenance Facility, Which Will All Help to Support the 24 Super Hornets to Be Operated by the Squadrons.

Boeing Loses Hornet Contract

Boeing Has Lost Its Contract to Support the Raaf’s Fleet of F/a-18a/b Hornets to a Joint Bid by Bae Systems and L3 Mas.

Boeing Has Held the Contract to Modify and Upgrade the Hornet Fleet Since 1999 but Did Not Have Its Contract Renewed With the Bae/l-3 Consortium Selected as the Preferred Bidder for Raaf Williamtown Based Work. Bae Already Performs Through Life Support for the Raaf’s Hawk 127 Lead-in Fighter Trainers.

Up to 200 Boeing Engineers Could Lose Their Jobs as a Result of the Loss of the Contract, but Most Are Likely to Be Offered Redundancy Packages or Other Employment With Boeing Australia. Boeing Also Said That Bae and L-3 May Recruit a Number of Engineers and Other Support Staff Already Involved With the Hornet Contract.

Indonesia Pushing to Buy More Flankers

Indonesia’s Defence Minister Has Urged Two Parliamentary Committees to Release Funds Which Would Allow for the Purchase of Three Sukhoi Su-27 Flankers.

“We Have Asked the House’s Commission I and Budgetary Commission to Erase the Star Mark for the Purchase of Three Sukhoi Jet Fighters, So That the Us$360m [a$521m] Could Be Disbursed for the Purchase,” Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono Was Quoted as Saying by the Antara News Agency in a Report Dated October 9. It is Understood That the Funds to Purchase the Aircraft Have Been Made Available Through a French Bank.

The Indonesian Air Force (Tni-au) Signed a Memorandum of Understanding to Purchase Three Su-30mkis and Three Su-27skm Flanker Fighters in August 2007 Just Prior to the Moscow Airshow. The Tni-au Already Operates Four Su-30s, Which Were Received in 2003, and Also Has Six Lockheed Martin F-16s in Its Inventory, Although Sanctions Against Indonesia During the 1990s and Early 2000s Have Left Most of the F-16s in States of Disrepair.

* Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement Greg Combet Handed Over the First of 16 New Panther Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Vehicles to the Raaf Security and Fire School at Raaf Base Amberley. The Vehicles Are Being Procured From Rosenbauer International.

* the First Eurofighter Typhoon for Saudi Arabia Made Its First Flight on October 20. Saudi Arabia Has Ordered 72 Typhoons, Which Are Being Diverted From Tranche Ii Aircraft Originally Destined for the Royal Air Force.

* China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industries is Developing a New Uav Called the Xianglong Which Appears to Closely Resemble the Northrop Grumman Rq-4 Global Hawk. A Video of the Xianglong From a Chinese Internet Site Shows the Aircraft Undergoing Ground Runs, and Some Reports Are That the Aircraft Will Enter Limited Service in Two to Three Years With the People’s Liberation Army.

Sales

* Croatia Airlines Has Ordered Four Airbus A319s.

* American Airlines Announced on October 15 That It Intends to Order 48 Boeing 787-9s and Take Options on a Further 52. The Airline Has Not Yet Placed a Firm Order for the Aircraft, but Says It Expects to Take Firm Delivery of the First 787 in Late 2012.

Airlines

Dfat Gives Thumbs Up for Cabotage

the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Has Called for the Government to Allow Foreign Airlines to Carry Domestic Passengers in Its Submission to the National Aviation Policy Process.

In the Submission, Dfat Says That Allowing Foreign Airlines the Right to Carry Passengers Within Australia Under ‘cabotage’ Rights Could Bring Major Benefits to the Country.

“including the Reciprocal Exchange of Cabotage Rights in Australia’s International Air Services Agreement Could Increase the Level of Competition on Some Domestic Routes, Providing Benefits for Consumers and Businesses (Including Exporters),” Dfat Said in Its Submission.

However, the Department Also Said in Its Submission That for the Country to Gain the Full Benefits of Cabotage, the Australian Government Would Need to Ensure That Reciprocal Rights Are Negotiated With Other Countries to Give Australian Carrier Such as Qantas Access to Other Domestic Markets.

Cabotage is a Politically Sensitive Topic, With Domestic Market Access a Major Sticking Point for a Number of Years in the Negotiations Between the Us and Eu’s Open Skies Agreement. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Has Raised the Prospect of Allowing Passenger Airlines Cabotage Rights on Certain Routes Within Australia as Part of Its Discussion Paper on the National Aviation Policy.

Jetstar Adds More Perth Flights

Jetstar Has Announced That It Will Start Flights From Perth to Adelaide and Cairns From February Next Year, as the Airline Launched Its First International Services From the West Australian Capital on October 27.

Jetstar Will Start Flying a Daily Return Service Between Perth and Adelaide From February 2 in Addition to the Five Daily Flights Operated by Qantas, While It Will Also Offer a Three Times Weekly Service Between Perth and Cairns From February 6 Which Will Replace Qantas’s Existing Boeing 737-800 Service Between the Two Cities. As Part of the Launch, the Airline Offered a Limited Number of Seats on the Perth-adelaide and Perth-cairns Flights for $69 and $99 Respectively.

The Services Will Result in the Carrier Basing an Additional Airbus A320 in Perth, Adding to the Two Which Are Used on the Carrier’s Services to Denpasar, Jakarta and to Singapore From December.

“by February Next Year Jetstar’s Overall Offering for the Perth Market, Including Domestic and International Services, Will Have Significantly Grown to 38 Weekly Return Frequencies Comprising Over 13,400 Available Weekly Seats,” Said Jetstar Ceo Bruce Buchanan.

“at a Time When the Economy Appears to Be Slowing, We Are Delivering Sustainable Low Fare Offerings Designed to Drive Tourism Growth and Stimulate Existing and New Traffic on the Perth-adelaide and Perth-cairns Flight Corridors. ”

Further Changes at Qantas in Lead Up to Dixon’s Departure

Qantas Announced a Further Round of Senior Management Restructuring Which Will See a Number of Existing Staff Moved Into New Roles Ahead of Incoming Ceo Alan Joyce’s Assuming the Role, Due on November 28.

Former Executive General Manager Freight Grant Fenn Was Appointed on October 24 as Egm Strategy and Investments, and Will Oversee the Qantas Group Strategy Team’s Long Term Planning Initiatives and Mergers and Acquisitions Activity. Fenn Will Also Oversee Qantas’s Other Investments, Including in Australian Air Express, Star Track Express, Air Pacific and Jetset Travelworld. As a Result, Group General Manager Freight, Steve Cleary, Will Continue to Report to Fenn With Responsibility for Growing Qantas’s Freight Enterprises.

Effective November 28, Jetstar Cfo David Hall Will Move Up to the New Position of Qantas’s Group General Manager Corporate Services. In This Role, Hall Will Facilitate the Coordination of the Various Executives and Will Also Have Overall Responsibility for It. Current Chief Information Officer Jamila Gordon Will Remain but Will Report to Hall.

Qantas Also Announced That Egm People, Kevin Brown, Will Leave the Company During the First Quarter of 2009. Brown Has Been Instrumental in a Number of Recent Enterprise Bargaining Agreement Negotiations, Including the Recent Engineers Eba Which Was Settled This Year After Over 18 Months of Negotiations and Industrial Action. Qantas Says That a Global Search for a New Egm People Has Commenced.

Strategic Airlines Launches

Strategic Aviation Group Officially Launched Its Newest Venture, Strategic Airlines, on October 23 at an Event Coinciding With the Gold Coast Indy 300, for Which It Was a Major Sponsor.

As Announced in Late September, Strategic Will Be a Charter and Acmi (Aircraft, Maintenance, Crew and Insurance, or Better Known as Wet Leasing) Operator Which Will Launch Its First Services in 2009 With an Airbus A330-300. The Airline Will Initially Target the Contract and Tour Operator Markets, and Will Also Market Its Acmi Solutions Worldwide.

“strategic Airlines Meets a Distinct Need in the Charter Airline Market Not Only in Australia, but Around the World,” Strategic Aviation Group Executive Director Michael James Said.

“the Marketplace is Very Receptive to an Airline Such as Ours and We Have a Great Opportunity to Explore a Niche Market,” Strategic Airlines Ceo David Blake Said, Adding That the Airline Planned to Explore New Opportunities in Untapped Markets and on Underserviced Routes.

Strategic Aviation is a Major Air Charter Services Broker, and Holds a Number of Major Contracts With Various Government Departments Including the Department of Defence.

Jetstar Goes to Auckland

Jetstar is Expanding Its Trans-tasman Services With the Launch of Flights From Auckland to Sydney and the Gold Coast. Subject to Regulatory Approval, Jetstar Will Start Daily Services to the Two Australian Airports From April 28 2009, Which Will Be Operated by an Auckland-based Airbus A320. Jetstar Offered a Special Fare of $99 One Way in Special Sale on October 13, Although Regular Fares on Both Routes Will Start at $229 One Way. The Expansion of Its Trans-tasman Routes Comes After Pacific Blue Recently Added a Number of Frequencies on the Market, and Air New Zealand Took the Step of Slashing Its Lead in Fares on Some Routes Ahead of What Some Analysts Believe Will Be a ‘bloodbath’ Across the Tasman. Jetstar Ceo Bruce Buchanan Said “jetstar Expects to Take a Price Leadership Position on Our Newest Trans-tasman Routes and Will Provide Even Greater Choice for Travellers. We Remain Committed to Offering the Lowest Fares on the International Markets We Fly. ” Buchanan Also Said That the Qantas Subsidiary Would in Future Apply for a New Zealand Air Operator’s Certificate. “the Application for a New Zealand Aoc is a Process Which Will Take Some Time,” He Said. “it Will Provide Jetstar With Flexibilities for Any Future Flying Opportunities That May Arise. ” at a Press Conference, He Also Told Reporters That the Airline Will Examine a Possible Launch of Domestic Services in New Zealand Next Year, but That Any Launch is Likely to Depend on How the Global Economic Crisis Affects Demand at the Time. New Zealand is Currently in a Recession, and a Number of Airlines Are Expecting Lower Demand for Air Travel as a Result.

Meanwhile, Pacific Blue Started Its Inaugural Auckland-sydney Service on October 13. The Daily Service is Operated by a Boeing 737-800.

Norfolk Air Cuts Back Services

Norfolk Air is Axing Its Recently Launched Gold Coast Services and Will Also Cut Frequencies on Its Routes to Sydney and Melbourne Due to the Worsening Financial Situation. “I’ve Been in This Industry for 30 Plus Years and (This Situation) is Unique,” Said Norfolk Air Ceo Jeff Murdoch Told Aap. “I Remember Back to the Asian Meltdown at the End of the 90s . . . That Was Pretty Significant, but This is Far, Far Worse,” He Said, Adding That It “This Transcends Virtually Anything That I’ve Seen Previously. ” Norfolk Air Launched Its Weekly Gold Coast Service on October 12, but Will Now Cancel the Service After October 30. However, the Airline’s Three Times Weekly Brisbane and Once Weekly Newcastle Services Remain Unaffected by the Cuts, and It Will Continue to Operate Once Weekly Services to Sydney and Melbourne. All Norfolk Air’s Flights Are Operated by an Ozjet Boeing 737-200 Which Will Be Replaced Next Year by a Boeing 737-300 Operated by Nauruan Carrier Our Airline.

Jetstar to Connect Cairns to Gold Coast

Jetstar Announced on October 16 That It Will Start Services Between the Gold Coast and Cairns Which Will Give Incoming Passengers From Osaka an Easier Connection Through the Far Northern City. The Three Times Weekly Service Will Commence From February 3, and Be Flown With an Airbus A320, and Has Been Timed to Connect With the Incoming A330 Service From Osaka. Jetstar Launched the Flights With a Special $59 One Way Jetsaver Light Fare, and Regular Fares Will Start at $99. “importantly This New Service Provides an Immediate Opportunity to Reintroduce Qantas Group Access to Western Japan for Cairns With Connectivity Options From the Kansai Region From Osaka to Travel to Cairns via a Connecting Jetstar Service at Gold Coast International Airport,” Said Jetstar Ceo Bruce Buchanan. The New Service Will Be Supported by Marketing Efforts by Tourism Australia, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Tourism Queensland in Coordination With Jetstar’s Own Marketing in Japan and Comes Months After Jetstar Cut Its Direct Cairns-osaka Service. Buchanan Also Said That the Flight Would in Time Allow for Passengers From Its Forthcoming Daily Auckland-gold Coast Service to Conveniently Connect to North Queensland.

Qantas Drops Fuel Surcharge, Virgin Holds Steady

Qantas Has Reduced Its Fuel Surcharge Due to the Drop in the Price of Oil, but Domestic Rival Virgin Blue Has Not Committed Itself to Following Suit.

From October 9, the International Surcharges to the Uk and Europe Were Reduced to $190 One-way, $150 One-way to the Americas, South Africa and India, $110 to Asia Pacific and Honolulu and $65 to New Zealand.

“although the Price Has Fallen Below Us$100 [a$154] a Barrel in Recent Days, Oil Remains Very Volatile and a Major Challenge for the Airline Industry,” Said Egm John Borghetti, Who Added That Even With Hedging and Fuel Saving Measures, the Qantas Group’s Fuel Bill This Year Would Still Be $1. 3 Billion Higher Than in the 2007/08 Financial Year.

Borghetti Also Said That the Airline Would Reduce Its Domestic and Qantaslink Fares by Two-to-three Per Cent “across a Range of Routes. ” While Many Have Welcomed the Fare Relief, Domestic Rival Virgin Blue Has Not Announced Any Reduction of Its Own Fuel Surcharges, and Told the Abc That Its Fuel Surcharge Was Already $20 Less Than Qantas’s.

With the Current Economic Uncertainty, the Cost of Oil May Fall Further, With the Price of Crude Oil Slipping to Below Us$80 (a$115) a Barrel in Trade on October 10. While This May Bring Some Relief to Airlines Around the World, It is Expected That There Will Also Be a Major Drop in Both Corporate and Leisure Travel as a Result of a Possible Global Recession, Putting Many Carriers at Risk of Failure.

”

Airline Briefs

* Air New Zealand Will Suspend Services From Hamilton to Sydney and the Gold Coast From March 29 to October 24 2009 Due to Low Demand.

* Emirates Took Delivery of Its Second Airbus A380 on October 24, Which Allowed It to Start Daily A380 Services on the Dubai-new York Jfk Route From October 27. Emirates Also Fly a Second Daily Service With a Boeing 77-300er on the Route.

* Lufthansa Has Announced That It is Exercising an Option to Acquire an Additional 50. 1 Per Cent of British Carrier Bmi, Which Will Take Its Stake to 80 Per Cent. Lh is Expected to Buy Out the Remaining Shareholders, While Virgin Atlantic Has Also Made a Vague Proposal to Combine Its Own Operations With Those of Bmi to Build a Strong Integrated Network From London’s Heathrow Airport.

* Pacific Blue is Adding Two Additional Services Each Week From Brisbane to Nadi From December 19, Bringing It to 16 Return Services a Week on the Route. The Extra Flights Will Operate on Friday and Sunday Evenings.

* Macair Will Introduce a Three Times Weekly Service to Middlemount as an Extension of Its Brisbane-moranbah Flights From November 17. The Flights Are Operated in Partnership With Anglo Coal and Capcoal and Are Operated With a Saab 340b.

* Macair Will Commence Weekly Flights Between Cairns and Northern Peninsula Area (Bamaga) From Late November, Subject to Regulatory Approval.

* Virgin Blue Has Signed a New Interline Agreement With Virgin Atlantic Which Will Allow Passengers From Around Australia to Seamlessly Connect Through the Virgin Blue Network Onto the Daily Virgin Atlantic Sydney-hong Kong-london Flights. The Arrangement Will Not Affect the Two Carrier’s Codeshare Agreement.

* Regional Express Has Purchased Four Saab 340bs Which Were Leased Until October 2008. Rex Said It Funded the Acquisition Through Operating Cash Flow.

* Air Pacific is Withdrawing Its Three Weekly Services From Nadi to Tokyo From March 31, but Will Commence Twice Weekly Flights to Hong Kong From June. The Flights Will Be Operated With a Boeing 767-300.

Environment

Qantas Completes Aspire Flight With A380

Qantas Used the Occasion of Its First Airbus A380 Flight From Los Angeles to Melbourne to Trial Emissions Saving Procedures in Conjunction With Airservices Australia.

The Flight Was Undertaken Through the Joint Airservices, Faa and Airways New Zealand Aspire (Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions) Initiative, and Saw the A380 Use Electrical Ground Power in Los Angeles, Priority Air Traffic Control, Unimpeded Climb to Cruising Altitude, a User Preferred Route and Two Real Time Weather Updates. The Initiative is Aimed at Saving Fuel and Cutting Emissions Through Optimising the Flight Path of the Aircraft.

“by Working With Key Industry Partners Like Airservices Australia, We Can Fly the Most Fuel Efficient Flightpaths Which, if Translated Across Our Fleet, Would Deliver Significant Reductions in Fuel Burn and Reduced Impact on the Environment,” Said Qantas’s Chief Risk Officer Rob Kella.

The Qantas Flight Follows an Earlier Aspire Flight Operated by an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-200er From Auckland to San Francisco on September 12. Another Aspire Flight Will Be Undertaken Later This Year With a United Airlines Boeing 747-400 Flying From Sydney to Los Angeles.

Airports

Essendon Airport Master Plan Approved

Transport Minister Anthony Albanese Has Approved a New Master Plan for Essendon Airport, Which Appears to Have Secured Its Future as an Operating Airport.

“the Master Plan Sets Out the Strategic Direction and Intended Uses for the Next 20 Years, and I Have Advised Essendon Airport Management That the Government Has No Current Plans to Close the Airport or Relax the Curfew,” Said Minister Albanese on October 31.

The New Master Plan Includes Upgrades to the Terminal Building, the Construction of New Hangars, New Office Buildings and Other Improvements, Including a New Bus Service From the Bulla Precinct to the Essendon Railway Station.

In Announcing the Approval, Minister Albanese Said That He Had Requested That the Airport’s Management Establish a Working Group With Airservices Australia, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Federal Members of Parliament to Look at Strategies for Reducing Noise and Other Community Impacts From the Airport. The Working Group Will Report Back to the Minister by April 2009.

Essendon Airport Has Been Subject to a Community Campaign Calling for It to Be Shut Down, While the Victorian State Government Has Also Stated in Its Submission to the Aviation White Paper Process That It Would Prefer to See the Airport Closed and the Land Redeveloped, Despite It Being Home to the Victorian Air Ambulance and Police Air Wing, as Well as a Number of Business Aviation Operators.

Record Result for Adelaide Adelaide

Airport Ltd Has Celebrated Its 10th Anniversary With a Record Revenue of $140. 5 Million for 2007-08, Up From $126 Million in the Previous Financial Year, and an Improved Net Profit of $8. 4 Million, Reports Chris Milne.

Profit Before Tax Rose From $4. 84 Million to $18. 6 Million as Passenger Numbers Climbed Another 7. 5 Per Cent to 6. 725 Million.

When Aal Took Over the Lease From the Commonwealth in 1997-98, Annual Passenger Numbers Were 3. 98 Million.

Managing Director Phil Baker Said Despite the Impact of Record Oil Prices, Adelaide Airport Had Recorded Strong Growth in Regional Passenger Traffic – Up 15. 4 Per Cent in the Past Year – While Domestic Traffic Rose 6. 8 Per Cent and International Traffic 7. 12 Per Cent.

The Company, Which Operates Adelaide and Parafield Airports, Expected Further Growth This Financial Year, He Said.

Chairman David Munt Said the Airport Company Had Invested More Than $450 Million on Capital Works Over 10 Years, Including the New, Integrated Terminal One. Expansion Plans Included More Gates and Aircraft Parking at T1, a Regional Terminal to Accommodate Rapidly Growing Mining Charters as Well as General Aviation Services, a Multi-level Car Park and a 200 Room Airport Hotel.

Aal’s Annual Report Shows Income From Aeronautical Activities Rose From $69. 6 Million to $75. 4 Million, Commercial Revenue Was Up From $23. 9 Million to $27. 5 Million, and Property Revenue From $24. 5 Million to $27. 4 Million.

Adelaide is Still Likely to Benefit From an Increase in Services During the Short Term, With Pacific Blue Due to Start Weekly Flights Between the South Australian Capital and Denpasar in December, While Tiger Airways Will Open Its Second Base at the Airport in February Next Year, and Will Add a Number of Flights Between Adelaide and Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Alice Springs and the Gold Coast.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Anthony Albanese Has Approved the Development of a 200 Room Hotel Near the Main Passenger Terminal at Adelaide International Airport. The Airport Will Tender for the Construction of the Hotel Shortly.

Melbourne to Hold Off on Domestic Terminal Expansion

Melbourne Airport Has Announced That It is Placing Its Planned Expansion of the Domestic Terminal on Hold Indefinitely Due to Fears That the Global Financial Crisis Could Cut Passenger Traffic.

“We Were Seriously Considering, During 2009, Actually Starting the Next Phase of Our Domestic Terminal Expansion,” Melbourne Airport Ceo Chris Woodruff Told ‘the Age’ Newspaper on October 10. “Clearly, if Demand is Tailing Off, We Won’t Be Doing That. We Will Just Defer That by a Year, or Another Year, or Another Year, Depending on What the Financial Climate is. ” However, Woodruff Confirmed That the Airport Will Still Continue With Its $330 Million Expansion of the Airport’s International Terminal, the Majority of Which Will Be Completed by 2011.

Airport Briefs

* Amsterdam Based Airports Operators Schiphol Group is Increasing Its Stake in Brisbane Airport Corporation Limited by Three Per Cent to 18. 7 Per Cent, With the Stake to Be Acquired as Part of the Queensland Government’s Sell Down of Its 12. 38 Per Cent Stake in Bacl. Brisbane Airport is Investing in the Extension of the Domestic and International Terminals, the Construction of a Parallel Runway to Be Operational by the End of 2017 and Other Projects.

* the Goulburn Mulwaree Council Has Selected Domain Corporation as a Potential Buyer for Goulburn Airport, and Will Now Progress to Present a Proposal to Buy the Airport at a Public Council Meeting. The Airport Was Recently Passed in at Auction After It Failed to Reach the Reserve Price.

* Berlin’s Historic Tempelhof Airport Was Officially Closed on October 30. The Airport’s Massive Limestone Terminal Was Built by Forced Labourers Between 1936 and 1941, and Played a Key Role in the Berlin Airlift of 1948. It is Not Known What Will Become of the Airport or Its Historic Terminal, Which Many Berliners Feel a Strong Emotional Attachment to.

General Aviation

Skycatcher Still on Track

Despite the Crash of the Prototype Aircraft in September During Spin Trials, Cessna Says Its Model 162 Skycatcher Will Still Be Delivered in the Second Half of 2009.

Cessna Made the Announcement at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Exposition in San Jose, California, on November 6. The Manufacturer Said That It Has Accumulated Over 220 Hours of Flight Testing to the Standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials for Certification as a Light Sport Aircraft (Lsa), With the First Production Aircraft Now Used Primarily for Flight Testing While a Another Airframe is Being Used for Ground Testing.

Cessna Also Said That It Has Shipped All Production Tooling and Assembly Jigs to Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in China, Which Will Undertake Assembly on the Skycatcher. Under Its Outsourcing Agreement, Cessna Will Ship Aircraft’s Continental O-200d, Garmin G300 Avionics System and Structural Materials to Shenyang, Who Will Assemble the Aircraft Before They Are Shipped Back to the Usa Ahead of Delivery to Customers.

Since It Launched the Aircraft Earlier This Year, Cessna Has Taken Orders for More Than 1000 Skycatchers, With 35 Per Cent Destined for International Customers.

Rfds Central Orders Five Pc-12s

the Adelaide Based Central Operations Section of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Which Serves South Australia and Much of the Northern Territory, Has Placed an Order for Five Pilatus Pc-12 Turboprops Worth More Than $20 Million, Reports Chris Milne.

The New Aircraft, All Due for Delivery During 2010, Will Replace the Five Oldest Pc-12s in the Central Operations Fleet of 11.

The Organisation Has Paid a Deposit of Almost $768,000 and Entered Into Foreign Exchange Arrangements for $21 Million for the Balance of the Payment to the Swiss Manufacturer.

The Rfds Section Was the Launch Customer for the Pc-12, and Received Its First Two Aircraft in March, 1995, and a Further Two in September of That Year.

The Chief Executive of Central Operations, John Lynch, Said the Restoration of Capital Grants Under the New Commonwealth Funding Agreement Would Help to Finance the New Aircraft, With Slots Gained With Pilatus for Progressive Delivery Through 2010.

The Operations Manager, Barry Hocking, Said the Latest 47e (New Generation) Version of the Pc-12 Would Have Improved Performance, Particularly Increased Takeoff Weight, Which Would Enable Extra Fuel to Be Carried, Extending the Range.

Hocking Said the Five Aircraft Being Replaced Would Have Done 15,000 Hours Each by the Time They Were Withdrawn From Service. No Decision Had Been Made on Their Disposal. “our Preference is to Sell Them Overseas but We’re Not Sure How We’ll Dispose of Them Yet, or Whether They Will Be Sold Medically Equipped,” He Said.

Hbc Launches Newest King Air Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Launched Its Newest King Air Derivative, the King Air 350i, the National Business Aviation Association (Nbaa) Convention on October 5, With Numerous Cabin and Passenger Comfort Improvements.

The 350i Will Have a Rockwell Collins Venue Cabin Management System, Which Features a 39cm High Definition Monitor Connected to a Blu-ray Disc Player, and Also Offers Connectivity for Personal Media Players and Gaming Consoles. It Will Also Feature a Redesigned, ‘mix-and-match’ Flexible Cabin, Electrochromic Window Darkeners, Led Lighting, Increased Legroom, and Optional Seat Warmers. Hbc Has Also Added a Graduated Noise Reduction Process Which Has Dropped the Cabin Noise in the King Air by 4 Decibels.

First Flight of the King Air 350i Was Planned for October With Faa Certification Planned for the Third Quarter of 2009. The First Delivery Will Take Place in the Fourth Quarter of 2009.

Business Aviation

Gulfstream Demonstrates Fly by Wireless

Gulfstream Aerospace Has Successfully Demonstrated Aircraft Control Using Wireless Technologies in a Test Flight on September 18. The ‘fly-by-wireless’ System Was Used on a Gv During the Test Flight to Manipulate the Aircraft’s Mid-spoilers, While a Fly-by-wire System Controlled the Aircraft’s Outboard Spoilers, and a Mechanical System Controlled the Aircraft’s Ailerons. A Fly-by-light System Used for the Aircraft’s Inboard Spoilers Also Allowed for a Full Comparative Evaluation of the Fly-by-wireless System Against All Other Technologies Currently Used for Manipulating Flight Controls. “after Developing the Fly-by-wire System, the Next Goal for Gulfstream Was to Reduce the Complexity and Weight of That System Without Sacrificing Safety or Reliability,” Said Pres Henne, Senior Vice President, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “there Was No Difference in Signal Quality or Strength Among Fly-by-wireless, Fly-by-light or Fly-by-wire. That Benefit, Combined With the Streamlined Profile of Fly-by-wireless, Makes It a Potential Backup for Other Flight-control Systems. ” the Wireless Control System Was Developed by Gulfstream and Houston Based System Engineering Firm Invocon, and Gulfstream Says It is Reviewing the Benefits of Using the System for Applications Beyond Backup Flight Controls.

Hbc Launches 450xp

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Used the Nbaa Convention on October 5 to Announce the Relaunch of the Hawker 450xp Light Jet, Which Was Originally Shelved in 2002, With a Key Focus on the Fractional Ownership Market.

The 450xp is a Re-engined Development of the 400xp, Powered by Two New Pratt & Whitney Canada Pw535d Turbofans Producing 2965lb (13. 2kn) of Thrust. It Will Have a Cruising Speed of 414-421kt, and a Range of Over 1600nm (2965km) Under Nbaa Ifr Rules. Maximum Takeoff Weight Will Be 7552kg.

The 450xp’s Cabin Will Provide Seating for Up to Eight Passengers in a Centre Club Arrangement With a Private Lavatory. It Will Also Feature a Rockwell Collins Venue Cabin Management System Which Offers Ipod Connectivity, High Definition Video and Audio and a 25cm Monitor.

The Cockpit Will Feature a Rockwell Collins Proline 21 Avionics Suite.

First Flight is Scheduled for the Second Quarter of 2009 With Faa Certification Planned for the Second Quarter of 2010.

Mustang Achieves Full Rate Production

Cessna Has Achieved Full Production Rate for Its Citation Mustang Line at Its Independence, Kansas, Facility.

The Facility Will Now Be Able to Deliver Over 150 Mustangs Each Year, or Three Aircraft Per Week, From 2009.

Over 115 Mustangs Are Currently in Service, With the Global Fleet Having Accumulated More Than 19,000 Flight Hours.

Business Aviation Briefs

* Aai Acquisitions, Which Took Over Assets of Adam Aircraft Earlier This Year, Announced on October 28 That It Has Suspended Flight Test and Development Activity on the A700 All Composite Very Light Jet. The Company Says That Due to the Current Economic Conditions, the A700 Will Not Meet Its Projected Certification Schedule in 2010.

* Cessna Started Construction on Its New Design and Assembly Facility for the Citation Columbus at Mid-continent Airport in Wichita, Kansas, on October 29.

* Gulftream Recently Completed a Full Future Air Navigation System (Fans) Flight Across the Atlantic Ocean Using Controller-pilot Data Link Communication With Automatic Dependent Surveillance (Cpdlc/ads). The Flight Was Completed in a G450 Test Aircraft From Savannah, Georgia, to London-luton Airport and Return, and is the First by a Dedicated Business Aircraft.

* Uae Based Emivest Has Bought 80 Per Cent of Sino Swearingen, Raising Hopes That the Company May Yet Be Able to Put the Sj30 Light Business Jet Into Production. The Sj30 Was Certified in 2006 and Two Aircraft Were Delivered Before Its Main Investor, the Taiwanese Government, Pulled Its Support for the Program.

Cargo

Boeing Forecasts Air Cargo Traffic Growth to Continue

Despite Recently Falling Load Factors and Fears of a Worldwide Economic Slowdown, Boeing Still Expects Air Freight Traffic to Triple Between 2008 and 2017, According to World Air Cargo Outlook 2008/2009.

Boeing Predicts That Average World Growth Over the Next 20 Years of Three Per Cent Will Drive Strong Growth in Cargo Volumes, Particularly in the Asian Region Which It Predicts Will Have “growth in Excess of the Global Average,” Which It Pegs at 5. 8 Per Cent. The Outlook Also Noted That Chinese Domestic Air Cargo is Expected to Grow by 9. 9 Per Cent While Intra-asian Traffic Will Grow by 8. 1 Per Cent Through to 2017.

“We’ve Seen Market Contraction During the Middle of This Year for the First Time Since Late 2003; However, History Tells Us That the Air Cargo Market Returns Robustly When the Economy Strengthens,” Said Jim Edgar, Regional Director of Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and a Contributor to the Forecast. “Air Cargo Remains Crucial to Globalisation. ” to Cater for This Growth, the Manufacturer Expects That by 2017 the Worldwide Freighter Fleet Will Increase to 3,890 Aircraft, Including 3,360 New Aircraft Introduced During That Time. Of These, More Than 75 Per Cent Will Come From Converted Passenger Aircraft, While 860 New Production Freighters Will Also Be Required. Most of These Are Expected to Some in the Form of Large Widebody Freighters Such as the Boeing 747-8f and 777f.

Cargo Briefs

* Qantas Has Agreed With the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (Accc) to Pay a $20 Million Fine Resulting From the Cargo Price Fixing Scandal Which Has Already Seen the Airline Pay Fines to the Us and Eu. The Fine Agreement Will Extinguish the Accc’s Action Against Qantas Over Price Fixing of Fuel Surcharges on Air Freight Between 2000 and 2006, but Will Still Be Subject to Approval by the Federal Court.

* Dhl and Polar Air Cargo Have Signed a Blocked Space Agreement Which Will Give Dhl Access to Fixed Capacity on a Number of Polar’s Flights From the Mainland Us Through Its Anchorage Hub Onto a Number of Pacific Destinations, Including Sydney, Honolulu, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Finance

Allco Falls Into Administration

Allco Finance Group, Which Leases a Number of Aircraft to Qantas and Also Was Involved in the Aborted Takeover Attempt of the Airline in 2007, Was Placed Into Voluntary Administration on November 4.

A Search of the Casa Register Shows That Allco Related Companies Are Registration Holders of Two Boeing 717s Operated by National Jet Systems on Behalf of Qantaslink, Three Boeing 767-300s and Four Boeing 747-400s Operated by Qantas, as Well as 15 Airbus A320s Operated by Jetstar. Allco Was Widely Tipped to Be the Most Likely Partner in Qantas’s Planned Spinoff of Its Aircraft Leasing Arm, Which Was Abandoned Last Year Due to the Credit Crisis.

“allco’s Aviation Assets Are World Class and Would Be Attractive to Any Lessor,” Said Investec Aircraft Management’s Chief Operating Officer David Phillips. “investec Obviously Has Interest in Good Quality Assets Such as These and Will Assess Them in the Same Manner as It Does Any Other Asset Opportunity. ” Other Parties Which May Be in the Frame to Take Over Allco’s Aircraft Include Genesis Lease and Aercap, While the Lieberman Family’s Global Aviation Asset Management Has Also Expressed an Interest.

Financial Briefs

* Cathay Pacific Says That Its Financial Results for 2008 Are “expected to Be Disappointing”, With the Airline Citing Weakening Revenues and Losses From Fuel Hedging as Major Factors Likely to Drag the Airline’s Bottom Line Down. In a Filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Airline’s Board Says That Revenues Have Started to Weaken Materially as a Result of the Strength of the Us Dollar, While Bookings Across All Cabins and Cargo Volumes Are Showing Year-on-year Declines. The Airline Has Also Announced That It Will Sell Its Five Boeing 777-200s Over the Next Five Years.

* Singapore Airlines Has Recorded a 26. 8 Per Cent Drop in Net Profit for the First Half of the Year to S$682m (a$677m). The Lower Profit Came on the Back of a 12. 1 Per Cent Increase in the Sia Group’s Revenue to S$8. 5bn (a$8. 4bn), Although Group Expenditure Rose by 20. 1 Per Cent, Driven by a S$1. 6bn Increase in Fuel Costs. Singapore Airlines Itself Saw Its Operating Profit Fall by 36. 6 Per Cent to S$286m (a$284m), While the Sia Group’s Other Operating Subsidiaries (Sats Group, Sia Engineering and Silkair) Reported Lower Profits. Sia Cargo Also Reported a Loss of S$79m (a$78. 4m).

Security

Missile Attack System Protection System Starts Commercial Service

Bae Systems’s Jeteye Infrared Missile Defence System Has Started Commercial Service on an American Airlines Boeing 767-200.

The Jeteye System Has Been Developed by Bae in Collaboration With the Us Department of Homeland Security and American Airlines, and is Designed to Provide Infrared Jamming Against Man-portable Surface to Air Missiles for Commercial Aircraft.

The System Had Previously Been Installed on Another Aa Aircraft and an Abx Air Cargo Aircraft as Part of Initial Evaluations. It Will Now Be Fitted to Two Other 767s for Further Evaluation Until March 2009. The Service Evaluation Will Demonstrate the System’s Maintainability and Reliability, as Well as Overall Suitability With the Airline Industry. There Will Be No Live-fire Testing During These Flights.

Maintenance, Support & Training

Pilots to Be Taught Critical Thinking Skills

Casa Has Issued Special Guidance Material on the Teaching of Critical Thinking Skills as Part of the Incorporation of Human Factors (Hf) and Threat and Error Management (Tem) Into the Day Vfr Syllabus for All Pilots.

From Mid 2009, All Pilots in Training Will Be Tested on Their Knowledge of Hf and Tem as Part of the General Flying Progress Test. Previously, Only Pilots Working in Multi-crew Situations Were Given Training in These Areas, but Icao Has Issued a Recommendation That These Skills Should Be Taught at the Beginning of a Pilot’s Career, Which Has Led to Casa Modifying the Day Vfr Syllabus to Include These Modules.

“importantly, This Training is Another Way of Reinforcing the Practical Message That Pilot Behaviour is a Key to Safety,” Said Casa Ceo Bruce Byron. “poor Pilot Behaviour Has Been a Factor in a Number of Recent Accidents and Pilots Must Learn to Think Clearly and Critically About What They Are Doing and Why. ” to Aid in the Teaching of These Skills, Casa Has Issued Civil Aviation Advisory Publication 5. 59-1(0) to Explain How Flying Instructors and Schools May Both Teach and Assess Hf and Tem. The Caap is Available From the Casa Website.

Maintenance, Support & Training Briefs

* Australia Asia Flight Training Has Had to Push Back the Start of Its First Flying Course From Gunnedah to Between Next July and October Due to Delays With Filing an Environmental Impact Statement With New South Wales Government Departments.

Air Safety

Faulty Adiru Caused Qantas A330 to Descend – Atsb

the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (Atsb) Has Found That a Computer Fault Caused the Qantas Airbus A330-300 Operating Flight Qf72, Vh-qpa, to Descend Rapidly. From Its Analysis of the A330’s Flight Data Recorder and Other Data Recorders on the Aircraft, the Atsb Has Established That the Aircraft Was Cruising at Fl370 (37,000ft) When a Fault Occurred Within the Number 1 Air Data Inertial Reference Unit (Adiru), Which Resulted in the Autopilot Automatically Disconnecting, at Which Point the Flightcrew Took Manual Control of the Aircraft Except for a Few Brief Seconds. The Faulty Adiru Continued to Provide Erroneous Data to the Aircraft’s Flight Control Primary Computers, Which Led to False Stall and Overspeed Warnings, a Loss of Altitude Information on the Primary Flight Display and Several Ecam (Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitoring) Messages. Approximately Two Minutes After, a Spike in This Incorrect Data Led to the Aircraft’s Flight Control Computers to Initiate an 8. 5 Degree Nose Down Movement. As a Result of the Information Obtained So Far in the Investigation, Airbus Issued an Operations Information Telex to Other A330/a340 Operators With Recommended Practices for the Failure of an Adiru Unit While in Flight, and Has Also Foreshadowed the Issuing of an Operational Engineering Bulletin to Remedy the Situation. The Atsb is Also Investigating Whether Low Frequency Signals Transmitted From the Harold E Holt Naval Communications Station Near Exmouth Could Have Caused Interference With the Aircraft’s Adiru Unit, Although Experts Believe This Unlikely.

Australian Air Safety Occurences on the Rise – Atsb

the Latest Annual Review by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau Shows That There Has Been an Increase in Air Safety Incidents Since 2003, Which Has Placed a Great Strain on Its Resources.

“it is Very Difficult to Select Up to 80 Investigations From the More Than 8,000 Accidents and Incidents Reported Annually and Inevitably Parties Associated With Occurrences on the Margins May Not Agree With the Selection,” Said Atsb’s Executive Director Kym Bills Said. “there Are Also Competing Priorities Between Investigating Fatal General Aviation Accidents to a Level Sought by State and Territory Coroners (and the Further Resources Needed in Any Ensuing Inquests), and Doing More Investigation of Fare-paying Passenger Regular Public Transport Incidents Where There May Be More Future Safety Value. ” According to the Report, Between 2003 and 2007, There Was a 75 Per Cent Rise in Incidents Involving Structural Aircraft Across Australia, With a 48 Per Cent Rise Between 2006 and 2007. There Was Also a 26 Per Cent Increase in Incidents Relating to Aircraft Powerplants Over the Five Years, With a Particular Spike During 2007.

The Increase Has Been Linked by Some Analysts to the Increasing Age of the Australian Aircraft Fleet, Which Has Recently Been Raised as an Issue in Both the National Aviation Policy Discussion Paper and the General Aviation Action Agenda Report Released Earlier This Year.

Atc & Airspace

* Air New Zealand Flew Its First Required Navigation Performance Flight From Sydney to Queenstown on October 18 on an Airbus A320 Following a Nine Month Certification of Rnp on Its A320 Fleet.

* Airservices Australia Has Selected Sensis to Provide an Advanced-surface Movement Guidance and Control System at Perth International Airport. The System Uses Data From a Number of Sources to Provide Air Traffic Controllers in the Tower With Advanced Collision Prediction and Alerting in the Form of Visible and Audible Alerts, and Will Be the Fourth in Australia.

People

* a Planned Early November Visit to Australia by Boeing Company Ceo Jim Mcnerney Was Cancelled for Business Reasons.

Captions

Purepowered A340 Airbus Has Commenced Trials of the Pratt & Whitney Pw1000g Geared Turbofan Engine on Board Its A340-600 Flying Testbed. Aswell as Acoustic and Nacelle Design Validation Testing, the Tests Are Part of Airbus’s Evaluation of New Technologies, and Will Run Until the End of the Year. * Pratt & Whitney Will Build the Purepower 1000g Geared Turbofan Engine at a New Facility at Montreal-mirabel International Airport in Canada. Construction of the Facility Will Start Soon and is Due to Be Completed by the Third Quarter of 2009.

Five Blade Metro Mt Propellor and German Regional Carrier Regional Air Express Have Completed Trials of a New Five Blade Composite Propeller for the Fairchild Metroliner. The New Prop is Quieter, Performs Better and Has Lower Maintenance Costs Than the Traditional Four Blade Prop, Mt Propellor Claims, and is Expected to Achieve Easa Certification in February 2009.

First C-27j Delivered the First Alenia Aerospace/l-3 C-27j Spartan for the Us Air Force/us Army’s Joint Cargo Aircraft Program Was Delivered on October 15 to the Us Army at a Ceremony in Waco, Texas. The First Spartan is One of 78 Currently on Order to Fulfil the Jca Program’s Requirements for a Small Tactical Airlifter, and Will Be Operated by Both the Us Air Force and Army. The C-27j is Viewed by Many as a Likely Successor to the Caribou in Raaf Service Due to Its Commonality With the Larger

Chief Swap Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Mark Binskin and Chief of the Republic of Singapore Air Force, Major General Ng Chee Khern, Met at Raaf Pearce Near Perth on October 27 to Discuss Ways of Enhancing the Relationship Between the Two Forces. As Part of the Visit, Airmshl Binskin Was Taken for a Flight in One of Rsaf’s New Pc-21 Trainers, While Raaf’s 2fts Flew Major General Ng in One of Its Pc-9s.

Perth Online Airasia X Commenced Flights From Kuala Lumpur to Perth on November 1, With the Initial Flight Operated by the Carrier’s Newly Delivered Airbus A330-300. The Carrier is Initially Flying Six Times a Week on the Route, but Will Go to Daily Services in March.

Etihad Stadium Etihad Airways Announced on October 23 That It Will Become the Naming Rights Sponsor for Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium, Which Will Be Renamed Etihad Stadium for Five Years From March 2009. Etihad is Launching Daily Nonstop Services From Melbourne to Abu Dhabi, and Operated Its First of Four Additional Abu Dhabi-sydney Return Services on October 28. (Etihad)

Jdam-er Scores Major Hit the Joint Direct Attack Munition – Extended Range (Jdam-er) Has Had a Successful Test Firing From an F/a-18 Hornet During Trials Being Conducted by the Aerospace Operational Support Group at Woomera. The Jdam-er is a 500lb Jdam Fitted With a Wing Kit Which Allows It to Glide Into Its Target While Retaining Its Precision Strike Capability. The Wing Kit Was Developed by the Dtso in Conjunction With Boeing Subsidiary Hawker De Havilland and the Defence Materiel Organisation.

Room to Grow Emirates Operated Its First Flights From Its New Terminal 3 in Dubai on October 14, From Where It Will Initially Service Flights to Other Arabian Gulf Countries and the Americas. Emirates Hopes to Later Shift All Flights to and From the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Indian Subcontinent and Australia to Terminal 3. It Will Eventually Operate Up to 60 Per Cent of Its Flights From the New Terminal.

A380 Ready Auckland International Airport Officially Opened Its New Nz$50m (a$44m) Pier B Stage of the Airport’s Development on October 10. The New Pier, Which Will Open to Passengers From October 21, Will Feature Two A380 Capable Gates, and a Number of Environmentally Sustainable Design Elements Including Solar Hot Water and Rainwater Collection. It Also Marks the End of a Massive Construction Program for the Airport, Which in April Opened a New Arrivals Area, Followed by a Larger Border Agency Screening Area in July. Qantas’s First A380 Flew to Auckland on a Training and Promotional Flight on October 9, the First Visit by an A380 to New Zealand.

Orion Saves the Globe a Rnzaf P-3k Orion Landed on the Ice Runway at Mcmurdo Station, Antarctica, to Deliver a “mission Essential” Part for a Stranded Usaf C-17 Globemaster There. Usaf C-17s Operate Between Christchurch and the Pegasus White Ice Runway That Serves Mcmurdo Under Operation Deep Freeze, Which Supports the Us’s National Science Foundation and the Us Antarctic Program. (Rnzaf)

Exercise Bersama Lima This Raaf Ap-3c Orion Took Part in Exercise Bersama Lima, the Annual Air, Ground and Naval Forces Exercise Involving Elements From Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia, This Year Held Over October 8-24 October in and Over the Malaysian Peninsula and the South China Sea. (Dept of Defence)

Singapore Sting the First Boeing F-15sg Eagle for Singapore in Flight Near Boeing’s St Louis Factory. F-15sg1 First Flew From Lambert International Airport, St Louis, on September 16, and the Jet is Now Undergoing a 12 Month Flight Test Program From St Louis and Palmdale, California. Deliveries of the 24 Aircraft to Singapore Will Begin in the Second Quarter of Next Year and Continue Through to 2012. (Boeing)