News Desk

It is the Second Delay for the 747-8 Program Boeing Has Announced This Year, but Boeing Says It Does Not Expect the Delay to Flow Through to the Passenger Version of the Aircraft.

787 Facing Wiring Issues; A350 Early Delays?

A Report by Bernstein Research Released in Late September Claimed That Wiring Issues on Some Boeing 787s Could Threaten Delivery Delays to Early Production Aircraft, While It Also Claimed That the Development Schedule for the Rival A350 is Starting to Slip.

The Issue With the 787 is Said to Involve a New Model of Wiring Beginning From the 13th Aircraft to Reduce Weight and Maintain Reliability. “we Understand That Wiring That Has Been Installed on Airplanes 7 Through 12 (or Sections of Airplanes 11 and 12) is Now Being Completely Removed to Enable Rewiring … Which Reduces Our Confidence in Boeing’s Ability to Meet Delivery Date Goals, Although We See It as Positive That Boeing Has Stretched the Time Between First Flight and Delivery to 12 Months,” the Report Read. Despite the Issue, the Report Claims That the Aircraft Will Still Make Its First Flight by the End of the Year but There Could Be an Impact on the First Customer Deliveries, Which Are Due at the End of 2010.

Similarly, Bernstein Claimed That Airbus is Off to a Slow Start With the A350 Given the Challenges It Faces Bringing in a Number of New Technolo-gies, Suppliers and Engineering Constraints at the European Manufacturer. The Report Also Noted That Airbus Will Face Challenges Developing the Stretched A350-1000, Which May Force It to Delay Delivery of the First of the Larger Aircraft, as Has Happened With the 787.

Upgraded A320, 737 in the Works?

Aerospace Industry Analyst Scott Hamilton Claims in a Report for Commercial Aviation Online That Airbus is Soon to Announce a Winglet Option for the A320, While Both Boeing and Airbus Have Been Investigating Re-engining Options for the A320 and 737 Respectively.

Hamilton Cites Anonymous Sources at Airbus Who Claim That the Manufacturer is Planning to Start Offering Winglets as an Option on New Aircraft From 2012 or 2013. Airbus Has Tested Winglet Designs From Aviation Partners as Well as Its Own ‘charlet’ Design, Which Are Aimed at Reducing Fuel Burn Between Two and Four Per Cent. The Report Also Claims That They Will First Be Made Available on the A321 to Help Boost Its Range and Make It More Competitive Against the 737-900er, While Airbus Also Plans to Offer It as a Retrofit on Other A320 Family Aircraft.

Similarly He Reports That Airbus is to Decide at the End of 2010 Whether to Pursue a Re-engining Program for the A320 Family, With the Manufacturer Understood to Have Been in Talks With Pratt & Whitney, Iae and Cfm International on Possible Options.

Interestingly, the Report Claims That Cfm May Be Able to Offer Its Leap-x, Which is Also Being Touted for a 737 Re-engining Program as Cfm is Prepared to Accelerate Development of the Engine. That Could Allow the Leap-x to Be Made Available for Re-engining Programs on the 737 and A320 From 2015, Rather Than the Replacement Programs Which Would Not Commence Until 2020-2024. The Leap-x is Also Expected to Be a Strong Contender to Power the Comac C919 Aircraft (See Page 58).

787 Fixes Underway

Boeing’s Vice President of Sales Randy Tinseth Wrote in His Blog on September 23 That Modification Work on the Wing Join of the First Boeing 787 Had Started.

“modifications Are Indeed Underway. We’ve Begun Installing the Reinforcements on the Area Within the Side-of-body Section on Airplane #1 and on the Static Airframe,” Tinseth Wrote.

The First 787, Za001, Has Been Receiving Its Modification in the Boeing Paint Hangar, While Za002 is Under a Temporary Structure on the Flightline at Everett, Za003 and Za005 Are in Open Space in the Factory While Za004 and Za006 Are in Boeing’s Hangar Temporarily Leased From Aviation Technical Services. Modification Work is Also Being Conducted on the Full-scale Fatigue Test Airframe, Which is Where the Side of Body Join Issue Was First Identified.

According to Some Sources, the Fix Takes Approximately 30 Days to Complete, With the Whole Process (Including Preparation and Installation) to Take About Three Months for Each Aircraft Requiring It.

According to Boeing’s Current Schedule, the 787 is Due to Fly Before the End of the Year. Delivery of the First Aircraft is Due in the Fourth Quarter of 2010.

Mrj Wins First Overseas Order

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Has Won Its First Overseas Order for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, From Us Based Feeder Carrier Trans States Airlines, Which Operates Services for United and Us Airways.

Trans States Signed a Letter of Intent on October 2 Which Will See It Place a Firm Order for 50 Mrjs and Option an Additional 50. It is Expected That the Order Will Comprise Both the 78-seat Mrj-700 and 92-seat Mrj-900, and Possibly the Proposed Stretched 100-seat Variant Which Mitsubishi Revealed It Was Studying in September.

Mitsubishi Aircraft President Hideo Egawa Said, “the World Has High Expectations for the Mrj. One Area Where This is Especially True is the Us, With Many Routes Where Airlines Operate 50-to-90 Seat Regional Jets, So We Are Extremely Proud to Receive This Order From One of the Largest Regional Airline Holding Companies in the Us. We Would Like to Take This Opportunity to Further Ramp Up Our Sales Activities Around the World. ” Total Commitments for the Mrj Now Stand at 125, With All Nippon Airlines the Only Other Carrier to Have Committed to the Japanese Regional Jet.

Airbus Expects 25,000 New Airliners by 2028

Airbus Has Released Its Latest Global Market Forecast, Which Predicts That 25,000 New Aircraft Will Be Required Globally Over the Next 20 Years, With Larger Aircraft Expected to Feature Prominently to Ease Congestion at Major Airports.

Despite Its Own Forecast That Revenue Passenger Kilometres Will Be Two Per Cent Lower This Year, Airbus Expects That Strong Passenger Growth Over the Next 20 Years Will Average 4. 7 Per Cent Per Annum, Driving Demand for 24,100 New Passenger Aircraft, Valued at Us$2. 9 Trillion (a$3. 3 Trillion).

Added to This Will Be Demand for 3440 Freighters (Including 850 New Build Aircraft), With Freight Expected to Grow Annually by 5. 2 Per Cent.

“air Transportation is a Growth Industry, and an Essential Ingredient in the World Economy,” Says Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers John Leahy. “technology and Innovation Are Key Drivers for an Eco-efficient Aviation Sector, and Airbus is at the Forefront of Both. ” by Segment, Airbus Expects There to Be Demand for 17,000 New Narrowbodies, Some 6250 Aircraft Will Be Twin-aisles, While Over 1700 Very Large Aircraft Are Expected to Be Required. Interestingly, Leahy Told Reporters at a Press Conference That Most of Those New Narrowbodies Will Be Current Generation Aircraft. “we’ll Still Be Delivering A320s Andboeing Delivering 737s in 2020 – Maybe With a New Engine.

An All-new Single Aisle Won’t Come Out Until 2024,” He Said.

As With Boeing’s Current Market Outlook, Airbus Forecasts That More Aircraft Deliveries Will Be to Carriers in the Asia Pacific Than Any Other Region, Which Will Account for 31 Per Cent of All Deliveries, Followed by Europe (25 Per Cent) and North America (23 Per Cent).

Bae Launches Cabin Air Management System

Bae Systems and Uk Based Company Quest International Have Announced an Agreement Which Will Bring Quest’s Airmanager Active Cabin Air Management System to the World Airliner Market.

Through Its Regional Aircraft Arm, Baes Has Engineered and Certified the Airmanager System on Its Bae 146/avro Rj Series of Regional Jets, and is Also Developing a Supplemental Type Certificate to Fit the System on Board Boeing 757s, Which is Under Evaluation.

The Airmanager System is Based on Quest’s Patented Close Coupled Field Technology (Ccft), Which is a Contained Electrical Field That Eliminates Smells, and Breaks Down and Destroys Airborne Pathogens, Contaminants and Toxins. Quest Has Previously Used Airmanager Systems for the Health Industry, and Has Been Working Since 2004 With Bae to Apply It to Aircraft.

Hbc Taking Orders on Upgraded 1900d

Hawker Beechcraft Company Has Announced That It is Taking Pre-orders for an Upgrade Package on the Beechcraft 1900d Airliner Which Will Be Available From the Third Quarter of 2010.

The Upgrade Allows for the Replacement of Legacy Avionics With a Rockwell Collins Proline 21 Integrated Display System Which Helps to Reduce Weight and Increase Reliability.

Said Christi Tannahill, Vice President, Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Service and Support, “driven by Operator Input, the System Was Designed With an Emphasis on Improving Reliability and Lowering Operating Costs. ”

Commercial Briefs

• Tui Travel Has Announced That It Plans to Cancel 10 of the 23 Boeing 787s It Has on Order, and Will Take No Obligation Purchase Rights on a Further 13 787s. Tui Expects Its First 787 to Be Delivered in Early 2012.

Military Further Delays for Raaf Tankers

Airbus Military Has Confirmed the First Two Kc-30a (A330 Mrtt) Tankers Won’t Now Be Delivered to the Raaf Until Mid 2010, an Overall Delay of Nearly 18 Months.

Speaking to Media on September 14, Airbus Military Managing Director Domingo Urena Raso Said That Aircraft Number Two, the First to Be Modified in Australia by Qantas Defence Services (Qds), Would Return to Europe Next Month and Assist in the Completion of the Certification Work on the Type, and to Participate in the First Passing of Fuel From the Kc-30a’s New Fly-by-wire Boom.

The Third Aircraft, Which Was Due to Enter the Modification Process at Qds’sbrisbane Facility in Mid-october, is Due to Be Completed and Delivered Straight to the Raaf in Late 2010, While the Fourth and Fifth Aircraft Will Follow in 2011 and 2012.

Adf Responds to Regional Disasters

the Adf Mobilised a Number of Aircraft to Support Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Efforts in Samoa and Indonesia.

On October 1, a C-17 Departed Raaf Richmond for Samoa Carrying Adf Aeromedical Evacuation Teams, Rescue Equipment and Emergency Supplies, Followed Later That Day by a C-130 Flight. Two Further C-130s Which Were in New Zealand at the Time Were Also Mobilised to Transport New Zealand Officials and Nzdf Iroquois Helicopters.

This Was Followed by a Similar Effort on October 3, With a C-130 From Raaf Base Darwin and a C-17 From Raaf Base Richmond Mobilised to Deliver Relief, Medical and Search and Rescue Teams to Indonesia, While the Navy Dispatched Hmas Kanimbla, Which Carries a Sea King Helicopter on Board, to Sail From Sydney to Padang.

Adf Chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston Said That the Ability of the Adf to Deploy in Two Simultaneous Relief Efforts Was a Testament to Its Capabilities. “we Are Well Placed to Support Both Operations; I Consider the Adf’s Ability to Rapidly Deploy Personnel and Equipment to Aid Disaster-struck Nations as One of Our Defining Features. ”

Nz Skyhawks Finally Cleared for Sale

the Rnzaf’s 17 Retired a-4k Skyhawk Fighter Bombers – Which Were Mothballed in 2001 – Have Finally Been Cleared by the Us Government for Sale to a Private Us Company.

The Nz$155m (a$128m) Sale of the Aircraft, Which Also Includes 17 Aermacchi Mb-339 Advanced Trainers, Had Been Held Up by the Us State Department as Well as the Us Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Which Reportedly Had to Approve the Transfer of the Ejection Seat Initiation Explosives.

The Company Buying the Aircraft, Believed to Be an Arizona Based Company Which Provides Air Training Services to the Us Military and Allies, Will Send Engineering Staff to Nz to Assess the Aircraft Before a Final Deal is Reached.

Jassm Tests Successful

the Usaf Has Reportedly Said Tests of Lockheed Martin Agm-158 Jassm Missiles Have Been Successful, Possibly Clearing the Way for a Return to Production and Service for the Weapon.

The Jassm Has Had a Troubled History in Recent Years, Scoring Low Success Percentages on Test Shots Due to Interference With the Weapon’s Gps Targeting System and Other Gremlins in the System.

A Total of 16 Test Shots Were Conducted, With the Missile Successful in 15 of Those Shots, Higher Than the 13 Successful Shots Lockheed Martin Had Hoped to Achieve.

The Raaf Has Ordered the Jassm for Its F/a-18a/b Hornets Under Project Air 5418, but Has Refused Any Interviews About the Program Until the Completion and Assessment of Those Test Shots.

Nato Airlift Commences Ops

the Nato Airlift Management Organisation (Namo) Based at Hungary’s Papa Air Base Has Taken Delivery of Its Third and Final C-17 From Boeing, Just a Couple of Weeks After It Conducted Its First Mission Into Afghanistan.

The Heavy Airlift Wing (Haw) Was Stood Up at Papa Air Base on July 27 With a Mix of Experienced Usaf Crews and Training Crews From Member Countries Which Include Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden.

The Third Namo C-17 Brings to 19 the Number of C-17s Sold to Foreign Nations Including the Four Aircraft Operated by the Raaf. The Usaf Currently Has 213 C‑17s in Service or on Order.

Raaf Takes First Jsow

the Raaf Has Taken Delivery of Its First Raytheon Agm-154c Joint Stand- Off Weapon (Jsow C) for Its F/a-18f Super Hornet Fleet Which Starts to Enter Service Next Year.

The Jsow C is a Precision Guided Land Attack Glide Weapon With a Range of More Than 130km. Its Seeker is a Terminal Infrared Seeker Slaved to an Integrated Gpsinertial Navigation System.

The Raaf Has Also Ordered the Enhanced Jsow C-1 From 2010 Which Adds a Datalink Allowing the Weapon to Attack Moving Targets Such as Ships, Giving the Super Hornet a Stand-off Maritime Attack Capability.

Hf Mod Enters Service With Adf

Boeing Defence Australia Has Announced That Its Modernised High Frequency Communication System (Mhfcs or ‘hf Mod’) Has Successfully Entered Service With the Adf.

The System, the Introduction of Which Has Been Delayed Several Years, Was Ordered Under Project Jp 2043 to Replace the Existing Ageing Raaf and Navy Hf Networks With Modern Secure Long Haul Communications in an Integrated Joint Environment.

“with International Markets Already Showing Interest in the System, Mhfcs Has the Capacity to Change Hf Communications Globally,” Said Steve Parker, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Network and Space Systems – Australia. “it Can Provide Nations With the Highest Level of Global Connectivity Whilst, for the First Time, Maintaining Their National Sovereignty and Information Security. ” Final Acceptance by the Adf is Due in Late 2010.

Raaf Caribou Grounded

the Raaf Temporarily Grounded Its Caribou Tactical Transport Fleet After One Aircraft Experienced an Unspecified Inflight Failure and Was Forced to Make an Emergency Landing While Practising for the Townsville Airshow.

An Raaf Insider Told Australian Aviation That the Aircraft Was Flying in the High Range Area Near Townsville When It Suddenly Lost Altitude.

The Crew Recovered the Aircraft but Decided to Land at High Range, and a Maintenance Crew From 38sqn at Townsville Was Dispatched to Assess the Aircraft. “all the Guys in the Squadron Were Working Hard to Put on the Best Display We Could,” 38sqn Co, Wgcdr Tony Thorpe Told the Townsville Bulletin. “it’s Unfortunate and It’s Just One of Those Things You Can’t Dally With, and Safety Takes Over. ” Initial Fears That This May Have Been the End of the Caribou’s Service Life (as the Remaining 14 Aircraft Are Due to Be Retired in December) Were Allayed After a Thorough Inspection, and the Raaf is Confident the Issue Can Be Fixed at a Squadron Level and the Aircraft Will Fly Again Before Retirement.

First Lhd Keel Laid

the Keel for the Navy’s First Amphibious Landing Helicopter Dock (Lhd), Hmas Canberra, Was Laid at Shipbuilder Navantia’s Yards in Ferrol, Spain in Late September. The Vessel is the First of Two Lhds to Be Acquired Under Project Jp2048 for the Support of Deployed Forces Ashore and for Regional Disaster Relief Work. Navantia Has Been Contracted to Design and Build the Vessels, Based on the Spanish ‘king Juan Carlos’ Design by Prime Contractor Bae Systems Australia.

Lhd01 is Expected to Be Launched in March 2011 and Enter Service in About 2015, While Lhd02 Will Follow Two Years Behind.

Final Ffg-up Accepted

the Final Ffg Frigate, Hmas Newcastle, Has Been Accepted by the Navy After the Extensive and Delayed Ffg-up Refit and Upgrade.

The Acceptance Means the Vessel is Now Available for Extensive Systems Testing and Future Deployment. The Four Vessels Were Fitted With a Mk-41 Vertical Launch System (Vls), Link-16 Datalinks, Sm‑2 Surface-to-air Missiles, and an Enhanced Combat System.

Military Briefs

• a Raaf Wedgetail Aew&c Aircraft Undertook Flare System Testing Over the Hood Canal Near Seattle From Late September. The Aircraft Was Accompanied by a Boeing T- 33 Chase Aircraft With Testing Running to Mid-october.

• the Usaf Has Designated a New Aesa Radar for Its F-15e Radar Modernisation Program (Rmp) as the an/apg-82.

Developed by Raytheon, the New Radar Will Replace the Old Apg-70 With Elements of the Apg-63 Aesa Being Developed for Singapore, Korea and for Boeing’s F-15se Program. The Apg-82 Reportedly Improves Reliability by 20 Times Over the Apg-70.

• Boeing Defence Australia Has Won an Engineering Excellence Award in the Resource Development Category From the Queensland Division of Engineers Australia for Its Work in Supporting the Raaf’s Fleet of F-111 Strike Aircraft.

Airlines

Virgin Blue to Buy 30 to 50 737s?

Virgin Blue is Looking to Take Advantage of Depressed Prices for New Airliners in Negotiating With Boeing to Buy 30 to 50 New 737s, Ceo Brett Godfrey Said on September 16.

The Vb Boss Said the Airline Was “in the Market” for at Least 30 and Up to 50 737s to Take Advantage of the Current Buyers’ Market for New Airliners, Much in the Way the Airline Placed a Big 737 Commitment in the Wake of September 11.

“now is the Time to Look,” Godfrey Told a National Aviation Press Club Luncheon, Saying the New Aircraft Would Be Worth Some $3-4 Billion.

Godfrey Suggested the New Aircraft Would Replace Existing Aircraft in the Vb Fleet, Noting That Many of the Current 737 Fleet “come Off Lease in a Big Way From 2011”, and That the Airline Was Not Planning on Extending Those Leases. He Said Discussions With Boeing on the New Orders “are Taking Place Now”.

According to Boeing’s Website, Virgin Blue Has So Far Ordered 52 737s (All -800s) Direct From the Manufacturer (With the Latest Order for Five Placed in March This Year), of Which 28 Have Been Delivered.

At the Time of Writing It Was Unclear if the 30-50 737s Virgin Blue is Negotiating to Buy is in Addition to the 34 as Yet Undelivered 737s on Order From Boeing, of if Vb is Renegotiating the Existing Buy.

Virgin Blue and Its Pacific Blue, Polynesian Blue and V Australia Subsidiaries Currently Operate 82 737s, E-jets and 777-300ers.

Godfrey Also Told the National Aviation Press Club the Carrier Could Add More Seats to Its 737s to Create a ‘virtual Ultra Low Cost Airline’.

Godfrey Said That the Plan Would See the Seat Pitch Behind the Emergency Exit Rows Reduced, Allowing the Carrier to Add an Extra Row of Seats and Effectively Creating a Third Classon the Aircraft. “so We’re Looking at That as a Possibility,” He Said. “just by Putting an Extra Row of Seats in the Back Lowers Our Costs Overnight by Three Per Cent, So That’s a Good Start. ” the Proposal is Similar to a Plan Floated in 2007 for the Airline to Launch a Separate ‘ultra Low Cost Carrier’, but Godfrey Indicated That These Plans Were Now Off the Table.

“i Would Much Rather Have One Airline That Flies 10 Flights a Day That Services Both Segments of the Market Than Trying to Differentiate and Pretend That Some Markets Are Purely Leisure and Some Markets Are Purely Business,” He Said.

Godfrey Also Said That the Carrier Will Extend Its Premium Economy Seating to Pacific Blue’s Services, While He Has Also Foreshadowed That the Company Intends to Merge Its Four Brands (Including V Australia and Polynesian Blue) Under a Single Brand in Coming Years.

Jetstar Ups A330 Services

Jetstar Has Announced That It Will Increase Its Frequencies on Routes to Denpasar, Phuket and Honolulu as It Takes Delivery of Its Seventh Airbus A330-200 in December.

With the New Aircraft, the Low Cost Carrier Will Increase Its Services From Sydney and Melbourne to Denpasar From Four and Two Times Weekly to Daily and Three Times Weekly Respectively. The Carrier Will Also Increase to Five Weekly Services on Its Sydney-phuket Route, While Sydney-honolulu Services Will Gain an Additional Weekly Frequency to Lift It to Five Services Per Week. The New Schedules Will Be Effective From December 15 to 29 January.

As Well as the New A330 Due in December, the Airline is Also Planning to Take Delivery of a Further Four New A330s From Late 2010 to Allow It to Continue to Expand Its Long Haul Network Prior to the Arrival of Its First Boeing 787-9s in 2013.

Strategic Gets Aoc, Looks to Bali?

Strategic Airlines Has Been Awarded Its Air Operator’s Certificate (Aoc) by Casa, the Brisbane Based Charter Operator Announced on September 29, While It Has Also Made an Application to Allow It to Fly to Bali.

“the Aoc is the Culmination of a Concerted Group Effort by Our Dedicated Team, and We Are Very Proud of the Result,” Strategic Executive Director Michael James Said. “all of Our People Have Worked Tirelessly Over the Past 12 Months, and It Has Certainly Paid Off. ” the Aoc Covers Strategic’s 229-seat Airbus A330-200, Which is Being Used to Service Its Adf Contract to Fly Troops and Equipment Between Australia and the Middle East. Later This Year Strategic Expects to Add Two A320s to Its Aoc, One of Which is Currently Operating Flights Between Brisbane and Honiara for Solomon Airlines Under the Airline’s Recently Awarded French Aoc (for Its European Subsidiary), With the Second to Operate Rpt Flights Between Perth and Derby in Wa.

Strategic Also Applied to the International Air Services Commission (Iasc) on September 29 for a Ruling Which Would Allow It to Start Brisbane-denpasar Services.

In Its Application, Strategic Requests the Transfer of Capacity Held by Ozjet, Elements of Which It Has Acquired From That Airline’s Administrator, as Well as an Additional 50 Seats Per Week to Permit It to Operate Twice Weekly Services Between Brisbane and Denpasar With Its A330. The Airline Said That It Would Start With a Weekly Service From December 6 With the Second Weekly Service Introduced Before June 30 2010.

Air Niugini Orders Q400s

Air Niugini Has Ordered Two Bombardier Q400 Nextgen Aircraft and Optioned Two to Add to Its Fleet of Previous Model Dash 8 Turboprops.

“the Q400 Nextgen Aircraft Follows in the Footsteps of a Long Line of Robust and Reliable De Havilland and Bombardier Turboprops That Have Served Our Airline Very Well Over the Years,” Said Wasantha Kumarasiri, Ceo of Air Niugini.

“the Aircraft’s ‘hot and High’ Capabilities and Its Ability to Operate on Shorter Runways Are Especially Important for Our Route Network, While Its Speed, Fuel Efficiency, Low Emissions and Comfortable Cabin Were Also Key Factors in Our Selection. ” Based on List Prices, the Firm Order is Valued at Us$60m (a$69m), or Us$92m (a$105m) if the Options Are Exercised.

Air Niugini Currently Operates Two Dash 8-100s, Three -200s and Three 50 Seat -300s, Predominately on Domestic Services.

Qantas Boosts Jetstar Pacific Funds

Qantas Has Made a Further Investment in Its Jetstar Pacific Operation in Vietnam to Allow the Low Cost Carrier to Continue With Its Growth Plans.

The Capital Injection is Understood to Be Less Than $10 Million Into the Carrier, Which Made Its First Month’s Profit in July. Qantas Currently Owns 27 Per Cent of Jetstar Pacific, Which Was Formerly Pacific Airlines, and is Expected to Increase Its Stake in the Carrier to 30 Per Cent Next Year.

Jetstar Ceo Bruce Buchanan Told the Australian That the Qantas Group’s Partnership Has Been Working Well.

“we’ve Injected a Lot of Energyin Getting the Brand Established and Getting the Business Model Established – Exactly What the Vietnamese Government Brought Us in to Do, to Partner With Them and to Transform What Was a Staid Old Full-service Airline With One Aircraft Into a Successful Growing Low-cost Carrier,” He Said.

Jetstar Pacific Currently Operates a Fleet of Five Boeing 737s and One Airbus A320 on Domestic Services in Vietnam.

Separately, Qantas Has Applied to the International Air Services Commission (Iasc) for an Allocation of Unlimited Capacity From Points Other Than Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Vietnam, Which Would Allow Jetstar to Increase Its Flights From Darwin. Jetstar Plans to Operate Two Additional Weekly Services on Its Darwin-ho Chi Minh City Route During Peak Periods With 177-seat Airbus A320s.

Tiger Takes Seventh A320

Tiger Airways Australia Has Taken Delivery of Its Seventh Airbus A320, Which Saw It Boost Frequencies on Its Sydney- Melbourne and Sydney- Adelaide Services on October 4.

Tiger Said That the Arrival of the New Aircraft, Which Will Be Based in Melbourne, Will Provide Another 30 Flight and Cabin Crew Positions.

Managing Director of Tiger Airways Australia Shelley Roberts Said That the Airline Was Growing in Response to Strong Demand and Support From the Public. “customer Demand for Our Low Fare Model Has Been Overwhelming – We’d Like to Thank the People of Australia Who Have Flown With Tiger Airways as Their First Choice of Low Fare Airlines in Australia – Well Over Two Million Passengers in Less Than Two Years of Operation is a Phenomenal Result,” She Said.

Jal Seeks Govt Bailout

Japan Air Lines is Seeking a Bailout From the Japanese Government, Raising the Prospect That the Airline Will Be Forced to Make Major Cuts to Its Network to Survive.

Jal Chief Executive Haruka Nishimatsu is Understood to Have Met With New Transport Minister Seiji Maehara and Requested That the Government Make a Capital Injection Into the Troubled Airline. While Maehara Has Stated That He Does Not Want to See Jal Fail, He Told Reporters That the Government Still Has Reservations About the Airline’s Restructuring Plans. “i Have Doubts About the Feasibility of Jal’s Restructuring Plan. So I Was Not in the Position to Say Yes About the Request in the Meeting,” He Said.

Jal is Seeking Jpy250bn (a$3. 16bn) in Debt and Equity to Meet Its Debt Obligations and Allow It to See Through the Current Downturn in Long Haul Premium Travel Which Has Hit the Carrier Hard.

As a Result, the Carrier Has Been Involved in Talks With Delta Air Lines (Reportedly Later Shelved) and Oneworld Carriers American Airlines and British Airways on Possible Equity and Operational Alliances, Which Are Expected to Focus on the Key Tokyo-narita Hub Operations of the Carriers. Qantas Has Denied That It Has Been Involved in Merger Talks With Jal.

According to Japanese Media, Jal Has Drawn Up a List of 50 Routes Which It Intends to Cut Over the Next Three Years. While the Majority of Cuts Appear to Be on Routes From Osaka- Kansai Airport, the List Includes Its Tokyo-brisbane Service, Which Will Reportedly Be Cut in Its 2010/2011 Financial Year.

Jetstar to Codeshare on Qf Mumbai Flights

Qantas Has Applied to the International Air Services Commission (Iasc) Seeking a Variation Which Would Allow Jetstar to Codeshare on the Singapore-mumbai Leg of Its Services From Brisbane.

In Its Submission to the Iasc, Qantas Says That It Expects Jetstar to Start Codesharing on the Singapore- Mumbai Service as Soon as It is Granted Approval to Do So.

Qantas Also Notes That It Has Applied to the Department of Infrastructure to Have Jetstar Designated Under the Australia- India Bilateral Agreement.

Qantas Currently Operates Three Weekly Airbus A330-300 Services to Mumbai, Which Operate on a Brisbane-singapore- Mumbai Routing, While It Also Codeshares on Jet Airways’s Services From Singapore. Singapore Based Jetstar Asia, Which is 49 Per Cent Owned by Qantas, Has Flagged Plans to Increase Its Capacity to India This Year as It Takes Delivery of More A320s.

Iata Deepens Forecast Losses

Iata Has Raised Its Forecast for the Global Industry’s Losses This Year to Us$11bn (a$12. 6bn), Citing Higher Fuel Prices and Weak Yields.

“the Bottom Line of This Crisis – With Combined 2008-09 Losses at Us$27. 8bn (a$31. 8bn) – is Larger Than the Impact of 9/11,” Said Iata Ceo and Director General Giovanni Bisignani.

“this is Not a Short Term Shock. Us$80bn (a$91. 6bn) Will Disappear From the Industry’s Top Line. That 15 Per Cent of Lost Revenue Will Take Years to Recover. Conserving Cash, Careful Capacity Management and Cutting Costs Are the Keys to Survival. The Global Economic Storm May Be Abating, but Airlines Have Not Yet Found Safe Harbour. The Crisis Continues. ” Compared to Its Previous Forecast of a Us$9bn (a$10. 3bn) Loss This Year, Iata Expects Losses in Europe to Now More Than Double to Us$2. 6bn (a$2. 98bn) Due to Weak Demand and Yields.

Interestingly Though, the Association Noted That Asia Pacific Carriers, Which Were Previously Expected to Record the Largest Losses, Are Now Expected to Benefit From the Uptick in Some Asian Economies.

Airline Briefs

• V Australia’s Red Ife System Won the Prestigious ‘best Overall’ Award in the Small Airline Category at the World Airline Entertainment Association’s Avion Awards, Which Are Voted on by Over 60,000 Passengers Worldwide. The Carrier Was Also Voted as ‘best Business Class’ in the E-travel Blackboard 2009 Readers Choice Awards, Which Also Saw Virgin Blue Take the ‘best Domestic Airline’ Award.

• V Australia Announced That It Has Introduced Signature Dishes From Consultant Chef Luke Mangan for Its Business Class Passengers.

Mangan Has Also Worked as a Consultant for Virgin Atlantic and Virgin America.

• Regional Pacific Airlinesis Adding a Fourth Weekly Emb-120 Service Between Cairns and Mount Isa From November 3, to Be Operated on Tuesdays.

• Airasia Will Defer Taking on a Further Eight Airbus A320s Which Were Due for Delivery in 2011. Airasia Previously Announced in June That It Was Delaying Eight A320s Due for Delivery in 2010, Blaming Airport Access Issues at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

• Viva Macau is Reportedly Planning to Start Flights From Macau to Brisbane, Melbourne or the Gold Coast as It Adds a Third Boeing 767 to Its Fleet, Leased From Awas.

Viva Currently Operates Three Services Per Week to Sydney.

• Regional Express (Rex) Launched Its New Townsville to Mackay Services in Northern Queensland on October 1. Rex Also Resumed Its Melbourne- Griffith Services on October 9, Which Were Suspended in February 2008.

Environment

Airbus Welcomes Synth Fuel Approval

Airbus Has Welcomed the Approval by Astm International of a New Standard for the Use of 50 Per Cent Blends of Synthetic Jet Fuel Made From Biomass, Coal or Natural Gas (Known as Xtl) in Commercial Aviation.

“this Breakthrough Paves the Way for a 100 Per Cent Xtl Blend Made Entirely From Bio Feedstock, Such as Woodchip Waste”, Said Christian Dumas, Airbus Vp Sustainable Development and Eco-efficiency. “this New Specification is a Major Step Towards Reducing Aviation’s Environmental Footprint and Represents a Significant Achievement Along the Airbus Alternative Fuels Roadmap. ” While Biofuels Have Faced Various Technical and Commercial Challenges, Airbus Believes That Approximately 30 Per Cent of the Jet Fuel Used in 2030 Could Be Composed of Biofuels Provided High Yield Non-food Feedstocks Reach Maturity During the Middle of the Next Decade.

Airbus Last Year Test Flew a Rolls-royce Powered A380 Using a 40 Per Cent Blend of Gas-to-liquid Synthetic Fuel Which Was Provided by Shell.

Similarly, Boeing Has Pursued a Number of Alternative Fuels, With Aircraft Operated by Air New Zealand, Continental Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Japan Air Lines Having Undertaken Test Flights Using Biofuel Blends.

Airports

Bne Master Plan Approved

Brisbane International Airport’s 2009 Master Plan Has Received Approval From Transport Minister Anthony Albanese.

Brisbane Airport Corporation Ceo and Managing Director, Julieanne Alroe, Said the Master Plan Would Build on More Than $1. 21 Billion of Airport Investment That Had Taken Place in the Past Decade, With an Unprecedented Plan for a Further $4. 2 Billion to Be Delivered by Bac and Its Partners Over the Next Two Decades, Including Much Needed Capacity on the Runway, Roads and Terminal Systems.

As a Result, the Airport is Expected to Handle Around 40million Passengers and Host Approximately 40,000 Full Time Workers Over the Next 20 Years.

Alroe Noted That There Will Be Increased Consultation Between the Airport and Other Stakeholders.

“this Means Bringing the Community Along With Us Over the Coming Period as We Begin Construction of the New Parallel Runway Through Activities Such as Our Brisbane Airport Community Forum, Our Brisbane Airport and Surrounds Roundtable With State and Local Government, a Unique Brisbane Airport Experience Centre and a Range of Other Planning and Noise Management Initiatives. ”

Wac Secures Terminal Financing

Westralia Airports Corporation, Operator of Perth Airport, Announced on October 1 That It Has Secured the Necessary Financing to Go Ahead With Its Terminal Expansion Plans.

The Funds Comprise a $740 Million Debt Facility Backed by a Syndicate of Local and International Banks, as Well as a Further $142 Million From Wac’s Shareholders.

“completion of the Financing Provides Our Company the Funding Certainty We Need to Proceed With Our Major Investments to Increase Capacity and Customer Service Levels at Perth Airport,” Said Perth Airport’s Ceo Brad Geatches.

“these Funds Will Underpin Our Investment in a New Domestic Terminal, Terminal Wa, and Expansion of Our Existing International Terminal, as Well as Many Other Projects That Will Further Improve Customer Service at Perth Airport. ” Wac’s Plans for the Next Three Years Also Include a Number of Landside Changes to Parking Arrangements to Ease Traffic Problems, Particularly Around the Domestic Terminals, as Well as New Aerobridges at the Current Domestic Terminal.

Longer Term, the Airport Expects to Consolidate All Its Terminals at the Current International Terminal Precinct, Which is Where Terminal Wa is Being Constructed.

Airport Briefs

• Macquarie Airports (Map) is Selling Its 35. 5 Per Cent Stake in Bristol Airport, While It Has Also Raised Its Stake in Copenhagen Airports to 30. 8 Per Cent. Map Says That the Two Transactions Will Boost Its Cash Reserves by $120 Million.

General Aviation

Chinese Skycatcher Flies

the First Production Cessna Skycatcher Manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation Made Its First Flight on September 17.

“the Skycatcher Program Continues to Make Significant Progress, Today With the First Flight of Our Very First Aircraft Produced on Production Tooling, Following Closely on the Heels of Our Announcement in July of Astm Compliance for the Aircraft,” Said Jack Pelton, Cessna Chairman, President and Ceo. “we Are Excited About This Program and Eager for the Model 162 Skycatcher to Take Its Place in the Industry as the Light Sport Aircraft of Choice. ” Skycatchers Are Being Produced in China by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, Which is a Subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China I (Avic I), in an Effort to Cut Production Costs. Under the Agreement With Cessna, the Aircraft Will Be Produced in Shenyang and Then Shipped to One of Three Delivery Centres for Reassembly Before Delivery to Customers.

Over 1000 Skycatchers Have Been Ordered Since Its Launch at the 2007 Air- Venture in Oshkosh.

There and Back in a Jabiru

Bundaberg’s Jabiru Aircraft Has Come on Board as a Major Sponsor of Australian Aviation Contributor Owen Zupp’s ‘there and Back’ Initiative, Providing an Aircraft to Undertake Next Year’s Around Australia Flight.

“the Choice of the Australian Built Jabiru J230 Will Make ‘there and Back’ a Truly All- Australian Flight,” Said Owen.

The New Build Vh Certified Jabiru J230 Two-seater Will Enter Production in the New Year, and Its Construction Will Be Followed on Owen’s Website at Www. Thereandback. Com. Au.

The Next Phase for Owen is Planning of the Route Based Upon the Performance of the J230. Planning Will Be Done Utilising the Champagne Pc Fp3000 Program and Spidertracks Will Offer the Safety Net for the Flight.

Overall, the Route Will Endeavour to Highlight Aviation’s History in This Country and the Work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Rfds).

The ‘there and Back’ Around Australia Flight Will Take Place in July 2010 to Commemorate the Centenary of Powered Flight in Australia and to Raise Funds for the Rfds.

Waikato Celebrates  1000th Aircraft

the Waikato Aviation Cluster Held a Celebration on September 16 at Hamilton International Airport Celebrating the 1000th Aircraft Manufactured in the Region.

The 1000 Aircraft Have Been Manufactured by Four Companies and Represent Eight Models Including: Five Models Manufactured by Pacific Aerospace (P-750, Ct-4, Cresco, Fletcher and Air Tourer); Alpha Aviation’s Alpha 160a Trainer; Micro Aviation’s Bantam B22 Microlight; and Autoflight’s Dominator Gyrocopter. The 1000th Aircraft Was a P-750 Destined for a South African Operator.

The Celebrations Coincided With the Renaming of the Waikato Aviation Cluster, Which Will Now Be Known as the Aviation Industry Cluster, Which Will Place a Greater Focus on Building Up the Aviation Industry Across New Zealand.

“the New Zealand Aviation Industry Has Had an Exciting History, but the Potential for Its Future is Mind-boggling.

Industry Exports Totalled Nz$800 Million Last Year.

However, We Now Have 16 New Aviation Projects in the Pipeline, 15 of Those Being New Aircraft Designs. These New Projects Represent a Potential Nz$927 Million in Annual Exports,” Said Aic General Manager Shaun Mitchell.

“if New Zealand Really Wants to Make Its Mark on the Global Aviation Industry, All Companies Across the Country Need to Work Together to Become a World Renowned Hub. The Aviation Industry Cluster is Stepping Up to Take the Lead and Make It Happen. ”

Business Aviation

Gulfstream Rolls Out G650 & G250

Gulfstream Aerospace Has Rolled Out the First Examples of Its New Ultra Large Cabin Flagship G650 and the Super Midsize G250.

The G650 Rollout Occurred at Gulfstream’s Savannah, Georgia, Facility on September 29.

At a Width of 2. 6m and Height of 1. 95m, the G650 Has a Wider Cross Section Compared to Theg550, and Can Accommodate 11-18 Passengers. The Aircraft is Capable of Flying 7000nm at 0. 85 Mach With a Ceiling of 51,000ft, and is Powered by Two Rolls-royce Br725 Engines.

“we’ve All Been Looking Forward to This Day Since We Officially Announced the G650 Program Last Year,” Said Joe Lombardo, Executive Vice President of General Dynamics Aerospace Group, Which is the Parent Company to Gulfstream.

Meanwhile, the Smaller G250 Was Rolled Out From Israeli Aerospace Industries’s Facility at Ben Gurion International Airport on October 6, Where the Aircraft Was Built by Iai.

“the Gulfstream and Iai Teams Have Done an Outstanding Job Designing This All-new Aircraft and Overseeing Its Production,” Said Lombardo. “i Want to Thank Everyone Involved for Their Continued Cooperation and Collaboration. As You Can See, They Have Created a True Gulfstream, and We’re Delighted to Welcome It Into the Family. ” the G250 is Powered by Two Honeywell Htf7250g Engines, and is Capable of Travelling 3400nm at 0. 80 Mach With a Maximum Operating Speed of 0. 85 Mach and a Maximum Altitude of 45,000ft.

Both Aircraft Were Launched in 2008 and Are Expected to Make Their Maiden Flights by the End of the Year, While Entry Into Service for Both is Planned for 2011.

Maroomba to Operate Rfds Jet

Perth Based Maroomba Airlines Has Been Awarded a Contract to Operate the Wa Section of the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s Hawker 800xp Emergency Medical Jet, Which Will Be Launched in November.

“maroomba Airlines Won the Hotly-contested Tender to Provide Jet Services to the Royal Flying Doctor Service Following a Rigorous Tender Process,” Said Rfds Director of Corporate Services, Liane Papaelias. “while the Rfds Owned Jet Will Visit Our Jandakot Airport Base, It Requires Jet Specific Permanent Infrastructure at Perth Airport, Which Maroomba Can Provide. ” the New Aircraft, Which Has Been Branded as the Rio Tinto Life Flight, Will Be Based at Maroomba’s Facilities at Perth Airport. From There, It Will Be on Call at All Times to Respond to Life Threatening Emergencies Throughout Wa and Beyond, Offering Much Faster Response Times Than the Rfds’s Fleet of Pilatus Pc-12s and Beechcraft King Airs. Under Its Agreement, Maroomba Pilots Will Fly the Hawker 800xp While the Rfds Will Provide Medical Crew for the Jet. Maroomba Has Also Donated Space for the Development of a Specialised Patient Transfer Facility at Perth for Exclusive Use by the Rfds, Which is Due to Open in 2010.

The Business Jet, Which Has Been Registered as Vhrio, Has Had an Aeromedical Interior Fitted in the Us.

Finance

Lessors Change

Hands Aercap and Genesis Lease Ltd Have Announced They Will Merge.

Netherlands Based Aercap Has Agreed to Merge With Genesis, Which Was Itself Formed From Ge Capital Aviation Services (Gecas), in an All-share Transaction Valued at Us$1. 75bn. Aercap Ceo Klaus Heinemann and Cfo Keith Helming Will Lead the Combined Company, Which Will Retain the Aercap Name.

Gecas, Which Provided Asset Management Services to Genesis’s Portfolio, Will Be Retained in the Short Term, Although an Option Has Been Negotiated to Allow for the Early End to That Agreement.

Both Aercap’s and Genesis’s Lease Portfolios Are Mostly Comprised of Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s, as Well as 767s, A330s, Md-11s and Md-80s. Including the Genesis Fleet, Aercap Now Has 358 Commercial Aircraft and 83 Engines Under Management.

A Further 83 Aircraft Are on Order or Under Contract.

Maintenance & Training

Qantas Increases Apprentice Intake

Qantas Ceo Alan Joyce Has Announced That the Company Will Employ an Additional 100 Engineering Apprentices From February 2010.

“our Engineering Apprentice Program Develops the Critical Skills of Our Future Engineers So They Can Maintain the Qantas Fleet to the Highest Standard,” Said Qantas Ceo Alan Joyce.

“it is This Ongoing Investment in Our People That Underpins Qantas’s Enviable Record of Flying Safety. ” the Apprentices Will Be Employed at Qantas’s Maintenance Facilities in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and Complement the Announcement That A330 Heavy Maintenance Will Be Conducted in Brisbane From Next Year. As a Result, 92 Per Cent of Its Fleet Maintenance Will Be Carried Out Onshore.

Qantas Currently Employs 286 Apprentices, Giving It the Largest Civil Aviation Apprenticeship Program in Australia.

Air Safety

Air Safety Briefs

• the Png Accident Investigation Commission Has Released an Interim Report Into the Crash of De Havilland Twin Otterp2-mcb Which Was Operating a Charter Flight to Kokoda on August 11. The Report Notes That the Aircraft Was Flying Nearly Level and Appeared to Be in Control When It Crashed Into the Side of a Mountain After Making a Go-around While Trying to Land at Kokoda. The Investigation is Ongoing, and Will Focus on Examining the Aircraft Wreckage, Weight and Balance, Operational Documentation and Other Risks Which May Have Contributed to the Accident.

Atc & Airspace

Airservices to Introduce Gbas by Year’s End

Airservices Has Announced It Will Begin Introducing Gbas (Ground Based Augmentation System) Into Service at Australian Airports From Late 2009, Starting With Sydney.

Honeywell’s Smartpath Precision Landing System Recently Became the World’s First Gbas to Achieve Certification by the Us Faa, and Was Developed With Assistance From Airservices. Gbas Improves the Accuracy of Aircraft Positioning and Can Guide Aircraft Along a Predictable, Precise Landing Path by Correcting Gps Errors and Transmitting Data Directly to the Aircraft’s Flight Management System.

“gbas is the 21st Century Alternative to the 1930’s-era Instrument Landing Systems and Offers Major Improvements in Airport Safety, Efficiency and Capacity,” General Manager Air Traffic Control, Jason Harfield, Said.

“airservices is Now Working With Domestic and International Airlines to Encourage Take-up of Gbas Avionics and to Work Cooperatively on New, Efficient Gbas Procedures. ” Harfield Said.

“we Expect to Complete the Installation in Sydney by the End of the Year and Are Working With the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority to Achieve the Gbas Service Approval in 2010. ” a Honeywell/airservices’s Gbas Trial System Has Been Operating at Sydney Since November 2006.

People

People Briefs

• Sydney Based Sales Director for Embraer Executive Jets, Brett Maclachlan, Left the Company on September 25 to Resume His Flying Career. His Responsibilities Have Been Taken on by Andre Bosque Monteiro.

• Brisbane Airport Corporation (Bac) Has Named Current Company Director Bill Grant as Its Chairman.

• Houston Based Air Routing International, Which Provides Business Aviation Trip and Flight Planning, is Making a Push Into the Australasian Business Aviation Market With the Appointment of Douglas Hendry (Formerly of Hawker Pacific) as Its a New Australian Based Regional Business Development Representative.

Events

Centenary of Flight Celebrations

a Number of Groups Have Come Together to Celebrate 100 Years of Powered Flight in Australia, Which Are to Be Held at Diggers Rest, Victoria Between March 18-21 2010.

The Celebrations Will Coincide With the Anniversary of Famous Escapologist Harry Houdini’s First Flight of a Powered Aircraft on March 18 1910 at Diggers Rest, and Will Include a Commemoration Ceremony, Air Show and Auto and Aircraft Swap Meet.

The Celebrations Have Been Organised by the Lions Club of Diggers Rest and is Sponsored by the Shire of Melton.

For More Information, See Www. Houdini. Diggersrest. Com N