News Desk

Boeing Again Reviewing 787 Delivery Timeline?

Boeing and Its Suppliers Are Said to Be Reviewing the Timetable for Delivery of Some of the 787s Already Built Due to Delays in Bringing the Aircraft Up to a Certified Production Standard.

Citing Sources at Boeing and the Companies That Make Up Its Supply Chain, Flightblogger Says That Design Changes Required for Aircraft Seven, Which is the First 787 to Be Delivered to Launch Customer All Nippon Airlines, Had Not Yet Been Released and Would Have to Be Implemented Before It Can Be Certified. The Manufacturer is Understood to Be Reviewing Its Delivery Schedule, but Maintains That Its Latest Plans to Deliver the First 787 in the First Quarter of 2011 Still Holds.

A Number of the Problems to Be Rectified on the 22 Production- Standard Aircraft Which Boeing Has Scattered Around Its Facilities at Everett Include Cabin Condensation Issues, Resolving the Horizontal Stabiliser Workmanship Issues, and Incorporating Changes to the Rolls- Royce Trent 1000 Engines.

Boeing Ceo Jim Mcnerney Recently Noted During the Company’s Third Quarter Earnings Call That It Was “intensely Focused on Managing the Change Incorporation Process on Airplanes Already Built or in Flow. ” in Addition, He Noted That the Early Aircraft on Its Delivery Schedule “comprised of a Mix of Airplanes Coming Off the Production Line and Airplanes Completing the Change Incorporation Process. ” Boeing is Currently Maintaining Its Latest Delivery Schedule, While Some Carriers Including Jetstar and Qatar Airways Have Recently Brought Forward Their Planned Deliveries of 787s to Take Advantage of Slots Opened Up by Customers Who Have Delayed Their Deliveries. Locally, Jetstar is Expected to Take Delivery of Its First 787-8s From June 2012.

Airbus Looking at A320 Neo Partners

a French Newspaper Claims That Airbus is Seeking Out Risk-sharing Partners to Help Bear the Engineering Cost and Risk of Its Proposed Re-engining for the A320 Family, Adding to Speculation That the Program May Be Shelved in Favour of Other Priorities.

According to Les Echoes, Sources at Airbus Claim That It is Seeking an Industrial Partner to Take on Some of the Development and Financial Risk of the New Engine Option (Neo) Program, Which Would Mate the Existing A320 Aircraft to the New Cfm International Leap-x and/or Pratt & Whitney’s Pw1000g Geared Turbofan to Deliver Major Reductions in Fuel Burn and Extend Range. The Report Also Claims That the New, Heavier Engines Would Require the A320’s Wing Box, Central Fuselage and Landing Gear to Be Modified, Requiring a Minimum Five Years of Development Work.

The Report Comes After Airbus Ceo Tom Enders Said the Airframer Faced a Difficult Decision on Whether to Offer a Neo for Its Hot Selling A320 Family, Particularly Given the Stretched Engineering Resources of the Company.

Enders Told L’express Magazine That While the Neo Program Made Strategic Sense, It Would Not Be Done if It Stretched Engineering Resources at the Company Which Are Already Under Pressure Withthe A380, A350 and A400m Programs. He Has Also Raised the Prospect That the Company May Decide Against the Neo for Such Reasons.

“we Must Therefore Evaluate Very Seriously if We Are Capable of Working in Parallel on a Re-engined A320… if We Ultimately Decide Not to Do the A320 Neo, So as Not to Endanger Current Programs, Then the Sky Won’t Collapse on Our Heads,” He Said.

Influential Aircraft Leasing Magnate Steven Udvar-hazy Has Cast Doubt Over the A320 Neo Plan and Similar Proposals to Re-engine the Boeing 737, Telling Participants at a Recent Conference in Munich That the Plans Would Not Bring Significant Benefits. Lessors Generally Are Understood to Not Favour New Engines on the Narrowbody Aircraft Due to the Impact on Residual Values of Those 737s and A320s Currently on Order and in Service.

Airbus’s Board is Expected to Decide by the End of the Year on Whether to Formally Launch the A320 Neo, Which Has Been Promoted Strongly by the Company’s Chief Operating Officer – Customers John Leahy.

All Nippon Switches 15 787-8s to -9s

All Nippon Airlines (Ana) Has Become the Latest Carrier to Convert Some of Its 787-8s on Order to the Larger -9 Variant.

Ana Has Converted Orders for 15 787-8s to the -9, Although It Still Has 50 787-8s on Order. According to a Statement From the Carrier, the -9’s Will Be Used to “meet the Increasing Need for 400 Seatcapacity Aircraft for Domestic Routes, and Will Further Improve the Flexibility of Our Fleet and Network Planning. Furthermore, Like the 787-8 Model, It is a Highly Fuel Efficient Aircraft Which Will Enable Ana to Reduce Operating Costs and Carbon Dioxide Emission. ” Ana Has Not Said When It Expects to Take Delivery of the First 787-9s. On Current Schedules, the First 787-9 Will Be Delivered in Late 2013 to Launch Customer Air New Zealand.

The Change in Aircraft Follows a Recent Trend Which Has Seen Other Carriers Including Vietnam Airlines and Air China Convert Their Orders for the 787-8 to the 787-9, With Some Sources Claiming That the Revised Performance of the -8 Does Not Meet Their Needs. However, in the Case of Ana It Appears That the 787s May Replace Some of Its Domestically Operated Boeing 777-200s Which Are Configured With 418 Seats.

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines Has Announced That It Will Defer Delivery of Its First Boeing 787 Until 2020, but Maintains That It is Still Committed to Its Order of 18 787-8s. The Us$2. 2bn Order Was Inherited From Delta’s Merger With Northwest Airlines, and Instead Delta Will Focus on Extending the Life of Its 747- 400s Which Operate on Routes to Asia and Were to Have Been Replaced by the 787s. Northwest Originally Expected to Take Delivery of the 787 From 2008.

Boeing Ups China Forecast

Boeing Has Increased Its Forecast for the Demand for New Aircraft From China, Citing the Continued Strong Performance of the Country’s Economy.

The Airframer Now Expects That Carriers in China Will Require 4300 New Commercial Aircraft Valued at Us$480bn (a$472bn) Over the Next 20 Years. Of Those New Aircraft Required, It is Expected That 71 Per Cent Will Be Single Aisle Narrowbody Aircraft, While Twin Aisle Widebody Aircraft Will Account for 20 Per Cent of the Market.

It Also Forecasts That There Will Only Be 70 Airplanes in the Large Aircraft Category, Which Will Primarily Be Used to Connect China to Long Haul Destinations.

Globally, Boeing Expects That There Will Be a Need for Approximately 30,900 New Aircraft by 2029, With the Greatest Demand Coming From the Asia Pacific Region Due to Continued Strong Passenger Growth.

Briefs

• Boeing Will Operate a Rotable Exchange Service for 787 Operators Which It Says Will Help Reduce Airline Inventory Costs and Allow Parts to Be Shipped Within 24 Hours. Boeing Plans to Support Up to 600 High Value Rotable Parts, Including Such Items as the Apu and the Variable Frequency Starter Generator.

• Boeing Has Delivered the First 737 Featuring the New Boeingsky Interior to Uae-based Flydubai.

The Boeing Sky Interior Features Sculptured Sidewalls and New Window Reveals, as Well as Larger Pivoting Overhead Stowage Bins. It Also Features an Led Cabin Lighting System, While Airlines Will Have a Choice of Various Lighting Schemes.

Virgin Blue is Among the 46 Airlines and Leasing Companies Boeing Says Have Ordered the Sky Interior for More Than 1200 737s. The First Aircraft to Feature It is a 737-800, but It is an Option Across the 737 Range.

• Airbus Has Opened the A350 Xwb Landing Gear Test Facility at Filton in the Uk, Marking Another Step Along the Way Towards Production of the A350. The New €39m (a$54m) Facility Has Been Named After Sir George White, in Honour of the Founder of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and Will Demonstrate the Maturity of the Landing Gear System for the A350, and Provide Evidence for the Certification of the Landing Gear and Systems, Especially the Extension-retraction and Braking Systems.

Military

New Delays for Jsf Expected

Reports From the Us on November 1 Indicate the F-35 Jsf Program is Headed for a Further Schedule and Development Cost Blowout in the Wake of a Ground Up Review by New Program Head, Rear Admiral David Venlet.

The Reports Indicate a Further Schedule Slip of One to Two Years for the Conventional F- 35a and Naval F-35c Versions, and Up to Three Years for the Stovl F-35b Due to Software and Aerodynamic Issues and Delays in Ramping Up the Production Process, Issues Which May Cost More Than Us$5bn to Fix.

Admiral Venlet Was Due to Report to Us Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the Program on November 3, After Which the Program is Expected to Be ‘re-baselined’ as Part of the Nunn-mccurdy Review Process Which Was Initiated in April.

If True, This Latest Delay Will Add to the Four Years and More That the Us$15bn Program Has Already Blown Out by, and Will Push the Scheduled Ioc of the F-35a Right Up Against the Raaf’s Requirement of 2017.

Lockheed Martin Ceo Robert Stephens Admitted to Us Media on November 3 That the Company and Pentagon is “probably Going to Examine the Need for More Time, More People and More Dollars. We Have to Improve the Performance of That Airframe. The Software Has Been Performing Well When It’s on the Aircraft but It’s Going to Take Some More Resources. ” This Latest Blow Comes Only a Few Weeks After the F-35 Test Fleet Was Grounded for Four Days Due to a Software Glitch Which Could Cause a Fuel Boost Pump to Shut Down in Flight.

Pentagon Spokesman Cheryl Irwin Said the Software Glitch “could Have Possibly Triggered a Shutdown on the Three Boost Pumps, Which Could Potentially Cause an Engine Stall,” and That, “prudence Dictated a Suspension of Operations, Temporarily, Until the Fuel Boost Pump Signal Timing Was Corrected. ” the Software Issue, Which Had Previously Restricted the Test Fleet From Operating Above 10,000 Feet, Adds to a Problem With the Auxiliary Inlet Door Hinges on the F-35b Stovl Test Aircraft Which Had Been Hindering Vertical and Short Takeoff and Landing Flight Tests and Added to Delays in the Stovl Test Schedule.

The Grounding Was Lifted on October 5 After a Software Patch Was Developed and Uploaded to the Seven Test Aircraft.

But the Auxiliary Inlet Hinge Issue is a Larger One, Especially as the Four Stovl Test Aircraft Which Have Flown to Date Are Expected to Have Achieved at Least 50 Vertical Landings by the End of This Calendar Year in Order for Shipborne Trials to Commence in March 2011.

Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Jon Beesley Revealed to Australian Media in August That the Hinges Would Require a “beefing Up” Because of Aerodynamic Disturbance Coming Off the Large Lift Fan Inlet Door Immediately in Front of the Auxiliary Inlet During Forward Flight.

Kc-30 Remains on Projects of Concern List, Ap-3c Esm Added

Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare Have Added the Ap-3c Orion’s Air 5276 Phase 8b Esm Upgrade Program to the List of ‘projects of Concern’, While Project Air 5402 to Acquire Five Airbus Military Kc-30 Tanker/transports Remains on the List.

Air 5402 is Running More Than 18 Months Late, With the Main Focus of the Project Now on Addressing Further Schedule Risk, and to Keep Working With Contractor Airbus Military to Ensure Delivery and Acceptance of the First Two Aircraft by the End of the Year.

“i Toured the Aircraft Conversion Centre in Brisbane Last Week and Was Briefed on Progress,” Said Minister Clare.

“our Focus is Now on Working With Airbus Military in Spain on Developmental Activities to Support Timely Completion of Testing and Supporting Activities. ” Interestingly, Defence Had Previously Denied Air 5402 Was on the List Despite Rumours to the Contrary Earlier This Year.

Defence Insiders Have Since Suggested There Were Two Lists, Only One of Which Was Public, and That the Tanker Was on the Not-releasable List.

Added to the List Was Air 5276 Phase 8b to Provide an Electronic Support Measures (Esm) Systems Upgrade for the Ap-3c Orion Fleet.

“the Advice to Me From the Defence Materiel Organisation is That Bae Systems, Awarded the Prime Contract in 2007, is Currently 18 Months Behind the Delivery Schedule for the Upgraded Electronic Support Measures Equipment,” Minister Clare Said. “i Look Forward to the Dmo and Contractor Demonstrating a Renewed Effort Toward Delivering This Important Capability to the Australian Defence Force as Soon as Possible. ” Other Aerospace Projects Which Remain on the Updated List Include Air 5077 Phase 3 for the Wedgetail Aew&c Aircraft and Air 5333, the Vigilare Surveillance and Command and Control System, Despite Both Making Great Strides in Recent Months With Deliveries and Initial Service Acceptance. The Total Number of Projects Placed on the List Since 2008 Has Risen to 17, With Six Removed – Five Due to Remediation and One Due to Cancellation.

Axe Falls on Harrier, Nimrod & F-35b in Uk

the Uk’s Cameron Coalition Government Has Announced Plans to Cut Huge Numbers of Personnel and Inventory Under Its Strategic Defence and Security Review (Sdsr), With Defence Spending to Fall Eight Per Cent Over Four Years.

Capabilities to Be Cut Include the Entire Harrier Force From 2011 and the Carrier Hms Ark Royal Almost Immediately, Which Means the Uk Won’t Be Able to Operate Fixed Wing Aircraft Off Its Own Carrier Until the First Qeii Class Carrier is Ready in 2019, and the Yet to Enter Service Bae Nimrod Mra4 Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft. Started in 1996, the £3. 2bn (a$5. 1bn) Mra4 Project Was Originally to Have Been for 21 Remanufactured Aircraft to Enter Service by 2004, but Cost Increases and Schedule Delays Had Seen That Number Slashed to Just Nine to Enter Service in 2012.

Also to Be Chopped is the Plan to Acquire Up to 138 F‑35b Stovl Versions of the F-35 Jsf, With a Smaller but as Yet Undefined Number of the F-35c Carrier Variant, Possibly as Few as 36, to Be Acquired Instead. Construction of the Two New Qeii Class Aircraft Carriers Will Be Slowed, With at Least One of the Vessels to Be Equipped With Conventional Catapults and Arrestor Gear to Cater for the F-35cs, and the Other to Be Placed in “extended Readiness”.

Plans to Increase the Raf’s Ch-47 Chinook Fleet by 36 Aircraft Have Been Reduced to Just 12 More New Aircraft, While a Prior Commitment to Upgrade the Puma Helicopter Fleet Has Been Retained.

The Sdsr Also Calls for the Raf’s C-130j (C. 4) Transport and the Raytheon R. 1 Sentinel Isr Fleets to Be Retired Earlier Than Planned, for 22 A400m Transports to Be Acquired, and for the 14 A330 Based Fsta Refuelling Tankers on Order to Be Retained. Also Safe Are the Planned Navy and Army Lynx Wildcat Helicopters, and the Raf’s Tornado Gr. 4 Strike Aircraft, Although Tornado Numbers Are Under Review.

Some 42,000 Jobs Will Be Shed, Comprising 25,000 Civilian Staff and 5000 Uniformed Personnel Each From the Raf and Rn, and 7000 From the Army. Tank Numbers Will Be Cut by 40 Per Cent and Heavy Artillery by 35 Per Cent, and the Navy’s Frigate and Destroyer Fleet Will Shrink From 23 to 19.

Israel Signs for F-35

the Israeli Ministry of Defence Has Signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the Procurement of the F-35a Jsf, Making It the First Nation to Formally Order the Aircraft Through the Us Fms Process.

“we’re Very Pleased With the Government of Israel’s Decision to Move Forward With the Us Government’s Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the F-35,” Said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin’s Executive Vice President and General Manager of F-35 Program Integration. “this is Another Step in the Longstanding Relationship Between Lockheed Martin and the Nation of Israel.

The Lightning Ii Will Strengthen Israel’s National Security Posture Both Militarily and Industrially. ” While the Number Ofaircraft Ordered Hasn’t Been Confirmed, It is Believed Israel Has an Initial Requirement for 19 F-35as and Longer Term Requirements for Another 55 Aircraft. (for More on This, See on Target, P90 This Issue. )

Adagold Middle East Contract Affirmed

a Dispute Over the Awarding of the Adf’s Middle East Air Sustainment Contract Has Been Resolved, With Adagold Aviation Entering Into a Two Year Contract With Defence on October 22.

The Contract Was Awarded Following an Investigation by the Adf’s Chief Audit Executive and an Independent Validation of the Process by Pricewaterhousecoopers. It Had Been Marred by Allegations From Incumbent Contract Holder Strategic Aviation That Former Strategic Executive and Current Adf Army Joint Movements Group Reservist Member, David Charlton, Had Somehow Influenced the Outcome to Favour Adagold.

“the Contract Represents a Substantial Improvement in Value for Money to the Commonwealth, With Significant Savings Over the Two Year Term of the Contract,” Reads a Department of Defence Statement Issued on October 22.

A Further Investigation Into Aircraft Charter Brokerage Company Adagold’s Financial Viability and the Selection Process Was Conducted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and the Australian Government Solicitor. “that Assessment Did Not Identify Any Evidence of Bias in the Process, Any Outside Influence That Could Have Compromised the Overall Selection Process, or Any Reason That Would Suggest That the Tenderer Was Not a Fit and Proper Organisation,” the Defence Statement Says.

Adagold’s Contract Will Commence on November 23, Understood to Be Using Airbus A340-500 Equipment Leased From Hi Fly of Portugal.

Strategic Meanwhile Looks to Be Planning to Use Its A330-200 That Had Been Used on the Air Sustainment Contract to Instead Fly Passenger Services to Thailand.

Raaf Hawk Flying Temporarily Suspended

the Raaf Temporarily Suspended Hawk Lead-in Fighter Flying for Several Days Following the Discovery of a Technical Fault in October.

Mis-rigging of Part of the Mechanical Throttle Idle Stop, Which Enabled the Stop to Slip, Was Discovered When a Hawk Was Taxiing Prior to Takeoff From Raaf Base Pearce.

“it Was Determined That This Condition Could Induce an Engine to Flameout When the Throttle Was Moved to the Idle Position,” a Defence Spokesperson Told Aa.

No Other Hawks Were Found to Have the Mis-rigging, and the Fleet Was Cleared to Fly Within Two Days of an Inspection Being Released.

Defence Puts Caribou Disposal to Tender

the Department of Defence Has Released a Tender for the Disposal of the Raaf’s Now Retired Caribou Fleet and Associated Spares, Although at Least Two Aircraft and Numerous Parts Will Be Made Available to Various Historical Organisations.

“due to the Historic Significance of the Aircraft, We Have Reserved a Number of Caribou Components for Preservation at Rsls and Historical Organisations,” Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare Said.

Two Caribou Have Already Been Presented to the Raaf Museum at Point Cook and the Australian War Memorial.

The Tender for the Remaining Caribou and Their Spares Closes on March 1 2011 at 12pm Act Local Time.

Oaic Gains Two Year Extension

Boeing and the Dmo Have Agreed to Extend the Office of Australian Industry Capability (Oaic) for a Further Two Years.

The Oaic Has Been Active in Identifying Capability Within Australian Small and Medium Enterprises Which May Be Utilised by Boeing’s Global Supply Chain. Boeing Says That to Date the Oaic Has Helped to Deliver More Than Us$190m Worth of Contracts to Australian Industry, With 10 Smes Currently Competing for an Additional Us$260 Million Worth of Work Across a Broad Range of Boeing’s Commercial and Defence Programs.

Raytheon to Develop New Missile

the Us Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) Has Awarded Raytheon a Us$21. 3m Contract to Develop a New Multi-mode Long Range Air-to-air Missile.

The Weapon, Dubbed T3 for Triple Target Terminator, is Due to Be Fielded in the 2020s and Would Be Carried Internally or Externally by Fighters, Uavs and Bombers, and Be Capable of Shooting Down Small Targets Such as Cruise Missiles, and High Performance Low Observable Fighters.

No Range Nor Performance Goals Have Been Published.

Guam Bases to Be Upgraded

the Us Naval and Air Bases on the Western Pacific Island of Guam Are to Receive a Massive Upgrade in the Face of Military Advances and Increased Tensions in North-east Asia.

The Naval Base There Will Be Upgraded to Accommodate a Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier.

The Island Itself Will Receive a Missile Defence System and Live Fire Training Sites, and Additional Basing Infrastructure Will Be Added at Andersen Afb to Accommodate Surges in Aircraft Deployments There. The Island Will Also House 19,000 Marines Who Are Being Relocated From the Japanese Island of Okinawa.

Huge Saudi Arms Order Proposed

the Us Defense Security Cooperation Agency (Dsca) Has Advised Congress of a Huge Us$60bn Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia.

Top of the List is 84 New Boeing F-15sa Fighters Which Will Be of an Advanced Configuration Similar to the Singaporean F-15sg and Korean F-15k.

The Aircraft Will Feature an/ Apg-63(V)3 Aesa Radars and Ge F110-129 Engines, as Well as Link 16, Lantirn/ Tiger Eye Navigation Pods,irst Pods, and Jhmcs Helmet Sights. With the F-15s Will Also Come a Comprehensive Weapons Package Including Aim-9x and Aim-120c-7 Aams, Thousands of General Purpose, Jdam and Laser- Jdam Bombs, Harpoon Antiship and Harm Anti-radar Missiles, the Construction and Refurbishment of Basing Facilities in Saudi Arabia, and the Establishment of a 12 Aircraft Training Squadron in the Us.

The Saudis’ Current Fleet of 70 F-15s Fighters Will Be Upgraded to a Similar Standard as the ‘sa’, and Additional Apg- 63(V)3s and Other Equipment Have Been Listed in the Request for This Upgrade. The F-15ss Were Recently Re-engined With the F110 Engine.

The Deal Also Includes 70 Boeing Ah-64d Block Iii Apache Attack Helicopters and Spares Including Engines, a Number of Apg-78 Longbow Radars, Targeting Pods and Other Sensors, Electronic Warfare Systems, Weapons Including More Than 2500 Hellfire Missiles, Ground Support Equipment, Mission Planning Systems, and Training Systems and Publications.

Also Included in the Package Are 72 Sikorsky Uh-60m Black Hawk Helicopters, 36 Boeing Ah-6i ‘little Bird’ Light Attack Helicopters, 12 Md-530f Training Helicopters, and Associated Spares, Training and Support Systems.

Military Briefs

• the Us Defense Security Cooperation Agency (Dsca) Has Notified Congress of a Possible Sale to Thailand of Mid-life Upgrade (Mlu) Kits for That Country’s Fleet of 18 F-16a/b Block 15 Fighters. The Us$700m Package Would See the Aircraft Receive New an/apg-68(V)9 Radars, Apx-113 Combined Interrogator Transponders (Cit), Alq-213 Ew Systems and Ale-47 Cmds, and New Modular Mission Computers.

• Raytheon and Boeing Have Successfully Completed Test Flights of a Joint Air to Ground Missile (Jagm) Fixed Wing Launcher and Instrumented Representative Missiles on a Us Navy F/a-18f Super Hornet.

Jagm Has Been Designed to Replace the Hellfire and Maverick Air-to-surface Weapons.

• Boeing and Korean Aerospace Have Signed an Agreement That Will See Kai Design, Develop and Build the Conformal Weapons Bays for the F-15se Silent Eagle. Boeing is Pitching the F-15se to Korea for Its Fx-iii Requirement.

• Dan Crowley, the Former Executive Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Jsf Program, and Since May of This Year Coo of Its Aeronautics Business, Has Announced an Immediate Departure From the Company for a Position at Rival Raytheon. Crowley Has Taken Up the Position of President of Raytheon’s Network Centric Systems Division, and Lockheed Martin Says the Position of Coo, Which Was Created for Crowley, Will Not Be Filled.

Airlines

Better Year Ahead for Virgin – Borghetti

Virgin Blue Ceo John Borghetti Has Said That He Expects Conditions Across the Carrier’s Domestic and International Markets to Improve Next Year, While He Will Also Reveal More of the Carrier’s Plans for the Asian Market Over the Next Year.

“i Think That Next Year Should Be a Reasonably, You Know, I’m Not Saying a Stellar Year, but I Suppose What I’m Saying is That We’ve Seen the Bottom of the Market and It’s Really a Question Now of, You Know, How Will It Pick Up,” Borghetti Said in an Interview With the Business Spectator Website.

“we’re Starting to See Some Signs of Recovery. The Domestic Market is Holding a Little Bit Better. The International Market, Certainly the Dollar Helps,” He Added.

In Addition, Borghetti Also Admitted That “there’s a Lot of Work Being Done” on Expanding the Airline’s Presence in Asia, Although He Would Not Say if Vb Was Looking at Working With a Partner in the Region or Simply Adding More of Its Own Services.

Pacific Blue Currently Flies to Denpasar and Phuket as Its Sole Asian Destinations, and Borgetti Made It Clear That the Opportunities for the Carrier Were Elsewhere in the Region.

“we Need the Hong Kongs, the Singapores, the Chinas, the Indias, and for That Matter, Theorient – Japan and Korea and So on. And All I Can Really Say is It is a Very Important Market.

We’re Certainly [not] Turning Our Back on It. We Are Going to Be Active in That Market, but It Will Take Us a Little While to Put That Plan Into Effect,” He Said.

Good Times for Tiger

Tiger Airways Has Flagged That It Will Announce New Bases in Australia Over the Coming Year as the Budget Carrier Rose to a Profit During the Three Months to September 30, Announced Plans to Increase Its Fleet in Australia to 12 Aircraft, and Reached an Agreement With Standard Chartered Bank to Finance Pre-delivery Payments (Pdp) on 14 New Aircraft It Has on Order.

“we Are Talking to Airports and State Governments Right Now With a View to Announcing Some More Bases in the Coming Year,” Tiger Airways Group Ceo Tony Davis Said During a Conference Call After the Carrier’s Profit Announcement.

The Airline Group Recorded a Net Profit of S$14. 1m (a$10. 8m) for the Quarter, Compared to a Loss of S$2. 3m (a$1. 8m) Recorded Over the Same Period in the Previous Year. Revenue Over the Same Period Increased by 35 Per Cent to S$143. 5m (a$110m), Which Was Aided by a 25 Per Cent Increase in Passenger Numbers, Resulting in Loads Increasing Two Percentage Points to 87 Per Cent.

Tiger Currently Has Bases at Melbourne Tullamarine and Adelaide Airports, and Will Started Flying From Its Avalon Base in Late November, and by Early Next Year It Will Operate 12 A320s in Australia. It is Expected That the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cairns May Be Likely Targets for a New Base Given Tiger Already Has a Significant Presence or Has Boosted Services to Those Ports Recently.

Tiger is Expecting Its 10th A320 to Arrive Before the End of the Year, With the Aircraft to Be Stationed at Its Melbourne Tullamarine Base. This Will Be Followed by Two More A320s in Early 2011, Which It Says Will Cement It as Australia’s Fastest Growing Airline.

“each Aircraft Provides Over Half a Million Additional Low Priced Seats Around Australia and All Three New Aircraft Will Create Hundreds of New Employment Positions – So It’s a Win-win for Tourism, for the Economy and for the Consumer,” Said Tiger’s Managing Director Crawford Rix.

Standard Chartered Has Provided Finance for Pdps on 11 Other A320s Ordered by Tiger, While the Airline Has Also Received Export Credit Agency Backed Finance for Nine Other Aircraft.

“standard Chartered Bank Has Been Mandated to Arrange and Sole Finance a Singapore Dollar-denominated Structured Pdp Financing Arrangement for Tiger Airways, Relating to a Total of 14 Airbus 320s Scheduled for Delivery by March 2013,” the Bank Said in a Statement.

Meanwhile, Tiger is Also Currently in the Process of Establishing a New Airline Joint Venture With Thai Airways International, Which Will Be Called Thai Tiger and Be Based in Bangkok.

V Australia-etihad Codeshare Cleared

the International Air Services Commission (Iasc) Has Granted Approval for V Australia to Codeshare on a Number of Etihad Services and Also Granted It Traffic Rights to Operate Flights to Abu Dhabi, While Etihad Has Received Clearance to Codeshare on Pacific Blue’s Trans-tasman Services.

The Commission Issued a Number of Determinations on October 25 Which Have Cleared the Way for V Australia to Operate Joint Services Between Australia and Abu Dhabi, Allowing V to Start Three Times Weekly Services Between Sydney and Abu Dhabi From February Next Year. In Addition, It Will Be Able to Codeshare on All Etihad Services From Australia to Abu Dhabi and Thailand, While It Will Also Be Able to Codeshare on Etihad Services From Abu Dhabi to Bangladesh, France and Greece.

In Another Determination, the Iasc Has Granted Etihad Authority to Codeshare on Pacific Blue’s Trans-tasman Services.

In an Interview With Business Spectator, Virgin Blue Group Ceo John Borghetti Underlined the Importance of the Alliance With Etihad.

“that Deal is Very Important and I Think We Have Every Hope That It Will Be Finally Approved by the Accc, Although We Haven’t Received [final] Approval Yet,” He Said.

Virgin Blue and Etihad Recently Secured Interim Approval From the Accc for Their Alliance, Which Has Cleared Them to Start Jointly

Qantas Next Gen Check-in at Syd

Qantas Commenced Using the Next Generation Check-in System at Its Domestic Terminal at Sydney Airport From November 10 Following Its Successful Trial at Its Terminal in Perth.

The Next Generation Checkin Allow Passengers at Sydney’s Terminal 3 Holding Specialised Radio Frequency Id (Rfid) Cards to Check in by Touching a Specialised Q Card Reader, While Those With Rfid Q Bag Tags Will Be Able to Drop Their Bags Straight Onto the Conveyor Belt at the Auto Bag Drops. Qantas Says the Process Has Been Designed to Cut Down Check-in Times Dramatically.

Qantas is Currently in the Process of Rolling Out the Q Cards and Q Bag Tags to Platinum, Gold and Silver Frequent Flyers. Next Generation Check-in Will Be Progressively Rolled Out at Qantas’s Domestic Terminals in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra Over the Next Year With the Program Scheduled to Be Completed by the Second Half of 2011.

Airways Australia’s Managing Director Crawford Rix.

The Move to a Paid-for Email Subscription Service is a First for the Region, With Airlines Traditionally Offering Promotional Email Subscriptions at No Cost. However, Some Have Suggested That the Move Will Help the Airline to Build a Strong Database of Passengers Who Have a Degree of Loyalty to the Airline Which Could Then Be Used for Other Purposes.

Qantas & Kenya Airways Cleared to Codeshare

Qantas Has Received Route Approvals From the International Air Services Commission (Iasc) Which Will Allow It to Commence Services From Australia to Nairobi via Bangkok in Association With Kenya Airways.

According to Two Iasc Determinations, Kenya Airways Will Be Permitted to Place Its Code on Qantas Operated Services Between Sydney and Bangkok, While Qantas Will Be Permitted to Codeshare on Seven Weekly Kenya Airways Services From Bangkok to Nairobi. Nonetheless, Both Determinations Are Subject to

Tiger Launches Paid Memberships for Hot Fare Emails

Tiger Airways Has Launched a Paid Email Subscription Service Which It Says Will Allow Subscribers to Access the Airline’s Cheapest Fares.

Called ‘stripes’, the Program Will Charge Subscribers $29. 95 Per Year to Give Members Priority Access to Special Fares and Other Promotions Across Both the Australian and Asian Networks of Tiger Airways. The Program, Which Does Not Offer Any Loyalty Rewards or Perks Other Than Access to Special Fares, Was ‘soft Launched’ on October 1 and Tiger Says That It Has Had a Strong Response Since Then.

“we’re All About Liberating People to Fly More Often for Much Less Than Ever Before and With a Stripes 12 Month Membership, Customers Will Be Able to Do Just That. It’s Very Simple, Pay Once, and Get First Dip to Our Famous Low Fares for 12 Months,” Said Tigerthe Iasc Separately Approving the Codeshare Agreement Between the Two Carriers.

Both Airlines Had Planned to Commence Code Sharing From November 15.

Skywest Expands Regional Services

Skywest Has Announced That It Has Received Approval to Start Services From Perth to Ravensthorpe, as Well as Add Jets to Its Perth-geraldton Services.

Skywest Will Start Four Times Weekly Services Between Perth and Ravensthorpe From November 15, With the Flights Operating on a Perth- Esperance-ravensthorpe- Perth Routing. Currently, Ravensthrope Only Receives Charter Flights on Behalf of Fqm Nickel Which Operates a Nickel Mine Near the Town.

Skywest Has Also Announced That It Will Upgrade Some of Its Services Between Perth and Geraldton to Be Operated by Fokker 100 Jets Once Security Screening Arrangements Are Put in Place at Geraldton. The Airline Has Also Announced Plans to Start Services Between Geraldton and Melbourne via Kalgoorlie and the Opening of a Call Centre in Geraldton to Support the Growth of the Town Into an Aviation Hub Servicing the Northwest.

Meanwhile, the Airline is Also Planning to Start Flights Between Broome and Singapore, According to Its Annual Report Which Also Showed a Strong Increase in Net Profit for the Year Ending June 30.

In the Chairman’s Statement Within the Annual Report, Skywest Chairman Jeff Chatfield Wrote That the Airline Has Had Its Air Operator’s Certificate (Aoc) Recently Amended to Include Denpasar, Which It Had Previously Served as a Charter Destination From Port Hedland, but is Now Able to Sell Its Own Tickets on the Service. In Addition, With the Airline Now Over 50 Per Cent Owned by Australian Interests, It May Be Eligible to Apply for an Australian International Airline Licence, Allowing It to Serve More Destinations in Southeast Asia.

“to This End, the Airline is Now in the Process of Applying to Include the Route of Broome- Singapore to Its Aoc. Furthermore, the Airline is Investigating the Addition of Other Domestic Routes, Such as From the Pilbara to the East Coast of Australia,” Wrote Chatfield.

For the 12 Months Ending June 30, the Wa Based Airline Recorded a Major Increase in Profit Before Tax From S$5. 14m (a$3. 94m) to S$14m (a$10. 7m) as Revenue Grew by 19 Per Cent to S$215. 2m (a$165m). Net Profit After Tax Increased by 190 Per Cent to S$9. 23m (a$7. 07m).

Chinese Carriers Boost Capacity to Melbourne

Melbourne Airport Has Announced That Three Chinese Airlines Will Operate Daily Services to Melbourne From Later This Year.

China Eastern Has Increased to Daily Shanghai Services From Four Flights Per Week, While in December Air China Will Be Increasing Its Services From Beijing and Shanghai.

The Boost in Capacity Comes After Australia and China Recently Increased the Capacity Available Between the Two Countries Under Their Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

Hainan Airlines is Also Expected to Soon Start Flights to Australia, With a Number of Senior Executives of Its Parent Company Hna Group Recently Visiting the Country to Look at Possible Investment Opportunities in the Tourism Sector.

Emirates Triples Half Year Profit

Emirates Has Announced a 351 Per Cent Increase in Net Profit for the First Half of the Year as Passenger Load Factor Hit a New Record.

The Dubai Based Carrier Recorded a Profit of Aed3. 4bn (a$911m) for the Six Months to the End of September 2010, as Revenue Increased by 35 Per Cent to Aed19. 5bn (a$5. 2bn) Compared to the Same Time Last Year. Passenger Numbers Over the Half Year Increased by 17. 3 Per Cent to 15. 5 Million, While Seat Factor Came in at an Impressive 81. 2 Per Cent Despite a 13. 9 Per Cent Increasein Capacity. The Airline Also Noted That Premium Seat Factor Increased by 2. 6 Percentage Points During the Six Months.

“the Results for the First Half of the 2010-11 Financial Year Are Incredibly Robust, and Reflect Emirates’ Success in Growing Customer Demand, Supported by Investment in New Aircraft, Products and Customer Service,” Said Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-maktoum. “we Continue to Invest Our Profits in Growing the Business and Our Healthy Financial Position Enables Us to Successfully Meet All of Our Financial Commitments and Raise Financing for Future Aircraft Deliveries. Our Strong Position Today is Reflective of Our Ability to Adapt, Returning Us to a Vigorous Period of Growth.

With 62 New State-of-the-art Aircraft Ordered in the First Half, We Remain Well Positioned to Capitalise on This Growth. ”

Qantas Applies for More Philippines Rights

Qantas Has Lodged an Application With the International Air Services Commission (Iasc) for an Increase to Its Allocation on the Philippines Route to Allow Its Jetstar Subsidiary to Start Services Between Darwin and Manila.

The Airline is Seeking an Additional 531 Seats Per Week on the Route for Five Years, With the Capacity to Be Fully Utilised by October 31 2011. That Would Allow Jetstar to Operate Three Times Weekly Services Between Darwin and Manila Utilising Its 177-seat Airbus A320s.

Qantas Has Also Made Application to Renew Determinations on a Number of Routes, Including Indonesia, France Route 3 (New Caledonia), South Africa, Thailand and Vanuatu.

The Application Also Calls for the Revocation of Its Allocations on the Vietnam Route as the Qantas Group Has “no Immediate Plans to Operate Direct Services Between Australia’s Gateway Points and Vietnam. ” Jetstar Currently Operates Four Times Weekly Services From Darwin to Ho Chi Minh City, Which Has No Restrictions as It is Not a Gateway Port.

Strategic Gets New Aocs

Strategic Airlines Has Announced That It Has Renewed Its Australian Air Operator’s Certificate (Aoc) for Three Years, While It Has Also Secured an Aoc in Luxembourg Which Will Be Used for Its European Operations.

Strategic Has Been on a 12 Month Restricted Aoc Since It Started Operating, but Casa Has Now Granted It a Three Year Unrestricted Aoc.

“we’re Really Happy About That,” Strategic’s Head of Commercial Damien Vasta Told the Australian. “it Gives Our Market a Little Bit More Confidence That They’re Dealing With a More Established Australian Carrier That’s Got a Clean Bill of Health From Casa. ” the Airline Has Also Announced That It Has Received a New Aoc in Luxembourg for Its Strategic Europe Operation.

The New Aoc Comes After France’s Dgac Failed to Renew Strategic’s French Aoc Following Issues With How It Handled Passengers on Two Flights Earlier This Year.

Strategic Currently Operates Three A320s in Australia on Scheduled Services to Derby, Denpasar and Port Hedland, and the International Air Services Commission (Iasc) Has Granted Strategic Its Request for 4. 2 Boeing 747 Equivalent Capacity Units on the Thailand Route. The Allocation Will Allow the Airline to Start Up to Six Times Weekly Services With Its Airbus A330-200 Previously Employed on Charter Flight to the Middle East for the Adf.

Its European Operation Flies A320s on Charter and Wet-lease Operations.

Jetstar Ups Darwin Flying

Qantas Has Announced That It Will Return to the Melbourne- Darwin Market While Jetstar Has Also Announced Increased Flying on a Number of Routes.

Jetstar Will Increase Its Services on the Darwin-adelaide Route From Four Times Weekly to Daily Services From December 10, While Its Darwin-denpasar Services Will Increase From Daily to 11 Times Weekly From December 16. Then, From March 27, the Airline Will Add a Single Frequency Each Week to Darwin-sydney and Darwin-melbourne Services, Taking Both to 11 Times Weekly.

In Addition to the Jetstar Services, Qantas Has Announced That It Will Return to Flying Melbourne-darwin Cityflyer Services, Initially Operating Three Times a Week From May 2011. The Flights Willbe Operated With a Two-class, 168-seat Boeing 737-800.

The New Services Are a Direct Result of the Qantas Group Recently Reaching a New Agreement With Darwin Airport on Pricing and Terminal Access.

As a Result, the Airport Will Embark on a 10 Year, $100 Million Upgrade of Its Aviation Infrastructure, Including a $33. 5 Million Upgrade of Its Terminal.

Qantaslink Boosts Queensland Capacity

Qantaslink Expanded Its Schedule to the Queensland Mining Centres of Emerald, Moranbah and Roma From October 18 to Support Growing Demand From the Mining Industry.

The Additional Saw Qantaslink Increase From 27 to 30 Times Per Week Its Brisbane-emerald Services, 15 to 18 Times Per Week on Brisbane-roma and One Additional Service for a Total of 12 Per Week on Brisbane- Moranbah. All Services Are Operated by 50-seat Bombardier Q300s and 74-seat Q400s.

Emirates, Fyfe and Rex Feature in Capa Awards

Emirates Has Won the Airline of the Year, While Air New Zealand Ceo Rob Fyfe Has Been Named Ceo of the Year at the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation’s Annual Airline Awards.

Emirates Was Awarded the Airline of the Year in Recognition of Its Continued Growth and Profitability Over the Past Year, While Capa Executive Chairman Peter Harbison Also Noted That Its “influence on Competitor Airline Strategy Continues to Increase, as It Aggressively Enters New Markets and Expands Others and Demonstrates Leadership in High Quality Passenger Service. ” Tiger Airways Was Named the Low Cost Airline of the Year, With Harbison Noting That the Airline Has Had a Major Impact in the Singaporean and Australian Low Cost Markets Which is Set to Continue With Its Planned Thai Tiger Operation in Bangkok. “headed by an Excellent Management Team, Tiger is One of the World’s Best Positioned Lccs to Benefit From the Growth in Economic Development and Liberalisation of Asia Pacific Aviation Markets,” Harbison Said.

Rob Fyfe’s Award Recognised the Hands-on, Innovative Approach of the Air New Zealand Ceo, Which Capa Says Has Now Placed the Airline in a Strong Position to Benefit From the Recovery in Longhaul Air Travel.

Regional Express Was Named as Regional Carrier of the Year.

Rex Previously Won the Same Award in 2007 and 2008.

Capa Also Announced That Former Virgin Blue Ceo Brett Godfrey Has Joined the Capa Hall of Fame. “virgin Blue Would Never Have Become a Viable Airline Force Without His Passion, His Obsessiveness and Even Pedanticism – to Use His Own Description of Himself,” Said Harbison.

Pax Traffic Up Over Past Financial Year

Despite the Continued Challenges Over the 2009/2010 Financial Year, Australia Again Reached New Records for Domestic and International Passengers Over the Year.

According to New Reports From the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (Bitre), Over the Financial Year There Were 51. 76 Million Domestic Passengers, Which is an Increase of Three Per Cent Compared to the Previous Financial Year. The Fastest Growing Domestic Route for the Year Was Adelaide-gold Coast Which Was Up 19. 4 Per Cent, While the Key Sydney-melbourne Route Saw an Impressive Growth of 12. 2 Per Cent.

International Traffic Was Stronger Again, With a 9. 1 Per Cent Increase in Passenger Numbers to 25. 6 Million. The Biggest Growth Was on the Melbourne-abu Dhabi Route, Where Passenger Numbers Were Up 350 Per Cent, Followed by Denpasar-perth Which Increased by 96 Per Cent. The Additional Capacity on Los Angeles-sydney Drove Up Traffic on That Route by 54 Per Cent.

Transport Minister Anthony Albanese Welcomed the Numbers, Noting the Strength of Australia’s Airline Industry Against the Background of a Challenging Time for Other Carriers. “globally the Story Has Been Very Different. Over the Past 18 Months Passenger Numbers Fell by as Much as 10 Per Cent and Airlines Collectively Lost Over $9 Billion, With More Than 50 Ceasing to Operate Altogether,” He Said.

The Trend of Strong Passenger Traffic Growth Looks Set to Continue, With Bitre’s International Traffic Data for August Showing That Passenger Traffic Increased by 10. 4 Per Cent to 2. 2 Million, Continuing a Trend of Passenger Growth of More Than Nine Per Cent Which Started in September 2009.

More Flights to China Likely Soon

Transport Minister Anthony Albanese Has Announced That the Australian and Chinese Governments Have Agreed to Allow More Airline Services Between the Two Countries to Cater for Expected Higher Demand Between November and the End of February.

Under New Arrangements, the Number of Weekly Services Between Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth and Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Huangzhou Will Be Boosted From 37 to 59 Services Per Week Between November and the End of February. This Will Enable Air China, China Southern and China Eastern to Increase Their Services to Australia Over That Period, While Hainan Airlines is Currently Awaiting Regulatory Approval to Introduce Nonstop Flights From Shenzhen to Sydney.

Minister Albanese Noted That the New Air Services Agreement With China Was an Important Marker on the Journey Towards a More Liberal International Aviation Market, Which is a Key Part of the Government’s Aviation Policy. “going Forward the Gillard Labor Government Remains Committed to the Ultimate Objective of an ‘open Skies’ Agreement With China Which Would Remove Most – if Not All – of the Existing Limitations on Australian and Chinese Airlines Operating Between Our Two Countries,” He Said.

Airline Briefs

• Jetstar Will Reinstate Its Direct Melbourne-ballina Services From December 21. The Airline Will Operate Three Weekly Services on the Route on a Yeararound Basis, and is to Take Its Sydney-ballina Frequencies Up to Twice Daily From December 2. The Services Will Be Operated by 177-seat Airbus A320s.

• Virgin Blue Has Selected a Suite of Rockwell Products for the Aircraft, Including the Sat-2200 Satellite Communications System, Ttr-2100 Air Traffic Monitoring and Warning System, Wrt-2100 Multiscan Threat Detection System and Glu-925 Multimode Receiver, for Its Recent Order of Up to 100 Boeing 737s.

• Qantas Has Lodged an Application With the Iasc Requesting an Extension to the Codeshare Arrangements Between Jal and Jetstar for a Further Two Years From December 31, Albeit With Changes. Specifically, It Requests That the Iasc Remove the Authorisation of Jal to Codeshare on the Sydney-gold Coast Leg of Jetstar’s Sydney- Gold Coast-osaka Services, While It Also Seeks Permission for Jal to Codeshare on Jetstar’s Cairns-osaka and Tokyo-gold Coast Services.

• Royal Brunei Airlines Will Fly to Melbourne From March 2011, Complementing Its Existing Services to Perth and Brisbane. The Bandar Seri Begawan Based Airline Will Fly Four Times Weekly to the Victorian Capital From March 29. The Airline is Expected to Use Its Boeing 777-200ers on the Services, Which Are Currently Used on Its Flights to Brisbane.

• Brindabella Airlines Will End Its Port Macquarie-brisbane Services at the End of the Year, Citing Poor Patronage. The Last Port Macquarie-brisbane Service Will Be Flown on December 31, With the Current 12 Times Weekly Schedule to Continue Up to Then. Passengers Booked on Services After December 31 Will Be Reimbursed.

• Virgin Blue Says the Series of Computer Failures It Experienced During Late September and Early October Will Have an Impact of $15-$20 Million on Its Full Year Earnings. The Airline Announced the Figure in a Statement to the Australian Securities Exchange, and Added That It “will Be Actively Pursuing All Avenues to Recover This Cost”. It is Expected That Most of That Will Be Sought From Navitaire, Which Provides the Airline’s New Skies Computer Reservations System.

• American Airlines Has Signed an Agreement to Interline Passengers on Jetstar’s Domestic New Zealand Services Ahead of a Likely Codeshare Agreement Between the Two Airlines. The Agreement Will Initially Allow American Passengers to Be Booked on Jetstar Services With Their American Tickets. Subject to Regulatory Approval, the Deal Will See American Place Its Code on Jetstar Services Between Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown.

Airports

Camden Master Plan Approved

Camden Airport’s 2010 Master Plan Has Been Approved by Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, Paving the Way for a Number of Aviation Related Projects at the Airport to Start.

As Required Under the Aviation White Paper, Camden Airport Will Establish a Planning Coordination Forum in Association With the Camden City Council and Nsw Government to Ensure That Future Developments at the Airport Are Approved in Consultation With Local Planning Frameworks. It Will Also Establish a Community Consultation Forum Which Will Be Headed by an Independent Chair and Will Allow for Greater Community Engagement Regarding the Airport’s Day-to-day Activities and Long Term Plans.

The Airport Will Also Establish a Noise Management Plan Next Year to Meet Local Concerns.

Upgrades Which Have Been Foreshadowed in the Master Plan Include Modifications and Upgrades to Taxiways, Provision for Additional Hangars and Aircraft Parking Spaces, Relocation of the Engine Run-up Bay, and Construction of Additional Facilities.

Bankstown Offers Discounts on Charges

Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown Has Announced That It Will Not Impose Aeronautical Charges on Some Aircraft Operating During Weekends Between November and the End of January, While It is Also Offering a 50 Per Cent Discount on Aircraft Parking.

Under Its ‘fly Free Weekends’ Plan, Sma Will Not Levy Aeronautical Charges on Fixed Wing Aircraft With a Maximum Takeoff Weight of Less Than 2500kg Which Fly on Saturdays and Sundays Between November 1 and January 31 in an Effort to Attract More Recreational Fliers.

Additionally, the Airport is Also Offering a 50 Per Cent Discount for Two Years on Parking Fees to Aircraft Under 10,000kg Mtow Which Make Bankstown Their Permanent Base Between October 1 and March 31.

“we Are Serious About Supporting the General Aviation Industry.

This Initiative is Part of a Dedicated Campaign to Market the Benefits of the Airport and Aims to Support General Aviation Operators Through Flow-on Economic Activity,” Said Sma Ceo Colin Grove.

The Initiatives Are Expected to Be Well Received by the Sydney Ga Community, Which Has Long Had Concerns About Aeronautical Charges at Bankstown, as Well as the Increased Development of Non-aeronautical Assets at the Airport.

Cairns Ils Upgrade Complete

a Major Upgrade of the Instrument Landing System (Ils) at Cairns Airport to Improve Its Reliability and Extend Its Useful Life Has Now Been Completed by Airservices Australia.

The Upgrade Was Carried Out Between August and September and Required the Old Ils to Be Taken Offline. Unfortunately, Unseasonal Wet Weather Meant That It Caused Some Disruptions to Operations at the Airport in September. The New Ils is Now Operational and Should Provide Better Service During the Upcoming Wet Season.

Airport Briefs

• Sydney Airport is Closing the Southern End of Its Main (16r/34l) Runway Overnight Until the End of the Year to Conduct Essential Safety Work.

The Works Will Be Carried Out During the Curfew Period to Minimise Interruption, and Will Involve Re-sheeting, Line Marking and Ground Lighting Works. General Aviation

Sikorsky to Buy Into Eclipse Aerospace

Helicopter Manufacturer Sikorsky Has Announced It Has Reached an in-principle Agreement to Purchase a Strategic Stake in Eclipse Aerospace, Which is Currently Focused on Supporting the Global Fleet of 260 Eclipse Ea500 Very Light Jets.

Neither Party Has Disclosed How Large a Stake Sikorsky Will Take in Eclipse Nor the Price Involved, but It is Expected That These Will Come Out Once a Formal Agreement is Signed.

Eclipse Aerospace Emerged Out of the Now Liquidated Eclipse Aviation Which Declared Bankruptcy in 2009, and Since Then Has Been Focused on Providing Modifications and Support to Ea500 Owners.

It is Understood That the Company Holds Long Term Plans to Bring the Ea500 Back Into Production, but It is Not Known if That Plan Has the Support of Sikorsky Which Has Emphasised the Synergies Available Through the Two Company’s Support and Spares Networks.

Business

Cms Air Ambulance Opens Darwin Base

Careflight Group Queensland Has Officially Opened Its Fourth Cms Air Ambulance Base, at Darwin International Airport, Which Will Enhance the Reach of Its International and Domestic Air Ambulance Service.

“cms Air Ambulance Darwin Will Utilise a Learjet 36.

This is a Permanently Medically Configured Jet Aircraft Which Has Specialised Long Range Flight Ability,” Said Careflight’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Allan Mackillop. “this Means We’ll Be Able to Transport Sick and Injured Patients From All Locations in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. ” Cms Air Ambulance Also Operates From Bases at the Gold Coast, Auckland and Townsville, and Has Specialist Critical Care Nurses and Doctors on Duty 24/7 to Respond to Requests for Aeromedical Retrieval Services From Private Individuals and Insurance Companies. The Surplus Funds Generated From the Air Ambulance Service Go Back Into Supporting the Racq Care- Flight Community Helicopter Rescue Service in Queensland.

Cessna to Furlough Workers

Cessna is Continuing to Feel the Effects of the Depressed State of the General Aviation Market, With the Kansas Based Manufacturer Announcing That It Will Place Some of Its Production Workers on Furlough.

The Staggered Furloughs Will Occur at Its Independence Facility, Which is Responsible for Producing Its Line of Singleengine Piston Aircraft and the Citation Mustang Very Light Jet. Cessna Spokesman Doug Oliver Told the Wichita Eagle Newspaper That the Move Was Being Made to Closer Align Production With Demand, and That Details of the Furloughs Would Be Communicated to Staff Soon.

Despite the Apparent Economic Recovery Globally Last Year and Into 2010, the General and Business Aviation Sectors Have Continued to Suffer From a Dearth of New Orders. Cessna Now Joins Hawker Beechcraft in Culling Staff, With the Latter Having Cut 350 Employees in Recent Weeks and Plans to Cut a Further 800 Staff Over the Next Year.

Daher-socata Casts Eye Over Spn

Daher-socata Has Begun an Evaluation of the All-composite Grob Spn Business Jet Which Could See the Business Turboprop Manufacturer Move Into the Jet Market.

The Spn Had Earned More Than 100 Orders Before One of the Prototypes Crashed in 2006, Killing Grob Chief Test Pilot Gerard Guillaumaud. Although the Project Continued After That, Grob Fell Into Insolvency in 2008, Which Ended Development of the Type and Saw All Spn Assets Transferred to Allied Aviation Technologies.

“within the Framework of Current Projects, Daher- Socata Has Signed an Exclusive Agreement Under Which It Will Be Evaluating, Over a Period of Several Months, the Performance and Technical Characteristics of a Twin-engine Prototype Aircraft Built Entirely Using Composites,” the Company Said in a Statement.

According to Statements From Former Grob Aerospace Ceo Niall Olver, the Spn Program Could Have Been Only Two Years From Certification Before It Was Shut Down, With the Design of the Aircraft Close to Freezing.

It is Understood That There Are Three Advanced-stage Prototypes Which Will Be Involved in the Evaluation by Daher-socata.

Daher-socata Currently Produced the Tbm 850 Business Turboprop, While the Company is Also Understood to Be Looking to Develop a Twin Turboprop Business Aircraft to Compete Against the Hawker Beechcraft King Air Line.

Business Briefs

• Gulfstream Has Announced the Faa Has Formally Certified Its Large Cabin Aircraft as Being Stage 4 Noise Compliant.

The Certification Applies to the G550, G500, G450, G350, Gv and Giv Families, Which Have Been Formally Certified as Meeting the Icao’s Stage 4 Noise Requirements Through an Aircraft Service Change.

Support

Casa to Mandate Flight Sim Training

Casa Has Issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Nprm) Which Would See Pilots of Large Aircraft Conduct Most of Their Non-normal Exercises on Flight Training Devices and Flight Simulators, a Move It Says Will Help to Implement a Safer Training Environment.

The Nprm Proposes to Change Civil Aviation Orders 40. 0 and 82. 0 to Restrict Pilots of Aeroplanes and Helicopters Which Carry More Than 20 Passengers or Have an Mtow Greater Than 8618kg to Conduct Non-normal Training in a Qualified Flight Simulator or Ftd Where There is an Appropriate One Available in Australia or Overseas, Withsuch Training to Be Prohibited in an Actual Aircraft.

Where an Appropriately Qualified Simulator or Ftd Does Not Exist, the Exercises May Be Performed in the Actual Aircraft With an Appropriate Safety Risk Management Plan and the Approval of Casa.

Similar Regulations Are Proposed for Pilots Who Operate Aircraft Certified to Carry Between 10 and 19 Passengers.

The Nprm Appears to Be Linked to the Deaths of Two Pilots Who Were Involved in the Crash of an Airnorth Emb-120 Brasilia While on a Training Flight From Darwin Airport in March This Year.

The Pilots Were Conducting an Engine Failure After Takeoff Training Exercise as Part of the Operator’s Check and Training Procedures, and the Aircraft Crashed Shortly After Takeoff.

Casa is Taking Public Comment on the Nprm Until January 21 2011.

Cargo

Air Cargo to Surge – Boeing Boeing

Says That International Air Cargo Traffic Will Triple Over the Next 20 Years, With the Industry Already Rebounding Strongly From the Global Financial Crisis.

In Its Latest World Air Cargo Forecast, Boeing Predicts That Global Volumes of Air Cargo Will Grow by an Average of 5. 9 Per Were Found on Board Freighters Which Had Originated From the Middle East in Early November.

Media Reports Claim That the Packages Originated From Yemen, With Some Transiting Through Ports Such as Doha and Abu Dhabi.

“there is No Information Indicating Australia is a Target,” Said Transport Minister Anthony Albanese. “however, as a Precaution, the Office of Transport Security Has Issued a Direction That All Inbound Cargo Originating From Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha Must Now Be Screened – Using Either X-ray or Explosive Trace Detection Technology – Before Being Sent Onto a Third Country or Destinations Within Australia. ” the Increased Security Comes After the Australian Government Announced in February a $54 Million Plan to Strengthen Air Cargo Security at Selected Airports. In Particular, the Funds Will Be Used to Install X-ray Screening and Explosive Trace Detection Technology, as Well as Setting Up a Regulated Shipper Program.

Atc & Airspace

Casa Looks to Satellite Navigation and Surveillance

Casa Has Released a Discussion Paper on Its Plans for Satellite Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (Cns) Cent Per Year Until 2029, Aided by a Forecast Average World Gdp Growth of 3. 2 Per Cent.

In the Short Term, It Expects That the Rebound in Freight Traffic Which Began in November 2009 Will See It Again Reach Volumes Experienced in 2007 by the End of the Year.

“industrial Requirements Are Driving the Rebound, as Air Cargo is an Essential Tool for Industry and Commerce to Manage Supply Chains and Bring Goods to Market,” Said Boeing’s Vice President of Strategic Planning and Analysis, Jerry Allyne.

“as Airlines Return to Profitability, They Will Begin to Consider Fleet Renewal to Improve Long Term Operating Costs. ” That Growth is Expected to See the Global Freighter Fleet Increase by Nearly 70 Per Cent to 2967 by 2029, With Large Freighters Such as the Boeing 747 and 777 Expected to Represent Nearly a Third of the Market.

That Demand is Expected to Be Met by 743 New-build Freighters and 1751 Conversions.

Extra Security for Mid East Air Cargo

Australian Border Protection Authorities Will Give Air Cargo Shipments That Have Originated in or Transited Through the Middle East Greater Scrutiny.

The Increased Security Screening Came After a Number of Parcels With Explosives Packed Into Printers for Delivery to Addresses in the Us and Uk Equipage Over the Next 10 Years, in Accordance With the Government’s Aviation White Paper, the Paper, Entitled ‘proposed Strategy and Regulatory Plan in Support of the Australian Government’s Aviation White Paper – Casa’s Plan for Communication, Navigation and Surveillance Equipage in This Decade’, Outlines Casa’s Proposed Regulatory Plan Extending Out to 2020 Which Would Allow for a Phased, Gradual Uptake and Operational Transition for the Australian Aviation Industry Towards Satellite Based Cns. It Notes That the Implementation of Cns Technology in Aircraft Avionics Equipment Would Provide for a More Efficient and Flexible Air Traffic Management System, Greater Reliability on Satellite Navigation Rather Than Ground Based Aids in Normal Situations, Air-to-air Surveillance to Avoid Traffic Conflicts and More Efficient Routing and Manoeuvres, Such as Flexible Routing, in-trail Climbs, Aircraft Sequencing and Merging on Approach.

In Managing the Transition to Cns, Casa Has Proposed a Phased Approach for Mandating the Fitment of the Technology to Aircraft. This Includes Seeing All New and Replacement Transponder Installations and All New Aircraft to Feature Mode S Transponders With Adsb Out Capability From 2014; the Fitment of Tcas Ii V7. 1 to Aircraft With a Mtow of 5700kg and Above or Seating 19 Passengers and Above by January 1 2017; and Gnss en Route and Approach Navigation Capability for All Ifr Aircraft by the End of 2017.

Casa is Currently Seeking Industry Comment on the Paper, With Responses Due by November 30. It May Be Found on the Casa Website.

Thales Australia Builds Atm R&d Centre in Melbourne

Thales Australia Has Started Construction of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Air Traffic Management (Casia) for Research and Developmentinto Air Traffic Management in Melbourne as Part of Efforts to Place It at the Forefront of New Technologies in the Area.

Chris Jenkins, Thales Australia’s Ceo, Said Casia Represented the Next Chapter of Atm in Australia and Will Also Be Used by Thales’s Partners and Other Stakeholders to Train for and Develop New Generation Atm Systems. “casia is the Result of Long Term Investment in Our Atm Business, Which Has Grown From Just a Few Employees 15 Years Ago to a Global Centre of Excellence Employing 400 People in Highly Skilled Jobs,” He Said.

The Casia Announcement Comes After Thales Australia Announced That Taiwan Had Completed Final System Acceptance of Its Advanced Atm System, Which Will Greatly Increase the Capabilities of Its Air Navigation and Weather Service. The Eurocat System Was Developed in Melbourne and Implemented in Taiwan by Thales Australia.

People

Balding to Leave Sydney

Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd (Sacl) Ceo Rusell Balding Has Decided to Step Down From the Role in Early 2011 at the End of His Current Contract.

“sydney Airport is a Major Asset for Sydney and the Five Years I’ve Spent as Ceo Have Been Wonderful,” Said Balding, Who Was Appointed to the Role in 2006. “i’ve Enjoyed the Tremendous Challenges of the Job and Want to Thank All of Sydney Airport’s Staff for Their Contribution to Making Sydney Airport Such a Success. ” the Sacl Board Has Begun Searching for a New Ceo. Balding Had Joined the Airport After Being Managing Director of the Abc.

People Briefs

• Virgin Blue Appointed Sean Donohue as Its Group Executive Operations, Effective October 25. Donohue, Who Has Had 24 Years Airline Operational Experience With United Airlines, Succeeds Andrew David Who is Leaving the Company.

• the Strategic Aviation Group Has Appointed a Number of New Senior Managers to the Company.

Former Royal Brunei Marketing and Sales Manager Marty Byrne Has Been Appointed to the Newly Created Role of National Marketing and Communications Manager at Strategic Airlines.

Former Casa Eastern Region Manager Flight Operations Clive Adams Has Been Appointed as the Airline’s Chief Operating Officer. Robert Kane Has Been Appointed as the Airline’s Chief Information Officer. Tony Morrison Has Joined Strategic as Its Manager of Customer Services, While Stewart Tully Will Head Up the Airline’s Network Operations. Former V Australia Flight Operations Project Manager Phil Warth Has Been Appointed Head of Project and Change Overseeing Project Management of the Group, While Former Raaf Officer Alyson Sampson Has Been Appointed as the Group’s Manager Aviation Contracts and Procurement.