News Desk

Second 747-8I makes first flight
The second Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental successfully made its first flight on April 26.
Aircraft RC021, registered N6067U, took off at 0926 hours local time from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, undertaking a three hour and 23 minute flight, during which it reached an altitude of 28,000ft and an airspeed of 275kt.
“This is another great milestone for our flight test program and shows the progress we are making toward delivery of our passenger airplane,” Boeing vice president and general manager, 747 program, Elizabeth Lund said.
Boeing will use RC021 primarily for testing interior systems, as well as conducting fuel consumption, function and reliability tests. It will eventually be delivered to Lufthansa.
The two aircraft 747-8I flight-test program will undertake approximately 600 hours of flight testing.

A350 XWB main landing gear delivered to Filton
Airbus has received its first Messier-Dowty manufactured A350 XWB (A350-900) main landing gear set at its test facility in Filton, UK.
Airbus will install both the main landing gear and recently delivered nose landing gear sets in a landing gear systems test-rig at Filton, paving the way for integration testing planned towards the end of this year. Airbus says testing will aim to demonstrate system reliability and maturity, and will also go a step towards certification of the aircraft’s extension-retraction, braking and steering systems.
Delivery of the main landing gear set follows last month’s arrival of the nose landing gear, built by German firm Liebherr.
Airbus expects the A350 XWB will enter service in 2013.

Ferra awarded Boeing commercial contract

Brisbane based support firm Ferra Engineering has secured a five year build-to-order contract from Boeing to manufacture components for the company’s line of 737, 747, 757, 767 and 777 series aircraft.
Under the agreement, Ferra will manufacture a total of 618 unique machined components used by Boeing aircraft, after the engineering company was originally identified as a potential supplier by Boeing’s Office of Australian Industry Capability (OAIC).
“Over the past three years, Ferra has worked closely with the OAIC for training and development that has helped us to be more competitive,” Ferra Engineering managing director Mark Scherrer said.
“The OAIC also facilitated bid opportunities that ultimately led to contracts with several US based Boeing sites. With our performance to those contracts, our business is expanding rapidly,” Scherrer noted. “As part of this long term agreement, Ferra is now planning to open a new office in the United States to provide additional services and further expand our export business.”
Established with support from the Defence Materiel Organization’s Industry Division, Boeing says the OAIC has helped Australian firms win contracts worth more than US$200 million in support of commercial and military aircraft programs.

Boeing gains multiple qualifications for global 787 training network

Boeing has announced that is has successfully achieved qualifications from several international regulatory bodies for its 787 training network.
The company has so far received over 20 separate qualifications worldwide, including approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration, UK Civil Aviation Authority, Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau and the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Those qualifications will enable training provider Boeing Flight Services to establish a common 787 curriculum at its network of training centres in Seattle, Singapore, Tokyo, London Gatwick and Shanghai, where it will operate full-flight simulators and various other flight training devices to train pilots 787 operators.
Meanwhile 787 launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) has become the first airline to begin pilot training on the aircraft, with 10 pilots undertaking classroom instruction in Tokyo during early April, followed by simulator training at Boeing Flight Services (BFS)’s campus in Seattle, Washington, from April 23.

Commercial Briefs
Boeing has announced its commercial and defence aircraft deliveries for the first quarter of 2011. It delivered a total of 84 737s in the quarter, as well as 13 777s and four 767s. On the military side, the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G led the way with 13 deliveries, while seven new build Chinook helicopters, four F-15s, three C-17s and one 767 International Tanker were handed over.
Airbus has announced that A330-300 orders have now surpassed 500, following an order for 15 from Cathay Pacific in March. Cathay Pacific is Airbus’s largest A330 customer and operator, with 46 in service and a further 21 to be delivered.

Sales Box

Embraer E-190: CDB Leasing Co has ordered a second batch of 10 E-190 jets for China Southern Airlines. A Letter of Intent (LOI) was also signed for a further 10 E-190s.

Airbus A320: International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) has signed a firm order for 100 Airbus A320neo variants, which will comprise both A320neo and A321neo jets. Japanese carrier Star Flyer has also ordered two CFM56 powered Airbus A320s.
Airbus A330: Korean Air has signed a firm order for five additional Airbus A330s, taking its total orders for the type to 30, of which 23 have so far been delivered.
ATR 72-500: Russian carrier UTair has signed a contract for the purchase of 20 ATR 72-500s, in a deal worth US$426 million.
CRJ900: South American airline Pluna Líneas Aéreas Uruguayas has signed a follow-on order for three Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen regional jets.

Military

Australia signs for fifth C-17
Australia has signed a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with the US government to acquire a fifth C-17 for the RAAF, Boeing has confirmed.
The fifth C-17 will be delivered in August after the US Air Force agreed to give up one of its production slots so that Australia could take early delivery of the aircraft. The aircraft will join the RAAF’s existing C-17 fleet in service with 36 Squadron at Amberley.
“Boeing thanks the RAAF, a C-17 customer since 2006, for its confidence in the airlifter’s capabilities,”said C-17 program manager Bob Ciesla.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith announced Australia’s plans to acquire a fifth C-17 in late February in the lead up to the Avalon Airshow.
To date Boeing has delivered 230 C-17s, including 20 to international customers.

IBFT contract with BAE finally signed

Defence has finally signed a $86.6 million, six year Interim Basic Flying Training (IBFT) contract with BAE Systems to continue to provide basic pilot training at Tamworth  from January next year.
“Under the contract, BAE Systems will continue to provide basic flying training at Tamworth using the CT-4B Airtrainer aircraft, upgraded to meet contemporary crashworthiness requirements,” the Defence Department said in a May 3 statement.
“Commencing in January 2012, the six year contract includes annual extension options for Defence, for up to a further six years.”
The contract will see BAE provide flight screening for about 275 pilot candidates and basic flight training for approximately 150 student pilots each year.
BAE Systems was understood to have been selected for the IBFT program mid last year, but contract signature was delayed while BAE verified planned crashworthiness improvements to the CT-4B airframe. BAE subsequently announced it had successfully tested modifications to the CT-4 airframe to allow it to meet contemporary crashworthiness certification standards at the Avalon Airshow in March.
As the incumbent provider of aircraft and training services to the Tamworth based Basic Flying Training School (BFTS), BAE was well placed to bid for the IBFT contract, necessary until a long term pilot training system could be acquired under the delayed Air 5428 program.

Eight RNZAF Skyhawks up for tender

The New Zealand government has moved quickly to dispose of its eight remaining ex-RNZAF A-4K Skyhawks, placing a Request for Proposals (RFP) online through the Government Electronic Tenders Service.
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said the package includes eight complete Skyhawk airframes, up to 20 spare engines and various other parts and support equipment, including training documents. “This is on an ‘as is, where is’ basis. Interested parties have about four weeks to get their offers in,” Mapp said.
Interested parties were due to respond to the RFP by 4pm NZT on May 16.
The recent announcement follows the government’s April 8 decision to donate nine of the RNZAF’s 17 Skyhawks to various museums across New Zealand, plus one to the Australian Fleet Air Arm Museum in Nowra, NSW.
Retired in December 2001, the Skyhawk fleet has been in storage at RNZAF Woodbourne since early 2002. Initially hangared, the aircraft were recently moved outside where they have been subjected to a formal maintenance program of weather coatings and various internal treatments.
Meanwhile, Mapp said that the fate of 17 RNZAF Aermacchi MB339CB trainers would “likely follow a similar tender process, in due course”.

BAE wins Hornet usage monitoring contract
BAE Systems has won a three year contract to provide usage monitoring services for the RAAF’s F/A-18A/B Hornets, in a deal worth approximately $3 million.
Under the agreement, BAE will gather and report fatigue-related information about the F/A-18A/B’s airframe and engines, using an Australian developed Maintenance Diagnostic and Service Life Monitoring System (MDSLMS). The company says it has also “developed a suite of diagnostic software tools that provide the RAAF with the capability to conduct detailed investigations into generic aircraft operational characteristics, and into the causes of specific aircraft incidents”.
“Leveraging our unique system will give the RAAF and Defence Science Technology Organisation (DSTO) the data required to make informed decisions on the F/A-18 fleet to ensure it remains viable until the introduction of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft into service,” BAE’s Aerospace Business Unit director, John Monaghan, said.
BAE says the contract will support 10 jobs at RAAF Williamtown and Melbourne.

First RNZAF P-3K2 redelivered

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) welcomed home the first upgraded P-3K2 ‘Orion’ at Whenuapai on April 23 after it was upgraded by L-3 Systems in Texas as part of a NZ$373m (A$280m) contract to enhance the six RNZAF Orions’ surveillance, reconnaissance, navigation and communication systems, and the delivery of crew trainers, and software testing and integration tools.
“This project means a great deal to the RNZAF and the Ministry of Defence. Today is a significant milestone for them,” NZ Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said. “This puts the Air Force at the forefront of technology. The Orion will now have vastly more capability across its whole range of missions, from military operations through to search and rescue, supporting our Pacific relationships and effective monitoring of our Exclusive Economic Zone.”
The upgrade work on the five aircraft has taken far longer than planned, which Minister Mapp put down to “the poor management of the previous government.”
The remaining five RNZAF P-3Ks are being upgraded to P-3K2 standard by Air New Zealand subsidiary Safe Air at Blenheim.
An official RNZAF welcome ceremony for the first P-3K2 was held on May 2 at Whenuapai.

A400M contract amendment signed
The seven European partner nations in the Airbus Military A400M airlifter program have formally signed a contract amendment with EADS which implements funding changes agreed to in principle in a framework agreement signed in March last year.
The agreement sees program funding increase by €3.5 billion in total, including a €1.5 billion ‘export levy facility’, effectively a loan to be repaid from proceeds of export sales of the airlifter.
“This is a major milestone, and EADS is particularly proud to have the support of all governments involved in this cooperation program that represents a strategic capacity for Europe and its defence, and for the new generation of military transport worldwide,” said EADS CEO Louis Gallois.
Four flying A400M test aircraft have to date completed 450 test flights over 1400 flight hours.
“From an industrial point of view, the program is on track. This enabled us to agree, with full confidence on the industrial go-ahead of the program over a month ago,” said Domingo Ureña, Airbus Military CEO.
The seven European partner nations and Malaysia have placed orders for 174 A400Ms.

Dutch cutbacks slash air force, but second JSF gets go ahead
The Dutch government is to cut 12,000 military and defence civilian jobs, as it looks to balance its budget by 2015 with extensive spending cuts.
Among the cuts include plans to sell 19 Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 fighters, leaving 68 in service, and 17 AS352U2 Cougar helicopters, with a third DC-10 being converted to a passenger/freighter configuration also to be sold off, once its conversion is completes.
However, the government is to go-ahead with the €100m purchase of a second F-35 JSF, in a bid to protect Dutch involvement in the next generation fighter’s development and production. The Netherlands is currently a Tier 2 partner in the JSF program.
Plans to acquire four medium-altitude, long-endurance UAVs have also been announced.

UAE A330 MRTT completes maiden flight
The first Airbus Military A330 MRTT for the United Arab Emirates Air Force completed its inaugural flight on April 9, following tanker conversion in Madrid, Spain.
The aircraft will now enter the certification and qualification phase, after the crew gave the A330 MRTT’s systems and Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines the all clear after the 2 hour, 55 minute test flight. Airbus Military says the first UAE A330 is due to transfer to Abu Dhabi by year’s end for the final phase of flight-testing, with delivery planned for the second quarter of 2012.
Six A330 MRTTs had already flown prior to the most recent flight, including three for the RAAF, two for the RAF and one for the RSAF.
Airbus claim that two of the RAAF’s A330 MRTTs are “already technically complete and ready for delivery”, pending finalisation of contractual talks which have been delayed numerous times by the troubled program.

F-35 Full Mission Simulator delivered to Eglin
An F-35 FMS has been delivered to the Eglin ITC for F-35 pilot training.
Lockheed Martin has delivered the first F-35 JSF full mission simulator (FMS) to Eglin Air Force Base’s 33rd Fighter Wing.
Featuring a high-fidelity 360-degree visual display system and a reconfigurable cockpit that simulates all three variants of the JSF, the FMS is designed to give F-35 pilots an accurate replication of the aircraft’s sensors and array of weapons.
Vice Commander 33rd Fighter Wing, Colonel Arthur Tomassetti, said that the F-35’s “training technology brings a revolutionary new capability to the joint services”.
“The smooth surface, high-resolution dome is a dramatic improvement over legacy fighter simulators. The high visual acuity and utilisation of a significant amount of real aircraft parts and source code will allow us to train a wide variety of mission tasks previously not accomplished in simulators. The F-35 FMS will be our primary pilot training device, and we are anxious to start putting it to good use.”
Training with the FMS at Eglin’s ITC (Integrated Training Center) is due to commence in the northern autumn.

T-38 celebrates 50 years with USAF
The US Air Force celebrated the 50th anniversary of the T-38 Talon trainer in March.
An event at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, last month saw the Talon praised for its solid performance and reliability as widely-used trainer for generations of USAF pilots. Northrop Grumman predecessor Northrop produced 1187 T-38s between 1959 and 1972, with approximately half of those remaining in service today with the USAF, plus the US Navy, NASA and other air forces around the world. Northrop Grumman continues to provide support for the Talon, including replacement wings and new structural components to increase the service life of the trainer.
Since 1961, over 70,000 USAF pilots have earned their wings on the T-38. The average T-38 has flown 15,000 hours, and the high-time aircraft has flown 19,000 hours.

500th Super Hornet/Growler delivered to US Navy: Boeing
The US Navy and Boeing celebrated the delivery of 500 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers to the US Navy in a ceremony at the company’s St Louis factory on April 20.
“Today is another significant milestone for a program that has by any measure exceeded expectations for cost, schedule and performance,” US Navy F/A-18 and EA-18G program manager (PMA-265) Captain Mark Darrah said.
F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs vice president Kory Mathews said both the Super Hornet and Growler had “continuously increased capability for the warfighter while reducing cost for the Navy and the taxpayer”.
“These aircraft were designed with extensive growth capacity, enabling evolutionary technology to be added throughout the life of the aircraft to expand capabilities and remain well ahead of changing threats,” said Mathews.
The US Navy plans to operate both the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G from its aircraft carriers until at least 2035. The current Block II variant, of which the RAAF has ordered 24, achieved IOC in 2007.

Vigilare completes operational testing at EROC

Boeing has announced that its ‘Vigilare’ network centric command and control system has completed its last formal operational test at RAAF Williamtown’s Eastern Region Operations Centre (EROC), taking part in Exercise Aces South.
The testing, which was performed between March 28 and April 8, confirmed that EROC was ready for operations using the Vigilare system, in preparation for conditional acceptance this month. Vigilare’s second week of operational testing was also incorporated into Exercise Aces South, an important combat exercise for pilots and air defence operators studying to become advanced fighter tactics instructors and controllers. The exercise involved F/A-18 classic Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, Wedgetail AEW&C, P-3 Orions and several other aircraft, with Vigilare’s operational test proving the last milestone before it is granted final system acceptance by Australia.
“Exercise Aces South provided an excellent opportunity to put the newly installed Vigilare system at EROC through its paces. We threw our best and brightest people into the exercise, and they worked the new system extremely hard through some complex and intense air battle scenarios,” Officer Temporary Commanding 41 Wing, Wing Commander Richard Pizzuto said.
Boeing Defence Australia Vigilare project manager, Lee Davis, said the system “demonstrated a new level of network centric capability for the RAAF by networking a broad range of RAAF assets into the battlespace through EROC”.
“RAAF operators’ situational awareness was enhanced by their ability to connect to Vigilare’s advanced surveillance and tactical management capabilities,” Davis said.

Second F-35 engine cancelled
The US government has officially terminated funding for the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 after the US FY2011 defence budget, which was passed by both houses and by President Obama on April 15, contained no funding for the engine.
After Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Ashton Carter’s direction to the Fighter Engine Team (FET) to stop funded work on the engine in March, the team continued to self-fund development. The second engine, originally funded as an alternative to the Pratt & Whitney F135 to encourage competition between the two on the Joint Strike Fighter program and thus reduce acquisition costs, has survived several attempts by the Pentagon to terminate it, only to be resurrected in budget funding by Congress.
The Fighter Engine Team partners have expressed their disappointment in the decision and have said they intend to lobby for funding reinstatement in subsequent budgets.
“We continue to be encouraged by the bi-partisan support for the engine on the merits of its performance and value,” the companies said in a statement.
In the meantime the The Fighter Engine Team says it will imaintain the engine’s core group of engineers while others will be retained for work on other projects.

ADF Herons set record flying hours
An ADF Heron Remotely Piloted Aircraft Detachment (HRPAD) has set a unit record for monthly flying hours, while deployed on operations to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in April.
The fourth rotation (ROT 4) of personnel from HRPAD took out the honours, after clocking 475 hours while flying the aircraft on various intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
“This exceeds the efforts of previous Heron rotations and means we have reached a point where we are able to achieve a significant amount of time on station providing an all-important ‘eye in the sky’ for our troops,” Commanding Officer HRPAD- ROT 4, WGCDR Greg Wells said.
“One of the advantages of Heron is it can stay airborne for a very long time. We deliver enhanced situational awareness to our soldiers, which is vital in helping them achieve their mission on the ground.”
Comprising a mix of 28 Australian and New Zealand Defence Force personnel, the tri-service unit has logged more than 4600 total flight hours since beginning operations in January last year. ROT 4 currently operates three Heron airframes.

Phantom Ray flies
Boeing’s Phantom Ray UAS demonstrator made its first flight on April 27, taking off from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California for a 17 minute mission.
During its brief flight, which followed a series of high speed taxis tests in March to validate ground guidance, navigation and control, mission planning, the pilot interface and operational procedures, the Phantom Ray reached an altitude of 7800ft and a speed of 178kt, and demonstrated its basic airworthiness.
“It’s the beginning of providing our customers with a test bed to develop future unmanned systems technology, and a testament to the capabilities resident within Boeing,” said said Darryl Davis, president, Boeing Phantom Works. “Just as follow-on tests will expand Phantom Ray’s flight envelope, they also will help Boeing expand its presence in the unmanned systems market.”
Boeing says it’s self funded Phantom Ray demonstrator could be developed for ISR, SEAD, electronic attack, strike and autonomous air refueling missions.

Military Briefs

* The Norwegian government has announced plans for an initial buy of four Lockheed Martin F-35 JSFs with which to start pilot training with from 2016. Norway’s Defence Minister Grete Faremo cited “maintaining a satisfactory operational combat aircraft capacity in the transition phase between the F-16 and F-35” as the key reason for the 4.8 billion Norwegian Krone (approx US$875m) acquisition. Norway plans to acquire 56 F-35s in total.
* The US Air Force has taken delivery of the second production C-5M Super Galaxy airlifter, as Lockheed Martin progresses with the Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program (RERP). The aircraft, which will now undergo “internal paint restoration” at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, is the fifth upgraded C-5M to enter service with the USAF.

Airlines

CASA issues Tiger a ‘show cause’ notice
Reports have emerged that CASA issued low cost carrier Tiger Airways a ‘show cause’ notice on March 23.
Neither CASA nor Tiger have detailed publicly the contents of the show cause notice – which, if not satisfactorily responded to, could have seen the airline grounded – but they are said not to be immediately safety critical, and related to oversight of maintenance in Singapore, although, The Australian reported, not the standard of maintenance itself, and pilot check and training standards.
“CASA has confirmed that while it refuses to disclose the matters it raised in its show cause notice, they did not constitute an immediate threat to safety and require it to exercise its powers to ground Tiger or place restrictions on its air operator certificate,” Crikey.com.au’s Plane Talking blog said.
Tiger had 21 days to respond to the notice, which the Melbourne based airline said it had since done so “promptly in full”.
“Tiger continues to operate normally with CASA’s approval,” Tiger spokeswoman Vanessa Regan said in a statement.
“Safety underpins Tiger’s operations at all times.”

Rex issues profit warning, warns of staff and network cuts

Regional Express (Rex) has warned of a 10 per cent tall in profit before tax for the current financial year compared to its 2009-10 financial year result, and has said it may need to cut jobs and routes.
Rex said in guidance issued on April 20 that it expects profit before tax for the year to be “in the region” of $23.5 million, while profit after tax is likely to be just $17.1 million, 30 per cent down on last financial year’s result.
Executive chairman Lim Kim Hai said the “sharp” increases in fuel prices and a “slight weakening” of passenger numbers was behind the fall in profitability, while the removal of the federal government’s once-off investment allowance is contributing to the bigger drop in after tax profits.
“In response to the challenging environment, Rex is reviewing its network and may have to pull out of some marginal routes. We will also have to redouble our efforts at making productivity gains and we may have to contemplate retrenchment – something we avoided even in the depths of the global financial crisis.”
Lim noted that, “The aviation environment this year has been extremely toxic and we have seen all the major carriers in Australia announcing significant declines in profits. Looking ahead we do not see the situation improving much with both the domestic and international economies threatened with much uncertainty and risk.
“Regional aviation in Australia is now extremely vulnerable and it does not help that the federal government is proceeding with plans to increase significantly the cost burden on regional carriers.”

Strategic US bound?
Strategic Airlines has applied for traffic rights to the USA, prompting speculation the largely leisure orientated carrier is planning flights to Hawaii.
Strategic wrote to the International Air Services Commission (IASC) earlier this month, seeking “an allocation of the unlimited capacity available to designated Australian carriers to operate between Australia and the United States.” The airline says its US capacity would be “fully utilised by 31 August 2012”.
Strategic currently operates one Airbus A330-200 with plans to acquire more. Flights to Honolulu fit the A330-200’s payload range capabilities, and Strategic already flies to the leisure destinations of Phuket and Denpasar/Bali.
The airline is also planning to change its name, with The Sydney Morning Herald recently suggesting that ‘Air Australia’ was the likely new name.

Air Pacific cancels 787 order
Fiji’s Air Pacific has cancelled its order for eight Boeing 787s.
“Air Pacific and Boeing confirmed that the airline has cancelled its order for eight 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft which had been scheduled for delivery in 2015,” the two companies said in a joint statement. “Both companies noted that they were continuing to work with each other on solutions for replacing the airline’s current widebody fleet of B747 and B767 aircraft.”
Air Pacific ordered five 787-9s in April 2006, taking purchase rights for another three in December 2007.

Virgin, Delta expand codeshare deal

Virgin Australia and Delta are expanding their codeshare agreement, covering new destinations in the US and Australia and New Zealand.
The expanded arrangement will see V Australia passengers able to connect from Los Angeles on Delta to four new destinations in the United States – San Francisco, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Detroit, while Delta will codeshare on Virgin Blue/Pacific Blue flights between Sydney and various Australasian destinations including Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Auckland and Christchurch.
Both Virgin and Delta are still awaiting a decision from the US Department of Transportation regarding their application for antitrust immunity, after the DOT originally knocked back the application in September last year.
“We have submitted all the information requested by the US Department of Transportation and we hope to hear the outcome in the next few months,” McArthur said.
The recent codeshare deal comes off the back of Virgin’s renewed increases to fares and international fuel surcharges, on both domestic and overseas routes.

Air New Zealand launches Aviation Institute
Air New Zealand has launched its Aviation Institute, a consolidated ”one-stop-shop” training organisation which will undertake the majority of the airline’s training requirements, plus provide services for third party customers.
Comprising five ‘schools’ at two main ‘campusues’ in Auckland and Christchurch, and employing 150 staff providing 35,000 individual courses annually, the Aviation Institute will conduct training for pilots, engineers, flight attendants and airport check-in staff. Those courses include a new ‘First Officer Program’ where five partner flying training organisations will provide initial flight training “complemented by commercial airline entry assessments, training standards and advanced training modules through to first turboprop or jet type rating”, according to the airline.
Other recent additions to the airline’s training offerings include Boeing 777-300ER and ATR 72 full flight simulators training; EASA certified maintenance type training; a pilot ‘airline integration course’ to bridge the gap between ab initio training and turboprop or jet type ratings; customer service pre-employment training; and leadership programs. From 2012 the Aviation Institute will also offer a Diploma in Aeronautical Maintenance Certification.
Air New Zealand says the Training Institute was “three years in development”, and that it has “added considerable curriculum and training infrastructure to bolster its training capabilities”.

Severe weather flattens February traffic
The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) has attributed static domestic traffic growth in February in part to “severe weather conditions in Queensland”.
In the month that Cyclone Yasi battered northern Queensland, and in the aftermath of the Queensland floods, Australia’s domestic airlines carried 3.98 million passengers in February 2011, down marginally on the 3.99 million passengers carried in February 2010, although revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) grew by 3.9 per cent to 5.27 billion. Available seat kilometres were up 6.0 per cent to 5.90 billion, which saw load factor drop 3.7 points to 75.7 per cent, while aircraft trips increased 2.9 per cent to 42,762.
A number of routes experienced falls in passenger numbers for the month on February 2010, including Australia’s busiest, Melbourne-Sydney, with traffic down 1.2 per cent. Adelaide-Gold Coast recorded the biggest fall, down 32.8 per cent, while other city pairs to record notable falls included Brisbane-Hamilton Island (-23.2 per cent), Sydney-Hamilton Island (-20.1 per cent), Brisbane-Proserpine (-20.0 per cent), and Gold-Coast-Sydney (down 11.8 per cent). Brisbane-Sydney traffic fell 2.1 per cent, Adelaide-Sydney 5.2 per cent, Canberra-Melbourne 7.5 per cent.
Routes to record notable traffic increases included Melbourne-Newcastle (up 21.5 per cent), Newman-Perth (19.0 per cent), and Launceston-Sydney (13.5 per cent). Brisbane-Melbourne traffic grew by 6.1 per cent, Melbourne-Perth 5.9 per cent.

Qantas raises fuel surcharge once more
Qantas has announced that it will again increase its international fuel surcharges and raise domestic, regional and trans Tasman fares by five per cent, in response to rising oil and jet fuel prices.
The increases applied to tickets issued on or after Thursday April 28, while a fuel surcharge of $10 for domestic and $20 for trans Tasman Classic Award frequent flyer redemptions will also be levied. The fuel surcharge increase will be as much as $100 per one-way ticket for international long haul flights, rising from $190 to $290 for flights from Australia to Europe/UK one-way, and from $150 to $250 for flights to the mainland US and Canada one-way.
“The revised fuel surcharges cover less than half of the increase in fuel cost for the Qantas International business for next year. With fuel prices at record highs, even if the fuel price begins to decrease it will be some time before we will be able to decrease the fuel surcharge,” Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said.
Further, the Qantas chief would not rule out additional increases to fuel surcharges and fares, should the need arise. “Our international surcharges and domestic, regional and Tasman fares remain under review, and further increases will be considered if necessary,” he said.
Qantas noted that the price of Singapore Jet Fuel has risen to over US$136 per barrel.

Air NZ, Etihad codeshare deal receives government approval
Air New Zealand has received government approval for its codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways, with the new services going on sale on April 14 for travel from April 19.
Etihad will codeshare on Air New Zealand trans-Tasman and domestic services, while Air New Zealand will do the same on Etihad flights between Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Abu Dhabi, as well as between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow.
Air New Zealand will codeshare on 11 return flights per week between Sydney and Abu Dhabi; three return flights per week between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi; seven return flights per week between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi; and three return flights per day between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow.
Etihad Airways will codeshare on Air New Zealand domestic services between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown; trans-Tasman services between Sydney and Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua and Queenstown; trans-Tasman services between Brisbane and Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington; and trans-Tasman services from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to Melbourne.

China Eastern switches to daily Melbourne service
China Eastern is to increase its Melbourne-Shanghai service to a daily schedule from June 20.
“We are very pleased that China Eastern has chosen to increase the frequency of its services to Melbourne,” Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff said.  “With China as our number one long haul market, the new daily service confirms Melbourne as a premier destination for Chinese travellers.”
Woodruff also noted an overall 22 per cent growth over 2009 in Chinese passport holders arriving in Melbourne last year, and tipped another increase on that figure for 2011.
China Eastern currently operates a four times weekly service between Melbourne and Shanghai.

Jetstar launches new Cairns-Auckland service
Jetstar launched its new three-times weekly direct service between Cairns and Auckland on April 12, adding more than 55,000 seats a year to the market.
“We believe this new international Jetstar route will be a welcome benefit for Queensland tourism during its recovery from recent significant natural disasters,” Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO David Hall said.
Flight JQ290 departs Auckland at 18.30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, landing in Cairns at 22.10, while the return JQ291 departs Cairns at 23.00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, arriving in Auckland at 05.30.
Auckland becomes Jetstar’s 11th destination to be served from Cairns.

Qantas returns to Japan direct
Qantas is to resume direct services between Australia and Tokyo from April 19, after having routed services via Hong Kong to allow for crew rest there following concerns about radiation levels after the earthquake and tsunami which crippled Japan’s Fukushima nuclear powerplant in March.
“Qantas has been working closely with the Australian government, as well as industry and health experts including the International Air Transport Association, International Civil Aviation Organisation, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and World Health Organisation to monitor the situation in Japan,” Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said.
“Together with the advice of these authorities and our own assessments, Qantas is now satisfied that infrastructure services have returned to normal in Tokyo and our crew will now be able to undertake appropriate rest breaks.”
Qantas operates between Sydney and Tokyo daily, and three times a week between Perth and Tokyo, although the latter service was due to be suspended on May 10.

More QantasLink capacity for central Qld
QantasLink announced plans to increase capacity to the central Queensland centres of Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone over April and May.
From mid April QantasLink is upgrading 11 return services between Brisbane and Mackay with larger Dash 8 subtypes, adding another 572 seats a week to the market, and likewise upgrading to larger Dash 8s on 35 return Brisbane-Rockhampton services, adding an additional 208 seats per week. Then in May QantasLink will add eight new Brisbane-Gladstone services per week (giving it a total of 99 frequencies and 7206 seats a week on the route).
“Regional Queensland has always been central to our operations and, following recent capacity increases, we are ready to extend this across even more of our network,” said QantasLink executive manager Narendra Kumar.
This latest announcement follows QantasLink’s addition of an additional 5000 seats per week to the Queensland centres of Barcaldine, Blackall, Bundaberg, Emerald, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Longreach, Mackay, Moranbah, Rockhampton and Roma from April 6 following the deployment of another Dash 8 Q400 to the airline’s Queensland network.

Virgin launches kerbside premium entrance and valet service at Sydney
Virgin Australia has launched a kerbside entrance and kerbside valet service at its Sydney Airport domestic terminal for its business, premium economy and Velocity Gold members, which the airline says is a first for Australian domestic travel.
“For our guests who choose to use the premium entrance and valet service, the trip from their car to ‘The Lounge’ will be very quick and simple. They will be able to step out of their car, check in, go through security and be in the lounge without having to enter the main departures hall of the airport,” noted Virgin Australia (then Virgin Blue) group executive of product and guest services Martin Daley.
The new service comprises kerbside drop‐off, optional valet parking, and direct entry to the ‘The Lounge’ via a dedicated security screening point for passengers with carry‐on baggage only for check‐in. Premium passengers with bags to check can use the valet service, but will continue to use priority check‐in counters inside the main departures hall.
Premium lounge entry and valet services will operate Monday to Friday from the western end of Terminal 2 at Sydney Airport. Valet rates start from $27 for one hour or $70 for one calendar day.

Saudi and Omani airservices MoUs signed

Airlines will soon be able to offer direct flights between Australia and Saudi Arabia and Oman following the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on April 21.
Transport Minister Anthony Albanese noted both the Omani and Saudi MoUs will permit their national carriers to “operate up to four direct flights a week into and out of Australia’s major ‘gateway’ airports” – Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Airlines from both countries will also be allowed to operate up to seven additional weekly services if they operate from or make a stopover en route at a regional international airport, from which they will also be granted unlimited access to.
In return Australian carriers will be able to operate up to four weekly flights into and out of Muscat, Salalah or any other Omani city when operating from Australia’s ’gateway’ airports, with unlimited access to Oman when flying from an Australian regional international airport, while Australian carriers will be able to operate up to six weekly flights into and out of the Saudi Arabian cities of Jeddah and Riyadh, and unlimited services into and out of Dammam.
Both MoUs have provisions for flexible codesharing arrangements.

Airline Briefs

Tiger Airways has launched an customer support ‘portal’ on its website. “Our new online customer support portal will be a vast improvement for customers, as they can now submit their enquiries using the Tiger Airways website rather than sending a letter or fax” said Crawford Rix, CEO of Tiger Airways in Australia.

Qantas’s ‘Great Crusade’ Qantas has applied specal decals to Jetconnect operated Boeing 737-838 ZK-ZQF to promote its ‘Great Crusade’ competition where rugby fans have the chance to win a place on a supporter’s tour of New Zealand for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

Environment

Airbus sponsors electric aircraft concept
Airbus is sponsoring an innovative two-seat electric-powered aircraft at the international Aero-Expo in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
Known as ‘eGenius’, the aircraft technology demonstrator was designed by the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Aircraft Design, with Airbus being the project’s main sponsor. Data collected from ‘eGenius’ will be analysed by an Airbus Future Project team in order to develop the technology and consider it for possible use in future air travel.
Airbus involvement with the ‘eGenius’ forms part of a wider effort by the manufacturer in supporting various other research and technology projects with universities and research institutions around the world. Development of fuel cell technology and the testing of bio-fuels have also formed part of Airbus’s alternative energy source strategy. “It is our European Aviation Vision 2050 to reduce CO2-emissions by 75 per cent, NOx by 90 per cent and noise by 65 per cent compared to levels in 2000,” Airbus senior vice president, Product Strategy and Market Forecast Christopher Emerson, said.
“Airbus is therefore carefully studying all technologies available today for future alternative aviation energy-sources. By sponsoring experimental projects like the “eGenius”, we are gathering valuable experience and data for our further analyses and research activities in this area.”

Airports

Gladstone Airport runway and terminal extensions opened
Gladstone Airport’s $65 million extended runway and expanded terminal project was officially opened by Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Gladstone Regional Council Mayor Gail Sellers on April 17.
Gladstone’s runway (10/28) has been extended in length from 1635m to 1960m, making it better suited for jet aircraft operations, while the $7 million terminal redevelopment includes reconfigured arrivals and departures halls, passenger and baggage security screening facilities, and extended car park facilities. The federal government provided $5.5 million in funding for the terminal, which has been renamed the Creed-Kanofski Airport Terminal after former mayor George Creed (who passed away last November), and outgoing Gladstone Regional Council CEO Graeme Kanofski, key proponents of the project.
The general public were able to inspect the new airport facilities during an open day as part of the official opening ceremonies on April 17.
“Gladstone is a rapidly growing regional centre with an urgent need for better aviation infrastructure.  Within just the last seven years, there’s been a doubling in the number of passengers travelling through its airport,” noted Minister Albanese.
“That growth looks certain to continue with some $65 billion worth of industrial development planned in coming years and the city’s population expected to grow by more than 80 per cent within the next two decades.”
New CASA requirements introduced earlier this year is also seeing the council widen the runway’s width to 45m.
Taking advantage of the extended runway and new terminal facilities, Strategic Airlines was due to commence direct Brisbane-Gladstone A320 services from April 18.

Melbourne Airport maintains solid figures for third quarter

Melbourne Airport has continued its strong international passenger growth for the third quarter of FY2010/11, recording an 11 per cent increase over the same quarter in 2009-10.
A total of 1,662,462 international passengers passed through Melbourne’ Airport in the third quarter, up 163,314 on the same period in 2010. Domestic traffic in the third quarter was also up, but at a slower three per cent growth rate compared to 2010, to 5,326,056 passengers. This brings the total number of passengers (international and domestic) for the quarter to 6,948,518, a five per cent increase compared to the same quarter in 2009-10.
“Our passenger growth for the third quarter was driven predominantly by our key Asian markets including China, India, South Korea and the Philippines. These markets, in particular China, have grown consistently and significantly during the quarter,” Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff said.
“China is one of the fastest growing markets in Australia. As our number one long haul market and growing by 23 per cent for the quarter, it is also without a doubt, the most significant growth market for us,” Woodruff noted.
Woodruff said that the introduction of Strategic Airlines and Royal Brunei to Melbourne Airport, as well as a major events such as Formula 1 and the Australian Open, had all contributed to the strong international passenger growth

BAC opens upgraded terminal

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) officially opened its newly upgraded and expanded Common User Satellite (CUS) terminal on Friday.
Adding an extra five gate lounges, two aircraft parking bays and a host of new food and beverage facilities, BAC CEO and managing director Julieanne Alroe said the CUS would form the first stage of a wider overall upgrade of Brisbane’s Domestic Terminal Precinct.
“With over 14 million passengers flying through the Domestic Terminal last year, in comparison to the 740,000 passengers flying through in 1988 when the terminal was first built, an expansion and upgrade has been much anticipated, and we are pleased to be able to deliver the first stage of the upgrade today with the Common User Satellite,” Alroe said.
“Both Virgin and Qantas are also completing upgrades to their own sections of the terminal, and with a combined effort I believe we will be well-prepared to meet the demands of this future passenger growth,” she said.
Planned further stages of the domestic terminal upgrade will see a new multi-level car park open, various upgrades to the domestic terminal’s road network, and an elevated walkway built over airport-bound roads, due to open in early 2012.

Sydney Airport commemorates 100th anniversary of first flight
Sydney Airport has celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first flight from what would become Sydney Airport, marking the milestone with a BBQ and unveiling a plaque bearing the name of pioneering New Zealand pilot, Captain Joseph Joel Hammond.
During a 10 minute flight on April 18 1911, Hammond flew his Bristol box-kite biplane from what was then Ascot Racecourse, today part of the site of the east-west runway, watched on by thousands of fascinated onlookers.
Sydney Airport CEO Russell Balding said Hammond’s flight was an important achievement in Sydney’s history. “Captain Hammond was one of the early pioneers of aviation. His flights attracted great public interest with thousands of Sydneysiders buying tickets to witness the spectacle of a man flying,” Balding said.
“I doubt that he could have foreseen how Australia’s aviation industry would develop over the next 100 years.  His biplane weighed about 500kg and the first flight attained a height of only 40m and travelled around 10km.”
Described by local Sydney media at the time as a ‘Bird Man’ and ‘Aeronaut’, Hammond went on to fly in World War 1, later becoming a test pilot. He was killed when an aircraft he was flying crashed into a tree during a war bonds promotional flight in the US in 1918.

Tenders called for new terminal at Perth Airport
Perth Airport has invited five companies to tender for a contract to construct the airport’s first new terminal in over 20 years, after an extensive Expression of Interest selection process was finalised.
Designed to primarily service flights for resource sector fly-in/fly-out operations and some interstate services, Perth Airport expects the new terminal to accommodate over a million passengers during its first year of operation in 2013. Choosing to go with a single story design, the new terminal will be located adjacent to the current International Terminal.
“Not only will these airlines and their passengers benefit greatly from the new terminal, but the move will also substantially reduce activity in the current domestic precinct, thereby improving our customers’ experiences in the existing terminals,” Perth Airport CEO Brad Geatches said.
“All airlines from the current Domestic Terminals, other than Virgin Blue, Qantas and Jetstar, will relocate to the new terminal when it opens in 2013.”
WAC’s tender closed on May 20, with the contract expected to be awarded by July this year.

General Aviation

RFDS Central launches latest PC-12
The Royal Flying Doctor Service Central Operations has officially launched its fifth and final new Pilatus PC-12 aeromedical aircraft acquired under the Adelaide based division of the RFDS’s largest single aircraft replacement program.
In service for three months, PC-12 VH-FVF was officially named in honour of retiring RFDS Central Operations board member Barry Lodge in a ceremony at the RFDS Adelaide Base on April 15.
“Foxtrot-Victor-Foxtrot is the fifth of five state-of-the-art flying intensive care units to be introduced to the Central Operations fleet over the past year at a total capital expenditure of $30 million,” said John Lynch, CEO of RFDS Central Operations.
“The purchase of the five aircraft has been possible by a combination of capital grants from the Commonwealth and SA governments, corporate sponsors and donations from members of the community, and we acknowledge their generosity, commitment and support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.”
The five new PC-12s replaced five older PC-12s, each of which had flown over 15,000 flight hours during their 15 year RFDS careers. They were acquired with the aid of $13.2 million in federal and $6 million in state government funding.
Central Operations operates 11 PC-12s from its Adelaide, Port Augusta and Alice Springs bases.

Business

Cessna searches for a new CEO

Cessna parent company Textron says it is searching for a new chairman, president and CEO of Cessna Aircraft after announcing the “retirement” of Jack Pelton.
Textron chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly will head the Cessna business until a successor for Pelton can be found.
“Under Jack’s leadership, Cessna achieved many significant program and product milestones and strengthened its position as a thought leader in the aviation industry,” Donnelly said in a May 2 statement. “We appreciate Jack’s efforts and wish him the best in his future endeavours.”
Pelton, a very popular CEO of Cessna since 2003 and chairman since 2005, first joined the company in 2000 as senior vice president, engineering.
The news comes not long after Textron reported its first quarter earnings for 2011, where Cessna posted a loss of US$38 million, despite revenues increasing to US$556 million.

Pilatus’s record year for 2010
Pilatus Aircraft has reported on a solid financial year in 2010, generating record revenues and operating profits.
The Swiss company generated sales of CHF 688m (A$734m) and an operating profit of CHF 88m (A$94m), both figures up over 11 per cent on 2009. Nonetheless, new orders for the year and the order backlog were both down, with new orders placed in 2010 worth CHF 355m (A$379m), and the order backlog reducing to CHF 689m (A$736m).
Pilatus noted that 2010 was “difficult for the business aviation sector”. However, 79 PC-12s were still delivered in 2010, including the 33rd for the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) and three to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Military sales were boosted with the November 2009 order by the United Arab Emirates Air Force & Air Defence for 25 PC-21 trainers, and the Swiss Air Force ordering a further two.

Support

RAAA offers new scholarship with Lufthansa
The Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) has announced a new scholarship for 2011, with Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey sponsoring the opportunity for an aircraft engineer to work at its German facilities.
Valued at $10,500, the RAAA Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey Powerplant Maintenance + Overhaul Scholarship will be awarded to a current LAME or final year apprentice who has demonstrated a commitment to the Australian aviation industry. The successful scholarship winner will receive 14 days of either CF34 or PW100 engine orientation training with Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey in Germany, including boroscope inspections, assembly of piece parts and modules, rotor balancing and engine testing.
RAAA CEO Paul Tyrrell said that the addition of the RAAA-Lufthansa scholarship extended “the already strong level of scholarship assistance available through the RAAA”, which includes the association’s Ansett Aviation Training Pilot Scholarship, Jeppesen Pilot Scholarship, Jeppesen Avionics Scholarship, and Michelin Airframe Scholarship.

Cargo

Qantas Freight considering 747-8F, 777F?
Qantas Freight is reportedly considering a plan to lease a small number of Boeing 747-8F or 777F freighters, in an agreement likely to be announced in coming months, according to Air Transport Intelligence (ATI).
Qantas Freight currently wet-leases three 747-400F freighters from Atlas Air, with a Qantas spokesman telling ATI that the airline is “always looking at potential fleet options”.
Meanwhile, an Atlas Air spokeswoman said the company has already placed their first three deliveries of 747-8Fs with British Airways, and was currently “in talks with a number of additional existing and potential new customers” regarding the leasing of further aircraft. “We have received a great deal of interest in these game-changing aircraft from these parties, and we look forward to announcing the placement of aircraft with them at the appropriate time,” the spokeswoman told ATI.

People

Dunstone takes out Lawrence Hargrave Award
Greg Dunstone, a pioneer of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology, has received the Royal Aeronautical Society’s prestigious Lawrence Hargrave Award for 2011, presented in Canberra on April 12.
“Greg Dunstone has led Airservices Australia’s ADS-B initiatives since proposing the first trial in 2000,” the RAeS noted.  “His pioneering work and leadership resulted in the successful deployment of this technology in Australia.”
Today Dunstone, a 40 year Airservices veteran, is responsible for strategic planning of all ATC surveillance systems for the Australian ATM provider.
“I join all Airservices employees in congratulating Greg on receiving this award,” Airservices CEO Greg Russell said.
“When we began operational use of the network in upper airspace across the continent it was, and still is, the most ambitious ADS-B deployment. Greg has been instrumental in every element of this project.”
Recognising achievements at all levels and in all disciplines of Australian aerospace, the Lawrence Hargrave Award is presented every two years.