NewsDesk

EASA certifies ATR 72-600
ATR has announced that its new 72-600 turboprop has received EASA certification, clearing the way for service entry later this year.
Delivery of the first ATR 72-600, to Royal Air Maroc, is expected to take place this northern summer.Testing of the ATR 42-600 is also underway, with certification expected to be given by the end of this year.
ATR says it has booked 141 orders for the -600 series since launching the -program in October 2007.

Airbus consortium cancels A320 freighter conversion program
The Airbus-led consortium developing the A320/A321 Passenger to Freighter (P2F) conversion has decided to cancel the project, citing “economic reasons”.
“Recent market developments, including the success of the upcoming A320neo, have resulted in more demand for A320 passenger aircraft and less for freighter versions in this aircraft category,” Airbus said in a statement. “In addition, strongly growing passenger traffic results in high demand for used A320 Family aircraft, thus reducing the amount of aircraft available for conversion.”
Airbus, EADS EFW and Russian partners United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and IRKUT will now begin the necessary legal procedures to terminate the joint venture, officially known as the Airbus Freighter Conversion GmbH (AFC), after it was established in April 2007.

Boeing returns to seven-per-month 777 rate
Boeing has returned to a seven aircraft per month production rate for its 777 airliner, the fourth time the widebody has been built at a seven-per-month rate.
A 777F bound for Fedex (pictured) rolled out on May 16 was the first built at the new rate.
Boeing has previously built the 777 at a seven per month rate from July 1997 to February 1998, August 1998 to October 1999, and from November 2006 to May 2010.
With the production rate increase, Boeing has reduced the build time on the each 777 from 52 to 49 days, due to increased productivity across a number of key components, including the wing spar, service-ready wing and final body join areas.

Airbus increases A320 rate
Airbus has announced that it will increase the production rate of its single-aisle A320 family from 38 to 42 aircraft per month by the fourth quarter of 2012, claiming a solid order backlog for the decision.
Airbus delivered a total of 401 A320 Family variants in 2010, with the manufacturer planning to initially lift its production rate from 36 to 38 aircraft by August 2011, followed by 40 in the first quarter of 2012 before hitting 42 jets by Q4.
Meanwhile, the production rate of Airbus’ larger A330 family of aircraft is also expected to increase from a current rate of 8.5 per month to 10 aircraft by the second quarter of 2013.

Viking gets production go ahead for Twin Otter 400
Canadian based firm Viking Air Limited has received final production approval from Transport Canada for the manufacture of its Twin Otter Series 400, with the first five aircraft already completed.
The Production Manufacturing approval, given as a formalised manufacturing certificate, now allows Viking to issue airworthiness certificates for aircraft produced under their revised manufacturing approval. The latest development  represents the final step in Viking’s production program, after receiving Type Approval from both Transport Canada and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the Series 400 Twin Otter in 2010.
The Series 400 production program was launched in 2007, with Viking estimating a production backlog worth over C$300m through to 2014.

ANA pilots complete 787 training

Ten All Nippon Airways (ANA) pilots have completed their 787 flight training at Boeing Flight Service’s Seattle campus.
All 10 pilots, comprising of senior check and training crew, officially concluded their training after performing flights in 787 test aircraft ZA001 over Washington state earlier this week. Before the conclusion of training, ZA001 was also used to conduct two base training flights on May 25 with Boeing instructor pilots and ANA pilots on board, and involved approaches at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington.
Tasks performed during ANA’s training flights included one instrument landing system (ILS) precision approach and two visual approach patterns per pilot, with touch-and-go landings performed as well. Before each flight, every ANA pilot was given a preparatory session in the 787 full-flight simulator, which they have been training on since April 23.
The competition of 787 training follows Boeing and ANA’s announcement to begin simulated in-service flights across several airports in Japan for service ready operational validation (SROV) on the aircraft in July. ANA currently has 55 787s on order, with Boeing expected to deliver the first aircraft in the August-September timeframe.

Commercial Briefs

Airbus delivered the 50th A320 assembled in China to Shanghai based Juneyao Airlines in May. The Juneyao A320, which was handed over during a ceremony held at the Airbus Delivery Centre in Tianjin, will add to the airline’s existing fleet of two A319s and 17 A320s. Airbus’s FALC is a joint venture between the company and a Chinese consortium comprising Tianjin Free Trade Zone (TJFTZ) and China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC). Deliveries of Chinese assembled aircraft began in 2009.

Sales

Boeing 777: Lufthansa Cargo has finalised an order for five 777 Freighters.
Bombardier CSeries: Swedish firm Braathens Leasing has placed a firm order for five Bombardier CS100 and five CS300 jetliners, plus options for a further 10 CSeries aircraft.
An unidentified airline has confirmed an order for three CS100 jets, as well as taking options for three more.

Military

Brown to become CAF as Binskin moves to VCDF
Current Deputy Chief of Air Force AVM Geoff Brown will be the new Chief of Air Force (CAF) from July 1, with current CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin moving across to become Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF), as part of changes to the senior leadership of the ADF announced today that will also see current VCDF LTGEN David Hurley promoted to replace the retiring ACM Angus Houston as Chief of the Defence Force.
“Air Vice-Marshal Geoff Brown has extensive flying experience on helicopters, F-111 and F/A-18 aircraft,” notes a joint statement issued by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Defence Minister Stephen Smith. “Air Vice-Marshal Brown has commanded at all levels of the Air Force, including as the Commander Air Combat Group. During Australia’s 2003 contribution to the war in Iraq, he commanded all F/A-18 and C130 operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom.”
A former CO of 3SQN, AVM Brown served as Director General Capability Planning in Air Force Headquarters before he was appointed as DCAF from June 30  2008.
Other changes see RADM Ray Griggs appointed to become Chief of Navy, with MAJGEN David Morrison to become Chief of Army.

Fuel system component failure caused RAAF PC-9 crash

The Department of Defence says a component failure in the fuel system caused the engine failure which led to the May 18 crash of a RAAF PC-9/A at RAAF East Sale.
“Air Force will now work with its contracted maintenance organisations, and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, to establish the cause of the component failure,” Defence said in a June 6 statement.
“This will inform any further engineering and maintenance work that may be required to the component. Once this is completed, and no other factors are found by the AAIT, the PC-9/A will be cleared to return to flying operations.”
QFI SQNLDR Bruce Collenette and instructor trainee FLTLT Steve Andrews were both hospitalised following their escape from doomed PC-9 A23-039, callsign ‘Aladdin 71′.
“I’m feeling ok, I’ve felt like I’ve played a good hard game of footy but I’m upright and breathing and that’s the main thing” a SQNLDR Collenette later told WIN television after his ordeal.
SQNLDR Collenette said that he reverted to well-rehearsed training procedures in order to ensure a safe exit from the aircraft for both pilots. “We glided towards the airfield and just had to weight up and see whether we were actually going to make it or not,” he said. “When it became obvious that we weren’t, there was no option [but to eject]. When it got to that stage, basically instinct just kicked in and I called ‘EJECT EJECT EJECT’ and the guy in the back seat [FLTLT Andrews] took me out.
“If you’ve followed the procedures that you’re trained to do, you come out in reasonable shape,” SQNLDR Collenette noted.
The fuel system component is unrelated to the cause behind an engine fire experienced by a 2FTS PC-9 on takeoff from RAAF Pearce in February, which also lead to the PC-9 being grounded.
The ADF’s Aviation Accident Investigation Team (AAIT) is continuing to investigate the accident.

Northrop Grumman unveils Firebird

Northrop Grumman has revealed the Firebird, an optionally piloted intelligence gathering aircraft, designed to operate up to four ISR and communications payloads simultaneously through a universal interface, and pitched at the medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAS market.
Northrop Grumman developed the Firebird’s unmanned systems architecture, control and mission systems, while Scaled Composites designed, built and tested the aircframe, which features a twin boom design and is powered by a Lycoming TEO-540 piston engine.
Developed in secret, the Firebird’s maiden flight was over a year ago in February 2010, but Northrop Grumman showcased the aircraft in an piloted demonstration at this year’s Empire Challenge 2011 – a military exercise that was run by the US Joint Forces Command between May 23 and June 3.
“Military users will also find it much easier to exploit intelligence data from Firebird because the information is put into a single tool that allows them to easily make decisions,” Firebird program manager Rick Crooks noted.
“The internal payload bay also does away with the need to carry external pods to house sensor payloads that can cause drag and affect how long the aircraft can stay in the air.”
The 19.8m span, 10.3m long, 2270kg MTOW Firebird has a 24 to 40 hour endurance, depending on configuration, and cruises at around 200kt. The optionally manned design would give military operators greater flexibility in transiting civilian airspace.

NEW F-35 program milestones

The Lockheed Martin F-35 flight fleet program is gaining momentum during May, with the a number of first flight and delivery milestones achieved of late.
On May 6 the first LRIP 2 (low rate initial production lot two) F-35A made its first flight, taking off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on May 6. The USAF bound F-35A, AF-8, is due to be the first F-35 delivered to Eglin Air Force Base later this year. It’s first flight followed a day after the hand-over of the first production F-35 (AF-7) to the USAF on May 5.
On May 13 F-35A AF-6, the second production F-35, arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, California, touching down on May 13.
Then the final F-35 development aircraft, F-35C CF-3 completed its first flight on May 21, taking off from NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. The third and last F-35C development aircraft, CF-3 subsequently joined CF-1 and CF-2 and four STOVL F-35Bs at NAS Patuxent River on June 2.
Through to May 11 Lockheed Martin says the F-35 test fleet had completed a total of 331 test flights in 2011.
To that time F-35A jets had flown 146 times in 2011, the F-35B STOVL variant made 144 flights and 84 vertical landings, and the F-35C CV aircraft had flown 41 times.

C295 AEW&C testbed completes first flight
Airbus Military has flown an AEW&C (Airbone Early Warning & Control) aerodynamic testbed of the C295 transport, with the first flight from Seville, Spain, on June 7, lasting almost three hours.
The specially modified C295, which was captained by test pilot Alejandro Madurga, performed “very satisfactorily and as expected”, with the crew verifying the aerodynamic and structural impact of the AEW&C rotodome on the aircraft’s overall structure, handling qualities and performance.
The C295 features an Airbus Military developed six metre diameter rotodome, but lacks a radar.
“On production aircraft the rotodome would be a fast-rotating device housing a state-of-the-art radar providing full 360 degree and continuous coverage of a selected area,” according to Airbus Military.
Flight testing of C295 AEW&C is set to continue over the next three months, as Airbus Military completes a feasibility study and validates the design concept.

Military Briefs

* The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force and Air Defence has taken delivery of its first two of six Boeing C-17s.
* The first two of four Boeing KC-767 aerial refuelling tankers for the Italian air force (ItAF) formally entered service on May 17, following delivery and acceptance of the  aircraft on December 29 and March 1.
The Italian air force is acquiring four KC-767s to replace its ageing Boeing 707 tankers.
* An Omega Boeing 707 Omega air refuelling tanker similar to that which had recently been chartered by the RAAF has crashed near California’s Point Mugu Naval Air Station, bursting into flames after an attempted takeoff went wrong. All three crew members escaped with only minor injuries. Omega operates two 707 tanker transports (plus a DC-10) which the RAAF regularly charters for air refuelling taskings in lieu of the delayed delivery of its own KC-30 tankers.

Airlines

Virgin Australia announces partnership with SIA
Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia have announced an alliance agreement that will see them codeshare on each other’s networks, offer reciprocal frequent flyer program benefits, and coordinate flight schedules between Singapore and Australia.
From August 1, the two airlines will interlines on each other’s networks, giving their passengers access to 70 international destinations on Singapore’s network and a total of 30 destinations through Virgin Australia’s Australia-Pacific network. Full codesharing and other arrangements will be put in place later in the year pending ACCC approval. Various “sales, marketing and distribution activities” will also be coordinated between the two carriers.
“Asia is clearly a critical market for us as we build our international alliance network,” Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti said. “Singapore Airlines’ extensive network throughout Asia will be particularly attractive to our international business and leisure travellers and this partnership, along with our other alliances, will mean Virgin Australia can now offer truly global flight coverage. With the recent re-positioning of our brand and the launch of our product enhancements, including domestic business class, Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines are ideally suited as airline partners.”
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong agreed, saying that the proposed agreement with Virgin would “provide the public with access to an enlarged network, offering a first rate, integrated travel experience”.

Tiger cuts four routes
Tiger Airways has announced it is suspending four routes – Melbourne-Mackay and Melbourne-Rockhampton and Brisbane-Sydney and Sydney-Sunshine Coast – from August 1 to “simplify its Australian flying program” so that it can “focus on restoring the punctuality of its operation”.
Tiger says its Melborne to Mackay and Rockhampton flights have been hit by rising oil prices and the recent Queensland natural disasters, while it says not having crew bases in NSW and Queensland has meant “operating punctual flights between Brisbane-Sydney and Sydney-Sunshine Coast has proved more challenging than anticipated”.
“These network changes will both streamline and simplify our Australian operations, enabling us to focus on combining our low fares with improved punctuality,” said Crawford Rix, CEO of Tiger Airways Australia. “The changes that we are making to our flying program will enable as to improve punctuality across our network and we are hopeful that as we grow the airline we will be able to restore services on the affected routes in the near future.”
The route suspensions came after Tiger announced on June 3 that it was shifting some flights from Avalon to Melbourne Airport.
With one Avalon based A320 being shifted to Melbourne, flights to Brisbane, Adelaide and the Gold Coast from Avalon will operate instead from Melbourne/Tullamarine. However, Tiger will continue to fly to Sydney and Perth from Avalon, and has flagged increasing Avalon-Sydney flights to up to three times daily.

Qantas sponsors MAS bid to join oneworld
Qantas is sponsoring Malaysia Airlines’s (MAS) recently announced intention to join international travel alliance oneworld.
“With the world airline industry increasingly focused on alliances, we have carried out careful analysis of the options now available to Malaysia Airlines,” MAS CEO Azmil Zahruddin said in a statement. “The time is clearly right for our company to join one of the global service groups and oneworld is clearly the best option for us.”
Qantas, which itself is a long-time member of oneworld, was enthusiastic about the MAS bid, with CEO Alan Joyce telling The Australian that the airline was “very keen as part of Malaysian’s entry into oneworld to talk about how we can co-operate in the Malaysian and South-East Asian markets…we think there is a lot of opportunity for us to work together”. If approved by oneworld, MAS expects to start flying under the alliance banner by late 2012. The flagship carrier already has codeshare agreements with oneworld members Cathay Pacific and Royal Jordanian.
Oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby has also lent his support to the bid by MAS, tipping that the airline would “greatly enhance oneworld’s offering throughout the world’s fast growing region for air travel demand”.

Green light for Virgin-Delta alliance

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced its decision to grant antitrust immunity to the proposed joint alliance between Virgin Australia and  Delta Air Lines.
After initially rejected the proposed alliance, approval has been granted after the airlines made changes to their submission to the DOT.
“In today’s order, the Department said Delta and its partners had made substantial changes from their previous application, addressing concerns that immunity would provide only limited benefit to consumers,” the DOT said in a statement. “In the new application, the Virgin Blue Group expanded the scope of the alliance to include service to more passengers. It also said that it had completed an upgrade of its reservation system to ensure compatibility with Delta’s system, providing consumers with a more seamless travel network.  In addition, the carriers said they would serve more cities and offer more capacity at the start of their alliance than they originally proposed, providing more benefits to consumers at the outset.”
The anti-trust immunity will enable both airline groups to cooperate on route, schedule and product planning initiatives. The two airline groups already have a limited codeshare partnership.
“Antitrust immunity will enable Virgin Australia and Delta to deliver a more attractive and competitive service for travellers in Australia and North America,” Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti said.
“The Delta alliance is a key plank in Virgin Australia’s strategy to build an international network of airline partners that offers global coverage. Guests on our award-winning international airline V Australia will be able to connect seamlessly to Delta’s extensive network of over 200 destinations in North America, including Canada and Mexico, and earn frequent flyer points in the process,” he said.
Delta CEO Richard Anderson agreed, adding that the DOT’s proposal to grant anti trust immunity “opens the doors to an expanded network that will make travel between and within the US and Australia easier and more convenient for our customers”.
The DOT will make its final ruling on the decision after receiving public feedback on the joint venture, which is open to objections for the next two weeks. Once objections are submitted, the DOT has seven days to respond before a final decision is made.

Qantas’s Dallas/Fort Worth service takes off
Qantas launched its new four times weekly Sydney-Dallas/Fort Worth/Brisbane-Sydney service on May 16, with the inaugural QF7 departing Sydney around 1.35pm.
With a scheduled flight time of 15 hours, 25 minutes between Sydney and DFW, and 16 hours between DFW and Brisbane on the return QF8 service, the flights are the longest in the Qantas network, and are operated by Boeing 747-400ER equipment.
Dallas/Fort Worth is the home airport and major hub of Qantas oneworld partner American Airlines, and Qantas is offering codeshared connections on American to no fewer than 54 US, Canadian and Mexican destinations beyond DFW.
Dallas/Fort Worth is Qantas’s first new international destination since returning to Buenos Aires in 2008. Qantas has decided to operate to DFW in favour of direct Sydney-San Franscisco services, operating its last San Francisco flight last week.
The new service has not been without controversy,

Air NZ and Virgin Australia launch revised trans Tasman
Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia have announced their new-look joint trans-Tasman network, which will connect Air New Zealand’s domestic network of 26 ports to Virgin Australia’s domestic network of 31 domestic ports.
Encompassing a broad codeshare arrangement covering all Tasman sectors and connecting domestic Australian and New Zealand sectors, a revenue share agreement and reciprocal loyalty scheme benefits, the new network will be in effect from the upcoming Northern Winter 2011 schedule (November 2011 – March 2012).
Under the network plan, Air New Zealand will operate approximately 70 per cent of the projected capacity, while Virgin Australia subsidiary Pacific Blue will operate 30 per cent, which the airlines say is relative to their respective trans-Tasman marketshares before their alliance was announced.
“The changes better match capacity to demand and in many instances this means a greater range of flight times by removing ‘wingtip flying’, as well as better connections to domestic Australia and domestic New Zealand flights,” Air New Zealand group general manager Australasia Airline Bruce Parton said.
“Since we received ACCC and MOT approval in December 2010, we have had dedicated teams from both airlines working closely together to optimise the network.
“In addition, as indicated last year, we are actively looking at a couple of potential new trans-Tasman routes which we will likely make a decision on before the end of the year.”
Another key change afoot under the alliance is he alignment of Pacific Blue/Virgin Australia’s trans-Tasman product offering with Air New Zealand’s.
“With plans for the joint network now in place, we are focusing on the launch of our comprehensive product offering in early July,” Virgin Australia group executive commercial Liz Savage said. “We will provide reciprocal Velocity and Airpoints frequent flyer programs and lounge access in Australia and New Zealand, as well as a coordinated offering of inflight products and services, so that guests will receive similar first rate service and benefits, no matter which airline they fly.”

Jetstar takes fare bundling to the Max

Jetstar has changed its fare structure, with its new ‘Starter’ fare with optional add-ons replacing the old Jetstaver/JetFlex/JetPlus levels, and Business fares replacing its StarClass on long haul A330 services.
The airline says the new structure will give passengers “more choice, flexibility and lower fares”, but it is likely the changes are designed to help drive the airline’s incremental revenue streams.
Jetstar’s basic Starter fare includes just the seat and a 10kg carry-on baggage allowance, but that can be upgraded with a checked luggage allowance for $10, and then by adding ‘Plus’ and ‘Max’ bundle options. Opting for a Plus fare gives passengers Qantas frequent flyer points and status credits, free standard seat selection and a waiver of change fees.
“For example, a customer travelling on a one-way Starter fare for $59 between Melbourne and Sydney, can also now access a Qantas frequent flyer offering on this Jetstar flight by purchasing the Starter Plus bundle for a combined total of $84. This selection provides the customer with free standard seat selection, no change fees and earns Qantas Frequent Flyer points at the equivalent level as flying Qantas,” Jetstar Group CEO Bruce Buchanan said.
Opting for the Max bundle in addition to the Plus fare features adds upfront and/or extra leg room seating or seating at the front of the cabin, plus fare refundability, giving a similar fare product to Jetstar’s old JetFlex fare level.
Meanwhile international Business fares can also be upgraded with a Max package, which adds the ability to earn Qantas frequent flyer points and status credits at Qantas business rates, lounge access and refundability.
The changes follow Jetstar’s recent upgrade of its website.

Qantas introduces frequent flyer changes
Qantas has announced new changes to its Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme, and says that further changes are in the pipeline.
Among the changes announced on May 17 is a new ‘Platinum One’ upper membership tier, for members who earn more than triple the required number of status credits in a year for the Platinum frequent flyer level. To be introduced from the fourth quarter of 2011, Platinum One frequent flyers “will have access to even more benefits and exclusive services, including a dedicated team to look after your travel needs every step of the way”, the airline says.
Another initiative to be introduced in the fourth quarter is SMS confirmation of upgrade requests using frequent flyer points, while with immediate effect the cabin bonus for premium cabin passengers will increase (the premium economy cabin bonus will increase from 10% to 25%; business 25% to 50%; and first class from 50% to 100%).
And with Jetstar’s newly announced ‘Plus’ and ‘Max’ add-on fare bundles, Qantas frequent flyers can more now easily earn points on Jetstar services.
Another enhancement for the Qantas scheme announced today is the news that telco Optus would become a Qantas Frequent Flyer partner from later in the year.
“We recognise we operate in a very competitive environment which is why we are determined to ensure our Frequent Flyer program is the most dynamic, flexible, user-friendly and rewarding program in the business,” Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said.
The moves seem a pre-emptive counter to Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti’s plans to reveal an all new frequent flyer program later this year.

Qantas offers voluntary redundancies to cabin crew
Qantas has called for expressions of interest for voluntary redundancies among its 7000-strong cabin crew workforce.
Qantas has said that following the expressions of interest process around 350 cabin crew may be offered voluntary redundancies, but that no forced redundancies are planned.
“The voluntary redundancy program for cabin crew is part of a number of measures being implemented across the business to ensure that we are well placed for the future,” the airline said.

Air NZ increases capacity across Int’l routes, targets Asia
Air New Zealand has announced an increase in capacity to a number of prominent international destinations for the Northern Winter schedule.
The airline is increasing overall capacity on Chinese routes during the Northern Winter period (November 2011 – March 2012) by 21.6 per cent, including more flights to Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. Capacity will a;so increase by 38.6 per cent on the Auckland-Beijing route, assisted by a third year round 777-200ER service. With the planned addition of a fourth 777-200ER, Air New Zealand’s Auckland to Shanghai route will also increase capacity by 22.7 per cent, as that service begins operating from December to March next year.
“In addition, following strong demand for the overnight service from Auckland to Hong Kong, this route is up by 15.6 per cent with a Boeing 777-200 operating daily services from November to mid-December, increasing to nine services per week from mid-December,” Air New Zealand deputy CEO Norm Thompson, said.
To Japan, and the airline has announced a 7.7 per cent increase to its 767-300 Auckland-Osaka route, restoring capacity to the same levels before Japan’s recent spate of natural disasters. Air New Zealand is also moving ahead with the introduction of a 747-400 on the Auckland to Tokyo route between December and February.
“We will be increasing our Auckland-Tokyo capacity by 16 per cent, with the up-gauge of the daily service from a Boeing 777-200 to a Boeing 747-400 aircraft, reflecting our confidence in the return of tourists to New Zealand from this important market,” Thompson said.
Meanwhile, to North America, all Auckland to San Francisco flights will also be operated by 747-400 aircraft, increasing capacity by 14.1 per cent, while Auckland to Vancouver is expected to track a rise by 10.1 per cent. Adding to this will be two 777-300ERs to exclusively service all Air New Zealand flights to and from Los Angeles from February 2012.

Virgin Australia restructures fares
Virgin Australia has announced a restructure of its airfares, aimed at delivering “greater flexibility” and “better value” for customers travelling on the new-look airline.
Only three fare types will be now offered across Virgin Australia and Polynesian Blue flights – Saver, Flexi or Premium. No change will be made to V Australia fare types.
“With this new product offering we are able to deliver what every traveller wants – genuinely simple and easy to understand fares, the choice of what you want included and incredible value for money,” Virgin Australia’s group executive, Commercial, Liz Savage said in a statement.
The new fare restructure coincides with the opening of Virgin Australia’s new Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (TZG) lounge in Melbourne and the announcement of a regional lounge in Mackay, which both feature free wi-fi/networking facilities, meeting areas and a number of beverage and refreshments for guests

Jetstar announces SMS check-in
Jetstar has rolled out the final stage of its “100 percent” passenger self service check-in across its domestic network with the announcement of a new SMS boarding pass service.
The new check-in feature will add to Jetstar’s existing self service kiosks and web check-in offering for passengers, with all three functions soon to be available at Jetstar’s 18 domestic ports throughout Australia and New Zealand. In addition, a new Automatic Check-in service will allow passengers to “pre-enrol” for check-in and receive either an SMS boarding pass or boarding pass via email 24-hours before their nominated flight.
“The full implementation of our self service initiatives is anticipated to boost uptake of self-service options closer to 100 per cent across our network,” Jetstar CEO Bruce Buchanan said in a statement. “Our new SMS boarding passes, kiosks and automated check-in options are delivering practical and innovative solutions that will add greater control and save time at increasingly busy airports.”
But passengers still wishing to use a traditional check-in counter are set to be charged “a small fee” by Jetstar, with that fee not to be introduced until November 1 while the airline’s self-service option is fully implemented. According to Jetstar, around 75 per cent of the airline’s domestic flyers already use their Web Check-in or Self Service Kiosks. Recent customer trials of the SMS boarding pass predict a further increased uptake of 10 per cent for passengers choosing a self service check-in option.

Korean takes delivery of first A380
Korean Air has celebrated the delivery of its first Airbus A380 at a ceremony in Toulouse, France, becoming the sixth operator of the aircraft since it was introduced in 2007.
The ceremony was attended by Korean Air chairman and CEO Yang Ho Cho, Airbus president and CEO Tom Enders and EADS CEO Louis Gallois. “The A380 has proven to be a game changer, setting new standards for comfort, economic efficiency and respect for the environment,” Enders said. “We are confident that the A380 will play a key role in enabling Korean Air to further strengthen its position as one of the world’s great airlines,”
Korean has ordered a total of 10 A380s, with the airline initially planning to operate the aircraft from its Seoul base to a variety of Asian destinations and eventually, non-stop flights to North America and Europe. The airline has specified a 407 passenger layout for their A380s, separated into three classes equipped with a duty free showcase area, bar and lounge.

Virgin Australia A330 makes inaugural flight
Virgin Australia has launched its A330 services, with the first flight taking off from Sydney for Perth on May 26, with paying passengers and media onboard, and returning that evening.
The A330, VH-XFB Cable Beach, features Virgin Australia’s new Hans Hulsbosch designed economy and business class cabins which form part of the airline’s extensive rebranding process.

Rex identifies seven vulnerable routes

Regional Express (Rex) has revealed that it is considering pulling out from no fewer than seven routes in response to rising fuel prices and softening passenger demand.
Rex has identified Sydney-Taree; Sydney-Grafton; Sydney-Moruya; Sydney-Bathurst; Melbourne-Griffith; Melbourne-King Island; and Melbourne-Merimbula as markets it is considering withdrawing from, and says it has now begun briefing community stakeholders.
“The very high fuel price is making the situation quite untenable and all airlines are compelled to put in place rigorous measures to remain profitable,” executive chairman Lim Kim Hai said. “As foreshadowed in the earlier media release, the Rex board has carried out a review of its network and has identified a number of routes that may not be sustainable should the situation degrade further, especially in light of the federal government’s decision to significantly reduce its contributions to regional air services throughout Australia from 1 July 2012.”
Rex promises it will “provide ample notice when the final decision is made”.
The announcement came as Rex detailed its third quarter results for the current financial year, posting an unaudited group profit before tax of $15.7 million for the nine months ended March 31, a fall of 9.8 per cent compared to the same period last year. Group revenue increased by 2.8 per cent to $176.3 million. Capacity increased by 1.8 per cent, but passenger numbers fell by 2.8 per cent to 908,667.
“The operating environment is extremely challenging with fuel price in the third quarter almost 20 per cent higher than the previous period and with continued softening of passenger demand.” Lim said.
The recent development comes after Rex purchased five Saab 340Bs already in its fleet which it had leased from Saab Aircraft Leasing.

ACCC gives initial approval to Qantas-American JBA
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted “interim authorisation”  to Qantas and American Airlines’ proposed Joint Business Agreement (JBA), giving the green light for both airlines to undertake a coordinated “sales and marketing campaign” in Australia and the United States.
Qantas had sought the interim approval to allow joint sales and marketing for its recently launched Sydney-Dallas/Fort Worth route, but the ACCC notes that the interim approval “in no way binds the ACCC in its consideration of the substantive application for authorisation” of the JBA, which seeks to see the two airlines coordinate their trans-Pacific services between Australia/New Zealand and the US.
The ACCC says it plans to issue a draft decision on the substantive application for the JBA in August or September

Emirates announces record profit
The Emirates Group has reported a record AED 5.9bn (A$1.49bn) net profit for its 2010-11 financial, the 23rd consecutive year the airline group has posted a profit.
Comprising Emirates Airline, air service company dnata and its various subsidiaries, the Emirates Group’s revenue for 2010-11 increased 26.4 per cent to AED 57.4bn (US$ 14.5bn), with its cash balance rising substantially to AED 16bn (A$4.3bn). Emirates Airline posted a net profit of AED 5.4bn (A$1.4bn) for the year, up no less than 51.9 per cent, while revenue increased 25 per cent to AED 54.4 billion (A$13.7bn).
“This year’s record results represent our drive to push the boundaries of aviation, questioning the norms and advocating for open and fair competition. Despite unforeseen challenges in the form of political instability and shocking natural disasters we have managed, through sheer determination, nimbleness and quick thinking, to produce our best ever result,” Emirates Airline and Group chairman and CEO,  Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said on May 10.
“A clear indication of our strength, this year’s financial result represents the tireless work of our 57,000 strong workforce. Operating without subsidy and through a well thought out business model we have, as a team, been able to confront adversity on many levels.”
Emirates cites “strong market demand” in the first six months of the fiscal year as a key reason for the string of solid results, marked also by subsidiary dnata’s recent international expansion and acquisition of global catering firm Alpha Flight Group Ltd.
“Looking ahead we have no plans to deviate from our proven strategy of investing in our business and focusing on core customer service,” Sheikh Ahmed concluded.
Emirates currently operates a fleet of 152 widebody aircraft including eight freighters. It currently operates 63 flights a week to Australia, and 28 a week to New Zealand.

Airline briefs

* Perth-based airline Skywest has announced the launch of twice-weekly scheduled flights to Busselton in WA’s south-west, as it looks to capitalise on a growing tourism market. Due to begin on July 8, the new services will fly between Perth and Busselton, as well as Busselton and Albany.
* Jetstar will commence daily Auckland-Dunedin A320 services from July 14.
Dunedin will become Jetstar’s fifth New Zealand destination, with flights to Auckland offering connections on Jetstar’s trans Tasman and daily Auckland-Singapore services. Qantas will also codeshare on the route.
* An A320 delivered on June 1 was British Airways’s 100th single-aisle Airbus aircraft.
BA has taken delivery of two A318s, 33 A319s, 48 A320s and 16 A321s since it first became an Airbus operator (via predecessor airline British Caledonian) in 1988.
* QantasLink has announced the addition of two new return services per week between Cairns and Weipa, with flights starting from June 27. The new flights, which will operate every Tuesday and Thursday, adds to the airline’s existing schedule of 12 weekly services (increased from 10 in February) on the Cairns-Weipa route, with an extra 200 seats to be available per week.
* QantasLink has announced plans to build a new 280 square metre Qantas Regional Longue at Mackay Airport. Meanwhile, Virgin Australia has announced that it will offer business class flights to Mackay and open a new 260 square meter lounge at the city’s airport before the end of 2011.

Environment

Bio-fuel achievable: report
A new report compiled by the CSIRO and a host of airline and industry groups has deemed ‘bio-derived’ fuel “economically and environmentally” sustainable, with a number of benefits tipped for both Australian and New Zealand.
The Flight Path to Sustainable Aviation (FPSA) report aims to set out a clear pathway for establishing a bio-fuel industry in the region, with several flow-on effects to be seen over the next 20 years. Included are cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent, generating more than 12,000 jobs and reducing Australia’s reliance on fuel imports by $2 billion per annum.
Contributing to the report in conjunction with the CSIRO are members of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG), which includes the likes of Boeing, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and The Climate Group. FPSA was officially launched in Sydney at the Sheraton on the Park on May 25.

Electric eGenius flies for first time
An electric powered aircraft technology demonstrator aircraft has made its first flight in Germany, program sponsor Airbus reports.
The aircraft, known as ‘eGenius’, was publically unveiled at this year’s international Aero-Expo in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Designed by the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Aircraft Design, eGenius took to the air on May 26, six weeks after it was formally announced. The aircraft subsequently completed a 20 minute flight from Mindelheim, with test teams checking the aircraft’s handling qualities and electric propulsion system while in flight. With the first flight now complete, Airbus says that the a wider flight test campaign will begin, as the flight envelope of the eGenius is expanded to test the overall performance and reliability of the aircraft’s 60kW limited propulsion system.
Airbus is the main sponsor of the eGenius concept, with the company committed to a number environmentally friendly projects which aim to reduce emissions across the aviation industry. These include the development of fuel cell technology as a viable alternative to fossil fuels, and the development of bio-fuel technology through its support of local bio-fuel value-chains around the globe. Data collected from the eGenius will also be utilised by Airbus’ Future Projects teams to further develop cleaner and greener technology for the industry.

Virgin’s carbon offset program approved again
Virgin Australia has again received carbon neutral certification approval for its new carbon offset program through the government’s National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS). Carbon offsets used from the program will go towards NCOS approved carbon neutral projects, including a renewable energy biogas project in Thailand and a fuel-wood saving project in Cambodia.

Solar Impulse makes first international flight
The Solar Impulse solar energy-powered aircraft made its inaugural international flight, landing safely in Brussels at 9:39pm on May 13 after completing a 12 hour, 59 minute journey.
Flown by project CEO and former Swiss fighter pilot André Borschberg, the Solar Impulse left Payerne aerodrome in Switzerland at 8:40am before crossing France’s Alsace region toward Nancy and Metz, over-flying Luxembourg and finally arriving in Belgium to land on Runway 02 at Brussels Airport (Zaventem).
The landmark flight was the fifth flight overall for the Solar Impulse. A larger prototype planned to make a non-stop round-the-world flight in 2013.

Airports

Council approves plan for new airport in southeast Qld

The Lockyer Valley Regional Council has approved plans for a new airport in southeast Queensland, with an eye towards attracting regional airline flights.
To be developed by private consortium VNE Aviation, the new airport is being built near Queensland’s Lake Clarendon, situated between Ipswich and the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region. An initially planned 1250m runway could be extended in the future, and the airport could act as an emergency services base during any future natural disasters.
The airport is expected to be open to flights before the end of the year.
Lockyer Valley mayor Steve Jones has suggested the airport could eventually host daily commercial flights to Sydney, as it would be suitable for regional airliners such as the Bombardier Dash 8.

Federal govt approves airport plan for Mid-North Coast
The federal government will provide up to $19 million for various new and upgraded infrastructure and facilities at Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Taree airports, as announced in last week’s budget.
“We are absolutely committed to working with local and regional communities to identify and deliver local economic priorities, like the Mid North Coast regional aviation plan,” Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Simon Crean said.
“The plan will support hundreds of jobs during construction, provide training opportunities and support jobs and businesses over the longer term in the region.”
Forming part of the government’s Mid-North Coast regional aviation plan, various runway upgrades and/or construction of general aviation facilities at all three airports are planned, with local Member for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott supportive of the plan’s economic benefits. “The key drivers for economic prosperity in our region are the broadening of our economic base, lifting education and workforce participation rates and providing the environment for existing businesses to expand,” he said.
“It is a major economic boost for the Mid North Coast we now push to see this work underway as soon as possible.”

AAA welcomes tripartite deed extension
The Australian Airports Association (AAA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of an extension to Tripartite Deeds for Australia’s privatised airports, which will free up plans to invest up to $9 billion in airport facility upgrades over the next 10 years.
“The extension of the tripartite deeds provides for an orderly management process in the extremely unlikely event of a default by an airport operator under the airport lease. It also ensures that lenders to privatised airports will now have the same financial security that exists for most former government assets that have moved into the private sector,” AAA executive director Caroline Wilkie said in a statement. “Without the extension of the deeds, capital would have been more difficult to obtain and the cost of financing would have increased, putting pressure on airport investment decisions. The extension of the Tripartite deeds will deliver certainty for financiers subsequently allowing airports to achieve their ambitious capital programs.”
Federal Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese said that the Deeds attached to 12 Australian airports (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin, the Gold Coast, Townsville, Alice Springs, Launceston and Bankstown) would be extended to match the “full 50 year duration of the leases held by their operators.”
“With the number of passengers transiting through our major airports expected to more than double to 235 million in less than two decades, the modernisation plans of operators will be essential to making sure their facilities can cope and their services remain world class,” Albanese noted.

First Australian ‘Boneyard’ lands in Alice Springs
Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage has announced plans to set up a dedicated aircraft storage facility at Alice Springs Airport, which would be the first facility outside of the United States, with the 110Ha facility to be built opposite the airport’’s main terminal.
“The creation of our facility is an extremely exciting step for aviation in Australia,” APAS managing director Tom Vincent said. ”This project represents the first Asia Pacific based alternative for customers with aircraft based, or operating through, the region. While aircraft operators/owners have historically ferried aircraft to the west coast of the United States, APAS will now provide a local alternative, thereby delivering significant fleet efficiencies and costs savings.”
Offering short, medium and long term storage of aircraft, APAS will also provide services for aircraft recycling and decommissioning, with Alice Springs providing a dry, arid environment for the facility.
APAS will now begin discussions with various airlines and aircraft leasing companies to promote the potential benefits of the storage centre.

Adelaide Airport calls for a return to network charging
The South Australian government has backed moves by Adelaide Airport Ltd to reduce terminal navigation charges for airlines at airports with lower passenger numbers, writes Chris Milne.
The airport operator says the high ‘location specific’ charges by Airservices Australia can thwart its efforts to attract more international airlines to Adelaide and also impact on domestic frequencies.
AAL wants changes to the present formula for charges, claiming it is inequitable and disadvantages lower-volume airports.
It is seeking a return to the former network charging system, which would give Adelaide Airport parity with other capital city airports – although it would increase charges at other major airports, particularly Sydney and Melbourne.
SA Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said the present system heavily disadvantaged lower-volume airports, discouraging new services and pushing up passenger ticket prices.
AAL’s general manager of corporate affairs, John McArdle, said Airservices Australia charges were markedly higher for Adelaide than other mainland capital city airports.
Using an A330-300 as an example, he said, the terminal navigation charge for Adelaide was $4788 for a international flight turnaround, compared with $1884 for Melbourne and $1868 for Sydney for the same aircraft. It was almost $1600 above Perth, the next highest among mainland capitals.
Even Boeing 737 charges were markedly higher for Adelaide than other major airports.
The airport charges were location-specific, even though Airservices Australia had common charges for its network services.
McArdle said AAL’s own charges were in the middle of the range of other major airports.
The higher Airservices charges were an important factor – “but not the only factor” – in moves to bring more overseas and domestic services to Adelaide.
The operator has been working hard to attract more overseas airlines to Adelaide, including Emirates and Etihad, which are still high on its agenda, as well as Asian carriers such as China Southern, Thai International and Vietnam Airlines.
Its only success so far has been the introduction of a handful of Vietnam Airlines charters, which are expected to be repeated this summer.
“We are discussing RPT services with Vietnam Airlines, and we‘re in close discussions with China Southern,” he said.
New aircraft deliveries to the Chinese carrier could be a key to obtaining a direct service through Adelaide.
However, none of the potential airline candidates had committed to Adelaide services yet.
Meanwhile, Adelaide Airport’s new road system is due to open on July 28, enabling work to begin on the planned multi-storey car park to replace the present open-air car park and provide spaces for 2000 vehicles. This will more than double the present short-term spaces, and give direct, covered access to the terminal. The work is part of a $100 million project to upgrade the airport.

General Aviation

GAMA releases disappointing first quarter figures
Piston deliveries increased in the first quarter, but jet and turboprop deliveries were down.
GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturers Association) reports that in the first three months of 2011 general aviation aircraft shipments fell 4.6 per cent, from 390 units in the first quarter of 2010 to 372 units this year. Billings were also down, by 20 per cent to US $3.7 billion when compared to the same period last year.
Piston powered aircraft shipments in fact were in fact up 13.3 per cent to 188 units for the quarter, but turboprop shipments fell 6.7 per cent to 56 units shipped. Worse performed still was business jet shipments, falling 22 per cent to 128 units shipped.
“This has been a very difficult year to date as a result of the slow economic recovery in North America and Europe,” GAMA president and CEO, Pete Bunce said.
“Emerging market deliveries continue to help sustain the industry. The bright spot in the first quarter is the piston segment. This good news may be indicative of the start of a recovery in the traditional markets that we hope will accelerate with the 100 per cent expensing tax provision in the US.”

Pilot sets landing record for MAF
Pilot Ron Watts has set an Australian record for the number of aircraft landings in one day, taking off and landing 102 times from Illawarra Regional Airport on May 7 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF).
Watts, MAF’s national bequest manager, flew his Beechcraft 19A in a marathon five sessions of 20 circuits from 7am, before finishing at Bankstown Airport at 5pm that afternoon. “If someone hears about it [the record] they might think they can beat it. Then the challenge will be for me to beat that,” Watts said.
The record achievement was intended to mark the 60th anniversary of MAF’s first ever flight on May 7 1951 to Madang, Papua New Guinea, and aimed to raise at least $10,000 for the organisation in sponsorship donations.
A Christian based organisation, MAF currently operates nearly 130 aircraft in 30 countries providing humanitarian aid and medical assistance isolated communities.

200th Phenom delivered
Embraer has delivered its 200th Phenom 100 jet, to US based Swift Aviation Group, in a ceremony held at the Company’s headquarters, in São José dos Campos, Brazil during April.
Swift, a private aircraft charter company, originally ordered the Phenom 100 in May 2006 and will base the jet at its company headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. Swift was also a launch customer of Embraer’s Legacy 600 jet, having placed an order for 25 in 2000.

Bombardier provides update on Learjet 85
Bombardier has reported that its new mid-size Learjet 85 has transitioned from the ‘detail design’ phase to the ‘build, test and validate’ phase, ahead of first flight in 2012 and service entry in 2013, following an aircraft level critical design review by the Integrated Product Development Team (IPDT) in April 2011.
“The Learjet 85 aircraft program has entered a new phase and is progressing towards entry into-service with great strength,” Bombardier Business Aircraft vice president, Learjet 85, Ralph Acs, said.
Bombardier currently has 1300 employees working on its Learjet 85 program, spread across four sites in Belfast, Querétaro, Montréal and Wichita.

RFDS sells off old PC-12s

The Royal Flying Doctor Service’s Central Operations division has sold two of its five superseded Pilatus PC-12s to buyers in the United States.
However, the Adelaide based unit, which covers South Australia and Central Australia, has decided to retain the other three as reserve aircraft while the rest of the existing fleet is progressively repainted in the new livery.
The five new PC-12s – the final one of which was commissioned in March – are flying the new colours and one of the retained aircraft has been repainted but five others will be pulled from service progressively to be repainted at Redcliffe in Queensland.
The older aircraft, which retain their medical fit-out, will see further service until then – and may be used as interim aerial ambulances if Central Operations wins the NT Government’s ‘Top End’ contract. Chief executive of RFDS Central Operations, John Lynch, said the continuing delay in selecting a Top End contractor was having an impact on planning for aircraft disposals and for potential equipment and infrastructure requirements.The NT work is being conducted on an interim basis by Pelair subsidiary Care Flight, which replaced Pearl Aviation, following a critical report on the incumbent’s operation and ageing aircraft.

Business

Textron appoints new Cessna CEO
Textron has announced the appointment of Scott Ernest as president and CEO of its Cessna subsidiary, replacing Jack Pelton who announced his retirement on May 2.
Ernest, a 29-year veteran of General Electric, serving most recently as GE Aviation’s global supply chain vice president and general manager.
“Scott is a talented global business leader who has strong expertise in the aviation industry,” said Textron chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly in a statement. “Accelerating Cessna’s new product and service development, strengthening its manufacturing and sourcing operations, and intensifying its global expansion efforts are key to moving Cessna forward. Scott brings an extensive track record of success in these areas along with a reputation as an outstanding leader. I am confident that he is the ideal person to position Cessna for growth as the business jet market gains momentum.”

Gulfstream G650 resumes flight testing
Gulfstream has announced the re-start of its G650 flight-test program, following the tragic April 2 crash of a test aircraft which killed all four occupants onboard.
“We have conducted all the necessary reviews to assure ourselves that we can safely resume the flight-test program at this point,”Gulfstream Programs, Engineering and Test senior vice president, Pres Henne said in a statement. “We have worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration in this process and received the agency’s concurrence to resume flight testing,”
G650 S/N 6001 was the first aircraft to resume flight testing, completing a 1 hour, 39 minute flight on May 28. Since then, all four test aircraft have resumed flying, with the company still expecting to achieve certification this year, followed by service entry in 2012.
“It is our responsibility to move forward with the flight-test program, and we will do so in a safe and prudent manner. The G650 will enter service as the flagship of our product line, where it will represent the very best in business aviation technology,” Henne added, with Gulfstream still cooperating with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) into its investigation of the earlier crash.
Gulfstream claims that its G650 flight-test program has completed 470 flights to date, accumulating 1560 hours towards the estimated 2200 hours required for certification.

Final preproduction Hawker 200 completes first flight
Hawker Beechcraft has announced that the final preproduction Hawker 200 has successfully completed its first flight.
“The aircraft performed exceptionally well during its two hour, three minute flight. Development testing is more than 50 per cent complete and the aircraft is meeting or exceeding all performance targets,” HBC executive vice president Shawn Vick said in a June 4 statement.
The latest Hawker 200 now joins three other aircraft in the certification program – the first Hawker 200 and two modified Premier aircraft – and will be used for systems certification, functional and reliability testing, and interiors certification.

Bombardier releases market forecast
Bombardier Aerospace has released its annual forecast for both business and commercial aircraft markets, with the company optimistic of a financial recovery following a tough post-GFC period.
Bombardier cites China and India as two key drivers of economic growth in leading the aircraft industry’s recovery, with a number of airlines based in those countries “expected to capture an increasingly important share of industry orders in both the business and commercial aircraft markets.”
In terms of figures, the company predicts 24,000 aircraft deliveries in the business market from 2011 through to 2013, with revenues of US$626 million. Meanwhile, in the commercial market, 13,100 deliveries in the 20 to 149 category have been forecast between 2011 and 2030, worth nearly US$639 billion in revenues.
“We are confident in our future, and as the market continues to recover, we are building on our strong commitment to innovation and reinforcing our leadership position in commercial and business aviation,” Bombardier Aerospace president and COO Guy Hachey said in a statement. “In 2011, we mark our 25th anniversary in the aerospace industry, and innovation has been a key driver of our successes during the last quarter century.”
Bombardier vice president, Strategy, Business Development and Structured Finance, Mairead Lavery added that a number of new aircraft in development such as the Learjet 85 and Global 7000/8000 business jets would help the company “emerge from the recession at the forefront of our industry.”

Airbus Corporate Jet’s new-look image
Airbus has introduced new branding, colours and names for its corporate jet subsidiary.
The new colours feature metallic-blue shading on most of the fuselage and tail, highlighted by flowing curves and accompanied by a new “Airbus Corporate Jets” logo. As part of the new branding, an “Airbus ACJ” prefix will now be applied to the model of the airliner from which each corporate jet is derived. For example, the A318 Corporate Jet becomes the Airbus ACJ318, going through the series to the Airbus ACJ380.
Airbus says that its corporate jet series has won more than 170 sales worldwide to date.

Support briefs
Air New Zealand subsidiary Altitude Aerospace Interiors (AAI) has gained its second major VIP aircraft completion contract, which will see the company fit out a Boeing Business Jet 737 (BBJ) VIP aircraft. The BBJ is expected to arrive at Altitude’s facilities early in 2012, after the unnamed subcontinent based client takes delivery of the aircraft from Boeing at the end of this year. An Altitude design team will then spend most of 2012 fitting out the BBJ with a luxury bespoke interior.

Cargo

Qantas, Aus Post reconfigure joint venture businesses

Qantas and Australia Post have announced a restructuring of their joint venture businesses, Australian air Express and Star Track Express.
To be rolled out over the next 12 months, the changes will see the merger of the retail divisions of Australian air Express (AaE) and Star Track Express, including AaE’s express sales, customer service and marketing arms; and the appointment Kevin Turnbull as chief financial officer (CFO) of Star Track Express, alongside new CEO Stephen Cleary.
In turn AaE will solely focus on domestic air linehaul and cargo terminal operations, so that Star Track becomes a retail-only business. However, both companies will share a support model with IT, finance and procurement resources on hand.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said both AaE and Star Track operated in “in a highly competitive environment”, with the reconfiguration leaving both businesses better positioned to “meet customer needs and offer market leading domestic air linehaul and integrated express freight solutions”.

Support

CTC goes on instructor recruitment drive
UK based CTC Aviation Training is looking to grow its New Zealand flight instructor team by more than a third, in preparation for an expected influx of pilot trainees later this year.
To match the expected demand, CTC will increase the number of instructors based at its Crew Training Centre in Hamilton from 33 to 52 by August. The company says approximately 10 of the new instructors will be recruited from within New Zealand while another four will be licensed Joint Aviation Authority (JAA) instructors recruited from the United Kingdom.

Flight Training Adelaide orders two Mechtronix trainers
Flight Training Adelaide (FTA) has announced the signing of a contract with Canadian based firm Mechtronix Systems for the purchase of an Ascent XJ Trainer as well as the option of an additional Airbus A320 FFT X simulator.
Configured for a generic commercial narrow-body jet, the Ascent XJ trainer will be used by FTA to train students for multi-crew operations and transition to jet aircraft with a modern glass cockpit. Featuring TCAS, EGPWS, FMS and weather radar, the XJ trainer’s avionics suite will also aim to familiarise students with a highly automated flight deck, aided by an RSI Raster/xT Image Generator and 180×35° projected display.
Still to be evaluated by CASA for qualifications equivalent to JAR-FSTD A FNPT II MCC, the XJ Trainer  is due to be delivered and certified at FTA’s Adelaide flight training facility in the fourth quarter of 2011. Delivery and acceptance of the A320 FFT X is plane for the second quarter of 2012.

Air Safety

Pilot error may have been cause of Air France crash – BEA
The tragic 2009 crash of doomed Air France Flight 447 has been attributed to pilot error, preliminary reports by French investigators of the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) have revealed.
According to numerous online reports that have been circling, sources close to the investigation say the Airbus A330’s autopilot disengaged after unreliable airspeed readings forced the pilots to take back control of the aircraft. The faulty airspeed readings, most likely caused by heavy icing on the aircraft’s pitot tubes is thought to have distracted the pilots and taken their focus away from other vital systems on board the aircraft. This in turn led to the A330 stalling and plunging into the Atlantic Ocean, four hours into its flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris and killing all 228 onboard.
Led by Air France Captain Richard Marc Dubois, the veteran pilot was out of the cockpit on a routine break, leaving his two co-pilots in charge. According to The Age, Dubois himself had clocked 11,000 flying hours over his airline career, while his more junior counterparts had 6500 and 2900 hours respectively. Encountering severe turbulence at the time of the incident, both less experienced pilots were forced to wrestle with the aircraft in an effort to maintain correct air speed and pitch altitude.
“It is impossible today to draw conclusions about any kind of responsibility,” Air France CEO Pierre-Henri Gourgeon told a news conference on May 19. “Let’s wait until the experts give us a coherent message before heading off in one direction or another and speculating.”
Air France has since been at odds with Airbus since the June 1 2009 crash, as to who is responsible for the unfortunate chain of events that transpired. The BEA published a full report of its findings on May 27.
Airbus has since released a statement on the BEA’s findings, agreeing that “the preliminary information released by the BEA…is consistent with facts published in the BEA preliminary and interim reports.”

QF32 interim report confirms oil feed pipe manufacturing error
The ATSB has released its interim factual report into the uncontained failure of a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine on Qantas A380 flight QF32 last November, confirming that a manufacturing issue ultimately led to the failure, but not in the exact area first under suspicion.
The interim report notes that the intermediate pressure (IP) turbine failed when a manufacturing fault in the machining of an oil feed pipe resulted in a fatigue crack that in turn led to an internal oil fire and the subsequent explosive uncontained failure.
However, notes the interim factual report, “Since the ATSB’s Preliminary Report was issued, analysis of the oil feed pipe fracture surface has progressed and the investigation team has a better understanding of the failure mechanism. Technical reviews to date of the available evidence have established that the location of the fatigue cracking that was depicted in Figure 9 of the Preliminary Report is not the area of interest. The area of fatigue cracking and misaligned counter bore is now understood to be as shown in Figure 1 below [see image opposite].”
The report also notes that there were three different oil feed pipe standards in the IP turbine module case (module 51) of Trent 900 engines in service at the time of the accident, and that not just the 42 engines with the same standard early – FW48010 – oil  feed pipe as on the failed QF32 engine were at risk of the machining issue and had to be removed from service for inspection, but that 10 subsequent FW59326 and one FW64481 oil feed pipe standard fitted engines too had to be removed from service due to “oil feed pipe wall thicknesses of less than the Rolls-Royce stipulated minimum acceptance limit of 0.5mm.”
In all, 53 affected engines had to be removed from different operators’ A380s for inspection.
“The ATSB, in conjunction with the UK AAIB and Rolls-Royce, is examining the circumstances and missed opportunities with the potential to have detected the reduced wall thickness and offset counter bore of the oil feed pipe prior to, during and after the manufacture of the module 51 assemblies,” the report reads.
The ATSB says that due to the complex nature of the investigation, it won’t release a final report into the incident until May 2012. Its continuing areas of investigation includes examining airframe and systems damage, including “their effect on the aircraft’s handling and performance and on crew workload”.

Pilot lost spatial awareness in Avtex Metro accident – ATSB
The fatal crash of a Avtex Air Services Fairchild Metro III VH-OZA off the NSW coast in 2008 was likely to have been caused by pilot spatial disorientation, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has determined.
The Metro had just taken off from Sydney en route to Brisbane on a freight charter run on April 9 2008 when it crashed into the sea approximately one kilometre off Jibbons Beach on Sydney’s south. The single pilot onboard died in the accident.
“The investigation determined that it was highly likely that the pilot took off without alternating current electrical power supplied to the aircraft’s primary flight instruments, including the pilot’s artificial horizon and both flight recorders. It is most likely that the lack of a primary attitude reference during the night takeoff led to pilot spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control of the aircraft,” the ATSB said in its final report.
The ATSB said the reason for the AC failure could not be determined, and “The reason that the pilot commenced or continued the takeoff with any or all of
those warnings [indicating an issue with the AC power] displayed could not be explained.”
The ATSB also noted that: “A significant safety issue was identified in respect of the aircraft operator’s training and checking of its pilots. As a result of audits conducted following the accident, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority imposed a number of conditions on the operator’s air operator’s certificate that were reportedly actioned by the operator.”
The ATSB’s more than three year investigation into the crash was made difficult as the recovered flight data recorder contained no data from the flight in question.
CASA subsequently suspended the AOCs of Avtex and its related company Skymaster Air Services in June last year after a Skymaster PA-31P crashed onto Canley Vale Road, 6km short of Sydney’s Bankstown Airport, last June, killing the pilot and his nurse passenger.

ATC & Airspace

Thales opens CASIA global ATM research centre
Thales Australia has officially opened its CASIA air traffic management research and development centre in Melbourne.
State Minister for the Aviation Industry, Gordon Rich-Phillips, officially opened the new facility, known as the Centre for Advanced Studies in Air Traffic Management (or CASIA), on May 17. Partly funded by the Victorian government, CASIA will be used in developing next generation air traffic management systems, with Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins highlighting the lucrative export potential of the new centre.
“We have expanded to become a global powerhouse that has delivered an advanced ATM system to Australia, and secured more than $1 billion of exports to over 50 countries including China, South Africa, Mexico and the Philippines,” Jenkins said.
“CASIA is the next chapter in this story, and will play a key role in global research efforts on improving air traffic management. It will be closely integrated with research and development underway in Europe under the Single European Sky (SESAR) program and the US Next Gen ATM program, enabling world leading research from both Europe and the US to be adapted for the Asia Pacific region,” he added
Rich-Phillips also lent his support, noting the export opportunities such a centre would have in Melbourne. “The next generation air traffic management product, under way by Thales in Melbourne, will be supplied to the world market and is expected to achieve up to $1 billion in export sales for Victoria,” he said.

Airservices to begin remote tower trial at Alice Springs
Airservices Australia has signed a contract with Saab to trial remote tower technology (RTT) at Alice Springs from late 2012.
The Alice Springs remote tower will be controlled from Adelaide, 1500km to the south, with Airservices Australia acting general manager Air Traffic Control, Mark Rodwell, confident that the evaluation of the new technology will give a good indication of its viability for outback conditions.
“Unlike Europe, we will have to deal with heat, dust and very occasionally, heavy rain at our site in Alice Springs,” Rodwell said.
“Due to the cost of primary and back-up data communications in Australia, we estimate the initial operating costs of a remote tower centre are roughly the same as a traditional tower to start with, but reducing over time,” he added.
Rodwell said Airservices would extensively consult with regulators, the industry, air traffic control workforce and the community before the technology could formally be implemented, pending the trial’s success.

Airservices commissions new Sydney TAAR
Airservices Australia has commissioned its new $6 million terminal area radar (TAR) at Sydney Airport.
Part of Airservices’ national $80 million Mode S Terminal Area Radar (AMSTAR) project, the Sydney Airport TAR now provides improved surveillance of air traffic up to 256nm (474km) around Sydney with its a Mode S (select) capable monopulse secondary surveillance radar, and also features a solid state 60nm range primary radar.
“Mode S technology delivers significant benefits to Airservices and the aviation industry, including higher rates of operational availability, the quality and quantity of the data received, and less frequent maintenance requirements,” Airservices general manager Technology and Asset Services, Alastair Hodgson said.
“The upgraded radar will improve safety and ensure that extended and uncontrolled outages are kept to a minimum. The installation of a radome as part of the works will protect the equipment as well as ensuring that it doesn’t shut down during high winds and cause delays for airport operations,” he added.

User preferred routes between Melbourne and Auckland

Airservices Australia and Airways New Zealand have implemented user preferred routes (UPRs) between Melbourne and Auckland, allowing airlines to custom-design flightpaths for best efficiency for individual flights.
“Airlines will be able to make these decisions based on factors such as forecast weather, aircraft type and performance, as well as their own scheduling requirements,” Airservices acting general manager Air Traffic Control, Mark Rodwell said.
“This will enable them to fly optimised routes to achieve better flight efficiency through the use of prevailing wind patterns, delivering shorter flight times, reduced fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.”
Airservices has already introduced UPRs in lower traffic density areas such as in the Pacific and between Australia and the Middle East and South Africa, but Melbourne-Auckland is the first phase of the rollout of UPRs to the trans-Tasman.

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Boeing announces Australian leadership changes
Boeing has announced key senior leadership changes to its Australian businesses which see Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) COO Kim Gillis become vice president and managing director of BDA, and current BDA vice president and managing director John Duddy taking up the post of managing director of Boeing Aerostructures Australia (BAA).
Gillis will be responsible for all BDA activities in the global defence market, and will work with Boeing Defense, Space & Security’s head of business development for Australia, Bill Profilet. Meanwhile, Duddy will oversee BAA’s Fishermans Bend and Bankstown operations, focused on designing, testing, manufacturing and assembling aircraft structures, including composite components for commercial and military applications.
“Gillis brings a strong understanding of the Australian defence customer, making him well suited to lead Boeing Defence Australia through its next chapter,” Boeing Australia and South Pacific president Ian Thomas said in a statement.
“During Duddy’s tenure, BDA successfully executed several significant projects, including the final delivery and acceptance into service of the Vigilare and High Frequency Modernisation programs,” Thomas  added.
Duddy replaces Mark Ross, who is returning to Seattle to a new, yet to be announced, role.

SACL appoints Mather MD & CEO
Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (SACL) has announced the appointment of Kerrie Mather as managing director and CEO  of Sydney Airport, effective from July 1.
Mather, who will continue in her current role as CEO of private airport ownership group MAp, has “15 years of relevant airport sector experience”, according to SACL chairman Max Moore-Wilton. Wilton is also chairman of MAp, which currently holds a 74 per cent stake in Sydney Airport.
“We’ll be focusing our efforts on unlocking this potential to boost our competitiveness, by working more closely with the Qantas Group, Virgin Australia and all our valued airline partners, to deliver the services and products they need to serve their passengers and grow their businesses,” Mather said in a statement.
Mather replaces current CEO Russell Balding, who is leaving SACL after five years in the role.

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* Dr Warren Mundy to the board of Airservices Australia for a further three years,