Preflight

“The partnership with Emirates has opened up 32 destinations on the Qantas domestic network, making travel to and within Australia easy for visitors and providing tourism operators with new opportunities from international tourists visiting the country,” Qantas International CEO Simon Hickey said. “Outside our city gateways, international customers have purchased an average of five times more fares to the top regional centres including Cairns and Hobart than under our previous partnership arrangements for Europe, and we have seen a significant increase in bookingsfor new codeshare destinations including Alice Springs, Darwin and Townsville. ” But the airline has not revealed any financial benefits of the alliance.

“It was about providing a network for our customers so that we could keep our customers with us,” Hickey subsequently told the Australian Financial Review. “It wasn’t about finding a pot of gold where there previously wasn’t one. ” And recent comments by Emirates Airline president, the newly-knighted Sir Tim Clark, suggest the alliance is yet to reach its full potential.

“The partnership is doing what we thought it would do,” Sir Tim told British newspaper The Telegraph in a March 22 interview. “It hasn’t helped that they have had problems. When that happens to a relativelysmall group, there are other things that fall slightly by the wayside. I’m not saying for a moment that Alan [Joyce] has let our relationship between the two companies and the endgame . . . slip, it’s just that he has got quite a tough situation on his hands. ” The paper reported that earlier in March Clark had visited Qantas CEO Alan Joyce in Sydney for their “first get-together of any real flesh” since the alliance launched.

The alliance operates 98 flights a week from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to Dubai and on to the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Of those, Qantas operates daily Sydney-Dubai-London (QF1/QF2) and Melbourne-Dubai-London (QF9/10) flights with A380s.

John Holland Aviation Services shuts up shop

Ex-Ansett facility set to close

John Holland Aviation Services (JHAS) looks set to be shut down, with the company announcing on March 14 that it is “winding back” operations at its Melbourne Tullamarine heavy maintenance base due to “current market conditions”.

John Holland Group managing director Glenn Palin said in a statement that: “After owning JHAS for seven years, we are focusing John Holland on our infrastructure, rail and specialist engineering capabilities. ” The company will now seek to sell the Tullamarine facility, the former Ansett heavy maintenance base, with Palin saying that: “A number of potential purchasers have previously expressed interest in various parts of our business. ” The company did not put a figure on the number of jobs that will be lost, but according to media reports the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union has estimated 230 jobs will go, comprising 150 at Tullamarine and others at Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane, and that the Tullamarine facility will be closed by June.

Leighton Holdings-owned John Holland acquired the former Ansett Aviation Engineering Services in 2007 for $10 million. In 2013 JHAS lost major maintenance contracts for Jetstar (which moved more maintenance in-house), Virgin Australia and Tigerair (which launched BAE Systems’ Australian civil aircraft maintenance business).

BNE releases draft master plan for comment

As curfew proposal nixed, Aviation Australia signs new long-term lease

millionBrisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) released its Preliminary Draft Master Plan for the future development of the airport on March 31 for public comment.

Brisbane Airport says the plan, which encompasses up to $2. 5 billion of investment in the airport’s infrastructure over the next two decades, would ensure airport planning addresses industry demand and growth, while focusing on achieving a balance between economic development, sound environmental management and sustainability.

“We have looked at the 2,700 hectares that encompasses Brisbane Airport to see where we can best plan for the future. Whether it’s a bike path, new road or terminal expansion, every aspect is addressed within the Master Plan,” BAC CEO and managing director Julieanne Alroe said. “While the Master Plan is the blueprint for development to meet future demand, it also forms the platform for BAC’s ongoing contribution to the local, state and national economy over coming decades and we welcome input from our community about these plans. ” The plan provides for annual passenger movements to more than double to 48 million by 2034; for airfield and terminal expansion including the second parallel runway to the northwest of the current main runway; for commercial development of five business sub-precincts; for airspace protection and aircraft noise management; and a ground transport plan.

The release of the Master Plan comes just a week after BAC welcomed the federal government’s decision not to place a curfew on the airport. Alroe said imposing a curfew would have damaged Queensland’s tourism industry and limited the state’s economic growth, and that the airport would not only meet aircraft noise mitigation targets but intended to exceed them. She pointed out that a review of round-the-clock operations at Brisbane Airport has shown that introducing an overnight curfew would not address the majority of noise complaints, which mostly relate to the evening and morning hours.

“A curfew would simply have pushed more traffic into those hours,” she said. “The long-term solution to overnight aircraft noise is our new parallel runway, which will provide air traffic control with the option of directing all incoming and outbound aircraft over the bay during the night-time hours. We are investing more than $1. 3 billion in building the runway and after it is operational in 2020, we expect that those who are currently experiencing overnight aircraft over their homes will notice the difference. ” Long-term tenant of Brisbane, Aviation Australia was quick to express confidence in the airport’s plans by signing a new long-term lease to develop a new 4,450m2 facility near its existing facilities at the airport. Due for completion in 2015, the new building will comprise a two-level corporate office, 24 lecture rooms and a technical training centre.

“Our existing training facilities developed with BAC in 2001 are world-class – housing extensive training equipment and learning platforms tailored for the aviation industry,” Aviation Australia CEO Bill Horrocks said. “The new training facility will accommodate an additional 600 students and the new 545m2 canteen and outdoor dining area will be a great amenity for the wider precinct. ”

Skytrax names Auckland best in region

Auckland Airport has been named the best airport in the Australia-Pacific region for the sixth year in a row, beating out Sydney and Brisbane at the 2014 Skytrax World Airport Awards.

The airport also picked up the best airport staff service in Australia-Pacific for the third year in a row, the second best airport in the world serving 10-20leasemillion passengers behind Vancouver, and the 11th best airport overall.

The best airport overall was won by Singapore Changi ahead of Seoul Incheon and Munich, while London Heathrow’s T5 picked up the Best Terminal award ahead of Singapore Changi T3 and Tokyo Haneda International Terminal.

Sydney came fifth in the best airport serving 30-40 million passengers, Brisbane and Melbourne came third and fourth respectively in the 20-30 million passengers category, while the Gold Coast Airport came fifth in the 5-10 million passengers category.

Cessna announces new Citation CJ3+

Cessna has announced a new model for its extensive Citation product line, the CJ3+.

The new CJ3+ will feature a fully integrated Garmin G3000 avionics suite, new interiors with a redesigned cabin and cockpit, and new pressurisation and diagnostics systems.

The nine-seat CJ3+ is expected to receive FAA certification during the second half of 2014.

Lear 85 flies

The first Bombardier Learjet 85 made its maiden flight from the company’s Wichita facility on April 9.

The aircraft, designated FTV1, took off at 8. 19am CST and flew for two hours and 19 minutes, reaching an altitude of 30,000ft and a speed of 250kt. The company says “all flight controls were exercised with the systems and aircraft performing as expected. ” The Lear 85 is the largest and fastest Learjet to date. Powered by two 6,100lb P&WC PW307B engines it is designed to cruise at M0. 82 with a range of “approximately” 3,000nm.

Airbus extends Tianjin A320 FAL agreement, Boeing ramps up 737 rate

Chinese FAL to assemble A320neo from 2017

Airbus and the Chinese government have expanded their agreement to assemble the A320 airliner at its Tianjin final assembly line (FAL) with an extension of 10 years to the joint venture.

The agreement was signed in Paris by Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Brégier and members of a Chinese delegation, and was witnessed by French President Francois Hollande and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Tianjin FAL is a direct replica of Airbus’s A320 Family FAL at Hamburg in Germany.

Airbus says the new agreement will see Airbus strengthen its cooperation with the Chinese aviation industry including promoting Tianjin as an Asian Centre for Airbus and upgrading industrial cooperation. The Phase II agreement will cover the period from 2016 to 2025 and will see deliveries of Chinese-assembled A320neos expanded to the whole Asian region, and will include final assembly of the A320neo Family from 2017 onwards. To this end, the capabilities of the Tianjin FAL will be extended.

As part of the agreement signing, China announced it will buy 70 Airbus airliners including 43 A320 Family aircraft and 27 A330s.

Meanwhile, the first Boeing 737NG to be produced at the increased rate of 42 aircraft per month has rolled off the production line in Renton, Washington.

The aircraft, a 737-800 which is owned by Air Berlin but will be sub-leased to Transavia in France, will be test flown and undergo functional and systems tests at nearby Boeing Field before delivery was due in mid-April.

The rate increase coincides with a number of orders for the still strong-selling 737NG in recent weeks, including Japan Air Lines subsidiary Japan Transocean Air plus Air Canada, which completed contract negotiations for 61 new 737MAXs in early April.

The production rate matches that of Airbus’s A320 Family, and comes just one month after Airbus announced it was raising its A320 production rate to an unprecedented 46 per month by the middle of 2016. Airbus currently builds the A320 at a rate of 42 per month, and will step up to 44 per month by early 2016.

CASA extends Cessna inspection deadline

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has extended its original deadlines for a series of inspections of Cessna 100, 200, 300 and 400 series aircraft, and has published a phased timetable for operators to complete the necessary work.

“CASA is aware of the current compliance timeframes for Cessna SIDs [supplemental inspection documents] and the difficulty that may be encountered in immediately complying with them,” the regulator says in a new airworthiness bulletin.

CASA says new details about the structural inspection requirements have been provided by industry. The SIDs were developed by Cessna and the US Federal Aviation Administration due to concerns that critical principal structural elements of aircraft are susceptible to fatigue or corrosion damage.

CASA says the inspections will affect about 3,600 aircraft registered in Australia, with the new timetables ranging from December 31 2014 for Cessna 300/400 aircraft, to June 30 2016 for Cessna 100 aircraft. Assembly of the first A320neo is underway at Airbus’s Toulouse facility with the joining of the forward and aft fuselage sections in March. The forward fuselage of European-assembled A320s is built at Airbus’s Saint Nazaire, France plant, while the rear fuselage is built in Hamburg.

Airbus says final assembly was to take about one month, with first flight planned for the fourth quarter of this year and first delivery in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Airbus reports over 2,600 neo orders from 50 customers.

Boeing to reduce Port Melbourne workforce

Boeing Aerostructures Australia will reduce up to 300 contract positions from its Port Melbourne workforce of about 1,300 by the end of the year.

The workers, all of whom were employed on fixed-term contracts during the ramp-up production phase of the 787 and 777 composite structures, will no longer be required as production of composite components for its commercial aircraft stabilises.

“This was always our intention when the company’s aircraft programs stabilised at full production rates,” Boeing spokesman Chaz Bicker told Fairfax Media. “Reducing employment on these programs is a natural part of the manufacturing cycle. However, we will work to minimise the overall number through natural attrition and by not filling open positions. We will continue to hire for the critical skills to meet our delivery commitments, and are taking steps to make existing contractors full-time employees where possible. ” Union officials criticised elements of the media for overreacting to news of the redundancies, and defended Boeing’s record. “I believe it’s a cyclical part of their operations where they have been setting up their manufacturing plant in Port Melbourne,” Manufacturing Workers Union’s Craig Kelly said. “So it doesn’t appear to be any sort of decline. ”

Lightning Viper

Aggressor F-16s descend on Amberley, writes Lenn Bayliss

Exercise Lightning Viper took place out of RAAF Amberley between March 4 and 24. Designed to allow the RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet aircrew and supporting E-7A Wedgetail air battle managers the opportunity to practice large force employment tactics against highly experienced adversaries, the exercise saw the deployment to Amberley of 10 F-16C Block 30 aircraft under command of Lieutenant Colonel Phil Stodick from the United States Air Force 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force base in Alaska.

Commanding Officer of 1 Squadron RAAF, Wing Commander Stephen Chappell, identified that the ‘Lightning’ series of exercises focus on tactics, techniques and procedures development for the fighter fleet. The addition of ‘Viper’ to this exercise reflects the participation of the F-16, which is unofficially nicknamed the ‘Viper’. For WGCDR Chappell and his USAF counterpart this was a reunion of sorts as both have previously flown together with the 65th Aggressor Squadron on F-15s out of Nellis AFB in Nevada.

The exercise took place in a large chunk of airspace from Tweed Heads to Coffs Harbour and out to sea with the units fighting over 50,000km2 of airspace. 1SQN, with its F/A-18F Super Hornets undertook the role of the ‘good guys’ blue force while, in general, the aggressor F-16s undertook the ‘red air’ against them. Lt Col Stodick noted that advance planning with RAAF identified what the RAAF wanted to achieve and the aggressors had to ramp up theirtactics to meet that requirement, observing “the Super Hornet is a tough aircraft to fight”.

For Lt Col Stodick this is his third tour with an aggressor unit. This highlights the experience embedded in the aggressor units. “Our people have usually gone to an operational unit and either been to Afghanistan or Iraq before posting to an aggressor unit, they bring with them the experience that is needed to train other aircrew for the next fight. The ultimate objective is to make sure these guys are ready to go to war and make sure they are the best at what they do,” he observed.

WGCDR Chappell summed up the Australian perspective. “We conducted both air to ground and fighter sweep scenarios, the aggressors play red air and try to stop us penetrating the airspace. It’s an objective test of our tactics, techniques and procedures against a highly experienced and skilled adversary. The experience brings an extra edge to the training, flying against highly experienced aircrew. ” Painted in several colourful aggressor schemes there was no mistaking the F-16s over the skies of Amberley – gone was the usual USAF grey toned-down colours, replaced by a variety of schemes such as the ‘Arctic’ colours seen by the public on F-16C 86-290, on display at the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre Open Day on March 16.

Replicating the capabilities of various aircraft platforms and by using tactics, techniques and procedures of other forces and aircraft, the aggressors are full-time specialists in providing a highly realistic simulation of other aircraft and their tactics. Lt Col Stodick observed: “In the F-16 we will change how we operate the radar and the aircraft systems to replicate a wide variety of aircraft. ” The 18th Aggressor Squadron, as part of the USAF Pacific Air Force, regularly contributes to the training of US and allied forces. In addition to the 18th Aggressor Squadron the USAF operates two other Squadrons in the ‘aggressor’ role, the 64th Aggressor Squadron flying the F-16C out of Nellis and the 65th Aggressor Squadron flying the F-15C Eagle, also out of Nellis.

This deployment saw the squadron deploy initially to Guam for Exercise Cope North and then on to RAAF Base Amberley for Exercise Lightning Viper. They will return to Eielson via Guam and home to a deep winter, a considerable contrast to their experiences in both Guam and Amberley. For Lt Col Stodick this deployment was his last as the commanding officer of the 18th Aggressor Squadron. “I’m headed back to Nellis where I will continue to work with the aggressor units. ” The aggressors support during the exercise brought to 1SQN at Amberley a realistic experience of opposition air combat that is usually only obtained by the RAAF when deployed on overseas exercises such as Red Flag. Who won the air battle? With the value of the realistic and skilled training perhaps both units were the winners.

NG sponsors 2014 UAV Outback Challenge

Northrop Grumman has announced it will sponsor the 2014 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Outback Challenge competition in August.

The challenge is held near Kingaroy in Queensland, and requires students to design, build and fly a UAV capable of conducting search and rescue operations or delivering life-saving supplies to a typical lost or injured individual, in this case a dummy known as ‘Outback Joe’.

As part of its support, Northrop Grumman will also continue its partnership with Canberra’s Dickson College to mentor students in developing their own UAV to participate in the competition.

“Australia is a country of innovators and we see UAV applications in areas of environmental monitoring, humanitarian relief, search and rescue and disaster relief operations, not just defence,” said Ian Irving, CEO of Northrop Grumman Australia.

The UAV Outback Challenge is a joint government, industry and research organisation initiative between the Queensland government, the Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation, Aviation Development Australia, and the Associations for Unmanned Vehicle Systems Australia.

More F-35 work for Australia

Marand celebrates first completed vertical tail, Rockwell Collins, Levett win new work

Melbourne-based Marand celebrated the manufacture of the first Australian-made F-35 Lightning II vertical tail on April 1.

The milestone is a significant one for Marand and BAE Systems, which subcontracted the work, marking the start of production of up to 722 shipsets of vertical tails for the aircraft. Premier of Victoria Dr Denis Napthine and Senator Michael Ronaldson attended the ceremony marking the occasion at Marand’s facility in Melbourne.

“This is a major step for Marand to move into the field of aerostructures manufacturing,” Marand managing director David Ellul said. “I am very proud of our team for achieving so much in such a short time, with tremendous support from BAE Systems. The unique capability we have established will serve the Australian defence industry and create high-technology Australian jobs for many years to come. ” Added Cliff Robson of BAE Systems: “We take our commitment to international participation very seriously, and today is a very proud day for us, for Marand and for Australia’s F-35 program. In just two years, we have worked side by side with Marand to develop a world-class aerostructure facility with a first-rate, repeatable capability for the next 20 to 30 years. ” Marand is also the sole source of the F-35’s engine removal and installation trailer.

Less than a week after the Marand milestone, systems manufacturer Rockwell Collins announced it has signed a long-term agreement with Northrop Grumman to expand the manufacturing of optical assemblies for the Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) on the Lockheed Martin F-35.

The company says it is currently qualifying its facility in Melbourne to produce the assemblies as an alternate source supplier to its existing facility at Carlsbad in California.

“With the support and investment of the Commonwealth of Australia, we’re proud to be on the path to be manufacturing 40 percent of this vital assembly in Australia,” Nick Gibbs, managing director of Australia for Rockwell Collins said in a statement. “Our employees are very excited to be part of the F-35 supply chain with our new state-of-the-art precision optics manufacturing capability. ” Pratt & Whitney has also announced the awarding of a contract to South Australian firm Levett Engineering to manufacture components for F135 engines for the F-35. The new contract covers bearing housings, covers, and related mechanical system components and has a potential value of approximately $200 million over the life of the F-35 program. This is in addition to a previous contract from P&W to manufacture second and third-stage turbine vane tubes and covers for the F135.

“This award reaffirms Pratt & Whitney’s commitment to F135 engine industrial participation in Australia,” Howie Chandler, vice president, Military Engines, business development at P&W said. “Levett competed globally and was selected as the best value supplier of these engine components, and continues to be a valuable part of our global supply chain for the F135 engine. ” Paul Levett, managing director of Levett Engineering added: “We are delighted to have earned the trust of Pratt & Whitney to manufacture and deliver these key components for the F135 engine. As a small to medium enterprise, we are focused on delivering high-quality products at competitive prices. Our contribution to the F135 engine helps ensure jobs and technology know-how remain an essential part of our local industry, and a key support to the needs of the ADF. ” The announcements coincided with a visit to Australia of Lockheed Martin’s full-scale F-35A mockup. The mockup was one of the highlights of the Canberra Airport Open Day on April 6, and also saw duty at the Centenary of Military Aviation Airshow at Point Cook in March, as well as the ceremony to mark the delivery of the vertical tail at Marand.

The mockup’s visit comes as the federal government contemplates ordering up to a further 58 F-35s, on top of the 14 already approved, to replace the RAAF’s classic Hornets. A decision was expected in late April. Boeing says it will now close its C-17 Globemaster III production line at Long Beach in Los Angeles in mid-2015 instead of the previously announced “late-2015” due to a slight reduction in orders.

The company says the three-month “adjustment” is based on “current market trends and the timing of expected orders. ” Boeing has delivered 262 C-17s to date, including 223 to the USAF. Foreign operators include Australia, Canada, the UK, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, India, and the eastern European Strategic Airlift Capability consortium, and a backlog of 17 aircraft is due to be delivered before the plant closes. The Australian inventor of the back box flight recorder, Dr David Warren, has been honoured by the naming of a new Department of Defence building in Canberra.

The naming of the Defence Science & Technology Organisation’s (DSTO) new Canberra headquarters at Brindabella Park was announced by the Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert.

Said chief defence scientist Dr Alex Zelinsky: “Over the years DSTO has developed deep expertise in the forensic examination of Defence aircraft accidents and strategies to prevent their recurrence. This is the legacy of David Warren’s work. ” Dr Warren invented the black box flight recorder in the mid-1950s when employed at one of DSTO’s predecessor organisations, the Aeronautical Research Laboratory at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne.

Royal Brunei starts 787 services to Melbourne

Royal Brunei Airlines has commenced its ‘Betterfly’ 787 Dreamliner services between Melbourne and London Heathrow via Brunei and Dubai.

The first 787 touched down at Melbourne at 5. 50am on April 3 and was met by the airline’s chief commercial and planning officer Karam Chand, country manager Australia Brett McDougall, and airport manager Brett Abercrombie.

“Australia represents an important market for Royal Brunei and the long-awaited arrival of our Dreamliner will serve to cement our growing status as a real competitor in this market,” said deputy chairman Dermot Mannion. “We have been operating a service to [Melbourne] for three years but with this launch, Royal Brunei Airlines now becomes the first airline in the world to offer an exclusive Dreamliner service on all long-haul flights which again is a testament to our ambition to offer a truly personal and award-winning service to all passengers. ”

Qantas opens new Hong Kong lounge

Qantas opened the doors to its new Qantas Hong Kong Lounge on April 4.

The airline says the multi-million dollar refurbished lounge seats 300 guests, has 12 showers, a family zone and a “flexible working area”, and “delivers on Qantas’s ongoing commitment to creating the besttravel experiences for its customers. ” “The new Hong Kong Lounge is testament to our continued investment in the lounge and inflight experiences right across our network,” Qantas International CEO Simon Hickey said. “The Hong Kong Lounge is stylish and contemporary, designed to reflect the colour, vibrancy and luxury of Hong Kong. It’s the perfect environment for our customers to relax and work before their flight. All of our flights from Hong Kong to Australia are overnight, so we know customers will enjoy being able to dine in the lounge before they fly so they can maximise their sleep onboard. ” The Hong Kong Lounge builds on the design and function of the recently upgraded Qantas Singapore Lounge, with consulting chef Neil Perry’s menus again featuring.

The airline has also partnered with hotelier Sofitel to offer a service experience similar to that offered in its Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore lounges.

New Melbourne ATC tower officially opened

Melbourne Airport’s new air traffic control tower was officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss and Airservices chairman Angus Houston on March 14. The 75 metre-tall tower was built at a cost of $19 million. Operational since November, it is the fourth new Airservices tower to feature INTAS – Integrated Tower Automation Suite – technology that combines flight and operational data, surveillance and voice communications.

“The design and location of the new tower takes into account existing and future development at the airport and enhances our capability, ensuring that we are well placed to meet anticipated growth into the future,” Airservices CEO Margaret Staib said.

Qantas re-jigs FF scheme, targets SMEs

Earn rate changes spark controversy

Qantas has announced changes to the way passengers can earn points and status credits on its frequent flyer scheme, and has also launched its Aquire loyalty scheme aimed at small to medium enterprises (SMEs).

To take effect from July 1, passengers will now receive additional points and status credits when they book flexible fares, but the amount of points earned on lower fares will be reduced. The current miles-based system will also be changed to a zone-based system, where the airline’s network including that of its partners will be divided into 22 flight regions. Each region or zone will provide a set number of points, dependant on what type of fare is booked.

For example, a flight between Sydney and Melbourne will earn 1,000 points and 20 status credits on a discount economy airfare, 1,375 points and 25 status credits on a standard economy fare, and 1,750 points and 40 status credits on a flexible economy fare.

Frequent Flyer members were sent an email explaining the basics of the changes, and a link to the Qantas website which explains the new structure in more detail.

The new Aquire scheme, meanwhile, is aimed at SMEs and will allow them to earn rewards for everyday business expenses. Aquire has already seen nearly 30,000 businesses pre-register and will allow SMEs to build an Aquire Points balance from everyday eligible business transactions including travel, banking, insurance and parking.

First Nextant 400XTi on Australian register

Nextant Aerospace’s Nextant 400XTi has become the latest business aircraft type on the Australian civil register after its recent certification by CASA.

Nextant specialises in remanufacturing Beech 400 business jets and recently announced it would soon release a remanufactured King Air G90XT turboprop (powered by General Electric H75 engines and featuring the Garmin G1000 avionics suite).

The 400XTi is a completely rebuilt Beechjet 400A/XP with Williams FJ44-3AP engines and the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite. It also features major aerodynamic enhancements and an improved engine mounting configuration with redesigned nacelles and pylons.

CASA certification allowed the first 400XTi, VH-OVS, to be placed on the Australian register in mid-February. VH-OVS is in quick-change air ambulance configuration which can be converted from VIP to air ambulance or back in less than 45 minutes.

“Australia has a proud tradition of aeromedical operations,” said John Oppenheim, managing director of local sales agent Nextant Pacific. “Australia is home to some of the world’s largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisations. With the 400XTi air ambulance applications and a launch of G90XT air ambulance application expected later this year, we are prepared to meet strong demand for these products in the region. ” Before forming Nextant Pacific, which is Nextant’s exclusive sales agent for South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Oppenheim held senior sales roles with Hawker Pacific.

Jetstar launches BNE-HNL as Hawaiian adds fourth frequency

Jetstar has announced it will commence direct flights between Brisbane and Honolulu from December 15.

Jetstar says the flights, which are still subject to regulatory approval, will initially be operated by Airbus A330 equipment, but will switch to 787s as that fleet grows. Two flights per week will operate in the regular season with a third to be added during peak periods.

“With the addition of this new connection from Brisbane, Jetstar offers more seats from Brisbane and Queensland than any other low fares carrier,” Jetstar Australia and NZ CEO David Hall said. “Jetstar has been offering long-haul low fares between Sydney and Hawaii since 2006, and last year we introduced nonstop services to Honolulu from Melbourne. Hawaii is one of the most popular destinations on our network and we’re delighted to be giving more Aussies the chance to experience this part of the world. ” The announcement came just days after Hawaiian Airlines launched a fourth weekly service to Brisbane on March 31.

The new service departs Honolulu on Monday mornings and arrives in Brisbane on Tuesday afternoons, before returning to Honolulu later that morning for a same day arrival, and will add an additional 20,000 new seats per year to the route.

The new service has also seen the existing services adjusted, with Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday departures from Honolulu, and Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday departures from Brisbane.

Hawaiian is the only US carrier to operate flights to Brisbane.

Air NZ renews Cook Islands agreement

Air New Zealand has extended its agreement with the Cook Islands government to operate non-stop services from Rarotonga to Los Angeles and to Sydney, firming up the November 2013 decision that the airline was the preferred bidder for the services.

The airline has operated the services since 2007 and 2010 respectively, and has extended the arrangement for a further four years from late this year.

“The agreements ensure that visitors from both the Northern Hemisphere and Australia have convenient travel options that allow them to experience this island paradise in person,” Air New Zealand Manager Pacific Islands Peter Walsh said. “We are honoured to renew these two four-year agreements to operate to Los Angeles and Sydney from Rarotonga. ” Air New Zealand says it carried about 200,000 people to Rarotonga from Auckland, Sydney and Los Angeles in 2013.

First TBM 900 delivered

DAHER-SOCATA launched its new TBM 900 in March, the latest member of its TBM family of single-engine turboprop business aircraft.

The new aircraft retains airframe commonality with the TBM 850 – including its PT6A-66D powerplant from Pratt & Whitney Canada – but its top cruise speed has been increased to 330kt at 28,000ft, its maximum range extended to 1,730nm with five passengers, and an improved climb rate which enables the aircraft to reach its operating ceiling of 31,000ft in 18 minutes, 45 seconds.

The aircraft incorporates 26 changes over the TBM 850 model, including improved aerodynamics through the addition of winglets, a vertical tailfin strake, and a new tail cone; a new five-blade composite propeller and redesigned spinner; and a redesigned engine cowl and engine bay for improved engine airflow circulation.

Also new is improved HMI [human-machine interface] features including new control yoke and a restyled instrument panel; a revised cockpit centre pedestal with a single-control throttle operation and new torque limiter; a revamped electrical system with 300-amp starter generator; and improved passenger comfort from lower cabin noise levels, new seats and an automated pressurisation system.

The first two production TBM 900s were delivered to their customers at a ceremony at Fantasy of Flight Park in Florida on March 24. The ceremony was attended by Patrick Daher, chairman and CEO of DAHER, Stephane Mayer, CEO of DAHER-SOCATA, and Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of DAHER-SOCATA’s Airplane Business Unit.

“The new TBM 900 is aligned with this commitment, and has everything a customer could expect,” said Larry Glazer, chairman of the TBM Owners and Pilots Association and one of the TBM 900’s first customers. “It incorporates an all-glass cockpit, cruises faster, climbs faster, is quieter, better looking and just plain sexier. ”

CASA simplifies flying training regs

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority says it is simplifying the regulations that cover flying training organisations following a review of Part 141 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations.

CASA says the simplification of the rules and requirements will cut red tape and reduce costs for about 300 flying training schools across Australia, and estimates the changes will lower costs in the flying training industry by nearly $2 million a year.

Optimal safety outcomes for flying training will be maintained by retaining the core elements of the new Part 141 which covers flying training for recreational, private and commercial pilot licences, ratings and endorsements for single-pilot aircraft. It does not extend to intensive integrated training for private and commercial licences, which is contained in Part 142 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations.

The new regulations which include Part 141 will take effect from September 1 2014, and simplification of the requirements will be made before the new regulations come into effect.

“I am very pleased the new regulations in Part 141 can be simplified and made less costly while at the same time maintaining high safety outcomes,” CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety, John McCormick said. “Naturally, safety can never be jeopardised in the pursuit of simpler regulations but with hard work the two outcomes can be achieved. ”