Inbox

Let’s hope space somewhere can be found for it, and in Australia.

Also it will then need a band of dedicated people to look after it.

Well done to Qantas if they are offering it to a museum.

Airlines “need” the A380 says Emirates boss

Nigel says: The A380 is only a great aircraft for certain locations and airlines of the world, which unfortunately for Emirates, there are not many of.

Great medium to long-haul aircraft, however what it gains over other aircraft (787, 777, A350, A340) it loses heavily in the domain of air traffic management.

Compared to competing aircraft types, A380s require larger wake turbulence separation standards, longer runway occupancy times, larger terminals, wider runways/taxiways.

Not only is an airline paying for the A380 aircraft when one is purchased but the costs to the airport upgrading the infrastructure to cope with this aircraft make their way back to the airline and in the end the customer.

Ron Lucock says: The A380 was never intended to operate out of every airport.

But put to use in the world’s top 10-20 slot-constrained airports, the capacity increase frees up slots for other aircraft like the 787 to go where the A380 can’t.

And if we’re talking about dried-up orders, how many 747-8Is have Boeing sold in 2014? I doubt any either.

The A380 is only a great aircraft for certain locations and airlines.

The 747 almost sent Boeing broke when it first designed & introduced it.

Yet it’s out-lived its iconic launch customer (Pan Am), out-lived oil shocks, GFCs, & over 40 years later is still in service.

A big plane needs time.

I respect Airbus, but any exec that would kill the A380 by 2018 has no balls whatsoever.

Badgerys Creek to get new environmental assessment

Grant says: Feds should never be allowed to build anything as the cost blow-out will be to much for the country to carry.

Another report is not necessary, give it too Wagners to build, at least it will happen in my lifetime at a cost we can afford, better still give it to Wagners to manage and keep the other mob (SAC) out.

Wagners are a proven team of can-do people.

Canberra commissioning marks new era in ADF amphibious warfare

Ben says: Absolutely a big ship.

She dwarfs everything at Fleet Base East.

Watched a MRH 90 Taipan being towed along the flightdeck today.

Pretty awesome sight.

Office of Transport Security looking at new approach to airport security

David says: When or how quickly can you get rid of the silly 20,000kg MTOW limit which allows 50-seater Dash 8-300s to avoid security, but not 50-seater Fokker 50s because of slightly different MTOW – just under 20,000kg vs just over 20,000kg! Regional airports are suffering as security adds enormous costs, when some airports might only have one flight a day, which therefore might just be viable without high security costs, but are not viable with them.