Air NZ slated to begin Queenstown night flights

“We have been working collaboratively with the regulator, Queenstown Airport, our pilots and safety teams and unions to finalise a thorough operator safety case which will be submitted to the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority in the near future,” Air NZ chief of flight operations and safety officer Captain David Morgan said.

In May 2014, New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granted provisional approval for Queenstown Airport to extend its operating hours into night flight operations, subject to the airport meeting a number of conditions such as runway improvements and the installation of a comprehensive aeronautical lighting package.

Construction work began in November 2015 and is expected to be completed by April 2016. Other requirements from the NZ CAA and Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) also included a customised crew selection and training package; employing the full capability of the existing RNP (required navigation performance) technology; and changes to onboard flight procedures to reduce pilot workload on final approach.

Transport Canada certifies CS100

Transport Canada has certified Bombardier’s CS100, clearing the way for the manufacturer to deliver the first aircraft to launch customer Swiss in the second quarter of 2016.

The CS100 concluded its flight test program in November 2015, some two years and two months after the aircraft program’s first flight on September 16 2013.

During that time, Bombardier conducted more than 3,000 hours of flight testing.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president Fred Cromer described it as a historic moment for the Canada-based manufacturer. “Bringing to market the only new family of aircraft developed for the 100- to 150-seat market segment in close to 30 years is a standout accomplishment,” Cromer said in a statement on December 21. “The C Series aircraft is now well on its way to opening up new opportunities for operators, while delivering unrivalled economic advantages, performance, and environmental credentials. It’s the new reality for the single-aisle market.”

The C Series is a clean-sheet family of single-aisle aircraft pitched at the 100- to 149-seat market.

The CS100 was designed to carry 110 passengers in a twoclass configuration, while the larger CS300 has capacity for 135 passengers in a business and economy layout and was a direct competitor to the Airbus A319neo and Boeing 737 MAX 7.

Bombardier said it had 603 booked orders and commitments for the CSeries, including 243 firm orders.

Swiss has ordered 20 CS100 and 10 CS300s. “Today we salute everyone that has dedicated years of service and commitment to developing the C Series aircraft and I wish to personally thank all our customers, partners, suppliers and more than 2,300 employees at various Bombardier facilities for their contributions to the program,” Bombardier Commercial Aircraft vice president for the C Series Aircraft Program Rob Dewar said.

“While we shift this same focus and dedication towards ensuring a flawless entry-into-service alongside first operator SWISS – with first delivery planned in the second quarter of 2016 – we also look forward to continuing demo flights to showcase this magnificent aircraft to airlines and other interested operators around the world.”

The CS300 was “on track to obtain its type certificate within the next six months as planned”, Bombardier said.

Truss leaves politics

Warren Truss, the minister who unlike so many of his predecessors managed to get work started building an airport at Badgerys Creek, has resigned from parliament.

The veteran politician stepped down as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, as well as leader of the National Party, on February 11.

Truss told parliament in his farewell speech he retires hopeful of being able to see the Badgerys Creek airport up and running. “When you leave, there is a lot of unfinished business,” Truss told parliament in his farewell speech. “I would particularly love to have been here for the landing of the first aircraft at Badgerys Creek airport. But that would be another 10 years.

“It will be 2025, and I hope I am still alive to see it land for the first time. That is a project that I have been very excited about and delighted to have been a part of bringing to fruition.”

First elected to parliament in 1990 as the member for Wide Bay, Truss became leader of National Party of Australia in 2007 and has had two stints at Transport Minister. During this most recent term, Truss ordered an independent review of Australia’s aviation regulatory system – the Aviation Safety Regulatory Review – oversaw change at the top of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and called for a fresh inquiry into the Pel-Air Westwind corporate jet ditching off the coast of Norfolk Island in 2009, after the original report was strongly criticised in an independent review.

Trade Minister Andrew Robb, who with Truss forged new bilateral services agreements with the likes of Canada, Chile, China, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates, also announced his resignation from parliament.