Alliance spreads its wings

The move is the latest initiative to transition from an mainly charter and fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) operator to a “broad based aviation business” with a diversified revenue stream that covered charter opportunities in tourism, aircraft sales, wet and dry leasing and spare parts sales.

Schofield says the challenge has been to ensure its bread and butter FIFO work has not suffered as Alliance sought new opportunities.

“If I was to pat ourselves on the back I think one of our strengths has been really for a few years now we have been talking about a strategy of diversification.”

“Fly-in/fly-out for the resources sector always has been and always will be one of the fundamental pillars for the business so you need to continue to focus on that and deliver the expertise that we think we bring there,” Schofield told Australian Aviation in an interview.

The RPT services are just one part of Alliance’s work with Virgin.

The company also also operates some regional Queensland services on behalf of Virgin via a wet-lease arrangement, which is ongoing.

Meanwhile, in May the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) approved the proposed Virgin/Alliance charter partnership for joint tendering on corporate FIFO contracts, as well as cooperation in operational and commercial areas.

Schofield said the alliance was only its formative stages.

“Given it was only a fairly recently that we received ACCC tick of approval, we are in the process now of implementing that,” Schofield said.

“The advantages out of that aren’t yet fully apparent.”

While Alliance has operated RPT flights in the early years of the company, in recent times its flying has been charter services.

The opportunity to return to scheduled services would not have come without the support of Virgin, which Schofield said would generate “effectively all” ticket sales for the three routes.

“That’s really the attraction of it,” Schofield said.

“For RPT to succeed it does need to be in the global distribution systems (GDS) among other things and it does need to have a big distribution presence that Virgin has.

“Although a codeshare is the most accurate description of it, in reality we are relying on having their flight numbers and the VA code and the flights being available through Virgin.”

The Alliance flights will operate out of the Virgin terminal at Brisbane Airport, with passengers checking in at the Virgin counters. Web and mobile checkin will be offered on all Alliance flights.

Virgin is withdrawing eight of its 14 ATR 72-500/600s and ending turboprop operations in Queensland as part of its fleet simplification and cost reduction efforts. As a result, it will cease flying from Brisbane to Bundaberg, Gladstone and Port Macquarie.

However, the airline is able to continue to offer those destinations through the codeshare partnership with Alliance.

Further, members of Virgin’s frequent flyer program will continue to earn points and status credits on Alliance-operated services, while eligible members would still receive benefits such as lounge access and priority handling.

Bundaberg and Port Macquarie will be served daily, while there will be 17 flights a week on the Brisbane-Gladstone route.

While Virgin and Alliance said in May the heads of agreement would also cover the Brisbane-Moranbah route, Alliance said on its website jet services to Moranbah were “subject to consultation with Isaac Regional Council and BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance”.

Alliance’s Fokker 70 regional jets are are fitted with 80 seats in a 2-3 layout with 33in pitch in an all-economy configuration. By contrast, Virgin’s turboprops have 68 seats.

Schofield said Alliance currently had eight Fokker 70s in service, with three more being brought in from its Fokker fleet based in Europe that was acquired in November 2015.

CASA “reboots” industry Consultation

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) plans to set up a new consultative body to better obtain the views of industry.

The Aviation Safety Advisory Panel will comprise representatives from the Australian Airports Association, the Australian Aviation Associations Forum, Recreational Aviation Australia, the Regional Aviation Association of Australia, Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia.

Described as a “reboot” of its consultation processes, CASA said the changes would “streamline consultation and ensure the aviation community is directly involved in the early setting of safety and regulatory objectives and policies”.

The Aviation Safety Advisory Panel was established on July 1. The aviation safety regulator said the new consultation arrangements followed a review of the approach taken by similar bodies globally, advice from a working group of the Standards Consultative Committee and discussions with key aviation representative groups and organisations.

CASA director of aviation safety and chief executive Shane Carmody said the new body would be “the forum through which we seek to agree on the objectives and policy outcomes – before we then call our technical experts to do the detailed work”.

“CASA’s overriding responsibility for aviation safety leadership, however, means that there will always be limits,” Carmody said in a statement.

“We cannot appease everyone, nor meet every request as regulatory activities are inherently challenging and CASA ultimately has to make the call on major safety questions. “My intention is that once we have settled on a position we will stick to it and deliver on what we have said we will deliver. If we can do this, we will maintain the trust and respect of the aviation community as a whole.”

The new advisory panel replaces existing consultative committees and advisory groups the Standards Consultative Committee, Director’s Advisory Panel, Airspace and Aerodrome Consultative Forum and the Regional Aviation Safety Forum.

Carmody, who was appointed the permanent CASA director of aviation safety and chief executive in early June after serving in an acting capacity following the resignation of Mark Skidmore in August 2016, thanked everyone who had served on consultation panels in the past. However, he said that the current setup was no longer serving the industry or community well.

“We have looked at our various consultation mechanisms and found that there is far too much complexity and duplication,” Carmody said in a statement. “This often clouded effective and genuine engagement.”

Arsenal jetted in to Sydney on July 11 on board Boeing 777-200LR A6-EWJ operated by sponsor Emirates and featuring a special livery promoting the football club’s summer tour. Interestingly, a Boeing 777-200LR costs about A$420 million at list prices, before any discounts. Meanwhile, estimates suggest the Arsenal squad is worth close to A$1 billion, or the equivalent of more than two 777-200LRs. Which perhaps gives a new meaning to the term ‘precious cargo’? noah mauger

Why wait? Bell pitches for early Tiger replacement

Bell Helicopter says Australia could save potentially billions and gain a proven attack helicopter by retiring the Tiger ARH early and buying its AH-1Z Viper.

The AH-1Z – usually referred to as the Zulu – is substantially cheaper, proven in combat with the US Marine Corps and comes fully marinised and ready for operation from Australia’s Canberra-class amphibious assault ships, Bell says.

Richard Harris, Bell Helicopter’s head of international military sales, said for the cost of the proposed $500 million Tiger Capability Assurance Program (CAP) upgrade, Bell could supply 11 Zulus.

“If I was an Australian taxpayer, why would I want to see $500 million go into a CAP for a helicopter that just became operational after 15 years,” he told Australian Aviation at the Paris Airshow.

“With $500 million I can give you 11 Zulu helicopters. That’s half your fleet. With the availability rate of the Zulu, you’d have more helicopters flying with 11 than you do today with 22 Tigers.”

Harris said Zulu would be a win-win for Australia, as it was a better helicopter, fully marinised, more suited to expected operational environments, battle proven and compatible with allies.

“You cost-avoid a lot of money that is going to be spent on the Tiger replacement further down the road,” he said.

Australia decided to buy 22 Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) Tigers in 2001 to meet an Army requirement for an armed reconnaissance helicopter.

Following a succession of problems, full operational capability was only declared in May last year, seven years later than initially planned.

The 2016 Defence White Paper says the Tigers will be replaced with a “new armed reconnaissance capability” from the mid-2020s.

Already Boeing has pitched its AH-64E Apache as a potential replacement, displaying the aircraft at Avalon earlier this year.

The Zulu is a lineal descendant of the Vietnam-era Cobra gunship, itself developed from the ubiquitous Iroquois transport helicopter.

Apaches replaced the Cobra in US Army service but the US Marine Corps has opted to continually develop the basic H-1 airframe. The latest Zulu model features a composite, bearingless four-blade main rotor, new avionics and a new targeting sight system.

Bell production of Zulus for the USMC is set to conclude in 2022. Lead-time for a Foreign Military Sale deal would be around 34 months from contract signature to production, which means Australia would need to place an order in 2018-19.

“Our argument is why wait to the mid-2020s,” he said. Harris said the government was looking at $500 million for the Tiger CAP then $5-6 billion for a Tiger replacement.

“You cost-avoid $5 billion in acquisition money by moving the replacement to the left. It just makes sense. It doesn’t get any better than that,” he said.

Costs would rise if Australia wanted different mission equipment. However with an acquisition in 2022, Australia would benefit from planned USMC upgrades, including Link 16.

Bell isn’t proposing that any Zulus be built in Australia, unlike the Tiger of which 18 of 22 were assembled in Brisbane.

Harris said he worked with Lockheed Martin which installed production lines in other countries and that took five-seven years.

“We don’t have the time to entertain that idea. The best option for Australia…is US production, US delivery and then working with Australian industry for follow-on maintenance, repair overhaul and support,” he said.

In February 2016 Bell signed a teaming agreement with BAE Systems Australia for in-country support and potentially training to meet the Army’s requirements.

There’s also potential for Australia to become a support hub as Bell pursues regional sales. “Bell Helicopter has been absent from the international military market for about 20 years. We are rolling off our very first international Zulu this year for Pakistan. We are rolling off our first V-22 for Japan this year,” he said. “All these are marinised platforms. The hunger and need for marinised platforms is long overdue and we are really seeing that now in customer interest.”

As well as Zulu, Bell is playing a longer game in Australia, pitching Yankee as a potential special forces helicopter in place of Black Hawks and V-22 for combat search and rescue (CSAR).

The Bell UH-1Y Venom – referred to as the Yankee and also the Super Huey – is another Iroquois descendant, with proven performance in Afghanistan and substantial commonality with Zulu. “You name it – it does all the missions. It’s the perfect assault platform from a medium-range utility helicopter perspective. When you look at Australia, for logistics and supportability it makes sense to me if you have a Y and a Z,” Harris said.

More than 100 are in service with the USMC, with their production set to end next year. The line may be extended for any export customers, but again Australia would need to get an order in soon.

Harris says the tiltrotor V-22 would be perfect for an Australian CSAR capability, able to fly more than twice the speed of existing helicopters with double the range. “We are certainly willing to sit down and have that dialogue with the Australians,” he said.

Hawk lead-in fighter upgrade achieves IOC

Initial operational capability (IOC) for the Lead-In Fighter Capability Assurance Program (AIR 5438 Phase 1A) for the RAAF’s Hawk 127 has been recognised at a ceremony at RAAF Base Williamtown.

Each upgraded Hawk 127 lead-in fighter provides new training capabilities including simulated radar, electronic warfare, digital mapping, ground proximity warning system and traffic collision avoidance.

The upgrade program also includes the replacement of two legacy synthetic training devices with three full-mission simulators provided by CAE.

The first students at 79 Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce have now commenced training on the upgraded jet.

Engineering teams from BAE Systems in Australia and the UK, together with CAE and Cubic, have worked with the Commonwealth to deliver the capability. A joint team of BAE Systems and RAAF technicians has so far completed upgrading 12 of the 33 aircraft in the fleet, with the upgrade work expected to be completed by early 2019.

Virgin reaffirms improved financial performance

Virgin Australia has reaffirmed expectations of an improved financial showing and positive free cash flow for the 2016/17 financial year.

The airline group provided the updated earnings guidance in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on July 3.

Virgin said it expected to report positive free cash flow of up to $50 million for 2016/17, which would be an improvement of up to $140 million on the prior year.

Further, the airline said it has also improved its cash balance and reduced debt in the fourth quarter of the 2016/17 financial year.

“The Group also reconfirms its previous statement that it expects the underlying performance of the group for the 2017 financial year to improve on the fourth quarter of the 2016 financial year,” Virgin told the ASX.

Virgin posted underlying profit before tax, which does not include one-off charges and the company regards as the best indication of its financial performance, of $41 million for 2015/16.

However, Virgin suffered a $224.7 million statutory net loss for the 12 months to June 30 2016 due to one-off charges and restructuring costs totalling $440.5 million due mainly to fleet changes such as the removal of Embraer E190s and ATR turboprops and the transition of Tigerair Australia from an all-Airbus A320 operator to the Boeing 737.

The airline’s cost reduction initiatives, dubbed the Better Business program, was targeting $300 million in net free cash flow savings per year by the end of 2018/19.

In late June, S&P Global Ratings, formerly known as Standard and Poor’s, said it had reaffirmed Virgin Australia’s “B+” corporate credit rating while lifting the ratings outlook to stable, from negative previously.

The ratings agency noted Virgin’s transformation from a budget carrier formerly known as Virgin Blue to a diversified airline group covering domestic, regional, international, freight and frequent flyer units was “substantially complete”, with the focus now on cash generation.

“The stable outlook reflects our growing confidence that Virgin has a realistic deleveraging path as the airline turns to generating cash, supported by steady market conditions,” S&P Global Ratings said in a statement.

“Virgin Australia’s investment in repositioning itself as a full-service airline is substantially complete, and we believe its focus has now turned to cash generation.”

S&P Global Ratings said Virgin had narrowed Qantas’s revenue premium as well as gained incremental market share. However, Virgin’s share of the domestic profit pool was “small relative to its market share”.

“We expect this to somewhat improve, both in relative and absolute terms, as the airline improves its cost position and the domestic market becomes more profitable,” S&P Global Ratings said.

S&P Global Ratings said it expected domestic demand to remain weak, while some excess capacity would “linger across Virgin’s networks”.

“We expect Virgin’s earnings profile to moderately improve as excess capacity washes through the domestic system,” S&P Global Ratings said.

“Virgin should also benefit from disciplined capacity growth, structurally lower fuel prices, and cost-saving measures.” Virgin said it would release its full year results on August 10.

In May, the airline group reported a statutory net loss after tax of $69 million for the three months to March 31 2017, a deterioration from a loss of $58.8 million in the prior corresponding period.

The underlying before tax loss came in at $62.3 million, from underlying profit before tax of $18.6 million a year ago.

Meanwhile, Virgin said its Velocity Frequent Flyer program reached eight million members in June and had achieved positive earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) growth of between 10-13 per cent in the second half of 2016/17.

“For the entire financial year, Velocity’s Segment EBIT performance will improve by 2-3 per cent on the 2016 financial year,” Virgin said.

In other Virgin news, the company said Bruno Mathew had stepped down as Etihad Aviation Group’s nominee on the board. He has been replaced by Etihad Aviation Group chief group support services officer Harsh Mohan. Separately, S&P Global Ratings reaffirmed Qantas’s corporate ratings at “BBB-/A-3” with a stable outlook.

“We affirmed the ratings because we expect Qantas’s earnings profile to moderately improve as excess capacity washes through the domestic system,” it said.

“The stable outlook reflects our view that Qantas’s strong balance sheet, conservative capital management, dominant domestic market position, and a more-benign domestic competitive environment would underpin credit quality at the ‘BBB-’ rating level.

“We also expect Qantas to realise an enduring benefit from its previously announced restructuring initiatives, while limiting pressure on its balance sheet.”

Virgin Australia to keep flying to Samoa once JV with government ends

Virgin Australia has signalled it intends to maintain services to Samoa after its Virgin Samoa joint-venture with the Samoan government is wound up in November.

The airline has applied to Australia’s International Air Services Commission (IASC) for 880 seats of capacity a week between Australia and Samoa.

“Virgin Australia intends to commence five services per week between Australia and Samoa from 13 November 2017,” Virgin said in its letter to the IASC dated July 10. “These flights will be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft configured with 176 seats.”

In May, the Samoan government announced the Virgin Samoa joint venture between Virgin Australia and country would be terminated by November.

Media reports at the time said the move to ditch the JV that was formed in 2005 was due to concerns over high fares.

Virgin Samoa is 49 per cent held by Virgin Australia, 49 per cent by the Samoan government and two per cent by Samoabased tourism company Grey Investment Group. It flies from the Samoan capital Apia to Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney.

The airline does not own any aircraft. Instead, Virgin Australia operates services on behalf of the joint-venture airline. However, one Boeing 737-800 has been painted in a special Virgin Samoa livery.

In July, the Samoan government said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Fiji Airways to help establish a new carrier Samoa Airways, with the current domestic carrier Polynesian Airlines to be part of the new venture.

CASA sets out terms for drone review

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has outlined the terms of reference for its review on the commercial and recreational operations of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), commonly known as drones.

The terms of reference, published on June 15, show CASA will consider among other matters the safety benefits and cost effectiveness of introducing mandatory registration, education and training for all RPAS operators, as well as the deployment of geofencing capabilities for remotely piloted aircraft.

The review also aims to look at the “effectiveness of CASA’s operating model with respect to the regulation of RPAS” amid what is a growing industry.

In addition to the terms of reference, CASA said it would soon also publish a discussion paper on the range of safety issues to be examined for public comment. “This review will be informed by looking at the operation of the most recent CASR Part 101 amendments and take into account recommendations developed by the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Standards subcommittee,” CASA said.

“The outcome of the assessment will provide CASA with a firm basis on which to articulate and implement future aviation safety regulatory policy and the further development of regulations applying to RPAS.”

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester first announced the review into the operation of drones in October 2016.

The Minister said on June 15 the government was keen to support growth and innovation in the use of drones in Australia while maintaining safety.

“We are already seeing drones being successfully used in agriculture, mining, infrastructure assessment, search and rescue, fire and policing operations, aerial mapping and scientific research,” Chester said in a statement.

“CASA will be mindful that any proposed new regulatory requirements should also support the potential of drone operations to improve productivity, reduce costs and improve workplace safety across a range of industries and applications.”

Meanwhile, The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has opened an investigation into a possible collision between an aircraft and drone near Parafield Airport in Adelaide.

The notification on the ATSB website said the incident occurred on Tuesday, July 11 as singleengined Socata Tobago TB-10 VH‑YTG was preparing to land.

“The pilot advised air traffic control that, during final approach to runway 03L at Parafield Airport at about 1830 Central Standard Time, the aircraft struck an object, which was potentially a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA),” the ATSB said.

“The aircraft sustained minor damage to the right wing.” The ATSB said an initial search of the area under the flightpath did not locate the object. The investigation was expected to be completed by November.

An ATSB report published in January said there were 12 accidents, four serious incidents and four incidents involving RPAs recorded in 2015.

Embraer KC-390 visits New Zealand

Embraer’s KC-390 airlifter has visited New Zealand as part of the aircraft’s 10-country demonstration tour.

The Brazilian manufacturer brought the KC-390 to New Zealand in support of its bid for the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s future air mobility and future air surveillance capability requirements to replace the C-130H transport and P-3K2 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft.

KC-390 PT-ZNJ transited Australia en route to New Zealand, first touching down on July 9 at Port Hedland in Western Australia’s north-west, having flown in from Kuala Lumpur, before continuing to Brisbane.

From Brisbane the KC-390 departed for Auckland on July 10. It then conducted a short 30-minute demonstration flight to RNZAF and NZ Ministry of Defence personnel from RNZAF Base Auckland (Whenuapai) on July 11.

In June, Embraer confirmed it was offering the KC-390 for the RNZAF’s airlift requirement but declined to say if it was offering the KC-390 or a variant of the E195 airliner for the maritime surveillance role.

“We have solutions for both … and we decided to bid for both,” Embraer Defence & Security chief executive officer Jackson Schneider told Australian Aviation at the Paris Airshow.

“In maritime patrol we can offer solutions with the KC-390 or even offer solutions with the E195. Both are very efficient platforms to meet maritime patrol needs,” Schneider said.

But what mission system a maritime surveillance configured KC-390 or E195 would be fitted with Embraer won’t reveal. “How I address the need, this is something I don’t want to [disclose] but I have the possibility to offer solutions with both platforms,” Schneider said.

To date the two KC-390 development aircraft have flown about 1,000 flight hours. The Brazilian air force is due to receive the first of 28 KC-390s it has on order in early 2018, while Portugal has announced plans to order five.

Although PT-ZNJ made transit stops in Australia en route to and from Auckland, Embraer did not demonstrate the aircraft in Australia as part of the current tour, which in addition to New Zealand also covered Europe, the Middle East and South-East Asia.

Wedgetails to undergo $580 million upgrade

The government has approved a $582.5 million upgrade of the RAAF’s six E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, Defence Minister Senator Marise Payne and Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne have jointly announced.

Under Project AIR 5077 Phase 5A, over a six-year, threerelease program, Boeing Defence Australia will upgrade the RAAF Wedgetails with new advanced combat identification sensors, tactical data links, communications hardware and encryption systems, and mission computing hardware and software upgrades.

“We are on track to deliver the first release of upgrades to all six aircraft in early 2018, with the first aircraft completing flight testing two months ahead of the schedule; a demonstration of the strength and success of the partnership between Boeing and the Commonwealth of Australia on this mission-critical platform,” Darren Edwards, Boeing Defence Australia vice president and managing director, said in a statement.

Two Wedgetails will receive the full suite of release 1 Phase 5A upgrades by early 2019, which include target identification, mission computing upgrades and increased situational awareness through larger visual monitor displays, Boeing says.

The remaining fleet will receive integrated IP chat communications upgrades, data link upgrades, a new wide-band satellite system and dual-display upgrades by mid-2022.

Of the $582.5 million approved for the program, between $200‑240 million will “flow to Australian industry”, the ministers said in their statement, creating 165 “highly-skilled” jobs (120 in Brisbane and 45 shared between RAAF Bases Amberley and Williamtown).

The RAAF has continuously deployed a single Wedgetail to the Middle East under Operation Okra since September 2014.

“The Wedgetail has achieved outstanding results completing over 350 missions and flying more than 4,400 hours with our coalition partners on Operation Okra,” noted Senator Payne.

Boeing signs new RAAF C-17 sustainment contract

Boeing has signed a sustainment services contract to support the Royal Australian Air Force’s fleet of eight C-17A Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft.

The $70 million contract between Boeing Defence Australia and Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) supplements Australia’s membership of the Boeing Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program by providing additional support services tailored to the unique needs of the RAAF, Boeing stated.

The contract, which is known as the Australian C-17 Sustainment Services Contract, covers an initial five-year term with options out to the retirement of the aircraft that are based at RAAF Base Amberley, and includes management of services and provision of integration, engineering and maintenance.

Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne stated that the sustainment contract, which will commence in October, will create 12 new jobs in Queensland.

“The arrangements to maintain the C-17A aircraft have been in place since 2006 when the first C-17A was delivered to Australia; however, as the size of the fleet has since doubled to eight this new arrangement will create new jobs in Queensland,” Minister Pyne said.

“The new arrangement replaces some elements of the existing sustainment arrangements with the US government while keeping Australia in the global supply system for C-17.

“This contract rationalises Australian-unique support services and ensures a cost-effective, flexible and modern sustainment management arrangement both now and into the future.”

US approves sale of modified G550s for RAAF

The US Department of State has approved the possible sale to Australia of up to five Gulfstream G550 aircraft modified with intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare mission systems.

L3 Technologies in Greenville, Texas (home of L3 Mission Integration) would be the prime contractor for the deal, which has an estimated cost of US$1.3 billion.

According to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) statement, the Australian government requested the potential sale of the G550 aircraft modified to integrate the mission systems and GPS capability, secure communications and aircraft defensive systems; spares, including whole-life costs of airborne and ground segments; aircraft modification and integration; ground systems for data processing and crew training; ground support equipment; publications and technical data; US government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; flight test and certification; and other related elements of logistical and program support.

“The proposed sale supports and complements the ongoing efforts of Australia to modernise its electronic warfare capability, and increases interoperability between the US Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force,” the DSCA stated.

The Integrated Investment Program stated that Defence would acquire long-range electronic warfare support aircraft based on the G550 airframe with additional and modified systems from the early 2020s. The aircraft will be acquired in two tranches and incrementally upgraded to maintain commonality with US-developed systems.

China Airlines to boost Taipei- Brisbane- Auckland to Daily

China Airlines is adding an extra three flights a week from Taipei to Brisbane and Auckland from the start of December 2017, bringing the current four times a week schedule to daily.

The route is served with Airbus A330s.

In other changes to its Oceania network, China Airlines cut its Sydney-Auckland tag flights in mid-July, reverting the service to a Taipei-Sydney rotation.

Qantas codeshares on China Airlines Brisbane-Taipei and Sydney-Taipei services.

Hainan Airlines plans Brisbane- Shenzhen Nonstop

Virgin Australia alliance partner Hainan Airlines is expanding its presence in Australia with new twice weekly Brisbane-Shenzhen nonstop flights launching September 21. Brisbane will be served with Airbus A330s and is Hainan’s third Australian destination.

Currently, the airline flies to Melbourne and Sydney from Changsha and Xian.

Hainan is part of HNA Group’s stable of airlines in an alliance with Virgin and one of four carriers that offers reciprocal earn and burn opportunities for Virgin’s Velocity frequent flyer members.

HNA Group is one of Virgin’s major shareholders, having accumulated a 19.99 per cent stake in 2016.

Jin Air plans another year of seasonal flights to Cairns

Korean’s Jin Air is returning to Cairns for a second year of seasonal flying, albeit with a reduced schedule.

The low-cost carrier plans to operate 12 return flights between Seoul and Cairns during December 2017 and January 2018.

The 12-flight season is a reduction from the 16 return services Jin Air scheduled when it started flying on the Seoul-Cairns route with Boeing 777-200ER equipment between December 2016 and February 2017.

Jin Air is a subsidiary of Korean Air. Its 777-200ERs are configured with either 393 or 355 seats.

Figures from Tourism Australia indicated South Korea was the ninth largest market for visitor arrivals in 2016.

China Southern plans yearround Cairns- Guangzhou Flights

China Southern plans to operate year-round nonstop flights between Cairns and its Guangzhou hub.

The Skyteam alliance member has scheduled three flights a week with Airbus A330s beginning December 13 2017.

China Southern had previously served Cairns on a seasonal basis, most commonly during the Chinese New Year period.

The Queensland government said its Connecting With Asia fund had helped secure the year-round flights between Guangzhou and Cairns.

Jetgo adding second route from Wagga Wagga

Regional carrier Jetgo is adding a second route from Wagga Wagga with flights to the Gold Coast set to take off from August 2.

Jetgo started flying between Wagga Wagga and Brisbane in February 2017 and Jetgo managing director for airlines Paul Brederick said the passenger numbers in the five months since it launched had given the airline confidence to mount a second route from Wagga Wagga.

The flights will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

In addition to Jetgo, QantasLink flies from Wagga Wagga to Sydney while Regional Express serves the NSW Riverina city from Melbourne and Sydney.

Fly Corporate heading to Sydney

Fly Corporate is expanding its regular public transport (RPT) network to Sydney with flights between the NSW capital and Narrabri due to kick off in September.

The regional carrier plans to serve the route daily, with a morning departure from Narrabri and a late morning takeoff from Sydney.

The airline has been flying to Narrabri since August 2016 via a Brisbane-Narrabri-Moree-Brisbane routing. That service will become nonstop in both directions between Brisbane and Narrabri once the Sydney flights get underway.

Separately, Fly Corporate will start a new service between Brisbane and Inverell, which will operate as Brisbane-Inverell- Moree-Brisbane, ensuring Moree maintains its air services to the Queensland capital.

Full RAAF Growler fleet Welcomed

The delivery of Australia’s full complement of 12 Boeing EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft to RAAF Base Amberley has been marked with a ceremony at the base on July 7.

“Australian Growlers have already conducted successful weapon firings and integration flights with RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets and US Navy EA-18G Growlers as part of operational test and evaluation,” said Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Leo Davies.

“We have also had the graduation of the first operational transition course.

“Through our partnership with the US Navy, we are already planning to keep Growler at the forefront of electronic attack capability throughout the life of the aircraft.”

The Growler, operated by Amberley-based 6 Squadron, is capable of providing force-level electronic warfare support by disrupting, deceiving or denying a broad range of electronic systems, including radar and communications systems.

“We are the only country outside the United States operating the EA-18G Growler, and the full fleet arrival represents a significant leap forward in joint electronic warfare capability,” said Minister for Defence Senator Marise Payne.

“The EA-18G Growlers will work with Army and Navy to deliver a networked joint force able to manoeuvre and fight in the electromagnetic spectrum.”

The aircraft is based on the Super Hornet airframe and fitted with additional avionics, enhanced radio frequency receivers, an improved communications suite and radio frequency jamming pods.

The RAAF’s first EA-18G was rolled out in a ceremony at Boeing’s St Louis facility in July 2015. The aircraft were originally placed into storage until being delivered to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington State, where 6 Squadron trained on the aircraft alongside the US Navy.

The first Growlers arrived in Australia in February.

Quickstep to supply flaps for LM-100J

Australian manufacturer Quickstep Holdings says it will supply wing flaps for Lockheed Martin’s LM-100J commercial freighter.

The LM-100J is a civil derivative of the C-130J Super Hercules military airlifter.

Lockheed Martin rolled out the first of the type at its Marietta, Georgia facility in February and the aircraft was on static display at the Paris Airshow.

The aircraft, powered by Rolls- Royce AE 2100D3 engines, made its first flight on May 25.

Quickstep is the sole global supplier of wing flaps for the C-130J Super Hercules after signing a five-year memorandum of agreement in December 2013.

Current C-130J orders extend through to 2019.

Separately, the company also has agreements with several original equipment manufacturers to supply parts for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project for the next two decades valued at about US$700 million.

Lockheed Martin first applied to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in February 2014 for a civil-certified version of the C-130J-30.

In July 2014, Ireland-based ASL Aviation Group signed a letter of intent (LoI) for 10 LM-100Js.

More than 100 units of the L-100, the commercial variant of the first-generation C-130, were built between 1964 and 1992. Many of these aircraft are still in service around the world with a range of commercial and government customers. The LM-100J would be able to operate from short, unprepared airfields without ground support infrastructure and require only minimal cargo-handling equipment.

Built alongisde military C-130s, first delivery is expected in 2018. The RAAF’s 37 Squadron operates a fleet of 12 C-130J-30 Hercules from RAAF Base Richmond.