Staff reporter

Australian engineering and technology solutions provider Nova Systems has teamed up with Elbit to undertake flight trials of the Elbit Systems Skylark I-LEX unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for the Australian Army.

Air Marshal Robert Chipman – a former Hornet fighter jet pilot and instructor – will now become Vice Chief of the ADF, to be replaced in his current role by Air Vice-Marshal Stephen Chappell.

The helicopter, VH-DLD, crashed near Gorrie Station south of Katherine on 7 December, having left nearby Bloodwood Station at around 7:30pm. The ATSB believes the pilot lost visuals after flying into bushfire smoke. Search parties found the wreckage two days later, with the pilot fatally injured.

The ATSB has issued another warning about removing pitot probe covers after a Singapore Airlines A350-900 almost pushed back with the covers still fitted.

BAE Systems Australia announced that it has launched a new academic scholarship for women in regional Australia – to undertake an engineering degree and explore career opportunities in defence industry – and named it after Australia’s first two female RAAF pilots.

An ATSB investigation concluded that crew onboard the aircraft noticed a fuel imbalance but misdiagnosed the cause of the problem.