Jake Nelson

Bushido Guardian 25, traditionally held as a joint exercise between the RAAF and Japan Air Self-Defense Force, this year included the United States Air Force for the first time, starting at the end of September and concluding on 10 October.

Qantas in FY2023-24 exhausted its pandemic-related carry-over losses and paid $24 million in tax in the latter half of the year, while Virgin says it expects to begin paying income tax again in FY25–26 once its own carry-over losses have run out.

A Eurocopter AS350 (registration unknown), which was conducting agricultural spraying operations near Holbrook, NSW, on 3 September, hit a wire with its skids and lost control, crashing into the ground and catching fire; despite this, the pilot was able to get clear with only minor burns.

According to reports this week in The Wall Street Journal, the planemaker’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, met with Rolls-Royce officials in the UK earlier this year to discuss engine options for the aircraft, while “a person familiar with the plans” said Boeing is designing a flight deck for a new narrow-body.

The NSW Rural Fire Service’s 737 Large Air Tanker, N138CG “Marie Bashir”, will take part in a multi-agency, full-scale aerodrome emergency exercise on 28 and 29 October, including a simulated aircraft incident, as WSI prepares to open late next year.

Pilot and cabin crew bases in Hobart, Canberra and Mildura will be shuttered in April 2026, with around 70 employees moved to larger bases in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, following a review conducted by QantasLink.