Marc Joel Atrero

Poor profits, jobs pain for Qantas The line between profit and loss in the airline industry is razor-edged and while a few airlines make modest profits, most lose money and the industry as a whole has never made money. Qantas’s net profit of just $42 million may be acceptable to some government-owned airlines whose primary

On course for a tricky landing ‘There I was, upside down, over the sea, not very high, when the engine stopped. Suddenly I am in an aviation anecdote come true — and not enjoying it one little bit. I have been flying for 47 years. I have amassed more than 21,600 hours, of which about

Study calling for a second Sydney airport says the time for inaction has passed. That’s not likely. The latest inter-governmental commission to grasp the hot potato of a second Sydney airport released its long-anticipated study on March 2. The product of nearly three years and $8 million worth of work, the 3,000- page report offers

New Helicopter Aircrew Training System takes off The long-anticipated request for tender (RFT) to acquire a helicopter training system for pilots and other aircrew was released on January 19. It will see separate Army and Navy heli-copter training systems, using Kiowa and Squirrel (above) helicopters respectively, move into the modern age of twin-engine, glass cockpit

Decision time for a RAAF EA-18G buy The Australian government is believed to be close to finalising a decision to acquire airborne electronic attack (AEA) EA-18G Growlers for the RAAF. The likely decision follows the decision to pre-configure 12 of the RAAF’s 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets while in production to make a possible future Growler

Virgin ‘Elevates’ to top of the pile Virgin Australia has opened the door to a significant recapitalisation by foreign airlines or investors such as Etihad Airways, with sweeping changes to its ownership structure. The announcement came with a half-year profit statement that heralded the tell-ing news that the airline had more than doubled its profits