Australian Aviation

Recreational Aviation Australia will be investigated by CASA and the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions for the alleged behaviour of key personnel during an investigation and inquest into the death of Matthew Farrell. 

South Australian airports will receive almost $1.7 million in funding under the fourth round of the Regional Airports Program, while Burnie will receive $330,000. The grants bring the total from Round 4 to more than $25 million, following announcements for NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, and Queensland.

The incident, later blamed on an “energetic event” in the vehicle’s rear, led to four airports in Florida – Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Orlando – halting flights for 80 minutes as fragments of Starship streaked through the sky like fireworks.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Sunday said he had written to a number of airports directing them to conduct safety assessments after a 17-year-old allegedly breached the security fence at Avalon armed with a shotgun and attempted to board a Jetstar flight on Thursday.

The storm is expected to hit the coastline at around 10am Queensland time on Saturday as a category 1 system, though heavy rain and wind have already left tens of thousands without power. Qantas and Virgin have announced Brisbane domestic flights are cancelled until at least Sunday.

The contract with Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) will fund enhancements to both the aircraft and ground systems over the next decade.