Australian Aviation

Airbus has announced that Benoit Defforge has been appointed Managing Director, Airbus Corporate Jets. The appointment, effective from January 1 will see Defforge head up Airbus’s corporate jet business globally, and will be combined with his previous role as Head of the Airbus Corporate Jet Centre (ACJC). This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation

An Airbus A350 flight test aircraft has made a stop in Doha, Qatar on its way to next week’s Singapore Airshow. The aircraft, MSN 3 which is painted in a hybrid Qatar Airways and Airbus scheme, made the visit as part of its entry-into-service (EIS) preparations for Qatar Airways which is the aircraft’s launch customer,

AirAsia X has announced its Thai AirAsia X associate has been granted its Air Operator’s Certificate by the Thai Department of Civil Aviation. The granting of the AOC will allow Thai AirAsia X to commence the application processes for operating permits and slots at Bangkok’s Don Mueng Airport with a view to commencing international operations

Safran subsidiary Snecma and Rolls-Royse have agreed to continue the development of the next generation of combat aircraft engines following approvals from their respective French and UK governments. The two companies will continue their efforts to explore propulsion system concepts and technologies as part of the Anglo-French future combat air systems (FCAS) demonstration program preparation

Singapore regional carrier SilkAir has taken delivery of its first of 23 Boeing 737-800s as it commences its regional fleet replacement program. The airline, which until now has been an exclusive A320 and A319 operator, is transitioning to the 737 through the acquisition of the 737-800s and 31 737 MAX 8s over the next eight years. This

The latest US Defence budget ‘omnibus’ planning document for FY15 has reportedly failed to allocate any money for an upgrade of some of the USAF’s F-16 fleet. The previously touted combat avionics programmed extension suite (CAPES) would have seen about 300 late build F-16C/Ds upgraded with AESA radars, new weapons and other service life and