Australian Aviation

Queensland-based FlyFreely, which is also cleared to operate in Australia and New Zealand, has been granted approval by the Federal Aviation Administration to operate as part of the Low Altitude Authorisation and Notification Capability.

The surface Navy laser weapon system is designed to provide layered defence, dazzle airborne threats, defeat unmanned aerial systems and fast inshore attack craft, using available ship power without the need for an energy magazine.

In a letter to Jim Wolfe, assistant secretary of the department’s International Aviation Branch, IASC chair Genevieve Butler requested input on the decision. It comes after Virgin last month wrote to the IASC saying there was effectively no reason for the capacity application to be blocked.

Australian Aviation speaks to historian Don Williams on how the CAC Boomerang helped Australia win the Pacific conflict in World War II.

Adam and Jake look at the latest on Virgin’s proposed wet-leased flights to Doha and when they might receive a green light.

As reported in The Australian Financial Review, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt, when asked about the potential appointment of Paul Jones to succeed outgoing CEO Jayne Hrdlicka, said the airline should carefully consider any candidate’s industrial relations record.