Australian Aviation

All involved in regional aviation were stunned by the flood disaster that devastated large areas of Queensland. Regional operators were closely involved in search and rescue, medical evacuation and resupplying towns isolated by floodwaters. The heroic efforts of the helicopter crews were captured many times on our TV screens. Unseen were the engineering and operational

Enabled by stunning advances in sensors and information processing capabilities, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance – ISR – is invariably described as central to Australia’s current and future military capabilities. The hyperbole is based on technological advances, but intellectual developments in Australian ISR have not kept pace. Traditional perceptions of the roles and boundaries of intelligence

A RAAF C-130J Hercules is currently in Norway to take part in an international exercise focused on the J model C-130. Fifteen RAAF members from Richmond based 37SQN are currently participating in Exercise Combined Strength 2011, being held at Norway’s Bodø Air Force Base from March 19 to 25. Open to countries who operate the

The Royal Air Force  has phased out the last of its Panavia Tornado F3 air defence variants (ADVs), after a 25 years service career. Operations officially came to an end with the March 22 disbandment of 111 Squadron, which had operated the F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland, since 1990. Since July 2009 111 Sqn had been

Israel’s El Al has ordered four 737-900ERs with options on an undisclosed number of further aircraft. The deal is fvalued at approximately US$343.2m (A$340.1m) at current list prices.

Ongoing support of Australia’s overseas military commitments, regular long haul deployments and seemingly endless natural and civil disasters highlight the need for more RAAF C-17s. Long term wartime and operational needs can prove hard to forecast, whereas major disasters can strike fast and unexpectedly – and both need specialist logistic capability. This content is available