Australian Aviation

The QF32 catastrophic uncontained failure The catastrophic uncontained failure of Qantas flight QF32’s number 2 Rolls-Royce Trent 972 engine after takeoff from Singapore on November 4 was almost of Titanic scale. A380-842 VH-OQA was the first of Qantas’s Airbus A380s – the largest, most powerful commercial jet in the world. This content is available exclusively

Bell helicopter has announced it has integrated six subsidiary companies into the company and has restructured their operations to provide a more comprehensive support solution to Bell customers. The companies being incorporated are Edwards & Associates and Aeronautical Accessories in Tennessee, Rotor Blades and Acadian Composites in Louisiana, Bell Aerospace Services in Texas, and US

Eurocopter subsidiary Helibras has been awarded a contract to upgrade 36 AS350 Squirrel helicopters operated by the Brazilian army. The upgrade, developed by Helibras and Sagem and to be performed at Helibras’s facilities in Itajubá in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, will comprise the structural rebuild of three aircraft, and the installation of three

The US Airways Airbus A320 which successfully ditched in New York’s Hudson River will be put on display at the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The aircraft, which made a forced landing on the river with no major injuries after suffering a massive bird strike shortly after departure from LaGuardia Airport in January

France has become the fourth country to order the MBDA Meteor advanced ramjet powered air-to-air missile. The missile will equip French Air Force and Navy Rafale fighters, joining Sweden’s Gripen, and the UK’s and Spain’s Eurofighter Typhoon as the third type to employ the weapon. This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members. LoginBecome

Perth Airport unveils new major extension plans In a long overdue move Westralia Airports Corporation (WAC), leaseholder of Perth Airport, is to spend $500 million over three years on new terminals and services so that the airport can handle growth fuelled by the resources boom and low cost airlines. Work will commence in 2011 on