Australian Aviation

The plane, registered VH-VPY, was en route to Pago Pago in American Samoa when it lost an engine and was forced to come down in the ocean about 35 nautical miles off the coast of Queensland. A nearby RFDS aircraft was able to provide accurate coordinates to emergency services.

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) has released data from a Redbridge poll of 1,022 adults showing that 89 per cent would feel less safe boarding a flight with only a single pilot at the controls. 65 per cent said they would feel “much less safe”, and 24 per cent “a little less safe”.

Economy and business class cabins will both receive new seating, with business class seats to double from 21 to 44. The airline will also install on-board wi-fi and a lie-flat crew rest area, freeing up to eight business and economy seats for passengers.

The minister told ABC Radio in Perth this week that CASA “can’t be everywhere” in response to questions from host Nadia Mitsopoulos over whether the crash, which took the life of 12-year-old Amber Jess Millar (pictured), could have been prevented had CASA been more proactive.

As reported in the Australian Financial Review, Joyce (pictured) offloaded the shares – representing more than 90 per cent of his stake in Qantas – three days after the Flying Kangaroo turned over to the consumer watchdog information on more than 10,000 cancelled flights.

The government is acquiring four Triton aircraft plus associated support and mission systems as part of enhancements to the Air Force’s Maritime Patrol and Response program.