Australian Aviation

Richard Gardner, 53, died while conducting an aerobatic flight in August 2021, with the remnants of his aircraft eventually scattered over a 2.4km area.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine accused the outgoing CEO of letting down employees and the Australian public with his management and IR style.

RAAF Base Learmonth is one of three ‘bare bases’ used for training exercises and located on the North West Cape peninsula of WA, 30 kilometres south of Exmouth.

Billed as a “vertiport in a box”, the setup is pitched at private building owners as an “affordable, modular, turn-key solution” that can offer utility while the aircraft are still waiting on certification.

The Brisbane-Santo flights, operated on a 144-seater Airbus A320 by Solomon Airlines on behalf of Air Vanuatu, will begin on 1 June and operate once per week on a Thursday.

In a significant intervention, AIPA president Tony Lucas said the airline needs another four 787s on top of the three due to arrive by the winter.