The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter flight test program recorded three significant test milestones on May 27. An F-35B of the Edwards AFB Integrated Test Force (ITF) conducted a sequential engagement of two manoeuvring air-to-air targets using AIM-120 AMRAAMS missiles over the Point Mugu Sea Test Range airspace in California, the first dual AMRAAM shot from
Cessna Aircraft has announced the rollout of the first production Citation CJ3+ business jet from its Wichita, Kansas facility. The new model – which was first announced in March – features a redesigned cabin with new pressurisation and new diagnostics systems, a Garmin G3000 avionics suite incorporating turbulence detecting weather radar, TCAS II, advanced Terrain
Auckland Airport, Airways New Zealand and the Board of Airline Representatives New Zealand (BARNZ) have released a draft report on the SMART Approaches flight path trial. The SMART Approaches trial tested three new flight approaches to Auckland airport, two from the north and one from the south, utilising satellite based navigation enabling shorter, more efficient,
Three of the four Saab 340 airliners operated by Vincent Aviation, which collapsed on May 28, are now in Townsville. Saab 340 VH-VNA ferried in to Townsville from Sydney and VH-VNU ferried to Townsville from Darwin on Wednesday evening, while VH-VNX was already in Townsville where it was undergoing maintenance with Aviex. A fourth Saab
Air New Zealand’s first Boeing 787-9 has made its maiden flight from Boeing’s Everett factory near Seattle. The first test flight – known as B1 and conducted by Boeing test pilots – took off from Everett at 1.45pm local on May 28 and landed three hours and 10 minutes later after reaching an altitude of
The US Federal Aviation Administration has approved additional extended operations (ETOPS) for the Boeing 787 to allow it to be operated up to 330 minutes from a suitable landing field. The certification expands upon the 787’s current 180-minute ETOPS limit which was granted when the type entered service in 2011. The certification opens up a
