The US Federal Aviation Administration yesterday issued Boeing with an amended type certificate for the 787-8 Dreamliner equipped with General Electric GEnx engines. Boeing completed flight testing of the combination last month. The 787 received FAA certification with Rolls-Royce engines in August 2011 and entered commercial service in October. “This milestone completes the certification of
After doing some additional reading overnight, I just wanted to clarify yesterday’s opinion post, especially regarding the proposed FMS sale. With the cancellation of the US’s C-27J program, the RAAF would not have the benefit of being linked into a ‘parent service’ such as the USAF/ANG for software, electronic warfare and other systems upgrades and
An alliance of trade unions has launched an effort to lobby the government to save thousands of engineering jobs threatened by Qantas plans to consolidate its heavy maintenance operations. The unions – the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Australian Workers Union and the Electrical Trades Union – say they will join forces to push state
Virgin Australia will switch from a weight-based checked baggage allowance to a per piece system, the airline announced yesterday. The changes, which will affect tickets purchased after May 16, applies to domestic and international short haul flights. International long haul and carry-on baggage policies will not change. Under the airline’s current system, economy passengers are
Australia has finalised a deal to buy a sixth Boeing C-17A Globemaster for about $280 million, the government announced yesterday. The aircraft, purchased through the US Foreign Military Sales program, is expected to arrive in Australia early next year. In a joint statement, Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Material Jason Clare said
Word from Defence and industry sources is that the long awaited AIR 8000 Phase 2 battlefield Airlifter (BFA) – i.e. the Caribou replacement – may fall victim to the Gillard Government’s stubborn ‘at all costs’ determination to return to a budget surplus next year. Defence has been trying to replace the Caribou’s fixed wing STOL
