Defence Minister Stephen Smith’s comments at a conference in Canberra this week have reinforced this writer’s perception that Mr Smith either isn’t being properly briefed by his advisers on some of the major defence programs currently underway – specifically the Air 6000 New Air Combat Capability (NACC) project – or that he is ‘target fixated’
Virgin Australia has proposed splitting its business into distinct international and domestic holding companies in a move that would open the way for greater foreign investment in its domestic operations. Under the Air Navigation Act, Australian airlines with international services are capped at 49 per cent foreign ownership, but purely domestic airlines face no such
Virgin Australia will begin rolling out its new tablet based inflight entertainment system across most of its Boeing 737 and Embraer E-190 aircraft from April. Based around Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1, the system will be provided free to business class travellers and be available for rent to economy passengers on flights over three hours. The
The training crash that killed two experienced pilots in Darwin in 2010 highlights the importance of using flight simulators to practice for dangerous situations, the ATSB has said in a report on the accident. The Airnorth Embraer EMB-120 turboprop, VH-ANB, crashed moments after takeoff on March 29 2010 during a simulated engine failure. The flight
General aviation aircraft shipments were down in 2011 but billing figures rose marginally as the market appeared poised for a turnaround, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association said. In its annual report, GAMA said 1865 aircraft were shipping worldwide in 2011, down from 1932 in 2010, with shipments slumping across the piston plane, turboprop and business
Virgin Australia says rising profits are proof that its transition to a full service airline is paying dividends. According to figures released today, Virgin’s net profits over the first half of the financial year rose 118 per cent to $51.8 million. Underlying pre-tax profits were up 34 per cent over the previous year to $96.1
