All articles by Greg Waldron – Page 113
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NewsFourth G700 test aircraft operates maiden flight
Gulfstream has operated the maiden flight of its fourth G700 test aircraft, as the company progresses testing for the new type. The 1h 56min sortie from the company’s Savannah, Georgia production facility occurred on Saturday 3 October, says Gulfstream. Source: Gulfstream The fourth G700 test aircraft operated its ...
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AnalysisResurgent Tiger fights for survival in Australian ARH competition
It may have taken years for the Airbus Helicopters Tiger to finally hit its stride in Australia, but the capability improvement now achieved may have come too late to save the attack helicopter from replacement by a US-built product.
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NewsAustralia unilaterally opens travel zone with New Zealand
Australia has unilaterally established a travel zone with New Zealand, setting the stage for some resumption of air travel between the two nations. “The Australian government is establishing a Safe Travel Zone with New Zealand,” says Australian prime minister Scott Morrison. Source: Qantas Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the ...
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NewsRSAF KC-135Rs find new home with US firm Meta Aerospace
Defence services provider Meta Aerospace confirms that it has obtained four Boeing KC-135R tankers that previously served with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). It has taken delivery of the first of the aircraft, which was ferried to March Air Reserve base in California, says the company. The remaining ...
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NewsUSAF doubles MQ-9A’s Hellfire missile payload
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper unmanned air vehicle (UAV) has made a sortie with double the number of Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, greatly improving its combat persistence. The flight with eight Hellfires took place on 10 September, according to the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) 556th Test ...
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NewsAirAsia Japan on verge of being shut down: reports
Media reports indicate that AirAsia is on the verge of shutting down its joint venture airline in Japan. An announcement about the closure of AirAsia Japan could come as soon as Monday, according to the Nikkei Asian Review, citing a source. Source: Wikimedia Commons AirAsia Japan has three ...
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NewsAustralia’s Rex to enter the jet business with six 737-800s
Australia’s Regional Express (Rex) has signed letters of intent with two lessors to lease six Boeing 737-800s. The first aircraft will arrive on 1 November, with the remainder to follow in the ensuing four months, says the airline. Source: Wikimedia Commons The flight deck of a 737-800 ...
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NewsNorthrop reiterates call for accelerated Australian MQ-4C Triton buy
Northrop Grumman has reiterated its call for Canberra to move its acquisition of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned air vehicle (UAV) forward to help fill a potential two-year production gap. The company notes that the platform has proven effective since the US Navy (USN) deployed a pair of the high-altitude, long-endurance ...
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NewsE195 marks Vietnam debut with Bamboo Airways
Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways has commenced services with a pair of leased Embraer E195 regional jets, operating the resort island of Con Dao. The two aircraft are wet leased from Denmark’s Great Dane Airlines, says Embraer. It adds that this marks the service debut for the type in Vietnam. ...
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Airline BusinessPandemic forces Vistara to press pause on rapid growth
Indian carrier Vistara entered 2020 with plans for rapid growth, but the coronavirus pandemic has kept the airline from meeting its full potential. Vinod Kannan is chief commercial officer (CCO) at Vistara, a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and Indian conglomerate Tata Sons. He served in a number of roles ...
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NewsJAL, Volocopter eye Japan air taxi launch within three years
Japan Airlines (JAL) and Volocopter will work together to promote urban air mobility for both passengers and goods in Japan. “The agreement outlines that Volocopter and JAL work on permanent sustainable commercial operations of air taxis in Japan,” says JAL. Source: Volocopter An artist’s impression of Volocity air ...
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NewsTurbulence again blamed for loss of second Zephyr UAV in Australia
Turbulence triggered the uncontrolled spiral descent and subsequent in-flight break-up of an Airbus Defence & Space Zephyr unmanned air vehicle (UAV) in 2019, Australian investigators have determined.
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NewsFirst FWSAR C295 touches down in Canada
Canada’s first Airbus Defence & Space C295 search and rescue (SAR) aircraft has arrived at Canadian Force’s Base Comox, in British Columbia.
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InterviewRAAF wing commander charts a flight path for adventure
Wing Commander Marija Jovanovich has had a career of high adventure in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), but contends that while careers in aviation are definitely possible for women, they are not always clearly accessible. Jovanovich’s career in the RAAF kicked off as a pilot on the Lockheed Martin ...
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NewsGlobal Hawk receives camera, electronic support upgrades
Northrop Grumman has delivered two payload upgrades for the RQ-4 Global Hawk long-endurance UAV. The first is the deployment of the MS-177 multi-spectral camera, which provides improved high resolution imaging for users, says the company. Source: Northrop Grumman Global Hawk equipped with an MS-177 multi-spectral camera system, which ...
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NewsAAPA renews call for government action after airlines’ dismal August
The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has reiterated its call for better regional coordination for air travel amid the coronavirus pandemic, as airline traffic suffer another dismal month in August. The region’s airlines carried just 1 million passengers in August, according to AAPA’s preliminary figures. This represents just 3% ...
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NewsATSB details investigation into fatal C-130 firefighting crash
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released its interim report into the 23 January crash of a Lockheed Martin EC-130Q during a firefighting mission. The 20-page report sums up the evidence the ATSB has amassed related to the crash, which killed all three crew members and destroyed the aircraft. The ...
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NewsLCI, SMFL firm up helicopter leasing joint venture
Lessors LCI and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing (SMFL) have confirmed the launch of a helicopter leasing joint venture. The joint venture will launch with a value of $230 million, say the two companies. Source: LCI An H175 managed by LCI The deal was originally announced ...
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NewsManila receives initial four Super Tucanos
Manila has taken delivery of four Embraer A-29 Super Tucano close air support aircraft, part of a 2017 deal for six examples. After a transit from Brazil, the four aircraft reached Clark International airport on 29 September, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. Source: ...
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Airline BusinessNowhere beckons for Asia-Pacific airlines
‘Flights to Nowhere’ are smart public relations for Asia-Pacific airlines, but that such flights are even under consideration underlines the immense challenges they face. Reports recently emerged that Singapore Airlines (SIA) is considering what local reports refer to as ’Flights to Nowhere,’ whereby passengers board in Singapore, fly around a ...