All articles by Greg Waldron – Page 115
-
NewsRotorcraft Asia postponed three months to mid-2021
The organiser of Singapore’s biennial Rotorcraft Asia and Unmanned Systems Asia (RCA-UMSA) event have postponed the show three months to 27-29 July 2021. The show, co-located at Changi Exhibition Centre with the Imdex naval show, had originally been planned for 30 March to 1 April 2021. Source: Greg ...
-
NewsAustralian MRTTs to receive communications, mission system upgrades
Canberra plans to upgrade the communications and mission system equipment aboard its fleet of Airbus Defence & Space A330 multi-tole tanker transports (MRTTs). The project will bring the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) locally-designated KC-30A fleet up to the latest standard for the type, says Airbus. Source: Commonwealth ...
-
NewsThai Vietjet charts modest expansion amid weak market
Thai Vietjet Air plans to both grow its fleet and add staff even though domestic air travel with Thailand remains subdued amid the coronavirus pandemic. The airline says it plans to grow its fleet to 15 aircraft “by 2021”, and is in the process of hiring additional flight crew, ground ...
-
InterviewArianespace powers on with launches amid challenging 2020
Arianespace has had a challenging 2020 owing to the coronavirus pandemic, but has managed to keep launches going, as it looks toward 2021 and the long-awaited first flights of the Ariane 6 and Vega C rockets. Vivian Quenet has been managing director and head of sales for Arianespace in the ...
-
Airline BusinessCreditors face painful choice over AirAsia X
AirAsia X has asked creditors to accept an epic debt haircut, offering two painful options amid an airline industry in crisis. Announced on 6 October, the plan, if approved, would see liabilities of some MYR63.5 billion ($15.3 billion) reduced to just MYR200 million payable within the next five years at ...
-
InterviewHoneywell gears up for urban mobility frontier
The coronavirus pandemic has cast a shadow over the aerospace industry in 2020, but the boss of Honeywell’s new Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) unit says there is still a great deal of action in aerospace’s frontier sector. In June Honeywell announced that it would set ...
-
NewsTokyo inducts RC-2 for ELINT missions
The Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) has inducted the Kawasaki RC-2 electronic intelligence (ELINT) aircraft, a variant of the C-2 tactical transport. The service inducted the type at its Iruma air base, according to a brief statement on its Facebook page. C-2 The RC-2 will replace ...
-
NewsAsiana converts A350 to freighter, promotes A380 scenic flights
Asiana Airlines has commenced operations with an Airbus A350-900 partially retrofitted as a maindeck freighter, as it plans scenic flights with its grounded A380s. The A350 renovation work involved removing 283 economy class seats and installing a steel panel on the floor “to ensure safety”, says the carrier. ...
-
NewsQueensland to be production base for Boeing’s loyal wingman
Boeing has confirmed that the state of Queensland, Australia, will be the production centre for its developmental Airpower Teaming System (ATS) unmanned loyal wingman aircraft. Boeing notes that the ATS is the first Boeing military aircraft to be designed outside the USA. It is also the first military aircraft to ...
-
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 ...
-
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.
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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. ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...