RAAF Orions mark 20,000 hour milestone in Middle East
The RAAF’s 92 Wing detachment of two AP-3C Orion reached the milestone of 20,000 mission hours in support of ISR operations over the Middle East on August 15. Deploying to the Middle East in 2003, the RAAF Edinburgh based Orion detachment has focused on maritime missions over the Arabian Gulf and overland missions extending to
Qantas engineers launch work stoppages
Qantas engineers will take industrial action from this Thursday, with a series of daily one hour stoppages across the airline’s bases continuing through until December 16. Some 1600 engineers are expected to take turns in refusing to work for the first hour of their shifts, with the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) offering Qantas
Thai finalises order for six 777-300ERs
Thai Airways International has finalised an order for six Boeing 777-300ERs, in a deal worth US$1.7 billion. The order, which follows on an original agreement with Boeing at this year’s Paris Airshow, will expand Thai’s 777 fleet to 39 aircraft. “These additional Boeing 777-300ERs will support our commitment to expanding market presence while delivering profitable
China Southern to start daily flights to Auckland
China Southern Airlines will increase its current three times weekly flight schedule between Guangzhou and Auckland Airport to a daily service from November 1. China Southern Airlines’ New Zealand general manager Henry Dai said the airline’s new daily service would “add another 90,000 seats per year”, reflecting “the high market demand we have already experienced
Fighter capability gap decision next year – Smith
Defence Minister Stephen Smith has said that he is committed to “an exhaustive risk assessment on schedule” of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter by the end of this year, saying that any decision to acquire additional Super Hornets to fill a potential capability gap should the JSF be further delayed would be taken next year.
Kanimbla to be decommissioned
The Navy’s second LPA amphibious ship, the HMAS Kanimbla, is to be decommissioned, Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare has announced, following the early decommissioing of sistership HMAS Manoora in May. According to Clare, an assessment into Kanimbla’s materiel state and a cost and risk assessment deemed that, “the most cost effective and lowest risk option
