USAF J-STARS to be re-engined
The USAF has contracted Northrop Grumman to re-engine two of its fleet of Boeing 707 based E-8C Joint-STARS battlefield surveillance aircraft at a cost of US$223m (A$246m). The contact covers the cost of eight P&W JT8D-219 engines, engine pylon assemblies and associated systems, and FAA certification work for the aircraft. Pending a successful conversion and
Boeing commences Wedgetail support training
Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) started the first maintenance training program to be conducted under the five-year In-Service Support (ISS) contract for the RAAF’s six Boeing 737-based Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft on February 15. The 147 day program started with 32 students from the RAAF’s 2SQN at Williamtown, and will comprise classroom and computer-based lessons, Operational Flight
NZ’s Red Checkers grounded
The RNZAF Red Checkers aerobatics team has been grounded for the rest of the current display season following a training accident on March 1, its second incident in two months after a fatal crash in January. Reports indicate the March 1 accident saw two aircraft touch each other in flight before both landed safely. “We
Boeing expands Army support contract
Boeing Defence Australia has signed a $44 million contract with the ADF to increase the scope of its Army Aviation Training and Training Support (AATTS) scheme. The original contract, signed in 2007, called for Boeing to provide Army Black Hawk and Kiowa pilot, aircrew and technician training, as well as operational fleet maintenance and support
ILFC delays A380 deliveries
Giant lessor International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) has delayed delivery of the 10 Airbus A380s it has on order by one year. The company was scheduled to take five of the aircraft in 2013, followed by three the next year and two the year after that, but regulatory filings by the company say that it
Emirates SkyCargo brings back V8s
An Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 747-400F has operated a charter to bring back V8 Supercars from Bahrain, marking the first special charter to and from Australia by the Dubai based cargo carrier. The first of two flights flew into Melbourne’s Avalon Airport on the evening of March 2, carrying 16 Supercars. That aircraft then on-loaded a
