Boeing’s 737 MAX completes first flight
The fourth iteration of Boeing’s 737, the 737 MAX, has completed its first flight, marking the commencement of a four aircraft flight test campaign. The first 737 MAX development aircraft, 737 MAX 8 N8701Q Spirit of Renton, took off from Boeing’s Renton, Washington State site (where all 737s are built) at 9:46am local time on Friday with 737 MAX
US DoD contracts for second batch of RAAF P-8A Poseidons
The US Department of Defense has awarded Boeing a US$2.469 billion contract for 20 P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, covering 16 aircraft for the US Navy and four for the RAAF. The Lot III P-8A full rate production contract was announced on the US Department of Defense’s contracts website on January 28 and states the
Air Vanuatu to keep flying at Port Vila
While Air Vanuatu plans to maintain jet services at Port Vila Airport, the airline’s pilots will have the “final say” on whether the flights will operate. The Vanuatu flag carrier has kept its Boeing 737-800 flights operating subject to ongoing inspections of the airfield. By contrast, Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have suspended flights from Bauerfield International
Emirates to claim title for world’s longest flight with nonstop service to Auckland
Emirates will operate the world’s longest passenger flight from March when it begins nonstop service to Auckland from its Dubai hub with a Boeing 777-200LR. The Dubai-Auckland route measures 7,668 nautical miles, according to the Great Circle Mapper, eclipsing Qantas’s Airbus A380 route between Sydney and Dallas/Fort Worth at 7,454nm which currently holds the record as
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first of three H145 helicopters to Papua New Guinea-based Pacific Helicopters. The H145 is the first new Airbus Helicopter to be operated in PNG and will be based in Goroka in the country’s east, Airbus said in a statement on Thursday. “As a result of the introduction of the H145,
Virgin Australia has suspended services between Brisbane and Port Vila due to the condition of the runway at Bauerfield International Airport. The Australian carrier joins Air New Zealand in deciding to cease flying to Vanuatu over concerns about the runway. Virgin said on Monday it was monitoring the situation in Port Vila while continuing to
