Virgin Australia chairman Neil Chatfield to step down
Virgin Australia is on the lookout for a new chairman, with Neil Chatfield to step down from the board after eight years as a director. Chatfield, who was appointed a Virgin Australia director May 2006 and named chairman in June the following year, says he will remain on the board until the new chairman comes
United completes world’s longest 787 route
United’s inaugural direct service from Los Angeles to Melbourne touched down at Tullamarine at 0757 on Tuesday, completing the world’s longest Boeing 787 route in 15 hours and 10 minutes. At 6,883nm (12,748km), the route eclipses Ethiopian Airlines’ Addis Ababa to Toronto service, which comes in at 6,217nm (11,514km). Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of
RAAF Orion drawdown begins
A Royal Australian Air Force Orion has been scrapped and two more are scheduled for disposal by the end of 2014, Defence has confirmed. The first aircraft, A9-663, which was the only aircraft in the RAAF’s 19-strong Orion fleet not upgraded under the AP-3C program, was scrapped on October 20. All 19 Orions are due to be progressively
BAE’s 250,000 flight hour milestone for Tamworth
BAE Systems Australia’s Flight Training Tamworth centre has marked providing a quarter of a million flying hours. Over the past 22 years, BAE Systems Australia says more than 5,000 students have been trained on the CT-4B Airtrainer aircraft and graduated from the flight training college. In addition to personnel from the ADF, students have come from
Horsham Airport to receive runway improvements
Horsham Airport’s two runways will be upgraded to support emergency and general aviation services. New shoulders will be built on runway 17/35, while pavements and seals will be repaired and new drainage lines added. Meanwhile, runway 08/26 will be resealed. Runway and takeaways line markings would also be renewed, Victorian Minister for Aviation Industry Gordon
Indonesia AirAsia Extra will enter the competitive Australia-South East Asia market with Bali-Melbourne as the low-cost carrier’s inaugural route. The newest affiliate of the AirAsia X group of airlines will launch with five times a week service between the Victorian capital and popular Indonesian tourist spot with Airbus A330-300 aircraft from December 26 2014. The
