Jetstar first to take up Smart Tracking at Sunshine Coast
Jetstar has become the first airline to operate a flight to the Sunshine Coast using the airport’s new Smart Tracking Technology, or Required Navigation Performance (RNP), which guides aircraft along precise flight paths using flight management systems and GPS. Jetstar chief pilot Mark Rindfleish said inclement weather around the Sunshine Coast Airport traditionally caused up
Virgin’s first pilot cadets graduate
Virgin Australia has welcomed the first group of graduating pilot cadets from its inaugural training program. After 55 weeks of intensive training, the group of seven fully qualified pilots will be initially be sent to Brisbane and Perth as first officers on Virgin Australia’s Fokker 50 and ATR 72 turboprop fleet. Virgin Australia acting chief
Air NZ, Singapore and Etihad to lift Virgin Aust stakes: report
The Australian Financial Review has reported that Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways will increase their stakes in Virgin Australia holdings after only 25.3 per cent of retail shareholders took up entitlements as part of a $350 million capital raising. The increase will be marginal, however, with 98 per cent of institutional investors
A new era in ATC as ADS-B mandate takes effect
Airservices has hailed “a new era in air traffic surveillance” with a first fitment mandate for Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) for all aircraft flying at or above 29,000 feet coming into effect today. ADS-B is a satellite-based technology enabling aircraft to be accurately tracked by air traffic controllers and other pilots without the need
Australian announced as one of eight GE 3D Printing Global Design Quest winners
Australian Nic Adams has won fourth place in GE’s global 3D Printing Design Quests and is the only Australian among the eight winners from nearly 700 entries across 56 countries. The competition challenged innovators to redesign the loading brackets found on jet engines using 3D printing, aimed towards reduced engine weight and fuel consumption. Mr
Weapons release completes F-35 flight test milestone
Lockheed Martin has proclaimed a successful test flight and verification year for weapons integration following the successful employment of a GBU-32 JDAM from an F-35B’s internal weapons bay against a fixed ground test target. The F-35B aircraft, BF-18, launched from the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base was piloted by US Marine
