The World of Aviation

Systems manufacturer Rockwell Collins has announced it has signed a long-term agreement with Northrop Grumman Corporation to expand the manufacturing of optical assemblies for the Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) on the Lockheed Martin F-35. The company says it is currently qualifying its facility in Melbourne to produce the assemblies as an alternate source supplier

Boeing Aerostructures Australia will reduce up to 300 contract positions from its Port Melbourne workforce of about 1,300 by the end of the year. The workers, all of whom were employed on fixed-term contracts during the ramp up phase of the production of 787 and 777 composite structures, will no longer be required as production

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority says it is simplifying the regulations that cover flying training organisations following a review of the Part 141 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. CASA says the simplification of the rules and requirements will cut red tape and reduce costs for about 300 flying training schools across Australia, and estimates

Boeing and Air Canada have finalised contract arrangement on a deal for 61 new Boeing 737MAX narrow-bodies. The order is valued at US$6.5bn (A$7.03bn) at list prices, and comprises 33 737MAX 8s and 23 MAX 9s. Air Canada has also taken options on 18 and purchase rights on an additional 30 737 MAXs. “Our narrow-body

Northrop Grumman has announced it will sponsor the 2014 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Outback Challenge competition. The challenge is held near Kingaroy in Queensland, and requires students to design, build and fly a UAV capable of conducting search and rescue operations or delivering life-saving supplies to a fictitious lost or injured individual, known as Outback

The Australian Certified UAV Operators Association (ACUO) is calling for the current Federal Government Aviation Safety Regulation Review to back a harder line to combat the growing problem of illegal unmanned aircraft operations. The call comes as the ACUO released its submission to the review in light of a recent reported near-miss incident involving a