The World of Aviation

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

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

Air Canada has announced an agreement with Boeing for the purchase of up to 109 737 MAXs across commitments, options and rights. The order was announced as part of the airline’s mainline narrowbody fleet renewal plan, which will replace Air Canada’s existing Airbus narrowbody fleet. When finalised the firm order for 61 737 MAX 8s

An Australian aviation biofuel industry is technically viable but significant obstacles remain, according to a report released by Qantas and Shell. The study, conducted with the support of the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is the most comprehensive investigation so far into the economic viability of producing biofuel on a commercial

Jetstar has opted to cease the unprofitable Gold Coast-Osaka route to enable a new non-stop service between Melbourne and Tokyo (Narita). The Gold-Coast-Osaka route, which operates three times weekly, will cease May 8, 2014. The company said the decision fits with Jetstar’s strategy to ensure it deploys aircraft on routes that meet market demand and to

Virgin Australia has announced it will open a new aircraft engineer apprenticeship program. The new program will open up to 32 aircraft maintenance, mechanical and avionic apprenticeships at the airline over the next four years. The successful applicants will be trained in Melbourne and Brisbane, working on some of the world’s most advanced technology, including repairing,