The World of Aviation

The Australian Army’s new Shadow 200 Tactical Unamnned Aerial System (TUAS) has officially commenced operations in Afghanistan, providing an enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ITSAR) capability to the International Security Assistance Force. The Shadow 200 replaces the ScanEagle which has been in operation since mid-2007. Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Ash Power

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has grounded Western Australia-based Alligator Airways, saying the charter carrier poses a “serious and imminent risk to air safety.” The grounding, which took effect yesterday, covers the next five days, during which CASA will apply to the Federal Court for an extension as it continues to investigate the airline. Alligator

Qantas will increase capacity on its domestic network but will defer delivery of two A380 superjumbo jets as part of $400 million in capital expenditure cuts to its struggling international business, the airline announced today. The cuts come on top of a $500 million capex reduction announced in February and will see the two A380s

Australia will push back by two years its decision on whether to buy as many as 70 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, Defence Minister Stephen Smith announced this morning. Smith said the decision, which follows a similar move by the US, would save Australia $1.6 billion over the next four years. Delaying the purchases, however, will

Boeing has unveiled an unusual, fork-shaped wingtip device for its upcoming 737 MAX. According to the US planemaker, the Advanced Technology Winglet will contribute an additional 1.5 per cent to the 737 MAX’s fuel savings over longer ranges against the current generation 737. That comes on top of a claimed 10-12 per cent reduction in

Airservices Australia is revising its takeoff procedures after a pair of passenger jets came dangerously close to each other as they climbed away from Melbourne Airport in 2010. According to an ATSB investigation released today, the December 5 2010 incident occurred when a Virgin Australia 737 departed Melbourne followed by a Qantas 767 travelling at