The World of Aviation

Etihad Airways has acquired a nearly 3 per cent stake in Ireland’s Aer Lingus as the Abu Dhabi based carrier continues to pursue a strategy of investing in smaller airlines. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Etihad currently operates 10 flights a week from Abu Dhabi to Dublin and said the investment in

Lufthansa’s first 747-8 Intercontinental took off from Washington state on May 1 on its way to Frankfurt, a milestone which Boeing hopes will spark demand for the newest generation of its iconic jumbo jet. Lufthansa said 747-8 commercial services would begin June 1 with flights between its Frankfurt base and Washington, DC. Flights to Los

Qantas has reportedly decided to cut 400 jobs at its Tullamarine maintenance facility, following up on plans to consolidate maintenance operations announced earlier this year. The Herald Sun newspaper reported today that the job cuts would come from Tullamarine, where the airline maintains its Boeing 737 fleet, with another 660 workers at Avalon expected to

The Army’s Black Hawk helicopters have been cleared for full operations six days after being restricted to essential flights. The partial suspension followed the emergency landing of a Black Hawk on April 24 during preparations for Anzac Day commemorations in Papua New Guinea. According to the ADF, an investigation found that the helicopter suffered an

Lockheed Martin has delivered the 79th and final C-5 Galaxy airlifter to undergo a first phase of upgrades under a two-stage modernisation program. The Avionics Modernization Program (AMP), as the first phase of upgrades is known, incorporates a mission computer, a glass cockpit with digital avionics, an autopilot system, and updated communications, navigation and surveillance

Boeing has completed the first 787 to be assembled at its new South Carolina plant, the first time a Boeing airliner has been built in the southeastern US. The milestone 787 will now undergo system checks and engine runs before flight testing and then delivery to customer Air India in mid-2012. Boeing chose North Charleston,