The World of Aviation

An alliance of trade unions has launched an effort to lobby the government to save thousands of engineering jobs threatened by Qantas plans to consolidate its heavy maintenance operations. The unions – the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Australian Workers Union and the Electrical Trades Union – say they will join forces to push state

Virgin Australia will switch from a weight-based checked baggage allowance to a per piece system, the airline announced yesterday. The changes, which will affect tickets purchased after May 16, applies to domestic and international short haul flights. International long haul and carry-on baggage policies will not change. Under the airline’s current system, economy passengers are

Japanese military aircraft have not always been so welcome in Australia, but a visit by one of the country’s C-130H airlifters to RAAF Base Richmond last week was billed as an historic symbol of strengthening military ties between the two nations. The transport aircraft arrived at Richmond on Wednesday for a three day visit aimed

Australia has finalised a deal to buy a sixth Boeing C-17A Globemaster for about $280 million, the government announced yesterday. The aircraft, purchased through the US Foreign Military Sales program, is expected to arrive in Australia early next year. In a joint statement, Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Material Jason Clare said

Word from Defence and industry sources is that the long awaited AIR 8000 Phase 2 battlefield Airlifter (BFA) – i.e. the Caribou replacement – may fall victim to the Gillard Government’s stubborn ‘at all costs’ determination to return to a budget surplus next year. Defence has been trying to replace the Caribou’s fixed wing STOL

Federal Infrastructure & Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has pushed back on suggestions that the carbon tax and other government policies unfairly hurt an already threatened regional aviation industry. During remarks to a summit of industry leaders in Canberra on Monday, Albanese acknowledged “some real challenges” to regional aviation in Australia but said the industry as