The World of Aviation

A new class of F/A-18 Hornet pilots will be put through their final paces during two-plus weeks of exercises at RAAF Townsville. More than 150 RAAF personnel and as many as 12 F/A-18 Hornets will take part in Exercise High Sierra, which begins today and runs through December 8. The 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU)

German air rescue operation DRF Luftrettung has signed an agreement with Eurocopter to buy 25 EC145 T2 helicopters in a deal worth nearly €200 million (A$267m). The organisation becomes the largest operator of the German made EC145 T2.

Qatar Airways has been announced as the launch customer for Boeing’s new Electronic Flight Folder (EFF). The carrier will begin using the EFF next year across its fleet of 777s, making it the first airline to transmit day-of-flight data such as flight plans and weather information directly to its aircraft’s Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag.

The United States will sell 24 refurbished F-16C/D fighter jets to Indonesia under a proposed deal announced Friday during the Asia-Pacific summit in Bali. Including equipment, parts, training and logistical support, the price tag on the deal comes to roughly US$750 million, according to a statement by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notifying Congress

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified congress of the possible sale of a sixth Boeing C-17 to Australia at an estimated cost of $300 million. The deal would include up to four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 engines,  one AN/AAQ-24V(13) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures System, as well as spare parts, testing equipment and

Ghana’s Air Force has taken delivery of the first of two C295 transport planes on order form Airbus Military. Ghana will use the planes for domestic military transport and humanitarian relief missions. To date, Airbus Military has sold 85 of the twin turboprop C295s to 14 different operators.