The World of Aviation

The first Virgin Australia/Skywest ATR 72, VH-FVH, arrived in Brisbane on August 18 at the end of its delivery flight from Toulouse. The aircraft, which made an appearance at Bundaberg on August 2o at the Wide Bay Airshow, will be placed into Virgin Australia service in mid October.

ATR has begun deliveries of its updated -600 series development of the ATR 72, handing over two 72-600 turboprops to launch customer Royal Air Maroc (RAM) in a ceremony at Toulouse on August 19 ATR CEO Filippo Bagnato noted the importance of the turboprop’s first delivery, as the manufacturer begins to “ramp up” deliveries next

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have certified Boeing’s 747-8 Freighter, after the aircraft cleared the final two test requirements ahead of its expected service entry next month. Having been granted an Amended Type Certificate (ATC) and an Amended Production Certificate (APC) from the FAA, as well as an

The RAAF’s 92 Wing detachment of two AP-3C Orion reached the milestone of 20,000 mission hours in support of ISR operations over the Middle East on August 15. Deploying to the Middle East in 2003, the RAAF Edinburgh based Orion detachment has focused on maritime missions over the Arabian Gulf and overland missions extending to

Qantas engineers will take industrial action from this Thursday, with a series of daily one hour stoppages across the airline’s bases continuing through until December 16. Some 1600 engineers are expected to take turns in refusing to work for the first hour of their shifts, with the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) offering Qantas

Thai Airways International has finalised an order for six Boeing 777-300ERs, in a deal worth US$1.7 billion. The order, which follows on an original agreement with Boeing at this year’s Paris Airshow, will expand Thai’s 777 fleet to 39 aircraft. “These additional Boeing 777-300ERs will support our commitment to expanding market presence while delivering profitable