The World of Aviation

Strategic Airlines has applied for traffic rights to the USA, prompting speculation the largely leisure orientated carrier is planning flights to Hawaii. Strategic wrote to the International Air Services Commission (IASC) earlier this month, seeking “an allocation of the unlimited capacity available to designated Australian carriers to operate between Australia and the United States.” The

The US government has officially terminated funding for the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 after the US FY2011 defence budget, which was passed by both houses and by President Obama on April 15, contained no funding for the engine. After Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Ashton Carter’s direction to the Fighter Engine Team

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) welcomed home the first upgraded P-3K2 ‘Orion’ at Whenuapai on April 23 after it was upgraded by L-3 Systems in Texas as part of a NZ$373m (A$280m) contract to enhance the six RNZAF Orions’ surveillance, reconnaissance, navigation and communication systems, and the delivery of crew trainers, and software

International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) has signed a firm order for 100 Airbus A320neo variants, which will comprise both A320neo and A321neo variants.   The firm order follows the signing of an MoU for the deal on March 8, with ILFC selecting Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G engine for at least 60 of its aircraft.

The second Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental successfully made its first flight on April 26. Aircraft RC021, registered N6067U, took off at 0926 hours local time from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, undertaking a three hour and 23 minute flight, during which it reached an altitude of 28,000ft and an airspeed of 275kt. “This is another great milestone for

Boeing has announced that its ‘Vigilare’ network centric command and control system has completed its last formal operational test at RAAF Williamtown’s Eastern Region Operations Centre (EROC), taking part in Exercise Aces South. The testing, which was performed between March 28 and April 8, confirmed that EROC was ready for operations using the Vigilare system,