The World of Aviation

Strategic Airlines will cease operating flights for Solomon Airlines from March, with the Solomon Islands airline instead announcing plans to operate its own dry leased Airbus A320 “The new lease has been arranged through a major capital management consortium and will be effective from the end of the current ACMI lease with Strategic between 24th

Airbus has begun fabricating the first carbon fibre rear fuselage barrel for the A350 XWB at its Illescas, Spain, plant. The barrel, known as section 19, measures 5.5m in length and is 56sq m in area. Unlike the majority of the A350 XWB’s fuselage, which will be made from long carbon fibre panels, Airbus says

The RAAF’s first squadron of F/A-18F Super Hornets, or Rhinos, has been declared operational after successfully completing its airworthiness boards late last month. The Amberley based 1SQN, led by WGCDR Glen Braz, achieved the IOC milestone at a ceremony at Amberley on December 8, and is now combat ready if required for operations. Parent unit

Virgin Blue has signed on as a major co-sponsor of new Australian Football League (AFL) team the Gold Coast Suns, with the airline’s logo to feature on the back of the Suns’ home jersey and on the front of the team’s clash and away jersey in 2011. “Virgin Blue is a strong supporter of the

Boeing has confirmed it has halted the delivery of structural parts for its 787 line in Seattle for the fourth time this year in the wake of an onboard fire in test aircraft ZA002 and the test fleet’s subsequent grounding. The delivery pause, believed to be about three weeks long, is a consequence of a

Singapore Airlines will next year employ its growing Airbus A380 fleet on services to Los Angeles. The airline will commence A380 services to the US west coast via Tokyo after it receives its 12th A380 which is expected to be delivered in February, replacing 375-seat 747-400s on the route.