The World of Aviation

The USAF’s X-37B unmanned space plane is due to return to earth for the first time sometime in the first week of December after spending nearly eight months in orbit. Launched on April 22 atop a Delta expendable rocket booster, the aircraft, which resembles a mini space shuttle orbiter, will land at Vandenberg AFB north

The Royal Flying Doctor Service’s Central Operations is seeking to establish a new, consolidated base at Adelaide Airport. The organisation, which has hangar and maintenance space at the airport but its administration at inner suburban Mile End, is negotiating with Adelaide Airport Ltd for land at the airport on which to build a new facility.

Airbus has launched its A320neo (New Engine Option) re-engining of its A320 Family, promising fuel savings of up to 15 per cent when the updated narrowbody airliner range enters service in the northern spring of 2016. The A320neo engine options comprise both Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G geared turbofan and CFM’s Leap-X engine, which will

Moorabbin-based Oxford Aviation Academy (OAA) has received JAR-FCL approval from the UK CAA approval for its ATPL integrated and modular airline pilot training courses. The approval comes following OAA’s acquisition of two new Mechtronix flight navigation and procedure trainers (FNPTIIs), one of which will be used for instrument flight training (a Cessna 172S piston simulator),

A new rescue helicopter service dedicated to the south coast of NSW commenced operations on December 1 from Moruya Airport. The service, operated by the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Service for the summer months, became possible after additional funding from Westpac. It will cover the coastal area between Shoalhaven Heads near Nowra to the Victorian border.

Diamond Aircraft CEO, Christian Dries, has announced he is stepping down from his position, and has named Gerd Berchtold as his successor. “Dr Berchtold is a highly experienced and respected aeronautical engineer,” Dries told the Financial Times Deutschland. “I need a CEO who takes care 100 per cent of the aircraft. Dr Berchtold brings not