The World of Aviation

The South Australian Aviation Museum has launched an appeal to raise funds to keep Jon Johanson’s record breaking RV-4 aircraft in Australia. The homebuilt flew around the world in both directions and across both Polar regions, and is under threat of being sold to the USA unless an appeal to buy the aircraft is successful.

Airservices Australia and the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia have extended their sponsorship agreement for a further three years, which provides for scholarships to assist young pilots to complete their training. The sponsorship agreement supports the RFACA Learn to Fly Scholarship Competition that will see four Australians assisted to achieve their pilot’s licence

QantasLink commenced its first Cairns-Port Moresby service on July 1, heralding the first time a Qantas branded carrier has operated flights to the Papua New Guinea capital since 2002. The airline will operate 12 times a week on the route, which will be operated with 74-seat Bombardier Q400s.

Two Qantas executives who had been prevented from leaving Vietnam have now arrived back in Sydney after the Vietnamese government terminated its investigation into fuel hedging losses at Jetstar Pacific. Tristan Freeman and Daniella Marsilli, who were seconded to the Vietnamese carrier as its chief financial officer and chief operating officer respectively, had been prevented

Boeing has finalised the firm configuration of the stretched 787-9, which is expected to make its first delivery in late 2013. “Firm configuration means the airplane’s structural, propulsion and systems architectures are defined and not changing,” said Mark Jenks, vice president of 787-9 development, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Boeing says it has completed the trade studies

Virgin Blue CEO John Borghetti has issued a memo to Virgin Blue staff outlining his new executive team, as well as plans to integrate the airline group’s long haul and short haul operations more closely. Under the planned changes, V Australia’s operations will become integrated with those of Virgin Blue, reversing the current structure which