The World of Aviation

Boeing, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and the US Air Force Research Laboratory will launch the scramjet powered X-51A WaveRider on May 25 from a B-52 off the coast of southern California. The WaveRider is expected to fly for five minutes powered by its scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) motor, accelerating to approximately Mach 6.0 to ride

Queensland Airports Limited has released its traffic figures for April 2010 showing that the group, which operates Gold Coast, Townsville and Mount Isa airports, handled 10.3 per cent more passengers than the same time last year. Each airport recorded an increase over the month, led by Mount Isa which was up 19.5 per cent, Gold

Airservices Australia has launched its ‘Mercury’ Project, which aims to upgrade the company’s aeronautical information systems to replace its ageing Aeronautical Database Management System. “The $16 million project aims to establish a world class aeronautical information management capability with a focus on improving the management and distribution of aeronautical reference data to key stakeholders,” said

Pilot and Australian Aviation contributor Owen Zupp has completed his ‘There and Back’ flight around Australia in a Jabiru J230D, with the aircraft returning to its starting point at Bundaberg on May 23. The charity flight, which was aimed at raising money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and celebrating the centenary of powered flight

Skywest has announced that it has appointed Alan Stuart as its general manager of sales and marketing. Stuart comes to Skywest with 20 years of industry experience, including holding senior roles at Qantas, Serco and Great Southern Railway. “This new role offers the opportunity to tackle new challenges, achieve business milestones and build on Skywest’s

Tiger Airways Australia’s new managing director, Crawford Rix, will start work at the airline from June 1, the company announced on May 24. “Tiger Airways is moving from strength to strength, having recently broken even in its second full year of operations and shortly to launch its third base at Avalon in Victoria,” said Tiger