The World of Aviation

CASA CEO John McCormick and the ATSB’s chief commissioner Martin Dolan have signed a memorandum of understanding which provides a framework for greater cooperation between the two bodies and clarifies their roles in improving air safety. The MoU focuses on maximising the effective use of the findings of accident investigations and clarifying the complementary roles

The Australian and Chinese governments have signed a new air services agreement which will increase the number of seats available between the two countries by 70 per cent from the end of this year, as well as giving Australian carriers onward rights from Chinese cities. Under the new agreement, up to 10,500 seats per week

QantasLink commenced its first flight between Adelaide and Port Lincoln on February 15. The new services are operated by 74-seat Bombardier Q400s, adding approximately 3400 seats to the market. QantasLink joins Regional Express on the route, which marks the airline’s return to the South Australian intrastate market.

As part of the Fiscal 2011 US Defense Department Budget Requests, Defense Secretary Robert Gates on February 1 2010 proposed US$11 billion for the F-35 Joint Strike Figher (JSF) program and outlined a strategy to stabilise project cost and schedule. He also changed and upgraded the leadership of the JSF Program Office. Following Secretary Gates’s

Although often criticised by the media for its poor handling of certain scenarios, Jetstar has launched a 10 point ‘Jetstar Customer Guarantee’ which will apply across its Australia, New Zealand and Singaporean operations. The charter includes commitments to safety, low fares, privacy, informing passengers of operational changes and promises to deal promptly with issues and

Bell Helicopters’s new twin engine offering, the Bell 429, will not be heading to Australia in the near future for a demonstration tour despite this month making its first appearance in the region at the 2010 Singapore Airshow. “We were hoping for a 429 tour in the first half of this year but unfortunately that