The World of Aviation

Northrop Grumman delivered the first three production MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAVs to the US Navy on November 23, completing the first year of Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). Two of the three Fire Scouts have been deployed aboard the Perry class frigate USS McInerney on an operational deployment in the Caribbean Sea as part of

First flight of Northrop Grumman’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Aerial System, originally scheduled for the end of this year, has been delayed until the first quarter of 2010 following reported propulsion acoustic and engine-start sequencing issues. The aircraft is now not due to commence low speed taxi tests until late December before building up to first

CASA has announced that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accepted an invitation to conduct a review of Australian air safety systems. FAA staff will arrive in Australia during the week starting November 30 to commence the review, which will examine aspects of the country’s aviation safety regulation and safety oversight framework, particularly in

Two ADF MRH 90 helicopters recently completed first of class sea trials with HMAS Manoora off the coast of Tasmania. MRHs A40-007 and 008 performed more than 200 deck landings during the trials, operating from the Manoora‘s three helicopter landing spots. More than 520 trial evaluation test points were completed, with the helicopters operating at

Asia Pacific Aerospace announced on November 26 that it has received EASA approval to undertake repair and maintenance on Honeywell LTS 101 engines. APA is able to undertake a range of inspections on the engine, as well as gearbox replacement, fuel pump exchange and testing in its specialised test cell. APA is based in Pinkenba,

The United Aircraft Corporation has re-launched production of the An-124 transport at a ceremony in Russia. Attended by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the occasion brought together current and prospective operators of the aircraft, many of whom claimed the economics of carrying oversized cargo by air far outweigh that of sea transport. “BP used our 124s