The World of Aviation

The second Airbus Military KC-30 (A330 MRTT) for the RAAF departed Australia for Spain on October 28 to join the first KC-30 for a final series of proving flights. The KC-30 (dubbed MRTT 002), the first of four to be converted to tanker standard from green A330 airframes at Brisbane by Qantas Defence Services, undertook

New Zealand and South Africa have expanded their air services agreement, which will allow airlines to operate daily services via Australia. “The new arrangements will provide a real boost for business, tourism and people-to-people links,” said New Zealand’s Associate Minister of Transport Nathan Guy. “This will allow the airlines of each country to pick up

Regional Pacific Airlines (RPA) operated a proving flight from Cairns to Alice Springs via Mount Isa on October 28, with the airline planning to develop it into a twice weekly passenger service. RPA CEO Anthony Sandford told the ABC that he sees potential to develop the route to service the mining sector and develop tourism.

Honda Aircraft Company (HAC) says that the development of the HondaJet is progressing well, with major structural assemblies on the first conforming aircraft completed and the completion of a number of qualification tests. HAC says that the fuselage, wing, empennage, landing gear and other crucial components for the first conforming HonaJet have already been assembled,

FedEx Express announced on October 28 that it has appointed Grace Choong as managing director of South Pacific sales. Based in Singapore, Ms. Choong leads the corporation’s sales management teams in achieving strategic objectives and is largely responsible for driving business opportunities and sales operations throughout the major markets in South Pacific region, including Singapore,

Passengers on a Jetstar A320 on the ground in Newcastle were forced to evacuate the aircraft after an engine fire on October 27. The flight had already landed after arriving from Brisbane, and the pilots were understood to be shutting down the aircraft’s number one engine when it briefly caught fire. “We believe that there