The World of Aviation

US based Blackhawk Modifications has obtained FAA Supplemental Type Certification for its XP engine upgrade for the Piper Cheyenne I, which sees the engines retrofitted to higher performing Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28s. Blackhawk says that the upgraded engines offer greater climb rates, lower time, distance and fuel to climb and faster cruise speeds.

Air New Zealand says that the blended winglets being progressively fitted to its fleet of Boeing 767-300ERs are achieving 19 per cent more fuel savings than originally forecast. With four aircraft now sporting the 3.4m high winglets, it is expected that once the fifth aircraft is fitted with the winglets that the fleet will save

China Southern Airlines has announced that it will increase its frequencies to Melbourne and Sydney during the peak December-February season. From December 2 to February 20, CZ will operate daily departures from Sydney to Guangzhou. Meanwhile, the airline will operate three-times weekly direct Guangzhou-Melbourne services from October 26 to March 25, departing on Mondays, Thursdays

The Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations Section’s Hawker 800XP Rio Tinto LifeFlight Jet was officially launched at a ceremony at the RFDS’s Jandakot base on October 14. The jet, which is registered VH-RIO, is fitted with a Lifeport PLUS specialist aeromedical interior and will be used to transport urgent care patients from around WA

October 6 witnessed the passing of an era with the undertaking of the last spreading of superphosphate by a DHC-2 Beaver in Australia, writes Lenn Bayliss. For some years the only Beaver that has carried out superphosphate spreading in Australia has been the Beaver VH-WOZ of Walcha Aerial Service. Owned by Barry Christie of Walcha,

Dublin based Macquarie AirFinance has chosen to open an Asia Pacific office in Singapore. The Singapore office will be staffed initially by Australian Harry Forsythe, vice president marketing, Asia Pacific. John Willingham, chief executive officer of Macquarie AirFinance, commented, “We are excited to have an established office presence in Asia/Pacific and are eager to assist