The World of Aviation

Boeing is developing an upgraded CH-47F Chinook featuring modifications to increase the heavy-lift helicopter’s lifting power. Funded under a recent US$276 million US Army contract, Boeing will build and test three CH-47F Block II Chinooks to validate technology advancements including a more efficient drivetrain and new swept-tip rotor blades – designed to lift an additional 680kg on their own.

Regional airline services will return to Port Augusta from September after the South Australian state government awarded Regional Express a route service licence to operate a three times weekly return service from Adelaide. Rex will operate Adelaide-Port Augusta flights with Saab 340s on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from September 11, providing up to 10,000 seats a year.

Cubic Global Defense has supplied its P5 combat training system (CTS/TCTS) and air combat manoeuvring instrumentation (ACMI) pods for the Royal Australian Air Force’s Hawk 127 lead-in fighter. As part of the Lead-In Fighter Capability Assurance Program (LIFCAP), which recently achieved initial operational capability (IOC), Cubic has supplied more than 60 P5 combat training systems including ACMI pods,

The ramp-up in deliveries of the Airbus A320neo remains problematic due to ongoing issues with one of the aircraft’s two engine options. Airbus says it delivered 59 A320neo Family aircraft in the first half of 2017, up from eight in the first half of 2016. However, “The A320neo ramp-up remains challenging and customers are still experiencing

Dr Alison Roberts has been appointed as the inaugural chief executive officer of new peak industry body Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ). Dr Roberts is currently the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s executive director of policy, advocacy and innovation, and starts in her new role on August 1. “Alison has a strong track record

Sikorsky Helitech, Kaan Air Australia and StarFlight Australia have signed an agreement to bring an initial 10 ex-US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters into Australia to be refurbished for use locally in aerial firefighting, emergency services and disaster relief operations. Sikorsky Helitech will carry out the ‘as new’ condition refurbishments at its Pinkenba facility on