Although Airbus has closed the A340 production line, it is likely to continue serving several routes of importance to Australian travellers for some years to come, explains Ben Sandilands.
Aviation safety
Qantas grounds jets as the highway becomes a traveller option
Qantas is grounding five domestic jets (four 737s and one 767) from Monday, effectively cancelling 97 flights a week in a move its group CEO Alan Joyce says will allow it to maintain schedule reliability across the rest of its network.
Tiger botches homework, will be grounded longer
It seems incredible, but Tiger Airways just can’t get it right. CASA issued the latest update last night, noting that there were deficiencies in the documentation Tiger submitted, reports Ben Sandilands.
Qantas goes to war with its pilots and shoots down John Travolta
John Travolta is the early casualty in the social media dogfight that has broken out between Qantas management and its pilots, with Qantas spiking Travolta’s ads spruiking the quality of Qantas pilots.
Tiger will change its stripes
Tiger Airways will have a new Australian CEO within about a month, and possibly a new name to go with it, reports Ben Sandilands.
Tiger expects to resume flights ‘soon’
CASA has served Tiger Airways Australia with a list of conditions it must comply with in order to resume its domestic flights, and the airline says it expects to return to the skies soon, reports Ben Sandilands.
A special message for Qantaslink Q400 flyers
The Flight Safety Foundation has drawn attention to the following urgent airworthiness directive issued to operators of the planes widely used in Australia by Qantaslink for many services, reports Ben Sandilands.
Jetstar defends slave labour conditions
ABC TV Lateline investigation of Jetstar labor arrangements on ‘tag’ services — including 20 hour shifts and slave labour rates — raises some severe safety concerns for Australian travellers, writes Ben Sandilands.
Letter from Jetstar group CEO, Bruce Buchanan
Jetstar’s group CEO, Bruce Buchanan, has responded to a report published in Crikey last week examining the Senate Inquiry into pilot training and airline safety.
QF32 Captain weighs in on pilot experience
Captain Richard de Crespigny, who was in command on the Qantas Airbus A380 which experienced a massive engine disintegration last November, has responded to a discussion on the Senate Inquiry into pilot training and airline safety.
Weird maths and the Australian ash crisis
The question arises as to whether some of the carriers are plucking their numbers for affected passengers out of thin air, writes Ben Sandilands.
Volcano plume forces further flight cancellations
If you are making a day trip between any of the SE capital cities today, cut your losses and go home now, or, pack a change of clothes and a toothbrush, warns Ben Sandilands.
Tiger belly crawl into Melbourne under investigation
The approach and departure air space traffic controllers at Melbourne Airport last night warned a Tiger Airways A320 that it was too low, sparking an investigation by the ATSB, reports Ben Sandilands.
Tiger and CASA get some extra Senate scrutiny
The Senate Inquiry into pilot training and airline safety standards has deferred tabling its report from today until June 15 in order to seek further evidence from CASA and Tiger Airways, reports Ben Sandilands.
Memory module from AF447 found
It will be more than a week according to investigators before the memory module from the flight data recorder on Air France AF447 can be opened, reports Ben Sandilands.
Jetstar v fools at Sydney T2
Jetstar’s decision to sue Sydney Airport if necessary for damages arising from yesterday’s security shambles means challenges the political investment in security theatrics in Australia, writes Ben Sandilands.
A Tiger hunt this morning
Singapore Airlines controlled Tiger Airways is under immense pressure in its Australian operations this morning even after it says it has satisfied safety concerns raised by CASA, writes Ben Sandilands.
Jetconnect incident raises question of where Qantas calls home
Will the Qantas anthem continue to be “I still call Australia home” when the public increasingly realise that the plot is to call Auckland or Singapore home?
Fatigued Jetstar pilots told: ‘toughen up princesses!’
Jetstar pilots based in Perth were sent an email by their roster captain telling them to “toughen up Princesses” after they complained about fatigue.
Hold that iThingy! Passenger Wi-Fi does affect jets
Tests that have shown new cabin Wi-Fi or wireless broadband products for airlines including V Australia have suspended installations because of adverse impacts on cockpit displays during tests for electro-magnetic interference, reports Ben Sandilands.
Senate inquiry into training and safety extended
After the shocks that emerged in a Senate committee hearing last Friday concerning pilot training and airline safety in Australia the inquiry has been extended to May 4, reports Ben Sandilands.
Pilot training, air safety inquiry to recall industry heavyweights
fter the shocks that emerged in a Senate committee hearing last Friday concerning pilot training and airline safety in Australia, the inquiry has been extended to May 4.
Breaking the law shouldn’t be a necessity in Australian aviation
Avtex has now been exposed for having an appalling record of unsafe practices by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Pilot bullying, deliberate rule breaking and corner cutting were amongst the unsafe practice allegations.
Perception of unsafe Qantas takes another headshot
Qantas has a crisis of perception that became worse overnight when a faulty fuel valve caused one of its aged Rolls-Royce-powered Boeing 747-400s to make a precautionary landing in Fiji.
Qantas A380s, the Pacific and the real story
Qantas is yet to seek CASA approval for its plans to resume A380 flights between Los Angeles and Australia on or about January 17. However there are even more serious matters in motion, reports Ben Sandilands.
