An amendment to New Zealand’s Employment Relations Act had meant that control towers staffed by a sole charge air traffic controller could be closed for two periods of about 40 minutes each day. The issue became news when Air New Zealand said that the Airline Pilots Association had been insisting controllers take their breaks at scheduled times, rather than working ...

An urgent safety recommendation has been issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urging the FAA to prohibit further flight of the Zodiac CH-601XL. The aeroplane is sold both in a kit version by Zenith Aircraft and as an S-LSA manufactured by Aircraft Manufacturing & Design. According to the NTSB, the Zodiac CH-601XL has a propensity to experience aerodynamic ...

Samson Motorworks presented a flying motorcycle proposal at Airventure 2008, generating a degree of interest and feedback that has resulted in a newer, lighter, modified design: the Samson Switchblade. While Samson refers to its design as a motorbike, the vehicles are enclosed-cabin three-wheelers, and the 15’6” long Switchblade features a scissor-folding main wing that hinges near the rear wheels and ...

It has been alleged in an Australian newspaper that Emirates might be considering writing off the $220 million Airbus A340-500 involved in a tail-strike accident on takeoff from Melbourne, due to potential repair costs. The event was investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which has categorised it as an “accident”, rather than the less serious grading of “incident”. At ...

A ScanEagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) proved to be a significant and valuable tool in the rescue of US freighter captain Richard Phillips after he had been taken hostage by Somali pirates.  Four raiders boarded the 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama freighter on April 8, making it the first US-flagged vessel to fall prey to a pirate attack off the African coast ...

Norwegian company Prox Dynamics has recently conducted the first outdoor flight-test of its Hornet-3a prototype micro helicopter. The Hornet-3a is the latest of five prototypes built as part of the development of the PD-100 Black Hornet Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). With a weight of only 15 grams, the outdoor test was a crucial step in the programme as the final product ...

By Rob Neil. Each year the RNZAF holds what it calls an “Open Day” at either Ohakea or Whenuapai. This year, it was Whenuapai’s turn to host what—in the end—proved less of an “Open Day” and more of a spectacular international air show. Fine weather, numerous diverse aircraft on the ground and in the air, huge crowds and the presence of ...

This April, Cirrus SR Sport (SRS) Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) deposit holders have been notified of the temporary suspension of the SRS programme. Deposit holders received personal letters from Cirrus CEO Brent Wouters a week before the information was to be released at a press conference. “We have elected to temporarily suspend the SRS programme and additional SRS aircraft development ...

Whenuapai Open Day 09 Rob Neil was at Whenuapai for the RNZAF’s annual Open Day. An outstanding day’s fun, flying and entertainment was made all the better by the welcome return and participation of Australian and American allies. Avalon 2009 Avalon Airshow in Melbourne is the THE airshow event in the Southern Hemisphere and attracts displays and trade exhibitors from around the world. ...

By Don Harward. The helicopter we were looking for was white and huge—a giant Russian-built Mi-26 “Halo”, which had a cargo bay about the same size as that of a C130 Hercules. A couple of minutes ago, its pilot had called that he was five minutes out, so he should be in view. Jason saw him first, reporting on the intercom ...