Aviation news

• Friction lock tightening

  21-10-2022 03:08
  King Air uncommanded power reduction highlights importance of friction lock tightening
  
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• Sydney most disrupted domestic airport in 2025, says insurer

  11-08-2026 06:27 via australianaviation.com.au
  In iSelect’s Australian Airport Delay Index for 2025, Sydney saw 6,700,207 passengers delayed or cancelled, ahead of Melbourne at 6,360,989, and Brisbane at 4,652,914. Delayed flights sat at 23 per cent, while 3.12 per cent cancelled last year.
  
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• Australia must learn from Williamtown drone incident, experts say

  11-08-2026 04:44 via australianaviation.com.au
  Speculation has whirled into a frenzy earlier this week with news that several unidentified drones had been seen flying over RAAF Base Williamtown and Newcastle Airport in early July.
  
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• Ghost Bat pushed as collaborative combat aircraft for Germany

  11-08-2026 03:26 via australianaviation.com.au
  The companies are positioning the Australian-designed uncrewed combat aircraft as a way for the German Air Force to move rapidly from CCA concept development towards operational capability while retaining sovereign control over key technologies.
  
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• Alliance cuts back QantasLink E-Jet wet lease

  10-08-2026 08:59 via australianaviation.com.au
  In a statement released to the ASX, the charter and FIFO operator said there will be a “staged reduction from 30 aircraft to 23 aircraft [in the agreement] over the course of FY27”, as well as a “meaningful increase in pricing” and a revised annual price escalation mechanism.
  
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• Exclusive: We need around 10% more ATCs, says Airservices boss

  10-08-2026 08:29 via australianaviation.com.au
  Speaking exclusively to Australian Aviation, Sharp said he feels Airservices should have around 1,200 air traffic controllers, and that current recruitment rates are the highest in its history. It comes as Airservices faces criticism for highly-publicised delays and near misses at Sydney Airport.
  
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• Melbourne Airport unveils draft 2027 Master Plan

  10-08-2026 06:57 via australianaviation.com.au
  The Master Plan, available online, outlines a suite of terminal upgrades, as well as infrastructure improvements, transport links, and a 345-metre eastern extension of the east-west runway to accommodate shortening at the western end for the upcoming third runway.
  
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• WSI nets Vietjet for jet quintet

  10-08-2026 04:50 via australianaviation.com.au
  The Vietnamese low-cost carrier will launch two weekly A330 services from WSI to Ho Chi Minh City in January, increasing to three starting in March, with its Thai subsidiary to begin four weekly services to Bangkok starting in November next year.
  
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• Poseidon and Triton demonstrate interoperability and connectivity

  10-08-2026 03:45 via australianaviation.com.au
  The jointly funded technology demonstration is the first to showcase automated manned-unmanned teaming between the two platforms using an open systems architecture, allowing machine-to-machine mission planning and execution.
  
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• Australian crew airlifts patient from Antarctica in midwinter mission

  07-08-2026 08:29 via australianaviation.com.au
  VH-VHD “Snowbird 1”, operated by Skytraders, responded to an “urgent request for assistance” at US-operated McMurdo Station late last month, taking advantage of a “narrow weather window” to perform the evacuation to New Zealand.
  
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• Qantas ground workers to vote on industrial action

  07-08-2026 06:00 via australianaviation.com.au
  Around 650 staff members at Qantas Ground Services, who serve mostly Qantas Freight and QantasLink operations, will vote on whether to take industrial action over what the union has called “Joyce-era tactics to relentlessly pursue short-term profits over worker and passenger standards”.
  
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• Australian start-up unveils sovereign counter-drone system

  07-08-2026 04:14 via australianaviation.com.au
  MILLIBEAM has revealed Rakurai, a new hand-held counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) built around a proprietary Australian-developed radiofrequency (RF) architecture that the company said delivers greater performance, broader frequency coverage and improved power efficiency than conventional electronic warfare systems.
  
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• High-flying achievement feted at Australian Aviation Awards 2026

  07-08-2026 02:04 via australianaviation.com.au
  Now in their fifth year, the Australian Aviation Awards celebrated excellence across the breadth of the aviation ecosystem, recognising outstanding achievements from commercial aviation, general aviation, aerospace, defence, aviation technology, safety, education and innovation.
  
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• Australian advanced solid rocket motor passes first flight test

  06-08-2026 06:10 via australianaviation.com.au
  An Australian-developed advanced solid rocket motor has completed its first successful flight test at the Koonibba Test Range near Ceduna in South Australia, demonstrating the nation’s growing ability to design, manufacture, integrate, and validate critical missile propulsion technologies.
  
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• Collision with terrain involving Kavanagh E-240 Balloon, VH LUD 3.5 km east south east of RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland on 8 October 2021

  01-11-2022 01:07
  A sightseeing balloon with 9 passengers on board collided with the side of a tree after entering fog during the descent to locate a suitable landing area.
  
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• Collision with tree in fog

  01-11-2022 00:57
  Sightseeing balloon with 9 passengers collides with a tree in fog
  
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• Collision of passenger train 8185 with level crossing gates, Lydiard Street North, Ballarat, Victoria, on 30 May 2020

  28-10-2022 02:33
  A Vlocity passenger train’s sanding system was ineffective in improving wheel-rail adhesion as the train approached Ballarat Station on the evening of 30 May 2020 after light rain and in windy conditions.
  
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• Train’s sanding system ineffective

  28-10-2022 00:50
  Train’s sanding system was ineffective at improving wheel-rail adhesion ahead of Ballarat level crossing gates collision
  
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• Flight below minimum altitude involving Boeing 737, registered VH-VUT, 40 km south of Cairns Airport, Queensland on 24 October 2022

  27-10-2022 03:25
  While following a standard arrival route (STAR), the aircraft was descended below the minimum safe altitude. Air traffic control identified the descent and issued a climb instruction. The flight crew complied with the instruction before completing an approach and landing.
  
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• Low on approach incident involving SAAB 340, registration VH-VEQ, 8 km from Sydney Airport, NSW on 24 October 2022

  25-10-2022 18:48
  During an ILS approach to runway 34L at Sydney Airport, the air traffic control tower controller issued the flight crew a low glide slope warning when the aircraft was about 2.5 NM from touch-down.
  
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• Uncommanded power reduction involving Beechcraft King Air B200C, VH-VAH Essendon Fields Airport, Victoria, on 19 August 2021

  21-10-2022 03:42
  Insufficient tightening of a friction lock during pre-flight checks resulted in a Beechcraft King Air’s left power lever migrating to idle during the take-off roll, an ATSB investigation report details.
  
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• Collision with terrain involving Mooney M20J, registration VH-UDQ, near Luskintyre Airfield, NSW on 17 October 2022

  18-10-2022 18:28
  The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the collision with terrain involving a Mooney Aircraft Corporation M20J, VH-UDQ, near Luskintyre Airfield, New South Wales on 17 October 2020.
  
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• Engine power loss and forced landing involving Robinson R22 Beta, VH-VHE 130 km south-west of Mitchell, Queensland on 11 January 2022

  12-10-2022 01:16
  A helicopter pilot had to conduct a forced landing after a sudden loss of engine power due to damage to an engine cylinder intake valve, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation has found.
  
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• Damaged intake valve

  12-10-2022 01:01
  R22 engine intake valve damage occurred without indication prior to sudden loss of engine power
  
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• Qld rail investigations

  11-10-2022 01:42
  ATSB signs renewed rail funding agreement with Queensland
  
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• Engine power loss and forced landing involving Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander BN-2A VH-WQA, Moa Island, Queensland on 3 October 2022

  10-10-2022 03:12
  The pilot reported that while conducting a charter flight from Saibai Island to Horn Island, both engines began to surge and loose power. The pilot diverted the aircraft towards Kubin Airport, on Moa Island, and conducted a forced landing east of the airport.
  
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• Loss of separation involving Airbus A330, VH-EBK, and Boeing 787, G-ZBKF near Sydney Airport, New South Wales on 28 September 2022

  07-10-2022 02:41
  During climb on an assigned standard instrument departure, the Airbus A330 closed on the preceding Boeing 787 on the same route resulting in a loss of separation.
  
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• Collision with terrain involving Bell Helicopter 206B (Jet Ranger), VH-PHP, near Maitland, NSW, on 6 October 2022

  06-10-2022 18:54
  The helicopter collided with terrain on the bank of the Hunter River. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
  
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• Collision with terrain involving Robinson R22, VH-RAS, near Cowcowing Lakes, Western Australia, on 2 October 2022

  06-10-2022 02:59
  The helicopter collided with terrain. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
  
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• Bird carcass located near LongRanger helicopter accident site

  06-10-2022 01:16
  Bird carcass located near LongRanger helicopter accident site
  
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