Qantas Blames Industrial Action For Decision To Hit The Dirt

Labor actions by three different unions are being blamed for the fleetwide grounding of a major international airline. The management of Qantas has announced that "as of 2000 AEDT on Monday 31 October 2011, it will lock out all employees who are covered by the industrial agreements currently being negotiated with the Australian Licensed Engineers Union (ALAEA), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Australian and International Pilots Union (AIPA).

Maintenance Flight Goes Bad, 2 Injuries Result

You know that nagging feeling that comes every now and then tells you that something bad is about to happen? If you read through the details of a prelim leading up to a fuel exhaustion accident that took down a TBM 700 (thankfully with only two minor injuries), you have to wonder how many times that feeling cropped up during a brief maintenance flight that went way wrong... If in doubt, figure it out... on the ground.

Crew Prepares for Progress Departure, Arrival

With snow flurries falling from a chilled, leaden grey sky, the ISS Progress 45 cargo craft and its Soyuz booster rolled out to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 9 p.m. EDT Thursday (7 a.m. Friday Baikonur time) for liftoff, today, Sunday at 6:11 a.m. to the International Space Station. The unmanned cargo vehicle is stocked with 2.9 tons of food, fuel and supplies for the station crew, including 1,653 pounds of propellant, 110 pounds of oxygen, 926 pounds of water and 3,108 pounds of maintenance gear, spare parts and experiment hardware.

Organizations Committed To Cut Accident Rate 80 Percent

Aviation authorities from more than a dozen countries across the globe will offer their perspectives on safety at the International Helicopter Safety Symposium taking place in Fort Worth, TX, November 8-9. The theme of the fifth annual symposium for the worldwide helicopter industry will be Human Factors: Our Collective Challenge – Our Individual Responsibility.

Boeing, Embraer And Sao Paulo Research Foundation To Guide Renewable Fuel Research

Boeing, Embraer, and the Sao Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP) have announced plans to collaborate on long-term aviation biofuels-related research and development, a move that represents another major step toward the creation of a sustainable aviation biofuels industry in Brazil. Azul, GOL, TAM and Trip airlines will be strategic advisors in the program.

Second Annual Trophy Will Be Presented At January Gala

The Wichita Aero Club is seeking nominations for its annual Wichita Aero Club Trophy, presented annually to an individual or organization with ties to the local aviation community whose exemplary achievements and contributions in the field of aviation or aerospace deserve special recognition.

Hoffman Engineering Receives FAA TSO

Hoffman Engineering, based in Stamford, Connecticut, reports receipt recently of FAA TSO authorization of its LED standard and dual mode aircraft navigation and position lights. The standard lights are functional for daytime operations, while the dual-mode versions feature covert lighting for use with night vision devices.

NReg Database Derived From FAA Records

An Australian company has developed an app that will bring the FAA's aircraft registration database to your iPhone. Wavefront Technology released the app ... called NReg ... on Monday. The app displays N aircraft registration information, sourced from a hierarchical database derived from information published on a weekly basis by the FAA.

Ground Communication Outlet (GCO) An unstaffed, remotely controlled, ground/ground communications facility. Pilots at uncontrolled airports may contact ATC and FSS via VHF to a telephone connection to obtain an instrument clearance or close a VFR or IFR flight plan. They may also get an updated weather briefing prior to takeoff. Pilots will use four "key clicks" on the VHF radio to contact the appropriate ATC facility or six "key clicks" to contact the FSS. The GCO system is intended to be used only on the ground.

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"...as of 2000 AEDT on Monday 31 October 2011, it will lock out all employees who are covered by the industrial agreements currently being negotiated with the Australian Licensed Engineers Union (ALAEA), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Australian and International Pilots Union (AIPA). This step is being taken under the provisions of the Fair Work Act in response to industrial action taken by these unions. The financial impact of action taken to date has reached $68 million and the action is costing Qantas approximately $15 million per week in lost revenue. Approximately 70,000 passengers have been affected and more than 600 flights cancelled. Pilots, licensed engineers and baggage, ground and catering staff are essential to Qantas operations and the lock-out will there