The news follows another difficult year for Boeing, which included a doorplug blowing out of a 737 MAX 9 in mid-air and the bodged return of its Starliner spacecraft.
The ATSB’s investigation into the landing, which took place in May, concluded a lack of fuel onboard and an “unbalanced flight” led to an engine failure that sparked the incident.
During the “aerobraking”, the Boeing-made vehicle will use the drag of Earth’s atmosphere to slow it down, reducing its energy while only expending minimal fuel. It will then jettison its service module component before resuming its normal testing.
In an extraordinary investigation published on Thursday, the ATSB also revealed Blake Wilson “did not hold the appropriate endorsements to fly at night” and had flown “well below” the 1,000ft minimum height required for built-up areas.
Chauncey McIntosh replaces Bridget Lauderdale, who will be retiring at the end of the year following a 38-year career with the company. The RAAF has a planned final fleet of 72 F-35s – which are still arriving – but has ruled out adding more aircraft.
The TWU has reached an in-principle agreement with Ampol that will see pay rise by 28 per cent over the next three years, as well as more permanent full-time roles, higher rates for weekends and night shifts, and a pledge that the company will consult …
The aircraft, to be based in Broome, will support PHI’s offshore energy transportation activities, as well as search and rescue and medevac operations. The company has three Australian bases in Broome, Exmouth and Darwin.
The Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill implements a number of changes to take-off slots in Sydney, though stops short of changing the controversial “80/20 rule”.
Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs flew air combat training missions with Royal Malaysian Air Force F/A-18D Hornets and SU-30MKM Flankers during the training exercise from 30 September to 4 October.